However, Cheng Shao had no intention of becoming so closely associated with the Earl of Pengcheng’s family.

Military merit and scholars were not on the same path.

Old Madam Guo had other thoughts, though, saying, “The Earl of Pengcheng is still a decent person. The reason his family values you so much is simply that they want you to teach their children—they have no other intentions.” She continued, “What woman doesn’t hope to have a maternal family? I think you should first ask Chang Shi about this matter and see what she thinks.”

Now that Aunt Chang was about to marry into the family, it was somewhat inappropriate to continue calling her “Auntie.”

Cheng Shao thought it over and felt Old Madam Guo had a point. This was, after all, Chang Shi’s matter. Most ordinary women would be willing to establish such a connection.

However, when Chang Shi heard about it, she asked Cheng Shao, “You don’t like the idea, do you, Master?”

Cheng Shao said awkwardly, “Is it that obvious?”

Chang Shi smiled with pursed lips and said, “It’s written all over your face!”

Cheng Shao said, “I just find it troublesome! It’s not for any other reason.”

Chang Shi nodded and said with a smile, “I know. You’ve always avoided getting involved in court affairs. If the Emperor became displeased because of me, that wouldn’t be good. Don’t worry about this matter. I’ll go see Zhou Shi in a moment. Didn’t she send someone to inquire about my maternal family? Why not reply to the Peng family saying my family has been found and will arrive in the capital soon? I appreciate the Peng family’s kind intentions and will go kowtow to Lady Pengcheng tomorrow to express my gratitude. Although we won’t become godmother and daughter, we can still associate as regular relatives. I hope Lady Pengcheng won’t take offense!”

Cheng Shao listened in stunned amazement. After a long while, he said, “I thought after spending so long in the palace, you might not be well-versed in these social matters. I never imagined you were so clever…”

Chang Shi’s face held a faint blush as she said, “What matters could be more complicated than palace affairs? Rest assured, Master, this matter won’t offend Lady Pengcheng or make things difficult for Old Madam Guo.”

Cheng Shao nodded, viewing Chang Shi with new respect.

Zhou Shaojin was also very surprised when she learned of Chang Shi’s thoughts. She said, “This matter is truly fortuitous—we’ve already found your maternal family. Your old master and old madam both passed away from illness over twenty years ago, one after the other. You still have a younger brother who inherited your father’s business and now runs a general goods shop. Though the shop is small, business is thriving. He has two sons and a daughter, with four grandsons, two granddaughters, one maternal grandson, and one maternal granddaughter. When he learned you were leaving the palace and getting married, your uncle immediately burst into tears, saying he would bring his wife and children to see you off. I have a residence in Yuqian Alley that usually sits empty. When your uncle arrives, he can stay there.”

Chang Shi could also depart from there for her wedding.

Her eyes moistened upon hearing this, and she said with a catch in her voice, “I never imagined he would still remember me. He was only five or six years old when I entered the palace…”

“This way you’ll be reunited!” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “I heard Second Uncle set the date for the second day of the fifth month—not much time at all. If you think this arrangement works, we can choose an auspicious day in the next couple of days for me to help you move to Yuqian Alley for a while. When your uncle arrives, you can talk with him.”

Chang Shi nodded continuously, expressing her thanks repeatedly.

A hint of hesitation flashed across Zhou Shaojin’s face.

Chang Shi quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” Zhou Shaojin said hastily. “I was just thinking about what you mentioned earlier—the Peng family is so enthusiastic simply to have Second Uncle teach their children… A few days ago, I was talking with Sister Zheng and Sister Xiao about how impressive the Cheng family clan school was back in Jinling! Everyone spoke of it with great admiration! Now that we’ve moved to the capital and the family’s children are growing in number, I was wondering if we could establish a Cheng clan school here in the capital as we did back in our Jinling hometown. We could invite renowned scholars to lecture, allowing the Cheng family children to receive guidance from distinguished teachers, and even children from poor families could learn to read and write.”

Chang Shi was astonished and asked, “You’re planning to establish a clan school?”

“It’s not decided yet,” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “It’s not a simple matter. We’ll need to discuss it with the elders before making a decision. However, if the clan school is truly established, we could also accept children from relatives and friends.”

This would solve the Earl of Pengcheng’s problem as well.

It would prevent the Earl of Pengcheng’s children from bringing large and small packages to Shuangyu Alley every time they wanted to ask Cheng Shao about their studies, only to stammer nervously when they saw him, like cats seeing a mouse. The Earl of Pengcheng’s mansion would also stop constantly scheming to have Cheng Shao tutor their children.

Lady Pengcheng wouldn’t need to insist on taking Chang Shi as a goddaughter, and since Lady Pengcheng’s objective would be achieved, there would be no issue of offending her.

Chang Shi, having served in Qianqing Palace for so many years, was no simple person. Understanding the subtle meaning, she immediately grasped Zhou Shaojin’s intention and said, “Is there anything I can help with?”

“The clan school still lacks good teachers,” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile in her eyes. “It would be wonderful if Second Uncle could help recommend a few people.”

If it was this matter, it could only be discussed after she had officially entered the family.

Chang Shi smiled faintly without answering.

But Zhou Shaojin understood in her heart that Chang Shi was agreeing to her request.

When she saw Old Madam Guo, she told her about this matter.

Old Madam Guo was first surprised by Zhou Shaojin and the others’ plan, then gratified that Chang Shi would rather forgo becoming kin with Lady Pengcheng’s family for Cheng Shao’s sake.

The old lady laughed warmly, her expression pleased, and said, “Take your time with this matter. When the time comes, we can establish the school at Chaoyang Gate. That way it will be more convenient for Yun Ge’er to study in the future. However, you also need to work harder and give Yun Ge’er a few more brothers and sisters, or else such a fine school would be wasted.”

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed crimson as she murmured her agreement.

Old Madam Guo was very pleased and called Yuan Shi and Qiu Shi over to discuss Cheng Shao’s wedding: “The results will be announced at the end of the third month, the imperial bachelor examination is in the fourth month, and by the end of that month, it will be our Yun Ge’er’s first birthday. Then in the fifth month, his second great-uncle is getting married—he can relax a bit and enjoy a good drink.”

“But the results haven’t been announced yet?” Yuan Shi looked somewhat nervous and said, “I showed the essays Jiashan wrote to his uncle, and his uncle said they were balanced and proper… I’m afraid he won’t get a good ranking.”

Old Madam Guo glanced at her without speaking, instead turning her gaze to Qiu Shi and saying, “Your elder sister-in-law is busy with Jiashan’s matters, so we won’t trouble her. In a couple of months, when it’s Yun Ge’er’s first birthday, you must come help Shaojin.”

“Naturally,” Qiu Shi said with a smile, agreeing readily.

A young maid came in to report: “Master Cheng Zheng and Master Pan from Jiuru Alley are requesting an audience!”

They were cousins who had come to the capital together to take the examination, renting a small courtyard at an inn not far from the examination grounds. When they first arrived in the capital, the two had come to kowtow to Old Madam Guo, but she had refused to see them, citing Cheng Chi’s absence. After that, Cheng Zheng and Pan Zhuo hadn’t come again. Now that they had completed the metropolitan examination, they had come again.

Yuan Shi’s handkerchief was twisted into a ball.

Old Madam Guo frowned and asked, “What are they doing here?”

The clever young maid said, “The two masters said that previously they were studying for the examination and couldn’t come to pay respects to Old Madam. Now that the examination is over, they’ve come specially to inquire after Old Madam’s health.”

“Tell them I’m old and no longer receive visitors. Please ask them to return!” Old Madam Guo said coolly, instructing Nanny Lü, “If they won’t leave, go fetch Jiashan. I don’t want to see a single person from the third branch!”

Nanny Lü respectfully acknowledged and withdrew with the young maid.

Old Madam Guo fell silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

Yuan Shi’s expression greatly brightened.

Zhou Shaojin and Qiu Shi felt it wasn’t appropriate to say anything, but she was somewhat curious about Cheng Zheng’s marriage prospects.

In her previous life, Cheng Zheng had adopted a strategy of holding out for the best offer and hadn’t married until after passing the provincial examination, when he began discussing marriage arrangements. He ultimately married the daughter of Wang Jian, the Vice Minister of Personnel, gaining an extremely influential wife’s family.

If the Cheng family hadn’t been confiscated, he would have been a winner in life.

Now Cheng Zheng already held the provincial graduate title—she just didn’t know if he had married yet.

That evening, when whispering with Cheng Chi under the covers, Zhou Shaojin asked him, “Has Cheng Zheng married yet?”

“I don’t know.” Cheng Chi was absorbed in reading a book, his answer somewhat distracted.

Zhou Shaojin tilted her head to look at the book’s cover, but it was just blue paper with nothing written on it.

Cheng Chi said, “It was written by Yang Shoushan. A gentry family from Shandong funded its publication. It’s about the hydrology of Hebi. I heard he plans to spend twenty years traveling throughout the nine provinces to create a comprehensive hydrology map.”

“I never knew he had such aspirations!” Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised to hear this, and her feelings were somewhat complicated.

If he hadn’t gotten involved with Qu Yuan, would the outcome have been different?

However, Qu Yuan was his superior—it would likely be difficult for him to avoid Qu Yuan.

Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, “Did he have someone send you this book?”

“No,” Cheng Chi said with a smile. “The gentry patron who funded the publication sent a copy to Second Brother. Knowing I was interested in such matters and had once been Yang Shoushan’s subordinate, when he sent someone to report to Mother, he had them bring this to me.” As he spoke, he closed the book and smiled, asking, “Why did you suddenly ask about Cheng Zheng’s marriage?”

Zhou Shaojin told Cheng Chi about her intuition, saying, “…so I wanted to know.”

Cheng Chi acknowledged with an “Oh” and said nothing more. The two extinguished the lamp and retired for the night.

The next day, when Cheng Chi returned from his office, Zhou Shaojin was helping him change clothes when he suddenly said, “Cheng Zheng hasn’t married yet. However, it seems he wants to marry the daughter of Wang Jian, the Vice Minister of Personnel. He wanted Elder Brother to act as matchmaker, but was refused by Elder Sister-in-law.”

Zhou Shaojin was astonished and asked, “How could he think to marry Minister Wang’s daughter?”

In her previous life, Cheng Zheng had indeed married Wang Jian’s daughter.

But at that time, he had been studying at Xinglin Alley with Cheng Jing’s support, and as a young provincial graduate, he could be considered a suitable match.

But in this life, his father was just a commoner. Although he was a young provincial graduate, the gap between him and the Wang family’s status was far too great.

“It seems he inquired among our family’s marriage connections,” Cheng Chi said dismissively. “The Wang family and Hong family are related by marriage. After he passed the provincial examination, he asked Old Lady Hong to act as matchmaker, but was politely refused by the Wang family. Then, hearing from someone that Elder Brother had a good relationship with Wang Jian, he wanted to ask Elder Brother to intervene.”

In her previous life, his marriage proposal had been initiated by Old Lady Hong.

In this life, it was refused.

Was it because Jiuru Alley had now separated from the main clan?

This life had too many changes!