Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, her smiling face covered in tears as she choked up: “If you hadn’t told me, even if I lived to your age, I might never know how to walk this path!”

Her innocent demeanor pleased Old Lady Guo.

Old Lady Guo couldn’t help but laugh heartily and said, “Go rest now! If I’m not mistaken, Xuan will come visiting tomorrow. You must be in good spirits to receive her properly—don’t tarnish my reputation.”

Not the Cheng family’s reputation, not the main branch’s reputation, but Old Lady Guo’s reputation.

Zhou Shaojin jumped up and answered with spirit, “Yes!”

Old Lady Guo smiled faintly.

Zhou Shaojin went down and met with Second Madam Wei, telling her everything she had instructed today. Second Madam Wei quickly said “Thank you for your hard work” and personally escorted her out through the inner gate before turning back to go to Heshou Hall where Old Lady Guo rested. She discussed Cheng Rang’s studies with Old Lady Guo: “…Not going to the Imperial Academy, but to Sanming Academy? I heard that Sanming Academy isn’t even as good as Shuanghe Academy?”

Old Lady Guo patiently explained: “At the Imperial Academy, most people want to build careers in officialdom. They emphasize family background, qualifications, and family power. Daily social engagements are numerous, and few can settle down to study quietly. Shuanghe Academy is a private academy. The headmaster is a renowned scholar famous throughout the land—his learning goes without saying, and the students’ foundations are solid, but there are also many naturally gifted students.

“Rang has been in poor health since childhood, and his energy is accordingly insufficient. If he goes to Shuanghe Academy, his studies might not excel, and over time, his interest in reading would diminish. Better to go to Sanming Academy. Compared to Shuanghe Academy, it’s much inferior in both scale and student body, but it excels in having teachers who lecture patiently and meticulously. They favor children who make up for lack of talent with diligence—it’s most suitable for Rang.

“This academy was recommended by your uncle. He never speaks without reason. You can rest assured.

“As for Second Son, you should also talk to him. When he has no official business at the yamen, he should spend more time at home, tutoring Rang in his studies and giving him extra lessons. With Second Son’s learning, Rang should be able to rank at the top of his academy.

“Now that we’ve split from Jiuru Alley, the future of this branch in the capital will depend on Jiashan and Rang to bring glory to the family. Rang can no longer hide behind Jiashan like before. Even if he can’t achieve success in the imperial examinations in the future, he still cannot neglect his studies. Can you really say with certainty that if Rang’s studies are mediocre, his sons will also be the same?”

Second Madam Wei nodded repeatedly, forcibly suppressing her inner excitement as she stood to the side with hands lowered, respectfully agreeing.

Old Lady Guo nodded with satisfaction.

A young maid came in to report: “Fourth Master has arrived.”

He probably heard that Eldest Madam Liao and Second Madam Fang had pushed Fang Xuan on her and came to stand up for Shaojin, didn’t he?

Old Lady Guo snorted coldly.

Second Madam Wei quickly stood up to take her leave.

Though she lacked Yuan Shi’s shrewdness, she wasn’t stupid either.

Previously, whenever mother-in-law heard Fourth Uncle’s name, her eyes would light up with smiles. These days, however, she’d been cold toward Fourth Uncle, clearly indicating some conflict between mother and son. But no matter what conflict they had, Fourth Uncle was still mother-in-law’s favorite son. She didn’t want to get involved.

Old Lady Guo set her face sternly and sat in silence waiting for Cheng Chi to enter.

Cheng Chi paid his respects to his mother, sat on the kang opposite her, and after the young maids had served tea and refreshments, dismissed those serving in the room. He said to Old Lady Guo, “A few days ago, Elder Brother came to see me. He asked how much available silver the family had. He said Jiashan is getting married soon. Originally they planned to have the ceremony in the capital, then have the couple return to Jinling to live for a while. First, to let them fulfill their filial duties before you. Second, to have them get acquainted with the main family’s relatives, so the new daughter-in-law wouldn’t be unfamiliar with even the main family’s relatives.

“So the residence at Xinglin Alley was just casually renovated with some small items added.

“Now that we’ve split from Jiuru Alley, everyone will be living permanently in the capital. Jiashan’s wedding chamber can’t just be casually arranged like that. He asked me how much available silver the family had… saying with what happened to the family, finances are certainly tight.

“He originally wanted to discuss with the Min family about keeping Jiashan’s wedding simple, so he wrote to Elder Sister-in-law. But Elder Sister-in-law disagreed. She said Jiashan is her only son, Elder Brother is a Grand Secretary, and the marriage alliance is with the Fujian Min clan—under no circumstances could they slight Miss Min. If the public funds can’t produce this silver, she would pay for Jiashan’s wedding herself from her own resources, and they needn’t use public funds…”

Old Lady Guo’s expression immediately became extremely unpleasant as she said, “How did you respond?”

The silver given to the second branch all came from the main branch’s public funds. Yuan Shi’s dowry remained completely untouched.

Now that Cheng Xu was getting married, by rights this silver should all come from the main branch’s public funds. There was absolutely no reason to use Yuan Shi’s dowry.

But law and principle don’t override human sentiment.

Now the family had encountered something never encountered before. Even if the public funds had surplus silver, without business, without land… instead of first acquiring property to get life going, they were only thinking about their son’s wedding.

And wanting to make it grand.

Afraid the public funds couldn’t produce the silver, she would pay from her own dowry.

And that soft-eared son of hers had actually listened and went to discuss it with his younger brother…

What a fine son she’d raised!

Old Lady Guo’s fingers gripping the round fan grew faintly white.

Cheng Chi sighed quietly to himself.

Elder Brother clearly knew Mother had issues with Yuan Shi, yet still said such things. It showed how important it was for a husband to mediate between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

He hoped he wouldn’t be so foolish in the future as to push Shaojin in front of Mother.

He held his mother’s hand and softly comforted her: “Mother, don’t misunderstand. Elder Brother is also being considerate of the family’s difficulties. After all, given his status and position, if Jiashan’s wedding is too shabby, it wouldn’t look good either. I told Elder Brother then that this matter needs to be discussed with you. But after returning, I found a way to raise one hundred thousand taels of silver. I thought at the time I’d tell Elder Brother that this silver came from your private funds—better for you to provide it than to have Elder Sister-in-law use her private silver for Jiashan’s wedding…”

This way, Yuan Shi would have nothing to say.

Old Lady Guo’s hand gripped Cheng Chi’s tightly. She remained silent for a long while, but when she finally spoke: “Although we’ve split from Jiuru Alley, we are still the legitimate branch of the Cheng family. The family rules should naturally follow Jiuru Alley’s precedents.”

According to Jiuru Alley’s precedents, legitimate sons’ weddings cost one thousand taels of silver, concubines’ sons five hundred taels; legitimate daughters’ marriages seven hundred taels, concubines’ daughters three hundred taels. It was just that Jiuru Alley had been wealthy for so long, they’d long since stopped following these rules.

Cheng Chi smiled bitterly and advised Old Lady Guo: “Our family doesn’t lack that bit of silver. In a few days I’ll transfer another hundred thousand taels back. You needn’t trouble yourself over such matters. Getting angry isn’t worth it!”

Old Lady Guo said nothing.

But the next day when she saw Zhou Shaojin, she had Zhou Shaojin copy the account ledgers from Jiuru Alley’s inner courtyard, instructing her: “Remember clearly each item of expenditure. In the future, when anything comes up, follow these precedents for spending.”

Zhou Shaojin had no idea what had happened between Old Lady Guo and Cheng Jing. She obediently agreed and began copying the Jiuru Alley inner courtyard account ledgers.

By afternoon, Fang Xuan indeed came visiting.

She wore a plain wisteria-colored vest over a moon-white embroidered skirt. The embroidered shoes on her feet were inlaid with lotus seed-sized pearls—elegant yet splendid.

Old Lady Guo sat chatting with her in the reception room.

Zhou Shaojin was in the adjacent side room copying account ledgers.

In the evening, Old Madam kept them for dinner. The two smiled and dined with Old Madam, then each returned to their own residence.

Second Madam Fang waited for Fang Xuan in her inner chamber. Upon seeing her, she asked what she had done at the Cheng residence today.

Fang Xuan truthfully told her mother.

Second Madam Fang frowned deeply after hearing it and said, “You’re saying Second Miss Zhou was also there? And while you were talking with Old Madam, she was copying account ledgers in the side room?”

This was clearly teaching Second Miss Zhou how to manage a household!

But every family’s practices were different. Having Second Miss Zhou copy the Cheng family’s account ledgers—what was that about?

After all, Old Lady Guo was the Grand Secretary’s mother. Fang Xuan didn’t dare be presumptuous before her. Having put on a spirited front to keep Old Madam company all afternoon, she was already very tired. Hearing this, she yawned and said, “Yes! Second Madam Wei said Old Madam had her copy all those account ledgers to store in the storeroom, saying some account ledgers from before had been lost, and these ledgers needed to be preserved for future reference.”

That was also possible!

Since the main branch split from Jiuru Alley, some items being lost was normal.

But Second Madam Fang’s heart remained uneasy.

Each time Fang Xuan went to Jiuru Alley, she would carefully ask what Zhou Shaojin was doing. Learning that Zhou Shaojin continued copying account ledgers, and that Old Madam had even called Biyu, one of her former personal maids, to help with the transcription, while Fang Xuan received Old Lady Guo’s guidance and began learning calligraphy from her, only then did her heart settle.

Soon summer passed.

Matters in Jinling had all been arranged properly.

Items were continuously shipped from Jinling. Biyu and the others were busy directing servants and women to organize things into their respective courtyards.

In early August, Yuan Shi rushed back from Jinling for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Accompanying her were over a dozen households of hereditary servants willing to follow the Cheng family to settle in the capital. For those unwilling to come to the capital but unwilling to leave the Cheng family, Yuan Shi arranged for them to help manage the sacrificial fields and tend the ancestral graves.

The Xinglin Alley residence certainly couldn’t accommodate everyone—most were settled at Chaoyang Gate.

After freshening up at Xinglin Alley, Yuan Shi hurried to the residence at Chaoyang Gate.

Looking at the towering ancient trees, the broad walkways, the exquisite pavilions, and the lake water rippling with golden waves in the residence, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes and asked the nanny she’d left at Xinglin Alley to care for Cheng Jing: “When did Fourth Master acquire this residence?”

It was much larger than the one at Xinglin Alley.

Previously when Yuan Shi heard that Old Lady Guo had used her private funds to buy a residence near Chaoyang Gate for Cheng Chi, she thought it would at most be similar in size to Xinglin Alley. She never expected… it to be this large.

Compared to the main branch’s ancestral home at Jiuru Alley, it was in no way inferior.

The nanny replied respectfully, “I heard it was three residences combined together. It took a long time to negotiate before buying them all. As for when the renovations began, I don’t know… When Fourth Master came to speak of it, he had already moved in.”

Yuan Shi absentmindedly hummed acknowledgment and met Old Lady Guo in the main hall of the eastern courtyard.