When Ji Cheng heard that the Old Madam wanted to see her, she had already guessed the reason. Sure enough, the Old Madam began by saying, “I hear that for the past half month, Ah Che hasn’t even been returning to his room. He’s becoming more and more outrageous.”
Ji Cheng knew well that the Old Madam wasn’t scolding Shen Che, and she didn’t have the thick skin to blame things on him. “The young master returns to Nine Li Courtyard every day, but sometimes he enters through the garden gate, so the servants might not see him.”
The Old Madam nodded, satisfied with Ji Cheng’s response. Even if a wife has many complaints about her husband, she shouldn’t reveal them to others. “Do you think there’s anything about Ah Che that I don’t know? You don’t need to cover for him.”
There were too many traps in these words, so Ji Cheng didn’t dare to respond.
The Old Madam continued, “Ah Che has always been a bit wild since he was young. No one in the family could control him. Even when his grandfather was alive, he dared to play on top of his head. But don’t be fooled by his appearance; he cares about this family more than anyone.”
Ji Cheng nodded. Shen Che had always been generous in helping those with the Shen surname.
“You’re his wife now. No matter how outrageous he is outside, you have a place in his heart,” the Old Madam said, her gaze scanning Ji Cheng’s face.
Ji Cheng didn’t understand the Old Madam’s cryptic words, so she remained silent.
In the Old Madam’s eyes, this behavior seemed like that of a young wife sulking with her husband. She sighed and said, “Ah Cheng, I know you’ve always been clever. There are many temptations in the outside world, and men are bound to be distracted. At this time, if a wife only sulks and pushes her husband away, it will only benefit those vixens outside. Don’t you agree?”
The reasoning was sound, and Ji Cheng nodded, seemingly understanding a bit of the Old Madam’s meaning. Had Shen Che recently taken up with another woman outside, prompting the Old Madam to come and enlighten her? So Ji Cheng responded respectfully, “Ah Cheng understands.”
“It’s good if you truly understand.” The Old Madam, being a grandmother, couldn’t interfere too much in Shen Che’s personal affairs, so she couldn’t speak too plainly. She changed the subject, “You’ll be turning twenty after the New Year, right?”
Ji Cheng’s heart sank, and she nodded weakly.
“Having a child quickly is the real solution. If there’s a child in the family, Ah Che’s heart will settle down a bit. He loves children the most. Hong’er has been attached to him since he was little. If he had his child, he’d probably be over the moon with joy,” the Old Madam continued to hint at Ji Cheng. If she still wouldn’t lower her pride at this point, then the Old Madam couldn’t help her anymore.
Ji Cheng wanted a child more than anyone, whether a son or a daughter. At least it could serve as a buffer and bond between her and Shen Che. Thinking of this, Ji Cheng couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. She seemed to be daydreaming.
They had been intimate on the grasslands, but she still hadn’t conceived. It was a matter of fate. Perhaps the connection between her and Shen Che was forced from the beginning, very strained, so it was destined to break.
Ji Cheng’s fingers tapped lightly on the table as she planned for her future. She couldn’t return to the Ji family, nor did she want to. If she left the Shen family, whether divorced or separated, she couldn’t stay in the capital. The Western Regions were under the control of the Jingshi Army, and the Northwest had Zai Na’s Zoroastrianism. Ji Cheng’s remaining choices were either to go east or south.
After considering several options, Ji Cheng settled on the southeast. It was close to the sea, offering both proximity and distance. Emperor Qin Shi Huang had once sent a fleet to search for the elixir of immortality overseas. Although they returned empty-handed, it showed the possibilities beyond the sea.
Ji Cheng also pondered the business she had discussed with Shen Yuan before leaving the capital. Opening her trade route to the southeast could be a worthwhile endeavor.
Ji Cheng took out a pen and paper, sketching and planning her future. Occasionally, she would pause and look up, seeing Shen Che’s figure before her. Sometimes even she felt frightened by her coldness, being able to calmly arrange all her future affairs like this.
How could someone like her be worthy of others’ affection?
Near noon, Ji Cheng put away the papers she had been scribbling on. After lunch, instead of resting, she heard from Nishang that Shen Che had eaten breakfast and gone out. Ji Cheng then went up to the top courtyard through the secret passage.
At first, Ji Cheng had thought the door to the top courtyard’s secret passage would be locked. She had come up with a try-it-and-see attitude, not expecting to be able to push it open.
The corner still held boxes full of account books. Ji Cheng opened the middle box on the left and took out a stack of ledgers. She flipped through the pages with her left hand while using an abacus with her right to check the accounts.
After finishing one volume, she began writing summaries in a small notebook she had prepared. Ji Cheng worked extremely fast, perhaps because she was so eager to do well. Her concentration was intense, and her efficiency was nearly double that of before.
It wasn’t until the sun was setting that Ji Cheng rubbed her neck and closed the ledger, putting everything back in its place. Although Shen Che wouldn’t return this early, Ji Cheng always tried her best to avoid letting him see her. She at least had this much self-awareness.
In the evening, when she went to pay respects to the Old Madam, Second Madam Huang and Ji Lan were also there. It turned out that Shen Yu would be entering the capital in a few days, and Madam Huang was busy preparing to welcome him. The palace had already sent definite news that on the day of presenting captives, the Emperor would elevate Shen Yu’s father, Earl Zhongyi Shen Xiu, to Marquis Zhongyi. This was a great joy that naturally called for celebration.
In the past two days, people had been coming in droves to offer congratulations. In a couple of days, they might wear out the threshold. Cui Long couldn’t handle everything alone, so Second Madam Huang asked Ji Cheng and Li Rui to help out at the mansion.
Ji Cheng could only agree, but she felt conflicted. When she hadn’t cared before, she never empathized with Shen Che. Now that she cared, she realized his life might not be as satisfying as it seemed.
Although she didn’t know exactly what had happened later, Ji Cheng didn’t believe that Shen Che had no merit in the great victory at Leyuan Pass, where they had defeated a larger force. Li Simo’s support had been entirely planned by Shen Che. Yet in the end, he could only hide his achievements and fame, continuing to play the role of a wastrel.
All the glory of the Shen family was on Shen Yu, on the second branch.
Of course, there were unavoidable choices in this. If both the first and second branches had significant achievements, the Emperor in the palace would be unable to sleep.
Before, she hadn’t felt anything about it, but now Ji Cheng couldn’t help but wonder why it was Shen Che who had to step back. She thought that with Shen Che’s abilities, he would certainly not be inferior to Shen Yu if he stood in the spotlight.
And which man doesn’t want to achieve great things and have his name recorded in history?
Wasn’t Shen Che always constrained by Chancellor Liang Jin because his identity couldn’t be revealed? From the few times Ji Cheng had heard Shen Che discuss court affairs, she could infer that he had many grand plans but could only hope for others to realize them.
Ji Cheng felt depressed, and naturally couldn’t bring a bright smile to her face. In Li Rui’s eyes, this was seen as jealousy. Although the first branch had previously held the advantage, with their hereditary Duke title and Princess An He being the Emperor’s sister, and the Old Madam favoring Shen Che the most, it seemed that Ji Cheng had married the best.
But now, looking again, the second branch’s title had become that of a Marquis, and Shen Yu was a meritorious official of the state. His glory and halo had long surpassed the first branch. As for Li Rui, although she knew she couldn’t compare to Cui Long, Shen Jing had passed the provincial examination last autumn and was expected to do well in the metropolitan examination. His future looked bright. Moreover, Li Rui was now pregnant, elevating her status in the Shen family. Even Shen Jing had moved back from Dongshan Academy and was attentive to her every day.
In comparison, the solitary Ji Cheng seemed to be the most pitiful. What difference was there between having a husband and not having one? Li Rui had heard that Shen Che had taken a liking to a Turkic woman on the grasslands, a woman of exceptional beauty and skill. Ji Cheng, as the official wife, had been pushed aside with nowhere to stand. It was truly pitiful.
But pity aside, Li Rui didn’t have a good attitude towards Ji Cheng. She disliked her just for having the character “Cheng” in her name. Whether it was Chen, Cheng, or Cheng, she disliked any name with that pronunciation.
Li Rui smiled at Cui Long and said, “Elder Sister-in-law must be overjoyed now, right?”
Cui Long looked at Li Rui in confusion. Li Rui laughed loudly, “Isn’t Elder Brother-in-law coming back? Since your marriage, you’ve spent more time apart than together. Now that your Elder Brother-in-law is returning, you’ll surely have a reunion sweeter than a new marriage. Maybe in a month or two, we’ll hear good news from you.”
As Li Rui spoke, she retched slightly. She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and touched her belly, saying, “I don’t know what little demon I’m carrying. It’s making me so sick, I throw up everything I eat.”
Cui Long said gently, “You should go back and rest. We have me and my Second Sister-in-law here, it’s enough.”
Li Rui pouted and complained, “I don’t want to. My husband is too worried about this little thing in my belly. He’s always controlling what I eat and when I sleep. Fortunately, my Elder Brother-in-law is coming back, so my husband is busy with social engagements and doesn’t have time to fuss over me. If I go back now, he’ll surely start nagging me again.” Li Rui clung to Cui Long’s arm and shook it, “Good Sister-in-law, please help me. Let me catch my breath here for a while.”
Cui Long amusedly poked Li Rui’s forehead, “You don’t know how lucky you are. Fourth Brother is so caring, yet you have so many complaints.”
“That’s just how it is,” Li Rui pouted. Though she was speaking to Cui Long, her eyes were fixed on Ji Cheng.
Ji Cheng naturally saw Li Rui’s intention to show off. Cui Long also understood Li Rui’s little trick and was puzzled as to why she felt the need to step on someone’s sore spot.
Cui Long gave Ji Cheng an apologetic smile, which Ji Cheng returned faintly. Li Rui’s punch had hit Cotton, and she lost interest. She turned to ask Cui Long for a room and went to lie down.
This left Ji Cheng to help Cui Long wholeheartedly with various household matters. There weren’t any big issues, just too many trivial details. If even a small thing was overlooked, it could easily lead to criticism that the Shen family was arrogant with their achievements and neglectful of guests.
Ji Cheng shuttled daily between the second and first branches, never forgetting to avoid Shen Che and check the account books in the top courtyard. She had already filled three small notebooks with summaries, leaving them on the small table in the top courtyard. Shen Che must have seen them.
Ji Cheng couldn’t describe her feelings. She knew Shen Che wouldn’t respond, and she shouldn’t have any expectations, yet she couldn’t help but have a glimmer of hope. It was truly laughable.
After the first month of the lunar year, on the second day of the second month, known as the Dragon Raising Its Head Day, Shen Yu’s troops finally arrived at the outskirts of the capital. The newly appointed Chancellor Ge Song personally went to the suburbs to welcome them, then led Shen Yu’s troops into the city.
On this day, the capital was filled with the sound of drums and music. Everyone was jubilant, and at dawn, commoners crowded the imperial street until it was impassable. Although Ji Cheng didn’t go herself, from the words of Yuqian, who had sneaked out to see the excitement and returned, she could imagine the bustling scene and picture the proud and imposing figure of Shen Yu sitting on horseback, revered by all.
Shen Yu and his group first presented captives at the Meridian Gate, then entered the palace for a banquet, not returning to the Shen mansion until late at night.
The Old Madam hadn’t slept that night either, waiting in full makeup for Shen Yu and Shen Jing to return. When she heard the servant boy running in with a “thump, thump, thump” to report that the First Young Master and Third Young Master’s procession had reached the end of the street, Madam Huang hurriedly supported the Old Madam’s hand, leading all the daughters-in-law out of the main gate to welcome them on the street.