Far away in Baoding Prefecture, Cheng Chi stood before the main gate of the Baoding Prefecture government office.
For the first time in his life, he felt so apprehensive.
Zhou Zhen was a steady, decorous person who adhered to propriety—magnanimous and refined. After what had happened with Cheng Xu, Cheng Chi had no certainty whatsoever whether Zhou Zhen would agree to let him marry Zhou Shaojin.
Huai Shan stepped forward to present the visiting card.
Li Shi quickly sent someone to the front office to fetch Zhou Zhen, who was handling official business.
Zhou Zhen was somewhat surprised and asked the young servant who had brought in the card, “Did Madam say what this was about?”
The servant quickly replied, “Madam only said you should return immediately. Fourth Master of the Cheng family submitted his card so urgently and came through the side gate—there must be some urgent matter.”
Zhou Zhen set aside the affairs at hand and hurriedly returned to the rear office.
As the prefectural magistrate, if he didn’t live in the government office but rented housing outside instead, and given that the Zhou family was not some prestigious household, people would surely suspect him of corruption. However, if he stayed in the office, Shaojin’s marriage prospects would inevitably attract unwanted attention. So when Chujin had proposed keeping Shaojin in the capital to find her a suitable match there of equal status, he had only stipulated one condition—that Shaojin not marry far away—before agreeing. When the Jiuru Lane branch divided, his greatest worry was that the relationship between the Fourth Branch and Second Branch had gradually grown distant over the years because of Shaojin, and now that the First Branch had settled in the capital, would the Fourth Branch suffer consequences from losing the First Branch’s support?
Zhou Zhen had written to the Fourth Branch several times to inquire.
Within a few days, he received a letter from Cheng Yuan, the second master of the Fourth Branch who was serving as an official elsewhere, saying he might soon be transferred to serve as Assistant Prefect in Liuzhou, Guangxi, and hinting that this appointment had been recommended by Cheng Jing.
Though Guangxi was not an ideal location, Liuzhou itself was decent enough. Moreover, it meant promotion from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a sixth-rank assistant prefect.
Later, when Old Madam Guo came to the capital, she had also summoned Shaojin to keep her company.
He had thought that with Cheng Xu away from the capital and Old Madam Guo having suffered such a great misfortune, she must be in very poor spirits and wanted Shaojin as a companion. So he pretended not to know and said nothing.
Now Cheng Chi was suddenly visiting him… Had something happened to Shaojin, or had something happened to the Cheng family?
Cheng Chi had only waited a moment in the reception hall when Zhou Zhen arrived. He immediately rose and bowed in greeting.
Zhou Zhen’s heart grew even more uneasy.
Cheng Chi had achieved success at a young age and was deeply favored by his two elder brothers and Cheng Xun. Though one couldn’t say he was arrogant and self-important, he certainly wasn’t the type to be easy to get along with. Why was he suddenly showing him such respect?
Could it be that what Cheng Chi was about to request would put him in a difficult position?
Zhou Zhen pondered this inwardly while maintaining his composure. Smiling, he invited Cheng Chi to sit down, instructed a maid to request from Li Shi some of his treasured Da Hong Pao tea to serve his guest, then exchanged pleasantries with Cheng Chi: “Brother Zichuan, when did you arrive in Baoding Prefecture? Have you had breakfast? Where are you staying?” As he spoke these words, he almost blurted out an invitation for Cheng Chi not to stand on ceremony and to stay at his residence. But then, reflecting that the Cheng and Zhou families were no longer what they once were, and that he and Cheng Chi were not particularly close, such words seemed too intimate. His tone faltered slightly as he pulled back that sentence and said instead, “I wonder what matter brings Brother Zichuan to see me? If it’s not urgent, why not stay for lunch? Baoding Prefecture cannot compare to Jinling, much less to the capital—there’s nothing particularly fine to eat. Fortunately, my household cook came with me from Jiangxi, so a few Jiangxi dishes are made quite authentically. I also have a small jar of Pear Blossom White wine, perfect to accompany the meal.”
“Brother Zichuan”…
It might have been appropriate before, but now…
Cheng Chi felt slightly awkward, but this awkwardness lasted only an instant.
Since he had decided to marry Shaojin, he would face many such situations.
Forms of address were merely one aspect of it!
He smiled and said, “Prefect Zhou need not be so courteous. I’ve come regarding a private matter.”
“Prefect Zhou” again.
Zhou Zhen frowned inwardly.
Since Cheng Chi wanted to draw clear boundaries with him, he wasn’t so desperate to maintain this connection with the Cheng family’s First Branch either.
It was just that after Li Shi returned from the capital, she had praised Cheng Chi effusively, saying they had received much care from him. Old Madam Guo had even given Shaojin a residence she had originally prepared for Cheng Chi, which had given them face before the Liao family. He had also helped introduce Li Shi’s eldest uncle to a senior eunuch in the Imperial Wine and Vinegar Bureau, and now he was doing business with the Imperial Household—so whenever he encountered people from the First Branch, he should express his thanks no matter what… That was why he had shown such respect toward Cheng Chi.
If one were to compare status and position, he was a jinshi from the Bingxu examination year, while Cheng Chi was from the Renchen year—he was two examination cycles senior to Cheng Chi!
He picked up his tea cup and quietly took a sip.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Everyone says orchids are difficult to cultivate. But in the past, I always felt my family treated me unfairly. Why could Elder Brother and Second Brother study and enter officialdom when my aptitude for learning was no worse than theirs, yet I had to be confined at home managing household affairs for life? My mood was always volatile, and everything I looked at seemed unpleasant. Mother gave me a pot of summer orchids and told me to place it on my desk and take good care of it until it bloomed.
“I didn’t take it seriously.
“When I was in a good mood, I would water it. When in a bad mood, even looking at that summer orchid made me irritable.
“I felt it was evidence that my cultivation and temperament were inadequate.
“Several times I had someone throw it into the garden, only to have them retrieve it again.
“Gradually, whether it was because I grew accustomed to seeing it, or because the summer orchid survived despite such treatment, I unconsciously began to pay attention to it and occasionally placed it on the windowsill for fresh air.
“In just over a month, that pot of summer orchids stood graceful and upright, elegant and beautiful.
“I often helped prune branches and water it.
“Gradually, I discovered that cultivating flowers was extremely interesting.
“It would grow tender new leaves and would stretch its branches when comfortable. Each time I examined it carefully, there were slight differences—perhaps a tender branch that had been reaching eastward a few days ago had begun growing westward, or a leaf pressed beneath another had unknowingly emerged, revealing its tender green tip… It was like a timid child, playfully frolicking when I wasn’t watching…
“I suddenly realized that cultivating flowers was actually very interesting.
“If you can calm your mind, you’ll discover many differences.
“My greatest pleasure now is tending to flowers and plants.
“And the longer I tend to flowers and plants, the deeper my affection for them grows.”
Cheng Chi’s voice gradually lowered: “Watching my sorrow, watching my heartache, watching my sadness, yet silently accompanying me…”
Zhou Zhen had no idea what Cheng Chi was talking about.
He blinked. Inwardly he thought, could this Fourth Master of the First Branch Cheng family have some ailment? Otherwise, why would a perfectly good double-degree scholar not be allowed to take office but instead be confined at home…
He could only silently take another sip of tea.
Cheng Chi stood up, his expression sincere and earnest, and said solemnly, “Prefect Zhou, I wish to take your second young lady as my wife. Please grant your permission!”
Zhou Zhen opened his mouth. For a long moment, he couldn’t recover his senses.
Flowers and… Shaojin?
What did he mean?
Take Shaojin as his wife?
He wanted to marry Shaojin!
Zhou Zhen shot to his feet and exclaimed, “What did you say?!”
That voice was shrill and sharp, with several notes of panicked bewilderment.
He asked again: “You want to marry Shaojin?”
Cheng Chi nodded and said earnestly, “Yes! I want to marry Shaojin. Please give your consent!”
His daughter, his daughter as delicate as a flower, was actually being coveted by Cheng Chi, who was her uncle… What had the First Branch done to Shaojin?
Zhou Zhen’s blood rushed to his head.
His face flushed bright red: “Impossible! Don’t even think about it! I will never marry my daughter to you…”
What about Chujin?
Did she know Cheng Chi coveted Shaojin?
When she wrote asking him to keep Shaojin in the capital, was it coincidence or premeditated?
And Li Shi.
She had stayed in the capital for so long. When she returned, she had praised Cheng Chi constantly… He thought of Li Shi’s eldest uncle’s business arrangement… Did she truly not know? Or had she discovered something and made a deal with Cheng Chi?
Zhou Zhen was so angry his fingers trembled as he pointed at Cheng Chi and shouted loudly, “Get out! Get out of here! Don’t defile my premises!”
Cheng Chi had known he wouldn’t receive a warm reception. Hearing this, he took a deep breath and said, “Prefect Zhou, I truly admire your daughter. I hold both her and you in great respect. Second Miss Zhou has a gentle and pure temperament, treats people with warmth and generosity…”
“Get out! Get out!” Zhou Zhen now felt his temper flare whenever he heard Cheng Chi speak. He pointed toward the main gate. “Leave immediately! For Old Madam Guo’s sake…” Perhaps Old Madam Guo had known all along. He felt even more furious and said, “I’ll pretend this never happened… Chang Gui, Chang Gui!” He called loudly for his attendant, “I’ll send someone to bring Shaojin back right away. From now on, the Zhou family will have nothing whatsoever to do with your Cheng family…”
Zhou Zhen was even more agitated than Cheng Chi had imagined.
At this moment, he should retreat temporarily and leave first.
If Zhou Chujin received no response to her first letter, she would certainly write a second one. If he left now, when Zhou Zhen received Zhou Chujin’s letter, who knew what punishment Shaojin might face?
His emotions overwhelmed his reason at this moment.
Cheng Chi stepped forward and bowed deeply to Zhou Zhen, saying sincerely, “Prefect Zhou, please calm yourself…”
Zhou Zhen was too lazy to listen. With an expression suggesting they would have nothing to do with each other until death, he ordered Li Chang Gui, who had rushed over: “Throw him out!” He himself strode away with a flourish of his sleeves, heading straight for the inner quarters.
Li Shi was happily discussing with Nanny Li the lunch banquet to host Cheng Chi: “This stone chicken is a Jiangxi specialty, specially sent by my brother. It’s much better than other stone chickens. We must prepare a bowl of vegetarian stone chicken. And that Poyang Lake fathead fish, smoked bamboo, smoked meat—all should be included…”
The door curtain suddenly crashed open with a bang as Zhou Zhen entered, his face full of rage.
Li Shi was displeased and quickly stood up, calling out “Master!”
Zhou Zhen commanded harshly, “Everyone out!”
Nanny Li exchanged a worried glance with Li Shi before leading the serving maids and servants out of the main room in a file.
Only then did Zhou Zhen erupt like a volcano: “What exactly did you do in the capital?” Unable to tell Li Shi about his daughter’s situation for fear that word of Shaojin’s affairs would spread, he said, “Why would Cheng Chi arrange business for Li Shi’s eldest uncle? And give the Elm Coin Lane residence to Shaojin? Does Old Madam Guo even know about giving away the residence? Is there something else you haven’t told me?”
He had been suspicious at the time.
But both Chujin and Li Shi had said it was part of the dowry Old Madam Guo was giving Shaojin. He had thought it was compensation from Old Madam Guo to Shaojin for what happened with Cheng Xu… But now it seemed that might not be the case!