No matter how well she slept, with Yun Ge’er’s first birthday celebration tomorrow, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t continue staying in bed.

Seeing it wasn’t yet noon, she freshened up again and went to Tingxiang Courtyard.

Old Madam Guo was accompanying Yun Ge’er as he played with a nine-ring puzzle.

Unable to solve the puzzle no matter how he tried, Yun Ge’er angrily grabbed it and started wailing. When he saw his mother enter, his eyes filled with tears as he stretched out his arms toward Zhou Shaojin, crying “Mama!”

Seeing him act spoiled while still tightly clutching the nine-ring puzzle, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but smile. After paying her respects to Old Madam Guo, she took her son into her arms and asked gently, “What’s wrong with our Yun Ge’er? Why are you unhappy?”

Though Yun Ge’er had learned to call people early, even approaching one year old, he could still only say two words.

He stuffed the nine-ring puzzle into Zhou Shaojin’s arms and said aggrievedly, “It bad.”

Zhou Shaojin and the others all laughed heartily.

Yun Ge’er felt even more wronged.

Zhou Shaojin carefully demonstrated how to solve it once for Yun Ge’er.

Yun Ge’er remembered the first few steps but couldn’t remember the later ones. He threw another tantrum and tossed the nine-ring puzzle to the floor.

Zhou Shaojin picked it up and continued teaching Yun Ge’er how to solve the puzzle while discussing tomorrow’s first birthday grasping ceremony with Old Madam Guo: “…The elders will sit with Second Uncle in the outer courtyard’s flower hall, with only tea service arranged. Several old madams will be brought to Tingxiang Courtyard to talk with you, with a female storyteller arranged. Other male guests will be in the outer courtyard’s study, and the ladies in the garden’s flower hall, with both opera performances and plays. The grasping ceremony will be arranged in the main hall. Those who wish to observe can come watch, and those who don’t can continue their conversations and watch the opera.”

The elders all feared noise and might not necessarily come watch Yun Ge’er’s grasping ceremony.

“Your arrangement is very proper.” Old Madam Guo smiled and nodded, though her attention remained on Yun Ge’er. “Several great scholars are coming to attend Yun Ge’er’s grasping ceremony this time. They must be well accommodated. If Yun Ge’er can form a scholarly connection, that would be excellent. I’ve invited Academician Wu from the Hanlin Academy to keep them company, so you needn’t worry about that—just focus on Yun Ge’er’s grasping ceremony.”

After the mother and daughter-in-law talked for quite a while, Yun Ge’er successfully solved the nine-ring puzzle.

He happily held up the puzzle to show Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin.

Old Madam Guo smiled and patted his head, while Zhou Shaojin kissed her son’s cheek twice with “smack, smack” sounds, praising him: “Our Yun Ge’er is so capable!”

Yun Ge’er clearly preferred his mother’s form of encouragement. Imitating Zhou Shaojin, he leaned toward her and kissed her twice as well. Still not satisfied, he ran to Old Madam Guo’s side, wanting to kiss her too.

Old Madam Guo had never been kissed like this in her entire life. She stood dazed for a long while before coming to her senses. Once she did, she couldn’t help but hold Yun Ge’er in her arms, saying to Zhou Shaojin: “I wonder who this child takes after? His father and I are both people who don’t know how to sweet-talk others, yet he’s so good at it. He’s sweet-mouthed with everyone he meets.”

He must take after her!

Zhou Shaojin thought this in her heart but didn’t dare say it aloud.

For a boy to enjoy sweet-talking and coaxing people wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Yet such a child was indeed very endearing.

Zhou Shaojin wondered whether she should mention this to Cheng Chi.

However, Cheng Chi didn’t return until lamplight time.

“Have you eaten yet?” Zhou Shaojin asked while helping him change clothes. “The kitchen hasn’t sealed the stove yet.”

Occasionally, like today, Cheng Chi would be delayed by matters without sending someone home to inform them, arriving late. A couple of times he had hastily filled his stomach at the office before returning.

“I have no appetite.” Cheng Chi said coolly. Only then did Zhou Shaojin notice his gaze was extremely cold, and his expression appeared somewhat stern.

She hadn’t seen him look this way in a long time.

Zhou Shaojin thought about how the weather was getting hot—it was too early to use ice, but without ice it felt rather stuffy. She considered: “How about I have the kitchen make you a bowl of small noodles with just a little chili pepper, and cut some small cucumber strips to mix in…”

Cucumbers weren’t yet in season in the capital, but some people in Fengtai were growing small cucumbers in warm houses to sell as fruit. Since Cheng Chi liked them, the household never ran out.

Cheng Chi thought about it and nodded.

By the time Zhou Shaojin gave the instructions and returned, Cheng Chi was already sitting on the large kang by the window drinking tea.

Yun Ge’er had been kept at Tingxiang Courtyard by Old Madam Guo. Zhou Shaojin took out her needlework from under the kang table and sewed a few stitches while chatting with Cheng Chi: “Why did you come back so late today? Tomorrow is Yun Ge’er’s grasping ceremony—will you be able to stay home?”

Tomorrow wasn’t a rest day.

Zhou Shaojin had thought Cheng Chi would take leave to stay home, but looking at the situation now, she couldn’t be certain.

Cheng Chi said: “I already requested leave from the office long ago—I’ll be home tomorrow!”

So it wasn’t official business making him unhappy!

Zhou Shaojin quietly studied Cheng Chi.

Seeing this, Cheng Chi laughed. He stretched his arm across the table to pat Zhou Shaojin’s head, saying: “What are you thinking? If you have something to say, just say it! When did I ever teach you to watch my moods and act accordingly?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled sheepishly and said: “I’m just afraid you’re unhappy!”

“Even if I’m unhappy, I wouldn’t show you a sour face.” Cheng Chi said, “You want to know why I’m uncomfortable, don’t you?”

Zhou Shaojin nodded.

Ji Xiang directed several young maids to bring in the small noodles.

Cheng Chi dropped the subject.

Zhou Shaojin busied herself setting out bowls and chopsticks, then dismissed the servants from the room.

Cheng Chi took a bite of noodles.

The noodles were springy, tangy, spicy, and fragrant, with crisp and refreshing cucumber shreds that greatly improved his mood.

“Everyone knows my eldest son’s grasping ceremony is tomorrow, so I left the office early.” After eating a few bites and drinking some mulberry tea, he put down his chopsticks and said to Zhou Shaojin: “I went to Xinglin Alley—Elder Brother has a fellow examination candidate named Han Zongmei who’s been boasting outside that he was able to become Xuantong’s Commander-in-Chief entirely due to Elder Brother’s recommendation.”

Shouldn’t people keep such matters hidden?

Zhou Shaojin was astonished.

Seeing her reaction, Cheng Chi nodded slightly and said: “Whether Han Zongmei let it slip or did it deliberately, we can’t associate with this person anymore. I originally just wanted to ask Elder Brother if he knew about this, but I happened to encounter people from the Han family who, hearing that Jiashan was being sent to an external post, had specially sent their secretary to deliver gifts.

“In my opinion, accepting one or two items to maintain appearances and then gradually distancing ourselves would have been fine. But Elder Brother flew into a rage and returned everything.

“It was right during the office dismissal time, and Xinglin Alley is home to many fourth and fifth-rank capital officials. Now everyone saw—Elder Brother did a good deed but offended everyone.” As he spoke, he sighed helplessly. “Elder Brother is approaching fifty—how can he still be so unable to control his temper? In the ups and downs of official life, what’s most feared is offending people…”

Seeing Zhou Shaojin’s face full of worry, he quickly added: “However, at Han Zongmei’s age, still only promoted to Xuantong Commander-in-Chief, his abilities must be mediocre. Offending him doesn’t matter much. I’ve made inquiries about him. After completing his mourning period, he was reinstated. When he previously served as prefect in Jiaxing, he was impeached for corruption. Though it ultimately came to nothing, there’s no smoke without fire. This shows he’s not a good person either. It’s actually better to keep far away from him.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand these major court matters. If Cheng Chi said it didn’t matter, then it surely didn’t matter. Moreover, in her previous life, she had never heard of this person, which showed he truly had no significance. She smiled and nodded, then stood to refill his mulberry tea.

After finishing his noodles, Cheng Chi took Zhou Shaojin’s hand for a stroll to pay respects to Old Madam Guo.

The courtyard’s tuberose flowers were all in bloom, crystal clear and translucent in the cool moonlight, piled like snow with their delicate fragrance floating in the air.

Cheng Chi held Zhou Shaojin’s hand as they walked slowly.

The maids and servants followed at a distance.

The couple spoke intimately in low voices.

“I never expected Fourth Lang to worry about Elder Uncle offending people.” Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat shy having Cheng Chi hold her hand like this, but since he insisted on holding it, she naturally wouldn’t refuse him. Besides, she undeniably found it very sweet. “In my impression, Fourth Lang seems afraid of nothing.”

“I’m not afraid.” Cheng Chi said nonchalantly. “But my elder brother is somewhat soft in his actions. Sometimes he clearly knows something is wrong but can’t bring himself to deal with it, hesitating until he entangles himself in it. He’s not like me…”

Zhou Shaojin giggled and said: “Fourth Master can’t tolerate even a grain of sand in his eye.” Her laughter scattered like silver bells through the night’s flowers and trees.

“Am I really that strict?” Cheng Chi looked at her smiling face with curved eyebrows, his expression becoming lighter.

Zhou Shaojin leaned against him, hugging Cheng Chi’s arm and nuzzling his shoulder.

Cheng Chi’s gaze toward her immediately filled with indulgence. After walking quietly with her for a while, he said: “After the Dragon Boat Festival, let’s move to the water pavilion in the garden. It’s by the lake, so it’s cooler. I originally planned for us to move to Tingxiang Courtyard in summer… Since Mother has moved there, we’ll just stay at the water pavilion for two months.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t mind where she lived as long as she was with Cheng Chi. She said: “But that way we’ll be rather far from Mother. Won’t she be unhappy?”

“Then we’ll just have a few more children.” Cheng Chi laughed softly, whispering in her ear: “With such a large residence and only a few of us living here, how desolate! “

Zhou Shaojin was so embarrassed her ears turned red.

There truly were too few people in the household—the east wing had no one living there at all.

“That’s why we’re moving to the water pavilion.” Cheng Chi smiled meaningfully. “You can also meet with the household’s supervising servants there.”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded as she obediently nodded.

※※※

At Xinglin Alley, Cheng Jing and Yuan Shi were at daggers drawn.

“Didn’t I tell you to return to your parents’ home? Why haven’t you gone yet?” Cheng Jing pointed at the gift list the steward had nervously presented to him after seeing him make Han Zongmei’s secretary take back all the gifts Han Zongmei had sent. He was so angry blood rushed to his head.

Yuan Shi’s temper wasn’t good either. With a stern face, she said in a low voice: “One moment you tell me to go to Shuangyu Alley to help Mother arrange Second Uncle’s wedding, the next to see if there’s anything needed for Yun Ge’er’s grasping ceremony, then another moment to return to my parents’ home to deliver gifts. With Jiashan about to depart for Mianzhu, even with three heads and six arms I couldn’t manage everything! How can you reproach me like this?”

If she hadn’t reminded her, would she have gone to help at Shuangyu Alley? Would she have shown her face at Chaoyangmen? As for Jiashan’s external posting, the daughter-in-law didn’t understand but didn’t dare ask for her guidance, instead asking younger sister-in-law Qiu Shi to help…

Thinking about this, Cheng Jing couldn’t help rubbing his forehead.

How had Yuan Shi become like this?

After a long while, he finally collected himself and said: “Put other matters aside for now and return to your parents’ home first…”

Yuan Shi coldly interrupted Cheng Jing: “Tomorrow is Yun Ge’er’s grasping ceremony. Are you certain you want me to return to my parents’ home first?”