Is thаt sо?
Zhоu Shаоjin thought of thе Хuаn раper and lеdgеrs spreаd out on thе dеsk in thе right-hаnd орen hall, fеeling somewhat skeptiсаl.
But sinсe Сhеng Сhi hаd alrеаdу sаid it didn’t mаtter, shе couldn’t insist on wаiting in thе cоrridor—that would sеem rathеr pettу. Аftеr аll, shе аlrеady оwеd Unclе Сhi sо much, sо what did а littlе more mаttеr? She wоuld just have to find аn oppоrtunitу tо reрay him in the futurе.
Zhоu Shаojin аskеd Сhеng Сhi, "Did thе goоds frоm Huаi’an rеally run intо troublе?"
"Yеs," Сheng Сhi rерliеd. "A ship cаpsized, but fortunatelу, there werе no cаsualtiеs. Wе lost sеveral thousand taels of silver and need to discuss compensation with the cargo owner."
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but murmur, "Amitabha," and said, "Money can always be earned again. What matters is that no lives were lost."
Cheng Chi nodded.
He thought to himself, With this explanation, you probably won’t come looking for me again, right?
Jiying arrived.
She wore a grape-purple sleeveless jacket, her hair tied in a bun. Her expression was cool, but her movements were respectful as she bowed to Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but wonder inwardly.
This Jiying... why does she always wear such dark-colored clothes whenever I see her? Doesn’t she feel hot?
While silently criticizing, she heard Cheng Chi instruct Jiying, "Escort the Second Miss of the Zhou family back to Fragrant Garden Residence."
Jiying obediently replied, "Yes," and gestured for Zhou Shaojin to proceed, leading the way out.
Zhou Shaojin hastily bowed to Cheng Chi and hurried after her.
Cheng Chi shook his head and walked back to the right-hand open hall. Sitting before the large desk, he gently stroked the ledgers on it, lost in thought.
Huaishan entered silently and reported, "Fourth Master. Are we departing tomorrow?"
"Let’s leave the day after tomorrow," Cheng Chi said, his voice low and somewhat languid. "Tomorrow, I’ll meet with the second-in-command of the Guangdong Thirteen Hongs. He’s already sent me two invitations, saying he has urgent matters to discuss. I initially thought it was about Cheng Shi of the third branch and didn’t want to get involved—if they want to do business with the third branch, let them. The world is vast; no one can monopolize everything. But he brought in Merchant Da from the Guangdong Guild Hall, saying they wanted to invite me to a meal together. I suspect it’s about canal transport matters, so I’ll go hear what they have to say."
"Canal transport matters?" Huaishan frowned. "What are they planning?"
"What else could it be?" Cheng Chi chuckled dismissively. "If the court dredges the Tongshun River, goods traveling north and south could go directly through the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. There would be no need to travel from Guangdong along Fujian to Zhejiang and then to Tianjin. Their Guangdong Thirteen Ships fleet would likely disband. The second-in-command of the Thirteen Hongs probably came to Jinling City for this very reason."
"You mean... Wan Tong?" Huaishan asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Cheng Chi replied, gathering the ledgers spread before him. "Persuading Wan Tong is equivalent to persuading the Imperial Grandson. Persuading the Imperial Grandson means persuading the Emperor. He’s certainly capable of calculating this."
"Are you planning to get involved in this matter?" Huaishan stammered. "If goods traveling north and south can use the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in the future, the people along its banks will benefit, and grain supplies to the nine frontiers could suffer fewer losses..."
Cheng Chi laughed. "Oh? Since when have you taken an interest in state affairs?"
Huaishan’s expressionless face suddenly flushed red.Cheng Chi decided not to tease him further and said, "I'm just going to take a look." As he spoke, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a somewhat mocking smile. He lazily added, "Nothing in this world concerns me. I only need to turn a blind eye and keep Nine Prosperities Lane looking peaceful. As for who lives or dies, who is good or bad, what does it have to do with me?"
Huaishan lowered his head, not daring to respond.
Cheng Chi gazed at a cluster of square bamboo in the corner of the courtyard outside the window, a flicker of loneliness passing through his eyes.
※
Zhou Shaojin and Jiying left Embroidered Splendor Hall, but Cheng Xu and the others were nowhere to be seen.
She breathed a sigh of relief and, accompanied by Shi Xiang, headed with Jiying toward the Fourth House.
On the way, they encountered Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu was sweating profusely, fanning himself vigorously with a paper fan. Da Su and Huanxi stood before him with their heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.
When Cheng Xu saw Zhou Shaojin, his eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Cousin Shaojin, what are you doing here?" His voice carried unconcealed delight. But when his gaze fell on Jiying, confusion filled his eyes as he asked, "Miss Jiying, why are you with Cousin Shaojin?"
"Young Master Xu!" Jiying gave a slight bow, her cold and beautiful face expressionless, and said, "Fourth Master ordered me to escort Miss Zhou back to Fragrant Garden Residence."
"You," Cheng Xu stared at Zhou Shaojin in astonishment, "you were just at Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard?"
Zhou Shaojin’s heart tightened, and she was about to speak when Jiying interjected, "Young Master Xu, I apologize, but please step aside. I must return to report to Fourth Master. If you have any questions, you can either visit Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard again or wait until I’ve escorted Miss Zhou back to Fragrant Garden Residence to have a detailed conversation with her. I cannot linger here any longer."
Was this the attitude and words a maid should have?
Cheng Xu, Zhou Shaojin, and the others were stunned.
But Jiying had already taken Zhou Shaojin’s hand and brushed past Cheng Xu.
"Wait!" Da Su blocked Jiying’s path.
Jiying sneered and said, "Qin Da Su, don’t forget, I serve Fourth Master. Are you trying to overstep your bounds?"
Only then did Zhou Shaojin realize that Da Su’s surname was "Qin."
Was he related to the "Qin Da" her father had mentioned?
And the steward she had encountered during the fire in the Fifth House also had the surname "Qin"... the chief steward of Nine Prosperities Lane was also surnamed "Qin."
Zhou Shaojin felt her head spinning.
The more she learned about the Cheng family, the more she felt they were unfathomable and elusive.
Upon hearing Jiying’s words, Qin Da Su hesitated.
Jiying snorted coldly, not even glancing at Da Su, and pulled Zhou Shaojin forward.
Shi Xiang hurriedly followed.
Behind them, Cheng Xu’s voice called out, "Wait!"
Jiying not only didn’t stop but quickened her pace instead.
Zhou Shaojin and Shi Xiang had to jog to keep up with her.
When they looked back again, Cheng Xu and the others were left far behind. Da Su was stopping Cheng Xu and saying something, and Cheng Xu’s expression looked very unpleasant.
Having lived two lifetimes, this was the first time Zhou Shaojin had so cleanly shaken off Cheng Xu. She couldn’t help but feel pleased and thanked Jiying.
Jiying dismissed it, saying, "I was only following Fourth Master’s orders!""But I still want to thank you," Zhou Shaojin said breathlessly as she ran. "Even if you were following Uncle Chi's orders, if you had just stood by and let Cousin Xu stop me to talk, it wouldn't have violated his instructions!"
Jiying glanced at her coldly without a word and continued walking forward.
Zhou Shaojin felt Jiying was walking too fast, and she struggled to keep up. Yet, the thought of Cheng Xu being right behind them made her think walking faster was better—they could return to Fragrant Garden Residence sooner.
After walking for about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, Zhou Shaojin was panting heavily.
Jiying suddenly stopped.
Zhou Shaojin asked in surprise, "Why have we stopped?"
Jiying stared at Zhou Shaojin for a moment, then abruptly resumed walking.
This time, she walked more slowly.
Though still a bit tired from walking too fast earlier, Zhou Shaojin no longer had to jog to keep up.
She asked Jiying, "How old were you when you entered the mansion to work? Are you a hereditary servant of the Cheng family? What do your parents do? Do you have any siblings?"
After a moment of silence, Jiying replied, "I entered the mansion to work when I was eighteen. My parents farm at home. I have two older brothers. No younger siblings."
"You entered service at eighteen?" Zhou Shaojin was stunned. "How could your family bear to send you into the mansion? You're so beautiful—you could have gotten married..."
Since she wasn't a hereditary servant, usually only families too poor to support their children would sell them as servants or maids. Someone like Jiying could have easily married into a moderately well-off family and lived comfortably.
Could it be that Jiying entered the mansion not just to serve as Uncle Chi's maid?
Zhou Shaojin was startled by her own thought.
Jiying looked at her with a faint, ambiguous smile and said, "You think I'm beautiful?"
"Yes!" Zhou Shaojin didn't know what she had said wrong. "Hasn't anyone told you that before?"
A flicker of confusion passed through Jiying's eyes. After a long pause, she said, "Yes, some have said I'm beautiful."
Then why doubt it?
Zhou Shaojin felt Jiying was as enigmatic as Nine Prosperities Lane, full of mysteries.
Since she couldn't figure it out, she decided not to dwell on it for now. When the time came, it would become clear.
Having studied Zen for several years, Zhou Shaojin's mindset had become much broader.
They walked in silence all the way to Fragrant Garden Residence.
Zhou Chujin was waiting anxiously at the entrance.
She quickly pulled Zhou Shaojin over to inspect her and, seeing she was fine, chided, "You were just delivering tea leaves—why did it take you so long to return?"
Zhou Shaojin chuckled and introduced Jiying to her sister.
Upon learning that Jiying was the senior maid serving Cheng Chi and had escorted Zhou Shaojin back, Zhou Chujin politely invited her in for tea.
"Thank you, Miss," Jiying said, a slight smile on her lips—unlike her coldness toward Cheng Xu—her icy beauty melting to reveal a dazzling radiance. "Fourth Master is waiting for my report. I'll visit you another time."
Zhou Chujin didn't press her and personally escorted Jiying to the gate, watching until her figure disappeared from sight. Then, she put her arm around Zhou Shaojin's shoulder and headed inside, saying, "Is she really Uncle Chi's senior maid? Not only is she beautiful, but her entire demeanor—she doesn't seem like a maid at all. I didn't even feel comfortable offering her a reward!"Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood and said, "I was wondering how Sister could have forgotten about this matter. I originally wanted to remind her, but Jiying left too quickly, and I didn’t get the chance. It’s a good thing I didn’t say anything, or it would have been so embarrassing."
The same thought occurred to both sisters simultaneously.
Could it be that Jiying was given to Uncle Chi as a chamber maid?
What a pity!
She could have properly married someone as a wife.
Both sighed inwardly.
Back in their room, Zhou Chujin finally asked her sister in a low voice, "Did something happen? Cousin Xu came by earlier. He personally delivered some local specialties, saying he brought them back from Hangzhou. And you were escorted back by Uncle Chi’s maid..."
Zhou Shaojin recounted what had happened.
Zhou Chujin said, "Father really shouldn’t have asked you to pass on a message. And you too—you should have just told Old Madam Guo and not gone to the Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard..."
※
Sisters, I’ve received another spirit beast egg from cadyss’s reward. Thank you, cadyss! Because I’ve been a bit stuck with the writing these past two days, I can’t add an extra update today. I’ll arrange it for tomorrow or the day after, depending on the situation.
Thank you all for your support.
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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