“You, child!” Old Madam Guo’s eyes widened. For quite a while, she didn’t know what to say.
Cheng Chi simply smiled and said, “Mother, if Fourth Aunt truly favors Shaojin that much, none of my schemes will work.”
Old Madam Guo sighed, “Why must you… This kind of choice is the most agonizing.”
Cheng Chi said with a smile, “Mother, you’re the one who said to find Shaojin a good match, and you’re also the one who said to preserve Fourth Aunt’s dignity. Just what do you want me to do to satisfy you?”
Old Madam Guo was stunned, then laughed despite herself and said, “Alright, alright. I can’t argue with you. Just do whatever you think is best!”
Cheng Chi shook his head with a smile and said, “You really are something—all these years, you’ve always used that line to dismiss me.”
The mother and son began chatting about other matters, creating quite a harmonious atmosphere.
When the Ninth Master of the Gu family, Gu Qinghe, returned, Cheng Chi had even less to do. Gu Qinghe hosted a vegetarian banquet for Cheng Chi at his residence, Mingxiang Pavilion. His words were filled with gratitude yet also rather arrogant, constantly saying things like “Back in the day, your brother and I this and that.” Cheng Chi sneered inwardly and found an excuse to leave before all the dishes had been served.
Gu Qinghe was so angry his eyes bulged. But thinking of Cheng Jing’s sincere concern when he left the capital, that anger subsided on its own.
After thinking it over, Cheng Chi simply went to Gu Junie’s place.
Gu Junie’s wife, Shang Shi, was originally from Rizhao in Shandong. Her father was the great Shandong merchant Shang Baojian. Shang Baojian had once saved the life of Gu Junie’s father, Gu Qingtai. Shang Baojian had difficulty producing heirs and only had his daughter Shang Shi when he was over forty. When Shang Baojian became bedridden, Shang Shi was only nine years old. Fearing his daughter would be bullied by clan members, Shang Baojian entrusted Shang Shi to Gu Qingtai before his death. Seeing that Shang Shi and his third son were similar in age, Gu Qingtai simply arranged a marriage alliance with Shang Baojian. Shang Shi married in at age ten, and a month later Shang Baojian passed away. Shang Shi was raised by Gu Junie’s mother and only consummated the marriage with Gu Junie at seventeen. She was not only dignified and beautiful, but she and Gu Junie had grown up together and shared the same ideals—their relationship was very good.
When Shang Shi heard that Cheng Chi had come, she quickly had a young maid bring out the premium Dahongpao tea that someone had given Gu Junie during New Year’s to serve their guest.
Cheng Chi sat cross-legged in a rosewood meditation chair, breathing in the rich tea fragrance and gazing at the graceful bamboo outside the window. He sighed, “This is truly living!”
Gu Junie was organizing his bookshelf and said with a laugh upon hearing this, “You make it sound like you’re living in dire straits. But since you brought it up, I’ll be nosy and ask: What exactly are your plans? You’re not young anymore this year. Haven’t you thought about starting a family? Does your mother just let you carry on like this?”
As he was speaking, Shang Shi entered with two young maids carrying food boxes. She continued with a smile, “What kind of wife is Uncle looking for? If you still value Sister-in-law’s judgment, why not give Sister-in-law a hint? I’ll keep an eye out for Uncle and drink a cup of matchmaker’s tea!”
Cheng Chi stood up, first calling out “Sixth Sister-in-law” with a smile, then said, “It won’t work for the next couple of years! As you know, I spent my earlier years traveling and incurred some debts of honor. If I don’t repay those debts, how can I settle down and start a family? When I’m ready to marry, I’ll definitely ask Sister-in-law to help me evaluate prospects.”
Because Shang Shi had earned her husband’s respect, she had quite a bit of face in front of her husband’s close friends. Hearing this, her expression became slightly stern as she said, “What? Don’t tell me you’ve provoked some outlaw? Can’t the authorities resolve it?”
If in the past they had to consider Cheng Jing’s reputation and didn’t dare use official power, now that Cheng Jing had entered the Grand Secretariat, if Cheng Chi let it be known, there would naturally be those eager to curry favor who would take the lead.
Cheng Chi understood what Shang Shi was referring to and said with a smile, “If it doesn’t work out, it’s not too late to seek out my eldest brother then. Otherwise, he’ll always think I don’t apply myself properly.”
This was a matter between the Cheng family brothers, so others couldn’t properly inquire further.
Shang Shi cleverly changed the subject with a smile, “I heard you left Ninth Uncle’s place before all the dishes were served, so I figured you definitely haven’t eaten. I had people bring over a few dishes.”
Cheng Chi thanked her repeatedly, then casually asked about the Gu family’s several young ladies: “…With Old Madam gone, I’m afraid these marriages will be delayed.”
The Gu family was large and prosperous, but there were also many people. When the young ladies married out, the public funds uniformly only provided three hundred taels. To have a respectable wedding, each household had to supplement from their own resources. So the Gu family’s young ladies weren’t that easy to marry off.
Shang Shi sighed, “Only the Seventeenth Miss, Eighteenth Miss, and Nineteenth Miss are delayed… They haven’t had time to discuss marriage prospects yet, but they’re not young anymore.”
Cheng Chi said “Oh” very casually, didn’t ask further, and began eating at Junie’s tea table.
Shang Shi withdrew with the young maids.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Gu Junie quickly moved the books on the tea table aside and said, “How can you do this? Be careful not to splash oil on my books.”
Cheng Chi snorted, “I didn’t complain about the dust all over your books, yet you’re complaining about oil splashes from my eating!”
Gu Junie turned to look at him, his expression quite astonished.
Cheng Chi said, “What’s wrong with you?”
“That’s exactly what I want to ask you!” Gu Junie walked over with the book in his hand and said, “When I used to say things like this to you, you would usually just give me a cold look and dismiss it disdainfully. Why are you arguing with me today? This isn’t like your usual self!”
Cheng Chi was stunned.
Huai Shan requested an audience.
Cheng Chi let him enter.
Seeing Gu Junie, he seemed to hesitate about speaking.
Gu Junie put down his book and said, “I’ll step out. You don’t need to keep glancing at me like that!”
Huai Shan’s eyes couldn’t help but show a hint of amusement.
But Cheng Chi unceremoniously waited until Gu Junie had left before nodding at Huai Shan.
Huai Shan stepped forward and said quietly, “Fourth Master, news has come from the capital saying that the Censorate Imperial Censor Mu, who lives in Minister Hu’s alley in Chongyi Ward, has run into trouble!”
Cheng Chi’s heart seized. He said gravely, “What happened?”
Huai Shan said, “Last September, Grand Master was transferred to the Ministry of Rites. In October, news spread that someone in the Ministry of Rites had leaked exam questions during the Northern Zhili autumn examinations in the Jiawu year. Because Minister Zhang had previously been the Minister of Rites, Grand Master ordered a thorough investigation of the case. At year’s end, Grand Master submitted a memorial to the Emperor, which the Emperor retained without issuing. After the Lantern Festival passed, all those who had been responsible for the Jiawu autumn examinations were thrown into prison, including this Master Mu.”
Cheng Chi’s face was grave as water. He said, “What position did Master Mu hold in the Ministry of Rites?”
Huai Shan said, “Principal Clerk of the Bureau of Ceremonies.”
“The Principal Clerk of the Bureau of Ceremonies is sixth rank, while a Censorate Imperial Censor is seventh rank.”
“So Master Mu bears primary responsibility.” Huai Shan said, “According to the confessions of those in the Ministry of Rites, someone had reported it at the time. But Minister Zhang, considering the gravity of the matter, quietly suppressed it. However, the relevant personnel weren’t indulged either—they were all transferred out of the Ministry of Rites, and their performance evaluations that year were rated as ‘poor.’ Everyone else received lateral transfers, but only this Master Mu was demoted, so…”
Cheng Chi’s mind was like the north wind howling through. His thoughts were in complete chaos, and for a long time he couldn’t sort them out.
Did the Lin and Mu families have any connection to Shaojin or not?
Had she predicted long ago that the Mu family would run into trouble?
Was Fan Qi acting on her request, or did he stumble into this matter by chance…
If Shaojin knew nothing about this, then why did she have Ji Ying send Fan Qi to the capital? If all these things were arranged by Shaojin, then… then was her getting close to his mother and to him also purposeful?