Old Madam Guo felt somewhat displeased upon hearing this.
Last time the family had a joyous occasion, the Fourth Prince’s household had also sent someone to offer congratulations. Though Cheng Chi accepted the gifts and attended the Fourth Prince’s household’s celebrations to show his face, he never stayed for the banquet but left after making an appearance, let alone visiting the Fourth Prince privately. In recent years, he had used the excuse of being on duty at the Censorate to stop going to the Fourth Prince’s household altogether, only sending the family steward to offer congratulations on his behalf.
Cheng Chi’s attitude was already very clear, yet the Fourth Prince’s household acted as if they didn’t understand. Whenever the Cheng family had an occasion worth celebrating, they sent gifts, each year’s more lavish than the last.
She asked the young maid: “Do you know what gifts they sent?”
The young maid shook her head but said proudly: “Though I don’t know what was sent, I heard from the uncles on duty at the main gate that the Fourth Prince’s household’s Chief Administrator delivered them personally… Just think, how many families have such honor.”
Old Madam Guo was unimpressed.
After Song Jingran returned home for the mourning period, those who had formerly surrounded him gathered around Zhang Hui instead. Cheng Chi remained as before—neither particularly close to Zhang Hui nor distant from him. In addition, before Song Jingran left, he had recommended Cheng Chi to teach the Crown Prince mathematics. Outsiders inevitably speculated, saying Song Jingran’s favorite disciple was Cheng Chi, but because Cheng Chi was too young and too inexperienced to stand alone, he had no choice but to entrust his network of connections to Zhang Hui. Even Zhang Hui himself felt somewhat uncertain upon hearing such rumors. Moreover, recently there had been major problems with tax revenues from Jiangnan, and the Emperor had asked several times how much longer Song Jingran had to mourn, even privately expressing an intention to “seize him from mourning.” This had suddenly made Cheng Chi quite sought-after.
Fortunately, though young, Cheng Chi had experienced much. No matter what was said outside, he remained unmoved. Only then did the rumors die down considerably.
Now they had actually sent the Fourth Prince household’s Chief Administrator to deliver gifts… This was treatment originally reserved for families of meritorious nobles or Grand Secretaries.
The Fourth Prince showing such favor was clearly like a weasel paying New Year’s respects to a chicken—harboring ill intentions.
Moreover, today was a family banquet—no outsiders had been invited at all.
Old Madam Guo put on a weary expression and said: “Go tell that woman I’m tired today and won’t see her. Have Zhenzhu give her ten taels of silver so she can report back.”
Chang Shi felt this was somewhat inappropriate.
But this was her first time having such close contact with Old Madam Guo. She wasn’t sure whether certain things should be said, and a trace of hesitation showed in her expression.
Though over forty, she was still a newly arrived daughter-in-law. Old Madam Guo originally hadn’t wanted to discuss these matters with her, but seeing her expression and remembering she had served as a palace maid in the Qianqing Palace for over twenty years, after brief consideration, she told her of her displeasure.
Chang Shi was very surprised but also somewhat grateful.
That Old Madam Guo would consult with her on such matters showed she wasn’t treating her as an outsider.
She pondered for quite a while before saying carefully: “When I served in the Qianqing Palace, Empress Yuan had already passed away, but the Fourth Prince would come visit the Emperor. Sometimes alone, sometimes with the Crown Prince. But each time he came, he would mention Empress Yuan… He was on good terms with the head eunuchs of all the palaces. For birthdays and New Year, he never forgot to send gifts. Even after leaving the palace and establishing his own household, he never forgot… Everyone in the palace said the Fourth Prince was kind and amiable… Yet his residence had the strictest rules. At the time, one of my fellow servants in the Qianqing Palace had transferred from the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace. She was the adopted daughter of Cining Palace’s head lady-in-waiting. She was only fifteen or sixteen then and loved to visit around when off duty. With her sweet tongue, all the palace eunuchs and female officials loved her. Even so, she never got to know anyone serving close to the Fourth Prince… I’ve always felt that the Fourth Prince might be different from the impression he gives people…”
Old Madam Guo’s mind went “buzz.”
She thought of Cheng Chi’s actions since coming to the capital.
Could he be taking sides?
Did he not know how dangerous this was?
Or was there some other danger?
Old Madam Guo could no longer sit still.
She wanted to summon Cheng Chi to ask, but was concerned about Chang Shi’s presence.
Chang Shi had previously served others—reading expressions had become instinct. Seeing Old Madam Guo’s slightly furrowed brow, she had already guessed somewhat. She simply smiled and stood up: “Elder Sister-in-law’s birthday celebration is still a while away, isn’t it? I’d like to visit the powder room. I wonder if there’s enough time?”
Old Madam Guo breathed a sigh of relief.
Having such a clever, perceptive sister-in-law saved so much trouble!
She smiled and instructed Chenxiang to take Chang Shi to the powder room, then urgently sent someone to fetch Cheng Chi, who was entertaining guests in the flower hall.
Cheng Chi hurried over quickly.
Old Madam Guo went straight to the point, telling Cheng Chi of her concerns and Chang Shi’s words.
Cheng Chi sighed, knowing his mother had grown suspicious.
But regarding matters from his previous life, what evidence could he use to convince his mother?
He could only tell Old Madam Guo about the Crown Prince’s death: “…This isn’t something we can resolve by not taking sides. Rather, the Cheng family is already embroiled in it. If we want to extricate ourselves, we can only prevent problems before they occur and keep our wits about us.”
Neither Cheng Chi nor Cheng Shao had told Old Madam Guo the cause of the Crown Prince’s death.
Old Madam Guo didn’t believe it: “Fourth Lang, tell me the truth—what exactly has happened? Even so, you’re a court official and the Crown Prince is the legitimate heir. It’s only right that you respect the Crown Prince. What’s there to worry about? Have you discovered something?”
Cheng Chi simply went along with Old Madam Guo’s words, explaining how he had discovered the Fourth Prince maintained contact with officials like himself—somewhat capable but not high-ranking—as well as vice commanders and assistant administrators from the Shanxi Camp, and suspected the Fourth Prince coveted the throne. He added: “Originally this wouldn’t matter. As you said, Mother, we just need to follow the Emperor. Whoever is Emperor, we follow. But now the Fourth Prince keeps sending gifts every few days. People in the capital aren’t fools—even if I wanted to distance myself from the Fourth Prince’s household now, there’s no way to do so!”
Old Madam Guo listened with furrowed brows.
Cheng Chi quickly comforted her: “Second Uncle knows about this matter. These days I consult with Second Uncle about everything. You needn’t worry.”
How could Old Madam Guo not worry? She wanted to continue questioning, but a young maid reported through the curtain that the Countess of Pengcheng had arrived.
Since several of her great-grandsons had been studying at Chaoyang Gate, she had been visiting even more frequently.
Old Madam Guo had to end the conversation and invited the Countess of Pengcheng in.
After Cheng Chi exchanged pleasantries with the Countess of Pengcheng and chatted briefly, he went to the flower hall to entertain guests.
Chang Shi, who had heard the commotion, also returned.
The three women sat there smiling and chatting, while Cheng Chi turned and went to the study.
He asked Huai Shan: “Last time you told me Cheng Lu had made contact with the Fourth Prince’s household’s Chief Administrator, then through the Chief Administrator’s introduction gained the Fourth Prince’s appreciation. Has Cheng Lu had any new movements recently?”
Huai Shan said hesitantly: “This month Cheng Lu went to the Fourth Prince’s household six times. Except for one time when the Fourth Prince wasn’t home and the Chief Administrator received him, the other five times he met the Fourth Prince. Moreover, the Fourth Prince even kept him for dinner…”
“Continue watching him,” Cheng Chi said decisively. “When necessary, lend him a hand so the Fourth Prince will trust him sooner and he can become the Fourth Prince’s advisor sooner. With his temperament, he’ll certainly find ways to deal with the Cheng family…”
Then there would be many things they could do!
Huai Shan smiled and acknowledged the order, then withdrew.
Cheng Chi sat alone in the room thinking for a long while before smiling and going to the flower hall.
Everyone was already seated, just waiting for the auspicious time to kowtow to Old Madam Guo before the banquet could begin.
Cheng Chi’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on Zhou Shaojin, who stood beside Old Madam Guo wearing a rose-red vest, her expression gentle and serene.
Next rest day, he’d take his little girl to the temple fair.
Let her get out and about too.
She shouldn’t always stay home revolving around the stove and children.
Having made this decision, the corners of Cheng Chi’s mouth curved up slightly.
Zhou Shaojin looked very happy.
These days Cheng Chi had been exhausted, spending an hour or two every night organizing material for the Crown Prince’s lessons. He also had to be busy with Censorate affairs. Throwing a birthday celebration for Old Madam so everyone could relax—this was indeed the right thing to do.
Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.
Xie Shi invited everyone to go offer incense at Red Snail Temple.
She wanted to fulfill a vow.
Zhou Shaojin very much wanted to have another child and gladly accepted the invitation.
People like Qiu Shi, the Countess of Pengcheng’s grandson’s wife, who had already borne three sons, didn’t need to pray for children, but it would be nice to go have fun, so she also agreed with a smile.
Counting this way, seven or eight people would be going.
Everyone discussed how to go, when to go, whether to stay overnight before returning… They had finally settled everything when an incident occurred the day before their departure.
The Third Prince was suddenly exposed for having illicit relations with an actor in his household during the Crown Prince’s national mourning period, even causing that actor to bear a daughter.
He cried injustice, saying the actor had just become pregnant before the Crown Prince’s death—he couldn’t possibly have committed such an unfillial act.
But the two events were too close in time. No one could guarantee when the child had been conceived.
The Emperor valued fraternal affection most.
The Third Prince went to the Qianqing Palace to confess several times but was turned away neither softly nor harshly by the Qianqing Palace’s head eunuch Liu Li.
He was devastated. Supposedly he had become so thin only bones remained.
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin felt a chill in her heart. She privately asked Cheng Chi: “Did the Fourth Prince do this? Did the Third Prince really father a daughter with an actor in his household?”
“I don’t know if he did it,” Cheng Chi said seriously. “He did indeed father a daughter with an actor in his household, but just as the Third Prince said, the timing is too close to prove he had illicit relations with that actor during the national mourning period.” As he spoke, his voice gradually lowered: “However, it was indeed the Fourth Prince who fanned the flames—after the actor became pregnant, the Third Prince, fearing someone would make an issue of it, ordered the actor killed. Who knew the actor would suddenly disappear? The Third Prince searched for a long time but couldn’t find him and didn’t dare make a fuss, gradually putting this matter aside. In reality, the actor had long been taken by the Fourth Prince to a villa to recuperate… Only now does he reveal this matter…”
“The Fourth Prince is too ruthless,” Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but murmur. “Even using pregnant women and children… And the Third Prince is too unreliable. Wasn’t he trying to compete with the Fourth Prince for the throne? Acting so recklessly, how could he possibly be a wise ruler!”