Indeed!
What matter could make Cheng Xun risk great offense to provoke the Fourth Prince who had already been named heir apparent?
Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi, thinking of the deaths of the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson, thinking of the news Cheng Chi had received that day saying the Fourth Prince also knew about the Crown Prince’s illness… She hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: “Could the deaths of the Crown Prince and Imperial Grandson be related to him?”
Cheng Chi said expressionlessly: “Even if the Crown Prince and Imperial Grandson were killed by the Fourth Prince, what do they have to do with Second Uncle? Moreover, that Fourth Prince was already the heir apparent acknowledged by His Majesty—why would Second Uncle jump out and point fingers?”
Then why was it?
Zhou Shaojin bit her lip, racking her brains.
Watching her, Cheng Chi’s gaze immediately softened, and his voice became much gentler: “Stop biting your lip, be careful not to break the skin! Most likely His Majesty was killed by the Fourth Prince. Second Uncle happened to be on duty in the palace when he was dying. He might have entrusted Second Uncle with something, and this matter was related to whether the Fourth Prince could peacefully and smoothly inherit the throne. But Second Uncle ultimately failed to accomplish it and lost his life in the process. So when Second Uncle passed away and the Fourth Prince ascended the throne, Eldest Brother clearly knew Second Uncle’s death was suspicious but didn’t dare investigate, let alone expect any imperial decree of grace. After the Fourth Prince ascended, Eldest Brother entered the Grand Secretariat—perhaps it’s all related to this matter…”
Patricide?
“No, it can’t be?” Zhou Shaojin immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
Seeing her alarm, Cheng Chi held her and gently patted her back to comfort her: “It’s alright, it’s alright. Even if he committed patricide, that’s his business. If our guess is correct, when the time comes we just need to pay attention to Second Uncle and keep him home, not letting him enter the palace…”
But Zhou Shaojin thought of something else.
She tightly clutched Cheng Chi’s sleeve and said in a low voice: “Do you think the Cheng family’s confiscation might be related to this matter?”
Zhou Shaojin suddenly had a wild thought—if what His Majesty ultimately entrusted to Cheng Shao was an edict deposing the Fourth Prince and establishing a new heir, and this edict was never found, and Cheng Shao’s coffin quickly went south for burial, the Fourth Prince suspected this edict had fallen into the Cheng family’s hands… it seemed to align with this life.
She told Cheng Chi her speculation.
Cheng Chi stroked her hair and said: “It shouldn’t be—if Second Uncle died in the palace, when the body was sent back, they would have thoroughly searched it. If Second Uncle had the edict you mentioned, they would have definitely found it. You can tell from the charges when the Cheng family was confiscated—His Majesty was fabricating crimes. After such an incident, His Majesty would only try to hide and conceal it, never letting anyone see the slightest clue. As long as he confirmed Second Uncle didn’t have any so-called edict on him, that would be enough. His Majesty wouldn’t publicize it.”
Zhou Shaojin felt Cheng Chi was right.
But was it enough to just keep Second Uncle Cheng Shao from entering the palace during those few days?
She was still worried: “What should we do next? Should we continue investigating the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince’s matter?”
“Of course we should investigate.” Cheng Chi said. “Not to mention all this is just our speculation—even if it’s true, it’s still six or seven years away. Who can guarantee nothing will change? Rather than passively worrying here, we might as well take the initiative and see whether the Fourth Prince is truly the rightful Son of Heaven or a villain who stole someone else’s mandate!”
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat afraid. She hesitated: “Are you going to contend with the Fourth Prince?”
“‘Contend’ is too strong a word.” Cheng Chi said lightly, “I just want to see exactly how the Fourth Prince came to power.”
He didn’t believe he couldn’t outmaneuver the Fourth Prince!
Not wanting Zhou Shaojin to worry, Cheng Chi bent down and kissed her forehead, smiling: “Alright, let’s not talk about these matters. Second Uncle is alive and well, and we know what will happen in the future—Second Uncle absolutely won’t lose his life this time. You slept for quite a while. The maids said you only ate half a steamed roll and a bowl of plain congee for dinner? I haven’t eaten yet! Get up and eat something with me. After we eat, we’ll rest early. The day after tomorrow is a rest day—would you like to go out with me?”
Still within three months of pregnancy, Zhou Shaojin feared it might harm the baby: “I feel lazy all over. Let’s not go out. If you think it’s boring, why not invite friends to go out? I can finish embroidering that Guanyin painting in the next couple days—I’ll just stay home and complete the embroidery.”
Cheng Chi said: “I grew up in the capital—where haven’t I been? Going out is just to accompany you. If you don’t want to go, we’ll stay home. You embroider, I’ll practice calligraphy. Truth be told, I haven’t practiced for two or three days!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed. After accompanying Cheng Chi through dinner, they nestled together discussing household matters until Zhou Shaojin began to yawn.
Cheng Chi held her like a child, whispering softly in her ear and gently coaxing her until she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Watching her, the corners of his mouth curved up high as he recalled Grand Secretary Song’s words of advice: “…Zhang Hui is Vice Minister of Works. He can’t keep managing the affairs at the River Governor’s Office forever—sooner or later he’ll return to the capital. Once the Yellow River dredging begins, the Censorate will definitely send someone to supervise the river works. You could go there as a Supervising Censor. When the river works are completed and the river is properly governed, you could at least be promoted to Assistant Censor-in-Chief—that’s a proper fourth rank. Many people never cross that threshold in their entire lives, but you could step over it smoothly.”
But this would mean staying in Kaifeng and other places until before May next year.
Cheng Chi gazed at Zhou Shaojin’s gentle, relaxed sleeping face with its slightly childish features, and decided to give up this opportunity.
He was still young—such opportunities might come again. But Shaojin was carrying his first child, and once this opportunity was lost, it would never return.
Cheng Chi didn’t want to regret it someday.
He thought again of what he’d just discussed with Zhou Shaojin.
He needed to find an opportunity to sound out Second Uncle.
It would be best to tell Second Uncle about the Crown Prince’s illness and the Fourth Prince’s attention to the Crown Prince, and see what he would say.
If he could learn something from Second Uncle, that would be good. But if not, they might need to assign more people to watch Second Uncle.
Thinking this, he lowered his head and kissed Zhou Shaojin hard.
This little girl had found him such a troublesome matter!
Zhou Shaojin frowned and murmured softly, burrowing into Cheng Chi’s arms, then found a comfortable position and fell deeply asleep again.
Cheng Chi smiled helplessly, nuzzled Zhou Shaojin’s cheek, lowered the bed curtains, and blocked out the faint lamplight.
Because Zhou Shaojin was still in early pregnancy, Old Madam Guo’s birthday on the ninth day of the ninth month wasn’t elaborately celebrated. Only Xinglin Lane and Cheng Wei’s family, along with the three families of Cheng Zheng, Cheng Xiao, and Cheng Sheng were invited for a meal.
Cheng Jing, Cheng Xu, and others only came in at lunch to toast Old Madam Guo before having a separate table set outside. Old Madam Guo’s side was accompanied by female family members like Yuan Shi and Zhou Shaojin.
Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao didn’t yet know about Zhou Shaojin’s pregnancy. Seeing Zhou Shaojin sitting on a grand armchair padded with thick cushions and moving quite carefully, they calculated when Zhou Shaojin had married into the Cheng family and couldn’t help asking if she had good news.
Zhou Shaojin nodded shyly.
Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao were both happy for her. Guessing she was probably still in early stages, the relatives didn’t say much but took turns telling her what she should be careful about.
Zhou Shaojin agreed to everything.
Cheng Sheng stood to the side giggling.
Cheng Zheng could tell at a glance she’d known all along, and said reproachfully: “You girl, you didn’t think to tell me about such good news. If I hadn’t come today to celebrate Grandmother’s birthday, I would have missed it again.”
Cheng Sheng laughed: “I only found out because my mother has been staying at the Chaoyangmen residence these days looking after Fourth Sister-in-law. You can’t blame me—I’ve been so busy I barely have time to sleep.”
Once the three sisters married, matters multiplied, and they couldn’t visit each other as frequently as before.
Everyone chatted and laughed cheerfully.
Min Jia sat silently to the side, only smiling as she watched them talk, seeming somewhat distracted with a hint of melancholy between her brows.
Zhou Shaojin paid this no mind.
She and Min Jia only nodded at each other when they met as relatives, nothing more.
At dinner, Yuan Shi and Qiu Shi helped Old Madam Guo to her seat, while Cheng Sheng quietly told her: “You know Fang Xuan. I heard that a few days ago the couple had such a terrible fight it alarmed all the relatives. Madam Fang the Second even took her back to her natal home. If not for the eldest daughter-in-law of the Min family pleading repeatedly, Fang Xuan would have gone back with Madam Fang the Second. Because of this, the Min family brought back the eldest daughter-in-law to persuade her.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled: “Who told you this? If Fang Xuan and her husband fought, the Min and Fang families should have kept it quiet. How do you know the eldest daughter-in-law returned to her natal home to persuade Fang Xuan?”
Cheng Sheng laughed: “The eldest sister-in-law certainly wouldn’t tell me—I heard it from our family’s eldest aunt.”
Peng Zao’s eldest sister had married into the Fang family.
“Do you know what it was about?” Zhou Shaojin was curious.
The Fang family hadn’t been very satisfied with this match initially. When the Min family sent the betrothal gifts, the Fang family had specifically invited Yuan Shi to attend the ceremony.
“Our eldest aunt didn’t say.” Cheng Sheng smiled, “From her tone, she seemed to be criticizing the Fang family girls for lacking proper upbringing. I couldn’t very well press her for specifics.”
Zhou Shaojin had no good feelings toward the Fang family, so she didn’t bother asking further.
After everyone finished dinner and Zhou Shaojin rose to see the guests off, Old Madam Guo stopped her, having Nanny Lu see them out instead, saying: “In this darkness, what if you bump into something? You’re in a special condition now—your sisters-in-law and nieces won’t think you’re being rude.”
Qiu Shi quickly smiled: “Yes, yes! Just stay in your room. I’ll see the guests out for you!”
Cheng Xiao couldn’t help laughing: “Second Sister-in-law, are you planning not to go home today?”
After all, Qiu Shi was also a guest.
Everyone burst out laughing and rose to take their leave.
Zhou Shaojin still saw them to the gate of Tingxiang Courtyard before turning back.
September was when the golden osmanthus bloomed. Red lanterns hung high all along the path, with subtle fragrance floating in the air. Walking through the lush flowers and trees was pleasant and comfortable.
Yuan Shi’s steps paused slightly as she looked eastward.
The entire eastern section was shrouded in night.
Such a large residence, yet only half the western section was occupied… She couldn’t help pursing her lips, then smiled at Min Jia: “Speaking of which, you’ve been married for almost half a year…”