For Huo Dongting to come so late, there must be urgent business.
Zhou Shaojin helped Cheng Chi put on his shoes and went to the main hall.
Huo Dongting wasn’t surprised to see Zhou Shaojin. After hesitating a moment and seeing that Cheng Chi said nothing, knowing that Cheng Chi had no intention of hiding things from Zhou Shaojin, he couldn’t help glancing at her before saying, “Fourth Master, you had someone spread false news that the Crown Prince was ill. That Imperial Physician Wang from the Imperial Medical Bureau indeed rushed to the Eastern Palace. The Third Prince, Seventh Prince, and several other princes who haven’t been enfeoffed showed no reaction. Only the Fourth Prince’s residence and the Imperial Grandson’s residence had movements. From the Imperial Grandson’s residence, the Imperial Grandson went directly to the Eastern Palace. From the Fourth Prince’s residence, someone made contact with people from the Eastern Palace. The distance was too great—we couldn’t hear clearly what the Fourth Prince’s people and the Eastern Palace people discussed. But we recognized the person who contacted the Fourth Prince’s residence. We’ll find a way to contact him later to see what information he gave to the Fourth Prince’s residence.”
Cheng Chi nodded with a stern expression and said, “Be careful.”
He couldn’t let the events of his previous life repeat themselves. People who hadn’t experienced it didn’t know the inside story. He was now somewhat worried about alerting the enemy and causing changes in the events of his previous life—making dangers that should have appeared be delayed or hidden in corners he hadn’t noticed, emerging when he let down his guard to catch him off guard.
If it were just him alone, he naturally wouldn’t be afraid and could escape no matter what. But now he had Shaojin, his mother, and possibly children in the future… Thinking of children, he couldn’t help stepping forward to embrace Zhou Shaojin and kiss her cheek.
Cheng Chi had released false information, and among the princes, only the Fourth Prince and the Imperial Grandson had reacted. The Imperial Grandson was the Crown Prince’s son, so knowing about the Crown Prince’s situation wasn’t strange. But the Fourth Prince knew… and in his previous life, he had become Emperor, which inevitably made one think more deeply.
If the Cheng family’s affairs were truly related to the Fourth Prince, and the Fourth Prince was the destined Emperor, would they have any chance of winning against him?
Zhou Shaojin was also worried about the Cheng family’s future. She couldn’t help tightly embracing Cheng Chi back, comforting him in a low voice, “Now that Jiuru Lane has divided the clan, the fifth branch definitely has no problems. They’re not important enough to attract the Emperor’s attention. The fourth branch has always been cautious and only has Uncle Yuan serving as an official outside. They couldn’t possibly cause such a big incident…”
It was the main branch… especially Cheng Jing of the main branch who was most likely to implicate everyone!
She swallowed these words without saying them and continued, “Now we all live in the capital. As long as we act carefully, nothing should happen to make the imperial family wary.”
Living together?
This phrase reminded Cheng Chi.
He discussed with Zhou Shaojin, “Shaojin, I’ll keep an eye on Elder Brother. As for Second Brother, you should visit more often.”
Cheng Wei was at the Hanlin Academy, a close minister to the Emperor. It was also an easy place for incidents to occur.
Zhou Shaojin nodded and said, “What should I pay attention to?”
Cheng Chi said, “Just pay attention to whom Second Brother’s family associates with.”
At the Hanlin Academy, he could find people to watch Cheng Wei, but matters in the inner courtyard weren’t so easy.
But truthfully, he was more inclined to believe Elder Brother Cheng Jing would cause trouble.
Because this kind of disaster wasn’t something just anyone had the ability to provoke.
With Second Brother, he was just worried about him being used by others.
This was no problem.
Zhou Shaojin told Cheng Chi about Qiu Shi asking her to go see Miss Xie.
Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised and said, “The Xie family’s status isn’t high. Why would Second Sister-in-law take a liking to the Xie family’s daughter?”
“Perhaps she wants to marry a daughter-in-law from a lower-status family,” Zhou Shaojin said. “That way there would be fewer conflicts.”
Cheng Chi instructed her to bring more servants when the time came, “Don’t let anyone offend you.”
His little wife was beautiful—he didn’t want her to be coveted by anyone.
Zhou Shaojin had never been conscious of her own beauty. Hearing this, she only thought Cheng Chi was worried about her safety. She smiled in agreement and pulled Cheng Chi back to the inner chamber, “Rest early. Didn’t you say you have to enter the palace tomorrow?”
The Emperor had summoned Cheng Chi to the palace for an audience.
Making the decision had been difficult, but once it was made, he could only forge ahead.
Cheng Chi’s state of mind was very calm.
He smiled and let Zhou Shaojin pull him into the inner chamber. The two tumbled together in passionate intimacy. It wasn’t until he woke up the next morning that Zhou Shaojin was still sleeping soundly. He kissed her several times but she only mumbled twice, rolled over, and fell back asleep.
Cheng Chi smiled helplessly, got dressed, and entered the palace.
When Zhou Shaojin woke up, she didn’t move for quite a while.
She hadn’t known Cheng Chi could be so wild when he got started… She would never indulge him like this again.
Fortunately, it was Nanny Fan who came to lift the bed curtain to help her get up.
In her previous life, Nanny Fan had seen her in all states. In this life, she and Cheng Chi were a proper married couple. Cheng Chi loved her—Nanny Fan would only be happy to see it, right?
She studied Fan Liushi.
Fan Liushi’s face indeed couldn’t hide her smile.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled. She let the wet nurse help her wash and dress, then emerged from the bathing room fresh and clean. She had her hair done in a simple style, changed into casual home clothes, and went to Old Madam Guo’s quarters.
After the fifteenth of the first month, the weather became noticeably clearer.
Old Madam Guo was standing under the covered corridor watching several women loosen the soil, preparing to plant a row of hostas in front of her room.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin arrive, she smiled and said, “Are you trying to turn Tingxiang Courtyard into a flower garden!”
“What’s wrong with turning it into a flower garden?” The more Zhou Shaojin interacted with Old Madam Guo, the more she respected her and the more she liked being close to her. “I’ve also had people search for two Xifu crabapple trees. In a few days, we’ll plant one in front of your room. That will be lively!”
Old Madam Guo laughed heartily. Supported by Zhou Shaojin, she walked inside, saying, “Speaking of lively, it would be lively if you two quickly gave me a grandson or granddaughter.”
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed with embarrassment.
But a few days later, her monthly period came.
She felt completely deflated. After returning from Qiu Shi’s new residence and hearing that Xiao Sheng was also pregnant, her legs felt like lead when she got out of the sedan chair.
Old Madam Guo comforted her, “Look at Qiu Shi—she was married into our family for several years before having a child. You’re still young. Don’t rush, don’t rush.”
How could Zhou Shaojin not be anxious?