Сheng Chi's gazе fеll upon Zhоu Shaojin's hаnds with аn intеnsitу mоrе scorсhing than the summer sun.
Zhou Shaojin instinсtivеly withdrеw her hаnds intо hеr slеevеs, but thеn shе rеmеmberеd that Cheng Сhi hаd said аll this for her own gоod. Straightеning her baсk, shе ехtеndеd hеr hands agаin аnd, follоwing Сhеng Chi's instruсtions, сlаsped thеm tightlу togеther. Softly, shе asked, "Is... is this right?"
"Mоrе оr less," Сheng Chi reрliеd. "Whеn winter соmеs, mаkе уour slееves а little lоnger, so оthers will find it еvеn hаrder tо nоtiсе." He addеd, "You must practicе this gesture diligentlу until it becоmes а hаbit. Onсe it feels natural, others won't detect anything unusual."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Cheng Chi then asked, "Did your father tell you about accompanying the Second Branch's Elder Ancestor for a game of chess? Was it mentioned privately, or during a casual conversation with others?"
Zhou Shaojin hesitated at once.
If she said her father had told her privately, would Uncle Chi think her father was using her as a messenger, leading him to misunderstand that her father was trying to sow discord between him and the Second Branch's Elder Ancestor?
Cheng Chi suddenly smiled warmly and said, "Or did you want to tell me yourself?"
Zhou Shaojin's eyes brightened, and she hurriedly replied, "I wanted to tell you myself."
This way, her father wouldn't be implicated, right?
Cheng Chi laughed heartily.
This little girl was afraid of dragging her father into trouble, wasn't she?
However, if Zhou Zhen had no ulterior motives, why would he say such things in front of his daughter?
His gaze toward Zhou Shaojin softened even more.
Footsteps sounded from outside.
Zhou Shaojin turned to look.
She saw Qing Feng approaching and respectfully announcing from behind the curtain, "Fourth Master. The Eldest Young Master has arrived."
Zhou Shaojin nearly jumped up.
Cheng Xu... what was he doing here?
She glanced at Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi remained perfectly calm and instructed Qing Feng, "Let him in."
Only then did Zhou Shaojin realize that since Cheng Xu had been away, it was customary to bid farewell to elders before leaving and pay respects upon returning. It was a matter of etiquette. She had failed to consider this, so she couldn't blame Cheng Xu.
She quickly stood up, nervously saying, "Then... then I'll take my leave." But as soon as the words left her mouth, she felt it was inappropriate. If she left the Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard now, she might run into Cheng Xu. Given Cheng Xu's temperament, he might exchange only a few words with Cheng Chi before chasing after her... It would be better to wait until Cheng Xu left before taking her leave. She hastily corrected herself, "Could you let me have a cup of tea in your tea room before I go? Is that all right?" After speaking, Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi with hopeful eyes.
Cheng Chi felt a slight surprise inwardly.
The girl's slightly panicked gaze was like that of a small animal cornered by a hunter—frightened and helpless.
Why was she so afraid of Cheng Xu?
This was no mere dislike or annoyance; it was genuine fear.
Though puzzled, Cheng Chi showed no sign of it on his face and smiled, saying, "Go ahead. There are also refreshments in the tea room. Have a cup of tea and some snacks before returning; there's no hurry."
Zhou Shaojin shot him a grateful glance and immediately ran out. But as the curtain was still swaying, she ran back in, her face flushed, and said, "Uncle Chi, I... can I go to..." She pointed to the open room on the left, "sit there for a while?"Upon entering, she noticed that the right-hand open room was a study, with books and rice paper spread across a large desk. The left side was a sitting room, furnished only with chairs, tables, an incense table, curio shelves, porcelain, and the like. Since Cheng Chi had emerged from the right-hand room, she worried there might be something in the study she shouldn’t see, so she decided to take refuge in the sitting room on the left.
The tea room of Embroidered Splendor Hall was located between the two open halls.
Cheng Chi guessed she might have seen Cheng Xu approaching and, to avoid being spotted by him in the tea room, had turned back.
“Alright!” he replied with a smile, asking, “Would you like me to have a maid bring you some tea?”
“No, no need,” Zhou Shaojin waved her hands repeatedly.
If she sat there casually drinking tea, Cheng Xu would see her as soon as he entered—what would be the point of turning back then?
Cheng Chi didn’t press her further.
Just as Zhou Shaojin hid behind the curtain of the floor-length screen, Cheng Xu walked in.
He wore a plain lake-blue silk robe and black shoes embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, looking spirited and beaming with joy.
“Fourth Uncle!” he greeted Cheng Chi cheerfully and, without waiting for a reply, sat down with a grin in the seat below Cheng Chi—the very spot where Zhou Shaojin had been sitting earlier.
Cheng Chi nodded coolly and said, “You’re back? How is your mentor? Still writing poetry every day?”
“Yes, yes,” Cheng Xu laughed. “Not only does he write poetry, but he also recites a selection of Du Fu or Li Bai’s poems daily.” It was clear that Cheng Xu’s mentor not only knew Cheng Chi but also shared a close relationship with him.
Then Cheng Xu began recounting his experiences in Hangzhou with a smile: “That Wufangzhai—I only went there once as a child with my mother. It hasn’t changed a bit, so I went in and bought some peach shortbread, pickled vegetable cakes, and the like. I brought some back for Grandmother and you… My mentor’s son accompanied me to West Lake, where we met Min Jianqiang from the Fujian Min family and a few of his companions.” He grew excited as he spoke. “He’s the younger brother of Min Jianxing, the top scholar from your cohort. He’s ten years older than me, passed the provincial examination last year, and traveled to Hangzhou with a clan elder. That elder’s brother-in-law serves as the deputy prefect of Hangzhou Prefecture. Knowing you and his brother were classmates, he was exceptionally warm to me, even leaving his address and inviting me to visit him in Fujian when I have time. He’ll be going to Jiaxing in a few days. The prefect of Jiaxing is another one of his cousins. We’ve already arranged to meet in Jiaxing, and I’ll invite him to our home as a guest then.
“His companions took us to a small restaurant by West Lake. Though the place is tiny, their beggar’s chicken and fried bell pastries are incredibly authentic. It’s called ‘Gathering of Heroes’—if you ever visit Hangzhou, you should try it…”
For Zhou Shaojin, mentions of peach shortbread and pickled vegetable cakes passed by like a gentle breeze, but the words “Fujian Min family” struck her heart with heavy force.
After all these twists and turns, the Fujian Min family had still appeared.
In her past life, she had often wondered: Who was the girl who should have married Cheng Xu? Was she so exceptional that Madam Yuan would rather clash with her than accept her?
In this life, she distanced herself from Cheng Lu, rumors spread, Cheng Xu was sent to Hangzhou, and he encountered someone from the Fujian Min family… Was it fate, long predetermined, that the young lady of the Min family was Cheng Xu’s true destined match?Zhou Shaojin leaned silently against the partition door and sighed softly.
Cheng Chi sat quietly there, sipping tea slowly, yet his presence was as steady as a mountain and as deep as an abyss. His demeanor was dignified and composed, as if he could remain like this for all eternity.
Cheng Xu felt a bit flustered just watching.
He stood up to take his leave. "Fourth Uncle, I'll be going now. I'll visit you another day."
Cheng Chi nodded and called Qing Feng to see Cheng Xu out.
Zhou Shaojin let out a long sigh and emerged from behind the curtain, bidding farewell to Cheng Chi.
Seeing that she no longer appeared as pale and fragile as before, Cheng Chi said, "I'll have Jiying escort you back."
Having already made a fool of herself in front of Cheng Chi earlier, how could Zhou Shaojin possibly trouble him to send someone to accompany her back?
She politely declined, "Jia Shu Hall isn't far from here. It's just a short walk, so there's no need to trouble Miss Jiying."
Cheng Chi neither agreed nor disagreed.
Not daring to linger any longer, Zhou Shaojin curtsied, took her leave of Cheng Chi, called for Shi Xiang, and left Embroidered Splendor Hall.
But what she hadn't expected was that Cheng Xu, along with his page Huanxi and attendant Da Su, were standing in the pavilion outside the gate of Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard.
Cheng Xu looked somewhat dazed, as if something was puzzling him. Da Su and Huanxi stood respectfully behind him, not daring to make a sound.
Why hasn't he left yet?
Zhou Shaojin wondered inwardly, having no choice but to turn back to Embroidered Splendor Hall.
Shi Xiang asked, "Miss, what should we do?"
Zhou Shaojin replied helplessly, "We'll have to wait until he leaves before we can go."
They waited for Cheng Xu to depart.
Lang Yue happened to pass by the corridor for some reason and greeted her with a smile.
Zhou Shaojin was startled and hurriedly glanced outside.
Fortunately, Cheng Xu was speaking with Da Su and Huanxi and didn't notice the commotion over here.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and gestured for Lang Yue to be quiet.
Lang Yue smiled and turned into the Ruyi Gate on the right side of the long corridor.
Feeling it was too unsafe to stand here, Zhou Shaojin instructed Shi Xiang, "Let's go to Uncle Chi's place."
If Cheng Xu discovered she was here, at least there would be a place to hide.
They went to the rear open hall.
Cheng Chi was standing in the hall speaking with Huaishan about something. When he saw Zhou Shaojin, he glanced at her as if nothing were out of the ordinary, finished his conversation with Huaishan, and only then looked up.
Zhou Shaojin quickly curtsied, her face flushed like morning clouds, and murmured, "Cousin Xu is at the gate..."
Cheng Chi didn't ask any questions and simply said, "Then come in and sit for a while."
Overjoyed, Zhou Shaojin thanked Cheng Chi and entered the open hall.
Huaishan nodded slightly and withdrew.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhou Shaojin returned the gesture. Seeing that only Cheng Chi remained in the room, she couldn't help but whisper, "Uncle Chi, did you know Cousin Xu would be waiting for me halfway?"
"No," Cheng Chi replied succinctly. "It was only when I saw Cheng Jiashan sitting in front of me earlier, his eyes darting around as if searching for someone, that I guessed he might have received news and come looking for you."
So that was why Uncle Chi had asked Jiying to escort her home!
Zhou Shaojin felt a mix of emotions and said softly, "Uncle Chi, then please have Miss Jiying escort me home."
She didn't know why Cheng Chi wanted Jiying to escort her home, but she trusted his judgment.
If he said Jiying would escort her home, then Jiying would surely ensure she returned safely to the fourth household.
Cheng Chi gave an "mm" of acknowledgment and instructed Qing Feng to summon Jiying.
Qing Feng acknowledged the order and left.Cheng Chi pointed to the armchair Zhou Shaojin had just been sitting in and said, "Have a seat first. Jiying should be here soon."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked him before sitting down again.
She noticed a blue-covered booklet had appeared on the square table.
Remembering the scene in the hall earlier, Zhou Shaojin said uneasily, "Uncle Chi, am I disturbing you? Perhaps I should wait in the corridor instead."
Cheng Chi made a noncommittal sound and glanced at the blue booklet on the square table. "It's fine. These are account books from Huaian—I've already finished reviewing them."
※
Yesterday, fellow authors in the group wished me writer's block-free days, yet today I encountered writer's block(>_<)
PS: Last month's pink votes seemed to total 2,318—I hope I counted correctly. This month, I'll do my best to make up for all the missed bonus chapters as soon as possible.
※ (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote to recommend it or cast monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
OpenNovel