When Cheng Zheng returned home, the lights were already on.
She went to see the two children first.
The ten-year-old Gu Ning and Gu Zhong looked very similar. They had both inherited the good qualities of Cheng Zheng and his wife, and had grown into very handsome men at a young age. When Cheng Zheng entered the room, the two brothers were standing upright in front of the desk, writing big characters.
"Mother!" The two brothers called out to Cheng Zheng in unison, both showing joyful expressions. Gu Ning respectfully put down his pen and saluted Cheng Zheng, while Gu Zhong threw himself into Cheng Zheng's arms.
Cheng Zheng lovingly touched her youngest son's head, then took her hand and walked to the desk: "Have you had dinner? What did you eat today? Was it delicious? Haven't you finished the homework assigned by the teacher? You should combine work and rest, or you will hurt your eyes."
Gu Ning responded with a smile.
Gu Zhongze chattered in response to Cheng Zheng's words.
Cheng Zheng was a little surprised to hear that her two sons had dinner with her husband Gu Xu. She smiled and asked, "Why did your father come back so early?"
Gu Ning smiled and said, "Daddy said that the Crown Prince took the Crown Prince to the other courtyard to go boating today. They had nothing to do, so they came back first."
The Zhanshi Mansion is an office that assists the crown prince. It is not of high rank, but is a very important position. Gu Xu is the Shao Zhanshi of the Zhanshi Mansion, which means he is the deputy of the Zhanshi Mansion. He has a lot of trivial matters to do on weekdays and rarely rests. He can only go home on time like this very rarely.
Cheng Zhenghe looked at his sons' homework, praised them a few words, and said that he would take them to Fengtai for an outing in a few days. He asked them to rest early, then asked the maid and went to the study in the inner courtyard.
Gu Xu was fiddling with the pots of orchids on the windowsill.
He is 34 years old this year, with a slender figure, handsome face, and calm demeanor. His many years of official career have made him quite silent and low-key. He wears a royal blue robe with purple-red auspicious cloud patterns, which makes him look like a low-brow. But when he saw Cheng Zheng coming in, his eyes lit up, and he said "You're back" with a raised corner of his mouth, and his expression suddenly became happy.
Cheng Zheng nodded, looked at the orchid with a smile, and said, "Don't water my flowers to death like you did last time."
Gu Xu smiled indifferently, put a few pots of orchids back on the windowsill, called the maid to fetch water, and asked Cheng Zheng: "Have you had dinner? I asked the kitchen to make you lotus seed, lily and mung bean porridge, which is perfect for this season."
"I've had dinner at the Liao family." Despite this, Cheng Zheng still decided to have half a bowl of lotus porridge.
The couple sat on the big kang next to the window.
Gu Xu smiled and said, "Why did you suddenly think of going to the Liao family? Is Zhou's cousin okay?"
"Very good!" Cheng Zheng told Gu Xu what Cheng Chi had entrusted to her.
Gu Xu's expression gradually became serious as he listened.
Cheng Zheng's heart skipped a beat when she saw this, and she asked, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong?"
Gu Xu pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "Do you still remember that Uncle Chi gave me an attendant a few days ago?"
"Remember!" Cheng Zheng said, "Everyone in our family would hire a martial arts expert as a personal attendant. The one next to Xishan is Daxu, and the one next to Uncle Chi is Huaishan. What happened?"
Gu Xu said, "A few days ago, the Crown Prince came out of the corridor after listening to Grand Tutor Fu's lecture, and suddenly a few tiles fell. At that time, the follower named Wang Qing that my fourth uncle gave me happened to pass by the corridor. Before the guards could react, he rushed over and pushed the Crown Prince away... The Crown Prince asked about it later. I heard that it was our family's servant who not only rewarded him with a lot of silk and silk, but also repeatedly called him over to practice martial arts with the guards around him. This time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the Crown Prince to the other courtyard to row a boat, and the Crown Prince sent someone to tell me to bring Wang Qing over as well... I always feel that this matter is too coincidental and a bit strange, but I have rarely dealt with Uncle Chi, and I don't know his character, so I didn't have an idea for a while..."
If not five generations of people around the Crown Prince, at least three generations would be checked. Since the Zhanshi Mansion tacitly allowed Wang Qing to serve the Crown Prince, they would definitely not let him accompany the Crown Prince just because Wang Qing was a hereditary servant of Gu Xu's family. However, Wang Qing was given to Gu Xu by Cheng Chi before...
Cheng Zheng's forehead was covered with cold sweat. She said, "Uncle Chi has returned to Jinling. It will take some time for him to come back. I will write a letter to Uncle Chi right away to see what his plans are."
Gu Xu nodded slightly and comforted Cheng Zheng, "Don't worry, I think Uncle Chi will definitely not harm us."
Cheng Zheng nodded randomly and went to Xinglin Hutong the next day.
Cheng Jing was on duty in the yamen. He received a note passed in by his attendant and returned from the yamen early.
Cheng Zheng always felt that her father was a little soft-hearted. Although she was extremely anxious, she still had some reservations. After sitting down with her father in front of the large desk in the study, she explained her purpose: "Do you know what Uncle Chi is doing in Jinling?"
Cheng Jing smiled and said, "If you ask me, I really don't know! Your Uncle Chi is a free-spirited person, he is here today and there tomorrow. When he accompanied your grandmother to Mount Putuo that year, he met Song Jingran's father and became close friends with the old man of the Song family. He worked out some water control regulations, which Song Jingran handed to the emperor. If your eldest uncle hadn't stopped him, I'm afraid the emperor would have called your Uncle Chi to the palace for questioning..."
My eldest uncle is Yuan Weichang, the chief minister of the cabinet.
Cheng Zheng frowned slightly when she heard this and said, "Father, didn't you help Uncle Chi at that time?"
"You don't think I'm blocking your uncle Chi's path to success, do you?" Cheng Jing laughed. "Your uncle Chi stayed at home to keep the business, it was decided by your grandmother and the old ancestor of the second branch. Since this dynasty, our family has produced seven Jinshi, five of whom are from the eldest branch, and your second uncle was the runner-up. Now there is your brother who is a talented scholar among the younger generation. The eldest branch is too popular, so it's a good opportunity for you, Uncle Chi, to avoid the limelight."
Cheng Zheng disagreed.
Can some things be avoided by staying out of the spotlight
Being modest and cautious is one way, but being arrogant and domineering can also make opponents tremble, which may not be a bad choice. Moreover, in Jiashan's generation, apart from Jiashan and Youyi, she has not seen anyone who can make achievements in the imperial examination. When the older generation retires, the Cheng family will only rely on Jiashan and Youyi, and I am afraid that they will decline.
She tactfully reminded Cheng Jing: "In fact, it may not be a bad idea for Uncle Chi to pursue a career in government. Uncle Chi is only eight years older than Jiashan. If it weren't for my second great-uncle's agreement to go to the Imperial Academy, when my father and uncle were reinstated, I'm afraid the ancestors of the second branch would not necessarily help my father and uncle..."
However, Cheng Jing didn't want to talk more about these things with his daughter.
The grudges between several generations of the Cheng family are too complicated, and none of them are glorious.
He responded and changed the subject: "Your brother is not like us back then. He is weak and alone, but he still has Dalun, right? Don't worry about him." Then he talked about Cheng Xu's matter: "Your mother wrote to me a few days ago, saying that the Imperial College is not as good as it used to be, and many people have gone to academies. She asked me whether Shuanghe Academy or Boya Academy is better, and wanted your brother to go to an academy. I heard that Jinjiang went to Shuanghe Academy?"
Dalun is Gu Xu's pen name, and Jinjiang is Peng Zao's pen name.
After all, Cheng Zheng is a daughter, and it doesn't make sense for a daughter to teach her father a lesson.
She sighed deeply and said, "I will go to Fengtai for an outing with my second sister, third sister, and the second young lady of the Zhou family in a few days. I'll ask my third sister then!"
The father and daughter talked for a long time, and Cheng Zheng went to the west wing where Cheng Wei lived.
Cheng Wei's wife, Qiu, was also from a scholarly family, but she became ill when she gave birth to Cheng Rang, and has been bedridden ever since, unable to manage the household affairs of Xinglin Hutong. When she heard that Cheng Zheng had come, she was very happy, leaned against the head of the bed and talked to Cheng Zheng for a long time, and then kept Cheng Zheng for lunch before letting her go.
Cheng Zheng always felt something was wrong.
Although she and Cheng Chi had not had much contact, she had heard of the reputation Cheng Chi had made in Beijing in recent years.
The Cheng family started out as a salt merchant. The term of office for the salt transport envoys of Liangzhe and Lianghuai was two years. Seeing that the new salt transport envoys of Liangzhe and Lianghuai were about to be appointed, Uncle Chi did not stay in Beijing to make arrangements but went to Jinling... Doing business is like being an official, if you don't make progress, you will regress. Even if Uncle Chi doesn't want to do the salt transport business anymore, he can't just let it go! Who would believe that the Cheng family didn't want to do this business instead of not getting the salt permit
Cheng Zheng thought again and again, and sent her foster brother back to Jinling: "Live in Jiuru Lane. If grandma asks, just say I sent you to buy groceries. If there is any movement at home, take the master's name card and pass the news to me through the post station."
The chamberlain replied respectfully, "Yes," and retreated.
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A few days later, on the day when she had agreed with Zhou Shaojin to go to Fengtai, Cheng Zheng took her two sons to Yuqian Hutong.
Zhou Shaojin wore a moon-white plain Hangzhou silk bodice and a pink Xiang skirt with a hem inlaid with Baoxiang flowers. Her hair was tied into a bun and adorned with two southern pearl flowers, which made her look elegant and lively.
Cheng Zheng nodded secretly.
Although the flowers are gorgeous when they bloom, the leaves are mostly green. People who view the flowers are most concerned about wearing green, as it will not show the color. It is best to wear red, which matches the green trees and looks much more beautiful.
It seems that the second young lady of the Zhou family knows how to dress up.
She asked her two sons to come forward and pay their respects to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin's gaze stayed on Cheng Zheng's eldest son Gu Ning for a moment.
In the previous life, the fourth prince ascended the throne and changed the country's name to "Tian Shun". The 19-year-old Gu Ning was the youngest Jinshi in the two lists. After working as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy for three months, he was transferred by the fourth prince to serve as the left deputy director of the Xingren Department. After another three months, he was promoted to the director of the Xingren Department...
He is a person that makes people envy him.
Cheng Zheng thought that he was the eldest son. Zhou Shaojin was a little surprised that he looked so mature despite his young age. He quickly explained with a smile, "I'm sorry to embarrass you! Our Ning brother is the eldest son, so the master and I are strict with him. Over time, he has become a little unsmiling..."
Zhou Shaojin said a few humble words and took out the gift he had prepared long ago.
What was given to Gu Ning was a Duan inkstone and half a piece of Chengxin paper; what was given to Gu Zhong was a box of Huzhou wolf-hair brushes and a few ink sticks.
The brother seemed very well-educated and thanked Zhou Shaojin respectfully. Then they went to Zhou Chujin in Shuangyu Hutong.
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Sisters and brothers, today’s update.
PS: I haven't had much time to write recently, so most of the articles are posted as drafts. But I will correct typos every once in a while, so you can re-read the chapters with corrected typos.
※(To be continued)