"Whаt сhild? Whоsе child?" Zhou Сhujin's hаnds griрреd Zhou Shaojin's shоuldеrs tightly, her fаce раlе. "Ехрlain clеarly, what happеnеd?" Zhou Shаojin's shоuldеrs burnеd with рain. Stаrtlеd frоm hеr mеmoriеs of the pаst, shе felt а sudden chill in her hеart.
Thоse werе аll things frоm hеr рrеviоus life. She must nоt lеt the еvеnts оf that lifеtime аffеct her mind, blurring thе linеs betwеen past аnd present, аnd саusing her tо do something thаt wоuld hаrm othеrs оr hеrsеlf!
Shе stеadiеd hеr emоtions аnd said, "Sister, I'm finе. I'm just feеling dоwn аnd wantеd tо сrу in your arms."
"Is thаt so?" Zhou Chujin was deеply skeрtical.
"I'm rеallу nоt lying tо you, sister!" Zhou Shaojin cooed, using her usual tricks to divert her sister's attention. "I... I'm just scared!"
Hearing her sister say this only deepened Zhou Chujin's confusion.
Just moments ago, her sister had rested her head on her shoulder and spoken words she had heard clearly. The tone was unmistakably that of a resentful young woman who had suffered endless grievances, yet her sister was a sheltered girl, barely twelve years old... Could it be that the thing haunting Shaojin hadn't left yet?
She scrutinized Zhou Shaojin carefully. Her gaze was clear, her demeanor calm, her behavior normal—nothing like someone possessed by something... Could it be that the talisman water given by Abbess Jingfang had worked? Causing the entity to appear and disappear intermittently? A flicker of hope rose in Zhou Chujin's heart as she wondered whether she should make another trip to Jihui Temple. Just then, a young maid rushed in and announced, "Madam Mian is here!"
Madam Fan Liu, after all, couldn't rest easy and had sent someone to inform Madam Mian.
Madam Mian had simply tied her hair into a loose bun, her face bare without any jewelry, clearly having risen in haste upon receiving the news.
Zhou Chujin feared nothing more than others learning about Zhou Shaojin's possession, as even the slightest carelessness could affect her marriage prospects.
She quickly leaned close to Madam Mian's ear and whispered a few words.
Madam Mian sighed in relief and smiled, saying, "You two sisters truly frightened me to death." Then, embracing Zhou Shaojin, she added, "You're a young lady now." She proceeded to explain many things to note when menstruation arrives.
Zhou Shaojin hadn't discussed such private matters with anyone in years and blushed deeply.
Seeing this, Madam Mian stopped the topic, smiled, gave Zhou Chujin a few instructions, and took her leave.
The Zhou sisters escorted Madam Mian to the gate, where they encountered Si'er, Old Madam Guan's personal maid.
She smiled and curtsied, saying, "The old madam sent me to ask what happened at Fragrant Garden Residence?"
Everyone exchanged glances. Si'er explained, "The old madam has been sleeping lightly these days. Just as she was about to rest, she saw someone with a lantern heading from Autumn Embrace Pavilion toward Fragrant Garden Residence, so she specifically sent me to inquire."
To think they had disturbed her.
Zhou Shaojin felt ashamed.
Zhou Chujin whispered a few words to Si'er, whose gaze fell on Zhou Shaojin as she smiled knowingly and said, "I'll go report to the old madam right away."
The embarrassment had even reached Jia Shu Hall.
Zhou Shaojin's face burned.
After Madam Mian and Si'er headed toward the main quarters, she and her sister returned to Fragrant Garden Residence.
Madam Fan Liu helped Zhou Shaojin change her clothes and drink some brown sugar water.
Zhou Chujin said, "Shaoji, I have so much to say to you. Shall we sleep together again tonight?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded emphatically.Although her sister clearly suspected she was possessed, she still disregarded her own safety to sleep beside her... To her sister, she had always been the most cherished, most important, and most beloved person!
This warmed her heart, filling her with the joy of being doted on.
Zhou Shaojin decided to take this opportunity to properly explain her rebirth to her sister, making sure her sister believed she wasn’t just imagining things. But when she looked at her sister’s elegant and delicate face, which couldn’t hide its weariness, she hesitated again.
In her previous life, her sister had already shouldered too much of her suffering and responsibility. In this life, should she let her sister bear the same burdens as before? Besides, strictly speaking, her actual age was now older than her sister’s—it should be her taking care of her sister instead!
She hesitated.
Zhou Shaojin had already said, "Shaoji, I see your illness is almost better. How about I speak with Grandmother tomorrow, and we sisters go to Huiji Temple together to offer incense?"
Huiji Temple—that was the temple where her sister had sought blessed water for her last time.
For an unmarried girl to go to the temple alone with only servants, how many excuses would her sister have to make, how much persuasion would it take to convince Grandmother to agree?
Her heart ached dully, filled with guilt over her sister’s sacrifices and the trouble she had caused her.
In that moment, she made up her mind.
No matter what difficulties she might face in the future, she couldn’t trouble her sister with everything as she had in her previous life, nor could she let her sister pay the price for her mistakes again.
In this life, it was her turn to protect her sister, protect the Cheng family, and protect her father!
Just as she had thought before her death, she would keep her eyes wide open, see people’s true hearts clearly, no longer be so weak, stay far away from Cheng Lu... and prevent the tragedy of her past life from repeating itself!
Zhou Shaojin secretly clenched her fist, thought for a moment, then affectionately leaned against her sister’s shoulder, reminding Zhou Chujin, "Sister, have you forgotten? I need to copy scriptures for Grandmother! The Buddha will protect me!"
Ah, yes!
How could she have forgotten about that!
Zhou Chujin nearly slapped her forehead.
Since the scriptures were offerings to the Bodhisattva, naturally the Bodhisattva would protect the one copying them.
The people at the temple said that Buddha halls were all under the protection of the Bodhisattva’s divine light. Perhaps if her sister copied a few more pages of scriptures and spent more time in Grandmother’s small Buddha hall, the unclean thing haunting Shaojin could be completely driven away!
"I’ll wake you up early tomorrow!" she said cheerfully, her face brimming with joy.
Seeing this, Zhou Shaojin felt so sad she nearly shed tears.
She kept admonishing herself inwardly: Zhou Shaojin, oh Zhou Shaojin, look how simple your sister’s wishes are. You must strive to be strong, never cry and whimper again. When faced with problems, you must learn from your sister in your past life—use your mind and find solutions, not push everything onto others...
But who would have thought that the next day, Si’er came and said, "The Old Mistress says that since the Second Young Miss is unwell, she is excused from morning and evening greetings for the next few days. She should rest at home, and it won’t be too late to pay respects to the Old Mistress once she’s better." She then brought out several medicinal herbs and added, "The Old Mistress instructed Mama Fan to brew these for the Second Young Miss to drink."
Zhou Chujin expressed her thanks but felt quite frustrated.
Wouldn’t this mean Shaojin would have to suffer for a few more days?She was just thinking of finding a reason to have Zhou Shaojin start copying the sutras earlier when Madam Mian sent someone to summon her: "It's time to start cutting summer clothes. Please ask the eldest young lady to come help keep the accounts."
Zhou Chujin had no choice but to go to Madam Mian first.
The courtyard suddenly fell quiet.
Zhou Shaojin took a nap and woke to find Cui Huan talking with Shi Xiang under the eaves.
Hearing movement, Cui Huan came in to greet Zhou Shaojin and said, "Our eldest young lady invites you to pick roses in the garden at noon. She says she wants to make rosewater."
Perhaps it was because she had cried so hard earlier, venting all her pent-up emotions, but upon hearing Cheng Jia's name again, she felt much more composed.
"Please tell your young lady," she said calmly, "that I cannot go out for now. I appreciate her kindness!"
Cui Huan was surprised.
The Zhou family's second young lady had never refused the eldest young lady before. Why this time... Could it be that the eldest young lady had somehow offended the Zhou family's second young lady without realizing it?
Cui Huan hurried back to Ruyi Pavilion, where Cheng Jia resided.
With no one to disturb her, Zhou Shaojin lay quietly in bed alone, lost in thought.
Since she was certain she had been reborn, it meant the Cheng family would inevitably be raided and exterminated.
How could she prevent the Cheng family from being raided and exterminated?
She struggled to recall events from her past life.
Having lived long-term at the estate in Daxing and disliking social engagements, she hardly ever went out except to return to the Lin family during the Spring Festival to worship ancestors with Lin Shisheng or to visit Dazhao Temple to pay respects to the Buddha. She had learned about the Cheng family's raid from Lin Shisheng himself. He had even comforted her, telling her not to worry, as several high-ranking officials with old ties to the Cheng family were trying to find a solution. Even if something did happen, as a married woman, she wouldn't be implicated.
At the time, although her feelings were somewhat complicated, she didn't think the situation was too serious—the Cheng family had been renowned among scholars for over a century. Even if they fell out of imperial favor, the family was full of talented scholars. At most, they would lie low for a few years, and once an opportunity arose, they would rise to prominence again. She had even remarked to Lin Shisheng with emotion, "The Qiubo Residence in the Cheng family garden is a water pavilion. Its ceilings, window lattices, and doors are all made of nanmu wood inlaid with sapphire-blue glass, and the floors are paved with golden bricks. On clear days, sunlight reflecting off the lake shimmers inside, making it feel like stepping into the Dragon King's crystal palace. Those who haven't seen it can hardly imagine its beauty. I wonder if the glass of Qiubo Residence will be preserved..."
The Cheng family's charges stemmed from Cheng Jing's breach of etiquette before the emperor, which then led to the exposure of Cheng Wei's corruption case. The one who impeached the Cheng family was Cheng Jing's political rival, Grand Secretary Du. Even close advisors to the emperor like Lin Shisheng believed it was merely political suppression—a case of one faction overpowering another. Once the matter passed, it would be like clearing skies after rain. Hearing her words, he had smiled and asked, "Although you hardly ever mention the Cheng family, whenever you do, you have so much to say. It seems to me that your time in the Cheng family was probably your happiest!"
She didn't admit it and quickly changed the subject, discussing with Lin Shisheng the birthday celebration of their nephew Liao Chengfang.
How laughable it seemed now!
That had been the beginning of the great mansion's collapse.Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but feel her eyes grow moist. Thinking back to that evening, before Lin Shisheng had even returned to the city, her sister had appeared at the manor with a light carriage and minimal attendants. Her eyes were red and swollen as she held Shaojin, weeping uncontrollably: "...They said the men were to be executed immediately, and all the women were to be sold into the Music Bureau... It was only through the mercy of Duke Liangguo, who secretly sent word to the mansion, that the Surveillance Commissioner Lord Song turned a blind eye... Aunt and the others all hanged themselves... Even Yuanyuan couldn't escape... How could Aunt bring herself to do it... How could she..."
Yuanyuan was the daughter of her cousin Cheng Gao. Born on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, she was given the nickname Yuanyuan... She hadn't even reached her first month...
Shaojin was stunned at the time.
Afterward, she was in a daze, only knowing how to cry, only watching as her sister, brother-in-law, and Lin Shisheng rushed about, busy with everything, while also trying to comfort her. She couldn't help with anything at all. By the time she finally regained her senses, Fourth Master Cheng Chi of the main branch had already colluded with bandits to raid the execution ground and rescue Cheng Xu. The Cheng family was already a thing of the past... Only then did she think to ask her sister: "What did the Liao family say? Did they give you a hard time?"
Her sister was the eldest daughter who had lost her mother. She was able to marry into the Liao family solely because the Cheng family had always been a step above the Liao family, and the Cheng family placed great importance on this granddaughter. Now that the Cheng family had become a burden to the Liao family, who could guarantee that the Liao family wouldn't turn hostile?
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Some readers have said that Zhou Shaojin is too weak. Her upbringing environment was like this; she couldn't possibly be as strong as Zhou Chujin. But she is the female lead and will gradually grow... Oo... Well, actually, I wanted to write a sweet romance novel, not sure if it will succeed...
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