Having the little girl massage him… what a good idea!

Cheng Chi looked at Zhou Shaojin with a smile.

Inexplicably, Zhou Shaojin felt the gaze falling on her back suddenly become somewhat suggestive, just like every time Cheng Chi wanted to tempt her into doing something.

Not daring to examine Cheng Chi’s expression carefully, she changed the subject somewhat guiltily: “Madam Song asked if I’d be willing to come for tea on the day they acknowledge the kinship?”

This meant treating them as relatives to associate with.

If Song Jingran were just an ordinary person, Zhou Shaojin would definitely agree immediately. But with the current court situation being so complex and changeable, she really didn’t dare make the decision on her own.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “I was recommended by Lord Song, so naturally I must stand together with him. Whether or not we go for tea on the day the Song family’s eldest daughter-in-law acknowledges kinship, others will still view me as Lord Song’s person. Since that’s the case, we might as well openly associate with the Song family. Those who want to scheme will have to think twice.”

Zhou Shaojin understood this reasoning.

She nodded with a smile and spoke about Cheng Rang’s wedding: “The meeting gift is a set of silver-inlaid treasure headpieces, and I’m also privately preparing a box of little goldfish to give to Miss Xie.”

When a new daughter-in-law entered the household, meeting gifts must all be the same—otherwise the gift-giver would easily offend people and make life difficult for the newly entered daughter-in-law.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin’s increasingly methodical conduct, Cheng Chi smiled and said, “You can decide these matters yourself.”

But Zhou Shaojin enjoyed discussing these things with Cheng Chi.

She couldn’t help pouting and said, “Don’t you like hearing me talk about these things?”

“I don’t!” Cheng Chi said very straightforwardly.

Zhou Shaojin’s tears nearly came out.

Cheng Chi had always been gentle and considerate toward her, never speaking to her in such a tone before.

She felt utterly heartbroken.

However, Cheng Chi bit her ear from behind and said in a low voice, “I rarely get to come back. Instead of saying you miss me and think of me, you discuss these irrelevant matters with me. If you have this spare time, we might as well do something else…”

Zhou Shaojin’s face immediately turned bright red. Her mood, which had just felt bitter, instantly became as sweet as eating honey.

Cheng Chi laughed softly, captured her still girlishly pink and pouty lips, and his hand also reached inside along her hem.

Sounds that made one’s face flush and ears burn arose in the room.

When the two went to the Song family to acknowledge kinship the next day, Zhou Shaojin still didn’t quite dare look at Cheng Chi’s smiling eyes. Cheng Chi, however, behaved much more naturally than her. When getting out of the sedan chair, he turned to help her down.

Song Sen, who came out to greet them, kept winking at Zhou Shaojin and called Cheng Chi “brother-in-law” in a neither warm nor cold tone.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Your several brothers all call me Fourth Brother, yet you insist on calling me brother-in-law. It’s fortunate the Zhou family has no more young ladies of suitable age, otherwise people would think you’ve become a son-in-law of the Zhou family!”

Song Sen scoffed dismissively and said, “If I hadn’t met Sister, how would I have met you? You maintain your relationships, I’ll maintain mine—they’re unrelated. Could it be you’re afraid Sister treats me too well?”

Cheng Chi merely smiled without speaking. He said warmly to Zhou Shaojin, “If you need anything, just call Song Sen. He’s idle anyway. With one eye open and one closed, he can still move about the inner quarters for another two years—no need to be polite with him.”

Song Sen still liked clinging to Zhou Shaojin just as when he was young. Zhou Shaojin had no solution and usually picked times when Song Sen was at school to visit the Song family. Fortunately, Cheng Chi was magnanimous—no matter what Song Sen said, he remained amiable and treated him like an innocent child, which only made Zhou Shaojin feel more sorry for Cheng Chi’s forbearance.

“I understand!” She answered softly and instructed Cheng Chi, “You still need to go to Second Uncle’s place later. Drink a little less.”

Men couldn’t avoid drinking when entertaining outside, but Cheng Chi always had moderation and avoided drinking when possible. However, today’s situation was special—with Zhang Hui and others present, he would inevitably need to toast a few cups.

“Don’t worry,” Cheng Chi smiled and bent to whisper in her ear. “I don’t want to lose composure in front of my superior.”

Zhou Shaojin believed him and nodded gently with a soft smile.

Cheng Chi went to the open hall on the east side.

Song Sen scratched his head and asked Zhou Shaojin, “What did Lord Cheng say to you?”

How could she tell Song Sen such words between husband and wife?

“Nothing much, just told me to be careful,” Zhou Shaojin said absentmindedly. Seeing that Zhang Hui’s wife had already arrived and was sitting in the armchair by the window beckoning to her.

She left Song Sen behind and walked over: “Today is your brother’s joyous day. If you have matters to attend to, go ahead!”

Song Sen wanted to say something, but Zhou Shaojin was already smiling and curtsying to Zhang Hui’s wife.

He could only walk away dejectedly.

Zhang Hui’s wife quickly had her rise and pulled her to sit beside her, asking about Cheng Shao: “How is the old master? A few days ago I heard he could get out of bed—is that true?”

Zhou Shaojin answered “Yes” and said, “After all, he’s advanced in years. Originally it was just a common cold, but who knew it would drag on for two or three months without improvement. Previously our master worried his condition might turn into consumption. Fortunately, he can now get out of bed, also thanks to Aunt Chang’s careful care. However, he still can’t sit for long reading, otherwise he becomes dizzy. Imperial Physician Cao says he needs to recuperate carefully for a while longer.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Zhang Hui’s wife chanted “Amitabha.” Zhou Shaojin noticed women all around had perked up their ears to listen.

She couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

Although she was no longer afraid of entertaining these people, she still preferred playing with Cheng Zheng and the others where everyone could say whatever they wanted.

But she still smiled appropriately and drank the tea offered by Song Mu’s new bride, Lady Li. She chatted and laughed with Zhang Hui’s wife and other female relatives about the new silk shop that had opened near Xizhimen. After having lunch, she finally returned to Chaoyang Gate with Cheng Chi.

Yun Ge’er was ten months old now. He could roll over, crawl, and even knew to call people simply. Having shed his heavy padded jacket for a thinner lined one, his hands and feet were more agile. He never stayed still for a moment. In the blink of an eye, he would have crawled off somewhere, and he even knew to hide behind large bolster pillows or curtains to make people search for him. The maids and servant women throughout the mansion watched him without daring to blink. Old Madam Guo complained that Tingxiang Courtyard shouldn’t have introduced water features, fearing Yun Ge’er might fall in.

When Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi returned, Yun Ge’er was sitting on the large kang by the window in Old Madam Guo’s reception room being fed porridge by his wet nurse. Each time the wet nurse’s spoon reached his mouth, he would first look to see clearly what was in the spoon before opening his mouth.

This was the consequence of a few days ago when he caught a cold and his nose was blocked, and Old Madam Guo fed him Bupleurum drink.

Hearing sounds, the little fellow turned around alertly. Seeing Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi, he smiled with squinted eyes and randomly called out “Papa” and “Mama” toward them.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart melted watching this.

She took two steps as one and picked up Yun Ge’er.

Yun Ge’er chattered incomprehensibly in her arms, then reached out toward Cheng Chi, wanting him to hold him.

Cheng Chi quickly held his son in his arms. Not caring whether he understood or not, he treated him like a little adult and asked, “What has our Yun Ge’er done today? Did you misbehave with Grandmother? Did you hide so the maids and servant women couldn’t find you?”

Whether Yun Ge’er understood or not, he babbled along with Cheng Chi’s words.

Old Madam Guo’s smile never stopped. She had Cheng Chi give Yun Ge’er to the wet nurse: “He hasn’t finished his meal today! Once you two arrive, he’ll definitely get distracted and won’t want to eat. Have the wet nurse take him to the back corridor to eat.”

The wet nurse stepped forward and took Yun Ge’er.

Yun Ge’er didn’t want to go.

Old Madam Guo then said, “The wet nurse will take you to see Snowball and play with Snowball. Your mother isn’t leaving.”

Now Snowball had become Yun Ge’er’s playmate.

Hearing this, Yun Ge’er stopped fussing and obediently let the wet nurse hold him.

Old Madam Guo instructed Hong Zhen, the senior maid attending Yun Ge’er: “Quickly go find Snowball. I promised Yun Ge’er.”

Hong Zhen smiled in acknowledgment and withdrew together with the wet nurse holding Yun Ge’er.

Old Madam Guo asked Cheng Chi, “When are you going to Yuqian Lane today?”

Regarding the matter of Cheng Shao feigning illness, Zhou Shaojin discovered that apart from Cheng Chi and herself, the other Cheng family members seemed unaware.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “After chatting with you for a while, I’ll go.”

Because of Cheng Shao’s illness, Cheng Chi needed to attend to him, so the Emperor had granted Cheng Chi extended leave. He still hadn’t returned to the Censorate.

Old Madam Guo didn’t know whether this was good or bad and said, “If your Second Uncle improves, you should return to the Censorate earlier. Although having the Emperor remember your name is a good thing, if the Emperor remembers you for filial attendance during illness, it may not necessarily be beneficial.”

Cheng Chi thought for a moment before smiling: “Mother needn’t worry. The Emperor’s relationship with Second Uncle is much better than we imagined. Yesterday afternoon, the Emperor went to Yuqian Lane again and played two games of chess with Second Uncle. However, Second Uncle’s energy was insufficient, so I accompanied him for two games afterward. During that time, the Emperor asked me about Yellow River flood control. From his tone, it seems the embankments at Gaoyou are also about to be repaired. However, Second Uncle diverted the conversation to discuss Jiangnan’s tax revenues.”

Old Madam Guo felt both worried and pleased hearing this. She worried the Emperor might assign Cheng Chi to manage water control again, trapping him in river administration forever. She was pleased that Cheng Shao was promoting Cheng Chi this way, showing he thought highly of him.

But she wasn’t an ordinary woman and considered matters more long-term.

After a moment’s silence, she said, “Tell your elder brother about this matter. As for when he goes to visit your Second Uncle, that’s his own business!”

The implication being whether he could encounter the Emperor would depend on his own fortune.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “I’ve already informed Elder Brother. Actually, there’s another piece of good news I haven’t told you!”

“What matter?” Old Madam Guo asked with interest.

Cheng Chi considered carefully before saying, “Since the Fifth Prince’s death, His Majesty appears to have aged more than ten years. Sometimes while playing chess, his mind wanders. Yesterday after finishing chess with me, it was already lamplight time, yet His Majesty adamantly refused to mention returning to the palace. He not only dined at Yuqian Lane but also chatted with Second Uncle for a long time about family matters, mentioning the departed Third Brother Fen and Brother Xun… Then His Majesty bestowed upon Ah Bao a hereditary fourth-rank assistant commissioner position! This decree will be issued by tomorrow at the latest. I specifically sent someone to tell Elder Brother to watch over it, lest the Cabinet people interfere.”

“What did you say?” Both Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin looked at each other in astonishment. “Hereditary? Ah Bao?!”

They were a scholarly family!

“Yes!” Cheng Chi smiled bitterly. “His Majesty probably thought of the departed Crown Prince and several princes…”

And developed a feeling of shared sorrow with Cheng Shao.