Lady Li rarely involved herself in matters between him and his daughters. If she had something to say now, Zhou Zhen changed tack. “Let me think this matter over carefully before giving you an answer.”
Zhou Chujin had already seen Lady Li’s gesture. Though somewhat displeased in her heart, her face showed nothing. She smiled and took her leave of Zhou Zhen.
Zhou Zhen then turned his gaze to Lady Li.
Lady Li said, “Master, are you planning to let Eldest Young Madam go to the capital like this?”
Zhou Zhen didn’t understand. “Didn’t I give Chujin two hundred taels of silver for expenses?”
Lady Li smiled. “She’s a newly married woman, becoming a mother for the first time. With neither her mother nor mother-in-law by her side, how will she nurse the child once it’s born? What should she eat during her confinement… She’s experienced none of this. How can you feel at ease letting her go to the capital alone?”
Zhou Zhen said, “Won’t there be wet nurses? And they’ll hire midwives and such when the time comes.”
“That’s not the same at all!” Lady Li smiled. “No matter how loyal those servants are, there’s still the master-servant distinction. Some things aren’t easy to say. And you can’t just let Eldest Young Madam do as she pleases…”
“What are you suggesting then?” Zhou Zhen asked.
“If Master agrees, I’d like to take Youjin and accompany Eldest Young Madam and Second Young Miss to the capital together!” Lady Li said sincerely. “I can keep Eldest Young Madam company, help care for her during childbirth, and allow Youjin to spend more time with her two elder sisters, strengthening their sisterly bond.”
“You’ll go care for Chujin during childbirth?” Zhou Zhen said in surprise. “Can you… can you manage that?”
Lady Li smiled. “Even if this concubine isn’t very capable, at least I’ve been through it. I can go give Eldest Young Madam moral support! Moreover…” She pointed in the direction where Madam Huang lived. “I can also avoid that person.”
When dealing with Scholar Chang, this would also prevent people from making connections to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Zhen began seriously considering this matter.
The next day, when Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin came to the main hall for breakfast, Zhou Zhen told Zhou Chujin of Lady Li’s suggestion, adding, “Shaojin hasn’t married yet—what does she know? With Madam accompanying you, I’ll feel more at ease.”
Zhou Chujin was quite surprised. After a moment of silence, she said, “But if Madam goes with me, what about Father…”
Zhou Zhen smiled. “After your mother passed away, didn’t I get along perfectly well on my own for several years?”
In the Zhou household, “mother” referred to Lady Zhuang.
Zhou Chujin thought about it and agreed.
She also smiled and said to Lady Li, “Then I must trouble Madam.”
Lady Li quickly demurred, saying she didn’t deserve such words. “We’re one family—we don’t speak as two. I only hope Eldest Young Madam gives birth to her child smoothly and safely.”
After exchanging a few more polite pleasantries, though not as intimate as a true family, the atmosphere was warm.
Zhou Zhen felt greatly comforted.
Zhou Shaojin was absolutely delighted.
This way she could take good care of her sister and also meet with Uncle Chi…
The whole family happily busied themselves packing trunks.
Meanwhile, Madam Huang and Scholar Chang were waiting until their mouths developed sores.
Such a grand lantern festival—that Second Young Miss Zhou didn’t come the first day, didn’t come the second day—surely she would come the third day?
But who would have thought—by such coincidence, the lantern festival ran for six consecutive days, costing over a thousand taels of silver, yet that Second Young Miss Zhou never took a single step outside her room.
Now Madam Huang had no way to account for this.
She had received no small amount of flattery from Scholar Chang, and no small amount of gifts either!
“It seems this Second Young Miss Zhou truly has an exceptionally gentle and virtuous character,” she could only console Scholar Chang. “She truly deserves to have been raised in the Cheng family residence on Jiuru Alley in Jinling. She has the true character of a young lady from a great noble household—able to maintain propriety and remain composed.”
Scholar Chang thought the same.
So after hearing Madam Huang’s words, he became even more anxious, scratching his ears and cheeks as he begged Madam Huang, “If this matter succeeds, I’ll give two thousand taels of silver as a matchmaking gift.” Then, feeling that Zhou Shaojin was worth more than that, he quickly added, “No, I’ll give three thousand taels of silver as a matchmaking gift.”
Madam Huang’s eyes turned green with greed.
Zhou Zhen, as a prefectural magistrate, only received an annual salary of one hundred ninety-two bushels of grain and forty-two taels of silver… Three thousand taels of silver!
“Rest assured,” she promised eagerly. “I will definitely make this happen for you!”
Scholar Chang breathed a sigh of relief.
After seeing Scholar Chang off, Madam Huang paced circles in her room.
She clearly sensed that Lady Li had become distant from her.
Most likely she blamed her for the matter with Young Master Miao.
Thinking of this affair, Madam Huang truly felt a knot of frustration lodged in her chest.
Who knew that Young Master Miao would be so crude and unbearable! His father had been a high court official—clearly they were a family with no proper upbringing. No wonder Lady Li was dissatisfied with her.
Even without Scholar Chang’s request, she needed to find a way to mend relations with Lady Li.
Although her husband had connections through Grand Secretary Song’s channels, how could that compare to Magistrate Zhou’s relationship with the Cheng family?
Fortunately, these were all inner quarters women’s matters, and she had meant well. Surely Magistrate Zhou wouldn’t be completely unreasonable.
After pondering for a long time, she finally decided to ask Madam Tan to help sound out Lady Li’s attitude.
At worst, once the matter succeeded, she would give fifty taels of silver to Madam Tan.
Having made up her mind, Madam Huang went to visit Madam Tan.