Cheng Yi was still at that seventeen or eighteen-year-old age when one is easily embarrassed. Being asked so bluntly by Cheng Nuo, his face immediately flushed red as he said: “Just mind your own business. Why are you meddling in mine?”
Cheng Nuo chuckled, his expression revealing a hint of smug satisfaction.
At first, he had been dissatisfied with this marriage arrangement.
Wu Baozhang had a tendency to flatter the powerful and trample the weak, and her reputation in their circles wasn’t particularly good. But Mother had also said—who doesn’t flatter the powerful and trample the weak? Just like their fifth branch, and the fourth branch—didn’t they also have to curry favor with the first and second branches to get by? It was just that some people did it more gracefully, while others were more obvious about it and got noticed. Moreover, if he could become the son-in-law of Prefect Wu and have the Wu family backing him, no matter how capable the women outside and the children they bore with him were, they still wouldn’t get a share when dividing the property. Even among his brothers, they would have to regard him more highly.
He didn’t know about others, but Cheng Ju was extremely envious of him.
Cheng Ju had even asked him to keep an eye out, to see if he could help Cheng Ju find a position at the yamen.
So now Cheng Nuo felt that marrying the eldest young lady of the Wu family wasn’t bad at all. Besides, he had seen the Wu family’s eldest daughter—she was good-looking, eloquent, skilled at socializing, and wouldn’t be embarrassing to bring out in public.
Cheng Yi, however, felt somewhat guilty.
Mother had called him to her side for a good scolding, finally saying: “If you hadn’t been so disobedient, I would have already asked your uncle to arrange a marriage with Shaojin for you!”
He had felt so awkward at the time and quickly asked: “You didn’t mention it to Uncle, did you?”
Mother had been furious, glaring at him with raised eyebrows: “What do you mean by that? Are you saying that marrying Shaojin would be beneath you?”
“No, no.” He had waved his hands repeatedly. “I, I’ve always thought of her as a sister…”
Mother had raged: “She’s not your real sister!”
He could only laugh dryly.
If he could choose, he would rather marry Ji Ying as his wife.
Just looking at her made his heart flutter.
As for Shaojin, he had watched her grow up since childhood… and after she grew up, she treated him like a younger brother and scolded him… he really couldn’t imagine the two of them as husband and wife.
Besides, he had just been beaten by Ji Ying. Shaojin must be very disappointed in him. How could she possibly marry him?
Cheng Yi’s emotions were complicated. He couldn’t tell if it was chagrin or regret.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of Cold Jade Mountain House, even before the banquet at Listening to Rain Pavilion had ended, Old Madam Guo had already received the news.
The old lady remained silent for a long while, then said to Zhou Shaojin, who was happily selecting fabric in the outer room: “Shaojin, you can make the decisions about my autumn garments. I’m a bit tired. I’m going back to my room to rest.”
Zhou Shaojin and the others immediately sensed Old Madam Guo’s unusual mood. Although they all smiled and responded “Yes,” once Old Madam Guo entered the inner chamber, they gathered together.
“What’s wrong with Old Madam?”
“She was fine just now! It must be that Nanny Lü said something to Old Madam!”
“Could something have happened at Listening to Rain Pavilion? Our Old Madam didn’t attend the family banquet this time—could she have angered the old ancestor of the second branch?”
“Bah! So what if she angered her? With Fourth Master here, would the old ancestor of the second branch dare to rebuke our Old Madam?”
“I didn’t mean that… I just feel it’s not quite right…”
Zhou Shaojin quietly listened to Biyu and the others whispering amongst themselves. She gently lifted a corner of the curtain to the inner chamber.
Old Madam Guo was leaning against the headboard with her eyes closed, brows tightly knit, covered with the treasure-blue crane-patterned brocade quilt, rapidly fingering the eighteen-bead sandalwood Buddhist prayer beads in her hand.
Zhou Shaojin beckoned to Chun Wan, instructing her to go to the kitchen and bring a bowl of lotus seed and red bean soup—the small kitchen at Cold Jade Mountain House always kept various sweet treats on hand.
Chun Wan rushed off and soon returned carrying a bowl of lotus seed and red bean soup on a tray lacquered in red with painted gold begonia flowers.
Zhou Shaojin took the tray and softly called “Old Madam” at the doorway.
Zhenzhu and the others inside had already noticed her actions when Chun Wan came in. When she spoke, they all simultaneously held their breath and watched Zhou Shaojin, as if afraid any sound might disturb her.
There was no sound from the inner chamber.
Zhou Shaojin called out softly again.
Still no sound.
She turned around disappointed and shook her head at Zhenzhu and the others.
The expressions of Zhenzhu and the others became grave.
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes dimmed. She was just about to turn and give the tray to Chun Wan when Old Madam Guo’s dignified yet kind voice came from the inner chamber: “Is that Shaojin? Come in.”
She immediately perked up. While giving Zhenzhu and the others a knowing look, she softly replied “Yes” and said with a smile: “Then I’m coming in!”
Zhenzhu and the others all became happy and made eyes at Zhou Shaojin, signaling her to comfort Old Madam Guo well.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, carrying the sweet soup into the inner chamber.
Old Madam Guo had already put down the prayer beads in her hand. Her expression was calm, and she asked with a smile: “What did you bring? We just had lunch. I can’t eat anything.”
“It’s lotus seed and red bean soup.” Zhou Shaojin smiled sweetly and sat down on the brocade stool by the bed. “I only had them fill half a bowl. Sometimes when I’m in a bad mood, I eat some sweet food and my mood quickly improves.”
Old Madam Guo was quite surprised. After thinking for a moment, she picked up the sweet soup and drank a few sips.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: “Would you like to lie down and rest? I’ll massage your legs. Or I could massage your shoulders—that would be fine too. It can help you fall asleep quickly.”
“No need!” Old Madam Guo took her hand and sighed, saying: “Just let Zhenzhu and the others do these things.”
But Zhenzhu and the others weren’t as bold as her.
And they feared being implicated.
So they inevitably acted somewhat timidly.