Aunt Chang returned the greetings to Zhou Shaojin and others respectfully but with dignity.
The accompanying eunuch handed over a royal blue printed muslin bundle.
Is this all Aunt Chang's belongings? !
Zhou Shaojin and Mrs. Qiu exchanged glances, and Mrs. Qiu said, "Usually, household affairs are managed by Aunt Zeng, who used to serve Second Aunt. We just arrived, and Second Uncle is sick again... Aunt Chang, why don't you come with us to the flower hall and sit down? I'll call Aunt Zeng over to ask everything clearly so that I can arrange for you to stay."
Aunt Chang bowed and said, "Thank you, Madam."
Only women of the third rank or above are qualified to be called "Madam". Although this is not talked about outside the capital, in the capital, a plaque may make one a minister or a junior minister, and people are very particular about rank and so on.
Cheng Wei had just been sent out to exile, and like Zhou Shaojin, Qiu's imperial edict had not yet come down.
She said hurriedly, "Aunt, you are too polite. My maiden name is Qiu. If you don't mind, you can just call me Mrs. Qiu."
Aunt Chang readily followed suit and called out "Mrs. Qiu" with a tone of joy that only someone who had worked in the palace could express.
It must be very difficult for her to become a senior maid in the Palace of Heavenly Purity and still not be released at such an old age.
Although she was polite, Zhou Shaojin and Qiu did not dare to neglect her. Qiu accompanied Aunt Chang to the flower hall, while Zhou Shaojin took Abao, Aren, Cheng Xiao and others to the inner courtyard.
The place where Cheng Shao lived was not big, but it was planted with various kinds of bamboo. When the wind blew, the bamboos rustled and exuded a cool feeling.
No one was in the mood to talk, and the two children held Zhou Shaojin's hands tightly.
Greeting them at the door were two eight or nine-year-old boys of Cheng Shao, with delicate features and clear and pleasant voices. They bowed to them and said, "The second old master said that it was just his old age and lack of energy, so the ladies and aunts should not worry. Because they were afraid that the illness would pass to the ladies and aunts, there was no need to go in to pay respects. Let me take Master Abao and Master Aren in to take a look."
The women were supposed to avoid him, and they just came to greet him through the screen. Since Cheng Shao had told them to do so, they naturally would not go against his wishes. They knelt down at the door and bowed, and then went to the side room. The little boy led A Bao and A Ren into Cheng Shao's bedroom.
After a while, Cheng Chi, who had sent the eunuch away, came over.
After Cheng Xiao and the others came forward to pay their respects, Zhou Shaojin and his wife stood by the Xiangfei bamboo grove in the courtyard and began to talk: "What does the emperor mean by this? My second uncle is ill, and he sent an aunt who used to serve in the palace to my second uncle. Isn't this causing trouble for Yuqian Hutong? Do you know the origin of this aunt Chang?"
Cheng Chi disagreed and said, "It's okay. This Aunt Chang was originally a maidservant when the emperor was in the palace. After the emperor ascended the throne, she has been serving in the Qianqing Palace. She is a wise person. I was also surprised that the emperor gave her to my second uncle this time. My second uncle often accompanied the emperor to play chess in the Qianqing Palace. We knew each other. We just need to serve her well. As for the rest, we will talk about it after my second uncle recovers. He must go to the palace to thank the emperor."
"It's good that he's an understanding person." Zhou Shaojin said thankfully, "He knows what can be done and what cannot be done."
Cheng Chi nodded and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if she doesn't understand. Now that she has been given to Second Uncle, she is his person. Someone will teach her."
But wouldn't it be better if everyone could get along? !
Zhou Shaojin muttered to himself.
Cheng Chi asked Yun Ge'er: "You came and left him alone at home. Did he make a fuss? Did he cry?"
"He has Guan Ge and Zhong Ge'er to play with him," Zhou Shaojin recalled that when he left, he kissed his son's little face and said goodbye to him, but he ignored him and looked at Guan Ge and Zhong Ge'er wholeheartedly. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he said, "Now he just wants to play with his brothers and doesn't want me at all."
"That's good." Cheng Chi said with a smile, "I'm afraid the two of us will have to stay here to take care of the patient for the next few days, and I'm afraid Yun'er will have to trouble his aunt to take care of him for a few days."
"My sister also told me when I went out," Zhou Shaojin said, "If we are too busy here, she will help take care of Yun'er for a few days."
Cheng Chi nodded, and Mrs. Guo, Cheng Jing and Yuan came over.
The two men stepped forward.
Mrs. Guo and Mrs. Yuan were both dressed up according to their rank, with their crowns adorned with all kinds of gems, weighing heavily on their heads after a day of wearing them. They also had to mourn at the funeral, so they both looked tired.
Cheng Jing looked in good spirits, but not as neat as usual.
Mrs. Guo asked about Yun'er as soon as she opened her mouth. She heaved a sigh of relief when she knew that Zhou Chujin was taking care of him at home.
Cheng Jing looked anxious and asked Cheng Chi: "Why did Second Uncle suddenly faint? Is he really okay?"
Sometimes, in order not to anger the emperor, the imperial doctors would "appropriately" conceal the patient's condition.
Cheng Chi said: "I checked my second uncle's pulse, nothing is wrong."
The group went to the main room.
Cheng Chi told them that the emperor had sent an aunt who served in the Qianqing Palace to take care of Cheng Shao.
The three people were stunned.
Yuan asked hurriedly, "Where is she?" Seeing that Qiu was not there, she asked again, "Is she accompanied by my second brother's wife?"
Zhou Shaojin said: "My second sister-in-law will accompany me in the flower hall."
"How can this be possible?" Yuan said, "After all, it was bestowed by the Emperor..."
Madam Guo interrupted her and said, "Let's go see your second uncle first. Your second uncle is not a child. He will make arrangements for his people."
Yuan responded respectfully, and everyone entered the main room.
Zhou Shaojin and Yuan accompanied Old Madam Guo to sit on the big kang facing the window outside the inner room, while Cheng Chi accompanied Cheng Jing into the inner room.
Then Zhou Shaojin and the others heard Ah Bao and Ah Ren greet Cheng Jing and Cheng Jing said in surprise: "Second Uncle... You, what are you doing..."
Zhou Shaojin and the others were all worried, and then they heard Cheng Shao say calmly, "I'm just a little tired, nothing else. Bring Silang with you when you go to the palace tomorrow, and ask him to thank the emperor on my behalf."
Cheng Jing was silent for a moment before he whispered "yes".
Cheng Shao said, "I'm fine. You guys go do your own things! Just come and see me. The imperial physician told me to rest for a few days." Then he talked about Aunt Chang, "Since it was given by the emperor, let her come and serve me. Don't let the emperor's kindness go to waste."
Cheng Jing responded with a muffled “OK”. The uncle and nephew talked a few more words about the arrangements in Yuqian Hutong, and then Cheng Chi and Cheng Jing led Abao and Aren out.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly led the two children, Gu Xu came over, and then Cheng Xu, Min Jia, and Cheng Rang also came over...
Madam Guo and the others moved to the east wing to rest. She said to Aunt Zeng who came to pay her respects, "I'm afraid that there will be more visitors in the next two days. Please ask Aunt Chang if we should prepare a buffet in Yuqian Hutong to entertain the relatives and friends who come to visit the patient."
Zeng Ma was originally the companion of Cheng Shao's wife, and later married Cheng Shao's follower and became the manager of the inner courtyard. After Cheng Shao's wife passed away, she still managed the affairs of the inner courtyard.
She agreed respectfully and stepped back.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly said to Mrs. Guo, "Mother, you still have to go to the palace to mourn tomorrow. Leave the things here to me and my second sister-in-law. You should go back and have a good rest. You will need to help take care of Yun'er at night!"
Old Madam Guo asked someone to take a look at the prescription written by the imperial physician and found that it was indeed some medicine for calming the nerves and replenishing qi, so she felt relieved.
At this time, Madam Zeng came back and said, "Aunt Chang said that the emperor asked her to come here to take care of the second old master. You and the ladies will make the decisions on family matters." She lowered her voice and said, "Aunt Chang knew you were coming and said she would come over to greet you. Look at this..."
"Then let's meet her." Madam Guo said cheerfully, "She is now considered a member of the Cheng family. We can talk about the future later. But now she is ordered to take care of the second old master. We in the Cheng family should be grateful."
Everyone responded “yes” in unison.
Nanny Zeng invited Aunt Chang in.
After everyone exchanged greetings, Mrs. Guo chatted with Aunt Chang for a long time. Seeing that it was getting late, she had someone serve the meal, and they had dinner in Yushu Hutong before returning.
Cheng Chi, Zhou Shaojin, Qiu, Cheng Xu, Cheng Rang, Abao and Aren stayed.
Cheng Chi took Cheng Xu and Cheng Rang to receive relatives, friends and colleagues who came to visit the patient. Zhou Shaojin brought the maids and servants to help Aunt Chang, serving Cheng Shao with medicine and washing. Abao and Aren were still too young, so Qiu stayed to take care of them for fear of scaring them. If there were any girls who were close to the family who came to visit the patient, Qiu could also come forward to entertain them.
Min Jia, who had been following behind Yuan Shi silently, hurriedly said to Old Lady Guo, "Grandma, can I stay here to take care of her? Mother has to go to the palace to mourn, and we can't leave all these things to the two aunts. Can I stay here to help?"
Madam Guo glanced at Cheng Xu and agreed: "Then you can stay."
Min Jia knelt down and saluted to Madam Guo. Yuan Ming and Peng Zao, who arrived later, sent Madam Guo back home.
Zhou Shaojin helped Cheng Chi change his clothes.
Cheng Chi saw that she was struggling to raise her hand, so he whispered in her ear, "Is your milk swelling?"
Zhou Shaojin blushed and did not answer, saying: "I will ask Mother Fan to come in and help me apply the compress later."
Cheng Chi took her hand and pushed her to sit on the armchair next to him, saying, "I'll put it on myself, you take a rest and don't move."
He liked the feeling of Zhou Shaojin revolving around him.
Zhou Shaojin was not feeling well, so how could he bear to order her around
Zhou Shaojin said quietly with embarrassment: "It's okay, it will be fine in a while."
As Cheng Chi put on his clothes, he said, "Why not wean Yun'er off his mother's milk? Doesn't he have a wet nurse?"
Zhou Shaojin hesitated and said, "Let him eat for a while? He likes to eat mine."
Cheng Chi thought for a moment and said, "Then let me help you apply it!"
"No, that's not necessary." How could Zhou Shaojin have the nerve to let him do this? She was too embarrassed to raise her head and murmured, "I can do it myself..."
Cheng Chi didn't give her any chance to speak and came in to get some hot water to help her.
She felt very uneasy, yet couldn't help feeling sweet.
Cheng Chi was greedy for more after getting Long.
Zhou Shaojin was restless thinking that Cheng Shao was still ill, so he grabbed his hand and begged him, "When Second Uncle gets better, I'll do whatever you want!"
"Silly!" Cheng Chi laughed softly as he leaned against Zhou Shaojin. "If Second Uncle was really ill, why would I still have such thoughts!"
Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi in surprise: "Second uncle, second uncle is pretending to be sick?"
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Hey guys, today's update.
Thank you everyone. Despite such a fierce competition in the charts, "Jinlingchun" was still able to rank third in the monthly votes on the charts in August. This is all due to everyone's hard work. Thank you!
PS: As you all know, I have had some health problems since July, but I have been enduring them and thought I could get through them. The problem now is that I have gotten through them, but the doctor also told me to rest well and have a normal work and rest schedule. I feel very tired myself, and I am about to finish writing, so I need to slowly finish it and change my previous writing habit. I have decided to take a month off and update once in September, at around 8pm every day.
Please understand.
※(To be continued)