Cheng Chi didn’t “disappoint” Zhou Shaojin in the slightest.
He smiled as he stroked her hair and said in a low voice: “The Emperor has more than just the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince as sons, doesn’t he?”
Zhou Shaojin was startled: “You, what are you planning to do?”
“Nothing much,” Cheng Chi said lightly. “In the past, without you and Yun Ge’er, it didn’t matter if I played games with him. But now that I have a family to care for, I won’t let anything that could potentially harm you grow unchecked. The Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson will both die of illness, and after the Fourth Prince ascends the throne, he’ll plot against the Cheng family. Rather than let that happen, it’s better to support another prince to inherit the throne. Why waste so much energy treating the Crown Prince and Imperial Grandson…”
“Can, can this work?” Though Zhou Shaojin had vaguely sensed Cheng Chi’s intentions, hearing him say it aloud still filled her with unease. “The Fourth Prince is destined to be the true Son of Heaven…”
“If there truly were such a thing as ‘destiny,’ how could there be the saying ‘the victorious become kings, the defeated become bandits’?” Cheng Chi disagreed. “Don’t worry, I will definitely protect you and the child.”
But Zhou Shaojin thought of those ten years in her previous life—peaceful and quiet, yet suffocating like stagnant water. She couldn’t help but lean her head against Cheng Chi’s chest. Listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat, she said softly: “Wherever you go, naturally I’ll go there too. Even if it means death, through the azure heavens and the yellow springs, I’ll follow you. You just need to make proper arrangements for Yun Ge’er. He’s still young—he should at least see the sights of this world before his journey here is worthwhile…”
Her calm and matter-of-fact tone made Cheng Chi’s heart feel both sour and sweet.
He kissed Zhou Shaojin’s forehead and smiled: “I’m planning to grow old with you! You mustn’t say such inauspicious things.”
Zhou Shaojin looked up at him and smiled with pursed lips.
That smile was as intoxicating as the spring breeze in the third month.
Cheng Chi couldn’t help but lower his head and became entangled with her lips and teeth.
The dim light in the room floated with an ambiguous atmosphere.
Zhou Shaojin closed her eyes somewhat bashfully, her hands tightly encircling Cheng Chi’s waist, immersed in his tender affection.
It wasn’t until Qing Feng spoke in a low voice through the door panel: “Fourth Master, Minister Zhang has come out.”
Only then did Cheng Chi reluctantly leave those delicate, soft, sweet lips like honey, his voice somewhat hoarse: “Wait for me to return tonight.”
The implications in his words made Zhou Shaojin, who had been receiving his abundant attention these past days, immediately understand his meaning. Her face couldn’t help but flush with embarrassment, burning hot. Yet her heart felt as if soaked in spring water, soft and without any strength, only able to shyly respond softly with an “mm.”
Cheng Chi couldn’t help but touch Zhou Shaojin’s face.
Previously, he felt Zhou Shaojin’s temperament was too compliant and she could easily be bullied. But now he felt her temperament was truly wonderful—she yielded to him in everything, accommodated him in everything, letting him do as he pleased. Whenever he saw her, he wanted to hold her, afraid she might be unhappy about something but wouldn’t tell him. Just thinking of that person sometimes made his heart so tender it could drip water.
“There are too many guests at home today,” he kissed Zhou Shaojin’s temple. “I didn’t expect it either. But since the guests have come to our door, we can’t very well send them back. When Yun Ge’er turns one year old, we’ll plan it out properly and only invite family members, so you won’t be so exhausted you don’t even have time to eat a proper meal. Just bear with it today, and when we get back tonight, I’ll soak your feet for you.”
How could she let Fourth Lang soak her feet?
Zhou Shaojin’s face turned even redder. Yet the indulgence revealed in Cheng Chi’s words rippled like waves in her heart.
She didn’t want to leave Cheng Chi for even a moment, holding his waist unwilling to let go.
Feeling her reluctance, the corners of Cheng Chi’s mouth lifted high. He simply followed her wishes and let her hold him.
After waiting a long time for Cheng Chi to emerge and growing anxious, Qing Feng spoke again in a low voice through the door panel: “Fourth Master, Minister Zhang is looking for you!”
Feeling embarrassed, Zhou Shaojin quickly released Cheng Chi and whispered: “I’ll go back first. Drink less wine. Wine is too harmful to the body.”
How could Cheng Chi let go immediately? Hesitating, he looked down and saw her rosy lips. Unable to restrain himself, he bent down to kiss them and said with a light laugh: “If I drink less wine, what will you reward me with?”
“Eh?!” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.
Cheng Chi said it again: “You want me to drink less wine, so I’ll drink less wine, but surely there should be some reward? Otherwise, how will I remember your instructions next time!”
Fourth Lang was acting spoiled with her!
Realizing this, Zhou Shaojin was completely stunned, yet her heart felt tingly and numb, a little painful, a little proud, and a little joyful.
She couldn’t help but say: “Then what do you suggest?” The young girl who had never flirted with anyone thought seriously with a straight face: “How about I embroider a new fan case for you? Or sew you some clothes?”
“Those things can be done by the people in the sewing room,” Cheng Chi smiled. “Such rewards lack sincerity!”
That’s true!
Zhou Shaojin looked at him with her heart full of Cheng Chi and said: “Then, then what do you suggest?”
Cheng Chi thought for a moment and said seriously: “Then when I return tonight, I can do as I please…”
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.
She already accommodated Cheng Chi in everything anyway, so naturally it would be as he wished.
“Alright!” she agreed happily.
A gleam of triumph flashed in Cheng Chi’s eyes. He hugged Zhou Shaojin once more before quickly leaving the wing room.
Zhou Shaojin, however, was thoughtful.
Had she said something wrong?
Why did Fourth Lang’s eyes flash with a gleam of triumph?
Zhou Shaojin tilted her head and thought for a long time without figuring out the reason.
It wasn’t until that evening when Cheng Chi returned and after they both washed up, when they were tumbling passionately in bed and Cheng Chi leaned against the headboard supporting Zhou Shaojin’s waist, wanting her to straddle him, that Zhou Shaojin finally understood why he had said that.
Her face burned so hot that tears fell. Her hands pressed against Cheng Chi’s chest as she shook her head: “I can’t… I don’t know how… it hurts…”
But Cheng Chi patiently coaxed her: “You promised me… let me tell you… it won’t hurt, it won’t hurt… just try and you’ll see…”
But this was too absurd.
Zhou Shaojin had a vague feeling.
If things continued like this, they probably wouldn’t be far from engaging in daytime debauchery.
How had things come to this?
Her mood was tense.
Cheng Chi kept patiently coaxing her.
Zhou Shaojin was most afraid of Cheng Chi coaxing her like this.
Whenever he coaxed her like this, she would agree to almost any absurd thing.
Zhou Shaojin simply closed her eyes and let him do as he pleased… The result was that the next morning, with the sun high in the sky, she woke up to Yun Ge’er’s crying.
Feeling her already emptied breasts, she was too embarrassed to face her son. After finally washing up and going out, Yun Ge’er, his face covered in tears, lunged toward her.
Zhou Shaojin guiltily embraced her son.
Yun Ge’er buried himself against Zhou Shaojin and cried even harder.
Feeling deeply apologetic, Zhou Shaojin held Yun Ge’er and first went to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo, then took a cushioned sedan chair to the guest rooms on the east side.
Madam Li had arrived yesterday morning with four-year-old Chu Jin and ten-month-old Zhou Zong Jin. After a lively day, the mother and two children had fallen into deep sleep. When Zhou Shaojin arrived, they still hadn’t risen.
Nanny Li was an old servant at Madam Li’s side. Hearing that Zhou Shaojin had come, she hurried forward to greet her.
Ji Xiang helped Zhou Shaojin from the cushioned sedan, but Yun Ge’er clung to his mother’s body and wouldn’t get down.
Zhou Shaojin felt heartbroken that he had cried so sadly earlier, so she followed his wishes and carried him down from the sedan.
Only then did a trace of a smile appear on Yun Ge’er’s face.
Nanny Li looked at Yun Ge’er’s delicate, beautiful appearance with extreme fondness. She came forward to pay her respects to Zhou Shaojin, then looked at Yun Ge’er with a smile: “This must be Young Master? He’s truly beautiful! He’ll definitely be a handsome man in the future!” She reached out her hands toward him: “Young Master Yun, I’m a nanny at your grandmother’s side. Will you let this nanny hold you?”
Yun Ge’er had just turned one hundred days old and should still be at an age where he understood nothing. Yet he acted as if he understood, twisting his body and burrowing into his mother’s embrace without even glancing at Nanny Li.
Nanny Li couldn’t believe it and said to Zhou Shaojin: “Second Young Madam, with Young Master Yun acting like this, has he already started recognizing people?”
Zhou Shaojin wasn’t certain either and smiled: “Perhaps it’s because he’s familiar with my scent, and his temper is strong. He won’t let anyone else hold him!”
“But even so, Young Master Yun is too clever!” Nanny Li said. “I don’t know how many children I’ve seen, but this is the first time I’ve seen a child barely one hundred days old who already knows who’s who.”
“Really?” Having someone else praise the son she had with Fourth Lang as clever, Zhou Shaojin smiled so widely her mouth couldn’t close.
Hearing the commotion, Madam Li called out loudly from inside the room: “Who’s outside?”
“It’s Second Young Madam!” Madam Li answered, quickly lifting the curtain to invite Zhou Shaojin and her son inside.
Madam Li had already gotten up and was sitting on the bed with her hair done up in a bun, drinking honey water.
When Zhou Shaojin entered, she came forward, smiling as she said to Zhou Shaojin “how did you come so early,” while reaching out to hold Yun Ge’er.
Yun Ge’er acted just like before, turning his head and burying himself in Zhou Shaojin’s embrace.
Nanny Li laughed and recounted what had just happened.
Both surprised and delighted, Madam Li said: “I didn’t expect our Yun Ge’er to be so intelligent. He’ll definitely become the top scholar in the future.”
Zhou Shaojin laughed heartily.
The two women sat down on opposite sides of the large heated bed by the window.
Usually at this time, Yun Ge’er would be clamoring to move around, but now he obediently nestled in Zhou Shaojin’s arms playing with his own fingers.
Zhou Shaojin began chatting with Madam Li: “Is Father’s health still good? Was your journey peaceful? Why did you only arrive yesterday morning? I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it! Where are You Jin and Zong Jin? Still sleeping?”
“The Master’s health has always been very robust,” Madam Li said, her smile becoming somewhat bitter. “This matter is all my fault. The Master told me to come a few days earlier, but I was afraid there would be no one to care for him, so I delayed a few days. Who knew that halfway here the axle would break? After it was finally repaired, we nearly got hit by those minor officials delivering messages on the post road. Zong Jin was frightened and cried his heart out—we couldn’t console him no matter what. Fearing the child had encountered something inauspicious, I first found a Buddhist temple to stay in and found a physician for Zong Jin who prescribed several doses of calming medicine. That’s why we arrived late!”
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly said: “So has Zong Jin gotten better? Zong Jin feeling unwell is a serious matter. You should have rested on the road for a few days!”
Zhou Zong Jin was, after all, Father’s only son.
Madam Li quickly smiled: “He’s better, much better! He recovered long ago! Otherwise, we couldn’t have rushed over early yesterday morning.”
Yesterday had been too busy, and Zhou Shaojin hadn’t had time to talk properly with Madam Li.