The cousin who once relied on her own merits to reside in the Shen family had suddenly become a true mistress of the household. Meanwhile, she, the married-off daughter, had become an outsider beyond the walls. This stark contrast left Shen Cui feeling deeply unbalanced.
However, Shen Cui had learned not to speak her mind as freely as before, now mindful of consequences. Thus, a young woman’s directness had transformed into a married woman’s acerbity. “If not for that incident of mine, Sister Cheng wouldn’t have moved to Ruiying Hall. It’s truly a blessing in disguise,” she remarked.
Ji Cheng knew Shen Cui misunderstood, thinking she had won the Old Madam’s favor to marry Shen Che. But this was a sweet misunderstanding, preferable to Shen Cui suspecting any impropriety between her and Shen Che.
Shen Cui turned to stand beside Ji Cheng, no longer looking at her flawless, smooth face. Unlike herself, who at such a young age already had faint spots appearing on her forehead. “I remember Sister Cheng once advised me, but I didn’t listen. But, Sister, why didn’t you try harder to persuade me back then? Did you enjoy watching me plunge headfirst into the mire?”
Ji Cheng sighed. While outward behavior might change with circumstances, one’s inherent nature is hard to alter. Shen Cui still habitually blamed others for her own mistakes.
Shen Cui stood on tiptoe to whisper in Ji Cheng’s ear, “I only heard after marrying my husband that Sister also had feelings for him back then, even going so far as to curry favor with that little hussy Qi Hua.” Shen Cui’s smile carried a hint of threat.
Who hasn’t done a few foolish things in their youth? Ji Cheng recalled her flirtations with Qi Zheng, having to admit her blindness at the time.
Seeing no fear in Ji Cheng’s expression, Shen Cui added, “But don’t worry, Sister. I won’t tell Second Brother.”
Ji Cheng smiled. Shen Cui’s intentions were quite obvious. Why such eagerness to threaten her? Just how difficult had life been in the Qi family? Over the years, Ji Cheng hadn’t bothered to inquire about Shen Cui’s affairs, but now it seemed necessary to look into it.
Shen Yuan’s husband, Zeng Xiuwen, had passed the provincial examinations three years ago and now worked at the Hanlin Academy. He was just waiting for his probation period to end before being sent to serve as a local official for a few years. Upon returning to the capital, his career would soar.
These past few years, Shen Yuan had been living in the capital, privy to all the latest news. At the moment, she was cradling her younger son, entertaining him. She was truly blessed, having two children in three years – first a daughter, then a son. Everyone in the Zeng family, old and young alike, adored her.
Ji Cheng gently played with young Master Quan’s chubby little hands. Only three months old, his eyes were bright like grapes, strikingly beautiful. The Old Madam was utterly smitten, insisting that Shen Yuan bring both children whenever she visited.
“Sister Yuan, what’s the matter with Cui? She seems like a different person,” Ji Cheng asked Shen Yuan in a low voice.
Shen Yuan sighed softly, handing young Master Quan to the nearby wet nurse. She pulled Ji Cheng aside to talk. “She’s suffered an injury and hasn’t been able to conceive these past few years. Qi Zheng’s mother is also in poor health, just hanging on in hopes of seeing a grandchild. So the Qi family is quite anxious. A few times, Third Aunt even intervened on Cui’s behalf, but after three years, she felt embarrassed to meddle further in her son-in-law’s bedroom affairs. I heard that three months ago, Cui permitted her maid Qian Yun to serve her husband, but Qi Zheng himself took another concubine, apparently a distant cousin of his family.”
Now Ji Cheng could imagine the situation. Shen Cui had always been competitive by nature. Even with Ji Cheng, who posed no real threat to her interests, she resented losing the spotlight. How much worse must it be with two concubines sharing her husband? The behind-the-scenes struggles must be chaotic.
Ji Cheng used her fan to cover her mouth as she whispered, “Is Madam Qi still alive?” Years ago, judging by Qi Hua and Qi Zheng’s behavior, she had assumed their mother wouldn’t last long.
Shen Yuan playfully tapped Ji Cheng’s shoulder. “You little mischief-maker. But I’ve also heard she’s been at death’s door several times, yet nothing came of it. However, Cui has been squandering her dowry these past few years. Look at her headdress – it’s one she wore years ago, just re-gilded.”
In the capital, there was an unwritten rule about dressing for social calls. Clothes and jewelry worn to one gathering shouldn’t be repeated at the next, to demonstrate one’s wealth and refinement. Many people went to great lengths to maintain this facade, even borrowing clothes and jewelry.
“Why isn’t my aunt intervening?” Ji Cheng asked, puzzled. Ji Lan was known for being quite image-conscious.
“She can manage for a while, but not forever. The finery Third Aunt provides for Cui ends up being worn by Qi Hua after just one or two uses. She’s complained about this several times,” Shen Yuan explained. “Besides, when Fourth Brother married, the ceremony was grand and the betrothal gifts extremely generous. Even if Third Aunt had ample resources, how many fronts could she cover? In a few years, Zheng will be of age and need to marry too.” Shen Zheng was Ji Lan’s second son, the fifth in the Shen family, already twelve years old.
Noting Shen Yuan’s tone, Ji Cheng couldn’t help but smile. “From Sister’s perspective, are you already worrying about Miss E and young Master Quan’s future dowry and betrothal gifts?”
Shen Yuan laughed, pinching Ji Cheng’s cheek. “You’re the only one who doesn’t need to worry. I’ve seen your dowry list. Your father truly dotes on you. It’s as if he’s given you the entire Ji family as a dowry!”
This was a slight exaggeration, mainly because outsiders were unaware of the Ji family’s true wealth. Having managed it for so many years, Ji Cheng had multiplied the family’s fortune several times over, far exceeding Shen Yuan’s estimates.
Ji Cheng said, “No matter how large the dowry, it’s still just idle silver. I think it needs to be put to work.”
Shen Yuan’s eyes lit up, seeming to understand Ji Cheng’s meaning. She was never one to speak without purpose. “That’s perfect. I’ve been worried that even mountains of gold and silver will eventually be depleted if not invested wisely. If you’re interested, count me in as a shareholder when the time comes.”
Ji Cheng agreed with a “Sure.” She had already stepped back from all of the Ji family businesses, but the sight of silver piling up in corners, growing moldy, pained her deeply. Merchants pursue profit; only when that silver becomes flowing water can one’s heart be at ease. Ji Cheng couldn’t bear to see excess wealth lying idle. She dreamed of becoming someone like Tao Zhugong, unafraid to disperse her family fortune three times over. What she pursued was the process of earning silver.
“What are you chatting about so happily?” Shen Yun approached.
Ji Cheng wasn’t close to Shen Yun. This second sister, born to a concubine in the second branch of the family, always wore a smile and seemed to get along with everyone. But who here was a fool? The hint of hostility and contempt Shen Yun thought she hid so well was crystal clear to Ji Cheng, so she only engaged in superficial pleasantries.
After a full day of entertaining various relatives in the garden, Ji Cheng returned to Jiuli Court in the evening to find that the massive purple sandalwood bed, which had taken years to carve, had vanished. The bedchamber had been completely transformed.
Moving such large furniture into Jiuli Court had been a major undertaking. Now, to remove it would naturally cause another commotion. Ji Cheng rubbed her temples, thinking how urgent Shen Che must be, disposing of her dowry on just the second day of their marriage. Tomorrow, there will surely be many inquiries.
Ji Cheng passed through the newly hung triple layer of gauze curtains to see an enormous divan bed in the center of the room. With no posts around it, there were no bed curtains, naturally making the space feel less stuffy.
Ji Cheng averted her eyes from the pair of mandarin duck pillows brazenly placed side by side on the bed. Her gaze fell on the snow-white gauze. This material, worth several hundred taels of silver per bolt, was too precious to use even for clothing, yet Shen Che had directly hung it as curtains. However, she had to admit that the light, translucent snow-white gauze, dancing in the breeze as curtains, made the room feel like a celestial palace.
As Ji Cheng stood lost in thought, she saw the young maid Juan Bi rush in looking for Liu Ye’er. “Sister Liu Ye’er, please hurry and console Sister Yu Qian’er. She’s been crying for quite a while now, and her eyes are all swollen.”
Liu Ye’er was startled. Yu Qian’er wasn’t one to cry easily; usually, she was the one making others cry. “What happened?”
Juan Bi said, “Sister Yu Qian’er was publicly embraced by a man!”
Ji Cheng only realized later how frightening it sounded. The large rosewood bed was too heavy for ordinary servants to move, so Shen Che had called in special help. One of them, a big, dark-skinned fellow, was the same man who had once guarded Yu Qian’er and Liu Ye’er.
Yu Qian’er, unaware that Ji Cheng had approved moving the new bed, stood with her hands on her hips, adamantly refusing to let them move it. The big, dark-skinned man, growing impatient with the commotion, simply stepped forward, grasped Yu Qian’er by the waist, and lifted her out of the way.
This was too much to bear. Being embraced by a man in front of so many people, Yu Qian’er could only burst into tears.
Ji Cheng gently patted Yu Qian’er’s back and said, “Stop crying. I’ll make this right for you. If you have feelings for that big fellow, I’ll have him marry you. If not, I’ll make him apologize to you. As for anyone else who dares to gossip, you have my permission to deal with them as you see fit in this entire courtyard.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Qian’er scrambled to her feet. “I could never have feelings for him! What is he anyway? His voice is too loud, he’s rough, and he’s covered in hair. I’ll just think of it as being brushed by a dog. It’s not worth him apologizing. Just seeing him irritates me.”
Ji Cheng responded with an “Oh,” then asked, “So why are you crying so hard?”
Yu Qian’er blushed, unable to give a reason. She stammered angrily, “How could he treat me like that in public? I… I…” In the end, it seemed she was hurt by the man’s actions.
She had thought there was some affection between them, but Yuan Yong’s behavior showed no regard for her feelings, naturally leaving Yu Qian’er feeling wronged.
Ji Cheng and Liu Ye’er exchanged glances, thinking that this little girl Yu Qian’er was experiencing the first stirrings of love.
When Ji Cheng returned to the room, Shen Che had just entered. Nishang went to help Shen Che change his shoes and socks, and was about to help him change his clothes when he said, “You may go.”
After Nishang left, only Ji Cheng and Shen Che remained, looking at each other. Shen Che opened his arms towards Ji Cheng, indicating that it was only natural for a wife to help her husband change. Even though Ji Cheng was reluctant, she had to walk over and reach out to undo Shen Che’s sash.
“I never thought I’d see the day when A’Cheng would help me change,” Shen Che whispered in Ji Cheng’s ear. “In the past, it was always me helping you.”
Ji Cheng’s hand tightened as images of Shen Che helping her undress flashed through her mind. With a surge of determination, she pulled on the sash, accidentally tightening it instead of loosening it. Shen Che let out a small cry and laughed, “You’re quite strong. No wonder you have such a good appetite.”
Ji Cheng’s hand tightened again, and Shen Che quickly grabbed the sash, saying, “Alright, alright, if you pull any harder, the sash will break.” Shen Che then removed his formal robes himself and changed into the light silk robe that Nishang had prepared for wearing at home.
As he changed, Shen Che said, “We didn’t make major changes to this courtyard, thinking relatives might visit on our wedding day. Tomorrow, I’ll have Zhang Debin come in. You can tell him how you want it changed.”
Ji Cheng had heard of Zhang Debin before. A garden requires constant maintenance, and Zhang Debin was in charge of Qing Garden’s repairs. It was his great-great-grandfather who had overseen the construction of the Qing Garden, and the Zhang family had been responsible for its maintenance ever since.
Calling in Zhang Debin suggested plans for major renovations. Ji Cheng said, “There’s nothing that needs changing.”
Shen Che, now fully dressed, looked at Ji Cheng and said, “This will be your living quarters from now on. Naturally, it should be to your liking. Don’t worry about others; worrying about them inevitably means neglecting yourself.”
Ji Cheng replied, “There isn’t anything that needs changing.”
Shen Che smiled, “Very well then. I’ll have Zhang Debin come in again in a few months.”
Ji Cheng gave Shen Che a surprised look, thinking to herself that he could be extremely thoughtful when he wanted to be. He understood that as a newly married woman, she wouldn’t want to make major changes to the Nine Li Courtyard right away. Moreover, it seemed that the washroom and windows had already been renovated.
“Have you seen the study’s layout yet?” Shen Che asked.
Ji Cheng shook her head.
“Let me show you,” Shen Che said, taking a few steps forward to lead the way.
The study had been newly arranged. The windows faced a grove of green bamboo at the foot of Nine Li Courtyard’s hill, a sight both pleasing to the eye and soothing to the mind. In the center was a massive rosewood desk, adorned with exquisite ornaments. Ji Cheng immediately recognized the jade brush holder with its landscape and fishing boat design, as well as the jade goose-shaped brush rest, both rare treasures. Even more remarkable was that although they weren’t a set, their colors were almost identical, making them appear as a matching pair—truly a rare find.
“This is for your daily painting and paper-making,” Shen Che said, then added, “I didn’t put your abacus here.”
Ji Cheng wasn’t sure if Shen Che was mocking her, but then he continued, “I put your abacus in the top courtyard. You can go to the top courtyard for your daily activities, but the maids aren’t allowed up there without permission. You’ll have to manage on your own, but at least it’s quiet and private.”
Ji Cheng used to dislike the plain style of the top courtyard, with its floor seating everywhere, finding it somewhat inconvenient. But now, for some reason, she preferred its open style to the grand, imposing furniture. The small cabin where she had kept watch over the tomb in North Jin had been decorated in the style of the top courtyard and San Hao Residence.
“However, it’s best to stay in the top courtyard only during the day and return here at night to sleep,” Shen Che said with a smile at Ji Cheng. “Some things are better done in bed.”
Ji Cheng was so angered by Shen Che’s crude remarks that she wanted to poke him, but Shen Che paid no mind. He merely tested the waters with one comment and didn’t pursue it further. Instead, he said, “Let me take you to the mountaintop to see. I’ve had a sword practice platform cleared for you.”
The sword practice platform overlooked the water, the very place where Ji Cheng had nearly fallen into the pond while dancing with her sword on that snowy night when they had roasted meat and got drunk.
“I originally thought about building railings around it for you, but I was afraid you might feel restricted when practicing with your sword. As it is, you’ll need to be extra careful when you practice in the future, or perhaps invite someone to accompany you,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng thought to herself that she wouldn’t have felt restricted by railings at all. Suddenly, she realized that the one who truly feared restriction might be Shen Che himself. His reluctance to marry for so many years might well have been due to a fear of the constraints of married life. Thinking about it now, the San Hao Residence, Si Bing Residence, and the top courtyard were all open and spacious, without even partition screens. In summer, they even removed the doors, using only light gauze for privacy, minimizing any sense of confinement.
Shen Che led Ji Cheng on a tour of the entire Nine Li Courtyard, pointing to the flower hall at the very bottom, just inside the mountain gate. “That area is set up for you to handle daily affairs. In a few days, when you take over the household management, you can meet with the stewards and matrons there.”
Every aspect of the Nine Li Courtyard had been carefully considered for Ji Cheng’s benefit.
Even if Ji Cheng harbored prejudices against Shen Che, she couldn’t help but feel grateful.
However, just when Ji Cheng’s opinion of Shen Che started to improve, he always managed to ruin the atmosphere. “Do you want to play dice tonight?” he asked.