While mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged words at Chaoyangmen, First Madam Liao at Yushu Alley was completely dumbfounded.

The Cheng family had actually rejected Fang Xuan and proposed marriage to Zhou Shaojin of the Zhou family instead.

Hadn’t Madam Yuan said she would act as matchmaker between Cheng Chi and Fang Xuan?

If they had known this would happen, why would they have pushed Fang Xuan in front of Old Madam Guo!

Now wouldn’t they be laughingstocks for nothing?

First Madam Liao could no longer sit still. She called for her sedan chair to go to the Fang family.

But upon leaving, she ran straight into Zhou Chujin, who was standing under the covered corridor of her side room, chatting happily with an elderly servant about something.

She immediately felt a knot of anger stuck in her chest.

She had never been satisfied with this daughter-in-law.

Later, due to various reasons, she had swallowed that anger, but deep down she still felt uncomfortable about it.

She spoke somewhat stiffly: “Chujin, so early in the morning—where’s Brother Guan? The general store at the alley entrance will be coming to settle accounts later. Are the accounts clearly tallied? Don’t let people laugh at our family for buying things without paying, always looking to take advantage.”

Families like theirs, whether buying firewood, rice, oil, salt, or needles and thread, would send household stewards or respectable nannies to handle it. Naturally they wouldn’t give money directly to servants, but would usually keep accounts at a familiar shop, agreeing to settle every ten days or monthly.

Today was the day to settle accounts with the general store at the alley entrance.

Zhou Chujin had known since marrying in that her mother-in-law was dissatisfied with her, and she also knew why her mother-in-law swallowed that anger. But for women married into inner quarters, the mother-in-law was heaven. Even if she could prevail over her mother-in-law, she would still earn a reputation for “unfilial behavior,” which would affect her children’s marriage prospects in the future. Why would she do such a thankless thing?

“I understand!” Zhou Chujin said obediently. “Brother Guan has just gone to sleep. I noticed that the fallen leaves in the back courtyard corner haven’t been swept these past few days, so I mentioned it to this servant woman.”

Seeing her daughter-in-law’s meek and submissive appearance, she felt even more irritated inside.

If Axuan were just a few years older, if her husband were just a bit more reliable, if she hadn’t been so competitive back then and had arranged her son’s engagement, she would have sought Axuan’s hand for her son.

Such a good match, yet the Cheng family disdained it!

Perhaps the Zhou sisters were quite skilled at maneuvering?

Otherwise, how could they have quietly arranged for Cheng Chi to marry a Zhou family young lady?

That Zhou Shaojin had been staying at their home just days ago, only moving back recently.

As this thought flashed through her mind, thinking of how her son’s first action every day upon returning home since marrying was to fawn over his wife, she felt additional resentment rise within her.

What would Zhou Shaojin, a girl who hadn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony, understand? Most likely it was this good daughter-in-law of hers who had been stirring things up behind the scenes. Otherwise, why didn’t the Cheng family propose to Zhou Shaojin earlier or later, but married her right after the clan split?

First Madam Liao’s tone became even more dissatisfied: “Your younger sister’s engagement to the Cheng family’s Fourth Master—you should have known about it, shouldn’t you? Why didn’t you tell me?”

So it was to stand up for Fang Xuan?

Zhou Chujin sneered inwardly and said without courtesy, “I’m a married daughter. My younger sister’s marriage is naturally decided by our parents. It’s just because both my sister and I live in the capital, and my sister hasn’t yet had her coming-of-age ceremony, that my parents tell me a bit more about matters. But marriage alliances—which family dares to speak openly before things are absolutely certain?” At this point, she smiled. “You know me—I can’t keep anything in my mouth. My parents were probably afraid I’d tell Shaojin after I found out, weren’t they?”

First Madam Liao gasped.

She felt Zhou Chujin’s words seemed laden with deeper meaning.

Was she mocking how she and Second Madam Fang had joined forces to push Fang Xuan in front of Old Madam Guo at the old madam’s birthday banquet, only to fall flat on their faces in the end?

First Madam Liao’s face immediately flushed bright red, but she couldn’t bring this matter out into the open with her daughter-in-law—if she made it explicit, wouldn’t that be admitting her own failure?

She trembled with anger and only after a long while said, “Even so, I heard that now it’s time to discuss the wedding date—can’t that be mentioned? I think it’s not that it can’t be mentioned, but that there’s something suspicious about it, isn’t there? Back then, before the Cheng family split from the clan, your sister served Old Madam Guo for some time. Old Madam Guo gave your sister both a residence and jewelry…”

If this line of conversation continued, it would become rather unpleasant.

Zhou Chujin’s face darkened. She said in a low voice, “Mother-in-law, please watch your words,” then continued coldly, “Since you know that Old Madam Guo liked Shaojin very much before the Cheng family split, what’s so strange about wanting to marry Shaojin as her daughter-in-law now? Rather, Mother-in-law’s words puzzle me. By rights, Shaojin is my younger sister. Now that she’s marrying into the Cheng family’s main branch, our family’s relationship with the Cheng family’s main branch should be closer. Why does Mother-in-law seem unhappy about it?”

First Madam Liao was left speechless by the question.

Zhou Chujin continued directly: “I haven’t dared forget a single word Mother-in-law instructed me about. My husband now has Second Old Master Cheng’s patronage. Not only does he study with Second Old Master, he can also help with transcription at the Hanlin Academy. When Jiuru Alley split from the clan, I was worried it would affect my husband’s studies. Since my sister has always been able to speak before Old Madam Guo, I specifically asked my sister to inquire with Old Madam Guo what the main branch’s plans were. Even if the Zhou family severed relations with the Cheng family’s main branch from then on…”

First Madam Liao shuddered and finally understood.

Yes!

After all, the Fang family was just her natal family. Her son was separated from the Fang family by a degree. But the Zhou family was her son’s maternal family. That Zhou Shaojin was her son’s maternal aunt. Compared to Fang Xuan, a cousin they’d never had much contact with, naturally Zhou Shaojin, whom her daughter-in-law constantly inquired after, was closer!

How could she have been so confused at such a critical moment!

First Madam Liao couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

Zhou Chujin felt disdain in her heart.

Her mother-in-law complained all day that her father-in-law was snobbish and servile, fawning on the powerful while looking down on the weak, yet wasn’t she exactly the same?

Accustomed to currying favor with the Fang family, she felt uncomfortable when the Fang family was suddenly humiliated.

When all was said and done, it still came down to the word “profit.”

Such a mother-in-law—she truly couldn’t bring herself to respect her!

Zhou Chujin was too lazy to say more. She curtsied and said, “Mother-in-law, it’s getting late. I’m afraid the owner of the general store at the alley entrance will be coming to settle accounts. I’ll go to the accounting room first. If you have any other instructions, just have Nanny Zhong summon me.” Then, without waiting for First Madam Liao to say anything, she rose and left.

First Madam Liao stood in the courtyard, not moving for a long while.

She wasn’t a fool. Her daughter-in-law had challenged her and left her speechless—this was a tremendous loss of face.

Moreover, between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. If she wanted to order her daughter-in-law around at will in the future, it would probably be difficult!

If she had known it would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have meddled in Fang Xuan’s marriage affairs.

What should she do now?

Going to the Fang family to apologize would definitely mean listening to some harsh words from Second Madam Fang. But if she didn’t go to the Fang family to apologize, there would be many times in the future when she’d need the Fang family’s help. She couldn’t do without the Fang family right now…

If she had to blame someone, she could only blame Madam Yuan.

If you can’t manage the household and can’t make decisions, why take on this responsibility!

If not for her words, would she be in such a passive position today?

In the past, whenever she asked Madam Yuan for anything, there was always a hint of arrogance in her manner. Clearly Madam Yuan had never taken her seriously.

How had she been so blind as to trust Madam Yuan?

First Madam Liao gritted her teeth directly.

She needed to have a good talk with Second Madam Fang about this matter.

Perhaps the marriage hadn’t fallen through because Madam Yuan simply hadn’t taken this matter to heart and hadn’t put in the effort!

Otherwise, with her as the eldest daughter-in-law and her husband holding the prestigious position of Grand Secretary, and Fang Xuan being perfectly presentable, Old Madam Guo would have to give Madam Yuan some face, wouldn’t she?

Thinking this way, First Madam Liao felt her confidence gradually grow.

She called out loudly for Nanny Zhong: “Prepare the sedan chair. We’re going to the Fang family.”

※※※

Zhou Shaojin, who had stirred up chaos among the Fang, Liao, and Cheng families, was protected by Nanny Shang and Steward Xiang and remained completely unaffected by the outside turmoil.

She was lying contentedly on the large kang by the window, embroidering something with great joy.

A large hand with slender finger bones snatched the embroidery from her hands from behind.

“Didn’t I tell you not to do needlework?” Cheng Chi’s slightly displeased voice sounded behind her. “Look at Nan Ping’s eyes—they tear up constantly the moment she steps outside. Do you want to become like her in the future?”

Since the Zhou family had agreed to the Cheng family’s marriage proposal, Zhou Shaojin had moved back to Yuqian Alley, and Cheng Chi came and went as if the place were unguarded.

Zhou Shaojin turned around with a flushed face to snatch the embroidery from his hands, saying with a red face, “When did you get here? Have you eaten breakfast yet? The kitchen stewed yam and chicken soup today. I’ll have Chun Wan bring you a bowl!”

Cheng Chi sat down beside her, and at a glance saw the bright red satin embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks with their necks entwined.

He couldn’t help but laugh and whispered in her ear, “Your skin is fair. I like seeing you wear purple, embroidered with large pink lotus blossoms…”

Zhou Shaojin’s neck turned completely red.

She pushed Cheng Chi away and moved aside to sit properly, saying shyly, “Sit properly! If you keep saying such things, I, I’ll have Nanny Shang ask you to leave!”

The little kitten raised for so long had finally learned to extend her claws and scratch at people.

Cheng Chi smiled and patted Zhou Shaojin’s head, no longer teasing her. He said warmly with a smile, “Your coming-of-age ceremony is on the fourth day of the eleventh month, isn’t it? During the New Year when the seals are put away, I’ll have twenty-some days of rest. Mother wants us to marry then. Although it’s somewhat rushed, I want to marry you as soon as possible. What do you think?”

He had already said he wanted to marry before the New Year—could she possibly object?

Zhou Shaojin lowered her eyelids like a shy red lotus and murmured, “The wedding date is naturally decided by our parents. Why are you asking me?”

Which meant she agreed!

Or perhaps he had pressured her into agreeing?

Cheng Chi lovingly patted her head again.

How could he not know this marriage was too rushed? But he couldn’t restrain his desire to bring her under his protection as soon as possible. For now, he could only wrong her.

But he wouldn’t let her remain like this forever. In three to five years at most, he would somehow earn her a third-rank phoenix crown and ceremonial robe.

Cheng Chi embraced Zhou Shaojin and said in a low voice, “I asked Master Song and Master Zhang to be our matchmakers. When the two masters heard I wanted to marry you into the family quickly, they were afraid I’d push away the position at the River Conservancy Bureau. As soon as Mother spoke, both agreed to personally make a trip to Baoding Prefecture. Your father-in-law wouldn’t agree to you marrying me because he was afraid you’d suffer hardships with me. Now that the two masters are personally going to act as matchmakers, he probably won’t obstruct our marriage before the New Year.”

Zhou Shaojin obediently leaned in his embrace and gently chided, “I’m afraid it’s not just about getting Father to agree to our marriage sooner, but also to let others see what kind of people stand behind Father, to make Father’s official career smoother, isn’t it?”