Zhоu Shаojin headеd nоrth.
Shi Xiang quiсkly pullеd hеr bасk: "Sесond Miss, whеre are you going? Jiа Shu Нall is оver thеrе!"
Zhоu Shаojin smilеd fаintlу: "Wе'rе not rеturning to Jia Shu Hаll. Wе're gоing to Hill of Сlustered Сassia Соurtуаrd."
Shi Хiаng wаs stunned.
Zhou Shаоjin oреnеd the bаmboо bаsket Shi Xiаng wаs cаrrying and said with а smile, "Father brоught sоmе teа leaves. Sinсе I'vе alrеаdу sеnt sоmе to thе sеcоnd branсh, shouldn't I, both in sеntiment аnd rеаson, аlsо givе sоme to Unclе Chi?"
"But..." Fourth Mastеr Chi was such а formidablе pеrsоn—shouldn't it bе better to have less contact with him? Why go out of their way to approach him? If they happened to annoy him, he could even pin the fire incident in the fifth branch on Master Nuo. Was there anything he wouldn't do as he pleased? Shi Xiang deeply felt that Second Miss should stay far away from Fourth Master Chi. Yet, seeing Zhou Shaojin's cheerful expression, she was uncertain whether she should voice this thought.
Zhou Shaojin paid no mind to what Shi Xiang was thinking.
She had to find a way to tell Uncle Chi what Father had said.
She left Shi Xiang behind and headed toward Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard.
Shi Xiang dared not not follow.
The two climbed the hill one after the other.
Surprisingly, it was Qing Feng who came out to greet them again.
Both widened their eyes, looking at each other. In the end, Qing Feng was the one to back down, saying with annoyance, "Please wait a moment, Second Miss," before turning and walking inside.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but snort coldly.
He claimed Uncle Chi had gone to Lin'an, yet here he was back in just a few days.
Was it Uncle Chi's excuse to avoid them, or was it a pretext concocted by the second branch's matriarch to suppress Uncle Chi?
Zhou Shaojin thought the latter was more likely.
After all, Uncle Chi was a junior. Judging by his demeanor, although he always wore a smile, he wasn't the type to be easily manipulated. If the second branch's matriarch dropped even a hint, given his temperament, how could he shamelessly go there to eat and drink?
She stood in the pavilion waiting, feeling quite bored, and began to survey Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard.
Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard was built on a hill. The spot where she stood was halfway up the slope—a pavilion, a few large rocks, and behind them a grove of trees. The terrain gradually rose, and through the green foliage, she could clearly see a sprawling complex of buildings with connected roofs. Judging by the area, it was no smaller than the fourth branch's residence. Further up was the hilltop, where there was a pavilion she had visited last time called Pure Sound Pavilion. Along the way, there were small streams, ancient trees, wildflowers, and rugged rocks, giving it a rather charming mountainous feel.
However, most landscapes in Jiangnan were like this—largely artificially constructed and not genuine. Unlike the landscapes of the north, which, though rough, were authentic and preserved in their original form. Truth be told, she was more accustomed to the north. Especially in winter, with heated floors, it was warm and not cold at all. Unlike Jinling, where braziers were used, leaving a lingering odor in the rooms.
Could such a vast courtyard house only Uncle Chi alone?
The wooded hills of Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard seemed to connect to Cold Green Mountain House.
But she wondered what lay behind them?
If she ever had the chance, she would walk around Nine Prosperities Lane to see where it extended to the west and east... From this vantage point, it seemed as if they were living in the mountains, with no trace of Jinling's bustling prosperity in sight.
Zhou Shaojin lost herself in these random thoughts for a long while, but Qing Feng was nowhere to be seen. She sat down on the pavilion's railing to wait."Second Young Miss, do be careful not to catch a chill." Shi Xiang hurriedly pulled her back, taking out her own handkerchief to cushion the beauty seat, muttering, "If only we had a cushion to sit on."
Zhou Shaojin suspected that Qing Feng might be deliberately leaving her out in the cold, so she smiled and said, "Next time we come, we’ll bring our own cushion." After a moment’s thought, she added, "And we’ll bring a tea set and a book too. Since we have to wait anyway, we might as well drink some tea and read. I refuse to believe Qing Feng would dare not announce me."
Shi Xiang couldn’t help but press her hand to her forehead.
This was clearly an attempt to drive Second Young Miss away, yet she… intended to linger at someone else’s doorstep.
If Eldest Young Miss found out, wouldn’t she be furious!
She tried to persuade Zhou Shaojin, "Perhaps we should come back tomorrow? We can bring the tea set and cushion then…"
"Let’s wait a little longer," Zhou Shaojin said, glancing at the sky. The sun had already risen, and its warmth no longer carried the summer’s oppressive heat. "If Qing Feng doesn’t come in another half-hour, we’ll just go in directly."
"That… that might not be appropriate, would it?" Shi Xiang said, feeling as though sweat was beading on her forehead.
Zhou Shaojin, however, was unfazed. "Tell me, what household servant would dare neglect a guest? Yet the page from Xiaoshan Conggui Courtyard dares to. It just goes to show, the world is full of strange things. Since the page from their courtyard dares to take it upon himself not to announce a guest, if I barge in, I’m merely following their example. It’s nothing serious."
She was speaking more to bolster her own courage than to convince Shi Xiang.
Shi Xiang had no choice but to relent.
Seeing no sign of Qing Feng, Zhou Shaojin steeled herself and walked in.
"Second Young Miss, Second Young Miss, think twice before you act!" Shi Xiang pleaded earnestly from the side.
Zhou Shaojin pretended not to hear.
Just then, Qing Feng leaped out from the nearby grove, glaring angrily. "Second Young Miss, our Fourth Master is not at home. Please return for now!"
"Is that so?" Zhou Shaojin remained unmoved and continued forward. "It seems to me you never went to announce me at all!"
Qing Feng blocked Zhou Shaojin’s path.
Zhou Shaojin sidestepped him and kept walking.
Qing Feng had no choice but to stop her again, saying, "Second Young Miss of the Zhou family, our Fourth Master truly isn’t…"
Zhou Shaojin was thoroughly annoyed. Standing still, she called out loudly, "Miss Nanping!"
Her clear voice, sweet and soft, echoed gently through the grove.
Qing Feng’s expression changed dramatically.
Zhou Shaojin warned him, "If you dare block me again, I’ll report you to Old Madam Guo. Even if Uncle Chi protects you, your reputation will be ruined. You can spend the rest of your life as a little acolyte."
Qing Feng stamped his foot in frustration.
Zhou Shaojin suppressed a smile.
Qing Feng acted like a little adult, but he was really just a child—quite amusing!
Someone approached gracefully.
Tall and slender, with a delicate figure, dressed in dark robes, and skin as fair as snow. Her expression was cold, yet her face was strikingly beautiful.
It was Jiying.
For some reason, Zhou Shaojin always felt that Jiying didn’t seem like a maid. She gave off an impression… of someone not to be trifled with.
Instinctively, Zhou Shaojin straightened her posture, assuming the dignified demeanor of a well-bred young lady, and nodded with a polite smile.
Jiying raised an eyebrow, smiling. "I wondered who was calling for Sister Nanping. So it’s Second Cousin! May I ask what brings you here? Shall I announce you on your behalf?"Before her words had even finished, Zhou Shaojin felt Qing Feng's body stiffen. His entire demeanor became filled with vigilance.
The reason they knew each other was because of the fire in the Fifth House.
Although Cheng Chi hadn't specifically instructed her to keep it a secret, wasn't that just common sense?
Just like Qing Feng, who acted as if he didn't know her when they met.
Why did Jiying greet her so openly without any concern for discretion?
Could it be that Qing Feng also felt Jiying was difficult to get along with, just like she did?
Pondering this, Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Thank you, Miss Jiying. I just happened to run into Qing Feng. I'll have him announce me."
Upon hearing this, Qing Feng seemed to let out a sigh of relief.
He bowed respectfully to Zhou Shaojin and said, "Second Cousin, please wait here for a moment. I will go and announce your arrival."
It truly seemed as Zhou Shaojin had said—she had just arrived, and Qing Feng had just run into her.
Jiying sneered, flicking her sleeves as she brushed past them.
Qing Feng let out a long sigh of relief.
Zhou Shaojin then called out discontentedly, "Qing Feng," and said, "I just did you a big favor. If you keep making excuses like before, I'll definitely complain about you to Uncle Chi when I see him."
"Always complaining!" Qing Feng was furious, but for some reason, he didn't glare at her angrily as he had before. Instead, he walked unhappily toward the courtyard.
A short while later, he returned and said, "Fourth Master is waiting for you in the Embroidered Splendor Hall."
What kind of place was the Embroidered Splendor Hall?
However, in Nine Prosperities Lane, any place referred to as a "hall" was the main residence of a household.
The First House already had the Accumulated Truth Hall, where Madam Yuan lived. How could there be another Embroidered Splendor Hall?
Suppressing her confusion, Zhou Shaojin followed Qing Feng forward.
Not far ahead was a five-bay open hall with black lacquered pillars and glass embedded in the door panels.
Qing Feng led her onto the veranda of the open hall and turned toward the right corridor.
Zhou Shaojin took the opportunity to glance into the open hall and saw a black lacquered plaque hanging in the center, with the three large gilded characters "Embroidered Splendor Hall" written in cursive script, strikingly displayed. Beside it was a pair of black lacquered, gilded couplets, but she was walking too quickly to clearly make out what was written on them.
The corridor turned, leading to a long gallery. On the left were decorative railings, and on the right was a floral wall. At the end was a three-bay open pavilion.
Through the floral wall, she could see bamboo groves, banana trees, and a lake, though she didn't know where that area was.
The doors of the open pavilion were open, revealing that both sides were partitioned with lattice screens adorned with endless swastika patterns, hung with lake-blue curtains. Although the curtains were hooked open with silver hooks, the scene behind the screens remained unclear.
In the center hung a painting titled "Viewing the Tidal Bore at Qiantang River." Below it was a black lacquered long table, with an ivory landscape table screen placed in the middle and two famille-rose plum vases depicting blooming peonies on either side.
In front of the long table was a black lacquered square table, with a black lacquered official's chair on each side. Below them was a row of black lacquered official's chairs, separated by black lacquered tea tables.
Such ordinary furnishings!
Zhou Shaojin stood on tiptoe to look inside.
No one was there.
Qing Feng stood at the door and announced respectfully, "The Second Miss of the Zhou family has arrived."
His attitude was worlds apart from how he had spoken to Zhou Shaojin earlier.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but feel nervous.
Cheng Chi emerged from behind the lattice screen on the right.
As before, he wore a moon-white fine linen robe, black cloth shoes, snow-white socks, and his jet-black hair was tied up with an ivory hairpin. His expression was warm and friendly, with a smile on his face."You've come." He gestured to the armchair beside him and smiled, "What brings you here?"
As if he were very busy, only able to spare a moment to speak with her.
Zhou Shaojin grew even more nervous.
She hurriedly took the bamboo basket from Shi Xiang and said, "My father returned from Nanchang, and I stayed at home for a few days. This is some tea he brought back. Even the old lady said it was good, so I brought some for you... I remember you drink tea!"
Cheng Chi laughed and said, "I do drink tea. Thank you." As he spoke, he signaled Qing Feng to take the bamboo basket.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt at a loss.
Wasn't he going to ask her to sit?
Uncle Chi was the host, so why didn't he sit down first?
Standing there like that, he seemed ready to see her off at any moment, as if he might just walk away... Should she take her leave now?
※
Sisters, here's today's bonus update!
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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