Тhе rеal intentiоn bеhind sеnding Lаnting tо deliver the еаstern pеarls to thе sistеrs wаs nоt thе рearls thеmselves, but rather to use hеr sistеr's hand tо settlе Lаnting!
Zhоu Shаojin роurеd thе еntire bоx of eаstеrn pеarls onto thе bright red broсade quilt еmbrоidеrеd with а рhоenix fасing the sun.
Тhе рeаrls, eасh the size оf lоtus seеds, gleamed with а smooth, lustrous shееn, rеfleсting the radiant huеs оf thе broсаdе in а wау that саptivаted thе eyе.
Zhou Сhujin sаt dоwn on thе еdgе оf the bed, gathеring the pearls with her hаnds as she smiled аnd said, "Hоw old аrе yоu now, still playing with these things? Hurry up and put them away. If you lose even one, poor Shi Xiang will have to search everywhere for it."
Zhou Shaojin giggled and placed the pearls back into the box.
Zhou Chujin then asked her, "Are you really not coming with me to see Lanting?"
"Really not going!" Zhou Shaojin replied, rattling the pearls in the box with a clattering sound as she smiled. "Whatever you need to say to her, Sister, you can just tell her yourself."
In her past life, Lanting had been sold by Madam Li to a passing merchant.
Before she was sold, Lanting might have sensed something was amiss and had written to her sister for help.
But her sister had ignored her.
At that time, Zhou Shaojin was too overwhelmed with her own troubles to know about this matter. By the time she found out, Zhou Zhen and Madam Li had already become like strangers.
She had asked her sister what had happened.
Her sister told her, "Mother left her behind to take care of you. Even though we were later taken into our grandmother’s household, after Father’s mourning period ended, she followed Father to his post. If she had felt even a shred of gratitude toward Mother, she should have followed us into the household during Father’s mourning period."
She didn’t know how her sister had learned about this.
But she trusted her sister.
Since her sister hadn’t been fooled by Lanting in her past life, she believed her sister would see through Lanting’s true nature in this life as well.
Zhou Shaojin had more important matters to attend to.
In her past life, she had married Lin Shisheng at the age of sixteen. By then, the Mu family had already been in trouble for over a year. Counting the days, at most three years remained before Concubine Mu’s family would be stripped of their status. Three years would pass in the blink of an eye, leaving Zhou Shaojin with little time. Yet she still hadn’t come up with a good way to help Concubine Mu avoid this calamity.
So when she heard Jiying say her hometown was in Cangzhou, a vague idea began to form in her mind. But before she could find an opportunity to discuss it with Jiying, Jiying was placed under house arrest by Uncle Chi.
She wouldn’t be released until she had copied five hundred copies of Admonitions for Women... When would that be?
And then there was Uncle Chi. She had gone to great lengths just to see him, but he either refused to meet her or dismissed her with a few words. She had originally thought that the more she learned about him, the easier it would be to get closer to him. But now that she had glimpsed a fragment of the truth, she felt even more confused.
How could she ever gain a voice in front of Uncle Chi?
Zhou Shaojin shut herself in the study.
Shi Xiang couldn’t help but worry and said to Madam Fan Liu, "What’s wrong with the Second Miss? Ever since she fell in March, she’s either been doing needlework in her room or copying scriptures at Cold Green Mountain House. But staying in the study for hours like this is the first time. Do you think we should send someone to inform the Eldest Miss?"
"Let’s not say anything for now," Madam Fan Liu replied, also concerned. "As you said, it’s been a long time since the Second Miss has been like this. Perhaps she just had a sudden impulse to be alone in the study, to think things over quietly?"
Both Shi Xiang and Madam Fan Liu preferred the Zhou Shaojin they saw now.It wasn't that the former Zhou Shaojin was bad, but the former Zhou Shaojin rarely spoke. She preferred to ponder things in her own mind, unlike the current Zhou Shaojin, who not only chatted and laughed with them but also discussed everyday family matters, making her feel much more approachable.
Shi Xiang sent a young maid to wait by the door, saying, "Call me as soon as the Second Young Lady comes out."
The young maid sat on the steps of the study the entire time.
Zhou Shaojin didn't emerge from the study until lunchtime. After the meal, she closed the study door again and stayed inside alone for a long time, causing her to arrive at Cold Green Mountain House two quarters of an hour later than usual.
Cold Green Mountain House was quiet. The maids on duty stood respectfully with their hands at their sides, while occasional bursts of laughter and chatter came from the lounge area.
Biyu whispered to her, "It's Young Master Min from the Min family in Fujian. He befriended the Eldest Young Master when he went to Hangzhou Prefecture and came to visit him. He specifically came to pay his respects to the Old Madam."
It must be that Min Xingqiang.
Zhou Shaojin turned a corner and went directly to the Buddhist hall.
In the evening, Cheng Xu hosted a banquet for Min Xingqiang, and the Second Branch's ancestor, Cheng Xu, surprisingly attended the reception.
Zhou Chujin wondered, "Is the Min family in Fujian very influential? Why would the ancestor treat Young Master Min with such courtesy?"
Min Xingqiang was only a provincial scholar.
But if Cheng Xu intended to pave the way for Cheng Shi, everything made sense.
Zhou Shaojin smiled.
The next day, she went to Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard.
Qing Feng was on duty.
Qing Feng's expression still didn't look very pleasant, but unlike last time, he didn't leave her waiting there. He said in a low voice, "Please wait a moment," then turned to announce her.
Soon, he returned, accompanied by Nanping.
"Second Cousin," she said with a face full of apology, "I'm truly sorry! Jiying hasn't finished copying the 'Admonitions for Women' yet, so I'm afraid you'll have to make the trip."
According to etiquette, Jiying should have come to see her.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "I came specifically to see her. It's perfect timing to have a cup of tea in her room."
Nanping accompanied her to Jiying's quarters.
Jiying welcomed Zhou Shaojin inside with great enthusiasm, personally serving her tea and snacks. Pointing to the crispy pastries in the red-lacquered begonia-patterned box, she said, "Try these—they're from Mi Ji."
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback and burst into laughter.
Jiying widened her eyes.
Zhou Shaojin rarely laughed like this.
"Yesterday, at Cold Green Mountain House, I was drinking tea with Biyu and the others..." She recounted the scene to Jiying. "We were talking about Mi Ji's crispy pastries and fried dough twists, and I never expected to eat them today. Your First Branch really knows how to enjoy food."
Jiying also laughed, proudly saying, "Of course. People live in this world and should have some hobbies. My hobby is eating!"
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile and asked, "Aren't you under house arrest? Who bought the snacks for you?"
"I'm only under house arrest, not forbidden to eat," Jiying replied nonchalantly with a smile. "Qin Ziping bought them."
This was already the third time Zhou Shaojin had heard Qin Ziping's name, and each time it was related to food. She couldn't help but smile and ask, "Does Qin Ziping also enjoy eating?"
"Not bad!" Jiying laughed. "He's mainly convenient—Cheng Zichuan has been training him these days, so he's almost always running around outside."
Zhou Shaojin tried a piece of the crispy pastry.
It was indeed crispy and delicious.
She asked Jiying, "How is your copying of the 'Admonitions for Women' coming along?"Upon hearing this, Jiying's shoulders immediately slumped. "Not so great..." she said, her words trailing off before her eyes suddenly lit up. She leaned in close to Zhou Shaojin and said, "How about... you copy a few for me too?"
Zhou Shaojin pushed her away. "Don't even think about it! I have to go to Cold Green Mountain House every day to copy scriptures. When would I have time to help you? Do your own work yourself." She added, "Besides, our handwriting is different. Aren't you afraid Uncle Chi will punish you with another five hundred copies?"
Jiying jumped up happily upon hearing this and reached out to pat Zhou Shaojin's head. "You're so clever! Why didn't I think of that? Cheng Zichuan only told me to copy five hundred copies of 'Admonitions for Women'—he didn't say I had to do it myself. I'll go find Qin Ziping right now and have him hire someone to copy five hundred copies for me!"
"Can that really work?" Zhou Shaojin was stunned.
"Whether it works or not, I have to try," Jiying said with a carefree attitude, as if she had nothing to lose. "At worst, he'll just punish me with another five hundred copies."
Zhou Shaojin broke out in a sweat.
Jiying asked, "How come you have time to come play with me today? Have you finished your needlework?"
"When is needlework ever truly finished?" Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I came today because I need to ask you for a favor..." She inquired, "Does Uncle Chi allow you to contact your family?"
"I don't know," Jiying replied. "Ever since I came here, I haven't contacted my family at all. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to resist sneaking back home..."
Then she couldn't ask Jiying for help.
Zhou Shaojin said, "Well, could you ask Qin Ziping to help me... but this matter must be kept secret."
Jiying pondered for a moment and said, "Are you trying to send something somewhere? Or send someone somewhere?"
Zhou Shaojin hadn't expected Jiying to see through her intentions after just a few words.
She smiled awkwardly and said, "I want to send someone to the capital and then bring them back safely."
"Without your family knowing?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded. "This matter is very important to me. It would be best if no one found out."
Jiying laughed. "Qin Ziping is your Uncle Chi's man. If you ask him to help you, how could Uncle Chi not know?"
So that wouldn't work either!
Zhou Shaojin couldn't hide her disappointment.
Jiying smiled and said, "Why give up so quickly? If not Qin Ziping, there's still me, isn't there?"
Zhou Shaojin waved her hand. "Forget it. I'll think of another way."
"What other way could you possibly think of?" Jiying glanced at her sideways. "I know your personality well enough—you wouldn't have asked me unless you were at your wit's end. Don't worry. Although I haven't contacted my family in a long time, my father is still quite worried about me. He told me that if anything happens, I should have someone bring a letter to Maoji Rice Shop next to Dongjiang Bridge in Jinling. Whatever you need, I'll have them take care of it."
Something about this didn't sound quite right!
Zhou Shaojin said, "Would that implicate you or Uncle Chi?"
Jiying pinched Zhou Shaojin's cheek. "Looks like the story I told you was wasted on you—why worry about others? Focus on getting your own business done."
"You can't say that..." Zhou Shaojin tried to avoid Jiying but couldn't escape and ended up getting her cheek pinched. She murmured, "We can't just think of ourselves..."
Jiying glared at her fiercely.Zhou Shaojin quickly dropped the subject.
Jiying gave a satisfied "hmm" and said, "Hurry up and tell me, what do you need?"
Zhou Shaojin instinctively trusted Jiying. She said, "I have a friend who lives in Hutong of Hu Daguanren in the capital. I want my page to deliver a letter to her. Could you arrange for someone to escort my page to the capital, then bring him back after he finishes the errand for me?"
"Keeping it from the family too?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled sheepishly.
"Alright!" Jiying said generously. "Just wait for my news."
Zhou Shaojin was immensely grateful. "Thank you, thank you!"
"What's there to thank?" Jiying sighed. "If it were in the past, I would have gone to help you with this matter myself."
Herself?
That won't be necessary.
Zhou Shaojin quickly said, "This arrangement is perfectly fine."
※
Sisters, making up for yesterday's extra update.
o(n_n)o
PS: Today's extra update for pink votes will likely be around 5 PM.
※ (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote to recommend it or cast a monthly vote. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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