The plan was to watch the scripture airing, but in reality, it was just an excuse to visit the temple for fun.

Whether it was the female relatives of the Earl of Pengcheng’s household or Cheng Xiao and the others, all agreed readily. Cheng Xiao especially—the matter with Cheng Jing had passed, and the Cheng and Yuan families seemed to have returned to their previous warm and cheerful interactions. But everyone knew this was merely surface-level peace. Who knew when something might happen to grind the relationship between the two families to dust? Words and actions all carried some pretense of harmony. Yet this was her husband’s family, the place where she would spend the rest of her life. It was as uncomfortable as could be.

Zhou Shaojin’s invitation gave her a perfect excuse to go out for some fresh air.

Everyone happily discussed which temple to visit for the scripture airing.

An imperial edict came down from the palace, ordering the Fourth Prince to go to his fiefdom in Xinyang. His Majesty had the Bureau of Astronomy select an auspicious date—the second day of the sixth month was deemed a propitious day for the Fourth Prince to depart.

Counting carefully, that was only twenty days away. Yet the Fourth Prince had established his household over ten years ago—with so many possessions, how could everything possibly be packed up in just over twenty days?

The Fourth Prince sent someone to petition His Majesty, hoping to delay departure until after the fifteenth of the seventh month, but His Majesty rejected the request. Moreover, he ordered Han Ding, Commander of the Imperial Guards, to send people to help the Fourth Prince’s household pack their belongings.

But how would Han Ding dare to rush the Fourth Prince?

Anxious and distressed, he came to consult with Cheng Shao, asking if he had any solutions.

Ever since the two had worked together on matters concerning the Crown Prince, they both felt the other was quite reliable. Though they didn’t usually associate much in daily life, when difficulties arose, each felt the other was someone who could be trusted.

Hearing this, Cheng Shao laughed and said, “His Majesty is only ordering the Fourth Prince to go to his fiefdom, not ordering him to move house. During these days, you should hurry to pack up the items the Fourth Prince and the Princess Consort commonly use. Just have everything ready for departure to Xinyang on the second day of the sixth month. As for the family assets, you can help pack and seal them slowly.”

This way, both sides would be satisfied.

Han Ding’s eyes lit up when he heard this. He teased Cheng Shao with a smile, “Scholars are truly formidable! Those of us from military backgrounds really couldn’t think of such a solution.”

Cheng Shao smiled slightly.

Chang Shi had a maid bring in fruit and refreshments.

Han Ding then asked about Chang Shi, “Is sister-in-law well?”

Chang Shi had once served in the Qianqing Palace and had encountered her before.

“Quite well,” Cheng Shao said with a smile. Thinking of how Chang Shi, aside from occasionally visiting Old Madam Guo at Chaoyang Gate, usually just stayed home reading and writing, caring for two great-grandchildren, and rarely had anywhere else to go, after seeing Han Ding off, he went to see Chang Shi.

Chang Shi had been preparing to keep Han Ding for a meal. Who knew Han Ding would leave after just a few words with Cheng Shao?

Seeing Cheng Shao, she couldn’t help but say, “Has something happened? Commander Han left after just a few sips of tea.”

Cheng Shao told Chang Shi about the Fourth Prince’s situation.

Chang Shi sighed and said, “I wonder what His Majesty is thinking. If only the Fourth Prince had gone to his fiefdom earlier…” At this point, she looked alarmed and stopped speaking.

Cheng Shao’s heart stirred. He said, “The matter with the Crown Prince… you knew about it too?”

Seeing no one else nearby and that Cheng Shao was someone she trusted completely, Chang Shi couldn’t help but lower her voice and say, “How could I not know? Palace matters can often be hidden from those above but not from those below. I served in Qianqing Palace. Never mind the Crown Prince’s affair—we knew about that Dai woman early on too. Of course, if the Fourth Prince hadn’t praised that Dai woman before the Empress Dowager, she would have originally been given to the Seventh Prince. How else would this scandal have come about?”

Cheng Shao laughed mockingly and said, “I was foolish.”

Chang Shi blushed and said, “It’s not that you were foolish, Master. You simply didn’t imagine how dark the palace could be.”

Cheng Shao thought for a moment and said, “Then your smooth exit from the palace was also no simple matter.”

His expression was serious and earnest. One could hear these were words from the heart.

Chang Shi’s eyes became slightly moist. She murmured, “What’s not simple about it! It was merely struggling to find a way to survive.”

Cheng Shao nodded.

Thinking that those probably weren’t pleasant memories, and recalling his original purpose in coming to see her, he changed the subject, saying, “I’m usually at the Hanlin Academy. Even on occasional rest days, I’m called into the palace by His Majesty. You’re at home alone with two children—it must be quite lonely. If you have nothing to do, go visit Chaoyang Gate more often. I think Fourth Brother’s wife has a good temperament. When you go, she seems genuinely happy to see you. She should make good company. If going there frequently seems inconvenient, you could also visit those old sisters of yours from before.”

Having spent so many years in the palace, she couldn’t possibly have no close maid friends.

It was just that none had her good fortune to marry someone like Cheng Shao as a second wife. Most either became palace nannies or adopted nephews from their natal families. Whether the former or latter, they were all common folk. Chang Shi feared Cheng Shao would look down on them, so she had only visited twice when first leaving the palace. Afterward, she didn’t seek them out. Those who could remain in the palace until being released were all shrewd people—naturally, they wouldn’t come find her and cause her trouble.

Chang Shi was both surprised and moved. Yet she also felt this was exactly the kind of person Cheng Shao was—he truly hadn’t disappointed her.

“When I have time, I’ll go see them,” she said, quickly blinking to force the tears about to fall back into her eyes. “It’s just that everyone has their own families to care for. Not like me—eating and drinking here with nothing to do all day.” She subtly expressed her gratitude, then continued, “A few days ago, Fourth Brother’s wife invited me to go to the temple on the sixth day of the sixth month to watch the scripture airing. She even said to bring the children. These past few days, everyone’s been discussing whether to go to Daxiangguo Temple or Zhetang Temple. Even without you mentioning it, Master, I was planning to go to Chaoyang Gate tomorrow—I heard Eldest Brother’s wife hasn’t been well. I want to ask Fourth Brother’s wife and Second Brother’s wife what their plans are. I’m thinking of going to visit her together with them in the next couple of days!”

Chang Shi had a pleasant temperament and was good at reading people’s expressions. She got along well with all the Cheng family’s female relatives.

On this point, Cheng Shao felt quite at ease.

He had the accounting office give Chang Shi three hundred taels of silver for her personal use, then went to his study.

But Cheng Shao’s words were like a stone dropped into Chang Shi’s heart, creating ripples upon ripples.

She still decided to visit that old sister who had entered the palace with her but became a palace nanny.

She just hadn’t expected that when she went, she would encounter her old sister’s goddaughter, Fang Shi, who still served in Cining Palace, coming out of the palace to visit.

The three had a pleasant chat together.

They not only drank wine but also called in a blind storyteller to recite for them.

But having spent too long in the palace, even this pleasant gathering made them feel they couldn’t fully relax.

Chang Shi’s old sister said self-mockingly, “We’ve grown accustomed to being servants—there’s no helping it!”

This remark left both Chang Shi and Fang Shi silent for quite a while.

Fang Shi quickly changed the subject, saying to Chang Shi’s old sister, “Godmother, did you know the Fourth Prince is going to his fiefdom? I heard that when the Empress Dowager learned of it, she was very displeased. She asked His Majesty, since the Fourth Prince is going to his fiefdom, why is the Third Prince still staying in the capital? Supposedly, after the Fourth Prince leaves, the Third Prince and Eighth Prince will also go to their fiefdoms.”

All were people who had spent most of their lives in the palace—they were more familiar with palace affairs than outside matters.

Hearing this, Chang Shi’s old sister laughed and said, “Hasn’t the Empress Dowager been urging the selection of a consort for the Crown Prince’s heir? The old lady loves nothing more than having children and grandchildren fill the house. She originally disliked how the Crown Princess only gave birth to the Crown Prince’s heir alone. Still, His Majesty will surely have another headache when he hears this.”

The Crown Prince’s heir was only eleven this year—marriage was completely impossible.

Fang Shi smiled and said, “Exactly.” As she spoke, her expression became slightly grave. She said quietly, “But yesterday the Fourth Prince’s consort entered the palace wanting to entrust a niece from her natal family to the Empress Dowager… The Empress Dowager actually agreed and placed the girl beside Grand Consort Lin, having Grand Consort Lin instruct her…”

Both Chang Shi and her old sister were somewhat moved.

Having said this much, everything that should be said had been said.

The three then discussed who entered the palace when, where they were serving now, who entered when but had now become a senior maid in Kunning Palace, and other such household gossip before dispersing.

When Chang Shi returned home, a maid told her that Cheng Chi had come, “…He’s talking with Second Old Master in the study!”

Though both were nephews, Chang Shi sensed that Cheng Shao was fonder of Cheng Chi.

She personally brought tea and refreshments to the study.

Cheng Chi rose respectfully to thank her.

Chang Shi quickly curtsied and closed the door for them.

But Cheng Chi’s words still drifted out, “Shi Kuan, who serves beside the Fourth Prince, had someone bring me a message saying he’ll stay behind to help pack up the Fourth Prince’s household. He wants to meet with me before the Fourth Prince leaves…”

Had the Cheng family taken sides?

His Majesty valued the Cheng family so highly, and Cheng Shao wasn’t someone without worldly experience. Why would they do this?

Chang Shi quickly left the study, standing in the corridor clutching her chest and gasping for breath.

The setting sun painted half the sky red. The tuberose flowers in the courtyard bloomed in profusion, their rich fragrance floating through the air. Everything was as quiet as a painting.

This was the peace she had sought for half her lifetime.

The image of Cheng Shao’s thin but gentle face floated through Chang Shi’s mind.

She pressed her lips together and called to a young maid nearby, “Go in and call Second Old Master out. Tell him I have something urgent to discuss with him.”

The young maid, not understanding the gravity of the situation, cheerfully answered “Yes” and happily went to the study.

Before long, Cheng Shao appeared in the corridor.

“What’s happened?” he asked with concern, not a trace of impatience in his expression.

This made Chang Shi even more determined.

She quietly relayed Fang Shi’s words to Cheng Shao.

Cheng Shao’s expression immediately became serious. He said, “Come with me—Fourth Brother needs to know about this! The Fourth Prince probably can’t deal directly with those Grand Secretaries, but he associates quite frequently with the sons and nephews of those Grand Secretaries’ families.”

Chang Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

The Cheng family wasn’t actively taking sides—that was good.

She went to the study.

After hearing Cheng Shao’s words, Cheng Chi remained silent for a long time.

The atmosphere in the study was quite oppressive.

Chang Shi also became somewhat anxious and said, “Perhaps I guessed wrong… I’ll try to find out how old the Fourth Prince consort’s niece actually is. Maybe she just wants her to remain before the Empress Dowager to show filial piety, so that when they’re in Xinyang for a long time, the Empress Dowager won’t forget them…”

“That’s fine,” Cheng Chi said. “But Auntie must be careful and not force anything. If anyone sees through it and implicates you, that would be troublesome.”

“I know,” Chang Shi said with a relieved smile, joking, “I’m not someone who doesn’t know how to speak.”

Seeing she still had the mood to joke, both Cheng Shao and Cheng Chi also breathed sighs of relief.