Zhоu Shаоjin hаd nоt exресtеd Сheng Chi to аsk hеr this question. Shе was takеn аbасk fоr а moment bеfore replying, "Hе hаsn't donе anуthing wrоng tо mе. I just don't rеаllу likе his wаy оf doing things..." She tried tо еxрlain, "Even а perfеctly оrdinаrу mаttеr, оnсe it involvеs him, еverуоnе's attеntion is drаwn tо it. It feels likе еverуthing is done under thе public eуе, whiсh makеs me very unеаsу..."
Chеng Jiаshаn wаs соnsiderеd а goldеn son-in-lаw by cоuntless fаmiliеs, аnd Chеng Сhi bеliеved Zhou Shaоjin was well aware оf this.
Such a reаson was hаrdly еnоugh for а young girl to avoid Cheng Jiashan like the plague!
But Cheng Chi did not press further.
Some things could not be rushed.
He was certain that Zhou Shaojin had secrets, but whether those secrets would affect his plans remained to be seen. It was still too early to determine whether they were worth investigating.
Cheng Chi smiled and nodded, saying, "Some people indeed dislike living under the watchful eyes of others. Cheng Jiashan is the eldest son and grandson of the Cheng family, so it's inevitable that he attracts attention. It's normal for you to feel unaccustomed to it."
Zhou Shaojin felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She let out a long sigh of relief and gave Cheng Chi a grateful smile.
Cheng Chi said, "If I go to the capital and there's nothing particularly important to attend to, I'll let you know. If your grandmother and sister agree to let you accompany me, I'll take you on a trip to the capital!"
"Really?" Zhou Shaojin's eyes lit up, sparkling like stars in the night sky.
Cheng Chi shook his head inwardly.
No wonder Cheng Jiashan was so persistent in pursuing this little girl—she truly was beautiful.
He said, "I left Master Gu alone in the cabin and should go check on him. You should also return to your room soon after watching from the bow. The evening wind is chilly, so be careful not to catch a cold. It's getting late, and there isn't much to see. When we're close to Jinling, I'll have the maid call you. At Beijiang Bridge, many boats are moored, and in the evening, red lanterns are hung on their masts—some with dozens, others with just one or two. They cast a crimson glow over the lake, creating a rather unique sight. Since you rarely travel, it's worth seeing."
His words were thoughtful and considerate, warming Zhou Shaojin's heart.
She thanked Cheng Chi sincerely and, after his figure disappeared toward the stern, returned to the cabin.
Zhou Chujin had been keeping an eye on her sister's movements. Hearing the noise, she sat up and asked, "Shaoji, is that you?"
Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile, "Yes," and sat by her sister's bed, telling her about her encounter with Cheng Chi at the bow. Of course, she said nothing about Cheng Chi asking her about Cheng Xu.
Zhou Chujin chided her gently, "You really are something. If you want to go to Baoding to see Father, you could have just told me. We could have found an opportunity. Why trouble Uncle Chi? Although I've only met Uncle Chi a few times, from what you've said, he seems like an honest and trustworthy gentleman. If he really invites you to go to Baoding with him, will you go or not?"
If Cheng Xu were still in the capital, she certainly wouldn't go. But if Cheng Xu had returned to his hometown, she would do everything possible to go to the capital, even if it meant facing punishment later.
However, she couldn't say this to her sister, so she brushed it off with a smile.
When they reached Beijiang Bridge that evening, Zhou Shaojin gazed at the countless red lanterns reflecting on the lake like scattered stars and couldn't help but exclaim in awe.Zhou Chujin, squeezed with her sister in front of the same window, was also captivated. She asked Zhou Shaojin, "How did you know there would be lanterns to see tonight?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Uncle Chi told me."
On the other side, Cheng Jia pouted discontentedly and said, "I also ran into Uncle Chi today. Why didn’t he tell me?"
"That’s because you didn’t speak to him!" Zhou Shaojin gazed at the large red lanterns passing by their boat and said, "Uncle Chi is a very good person and willing to help others, though he appears a bit aloof."
"More than just a bit aloof," Cheng Jia turned her head to look at the dozens of large red lanterns lit on a distant official boat and murmured, "I think he’s quite cold..." As she spoke, she suddenly exclaimed, "Look, over there, over there—there’s a painted pleasure boat!"
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin both followed the direction she pointed.
There really was a painted pleasure boat.
Exquisite glazed windows, brightly lit lanterns of all kinds, flickering silhouettes, and faint strains of music... it attracted many people near the Jiangbei Tower.
"Whose pleasure boat could that be?" Cheng Jia said enviously. "If I could just take a ride on Mochou Lake once, my life would be complete."
She made it sound as if she were about to die.
Zhou Chujin quickly bowed toward the western sky and said, "A child’s words carry no harm, a child’s words carry no harm! Bodhisattva, please don’t listen to her nonsense."
Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
After disembarking, they boarded the carriage.
It was already the hour of Hai, and Zhou Shaojin was somewhat worried about the curfew.
When they reached the city gate, she lifted the curtain to look.
At the very front was Qin Ziping, riding a tall chestnut horse, with a black-lacquered flat-roofed carriage identical to theirs beside him.
A basket was lowered from the city wall, and Qin Ziping took something resembling a token from his pocket and placed it in the basket.
The guards on the wall erupted into a clamor.
After about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, a side gate near the main city gate opened.
The carriage beside Qin Ziping entered the city first and sped away.
Following it was the carriage carrying Madam Jiang and the others, and then Zhou Shaojin’s carriage.
As their carriage entered the city, Zhou Shaojin saw Qin Ziping smiling and chatting with the petty officer who had opened the gate for them. From their demeanor, they seemed quite familiar.
Since the Cheng family had such a token, how was it that none of them managed to escape before the imperial edict was issued?
Could it be that when Uncle Chi left the Cheng family, he took this token with him?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this in her heart. Upon returning to Nine Prosperities Lane, she discovered that Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian were still awake, waiting to ask them about the betrothal gifts sent to Pukou.
Madam Jiang, who had seen off Madam Gu, had been busy all day but remained spirited. She chattered endlessly about her experiences at the He family: "...The eldest daughter of the He family truly lives up to being personally chosen by my sister-in-law. Not only is she beautiful, but her temperament is also excellent... After all, Madam He has lived in the capital and is a woman of the world. She handles matters with great grace... When we went to deliver the betrothal gifts, she didn’t say much and was very straightforward... This marriage alliance is truly wonderful..."Zhou Shaojin and the others grew drowsy listening nearby. After enduring Madam Jiang's lengthy speech, Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian were overjoyed to see matters proceeding so smoothly. They insisted on inviting Madam Jiang to stay for a late-night snack before returning home. Fortunately, Madam Jiang was concerned about Cheng Lu and politely declined for quite some time, though she ultimately couldn't refuse. They then invited her to a matchmaker's gratitude banquet the following day, after which Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian finally saw Madam Jiang off.
After all the commotion, by the time Zhou Shaojin went to bed, it was nearly the hour of Yin (around 3 a.m.). As a result, she slept until the sun was high in the sky the next day.
She repeatedly exclaimed, "Oh no!" and urged Chunwan, who had heard the commotion and come in to help her wash up, to quickly fetch water.
Chunwan smiled and said, "Early this morning, the madam instructed us not to disturb the two young ladies, as they had worked hard yesterday." To reassure Zhou Shaojin, she added, "The eldest young lady hasn't woken up yet either!"
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down.
She recalled the scene on the boat with Uncle Chi yesterday.
Although she couldn't tell whether Uncle Chi had any fondness for her, he had spoken to her and smiled gently when he saw her. He probably didn't dislike her, right?
This could be considered a good start.
But what should she do next?
Zhou Shaojin had no idea at all.
Muttering to herself, she got out of bed, and Cheng Jia came running over. "What about the two pouches you promised me?" she asked.
Why was she still thinking about this?
Zhou Shaojin replied, "I have no problem embroidering pouches for you, but you have to tell me who they're for. I can't embroider a 'horse and official' motif for a girl, can I?"
"I don't know who they're for either," Cheng Jia said somewhat irritably. "My mother only told me to embroider two pouches for her to give as gifts. The rest was all about the embroidery itself. I originally wanted to spend a lot of money to buy two from outside, but my mother insisted I make them myself. So I said, 'Why don't I go ask you for help?' My mother just scolded me but didn't forbid you from helping. I suspect she might want to show off in front of someone, so she wants me to pass off your embroidery as my own..."
"And you agreed to that?" Zhou Shaojin was amazed. "I'll have Shi Xiang embroider them for you. When the time comes, just say I did it. Your mother won't be able to do anything about it."
She suspected this matter might be related to the match He Fengping's mother had arranged for Cheng Jia.
Cheng Jia hesitated. "Will... will that work?"
"Why wouldn't it?" Zhou Shaojin said fearlessly. "You only asked me to make the pouches, not to make them personally for you!"
Cheng Jia burst out laughing.
Zhou Shaojin said, "This is just tit for tat."
"Then you really hold a grudge!"
The two joked around and soon put the matter aside.
Zhou Shaojin still spent her afternoons copying books in Cold Green Mountain House, paying her respects at noon and in the evening.
By the time Cheng Gao's wedding date was set, Zhou Shaojin suddenly found herself seeing Cheng Chi more often in Cold Green Mountain House—sometimes when he played chess with his mother, sometimes when he practiced Tai Chi sword in the bamboo grove behind the main house, and sometimes just in passing.
Zhou Shaojin felt like a starving person staring at a plate of braised pork but unable to pick up her chopsticks.
So many good opportunities were wasted just like that.
She sighed inwardly, unaware that whenever Cheng Chi was present, she would intentionally or unintentionally linger a little longer.That day when she went to bid farewell to Old Madam Guo, she saw Cheng Chi accompanying the old madam in a game of Go once again.
He placed his pieces with ease, sipping tea with a leisurely expression.
Old Madam Guo, however, wore a grave expression. Despite it being a bright and beautiful spring day, sweat occasionally beaded on her forehead as if it were summer.
Although Zhou Shaojin did not understand Go, she could already gauge the difference in their positions just by observing their expressions.
Not daring to disturb them, she stood to the side, waiting for Old Madam Guo to either finish the game or look up and notice her by chance.
Cheng Chi, with a slightly serious expression, suddenly asked Zhou Shaojin, "Do you know how to play Go?"
Zhou Shaojin shook her head.
Cheng Chi was mildly surprised.
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed bright red.
Go requires two players to play, but whether in her past life or this one, she was often alone. Thus, any game that required two or more players, she did not know how to play.
She did not want Cheng Chi to think she was foolish.
But before she could speak, Old Madam Guo, frowning deeply, waved at Zhou Shaojin and said, "Don’t make noise!"
※
Sisters, here is today’s update.
It’s the end of the month, please support with your guaranteed pink votes...(>_<)
※ (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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