Despite such obvious intentions, Old Lady Guo still politely declined with a smile: “I’m getting on in years and my energy isn’t what it was. I don’t learn things as quickly as I used to—how could I compare to you young people? I just give random guidance at home, and the younger generation in the family, seeing that I’m advanced in age, are tolerant of everything, treating it as fulfilling their filial duty. That’s the only reason I haven’t made a laughingstock of myself. As for guiding Xuan, I really wouldn’t dare.”
Eldest Madam Liao and Second Madam Fang exchanged a glance. Eldest Madam Liao smiled and said, “Listen to what you’re saying! When I first arrived, I was just telling Second Sister-in-law how young ladies nowadays—I don’t know what’s gotten into them—if an elder says one thing, they can talk back with two. They’d rather spend their energy learning the qin than practicing needlework. Where is it like in our time, when we’d rise before dawn to clean and stay up late into the night making shoes and socks for our elders? Those like Old Madam who can raise daughters like Zheng and Xiao—there really aren’t many. No wonder we’re envious and want Xuan to learn something by staying at Old Madam’s side.”
Fang Xuan had no idea what scheme her mother and aunt were plotting.
She thought her mother and aunt were trying to curry favor with the Cheng family, so she chimed in cheerfully: “Old Madam, just let me come visit you often, won’t you? Otherwise my mother and aunt will talk my ears off. Please take pity on me!” As she spoke, she pulled on Old Madam’s sleeve with a pitiful expression, acting coquettishly.
A flash of sharpness passed through Old Lady Guo’s eyes. She laughed heartily, concealing the emotion in her eyes, and smiled: “If you’re bored, feel free to come visit anytime. Shaojin is here, and Zheng and the others, worried I might be lonely, also come back to see me from time to time. The household is still quite lively.”
So she’d agreed!
Eldest Madam Liao and Second Madam Fang were secretly delighted.
Fang Xuan, however, glanced at Zhou Shaojin and smiled: “I’ll have to ask Shaojin for much guidance in the future!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled graciously and warmly: “Not at all, not at all! I’m also just here as a guest. Sixth Miss Fang is too kind!”
But Fang Xuan didn’t think so.
A young maid came in to ask Zhou Shaojin for instructions: “Second Young Master has requested a carriage to go to Sanming Academy.”
Zhou Shaojin looked toward Old Lady Guo.
Old Lady Guo nodded and acknowledged, “I understand.”
Zhou Shaojin walked out with the young maid and spoke in the corridor: “Does Second Madam know?”
Her voice was gentle and soft, making others feel as if bathed in spring breeze.
The young maid’s voice also softened involuntarily as she smiled and said, “Second Madam knows. She asked me to inform Old Madam and you.”
Zhou Shaojin then said, “Go tell the steward of the outer courtyard that Second Young Master is still young and doesn’t go out much. He might get off the carriage if he sees something interesting on the road. Find a mature coachman to accompany him, and the guards should also be steady yet alert, able to offer advice if anything happens.”
The young maid repeated Zhou Shaojin’s words. Seeing nothing was omitted, she smiled and withdrew.
Zhou Shaojin then had Chun Wan go to the kitchen: “Old Madam is only keeping the two madams and Sixth Miss Fang for lunch. Go ask the maids and servants who came with them if the two madams and Sixth Miss Fang have any dietary restrictions, so the kitchen can prepare a menu accordingly.”
Chun Wan acknowledged and left.
Zhou Shaojin then directed Chenxiang to check the tea room: “They’re all newly arrived young maids—don’t let them get so absorbed in play that they forget to boil water for tea.”
Chenxiang went to the tea room with a smile.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin turn back to the reception room.
The reception room was quiet. Eldest Madam Liao and Second Madam Fang looked at her with somewhat complicated expressions. Only Fang Xuan was frowning, looking quite displeased.
After Zhou Shaojin had walked out with the young maid who came to report, Eldest Madam Liao and Second Madam Fang had simultaneously stopped their conversation and pricked up their ears to listen to what was happening in the corridor.
After chattering to Old Lady Guo for a few sentences, Fang Xuan noticed that Eldest Madam Liao and Second Madam Fang weren’t responding, so she also stopped.
For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Zhou Shaojin’s conversation with the maid fell word for word into their ears.
Eldest Madam Liao and Second Madam Fang were shocked that Zhou Shaojin was actually managing the household affairs at Chaoyang Gate. Fang Xuan, however, felt Zhou Shaojin was too presumptuous—since she was here as a guest, those weren’t things a guest should say or do!
Zhou Shaojin was startled by their stares and couldn’t help but look down to examine her clothing. Seeing nothing amiss, she asked in bewilderment, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Second Madam Fang was the first to recover and quickly smiled: “Nothing, nothing! I just didn’t expect that at such a young age, Second Miss Zhou could already handle things independently. Not like our Xuan, who doesn’t understand anything.” Her tone was quite emotional.
Eldest Madam Liao recalled that when her daughter-in-law Zhou Chujin spoke of Zhou Shaojin’s relationship with the main branch, she always said Zhou Shaojin was very much favored by Old Lady Guo… It seemed her daughter-in-law hadn’t been exaggerating.
But she felt something strange in her heart.
Even if one loved Zhou Shaojin as one’s own granddaughter, to have her bypass Second Madam Wei and manage the household affairs at Chaoyang Gate… it still felt somewhat odd!
But this wasn’t the time to delve into such matters. She smiled and smoothed things over: “That’s why I say Xuan needs to come learn from Old Madam. Look at Shaojin—she can already handle things independently. Isn’t it because Old Madam taught her well!”
Zhou Shaojin wholeheartedly agreed with Eldest Madam Liao’s words.
She smiled with pursed lips and said, “I’ve received much instruction from Old Madam and benefited greatly!”
Eldest Madam Liao seized the opportunity to instruct Fang Xuan: “…You must learn well from Shaojin.”
Fang Xuan verbally agreed, but in her heart strongly disagreed.
To be a guest is to be a guest—why meddle in someone else’s household management? She would never do such a shameful thing!
After lunch, Eldest Madam Liao and Second Madam Fang took their leave with Fang Xuan.
Old Lady Guo kept Zhou Shaojin to talk, handed her Eldest Madam Liao’s invitation card, and also told Zhou Shaojin everything Eldest Madam Liao had said before.
Zhou Shaojin was astonished.
She didn’t understand what Old Lady Guo meant.
Old Lady Guo fanned herself with her round fan, unhurriedly saying, “What do you think about this?”
Zhou Shaojin had felt something when she heard what Eldest Madam Liao said today, but thinking that Sixth Miss Fang was treasured by her family as the apple of their eye while Uncle Chi was more than ten years older, she thought she was overthinking it… Now hearing Old Lady Guo put it this way, that feeling became obvious.
Her face showed hesitation.
Old Lady Guo nodded inwardly.
Though this child’s disposition was somewhat timid, at least she wasn’t stupid.
“There are no outsiders here. Just speak your mind,” Old Lady Guo encouraged Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin still thought for a moment before saying in a low voice, “Could it be that Eldest Madam Liao wants to be a matchmaker for Uncle Chi… to have Sixth Miss Fang marry over…”
“Exactly.” Old Lady Guo said slowly, “What are your plans?”
“Me?!” Zhou Shaojin looked at Old Lady Guo in astonishment.
Old Lady Guo said gravely, “Now that we’ve split from Jiuru Alley, if a daughter-in-law has many siblings in her natal family, that would be even better. Sixth Miss Fang is an only daughter, so presumably her dowry will be substantial. Also being from the Fang family, she should get along well with Yuan Shi… If that doesn’t work out, there’s still the Li family’s daughter, the Huang family’s daughter…”
Only then did Zhou Shaojin understand Old Lady Guo’s meaning.
The old lady was saying Uncle Chi wouldn’t lack for good young ladies to marry, wasn’t she?
Inexplicably, Zhou Shaojin felt like laughing.
Old Lady Guo was trying to tell her to treasure Uncle Chi properly, wasn’t she?
She immediately cast off her previous dejection and smiled: “Didn’t you always say ‘When seeking a wife, seek a virtuous woman, don’t count the dowry; when marrying off a daughter, choose a good husband, don’t covet wealth’? Why are you calculating Sixth Miss Fang’s dowry today? If we’re talking about marriage alliances, since Eldest Madam is both a daughter of the Yuan family and a granddaughter of the Fang family, both the Yuan and Fang families can speak on our behalf. Rather than marrying another Fang family daughter as a daughter-in-law, wouldn’t it be better to look for a young lady from the Lujiang Li clan or the Saiyang Huang family—officials from Jiangxi often form marriage alliances with the Saiyang Huang family, while the Lujiang Li clan is a prominent northern family. Why go to such unnecessary lengths?” At this point, she suddenly thought of how Old Lady Guo had threatened her before—with Old Lady Guo’s capabilities, if she really wanted to threaten her, it probably wouldn’t have ended with just a few words. Old Lady Guo had merely wanted to admonish her, to let her know what difficulties she would encounter when together with Uncle Chi… This time should be the same, shouldn’t it? Otherwise, why would the old lady tell her what Eldest Madam Liao had said and done?
She suddenly felt filled with courage. Half-jokingly, half-seriously, she said, “Besides, I think when I put in real effort, I won’t be much worse than those Fang family or Yuan family young ladies! You just let that Miss Fang come visit our home—I’ll definitely outshine Miss Fang.”
“Oh!” Old Lady Guo raised her eyebrows and said, “Outshine her? How?”
“By learning household management well from you, taking good care of Uncle Chi, integrating well into this family…” Zhou Shaojin said earnestly, “I’m certain I can do it well!”
Old Lady Guo then laughed.
This was the first genuine smile she’d shown since speaking with Zhou Shaojin outside the official residence.
“Come here!” She beckoned to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin vaguely felt she had won Old Lady Guo’s trust.
Her heart pounded like a drum as she carefully walked over.
Old Lady Guo took her hand, looked at her with an affectionate smile, lovingly touched her temple, and said softly, “No matter what happens in the future, remember what you just said—others have their advantages, and you have your strengths. Don’t belittle yourself, nor be arrogant. Do you understand?”
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened as tears fell unexpectedly.
“Old Madam!” She knelt down and buried her head on Old Lady Guo’s knee. “I will never forget your words for my entire life.”
If her first time kneeling before Old Lady Guo was out of helplessness, this second time was filled with gratitude and emotion.
In this world, no one commanded more respect than Old Lady Guo.
Not only did the old lady tell her the principles of conducting oneself and handling affairs, she also taught her how to overcome herself and take control of her own fate and future.
“Old Madam!” Tears streamed down her face like rain.
Old Lady Guo’s eyes also grew moist.
She gently patted her shoulder and said, “Go now! Your path ahead is still long. When you reach my age, you’ll understand—the path is always walked by oneself.”