Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but silently mourn for Cheng Zheng in her heart for a few moments.

Cheng Chi was very busy these days.

Ever since the Imperial Grand Grandson had asked him about the Fourth Imperial Prince, he was often kept after class to talk. Sometimes he was asked where Huzhou Prefecture was located and how far it was from Jiaxing. Sometimes he was asked about Xi’an’s population and how much grain it produced annually—whether Huguang produced more grain or Xi’an. Sometimes he was asked what year Yuan Weichang had passed the imperial examination, what family members he had, and aside from the Yuan family’s marriage alliances with the Li and Huang families, what other prominent in-laws they had.

Once, he had even asked in a joking tone: “I heard you married your niece. Before the wedding, had you truly never met your niece?”

At the time, he had answered quite frankly: “This subject had of course met her before. So when Mother brought up this marriage, I agreed immediately.”

The Imperial Grand Grandson seemed very interested upon hearing this and wanted to continue the conversation, but a senior eunuch serving at his side coughed lightly, and only then did the Imperial Grand Grandson somewhat awkwardly drop the topic.

He actually didn’t mind others asking him such questions.

Who wasn’t discussed behind their back?

When he had dared to divide the family branch years ago, he had expected to be criticized.

Moreover, the Imperial Grand Grandson was only an eleven-year-old child—it was perfectly normal for him to be curious about such matters.

All he could do was ensure his young wife didn’t bear any blame.

But perhaps because his attitude was so composed, the Imperial Grand Grandson actually enjoyed speaking with him even more. Sometimes he would summon him even when it wasn’t his class to ask about this and that, which invisibly occupied his time and often caused him to leave early and return late.

Since the couple finally had time to chat today, he didn’t want these trivial family matters to occupy their precious time together.

“You mentioned a few days ago that you were learning to paint alongside Yun Ge’er. How is that going?” He sat on the kang, poured Zhou Shaojin a cup of tea, and smiled. “Later I’ll go look at your paintings.”

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed bright red as she said coyly, “No, I haven’t learned it well yet. I’ll paint for you after I’ve learned properly.”

Yun Ge’er wasn’t even two years old yet. She still had her foundation in drawing embroidery patterns, and when Old Madam Guo casually taught Yun Ge’er to paint, she had followed along and learned a few strokes while idly sitting nearby. Logically speaking, she should paint better than Yun Ge’er, shouldn’t she? Who knew that when Yun Ge’er randomly dabbed with the brush and added a few strokes, it became a little chick, yet everyone said Yun Ge’er’s painted chick was more interesting than hers.

In front of others she could only smile and praise Yun Ge’er’s cleverness, but in front of Cheng Chi she couldn’t help feeling somewhat dejected. She said, “Mother said I simply haven’t carefully observed what a chick looks like, so it’s not as interesting as Yun Ge’er’s… But has Yun Ge’er really seen what chicks look like?”

Cheng Chi had already heard about this matter, which was why he wanted to see what was wrong with Zhou Shaojin’s paintings.

Hearing this, he couldn’t help but laugh. “There are probably chicks raised in the Bird Grove.”

Zhou Shaojin had a sudden realization.

During New Year’s, Cheng Rang had sent two golden pheasants to Yun Ge’er. They were kept in Yun Ge’er’s room, and Yun Ge’er chased the two chickens around every day. Snowball also joined in the fun, helping Yun Ge’er herd the two chickens. At first, the two chickens would turn around and peck at Yun Ge’er, but after Snowball joined, they became so frightened they trembled and jumped into the hibiscus tree, refusing to come down.

She had no choice but to clear out a remote, quiet corner in the northeast part of the garden and name it Bird Grove to house these two golden pheasants. Later, Yun Ge’er was preoccupied every day with running here and there with Ji Ying and had no time to bother those two golden pheasants, so Zhou Shaojin had forgotten about the matter.

Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat embarrassed.

But Cheng Chi was full of enthusiasm. “Come, let’s go take a look.”

Zhou Shaojin accompanied Cheng Chi to the Bird Grove.

Compared to when they had first raised only two golden pheasants, the Bird Grove had changed dramatically.

Not only had they added common birds like parrots, orioles, pigeons, and mynahs, but they had also raised two red-crowned cranes and two peacocks.

Zhou Shaojin watched in amazement.

She also saw that flock of chicks scratching in the dirt beneath the camellia trees.

Little Sparrow, who was responsible for the Bird Grove, had now grown into a tall, thin young man. He said to Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi with a pale face, “They were all sent by Third Madam Qin. Young Master Yun came along… Old Madam knew about it… I thought Madam knew…”

Third Madam Qin was Ji Ying.

Zhou Shaojin rubbed her forehead.

Ever since becoming pregnant, she would eat then sleep, sleep then eat…

Zhou Shaojin asked, “When were these birds sent over?”

Little Sparrow said, “They were sent intermittently after spring began.”

“Don’t the birds in Bird Grove need to be fed? If they need feeding, where does the food come from?”

The main reason she hadn’t known about the changes in Bird Grove was that she hadn’t seen the name Bird Grove in the household expenses.

Little Sparrow said proudly, “Third Madam Qin brought things like corn. There are wild fruits and small birds in the grove, so Bird Grove has hardly any expenses.” After speaking, he glanced timidly at Zhou Shaojin, afraid she would disband the Bird Grove.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She glanced at the maids and servants surrounding her and said, “Young Master Yun is still young. If you encounter such situations in the future, you must remember to inform me.”

Everyone looked toward Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi’s expression was stern.

The maids and servants quickly curtsied in acknowledgment.

Zhou Shaojin’s expression softened slightly.

Cheng Chi discussed with Zhou Shaojin, “Why don’t we keep the two red-crowned cranes in your quarters? When you have nothing to do, you can also paint the red-crowned cranes!”

Zhou Shaojin felt this would be too difficult and smiled somewhat awkwardly. “I’d better just follow Yun Ge’er in learning to paint chicks!”

Cheng Chi smiled and squeezed Zhou Shaojin’s hand, then had someone catch a few chicks to raise in Zhou Shaojin’s courtyard.

But when Yun Ge’er saw them, he cried out, “Mother, the chicks will eat your tuberose flowers!”

“No they won’t!” Zhou Shaojin smiled and patted Yun Ge’er’s little bottom, asking him, “What did you do today?”

Yun Ge’er pouted and said, “Chenxiang and I were kicking the shuttlecock, but it wasn’t fun at all. Aunt Ji hasn’t come for…” He counted on his little fingers, “One day, two days, three days… five days.”

Zhou Shaojin chuckled, thinking about whether to send someone over to the west gate area to check. Qin Ziping personally came to report to Zhou Shaojin that Ji Ying was already three months pregnant. Because she had always been in good health and had no symptoms at all, if the maid at her side hadn’t reminded her, Ji Ying probably still wouldn’t know even now.

“Congratulations! Congratulations!” Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed and quickly instructed Ji Xiang to open the storeroom and take out two boxes of bird’s nest for Qin Ziping.

Qin Ziping knew that everything at Zhou Shaojin’s place was valuable goods that money couldn’t buy, so he didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted the items, thanking Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin quickly took Qin Ziping to see Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo was also extremely pleased.

This would be Qin Shouyue’s first great-grandchild.

She rewarded half a cart of tonics and fabrics, repeatedly instructing Qin Ziping to take good care of Ji Ying. She also said that pregnant women usually had many worries, telling him to spend more time with Ji Ying and to be accommodating in all matters. She said so much that even Zhou Shaojin felt envious.

Qin Ziping smiled and thanked Old Madam Guo, then took the items back to the west gate area.

Early the next morning, Ji Ying came to express her gratitude to Old Madam Guo.

Seeing her rosy complexion and light movements, looking nothing like a pregnant woman, Old Madam Guo nodded repeatedly. She only accepted one bow from her before having Nanny Lu help her sit below herself. “When is your due date? Remember to send us word when the time comes.”

Ji Ying had always been generous and gracious. She smiled and agreed, saying, “The doctor says the due date will be around mid-October. I’ll certainly need Old Madam’s care when the time comes.”

Both Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin were very happy to hear this.

By this calculation, Zhou Shaojin’s child and Ji Ying’s child would be born close together.

Old Madam Guo repeatedly said “Good” and gave Ji Ying a mature servant woman from her side, saying she would help care for her during pregnancy.

Hearing that this woman had once cared for Zhou Shaojin, Ji Ying didn’t decline and smiled in acceptance.

A few days later, having received the news, the Ji family not only sent items and serving maids, but Ji Ying’s sister-in-law also came in person. After paying respects to Old Madam Guo, she also sent many items to both Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin.

Old Madam Guo smiled and thanked Elder Mistress Ji.

But Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat disappointed.

In her imagination, Elder Mistress Ji should have been a woman of heroic bearing. Instead, Elder Mistress Ji was gentle and dignified, plump and fair-skinned, looking like a very ordinary lady of a wealthy household.

When Ji Ying learned of this, she covered her mouth and laughed, saying, “Did you think we all had three heads and six arms? Let me tell you honestly—my sister-in-law and our family are a perfect match. Her family has a set of traditional grappling techniques most suitable for girls to learn. Even if you’re not traveling the martial world, learning this set will make dealing with your husband a breeze. I was even thinking that if you give birth to a daughter this time, I’d ask my sister-in-law to teach her a few moves, so she won’t be bullied like you.”

Zhou Shaojin was mortified and quickly poured tea for Ji Ying with good grace.

Ji Ying couldn’t stop laughing. She took Yun Ge’er’s hand and said, “Come, let’s go play at Bird Grove.” She added, “I’ve already spoken to my sister-in-law. I’ll have my elder brother keep an eye out and find a way to get you a few sika deer to raise in the garden. That would be really fun!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled bitterly. “Won’t Bird Grove become complete chaos then?”

Ji Ying disagreed, smiling, “Your family has such a large garden—you really should raise more small animals.”

This probably wasn’t a good idea, was it?

Zhou Shaojin told Cheng Chi about this matter.

Cheng Chi also didn’t quite agree, saying, “Raising too many birds and beasts means many mosquitoes in summer and easy illness in spring. But it’s good for Yun Ge’er to have more contact with birds and beasts from a young age… Why don’t we acquire an estate in Daxing or Wanping to raise these small creatures…”

Zhou Shaojin asked in surprise, “Is our family going to start acquiring estates?”

When the family was divided, everyone knew that aside from this residence, Cheng Chi hadn’t received much silver. Moreover, maintaining this large residence also cost quite a bit of money.

Cheng Chi smiled. “Regarding the Seven Stars Hall matter, I asked Xiao Zhenhai and Xu Mu. Both of them wanted to take it over. But the Xiao family elders didn’t agree—they’d rather abandon their home and come to the Central Plains to start over, so Xiao Zhenhai had to give up. Xu Mu will become my disciple in a few days and gradually take over Seven Stars Hall matters… In a few more years, Seven Stars Hall will have nothing to do with us.”

This way, the Cheng family’s descendants could all live ordinary, common lives.

Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. “That’s wonderful. Then let’s acquire some estates in Daxing or Wanping.”