After the four of them finished lunch together and chatted over tea for a while, when Old Madam Guo showed signs of fatigue, Cheng Sheng set down her teacup with a smile and leaned toward Old Madam Guo, saying to Zhou Shaojin, “Aunt, why don’t you and Mother chat here? I’ve come with such difficulty—let me also fulfill my filial duty and attend to Grandmother as she rests.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Guo teased, “Oh my! Have you taken a fancy to something of mine?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly.

Qiu Shi’s heart skipped a beat.

Cheng Sheng joked playfully, laughing, “Even if I have taken a fancy to something of yours, that’s as it should be—who told you to have so many fine things!”

“Look at that, just look.” Old Madam Guo said with a laugh to Zhou Shaojin and Qiu Shi, “Now it’s become my fault!”

Everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Old Madam Guo ultimately allowed Cheng Sheng to help her into the inner chamber. Only then did her smile fade slightly as she said, “Speak—what is it really about?”

Cheng Sheng stared at Old Madam Guo. “You! This is your one flaw. Too perceptive! Everyone’s afraid to say anything in your presence! As the saying goes, ‘If you’re not deaf or foolish, you can’t be a mother-in-law.’ Look at my mother-in-law—she knows how to play deaf and dumb…”

Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but burst into laughter, saying, “You! What am I to say about you?”

“Then say nothing at all.” Cheng Sheng said with a beaming smile. “Listen to me instead.”

Looking at her granddaughter before her—hair styled as a married woman yet still appearing very much a young girl—Old Madam Guo’s heart softened. She let Cheng Sheng help her sit on the bed, smiling warmly. “Very well, you speak, and I’ll listen.”

Cheng Sheng’s gaze shifted slightly. “I heard from Mother that we’re dividing the family?”

“What do you mean ‘we’?” Old Madam Guo huffed. “You’re surnamed Peng! Our Cheng family dividing—what concern is it of yours?”

Cheng Sheng mumbled, “Didn’t I hear Mother and Father talking about buying a mansion and not having enough money and such? When I asked Mother, she wouldn’t tell me. You know Mother can be a bit muddled—but for such a major matter, without you personally instructing her, how would she have the courage to privately think about such things? I felt uncertain, so I came to sound you out…”

As she spoke, she cast a grieved glance at Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, “Stop beating around the bush with me. How much is that mansion? I’ll have Nanny Lü give it to you.”

“You’re truly wealthy!” Cheng Sheng exclaimed in amazement. “Six thousand taels of silver!”

Old Madam Guo laughed. “Don’t put on an act in front of me. Six thousand taels of silver dazzles you?”

Cheng Sheng giggled, linking arms with Old Madam Guo. “Wasn’t I trying to make you happy?”

“Very well then!” Old Madam Guo stood up, saying, “Didn’t you want to fulfill your filial duty? Help me change clothes! Let’s see if these six thousand taels of silver are effective or not?”

Cheng Sheng supported Old Madam Guo with a playful grin as she sat before the dressing table, saying “Effective, effective.”

Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin led Qiu Shi to a side room behind Tingxiang Court. “…I had them tidy up the side room this morning, and the underfloor heating has been running continuously. You can rest here for a while. When Mother wakes up, a maid will naturally come inform us.”

Qiu Shi thanked her with a smile.

Zhou Shaojin continued, “Since Second Sister-in-law will be visiting frequently in the future, I’ll keep this side room reserved for you.” As she spoke, the little maid accompanying her had already opened the side room door. Lifting the curtain, Zhou Shaojin added, “See if there’s anything you’d like added?”

Qiu Shi saw that the side room was furnished entirely with black lacquered furniture, pastel porcelain, lilac-colored cushions and mattresses, and bright red brocade quilts. Everything was clean and tidy, with bright, cheerful arrangements. A pot of yellow winter plum in the corner filled the air with subtle fragrance while blooming so vibrantly it seemed ready to drip with beauty. The moment one stepped through the door, one felt warmth and comfort. She couldn’t help saying to Zhou Shaojin, “Fourth Sister-in-law, you’ve gone to such trouble.”

“As long as Second Sister-in-law is pleased.” Zhou Shaojin said. “I sleep in the heated alcove over there—if you need anything, just send a maid to find me.”

After exchanging a few more words, Chun Wan came running in carrying a large vermillion box with gold tracing, called out “Second Madam,” and said to Zhou Shaojin, “Fourth Madam, the silk flowers have arrived.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and handed the box to Qiu Shi, laughing. “Give them to A’Sheng!”

This also counted as a gift from an elder.

Thinking this, Qiu Shi smiled and accepted it on Cheng Sheng’s behalf.

After exchanging a few more words with her, Zhou Shaojin took her leave.

Qiu Shi opened the box with a smile.

Three silk flowers—one rose-colored, one pink, one tender yellow.

Qiu Shi felt momentarily dazed.

Though Fourth Sister-in-law was young, she conducted herself very properly and treated people with genuine sincerity. If the two of them could continue like this, she already felt very satisfied.

She lay on the heated platform and dozed for a while before Cheng Sheng came over.

Qiu Shi immediately sat up. “What did your grandmother say?”

The worldly naivety Cheng Sheng had shown before Old Madam Guo vanished. She pulled a box from her pocket and handed it to her mother. “These are six thousand taels in banknotes.”

Qiu Shi sighed.

Cheng Sheng couldn’t help asking, “Can we not divide the family?”

Qiu Shi replied, “I trust your grandmother.”

Cheng Sheng said no more and climbed onto the heated platform.

Qiu Shi pushed the box on the platform table toward her. “Your fourth aunt sent this over.”

Cheng Sheng opened the box and, looking at the silk flowers inside, also sighed.

If only the whole family could stay together harmoniously like this—how wonderful that would be!

※※※

Old Madam Guo woke after a brief nap and asked Zhenzhu, who was on duty, “Are Second Madam and Fourth Madam awake yet?”

“No!” Zhenzhu, who had been making decorative knots nearby, quickly set down her work. “You’ve only been lying down for less than two quarters of an hour.”

Old Madam Guo murmured an acknowledgment, her gaze falling on the bright red decorative knot. Seeing it was exquisitely crafted in a pattern she had never seen before, she smiled. “Are new decorative knots becoming popular in the market?”

“No.” Zhenzhu smiled. “I learned it from Chun Wan. Chun Wan said Fourth Madam taught her a couple of years ago. Now everyone in the courtyard is learning!”

Previously, Hanbei Mountain Villa had been cold and quiet. Everyone lived by the rules, not daring the slightest transgression, so naturally they hadn’t dared bring such novel things before Old Madam Guo. Now that Old Madam Guo had moved into Tingxiang Court—where flowers reportedly bloomed year-round, and even in this deep winter, the rooms displayed winter plum and camellias—seeing that Old Madam Guo said nothing, everyone’s spirits had livened up. Not only were they learning new decorative knots from Chun Wan and the others, but even in inconspicuous places, some were quietly wearing flowers in their hair. Everyone felt much more lighthearted in their activities.

Old Madam Guo gazed at the bed canopy above without speaking.

Zhenzhu immediately became anxious and was about to quietly put away the decorative knot when Old Madam Guo suddenly instructed her, “Go fetch all those calling cards that were sent to me the other day.”

She quickly rose and acknowledged the order, directing two maids to bring in a whole basket of visiting cards.

Old Madam Guo had them sort the visiting cards by rank.

Zhenzhu and the two young maids spent nearly an hour sorting through the cards and still hadn’t finished.

Zhou Shaojin, Qiu Shi, and Cheng Sheng came to pay their respects to her.

“What are you doing?” Qiu Shi asked, seeing several maids working up a sweat. “Do you need our help?”

Old Madam Guo thought for a moment. “You sit and keep me company. Let Shaojin and A’Sheng help with the sorting.”

Qiu Shi saw these were all visiting cards from relatives and old acquaintances, recognizing this as an excellent opportunity to familiarize oneself with the Cheng family’s connections. Knowing this would also benefit Cheng Sheng, she smiled as she attended to Old Madam Guo with tea, allowing Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng to sort through the visiting cards.

Once everything was organized according to Old Madam Guo’s wishes, she began examining the visiting cards from female family members of officials ranked third grade and above. Those requiring return cards she set aside; those not requiring return cards she placed back in the basket. She had Qiu Shi instruct Zhou Shaojin on how to compose return cards and what return gifts to send to each household.

Cheng Sheng whispered to Zhou Shaojin on the side, telling her which family was which, how this family related to the Cheng family and how that one did, what incidents had occurred in which family, which family had received what imperial honors… When she sometimes spoke too subjectively, Qiu Shi would correct her from the side.

Zhou Shaojin listened with great interest as if hearing stories. Comparing this with the anecdotes Old Madam Guo had told her during the trip to Mount Putuo, combined with some memories from her previous life, Zhou Shaojin felt she had never been so clear-minded as now, gaining varying degrees of impression about those official households in the capital.

Old Madam Guo listened with a smile from the side.

They spent the entire afternoon organizing those visiting cards, yet didn’t find it boring at all.

After finishing the evening meal and seeing off the Qiu mother and daughter, Old Madam Guo selected several important visiting cards and wrote return cards for them.

Zhou Shaojin asked, “Are you planning to visit these families?”

Old Madam Guo nodded with a smile. “These few ladies all had good relationships with me in the past. Now that I’ve come to the capital and the New Year is approaching, both out of sentiment and propriety, I should pay visits. Wrap up the matters you’re handling, and accompany me on these visits.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed. After preparing the gifts, she began accompanying Old Madam Guo on social calls.

Old Madam Guo always had her provide support, appearing to need her care. Thus Zhou Shaojin also became acquainted with those families who had old ties with the Cheng family.

By the time the Laba Festival arrived, Yuan Shi and the others all gathered at the mansion near Chaoyangmen, and news from Jining also arrived at this time.

The faces of several ministers in the Grand Secretariat all changed.

Song Jingran maintained silence due to his connection with Yang Shoushan.

Li Jiangling, Grand Secretary of Baohe Hall and Minister of Justice, thoroughly berated Yang Shoushan, believing he should be severely punished as a warning to others.

Qu Yuan, Grand Secretary of Jinshen Hall and Minister of Works, felt that since Yang Shoushan was a high-ranking official of the second grade, there was no need for such haste—it would be better to request the Emperor’s judgment.

The other Grand Secretaries either drank tea or examined the memorials sent up from Jining, watching Yuan Weichang.

However, before Yuan Weichang could speak, Cheng Jing had already said with a smile, “Regardless of how one looks at it, this matter has at least been suppressed. Whether to make a big issue small or to let the Emperor decide, I think either is acceptable.”

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.

Everyone suddenly remembered that the person sent to salvage the situation was called Cheng Chi, Cheng Jing’s younger brother.

Cheng Jing was reminding everyone not to forget about rewarding merit.

Light and heavy coughs sounded throughout the room.

Yuan Weichang glanced at Cheng Jing sitting upright and proper, then at Song Jingran’s stern expression, before slowly saying, “I believe this matter should still be left to the Emperor’s judgment!”

Let Cheng Jing and Song Jingran tear into each other!

Both Cheng Jing and Song Jingran simultaneously gave cold snorts in their hearts.