Thinking of these matters, Zhou Shaojin felt a tightness in her chest that made it hard to breathe. It took her quite a while to calm down.
After Madam Wu had established a connection with Grandmother, she frequently visited the Cheng family’s fourth branch. At this time, she only needed to send someone to Grandmother’s quarters to inquire, and she should be able to find out whether she and her sister had actually come out to receive guests.
She asked Shi Xiang, “Did Ma Fushan’s wife enter the mansion today?”
The Ma Fushan couple and their son Ma Sheng lived at the Zhou family’s old residence, but Ma Fushan’s wife came to the mansion every day to see if the Zhou sisters had any instructions and to relay messages to Ma Fushan so he could handle matters.
Shi Xiang smiled and said, “Aunt Ma followed Eldest Miss to the temple. She said she won’t return until shenzheng hour, four in the afternoon.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but frown, listlessly leaning against the headboard.
Ma Fushan’s wife was clever and resourceful. After all these years coming and going at the Cheng family, she had established some friendship with people from all branches. Sending her to inquire about matters in Grandmother’s courtyard would be most appropriate.
Who would have thought she’d actually gone to the temple with her sister?
Once her sister returned, if she then ordered Ma Fushan’s wife to run errands, especially to inquire about matters in Grandmother’s courtyard, her sister would surely become suspicious and question her motives.
It seemed she’d need to think of another way!
Who could she send to inquire?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this.
Seeing her uncertain expression, Shi Xiang worried privately and carefully approached, saying gently, “Second Miss, what’s the matter? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Should I go fetch a physician to come examine you?”
“No need.” Zhou Shaojin came back to her senses, her gaze falling on Shi Xiang.
Have Shi Xiang go inquire about Wu Baozhang?
Zhou Shaojin shook her head lightly.
Matters at Wanxiang Residence had always been handled publicly by Chi Xiang, the senior maid at her sister’s side. If Shi Xiang rashly ran to Grandmother’s courtyard, she might even alarm Grandmother, making her think something had happened on their side—achieving the opposite of the intended effect.
Send Chun Wan?
That might be even more inappropriate!
Her sister always said Chun Wan was rash and impulsive, not steady enough in handling matters, unable to keep her mouth shut, which was why she still only received a junior maid’s monthly allowance.
Who would be good to send?
Zhou Shaojin contemplated this in her heart.
But Shi Xiang watched with her heart in her throat.
Although Wanxiang Residence looked the same as usual, Second Miss’s abnormal behavior couldn’t be hidden from those who served at Eldest Miss and Second Miss’s side. Now that Eldest Miss wasn’t home, Second Miss absolutely mustn’t have any problems at this time!
She urgently called out “Second Miss” and said loudly, “That assorted tofu catch won’t taste good once it’s cold. I’ll instruct the young maids to bring it in for you right away.” As she spoke, she turned to open the tall cabinet. “What clothes will you wear today? How about that newly made white openwork skirt from a few days ago? The weather is gradually getting warmer—wearing white looks refreshing…”
“Never mind about that.” Zhou Shaojin seemed somewhat distracted, saying lazily, “I don’t want to get up yet. Go downstairs first. I want to be alone and quiet for a while.”
How could Shi Xiang dare ask more questions? She withdrew trembling with fear and immediately ran toward Nanny Fan Liu’s room…
Zhou Shaojin’s mood was agitated.
This one wouldn’t work, that one wasn’t suitable—surely she couldn’t personally go inquire about the news herself?
As this thought flashed through her mind, Zhou Shaojin was badly startled.
She had never done such a thing before.
What if she gave herself away? Wouldn’t she lose face right in front of Grandmother!
How could she face anyone after that!
Zhou Shaojin immediately dismissed this idea.
Then… who else could help her?
She thought and thought but couldn’t come up with a suitable candidate.
Zhou Shaojin was feeling vexed and irritated when Shi Xiang walked in with a tense expression, saying, “Second Miss, the Fourth Branch Eldest Lady has arrived.”
The Fourth Branch’s old master, Cheng Quan, was an only son who had passed away thirty years ago. He had three children: eldest son Cheng Mian, eldest daughter Cheng He, and second son Cheng Yuan. The Fourth Branch Eldest Lady was Cheng Mian’s first wife, He Shi, while Cheng He was Zhou Chujin’s birth mother.
Zhou Shaojin quickly instructed Shi Xiang to receive the Fourth Branch Eldest Lady in the west wing study and serve tea, while having Chun Wan come in to help her wash and dress.
But just as she had finished rinsing her mouth and washing her face, Shi Xiang returned, saying, “Eldest Lady says Second Miss is ill and mustn’t exhaust herself by making a fuss just because an elder is coming to visit. She told me to inform you to just lie in bed—she’ll look at you and then leave.” As she spoke, there was already movement outside.
Zhou Shaojin obeyed, though she didn’t actually lie in bed—she stood in the room waiting.
Shi Xiang went to invite the Fourth Branch Eldest Lady inside.
The Fourth Branch Eldest Lady had just celebrated her fortieth birthday on the second day of the second month this year. She was a plump woman with a face like a full moon. She wore a honey-colored jacket with four-leaf pattern, her hair arranged in a round bun with only three gold hairpins inlaid with South Sea pearls inserted in her hair—simple and elegant yet still splendid.
Zhou Shaojin stepped forward to pay her respects.
Before Zhou Shaojin could curtsy, the Fourth Branch Eldest Lady quickly stepped forward and helped her up, saying, “Your grandmother was afraid you’d exhaust yourself and has been constantly concerned about your illness but didn’t dare come see you. Seeing how worried your grandmother was, I steeled myself to come in person. If you still don’t follow your elders’ instructions like this, I won’t dare come again.”
She was feigning illness here, yet making her elders worry. Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed and murmured, “Thank you for Grandmother’s and Eldest Aunt’s concern. I’m already much better. Nanny Zhou said after taking this dose of medicine, everything will be fine. Sister is just afraid I’ll pass my illness to Grandmother and you, so she’s keeping me confined to the room to rest and recover for a few more days before going out.”
The Cheng family always consulted Doctor Zhou from “Zhou’s Medical Hall” when seeing physicians. Doctor Zhou’s wife’s natal family ran an apothecary, and after marrying into the Zhou family, she learned the skills of taking pulses and diagnosing from Doctor Zhou. The women of Jinling’s great households would invite her to examine them when ill. Over time, “Nanny Zhou’s” reputation became even more resounding than her husband Doctor Zhou’s.
“That’s good then!” The Fourth Branch Eldest Lady led Zhou Shaojin to sit on an embroidered stool beside the red-lacquered carved-tooth round table in the center of the room. She carefully examined her for quite a while, and seeing her complexion was still good, let out a long breath. She accepted the tea Shi Xiang offered and took a sip, then asked Zhou Shaojin whether she was still taking the previous prescription, whether she slept well, whether her appetite was good, and what she did at home when she couldn’t go out… All sorts of things, trivial yet specific.
Zhou Shaojin respectfully answered, but having not slept well these past few days, after a while she inevitably showed some signs of fatigue.
Seeing this, the Fourth Branch Eldest Lady gave her a few instructions about “resting well to recover” and such, then rose to take her leave.