Jiashu Hall was located on the eastern side of the fourth branch and served as the main residence of the fourth branch. Old Madam Guan was a widow. After the old master passed away, according to propriety she should have moved to Jingxing Pavilion on the western side. But at that time the children were all still young, and there were no elders in the household, so they didn’t concern themselves with such formalities. When Cheng Mian married, Old Madam Guan wanted to vacate the main residence for her eldest son, who should be managing the household’s affairs. But Cheng Mian was unwilling—Jingxing Pavilion was on the western side of the fourth branch, right next to the fifth branch, and the fifth branch was constantly in turmoil. He feared both disturbing his mother and that she would hear the commotion and be upset.

After consulting with Cheng Yuan and his wife’s family, he arranged the bridal chamber at Hanqiu Pavilion behind Jiashu Hall.

This was the first time he had made a decision. Old Madam Guan couldn’t very well contradict her son, and she was also inclined to avoid the vexing matters of the fifth branch, so she continued living there.

When Zhou Shaojin entered Jiashu Hall, the morning mist had already dispersed. Green willows drooped gently on one side, osmanthus trees provided shade, and crepe myrtles, roses, winter jasmines, and oleanders competed in full bloom. The fragrance of grass and trees was mixed with a faint floral scent that couldn’t help but lift one’s spirits.

The person who came to greet them was Si’er, the senior maid at Old Madam Guan’s side.

She wore a madder-red ramie vest, her round face bearing a sweet smile. From afar she curtsied to Zhou Shaojin and the others in greeting, saying, “Second Miss, the old madam is waiting for you.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded to her, entering the main hall.

Old Madam Guan sat on a low couch in the main hall with a carved red lacquer backrest inlaid with Lingshan stone, holding the hand of Zhou Chujin, who stood before the couch, speaking with her.

She was fifty-six this year. Her hair was graying, making her look five or six years older than her actual age. She wore a sapphire-blue cloud-pattern floral jacket.

Hearing the sound, she turned her head.

Her gentle gaze carried a kind smile—loving and warm.

Tears instantly welled up in Zhou Shaojin’s eyes.

She quickly lowered her head, curtsied, and called out “Grandmother,” her voice unconsciously carrying a note of choking emotion.

Old Madam Guan chuckled and said, “Been confined for a few days and suffered some grievances, haven’t you? Come, come to your grandmother.”

Zhou Shaojin stepped forward.

The maids hurriedly brought in two embroidered stools and placed them before the low couch.

Old Madam Guan grabbed a handful of nest-shaped candy from the tiered box on the couch table and gave it to her, saying, “This is what your Cousin Gao specially had a classmate bring back from the capital to honor me with. It’s very sweet—you should try some too.”

The old lady loved children and always kept some sweets with her. When she encountered children, she would grab a few pieces to give them. All the children in the household, whether young masters, young ladies, maids, or servants, all liked her.

Being treated like a child this way, the tension in Zhou Shaojin’s heart instantly dissipated like smoke, replaced instead by a feeling of being cherished. Tears couldn’t help but well up again.

“Child, why are you crying for no reason?” Old Madam Guan handed her a handkerchief, saying, “If you have something to say, say it properly! Will crying make things better? Stop crying now!”

The old lady had experienced many partings through life and death and most disliked people crying and weeping.

Zhou Shaojin quickly wiped her eyes and smiled, saying, “I haven’t seen Grandmother for several days and was craving Grandmother’s delicious treats!”

Old Madam Guan saw that although she was smiling, the corners of her eyes still held some moisture, like pear blossoms battered by rain, bearing a somewhat frail and delicate appearance. She couldn’t help but feel affection and said gently, “Even so, you mustn’t always cry like this! When a young lady occasionally sheds a tear or two, those are golden beans. If you’re always crying, then it’s just water—nothing precious at all.”

Zhou Shaojin was slightly stunned.

In her memory, this was the first time Grandmother had taught her principles about conducting herself this way.

All along, her feelings toward her grandmother had been very subtle. She both wanted her grandmother to like and value her, yet felt that she was only her grandmother’s nominal granddaughter. No matter how well-behaved, sensible, considerate, and gentle she was, there was no way she could compare to her sister, who shared a blood relationship with Grandmother.

And Grandmother indeed treated her and her sister differently.

Toward her, Grandmother had always been lenient.

Toward her sister, Grandmother was very strict.

When she was young and naive, she hadn’t noticed. But when she grew older and understood that sometimes strictness was also a form of love—even a deeper love than leniency—and after learning about her relationship with the Cheng family, she began to feel uncomfortable. She started avoiding seeing Grandmother whenever possible, staying in her room whenever she could…

What had come over Grandmother today?

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but smile and say, “Thank you for Grandmother’s teaching. I will remember it.”

Grandmother smiled and nodded, looking very gratified, and said to the people in the room, “This child truly needs to grow up. Look at Shaojin—this is the first time she’s spoken to me so readily.”

Everyone laughed.

But Zhou Shaojin thought of her former timid and hesitant manner before Grandmother, lost in thought.

Old Madam Guan pointed to the embroidered stools, having them sit. The maids brought tea and refreshments.

Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin took their seats, while Nanny Wang sat with only half her body on the stool.

Old Madam Guan smiled and shook her head, too lazy to quibble with her, and said to Zhou Shaojin, “I heard from your sister that you’ve recovered well. Tomorrow, Madam Wu, wife of Jinling Prefecture Magistrate Wu, is bringing her children to pay respects to me. You and your sister should meet them together then!”

Zhou Shaojin was both surprised and delighted, saying, “Me? Really me?”

“Yes!” Zhou Shaojin’s reaction pleased Old Madam Guan, who teased her, “Could there be a second Zhou Shaojin here?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” The matter that had been weighing on her heart had suddenly come true like a dream. That kind of joy was inexpressible. Zhou Shaojin quickly said, “I will certainly help receive the guests together with my sister then.” Before she had even finished speaking, she felt somewhat puzzled. She was still ill—why would Grandmother suddenly have her receive guests? She couldn’t help but look toward her sister.

Her sister was smiling and winking at her.

Zhou Shaojin understood—it must be that her sister had said something on her behalf to Grandmother.

She felt a dizzying sensation of being knocked over by immense happiness.

“Sister,” she said involuntarily, “thank you!”

Zhou Chujin smiled with pursed lips.

Old Madam Guan watched, her face blooming with a smile: “That’s how it should be! Two sisters should be affectionate and warm with each other.” She said to Zhou Chujin, “Are you satisfied now? You two sisters will accompany me to receive guests together tomorrow!”

“Thank you, Grandmother!” The sisters rose in unison and performed a curtsy to Old Madam Guan.

“Go on, go on!” Old Madam Guan pretended to furrow her brow, assuming an expression of great vexation, saying, “You’ve made my head ache with all this noise. Let me have some peace and quiet!”

Zhou Chujin giggled and pulled Zhou Shaojin away.

“This child!” Old Madam Guan’s smile lingered as she said to Nanny Wang, “Whatever she does, she thinks of her younger sister.” After speaking, her smile slowly turned to loneliness as she sighed, “However, this is also a cause planted by Zhuang Shi. Having reaped this good result, I don’t know whether to rejoice for this child or feel heartache for her hardships.”

Seeing Old Madam Guan and Nanny Wang beginning to speak of private matters, those serving in the room all quietly withdrew.

Nanny Wang consoled her, “Every drink and every peck is predetermined by heaven. You need not worry too much. I see that the eldest miss is blessed—otherwise, how could she have encountered Zhuang Shi? If the young master had not married Zhuang Shi, the eldest miss could not have grown up at your knee.”

“That’s true.” Old Madam Guan had always been broad-minded—otherwise she wouldn’t have lived healthily to the present. Hearing this, she immediately cheered up and smiled, saying, “The thirteenth master of the Liao family came specially on behalf of their eldest master, wanting to set the wedding date for Chujin and their family’s son-in-law first. The master has already agreed, and the letter to the young master is already on its way. Presumably they can marry once the mourning period there is complete. Once we find a good match for Shaojin, my task will be complete.” Having said this, she felt quite relieved of a burden.

But Nanny Wang listened with a slight smile and said, “Speaking of Second Miss, I actually feel that given Second Miss’s temperament, she’s not suited to be the wife of a clan heir or an eldest daughter-in-law. It would be best if she married a second son or youngest son of some family.”

Old Madam Guan agreed readily, saying, “I think the same—she always likes to keep things bottled up in her heart, and she’s sensitive and worries excessively, becoming melancholy at the slightest provocation. At home it’s fine, but if she marries, I fear she couldn’t endure a mother-in-law’s cold looks. With a second son, there’s an eldest son above who typically receives all the attention. A strong-willed mother-in-law would naturally discipline the eldest daughter-in-law and wouldn’t get around to setting rules for her. A youngest son is usually the mother’s precious darling, and nine times out of ten their temperament is somewhat indulged. Shaojin has a gentle nature and yields in all matters, so the couple would certainly treat each other with respect. The mother-in-law, for the sake of her youngest son, wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for her. When the family divides property, she might even secretly slip them some extra benefits. I think we should not only find a second or youngest son, but preferably from a simpler family—if there are too many people and complications, she couldn’t manage.” As she spoke, the old lady laughed to herself and said, “We’re worrying for her here, but perhaps it’s wasted concern. Look at her appearance—I’m afraid any man would cherish her in the palm of his hand. How many mothers can stand firm against their sons? When the time comes, we just need to find her a family that values their children.”

Nanny Wang also laughed and said, “I’ve lived this many years, and apart from Zhuang Shi, Second Miss is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. That’s why I often say that Eldest Miss has a generous nature—if it were someone else, even if they were sisters, how could they tolerate it? Why does the eldest miss of the third branch always want to compete with Second Miss? I’m afraid it also stems from this appearance.”

Old Madam Guan couldn’t help but laugh.

Nanny Wang then said, “What do you think of Second Young Master?”

“Yi’er?!” Old Madam Guan was astonished.

“Yes!” Nanny Wang said meaningfully, “When I went to deliver the message to Second Miss, she was coming out of the study, and I seemed to see Second Master Yi hiding in the bamboo grove… However, my old eyes are dim—perhaps I saw wrong…”

Old Madam Guan’s expression grew somber.

Zhou Shaojin was twelve, and Cheng Yi was fifteen. Although they were cousins living in the same household and naturally close in daily life, they had reached the age when they should avoid suspicion.

“Don’t play coy with me!” she said bluntly. “I know you saw it. Have you found out what the matter was?”

“In this old servant’s view, you might as well let nature take its course.” Nanny Wang said tactfully. “Second Miss grew up right before our eyes. Nothing else aside, she’s most amenable to teaching. With careful instruction, even if she can’t be like Eldest Miss who has an opinion on everything, she will certainly be dutiful and follow the rules—better than some stranger married in through a blind arrangement whose background we don’t know. We could also take this opportunity to arrange a good match for Elder Master Gao!”

Old Madam Guan was so shocked she sat bolt upright. She said in alarm, “You mean, Gao’er he…?”

Nanny Wang smiled and said, “I noticed that since Second Miss fell ill, the eldest master asks about Second Miss’s condition every single day…”

Old Madam Guan said nothing, furrowing her brow as she gently stroked the rim of the blue-and-white porcelain teacup.

Nanny Wang leisurely took a sip of tea.

She had said everything that needed saying. As for what outcome there would be, it depended on how the old madam decided.