Old Madam Guo beckoned Zhou Shaojin and Fang Xuan over. Taking Zhou Shaojin’s hand in one of hers and Fang Xuan’s in the other, she looked at Zhou Shaojin with a warm and loving smile, then looked at Fang Xuan, and said to everyone in the room, “Look at these two young ladies—like morning dew and bright pearls, they make one’s heart happy just by looking at them.”

Second Madam Fang’s expression immediately became somewhat stiff.

Zhou Shaojin was famously beautiful. Anyone who saw her for the first time couldn’t help but look twice. Fang Xuan was also very pretty, but standing beside Zhou Shaojin, that beauty appeared rather strained.

Was the old madam praising Fang Xuan or diminishing her?

Second Madam Fang truly wondered inwardly.

Fang Xuan’s expression also looked somewhat displeased.

If Old Madam wanted to praise Zhou Shaojin, she could just praise Zhou Shaojin—why drag her in to serve as a foil for Zhou Shaojin?

Not a single person standing in this room wasn’t shrewd.

Old Madam Guo’s status was exceptional—who would be so tactless as to correct her?

Everyone laughed heartily and chattered in praise of Zhou Shaojin and Fang Xuan’s beauty, but their gazes couldn’t help lingering on Zhou Shaojin for several moments longer.

Being scrutinized so openly by everyone made Zhou Shaojin somewhat uncomfortable, but she had always been obedient and sensible. Regardless of Old Madam Guo’s reasons for doing this, she would quietly accept it. So when everyone’s eyes fell on her, she tried her best to maintain a natural and sweet smile, behave gracefully and appropriately, and speak gently and tactfully, living up to the reputation of having received Old Madam Guo’s guidance.

Several madams watching began nodding their heads approvingly in secret. Some even quietly inquired of Yuan Shi whether Zhou Shaojin was betrothed yet.

Yuan Shi was happy to oblige and thoroughly praised Zhou Shaojin, as if she would have sought Zhou Shaojin’s hand for Cheng Xu had he not already been betrothed to the eldest young miss of the Min family. Seeing that Zhou Shaojin was indeed as gentle-natured as Yuan Shi described, those madams all took note and began chatting with Zhou Chujin.

Zhou Chujin couldn’t wait to find Zhou Shaojin a suitable match as soon as her father’s letter arrived, so she was particularly patient with these people.

Everyone present was perceptive. Seeing this, they became even more enthusiastic, making Zhou Shaojin feel uncomfortable all over. She hid behind Zhou Chujin without speaking, which only made everyone find her even more gentle and virtuous. Fang Xuan watched, choking with anger. With great difficulty, after finally paying birthday respects to Old Madam Guo, she tugged at her mother’s sleeve, wanting to go home.

Second Madam Fang also felt uncomfortable, but how could they just leave like that?

She patiently persuaded her daughter, “You’re a grown young lady now. You should know that even the sun and stars don’t revolve around you—how can you clamor to go home over such a small matter? This is Old Madam Guo’s birthday banquet. After you marry and have in-laws, will you divorce your husband every time your mother-in-law says something unpleasant?”

Her daughter had truly been spoiled by her. She needed to find another opportunity to lecture her daughter properly.

Fang Xuan could only grit her teeth and stay. She watched as Madam Li kept smiling and examining Zhou Shaojin.

A young maid came in to report, “Old Madam, the young masters have come to pay birthday respects to you!”

Old Madam Guo sat down smilingly on the luohan bed in the reception hall. Except for a few grand madams and old madams, the other female relatives hurried to withdraw.

Cheng Chi entered following his two elder brothers.

Perhaps because it was Old Madam Guo’s birthday, he wore a dark red robe with bamboo leaf patterns. His jet-black hair was bound with a white jade hairpin, and the gold thread on the apricot-colored silk-embroidered double-fish purse at his waist occasionally flashed with gleams of light. His bearing was dignified and his appearance handsome and refined.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes couldn’t look away for a moment.

She hadn’t seen Uncle Chi for such a long time.

He was still the same as before.

No—he was even more handsome than before… more attractive…

Zhou Shaojin gazed at Cheng Chi like this in a daze. The crowd in the great hall seemed to disappear, and she could only see him—she could only see him. She paid no attention whatsoever to Cheng Xu, who walked in behind Cheng Chi.

Zhou Chujin was both anxious and angry.

Fortunately she had been cautious and stood by the standing screen, but she had forgotten that by lightly lifting the curtain she could see the scene in the reception hall.

She quietly pinched Zhou Shaojin’s arm and warned her in a low voice, “Control yourself a bit, or others will notice something’s amiss.” Then she stepped forward several paces, blocking Zhou Shaojin behind her.

Zhou Shaojin blushed with embarrassment and withdrew her gaze, but couldn’t help wanting to peek outside again.

Zhou Chujin, however, noticed that Second Madam Fang and Fang Xuan were standing not far away by the screen. With their eyes tilted slightly, they could see those who came to pay birthday respects to Old Madam Guo. Fang Xuan’s almond eyes were wide open, apparently having seen something that surprised her.

She stood on tiptoe and craned her neck to follow Fang Xuan’s gaze.

Zhou Chujin saw Cheng Chi… and Cheng Xu.

Cheng Xu had become much more subdued. The originally dazzling brilliance had suddenly transformed into quiet restraint, as if having experienced worldly trials, he had matured considerably all at once.

Zhou Chujin had originally hated him to death, but seeing him like this now, for some reason, she felt faintly sympathetic.

She sighed quietly to herself.

Who had Fang Xuan seen? And why was she so surprised… If only she had taken a fancy to Cheng Chi. Given the friendship between the Cheng and Fang families, this would actually be a suitable match.

Why hadn’t Father replied to her letter yet?

Could it be the letter hadn’t been delivered?

Or had some accident occurred?

Zhou Chujin felt somewhat anxious and uneasy.

Fang Xuan was looking at Cheng Chi.

This was the second time she had seen Cheng Chi.

The first time was on the way to pay respects to Old Madam Guo when he had turned his head and glanced at her. At that time, she had no idea who he was, but the way he looked at her felt somewhat strange, as if… he felt very emotional… leaving a deep impression on her.

This time, she had guessed who he was but hadn’t expected him to be so young. He didn’t look at all like someone in his late twenties, and his bearing was excellent. With Cheng Xu following beside him, it was like comparing stars to the bright moon—there was no comparison at all… She had heard he wasn’t married, but didn’t know why?

For a moment, Fang Xuan’s heart felt somewhat confused.

Second Madam Fang noticed and a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

If her daughter was interested, there could be no better match than this.

She turned her head back and discovered First Madam Liao was smiling at her with pursed lips.

She had obviously also noticed Fang Xuan’s reaction.

The two exchanged knowing glances tacitly.

In the great hall, Cheng Jing and the others paid birthday respects to Old Madam Guo, presented their respective birthday gifts, spoke a few auspicious words, then withdrew.

Everyone emerged from behind the screens on both sides and successively offered congratulations to Old Madam Guo.

“Three jinshi in one family, and even a provincial examination champion—you truly are blessed!”

“Families with brothers who are both jinshi aren’t unheard of, but like Old Madam’s family where the eldest son is a Grand Secretary and the second son is a Hanlin Academician—that’s truly rare!”

“Old Madam must be the first of such, right?”

Old Madam Guo smiled with restraint, but joy was hard to conceal in her eyes.

A madam who knew about Cheng Chi’s situation simply added icing on the cake by saying, “In the past, the Cheng family had many people, and although Third Master achieved his jinshi degree, he had no way to set aside household affairs. Now that the First Branch has settled in the capital, there aren’t as many trivial matters. With a recommendation from Grand Secretary Song, Song Jingran, he’s been appointed Vice Director in the Water Conservancy Department of the Ministry of Works. He’ll soon be going to the office of the Grand Canal Governor in Jining to assist Grand Canal Governor Yang, Yang Shoushan, with water conservancy work.”

Those in the room were all female relatives of official families. Who didn’t know that water conservancy, canal transport, salt transport, and maritime trade offices were all positions with the most lucrative opportunities?

Starting at the sixth rank, and going to the Grand Canal Governor’s office… Eight out of ten people looked at Old Madam Guo with fervent eyes, constantly praising Old Madam Guo’s good fortune. The other two, though maintaining their dignity with smiles, had secretly begun exchanging glances.

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised at first, but quickly became happy for Cheng Chi.

Uncle Chi would finally not be like in her previous life—he would no longer leave the Cheng family but stay!

Moreover, he was doing work he loved.

He would surely get better and better in the future, wouldn’t he?

Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin felt that dividing the lineage from Jiuru Lane was truly wonderful.

Yuan Shi… wasn’t so bad after all…

Zhou Chujin’s feelings were complicated.

Had Cheng Chi been absent these past days because he was handling this matter?

The Cheng family wasn’t lacking this bit of silver. Instead of going to the Ministry of Personnel, the Censorate, or the Court of Judicial Review, he went to the Grand Canal Governor’s office—was he being posted away?

Could it possibly be related to Shaojin?

Perhaps in her heart, she still couldn’t connect that dignified and noble Uncle Chi with the scoundrel who had seduced her sister, and still held a shred of hope for Cheng Chi…

Yuan Shi, however, felt her liver ache watching this.

If one day she could be flattered like the old madam, her life wouldn’t have been lived in vain.

Thinking of this, she glanced at Third Madam Min, who represented the Min family in paying birthday respects to Old Madam Guo.

With the Min family’s support, in at most twenty years—possibly just fifteen years—their Jiashan could become Prime Minister and enter the Cabinet, couldn’t he?

And there was the Fang family. Second Master Fang was famously skilled at networking. If Fang Xuan married Cheng Chi, she who served as the chief matchmaker—wouldn’t Second Master Fang have to regard her favorably?

Yuan Shi’s heart grew warm again.

During an intermission in the opera performance, taking advantage of the moment when one act had just finished and the clappers for the next act hadn’t yet sounded, she brought Fang Xuan before Old Madam Guo and smiled, saying, “Mother, Xuan used to often accompany several of my maternal aunts to watch opera. Your eyes don’t work well—why not let her help you read the libretto?”

Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “You! I don’t know what to say about you! When you’re clever, you’re truly clever and think of everything. But when you’re confused, you’re truly confused and take everything for granted—how old is Xuan? She’s at the age when she loves to play and be active. Having her accompany me to watch opera and confining her among us old madams—wouldn’t that stifle her terribly? I appreciate your filial sentiment! Xuan, go play with Shaojin and the others! The weather is nice today, and you can even go boating in the garden. If you can’t bear to listen to opera, go play in the garden!”

Zhou Shaojin wanted to go.

Perhaps she could run into Uncle Chi!

Zhou Chujin naturally wouldn’t allow her to go. She restrained her with her eyes, not letting her move.

Fang Xuan used to be most impatient about sitting with old madams to watch opera—those operas either sang about enduring hardship in a cold kiln for eighteen years or about carrying two children while searching for one’s husband over a thousand li… But this time, for some reason, she wanted to serve Old Madam Guo well and make her happy.