Zhоu Shаоjin smiled and said, "It's nо trоuble. Fathеr has beеn аn оffiсiаl оutside for аlmost ten years now, sо hе must havе long аdарtеd. I'll write а lеttеr tо Fаther right аway, asking him tо lеt yоu stay with us sisters. I think Fаther will surelу grant us this favоr." With thаt, shе instruсtеd Маdam Mа Fushаn to рrерarе the brush аnd ink.
Lаnting finally undеrstоod.
Sо the sisters had аlready disсussеd this—nо mattеr what she said, thеу wеre dеtеrminеd tо kееp hеr in Jinling.
Тhis must be Zhоu Chujin’s idеa!
She immеdiatеlу knеlt down аnd сlung tо Zhоu Shaojin’s leg, wеeping, "Second Мiss, I beg you, sеnd me baсk to Ваoding! Yоu have no idea how despicable the Li family is. They married Madam Li into the family not because they admired the master’s character or learning, but because they coveted his high position and influence, hoping he could help them navigate official channels and expand their business. They didn’t care whether this would cause the master trouble or tarnish his reputation. They simply wanted to suck the master dry…"
But Zhou Shaojin was so startled by her sudden lunge that her face paled. She stood up with a start, but before she could step away, Lanting had already wrapped her arms tightly around her.
Looking down at Lanting, who was sobbing pitifully at her feet, Zhou Shaojin felt deeply awkward.
In both her lifetimes, no one had ever cried like this in front of her.
She hurriedly said, "Whatever you have to say, stand up and speak. Stand up and speak."
But Lanting only held her tighter.
Madam Ma Fushan, her face flushed with anger, stepped forward to pull her away. "What is the meaning of this, weeping and wailing in front of the Second Miss like this?"
She was quite strong, and though she tugged Lanting this way and that, Lanting refused to let go. "Second Miss, I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for you and the Eldest Miss. You don’t know—as soon as Madam Li married into the family, she took down the portrait of the late mistress. If not for the master’s reprimand, she would have thrown it away. When the master said he wanted to bring you and the Eldest Miss to his post and asked her to prepare the residence, she was reluctant. Later, when Old Madam Guan wrote to ask you sisters to stay, it was Madam Li who urged the master to let you and the Eldest Miss remain with the Cheng family. She’s trying to sever the bond between you and your father…"
Zhou Shaojin found this utterly distasteful.
Madam Li had her own selfish motives, but didn’t Lanting have hers as well? Since they were both equally guilty, why bother pointing fingers at others?
Seeing that Lanting refused to let go no matter what, she had no choice but to put on a stern face and say, "If you continue like this, I’ll call for someone."
Zhou Shaojin’s nature was inherently gentle and delicate. Even when she lost her temper, her gestures retained a soft grace, making it impossible for her to intimidate Lanting. Instead, Lanting broke free from Madam Ma Fushan’s grasp with a few determined struggles.
Just then, Zhou Chujin stepped out from behind the screen, her face ashen. "What are you trying to do? Force the Second Miss to do as you say? If you were truly a loyal servant, how could you act like this?"
Lanting’s eyes blazed with fury at the sight of Zhou Chujin.
If not for Zhou Chujin being bribed by Madam Li, how could she have ended up in such a state?
She remembered clearly—Madam Li had given the sisters nearly five hundred taels of silver in private funds. With such a dowry, even a cripple from an ordinary family could marry someone perfectly healthy.
"Eldest Miss, after all, you are only the late mistress’s stepdaughter," Lanting said, her gaze at Zhou Chujin sharp as a poisoned blade. "No matter what, this is the Second Miss’s affair. It would be best if you didn’t interfere."She knew that the Zhou family in Jinling was under the control of this eldest young lady, and she knew she was no match for Zhou Chujin. But her situation had already escalated to this point—even if she wanted to retreat, it was too late. It would be better to take this opportunity to sow discord between Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin. She refused to believe that two half-sisters shared not a single crack between them. Even if there were none, with Zhou Chujin’s strong personality, Zhou Shaojin must have endured grievances at times. As long as Zhou Shaojin remembered her words during those moments of distress, it would be enough.
Zhou Chujin’s face turned pale with anger as she ordered Madam Ma Fushan, “Call two maids in to tie her up.”
Madam Ma Fushan hurried out to summon help.
Lanting sprang up and lunged toward Zhou Shaojin.
She intended to cling to Zhou Shaojin’s arm for shelter.
But in Zhou Chujin’s eyes, it was not so simple.
She thought Lanting was using Zhou Shaojin to threaten her.
Zhou Chujin was horrified and shouted sharply, “Shaoji, get out of the way!”
Zhou Shaojin had already been alert; before Lanting could get close, she turned and ran to the pillar beside the armchair.
Lanting missed her target.
Zhou Chujin rushed forward in three quick steps, positioning herself in front of Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly reached out to pull Zhou Chujin back, saying, “Sister, sister, I’m fine,” trying to shield her sister behind her.
Zhou Chujin remained unmoved, sneering coldly at Lanting, “What? Do you intend to harm someone?”
A flicker of ferocity flashed in Lanting’s eyes, but before she could act, Madam Ma Fushan had already returned with two sturdy maids in tow.
Seeing the glint in Lanting’s eyes, Zhou Chujin’s heart sank.
She shouldn’t have let Zhou Shaojin come.
Lanting was now like a cornered beast with no way out—she would fight back desperately.
Without a second thought, Zhou Chujin pulled Zhou Shaojin behind the pillar.
Lanting chased after them.
Zhou Chujin led Zhou Shaojin to hide behind a flower stand and picked up a flowerpot, ready to throw it if Lanting pursued further.
Meanwhile, Madam Ma Fushan, witnessing the scene, was terrified out of her wits and threw herself recklessly at Lanting.
Lanting stumbled and was knocked to the ground.
The two sturdy maids immediately rushed over, tied Lanting up, and even gagged her mouth.
Zhou Chujin trembled with rage, taking a moment to find her voice, “Call the brokers. Sell this ungrateful wretch.”
Zhou Shaojin was greatly startled and quickly hugged her sister’s arm, comforting her, “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Be careful not to harm your health.”
Yet inwardly, she sighed softly.
Things had still come to this point after all.
It seemed some things could be changed, while others could not.
What about her own fate and the future of the Cheng family—could they be changed or not?
At this moment, Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat lost.
Zhou Chujin, however, gently pushed Zhou Shaojin away and looked her up and down, asking with concern, “Did she hurt you?”
Zhou Shaojin shook her head.
Zhou Chujin paused for a moment before whispering, “I know Lanting was someone Mother left behind, but you didn’t see the look in her eyes just now… It chilled me to the bone. It’s better to send her away.” She added, “After all, she served Mother and stayed by Father’s side for so long. I won’t treat her unfairly.”
Her sister was afraid she might feel uneasy, wasn’t she?"I know, I know," Zhou Shaojin nestled close to her sister and whispered softly. "Sister, don’t worry about me. Deal with her as you see fit. Though my heart is reluctant, I am aware of the story of the ungrateful wolf."
Zhou Chujin patted her head and smiled with relief.
Over there, Madam Ma Fushan and her people had already tied up Lanting. Hearing Zhou Chujin’s instructions, she hesitated and said, "Eldest Miss, are we really going to call the people from the matchmaker’s agency?"
The Zhou family had never sold off anyone before.
Zhou Chujin nodded and said quietly, "This person cannot stay."
"Then, why don’t the two young ladies go to the main room for some tea and rest for a while?" Madam Ma Fushan suggested. "Leave this matter to me."
Zhou Chujin nodded and instructed her, "Find someone who has lost his wife and is eager to remarry. No matter how much silver you get for her, take twenty taels and give it to the buyer. Say it’s the dowry I’ve provided, and if anything happens in the future, they can come to you. But he must keep Lanting and not let her run away."
Madam Ma Fushan acknowledged and left.
Lanting was pinned to the ground, sobbing with reddened eyes fixed on Zhou Chujin.
Zhou Shaojin felt a chill in her heart and, taking Zhou Chujin’s arm, urged her to leave. "Sister, let’s go to the main room!"
Zhou Chujin also didn’t want her sister to witness such a sordid scene, so she followed Zhou Shaojin out of the hall.
The two of them sat down in the resting room of the main quarters. After drinking a few sips of tea, their emotions finally calmed down.
Madam Ma Fushan had already brought the matchmaker’s agent over and asked Zhou Chujin if she wanted to meet them.
"No need," Zhou Chujin said wearily. "You handle it as you see fit."
Madam Ma Fushan acknowledged and withdrew.
Zhou Chujin said to Zhou Shaojin, "Whenever I think about having to live such a life in the future, I feel that marriage holds no appeal..."
Zhou Shaojin was stunned.
In both lifetimes, this was the first time her sister had spoken such heartfelt words to her.
She stepped forward, knelt before her sister, took her hands, and said sincerely, "That won’t happen! Brother-in-law is a very good man. He will shelter you from wind and rain. You and Brother-in-law will surely live in harmony and grow old together."
Zhou Chujin’s face flushed, and she chided in embarrassment, "You little rascal, daring to say such things. Don’t let anyone hear you."
Zhou Shaojin giggled and said, "If Sister doesn’t believe me, you can send someone to inquire! Brother-in-law is truly a good man."
Liao Shaotang really was a very good man.
Before marriage, he had a concubine, but after setting the wedding date with her sister, he sent her away. After that, he and her sister always got along well. No matter what the Liao family said, or when the Cheng family later faced trouble, Brother-in-law always protected her sister.
If only they could have a child sooner, it would be even better.
Zhou Shaojin decided to finish embroidering the Guanyin statue for her sister earlier.
If she was fortunate enough to follow Old Madam Guo to Putuo Mountain to offer incense next year, she would still dedicate a sutra to pray for her sister’s blessings. As for herself... she was still young and would have opportunities in the future.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and stood up.
Madam Ma Fushan rushed in.
"Eldest Miss, Second Miss," she said with a flustered expression, "Please come quickly! Lanting has started talking nonsense again."
The teacup in Zhou Chujin’s hand clattered onto the tea table. "Then tell her, does she want me to force her to drink a potion that will make her mute before selling her off? Or does she want to walk out of here intact?"
Madam Ma Fushan’s lips quivered, but she stood there without moving.
Zhou Chujin raised an eyebrow.Madam Ma Fushan stepped forward and whispered into Zhou Chujin’s ear, “Lanting said that the mistress was killed by Cheng Bai.”
Zhou Chujin jumped to her feet.
Zhou Shaojin, unaware of what had happened, nervously grabbed her sister’s hand and asked, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
Zhou Chujin remained silent, her gaze lingering on Zhou Shaojin’s face.
She recalled how her sister had looked as a newborn, pink and swaddled in blankets; how she had smiled shyly after being scolded for doing something wrong; how she had sobbed quietly in her arms when she felt wronged… But more than anything, she remembered how her sister had sewn clothes for her, how she had giggled while clinging to her arm, and how she had tried to shield her from Lanting’s harm.
Her little sister was slowly growing up.
She had learned to care for her, to worry about her.
Zhou Chujin’s eyes grew moist. With a resolute expression, she said, “Shaoji, come with me!”
※
Sisters, here’s today’s bonus update!
The update is scheduled for around nine o’clock in the evening.
※ (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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