Cheng Chi gazed at Zhou Shaojin’s face, which looked somewhat childlike in her deep sleep, lost in thought.
Early the next morning when they went to pay respects to Old Madam Guo, he half-supported Zhou Shaojin as they walked.
Zhou Shaojin asked with a curious smile, “What’s gotten into you?”
Cheng Chi said calmly, “I see you look like you’re about to fall asleep while walking. If I don’t support you like this, I’m afraid you’ll walk into a ditch.”
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but yawn, saying, “I don’t know why, but I just want to sleep so much. I clearly just got out of bed…”
“Then go back and get some proper sleep,” Cheng Chi said with a smile. “Mother happens to be going out to visit anyway.”
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin giggled.
A few days ago, Madam Peng from the Military Selection Bureau of the Ministry of War had invited Old Madam Guo to her home to listen to opera. Old Madam Guo was advanced in age and a particular person; she wasn’t lacking in people to chat and amuse her, so she didn’t really want to go out. Although she said nothing when Madam Peng’s invitation arrived, from her expression, she wasn’t planning to go.
For Cheng Chi to say this, wasn’t he urging Old Madam Guo to go out socializing?
How could Old Madam Guo be someone who could be casually manipulated?
But what she didn’t expect was that after they had greeted Old Madam Guo and chatted for a while before taking their leave, Old Madam Guo suddenly told Zhou Shaojin that she would be going to visit the Peng family in a bit. Since they would all be elderly ladies, she wouldn’t bring her along. She told her to stay home properly, and she would return after having dinner at the Peng residence.
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.
She had been with Cheng Chi the whole time just now, and Cheng Chi hadn’t avoided her when speaking… so how did Cheng Chi know Old Madam Guo was going to visit the Peng family?
But Cheng Chi had to leave for the yamen soon, and she couldn’t very well ask him at this moment. She could only first see Cheng Chi out, then attend to Old Madam Guo as she prepared to leave.
On Old Madam Guo’s side, they were still selecting clothes for going out.
Usually such matters would be prepared a day in advance.
Clearly Old Madam Guo had decided to go out on the spur of the moment.
But she couldn’t very well ask Old Madam Guo why she was visiting the Peng family. If she asked, it would inevitably make Old Madam Guo seem inconsistent in her actions. As a daughter-in-law, how could she question her mother-in-law’s decisions?
Zhou Shaojin saw Old Madam Guo off without understanding why, and drowsiness attacked her once again.
She flopped onto the bed and closed her eyes, but felt vaguely in her heart—with the Old Madam not home, she indeed felt much more relaxed…
Meanwhile, Old Madam Guo couldn’t stop smiling the entire way out.
Thinking of Cheng Chi’s earlier hints, Nanny Lü couldn’t help saying, “Old Madam, if the Fourth Young Madam truly is with child, we should invite a physician to examine her. To avoid her like this…”
Is it appropriate?
It’s not like they had matched their birth charts and found that the Old Madam’s and the Fourth Young Madam’s baby’s charts were incompatible, right?
Could it be that from now on the Old Madam would have to keep avoiding the Fourth Young Madam?
Old Madam Guo laughed heartily, not taking offense at Nanny Lü’s words. She smiled, “Didn’t Fourth Lang say so? He only suspects Shaojin might be with child. You know that girl has been hoping for a child for nearly a year now. If I summon a physician to examine her, first, the pregnancy is still early—whether it can even be diagnosed is another matter. If she thinks I’m pressuring her to quickly bear children for the Cheng family and develops resentment, that wouldn’t be good. Second, if she truly is pregnant, won’t she treat it like a precious treasure, lying around without moving and eating excessively? Haven’t we seen plenty of such cases? The problem is, the more one acts like this, the harder childbirth becomes. It’s better to treat it with a normal attitude—whatever will be will be.”
If that’s the case, then why are you avoiding her, Old Madam?
Nanny Lü smiled inwardly but didn’t expose her, accompanying Old Madam Guo to Madam Peng’s residence.
When Old Madam Guo returned that evening and saw Zhou Shaojin yawning even while speaking, beyond her surprise, a certain thought began to form in her heart. She simply said to Cheng Chi, “The weather has been cool these past few days. I’m thinking of taking advantage of it to visit Second’s household and stay there for a few days!”
Zhou Shaojin was greatly alarmed, her drowsiness vanishing without a trace. She hurriedly said, “Mother, you’ve been staying here perfectly well. Why do you suddenly want to go to Second Uncle’s place…”
Before she could finish, Old Madam Guo interrupted her with a smile, “You child, I haven’t said anything—look how frightened you are! Come, come sit beside me. Hasn’t Rang Ge’er gotten engaged to the third young lady of the Xie family? I promised to provide twenty thousand taels of silver for Rang Ge’er’s wedding. Your second sister-in-law has been helping Rang Ge’er inspect estates these past few days. Since I have nothing to do, I’ll go help her look and find something to occupy myself.”
When a daughter married, her natal family would provide a dowry. More particular families would also establish some private property for the groom, so the young couple could live well.
The estates Old Madam Guo mentioned were probably the private property Qiu Shi was preparing for Rang Ge’er.
When Duke Xun was alive, Old Madam Guo had managed the entire household. After returning to Jiuru Alley, she had helped manage the Cheng family’s affairs. Even when living at Hanbi Mountain Estate, Yuan Shi would consult her when major matters arose. But now at Chaoyang Gate, the household was simple—even if Zhou Shaojin wanted to find tasks for Old Madam Guo, there weren’t any… If the Old Madam was willing, finding something to do might not be a bad thing!
Thinking this, Zhou Shaojin volunteered, “Then I’ll accompany you!”
“No need, no need.” Old Madam Guo waved her hand with a smile, saying, “I’m just going for a visit. If you come with me, who will look after Fourth Lang?”
That was true too.
Cheng Chi was only a fifth-rank secretary who didn’t yet have the qualification to attend morning court. He returned home before the hour of You in the afternoon. They couldn’t very well have him return to a cold, empty house with no one there, could they? Nor could they always have Old Madam Guo rush back before the hour of You, right?
Zhou Shaojin felt relieved and said, “Then when you feel tired, come back early. Fourth Master and I will come pick you up together!”
Old Madam Guo nodded with satisfaction, thinking that by then whether Zhou Shaojin was with child would be settled. Perhaps the Cheng family would have another joyous occasion!
Zhou Shaojin then helped Old Madam Guo pack her belongings.
Hearing the news, Qiu Shi and Cheng Rang came personally to fetch Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo then said, “Have Jia girl and her Rui Ge’er come back too. It’s been some time since I’ve seen Rui Ge’er.”
Qiu Shi smiled and agreed repeatedly with “Yes.” Zhou Shaojin could almost imagine how lively Cheng Wei’s household would be. She felt somewhat envious in her heart, but her body also felt extremely tired. In the end, fatigue won out, forcing her to abandon the idea of visiting Cheng Wei’s home. While the maids and servants were moving the trunks, she quietly told Qiu Shi about some of Old Madam Guo’s preferences. After Cheng Chi returned and they had dinner, they saw Old Madam Guo off to Cheng Wei’s residence.
Hearing this, Yuan Shi immediately brought Min Jia to pay respects to Old Madam Guo, asking with a smile, “The autumn tiger is still hot these days. Why did you move to Second Brother’s place?”
The implication being—did Zhou Shaojin do something unfilial or unsatisfactory that made Old Madam Guo unable to wait for the weather to turn cool before moving to Cheng Wei’s household?
Min Jia barely restrained herself from curling her lips.
Her mother-in-law rarely thought before speaking. Even if she wanted to sow discord, couldn’t she be a bit less obvious about it?
Old Madam Guo was also somewhat annoyed and said bluntly, “Your second sister-in-law isn’t like you. You’re someone with your own ideas who can make all decisions yourself, so naturally you don’t need me pointing fingers at you. Your second sister-in-law has never handled such major matters. How can I not oversee things!”
Seeing her mother-in-law clash with her sister-in-law again, and being someone who had always respected her mother-in-law, Qiu Shi quickly said, “That’s right! That’s right! I used to shelter under Big Sister-in-law’s wings in comfort. Now that we’re living separately for the first time, this is the first time I’m handling such a major matter. If I don’t ask Mother to oversee things, I won’t feel confident!”