The road to Hanbi Mountain House was lined with green trees, birdsong and fragrance of flowers. Zhou Shaojin walked and looked around, feeling very relaxed. He pointed to the treetops above his head that blocked the sun and said to Shi Xiang: "Even in midsummer, with this green ridge, we don't have to worry about the hot weather."
Shi Xiang nodded with a smile.
The two soon arrived at Hanbi Mountain House.
It was Biyu who came out to greet them. She greeted Zhou Shaojin softly and led her to the upper room while explaining in a low voice: "The second old master in the capital has sent someone to pay respects to the old lady. Please wait for a moment, second young lady."
Zhou Shaojin thought about it before he remembered who this second old master was.
He is the younger brother of the eldest grandfather Cheng Xun, and the brother-in-law of Mrs. Guo, Cheng Shao. He and the eldest grandfather Cheng Jing were both Jinshi in the Jiaxu year of Yongchang 12th year, but Cheng Jing was ranked 16th in the second class that year, while Cheng Shao was ranked second. This incident caused a sensation in Jinling at the time, and to this day, people in Jinling City will talk about the Cheng family. After that, Cheng Jing passed the examination and became a scholar, and Cheng Shao stayed in the Hanlin Academy as an editor. Later, Cheng Xun passed away, and Cheng Jing, who had just sought the position of Zuo Jieshi in the Ministry of Works, returned to his hometown to observe the mourning period, while Cheng Shao, who stayed in the Hanlin Academy, was promoted from editor to Hanlin Academy Attending Bachelor, and then to Shaoqing of the Zhanshi Mansion.
Just when everyone thought that Cheng Shao would have a bright future and take on the responsibility of the eldest branch, Cheng Shao seemed to have run out of talent and never made any achievements. Instead, Cheng Jing, who had just completed his mourning period, first sought the position of Chief Clerk of the Dali Temple. Within half a year, he was promoted to Deputy Director of the Dali Temple. After another year, he was promoted to Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple... Until later, he was appointed as Prime Minister and entered the Cabinet. His career was smooth and unstoppable. As for Cheng Shao, who had moved to the capital long ago, he gradually faded out of people's sight in Jiuru Lane in Jinling and was rarely mentioned.
In her previous life, Jiang had maliciously speculated that Cheng Shao's family was squeezed out by Old Madam Guo.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but be curious.
I wonder if Cheng Xun sent someone here just to greet Madam Guo politely or if he has something to ask Madam Guo
According to Jiang, the eldest branch of the family had not split up, and every year half of the income was sent to Cheng Shao who was far away in the capital. The fourth master Cheng Chi was in charge of the eldest branch of the family, and he was the son of Mrs. Guo. The eldest branch of the family wanted to embarrass Cheng Shao, and Cheng Shao had no other solution except to send someone to "discuss" with Mrs. Guo.
While Zhou Shaojin was sitting in the hall drinking tea, he unconsciously pricked up his ears to listen to the movements coming from the banquet room in the west.
It was so quiet over there that not a single sound could be heard.
Zhou Shaojin secretly felt sorry.
Feicui came out from behind the curtain, holding a copper kettle in her hand.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin sitting in the hall, she was slightly stunned, smiled, pointed to the banquet room, and nodded silently at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin also smiled and nodded without saying anything, but his ears immediately pricked up.
A voice floated out from the banquet room: "...Thank you, Second Uncle! Please ask Mr. Wu to thank Second Uncle for me..."
It was Mrs. Guo’s voice.
But why is it “Mr.” and not “Mom”
Could it be that the person who came to pay his respects to Madam Guo was a man
Shouldn’t we ask the Fourth Master for help regarding matters concerning the outer courtyard
Zhou Shaojin's heart was pounding, and he felt like he had heard something he shouldn't have heard.
When Feicui came into the banquet room carrying a copper kettle, she couldn't help but stand up and walked a few steps towards the rest room.
A man's voice could be heard faintly: "... The Second Old Master said that the Old Madam should persuade the First Master on this matter..."
Zhou Shaojin didn't dare to listen anymore and hurried back to his seat.
The jade has never come out.
Zhou Shaojin felt a little nervous.
After a while, Feicui lifted the curtain and let Mr. Wu out.
Zhou Shaojin took a quick glance.
Mr. Wu was of small stature, wearing a very ordinary royal blue robe with a purple pattern of five bats holding a longevity flower. He was in his fifties, with a goatee, but had a gentle, calm and composed face. He did not look like a clerk who ran errands for others, but more like a teacher in a wealthy family. He reminded her of the legal advisors around her brother-in-law.
Could he be the aide of the second old master Cheng Shao
Zhou Shaojin's heart skipped a beat and he quickly lowered his eyelids, looking at his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, making an expression as if he was a clay sculpture that would not tolerate anything inappropriate.
Mr. Wu walked out quickly.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Feicui turned back and entered the banquet room. She came out soon and said to her with a smile, "Second Miss, the old lady invites you in."
Zhou Shaojin thanked her softly and followed her into the banquet room.
Old Madam Guo sat on a low couch, twirling the Buddhist beads in her hand with a calm expression, and it was not possible to tell whether she was sad or happy. All the tea bowls and snacks on the table had been cleared away, and it was spotless, as if no one had ever been there.
She stepped forward and saluted.
Madam Guo smiled and said, "I won't say anything else. From now on, you will come here every afternoon. If there is anything you need, tell Feicui. If she can't do it, you can come to me directly."
"Yes!" Zhou Shaojin stood up and responded meekly but respectfully.
Mrs. Guo nodded, her face slightly brightened.
Pearl came in and said, "Madam, the lady said she has something to ask you."
Yuan was a lady of the third rank, but people in the world had the habit of flattering others, so they would call all ladies who had been granted an imperial title "Madam" no matter what their rank was, to show their flattery.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly stood up and said goodbye.
Mrs. Guo didn't keep her either.
Zhou Shaojin ran into Yuan who was standing under the eaves waiting for the maid to report.
Yuan nodded at her and said with a smile, "Shaojin, are you here to copy the scriptures? Why don't you sit for a while? Are you going to the Buddhist temple?" She then greeted Feicui, "Are you on duty today?"
The attitude is friendly and natural.
This is a Yuan family member that Zhou Shaojin feels very unfamiliar with.
She didn't say anything, but just smiled and knelt down to pay her respects to Yuan. However, Feicui politely exchanged a few words with Yuan before leading her to the Buddhist hall.
In addition to pens, inkstones, washing dishes, pen holders and a thick copy of the "Lingyan Sutra", the large desk in the Buddhist hall also has a carved red lacquer and gold-painted crabapple box for sweets and snacks.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin's eyes fall on the box, Feicui smiled and said, "This is what the old lady specifically told me. She said she was afraid that the second young lady would have a tasteless mouth, so she prepared some snacks for you." Then she said, "Do you think you need anything else?"
"Nothing is missing." Zhou Shaojin smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with her, "Thank you, old lady, for me."
Feicui smiled and called a young maid who was still a child to come in, saying, "Second Miss, this is Xiaotan. She will serve you in the Buddhist hall from now on." She then said to Shixiang, "If you need anything, just ask her to help run errands."
If Zhou Shaojin had not heard those two words from Mr. Wu, she might have been shocked by such an arrangement. But after seeing the scene in the banquet room, she understood Feicui's identity and status in Hanbi Mountain Villa. She was no longer surprised that Feicui did not serve her personally but arranged a little maid to serve her in the Buddhist hall.
Now it seems that Madam Guo is already honoring her by making Feicui obey her orders.
No one in Hanbi Mountain Villa should dare to look down on her, right
After Feicui and Shi Xiang had greeted each other, introduced themselves as sisters, Zhou Shaojin asked Shi Xiang to see Feicui off, turned around and took a handful of silk candies from the savings box and gave them to Xiao Tan, saying gently, "I'll call you if I need anything here - go play with the sisters!"
Xiao Tan was fair and clean, with a pair of big round eyes. Hearing this, she tilted her head while holding the candy and said, "Second Miss, I won't play with my sisters. I'll sit on the steps outside and wait for you to call me."
Her voice was clear and crisp, and her appearance was well-behaved and cute, which reminded Zhou Shaojin of Lin Shisheng's eldest daughter. Every time she saw the child, she would give her a handful of candy like a grandmother, and the child would always thank her by tilting her head and blinking her big eyes.
Zhou Shaojin's heart softened. He touched Xiao Tan's head, smiled and said to her, "Go ahead." He watched her walk out the door before turning around and sitting down at the desk.
Shi Xiang happened to have just returned from delivering jadeite, and she rolled up her sleeves to help Zhou Shaojin grind ink.
Zhou Shaojin took the opportunity to flip through the "Lingyan Sutra".
The engraving is exquisite, the characters are large and pleasing to the eye, and the lines are clear and sparse. It turns out to be an ancient book from a previous dynasty.
This long house is too grand!
She muttered to herself, waited for Shi Xiang's ink to be ground, dipped the pen and started copying.
In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had copied the Shurangama Sutra. Unlike those who had never read the Shurangama Sutra or were reading it for the first time, she did not need to recognize words and sentences. She could recite the sentence as soon as she saw the first word, so she could focus all her energy on writing. Not only did she copy quickly and well, but she could also appreciate the mystery and philosophy between the lines of the text in the process of copying.
She seemed to have returned to her farm in Daxing, thinking of nothing, caring about nothing, letting go of worldly things, and immersing herself in the mysterious Buddhist teachings.
The sun gradually set and the light in the Buddhist hall dimmed.
Zhou Shaojin, who had been busy copying books, stood up, rubbed his arms, and told Shi Xiang: "Let's stop here today and come back tomorrow."
Shi Xiang smiled and said "yes", tidied up the desk, sent Xiao Tan away, and went to the upper room with Zhou Shaojin.
The maids and old women who served in the upper room stood far away under the eaves of the east wing. Only Feicui and Biyu served in front of the hall door.
Zhou Shaojin had also been the mistress of a household. As soon as she saw the gesture, she knew that it was Old Madam Guo who had sent the servants away because she had something to say to someone.
She thought about Mr. Wu and the few words she had heard.
Could this matter be related to the second old master and the eldest master in the capital
I just don’t know who Mrs. Guo is talking to
While thinking, Feicui came over quietly, smiled and whispered, "The old lady and the chief steward are talking. Is the second young lady coming to say goodbye to the old lady? How about you wait for a while? Or go to the flower hall to have a cup of tea?"
When she went to the flower hall to have tea, she had to send maids to serve her. Old Madam Guo asked the servants around her to stand under the eaves of the east wing, forbidding them to walk around at will and lest they hear words they shouldn't hear or see things they shouldn't see.
Zhou Shaojin had no intention of causing trouble to Feicui and the others, so he smiled and said, "I've been copying scriptures for half a day, and my back and waist are aching. I'll just walk around the area."
Jade gave her a grateful look.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, then took Shi Xiang and left the upper room.
She wanted to go back early, but didn't want to wait foolishly in the Buddhist hall, so she waited by the corridor where Shi Xiang could see what was going on in the upper room: "Tell me as soon as the old lady sends the guests away."
Afraid that Shi Xiang and others wouldn't be able to find him, Zhou Shaojin didn't dare to go far and just walked around nearby.
※
Sisters, have a nice weekend!
I can also take a day off this weekend!
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)