Cheng Chi’s response made Old Madam Guo smile until her eyes curved. When Zhou Shaojin changed her form of address to call her “Mother,” Old Madam Guo could no longer restrain herself. Holding Zhou Shaojin, she happily praised her, “Good child,” and gently instructed Zhou Shaojin, “Go quickly with Fourth Lang to the ancestral hall. After recognizing the relatives, come back to keep me company.”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t dare raise her head at all.
Nanny Lü must have been the one who listened outside the chamber.
In her previous life, when she married Lin Shisheng, perhaps because they feared Lin Shisheng’s heart still held the eldest daughter of the Mu family, Old Madam Lin personally listened outside the chamber.
The two slowly left the main hall of Tingxiang Courtyard.
Cheng Chi indeed called for a sedan chair. While having her carried toward the ancestral hall, he chatted with her, “When you came here some days ago, Tingxiang Courtyard hadn’t been repaired yet. It was prepared for you to entertain your female friends normally. After Mother moved in, I added a covered corridor in front of the main hall to serve as a reception hall, which works well. After the guests leave and Mother moves back to Heshou Hall, you can not only receive female guests here, but also give instructions to the household stewards here… The ancestral hall is newly built. We’re the first couple to go there to worship our ancestors…”
In the future when they grew old and passed away, their memorial tablets would be enshrined in the ancestral hall by their descendants, enjoying forever the incense offerings of later generations.
They formed their marriage bond in this residence, and in this residence they would have children and grandchildren in abundance, growing old together…
Thinking this, Cheng Chi suddenly felt all the scenery before him became more beautiful.
Zhou Shaojin, however, felt very uncomfortable.
She sat in the sedan chair while Cheng Chi walked beside it supporting the chair. When she raised her head, she saw the lakes and mountains of the inner quarters. When she lowered her head, she could only see Cheng Chi’s jet-black hair and the white jade lotus hairpin binding his hair.
It was as if she were sitting on Cheng Chi’s shoulders.
She was even more afraid of being seen by others.
Because of their wedding, almost all of the Cheng family’s relatives and old friends who could come had come. Those who couldn’t come had also found ways to come. Since most were not in the capital, they were all staying in the eastern courtyard. To reach the ancestral hall, they had to pass through the eastern courtyard.
If they were seen like this, she couldn’t escape a reputation for being arrogantly favored. Going deeper, she might even be rumored to be domineering and disrespectful to elders. Then she could forget about ever turning her life around.
Even if this was arranged by Old Madam Guo, she couldn’t explain to everyone she met, could she?
Perhaps others would think she was making a big deal out of nothing, trying to cover up by overexplaining.
She bent down and pushed Cheng Chi’s shoulder, saying in a low voice, “Fourth Master, I… I should get down and walk! I’m fine, really!”
Cheng Chi knew she was timid and cautious, knew she wasn’t accustomed to this. How could he bear to make things difficult for her?
But to let her walk to the ancestral hall like this—he really feared she couldn’t hold up.
If anyone was to blame, it could only be his own insatiability.
But he hadn’t expected it would be this serious.
Now regretting it was too late.
Cheng Chi said in a low voice, “When we reach the ancestral hall entrance, we’ll walk in.”
This was also showing respect to their ancestors.
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
When they reached the black threshold at the ancestral hall entrance, Cheng Chi supported Zhou Shaojin as she descended from the sedan. Knowing she could only walk in by herself, he still couldn’t help asking, “Can you manage?”
Zhou Shaojin was extremely embarrassed. How could she discuss such things with him? She blushed and nodded randomly.
Cheng Chi smiled and went with her to the ancestral hall.
The one helping to arrange the offerings in the ancestral hall was Steward Qin.
He looked at Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin with gratification, separately handing them incense and candles, leading them to kowtow before the ancestral tablets.
The ancestral hall still had the smell of tung oil varnish. The memorial tablets were also newly made, lacking the depth of a century-old clan and the composed restraint that comes from the passage of time.
Feeling moved, Steward Qin couldn’t help but earnestly say to Cheng Chi, “A new beginning brings new prosperity. You must produce heirs, strive diligently, and together with your brothers support the Cheng family’s gateway.”
Cheng Chi respectfully responded with “Yes.”
Zhou Shaojin knew he was not an ordinary servant, but the Cheng family’s benefactor, Cheng Chi’s senior brother. Without the Qin family, there might not be the present Cheng family.
She hurriedly followed with a respectful bow.
Steward Qin’s eyes revealed a smile of gratification.
On the way back, Zhou Shaojin insisted on walking herself.
Cheng Chi didn’t force her.
The two slowly made their way to the main hall.
Fortunately, the main hall wasn’t far from the ancestral hall. Just when Zhou Shaojin encouraged herself for the third time not to stop, they arrived at the main hall.
Blue brick foundation, powder-white walls, gray ridges, with a black and gold lacquered plaque bearing the three characters “Panzong Hall.”
These three characters were personally inscribed by Cheng Jing.
It was typical official script.
But the characters were as large as measures, round and full, upright and harmonious, quite imposing.
This was the main branch’s current hall name.
Taken from the “Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Emperor Xiaowen,” it implied prosperous descendants and a family solid as bedrock.
Zhou Shaojin thought of Steward Qin’s earlier exhortation and couldn’t help but feel secretly relieved. Good thing she had consummated the marriage with Fourth Master, otherwise how disappointed these elders who held such infinite hopes for Cheng Chi would have been!
“They’re here, they’re here. The groom and bride are here!” A female servant called out happily, her voice filled with celebration.
Zhou Shaojin’s mood also became joyful.