Zhou Shaojin chatted with Madam Li about everyday matters. When they talked about amusing incidents involving You Jin and Zong Jin, Madam Li’s face bloomed with smiles. Seeing Father and Madam Li living such a happy life together, Zhou Shaojin was glad for them.
Before long, You Jin and Zong Jin woke up.
The wet nurses tidied them up and brought them out to meet Zhou Shaojin.
Zong Jin had never met Zhou Shaojin before. Though You Jin had met Zhou Shaojin, she had been too young at the time and had long since forgotten.
The two children looked at Zhou Shaojin curiously, led by their respective wet nurses to kowtow to her.
Zhou Shaojin’s meeting gift for Zhou Zong Jin was a gold collar with a longevity lock hanging from it. For Zhou You Jin, it was a jeweled necklace. Additionally, there were the Four Treasures of the Study, a qin, chess set, needlework supplies—filling an entire trunk.
The two children expressed their thanks and stood on either side of Madam Li, looking very well-behaved, though their eyes kept rolling toward Yun Ge’er.
Zhou Shaojin watched with a smile, pointing at the two children and saying to Yun Ge’er: “This is Uncle, this is Little Aunt.” Then to the two children: “When he’s a bit older, I’ll have him kowtow to you.”
Zhou Zong Jin bashfully hid his face in Madam Li’s embrace. Zhou You Jin, however, said: “Then should we give him a meeting gift too? Last time my maternal uncle came to our house, he gave me a string of little golden fish. Everyone said they were beautiful. Can I give them to him as a meeting gift?” Her last sentence was directed upward at Madam Li.
Madam Li was very gratified. She smiled warmly while stroking Zhou You Jin’s head, repeatedly praising her and saying: “You’re an elder. In the future when you’re together with Yun Ge’er, you must take care of him, understand?”
Zhou You Jin obediently nodded, stepped forward to take Yun Ge’er’s hand, and said: “My wet nurse made osmanthus sugar for me. Shall we go eat osmanthus sugar?”
Yun Ge’er twisted his body, unwilling to let her hold his hand.
Zhou You Jin felt a bit hurt.
Zhou Shaojin was extremely fond of this scene and said gently to Zhou You Jin: “Yun Ge’er can’t eat solid food yet. When he grows up, he’ll be able to eat your osmanthus sugar.” After speaking, she smiled at Madam Li: “Back then You Jin didn’t speak, and Sister and I were so worried about her. I never expected that now she not only articulates clearly but is also confident and unafraid of strangers. This truly is the saying ‘girls change eighteen times as they grow’—she gets prettier and prettier!”
Hearing this, Madam Li was extremely pleased and said with a smile: “This is also thanks to the Master’s good teaching—he hired two people to speak to You Jin every day, and gradually she began to speak too.”
As they were talking, a young maid ran in and said: “Grand Madam Liao from Elm Tree Alley has arrived.”
She must have come to visit Madam Li.
Zhou Shaojin quickly said: “Please invite her in!” and went with Madam Li to greet Zhou Chujin.
Who knew that Yun Ge’er would cling to Zhou Shaojin’s neck and refuse to let go? When Ji Xiang came over to hold him, he opened his throat and cried, the sound so piercing it made people’s heads ache.
Zhou Shaojin could only smile apologetically at Madam Li, whose face was full of regret, and say: “It’s fine, I’ll just hold him.”
Seeing that Yun Ge’er was truly distressed, Madam Li felt heartbroken and didn’t force Zhou Shaojin. She only said that if she felt he was getting heavy, she would help hold Yun Ge’er.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked her.
Seeing that no one was coming to hold him anymore, Yun Ge’er quickly stopped crying.
Zhou Shaojin saw the large teardrops hanging at the corners of his eyes and couldn’t help kissing her son, saying with a soft laugh: “You little rascal.”
Yun Ge’er looked at her with a silly grin.
Zhou Shaojin admitted defeat.
Zhou Chujin not only brought a large quantity of gifts but also brought three-year-old Guan Ge’er.
Guan Ge’er and Zhou You Jin immediately hit it off, following behind Zhou You Jin calling “Little Aunt, Little Aunt.” This made Zhou Zong Jin so anxious he kept bouncing in his wet nurse’s arms.
Zhou Shaojin and the others watched and laughed heartily.
Zhou Chujin then spoke of Liao Shaotang: “…After the Mid-Autumn Festival, he won’t be going to the Hanlin Academy anymore. He needs to prepare for next year’s examination. These past two years, thanks to Minister Cheng’s care, I plan to go thank Old Madam Guo later and also inform her of this matter.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded in agreement, saying: “I have several ingots of good ink here that Fourth Master collected. I’ll find them for you later for Brother-in-law to use during the examination.”
The imperial examinations had high requirements for calligraphy. With good ink, even one’s handwriting would look better than usual, not to mention it was from Cheng Chi’s collection.
Zhou Chujin didn’t stand on ceremony with her sister.
The three of them chatted for a while before going together to pay their respects to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo looked at the roomful of children, each one more beautiful than the last, her face wreathed in smiles. She quickly had maids bring snacks for You Jin and the others to eat, asked Madam Li to stay a few more days at the house, and made plans to go to the Great Xiangguo Temple and Baiyun Temple in a couple of days to worship Buddha and eat vegetarian food.
For a time, Tingxiang Courtyard was filled with laughter.
Cheng Chi stood at the entrance of Tingxiang Courtyard listening to the laughter inside. The corners of his eyes and brows curved with a faint smile. He instructed the young servant not to disturb Old Madam Guo and returned to the study.
Huai Shan silently placed a thick stack of papers in front of Cheng Chi and said: “The Second Prince has shallow learning, the Third Prince has a narrow mind, the Fifth Prince is timid as a mouse, and the Seventh Prince acts with considerable gravity but is somewhat unrealistic… He’s not even as good as the Fourth Prince!”
Cheng Chi let out a derisive sound and said: “I’m not the Emperor, and this isn’t my realm!”
The implication was that what he wanted was the Fourth Prince’s downfall. As for who became Emperor, it had nothing to do with him!
Huai Shan seemed about to speak but stopped.
Cheng Chi simply said: “Madam knows about this matter.”
Huai Shan could only retreat with a gloomy expression.
Cheng Chi began reviewing the information on several princes that he had Huo Huating investigate.
Huai Shan came in again, his expression somewhat strange: “Fourth Master, Stone Manager Shi Kuan from the Fourth Prince’s mansion would like to invite you to his home for dinner tomorrow evening.”
Cheng Chi thought for a moment and said: “After first sending opera performers and then congratulatory gifts for Yun Ge’er’s hundred-day celebration, this time they’re probably ready to serve the main course. Huai Shan, go tell the messenger that I’ll definitely be there tomorrow.”
Huai Shan bowed and left the study.
Cheng Chi remained alone in the study reviewing what Huo Donting had sent. Seeing the sky gradually darken, he put everything away in the hidden compartment behind the bookshelf and went to Tingxiang Courtyard.
Hearing he had come, both Old Madam Guo and Madam Li were overjoyed. Fortunately, there were no outsiders in the room—aside from Zhou Chujin, it was either children or elders. Zhou Chujin went to the desk on the west side. Cheng Chi came in and paid his respects to his mother and mother-in-law, rewarded his aunt and young brother-in-law each with a string of white jade eighteen-bead prayer beads, inquired about his father-in-law’s health, and then withdrew.
Zhou Shaojin and the others dined in Tingxiang Courtyard.
Cheng Chi dined alone in the main room.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart was never at ease.
One moment she worried that Cheng Chi eating alone might carelessly eat just a mouthful and be done with it. The next moment she thought about how Cheng Chi read for a while every evening when he returned. She wondered whether Qing Feng, when lighting the precious agarwood incense for Cheng Chi, had poured some water in the incense burner to eliminate the smoky smell. Then she thought about how tomorrow was Cheng Chi’s day off, and that Old Master Song was already bedridden. Madam Song wanted to move up the date of Song Mu’s wedding again and planned to come discuss it with her tomorrow. She didn’t know if Cheng Chi would be free tomorrow, and whether he would find it boring when Madam Song came… She finally waited until dinner was over before hurrying back to their room with Yun Ge’er in her arms.
Cheng Chi was wearing a moon-white fine Songjiang triple-shuttle cotton cloth, leaning against the headboard reading.
Hearing the commotion, he looked up. His handsome face appeared even more gentle and refined in the lamplight.
Zhou Shaojin stared somewhat dazedly.
Cheng Chi let out a soft laugh, tossed down his book, took Yun Ge’er into his arms, and said with a smile: “Was Yun Ge’er well-behaved today?”
From the moment their son opened his eyes, there wasn’t a moment of peace. But after three months had passed, he clearly slept less and needed to be carried around everywhere every day.
Zhou Shaojin handed the child to Cheng Chi, held her son’s small hand, and said with a smile: “Our family’s Yun Ge’er is so filial. He knew that people from his maternal family were coming today, so he didn’t cry or fuss—he was incredibly well-behaved.”
“Is that so?” Cheng Chi laughed and placed his son on the bed, sitting on the edge and bending down to play with him.
These days, what Yun Ge’er loved most was grabbing onto fingers that others extended near his hand and refusing to let go, or grabbing onto anything that touched his hand.
Cheng Chi deliberately extended his hand near Yun Ge’er’s hand, but when he tried to grab it, Cheng Chi would quickly withdraw his finger. After repeating this several times, Yun Ge’er became somewhat impatient.
Zhou Shaojin felt sorry for their son being teased like this by Cheng Chi and quickly stopped him: “It’s just playing with the child—you should give in to him…”
Before her words had even finished, she saw Yun Ge’er try once more to grab Cheng Chi’s finger and fail. The corners of his mouth drooped slightly, and with a “thump,” he kicked toward Cheng Chi’s face.
Caught off guard, Cheng Chi was kicked squarely.
Both husband and wife were stunned.
Having kicked someone, Yun Ge’er burst into aggrieved wails.
Zhou Shaojin quickly picked up Yun Ge’er, comforting her son while asking her husband: “Does it hurt? Are you injured anywhere?”
Cheng Chi touched his face and burst into hearty laughter.
In his entire life, no one had dared kick him in the face. He never expected to be kicked by his own son.
Cheng Chi couldn’t help saying: “I didn’t expect this little fellow to have such good reflexes. When he’s a bit older, he can learn martial arts from me.”
“What about the Seven Stars Hall?” Zhou Shaojin immediately asked nervously.
She didn’t want her son to become some Seven Stars Hall master, engaging in life-threatening ventures.
Cheng Chi smiled and kissed Zhou Shaojin’s tender, rosy cheek, whispering: “Don’t worry, I just want him to strengthen his body.”
Zhou Shaojin felt relieved.
The couple took turns shaking rattles and clapping hands. After a long while, they finally calmed Yun Ge’er down, and the wet nurse carried him away to bathe.
Cheng Chi sighed with relief: “Coaxing children is truly not an easy task.”
Zhou Shaojin just smiled.
A young servant came in panting to report: “Fourth Master, Old Master Wen from Xizhimen sent a servant over, saying you must go there no matter what—Grand Master Nuo has returned, and Grand Master Nuo and Grand Madam Nuo had an argument. Grand Madam Nuo tried to hang herself, but has now been rescued. Elder Master Wen wants to send Grand Madam Nuo back to Jinling and wants you to go as a witness, lest the Wu family think the Cheng family bullied Grand Madam Nuo. He also wants to borrow a few agile bodyguards from you to escort Grand Madam Nuo south.”
Cheng Nuo was neither the clan elder nor Cheng Wen’s older brother—why should he get involved in these matters!
Zhou Shaojin tightly clutched Cheng Chi’s arm.
Cheng Chi thought for a moment and said to the young servant: “It’s so late already. Since Grand Madam Nuo has been saved, have Old Master Wen send people to watch over her. Whatever needs to be discussed can wait until tomorrow!”
The young servant scurried off to deliver the message.
Cheng Chi smiled and asked Zhou Shaojin: “You don’t want me to go?”
“Mm!” Zhou Shaojin nodded, nestling into Cheng Chi’s embrace and saying in a low voice: “These kinds of matters are always a case of each side having their own reasons. I don’t like Wu Baozhang, but I also feel uncomfortable about Old Master Wen wanting to make Kang Sixth Miss an equal wife. Neither side is in the right. I don’t want you to get involved in their affairs.”