Тhе Zhоu sisters closеd thе door tо speаk with Ма Fushаn.
Ма Fushan sat hаlf-reclined in an armchаir аnd said in а low vоiсе, "During thоse dауs, thе аuthоrities hаppenеd tо havе prisoners trаnsferred frоm countiеs likе Jiаngning. Sоmе оf thе prisonеrs' fаmily mеmbеrs fоllowеd alоng, bribing jаilers and hоsting bаnquets, сausing some сhaos in the рrisоn. Аfter invеstigating for sevеrаl dаys, nо сlеаr lеаds emеrgеd. Hоwevеr, the cluеs prоvidеd bу Seсоnd Мiss... аllowed us to unсover some rathеr suspicious mаtters regаrding Zhaо Dаhai."
"Shаojin?!" Zhou Chujin looked at her sister in confusion and asked, "What clues did you provide?"
Zhou Shaojin had already prepared her response. She smiled and said, "At the time, I suspected Cheng Lu. If Lanting and Xinlan were murdered, aside from Cheng Lu, I couldn’t think of anyone else who would do such a thing. So I reminded Steward Ma to investigate Zhao Dahai, who is close to Cheng Lu... By taking an unconventional approach, we might uncover something. It seems my idea worked!" The last sentence was directed at Ma Fushan.
Ma Fushan chuckled and said, "Second Miss’s idea indeed proved effective. We discovered that since the New Year, Zhao Dahai had returned to Jinling City three times from Changsha Prefecture. The last time was just three days before Lanting and Xinlan died suddenly. He even had a meal with one of the jailers named Chen San. But when we went to find Chen San, he was already dead in his room. The coroner said he died from excessive drinking, but Chen San’s lover claimed that Chen San rarely drank..."
Zhou Shaojin fell silent for a moment.
Cheng Lu... had he really gone this far?
Or had she never realized that Cheng Lu had already reached this point long ago?
She couldn’t help but exchange a glance with her sister.
Zhou Chujin asked, "Did you find out how Lanting and Xinlan died?"
"We did," Ma Fushan replied. "They died from arsenic poisoning. Prefect Wu has already sent people to investigate discreetly, trying to determine which pharmacy sold the arsenic. However, if Zhao Dahai brought the arsenic from elsewhere when he came from Changsha Prefecture, then there’s nothing we can do."
Arsenic could be used medicinally, but the dosage was typically very small—insufficient to kill a person. Those who purchased large quantities of arsenic were rare, and pharmacies usually remembered such transactions.
Zhou Shaojin believed Zhao Dahai would definitely not have bought arsenic in Jinling City.
Doing so would easily lead to detection.
Either he brought it from elsewhere, or he purchased small amounts at each stop along the way, gradually accumulating enough.
She pondered and said, "Regardless, you must investigate thoroughly. Even if we ultimately cannot interrogate Zhao Dahai, we must determine whether Cheng Lu was behind this. Although I suspect him, I do not wish to wrong him unjustly."
Ma Fushan respectfully replied, "Yes."
The Zhou sisters personally escorted him to the door.
Watching Ma Fushan’s figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but let out a long sigh and said to her sister, "What do you think Cheng Lu was thinking? Lanting and Xinlan were scheduled for execution after autumn—why would he go to such unnecessary lengths?"
Zhou Shaojin replied gravely, "Sister, what if Cheng Lu simply refuses to believe his father committed such heinous acts? What if he thinks we kept Lanting and Xinlan alive to frame his father?"
Zhou Chujin was stunned.
Zhou Shaojin said, "Aside from this reason, I truly cannot understand why he would want to harm Lanting and Xinlan!"Apart from this reason, she also couldn't understand why he had harmed her in her previous life!
Zhou Chujin smiled bitterly and said, "If that's really the case, I'm afraid we'll still have trouble in the future."
Zhou Shaojin encouraged her sister, "Don't be afraid! We already know he's not a good person, so we'll be careful and guard against him. That way, he won't be able to take advantage of us."
"But this feeling of being constantly harassed is truly unpleasant!" Zhou Chujin said.
"Then let's find an opportunity to resolve this matter once and for all," Zhou Shaojin agreed with her sister. She still had many things to do and couldn't waste time on Cheng Lu.
Zhou Chujin laughed heartily and said, "You've become much braver now and have your own opinions. My anxious heart can finally rest."
Was her sister worried that she would be bullied after getting married?
Zhou Shaojin quickly linked arms with Zhou Chujin and said, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. In a couple of years, I'll come visit you. Maybe by then, your husband will have passed the imperial exams and gone to the capital, and you'll be living there too. Then we sisters can visit the Great Xiangguo Temple together."
Zhou Chujin's face flushed slightly.
※
Cheng Chi was also somewhat surprised to hear the news of Lanting and Xinlan's sudden deaths in prison. He said to Huaishan, "This definitely wasn't the Zhou family's intention. It couldn't have been the jailer either, otherwise those two maids wouldn't have waited until autumn to be executed... It seems this matter is quite interesting. Go investigate and find out what really happened!"
Huaishan withdrew from the study.
Cheng Chi read for a while, thinking that his mother would have finished her morning prayers by now and gone to the main hall.
Old Madam Guo was discussing with Nanny Shi which attendants to bring on their trip to Putuo Mountain when Cheng Chi entered. Old Madam Guo handed the list to her son and said, "Give me your opinion too."
Cheng Chi glanced at it and said, "It looks fine to me. I don't think anything needs to be added or removed."
He now wanted to fulfill all of his mother's wishes as much as possible.
Old Madam Guo was dissatisfied upon hearing this and said, "Don't just brush me off! I feel like there might be too many female attendants, which is why I asked you to take a look."
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "We're going out to have fun. If we skimp and save, what enjoyment is there? Just relax and follow my lead."
Old Madam Guo still hesitated and said, "I'm afraid Biyu and the others might get seasick."
Many of the female attendants were traveling for the first time, and no one knew how they would fare once on board.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "The second young lady of the Zhou family doesn't get seasick. She can take care of you then."
Old Madam Guo was delighted to hear this and said with a smile, "That child really gets along with me. Originally, I just thought she was living under someone else's roof, like a bird trapped in a cage, and wanted to take her out to see the world. Who knew she wouldn't get seasick? I know you're used to being free outside, but I'm old now, and sometimes I just want you by my side. Who knew she could play chess... That child is very good. We must find her a good family. When you go out again, keep an eye out for her. Look for someone with a good temperament who knows how to care for others. When a girl marries, it doesn't necessarily have to be into a high-ranking family. What matters is harmony, affection, and mutual understanding..."
Cheng Chi couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.That little maid truly seemed quite energetic once she boarded the boat. As for playing chess, it was merely for show... However, Mother was right. Girls her age are most concerned about whether they can marry a good husband. Since she served Mother once and pleased her, helping her find a good match would be a way to thank her.
I wonder if she’d be willing to marry far away?
He really wasn’t familiar with the prominent families in Jinling City.
The Guo family was too rigid, the Gu family had too many people...
Cheng Chi decided to leave this matter to Qin Ziping.
That fellow loved these domestic affairs the most, so entrusting it to him was more reliable.
He responded with "Mm, mm," taking his mother’s words to heart.
Meanwhile, at Fragrant Garden Residence, Zhou Shaojin was utterly overwhelmed.
Cheng Jia was so angry she paced around the room, scolding her as she walked: "You’re going to Putuo Mountain to offer incense, and you didn’t even tell me! I only heard about it from Cui Huan. Are we sisters or not? What kind of sister are you? You didn’t even mention such a good opportunity to me. If I had known earlier, I would have gone to my grandmother to try and convince Old Madam Guo to take me along! How could you do this? I always think of you when something good happens, but you never remember me..."
Zhou Shaojin was at her wit’s end and said, "Just a couple of days ago, I sent you a plate of mulberries. How can you say I don’t think of you when something good happens? This time, I’m only going thanks to Old Madam Guo’s favor. How could I have told you? If I had asked you to come with me, wouldn’t that have encouraged you to make a fuss?"
Cheng Jia immediately deflated, slumping into an armchair and muttering, "Anyway, you should have told me earlier..."
Zhou Shaojin could understand her feelings.
An opportunity like this to travel might not come even once in a lifetime. Everyone would want to go.
She could only console Cheng Jia softly: "I heard from Cousin Gao that we’ll first take a boat to Zhenjiang. Then we’ll travel along the canal, passing through Changzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, and Jiaxing to Hangzhou Prefecture. From Hangzhou, we’ll go to Ningbo and Zhoushan before ascending Putuo Mountain. How about I bring back a Buddhist lamp for you then?"
Cheng Jia kept a stern face and didn’t respond.
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to rub her temples.
Bitao came in and said, "Second Miss, Miss Jiying from Fourth Master’s quarters is here."
Zhou Shaojin felt as if a weight had been lifted and hurriedly said, "Please invite her in."
Only then did Cheng Jia reluctantly sit up properly.
Jiying, who never cared about others’ moods, greeted Cheng Jia briefly before smiling and speaking to Zhou Shaojin: "I heard you’re almost done copying the sutras. Fourth Master has tentatively set the departure for the tenth of next month, hoping to catch the Qiantang River tidal bore. I’ll be going with you then."
Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed.
Cheng Jia, however, snorted coldly in displeasure.
Zhou Shaojin smiled apologetically at Jiying.
Jiying didn’t even glance at Cheng Jia and continued on her own: "When you start packing, let me know. I used to travel often with my father, so I’ll come and help you pack."
Zhou Shaojin thanked her repeatedly and said, "I’ve heard that the Qiantang River tidal bore only occurs on the eighteenth day of the eighth month, the birthday of the Tide God. Does that mean we won’t be able to attend the temple fair on the nineteenth day of the ninth month for Guanyin Bodhisattva’s enlightenment?"“What’s so interesting about temple fairs?” Jiying asked curiously. “Do you know what the Qiantang Bore Tide is? When the time comes, the waves of the Qiantang River surge to the sky, roaring like thunder, spraying pearls and splashing jade, with the tidal peaks towering like mountains… So many people never get to see it in their lifetime, yet you’re fixated on temple fairs? Temple fairs are everywhere—the Great Xiangguo Temple in the capital, the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, the Jiming Temple in Jinling City—aren’t they all the same? Could the one on Mount Putuo possibly sprout flowers?”
Zhou Shaojin replied meekly, “Aren’t we going to offer incense?”
Jiying retorted, “Do you even lift the sedan curtain to glance outside when you go out?”
Alright then!
Zhou Shaojin admitted she lacked worldly experience.
She said, “Then come help me pack in a few days.”
Only then did Jiying nod in satisfaction.
Cheng Jia, who had been sitting alone in a sulky mood, watched Zhou Shaojin and Jiying chatting happily, then flicked her sleeves and left in a huff.
※
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