Although they weren’t outsiders, they weren’t comfortable barging directly into the inner courtyard, so after Cheng Wen and Cheng Jing entered the main hall, they stood in front of the screen between the hall and the rest chamber, listening to the sounds from inside.

In the inner room, Wu Baozhang was crying miserably: “…He’s completely stubborn. I had no choice. I only wanted to use this method to force her to leave—I had no intention of harming her. If I had intended to harm her, I wouldn’t have just reported it to the authorities instead of taking Eldest Uncle’s calling card to the yamen. Yet he humiliated me like this. What’s the point of me staying in this family? He favors his concubine and mistreats his wife—isn’t he afraid of criticism?”

Madam Yuan’s brows were tightly furrowed. A flash of disgust passed through her eyes as she looked at Wu Baozhang, but she quickly restored her kind and dignified expression, saying gently: “According to me, you both made mistakes. It’s just that Nuo Ge’er made more mistakes. But for some outside woman to actually dare lay hands on you? He really doesn’t know right from wrong. But you too—there are countless ways to drive someone away. Why did you choose this method? How do you expect Nuo Ge’er to view you? How do you expect him to get along with you in the future? I usually see you as clever and quick-witted. How did you do something so foolish at such a critical moment?” As she spoke, she signaled her personal maid to bring Wu Baozhang a handkerchief. “Stop crying. Things have come to this—we can only try to remedy the situation. I’ll have Nuo Ge’er brought here to apologize to you. You should be magnanimous too. Go back and talk to him properly. Don’t hurt your harmony—you two have to spend your whole lives together.”

Wu Baozhang said nothing.

Cheng Jing asked Cheng Wen in a low voice: “I think we should find a way to deal with that woman outside. We can’t let the household be in turmoil over one woman!”

If these words had been said to someone else, they would have nodded without a second thought.

But saying this to Cheng Wen… He thought about how Wu Baozhang had actually falsely accused Miss Kang the Sixth of the Kang family of stealing her silver… The Kang family were just ordinary merchants, while they had a relative like Cheng Jing holding high office. Once she entered the yamen, no matter how wealthy the Kang family was, they could only watch helplessly as Miss Kang the Sixth suffered… Cheng Wen felt Wu Baozhang was too vicious.

Having such a woman in their family would only bring household turmoil.

Cheng Wen could only sigh.

Cheng Nuo was called in.

Cheng Jing and Cheng Wen quickly moved aside.

Cheng Nuo was in a daze and didn’t notice there were other people in the room.

He knelt before Madam Yuan. Before he could speak, his eyes were already red: “Eldest Aunt, I can’t go on living with this woman. She’s too vicious. Truth be told, I only met Miss Kang the Sixth of the Kang family because of the trouble she caused…” He recounted everything from how Wu Baozhang borrowed money, to how when she couldn’t repay it he went to apologize to the Kang family, all the way to how a few days ago they called him out to meet with some bigger tea merchants from the west. Finally, he said: “Miss Kang the Sixth of the Kang family and I truly have nothing between us. She just pitied me for not understanding the rules of commerce and kept running into walls, so she gave me some guidance. When you think about it, Miss Kang the Sixth is my benefactor. If you don’t believe me, you can send people to investigate. She usually came to my shop to cause trouble—I could tolerate that. But this time she went too far. Not only did she slander and despise her, she even had her thrown in jail… She was a perfectly fine young lady, and she ruined her like this. I… how can I face Miss Kang the Sixth…” After speaking, this grown man began crying with sobs that didn’t seem faked at all.

Madam Yuan was stunned and looked toward Wu Baozhang.

Wu Baozhang’s face was full of shock, her gaze flickering.

Madam Yuan couldn’t help but sigh and said: “Nuo Ge’er, no matter what, you shouldn’t have beaten your wife. No man in our family beats his wife. Quickly go apologize to your wife! Let’s consider this matter settled, and go home and live properly with your wife!”

“No!” Who would have thought Cheng Nuo would wipe his tears and say solemnly: “Such a vicious person—I can’t go on living with her. I want to divorce my wife!”

Everyone inside and outside the room was stunned.

Cheng Jing was the first to react.

He roared “You beast!” and said: “The Cheng family has no tradition of divorcing wives! How dare you! With your parents and elders still living, you dare mention divorcing your wife!”

What respectable family divorced their wives!

If this got out, the Cheng family would truly become a laughingstock.

Sweat appeared on Cheng Wen’s forehead. He rebuked: “You little beast, how dare you speak such nonsense here! Quickly help your wife up and go home.”

As for apologizing and such—better forget it.

They still needed to inform the in-laws in Jinling Prefecture about this matter, lest this daughter-in-law try to kill herself and something happen, and the Wu family think she had been wronged in their household.

Honest people were honest. Normally timid as a mouse, Cheng Nuo now wouldn’t listen to anything anyone said, single-mindedly clamoring to divorce his wife.

Wu Baozhang cried until she was a tearful mess, clutching Min Jia who came to console her: “Sister-in-law, you see, he just knows how to humiliate me. I really can’t go on living like this.”

But who had made things this way?

Min Jia criticized inwardly but couldn’t show half of it on her face. She could only patiently console Wu Baozhang carefully.

※※※

On the Chaoyang Gate side, Zhou Shaojin had selected her clothing and jewelry two days ago. She got up early in the morning to dress and groom herself. After finishing, she still felt dissatisfied. Looking at herself in the mirror from all angles, she asked Chun Wan: “Do you think I should change this pearl flower for a kingfisher feather large flower? Would that look more festive?”

Chun Wan smiled with pursed lips and said: “Madam, you look very good like this already. The weather is a bit cool today. This pearl headpiece with the pink jacket couldn’t be better. If you change to the kingfisher feather large flower, the colors would be too intense and would inevitably make you look top-heavy.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly and said: “When I was selecting jewelry, I thought so too. However, wearing this pink jacket makes me look a bit plump. I think I should change this whole outfit—the kingfisher feather jewelry with a sapphire blue jacket…”

“Madam, you look very good like this.” Chun Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She positioned Zhou Shaojin properly in front of the mirror and said: “Look at your complexion—it’s so good. Your skin is even rosier and smoother than before, so delicate it could break with a blow. Your waist is still so slim. Where is there even a bit of plumpness?”

The woman in the mirror had a face like a lotus, eyes like autumn water, with tenderness and sweet affection brimming at the corners of her eyes and brows. The tender pink jacket made her face look like a charming flower.

This was her?!

Zhou Shaojin was astonished.

Fan Liushi was already laughing and saying: “Fourth Master is coming home today, so Madam is happy. You look much more spirited than usual.”

Zhou Shaojin’s face reddened.

Old Madam Guo had already sent someone to ask if she was ready. If she was ready, they would go to the gate together to receive Cheng Chi.

Zhou Shaojin hurriedly carried the child to Tingxiang Courtyard, saying: “How could I let you go receive Fourth Master! I’ll go.”

“He’s been gone for more than half a year. The child was born and he couldn’t even show his face. How could I not worry?” Old Madam Guo sighed. “I won’t stand on ceremony with you. Let’s go welcome Fourth Son together.”

A son traveling a thousand miles worries his mother.

Zhou Shaojin no longer insisted. She helped Old Madam Guo to the hanging flower gate.

They had only walked halfway when a young servant came running over, reporting joyfully: “Old Madam, Madam, Fourth Master’s carriage has arrived at the gate.”

“Really?” Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin exchanged glances. Both their faces showed smiles they couldn’t conceal as they quickened their pace walking out. “Where is Master now?”

“He just got off the carriage.” The young servant was reporting when they saw a tall, jade-like man wearing a coarse brown cloth robe striding in.

It was Cheng Chi!

Zhou Shaojin only needed one glance before tears began streaming down her face.

He was much thinner than when he left, and much darker too, dusty from travel. One look told you that his days in Kaifeng Prefecture must have been filled with hardship, sleeping outdoors and traveling in all weather.

“Fourth Son!” Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but call his childhood name and stepped forward, reaching out her hand to him.

Cheng Chi lifted his robe hem and knelt before Old Madam Guo: “Mother, I am unfilial. I was away for so long and couldn’t attend to you by your side!”

“It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back!” As Old Madam Guo spoke, her eyes reddened. She pulled him up while saying: “Quick, get up, get up. When you left, Shaojin was still pregnant with Yun Ge’er. Now Yun Ge’er is already more than two months old. Go quickly and see Shaojin and Yun Ge’er.”

Water glistened at the corners of Cheng Chi’s eyes. He said “Mm” and looked toward Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin turned and picked up Yun Ge’er. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she tried to give Cheng Chi a happy smile, but her tears fell uncontrollably instead.

“Shaojin!” Cheng Chi called her name. Looking down, he saw his son’s pink, chubby little face. His expression instantly softened like water. He couldn’t help but gently touch his son’s head, then looked up at the child’s mother with those clear eyes, saying in a low voice: “You’ve worked hard! The child has grown so well… Mother is doing well too… Thank you… I’ll never leave you mother and son for so long again…”

Zhou Shaojin nodded, her vision blurred. Remembering that she had applied powder today, she wanted to take out her handkerchief to wipe her tears, but forgot she was holding the soundly sleeping Yun Ge’er. For a moment she didn’t know what to do.

Seeing this, Cheng Chi quickly took Yun Ge’er into his arms.

Seeing him hold Yun Ge’er as if holding an object, Zhou Shaojin was greatly alarmed and hurriedly said “Be careful,” adding: “You need to hold him like this, supporting his neck, waist, and bottom. He can’t hold his head up yet—he can only prop himself up to look for a little while…”

“Alright…” Cheng Chi responded and quickly adjusted to hold Yun Ge’er properly with correct posture, though his stiff shoulders revealed his nervousness.

Old Madam Guo walked over and took Yun Ge’er from him, saying to Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin: “You’re covered in dust—be careful not to make our Yun Ge’er cough. Go wash up quickly. I’ll keep the child with me for now. Shaojin, help Fourth Son get cleaned up. We’ll have lunch together shortly.”

The old madam was giving them time for private conversation as husband and wife, wasn’t she?

Zhou Shaojin shyly responded “Yes,” her heart full of gratitude toward the old madam. She returned to the main quarters with Cheng Chi.

Hot water had already been prepared. Clean, soft, and resilient inner garments made of Songjiang triple-shuttle fine cotton cloth were neatly folded on the small stool in the bathhouse. The fragrant bath beans with added rose essence gave off a faint fragrance.

Zhou Shaojin changed her jacket and, wearing a moon-white small shirt with silver stripes, helped Cheng Chi change clothes, personally attending to his washing and grooming.