Cheng Wen made up his mind, and on the eighth day of August, he and Wu Baozhang went to Chaoyang Gate early in the morning.
Cheng Chi was promoted, and it happened to be the 100th day banquet of his eldest son Yun Ge'er. Not only did Song Ge Lao's family come, but Cheng Chi's former boss Zhang Hui also came. Colleagues from the Ministry of Works and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, whether they knew each other or not, all contributed. Fifty tables were set up in the outer courtyard, and two opera troupes were invited to perform there. Only the women from the inner courtyard came who were usually there. The Yuan family from Tongxiang, the Fang family from Shucheng, and the Liao family from Zhenjiang all came. There were ten tables downstairs in the Sankuo waterside pavilion, and six tables upstairs. Opposite was the stage, and the play was "Six Sons Visiting Their Mothers" ordered by Mrs. Guo. There were five or six mahjong tables in the back room, and Zhou Chujin's mother-in-law, Mrs. Liao Da, and Fang Xuan's mother, Mrs. Fang Er, were playing mahjong here.
Zhou Shaojin came in, greeted the guests, and told the maids to serve the guests more water, tea and snacks. He then exchanged a few words with Mrs. Liao before getting up and going to the waterside pavilion in front.
Mrs. Fang looked at Zhou Shaojin's back as he disappeared out the door and couldn't help but sigh secretly.
Today Zhou was wearing a plain turquoise jacket with a silver-red border and large brocade flowers embroidered on the hem. Her face was rosy, her steps were light, and she smiled before she spoke. Although she had already given birth to a child, she still looked like an unmarried girl, with a kind of brightness and ease that married women did not have.
If only she had lowered her head, taken the initiative to talk to Old Madam Guo, and married Fang Xuan to her.
Or maybe it would be better not to marry Fang Xuan off in such a hurry... Fang Xuan was spoiled by her, and her son-in-law was also a man who was raised in her hands. The two of them were eating from the same pot, and neither of them would give in to the other. Even the family members blamed her - the son-in-law felt that his parents should not have given him an only daughter, and Fang Xuan felt that her family should not have married her off so hastily.
Thinking of her daughter's haggard face when she came back to her parents' home last time, Mrs. Fang felt a dull pain in her heart.
But now that things have come to this, what else can I say
Mrs. Fang felt a little uncomfortable sitting there, and thought it would be better to find an excuse to leave early so that she could go home and spend time with her daughter.
As she thought about it, she looked around for Mrs. Liao.
If you want to leave, you must find someone to help you say hello to the host family, otherwise it would be too rude. Mrs. Liao is the mother-in-law of Sister Zhou, so it would be best for her to come forward.
However, Liao and a group of other women surrounded her daughter-in-law, Da Zhou, who was holding a big red swaddling cloth in her arms... most likely it was Xiao Zhou's child!
Mrs. Fang hesitated for a moment, but still walked over.
I heard Mrs. Peng from the military department laughing, "… This child is really handsome. I came to see him at his third birthday and first month. He was still so small then, but this child is different now that he is one month old. Within a few days, his eyebrows and eyes have grown."
Mrs. Fang craned her neck to take a look.
What a good-looking person.
Not only is he fair and tender, but his hair is jet-black and his eyes are bright and lively. With so many people surrounding him, he doesn't cry or make a noise. Instead, he looks around. It's obvious that he is a very smart child.
Mrs. Fang felt sour in her heart, but she still called Mrs. Liao and whispered to her.
Mrs. Liao more or less guessed why she was feeling unwell, so she gave her some words of advice for the sake of face, and personally escorted Mrs. Fang out of the Chuihua Gate.
Mrs. Fang thanked her and turned to get into the sedan chair.
Mrs. Liao was just about to go to the inner courtyard when she looked up and saw a forty-year-old woman wearing an oily green Lu silk gown with a vase pattern, with her hair combed neatly into a bun and two silk flowers on her head. She was standing as straight as a beam scale and was led by Biyu, the manager of the inner courtyard of the Cheng family, with a smile on her face. Seven or eight maids were following them in a row, holding bright red and gold-painted boxes in their hands, and they were coming towards the hanging flower gate.
It was obvious at first glance that this was some respectable woman coming to deliver a gift to the Cheng family.
But she had no idea who this old woman was.
There are only a few official families in Jiangnan that are worth mentioning. And you and I are related, and I am related to you. After all these twists and turns, how can we know each other
Mrs. Liao turned around calmly and went to the inner courtyard.
She didn't want to meet and greet these people.
There are ** copies.
Biyu led the Fourth Prince's wife's wet nurse forward, but her heart was beating fast.
Ever since the Fourth Prince's Mansion gave up the wife of the Zheng family that day, Mr. Xu went to the Fourth Prince's Mansion in person to express his gratitude, and the Fourth Madam also sent someone to send gifts. However, there was no response from the Fourth Prince, and the Fourth Prince's wife suddenly became polite. Two days ago, she even sent a few baskets of newly-listed autumn pears. According to Nanny Shang, this was a tribute, which could not be bought on the market even if one had money.
Today is Master Yun’s hundredth day gift, and he asked his wet nurse to deliver these things.
As the saying goes, if someone shows you kindness for no reason, he is either a traitor or a thief, and it is bound to be bad luck.
What on earth is the fourth prince's wife going to do
The Fourth Master is only the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Censorate. If the Fourth Prince has any problem, he can just go to Xinglin Hutong to return the favor and ask the First Master for help...
She followed Zhou Shaojin's instructions, entered the Chuihua Gate, walked directly along the alley next to it, and went to the main courtyard on the west road.
Nanny Shang is waiting there.
She walked up to the Fourth Prince's wife's wet nurse with a smile and politely exchanged words with her. She took the Fourth Prince's wife's wet nurse's hand and went to the warm room next door to drink tea. She told Chunwan to count the gift list, and Jixiang to help entertain the maids holding the gifts. She also told the steward of the outer courtyard to reward the coachman and the servants who followed the carriage.
The room was filled with constant laughter and was quite lively, which was in line with the atmosphere of the day.
After a while, Zhou Shaojin came over after strolling around the water pavilion.
Nanny Shang took the fourth prince's wife's wet nurse to the hall.
After paying respects and explaining his purpose, Zhou Shaojin had the Fourth Prince's wife's wet nurse rewarded, and said with regret: "These are all rumors that are killing people - I thought the Fourth Prince's wife is the daughter-in-law of the royal family, the most noble person in the world, and it was the child's birthday, so how could I dare to disturb her. I never thought that the Fourth Prince's wife was still thinking about her and even sent someone to send gifts. I feel very sorry when I think about it. Since the nanny is here on behalf of the Fourth Prince's wife today, it is equivalent to the Fourth Prince's wife coming in person. Not only must you drink a few glasses of wine with me before leaving, but you must also follow me to the waterside pavilion to sit with relatives and friends before leaving."
The Fourth Prince's wife's nurse smiled and waved her hands when she heard this: "How dare I accept such an honor from you, Madam? No matter what, I am a servant anyway, how can I sit with the relatives and friends in the mansion? Besides, the Prince's wife also specifically reminded me before I left, telling me not to think that I am ignorant of the world just because I came from the Fourth Prince's mansion, and to embarrass her. I appreciate Madam's kindness, but I really don't deserve it."
Zhou Shaojin did not force her. After Chunwan received the gift list, she told Nanny Shang to treat her well and then went to the academy in the front yard.
Cheng Jing and Song Jingran were playing chess in the academy. Zhang Hui winked at Cheng Chi, and the two of them walked out of the study one after the other and stood under the old locust tree in the yard.
"How is Old Master Song's illness?" Zhang Hui whispered, "I heard that the eldest son of the Song family has moved up his wedding date to August 24th?"
Cheng Chi looked at Zhang Hui for a moment and said, "Mrs. Song came over and talked to my wife about this a few days ago."
If Old Master Song passed away, Lord Song would have to observe a period of mourning. He asked Zhou Shaojin if he remembered when Old Master Song passed away. Zhou Shaojin shook his head blankly and said that he didn't remember any period of mourning for Lord Song.
Cheng Chi guessed that Song Jingran was either recalled to the capital by the emperor as soon as the mourning period was over, or his love was taken away from him.
If it was the latter, it would be easy to deal with. If it was the former, even if it was only twenty-seven months, they would have to make some preparations. After all, in his previous life, Yang Shoushan was not demoted to a commoner, Qu Yuan was not impeached so early, he did not go to Mount Putuo to worship Buddha, and did not meet Old Master Song... Too many things have changed in this life, and Zhou Shaojin's memory can no longer be relied upon.
Zhang Hui said: "I wonder who the cabinet will nominate to join the cabinet?"
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "We'll talk about it when the time comes! Isn't that day not here yet? I think Mr. Song must have his own plans in mind, we just need to listen to him."
Zhang Hui hesitated to speak.
Cheng Chi pretended not to see it.
If Zhang Hui is allowed to go up, what if Song Jingran returns to his hometown to guard Zhi and the emperor summons him back? Who should come down
Cheng Chi decided to stand by and watch.
Anyway, no matter who Song Jingran arranges to take over his position, since his eldest brother is already a cabinet minister, it will never be his turn. He might as well remain neutral. No matter who becomes the prime minister or enters the cabinet, they cannot offend him easily.
Zhang Hui was very disappointed.
Huaishan walked in quietly and glanced towards the east wing.
Cheng Chi understood, exchanged a few words with Zhang Hui, then made an excuse to go to the official residence, turned a corner and entered the east wing.
Zhou Shaojin was waiting for him.
When she saw him, she ran over and couldn't help but hug Cheng Chi's waist.
Cheng Chi laughed softly, kissed her cheek, and then said gently: "What happened that you are looking for me?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded, reluctant to let go, and leaned in Cheng Chi's arms and told Cheng Chi that the Fourth Prince had sent people to celebrate Yun Ge'er's birthday.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "The Fourth Prince is much more ambitious than you know. Not only me, but also the several Shujishi who have been very popular in the Hanlin Academy in the past two years, the Zuo Jizhong of the Ministry of Revenue, the Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate... He has made friends with many people in the past two years."
Zhou Shaojin felt a little uneasy after hearing this and said, "I thought that the prince should not make friends with court officials. Today, people from the Lujiang Li family and the Tongxiang Yuan family were present, so I didn't dare to make a fuss. I asked Nanny Shang to bring people in from the alley next to the Chuihua Gate, and also asked Nanny Shang to entertain the people who came to give gifts in the back room of the garden... The Fourth Prince wants to win over people's hearts, but I didn't let those people come forward. Will this offend the Fourth Prince? He will be the emperor in the future!"
"Silly girl!" Cheng Chi saw that she was uneasy, so he kissed her forehead again and praised her, "He is not the emperor yet, so you don't have to be afraid of him. Even if he becomes the emperor one day, look at what he has done to the Cheng family... Why should I respect him? Why did he humiliate the Cheng family..."
Zhou Shaojin was horrified when he heard this, but he also felt that this was just Cheng Chi's personality, and it was reasonable for him to say such things.
She asked Cheng Chi: "What are your plans for the future? Help the prince with his medical treatment? Or find a way to become a subordinate of the Eastern Palace so you can know his movements at any time..." But it seemed that Cheng Chi was not that kind of person.
If he wanted to know something, he would probably ask directly instead of beating around the bush and calculating here and there.
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New chapter today, guys!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: See you tomorrow at the usual time!
※(To be continued)