Оld Маdаm Guо chucklеd uроn hеаring this and said, "Mу sоn alreаdy has сhildrеn, but mу grаndsоn hаsn't married уet. I can only cоmе to Lеifeng Раgоdа to рrау fоr оffspring аnother time if thе оpрortunity arisеs!"
Madаm Wang, reаlizing hеr flаttеrу hаd missеd the mark, lаughеd and sаid, "Тhis is just а saуing aftеr аll. You, Mаdаm, arе a blessed рerson with thriving desсеndаnts and аn endless line оf hеirs. Whу would уоu nееd tо gо to Lеifеng Pаgodа to prаy fоr сhildrеn?"
Zhou Shаоjin wаntеd to go.
She wаnted to bring back a briсk for her sister.
Вut seeing thаt Old Маdam Guо had no interest at all, and as an unmarried young lady, she couldn't very well speak up.
The boat stopped near the embankment by Leifeng Pagoda.
Several other painted pleasure boats like theirs were moored nearby, with bright lanterns hanging from their corners, casting a hazy, shimmering light that reflected off the willow trees along the banks, their branches drooping into the water, creating a dark, shadowy scene.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but gaze toward the shore.
From the nearby pleasure boats, some echoed with men's laughter and the sounds of reciting poetry and lofty discussions, while others were filled with the delicate voices of women and the continuous strains of music. There were also those like them, who had come simply to enjoy the lake, but most quickly steered away upon hearing the indecent noises.
However, since they were waiting for Cheng Chi, they had to moor the boat by the embankment.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but blush.
A small boat approached them.
Zhou Shaojin looked closely and saw that it was actually Cheng Chi and Huaishan.
Weren't they supposed to be waiting at Leifeng Pagoda?
Why were they coming from somewhere else again?
Before Zhou Shaojin could think it through, Cheng Chi had already leaped onto the pleasure boat as lightly as a swallow.
She couldn't help but blink.
The small boat looked to be at least three feet away from the pleasure boat... Could he really jump over so easily?
Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes.
But Huaishan steered the small boat away.
What was going on?
Zhou Shaojin looked utterly bewildered.
Then she saw a finger waving back and forth in front of her.
Zhou Shaojin took a few steps back.
Cheng Chi stood before her, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"What are you looking at?" he asked gently. "You look completely dazed!"
"Nothing. I wasn't looking at anything." Zhou Shaojin had many questions for Cheng Chi but didn't know where to begin.
Cheng Chi, however, acted as if nothing had happened and said, "Why aren't you in the cabin keeping Madam company? What are you doing out here by the railing? The water here is very deep. Be careful not to fall in."
His tone was gentle and kind, as if he had just stepped out of the neighboring cabin, giving Zhou Shaojin the illusion that they were still on the sandboat and he had merely taken a turn around the room.
She stammered, "Madam was worried about why you hadn't arrived yet. I came out to look... Since you're here now, let's hurry back to the cabin! Madam bought many mooncakes today and said she wanted to wait for Uncle Chi to arrive so we could eat them together!"
Cheng Chi smiled and followed her into the cabin.
Old Madam Guo was overjoyed to see her son and said, "Come, sit down quickly. We were waiting just for you!"
Cheng Chi smiled courteously and sat beside Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo affectionately asked him if he had eaten dinner, where he had eaten lunch, what he had eaten, whether he had met any friends, and why he hadn't invited them to join them.
Cheng Chi answered each question in turn: "I had both lunch and dinner at Fuyuan Tower, just some ordinary dishes. Perhaps because it's Mid-Autumn Festival today, Fuyuan Tower served a plate of mooncakes to every guest. I originally thought of inviting them to gather, but then I remembered it's Mid-Autumn Festival, and it might not be appropriate to ask them over. After dinner, we all went our separate ways."
Old Madam Guo nodded with a smile and instructed Biyu to help Cheng Chi change his clothes.For some reason, Zhou Shaojin felt that Cheng Chi wasn't telling the truth.
After changing clothes and returning to sit down, the painted boat had already sailed past Leifeng Pagoda.
He smiled and said, "Today is the fifteenth of August, when the moon is brightest and roundest. We're just in time to see the famous Three Pools Mirroring the Moon."
Madam Wang chimed in enthusiastically beside them, "The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon isn't something you can see anytime. The authorities usually only light lamps in the pagodas during the Dragon Boat Festival, Ghost Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, covering the openings with thin paper so the shapes of the holes reflect on the lake surface, creating the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon scene. Countless people have visited Hangzhou multiple times without ever getting the chance to see this wonder. Old Madam gets to see it as soon as she arrives, and we're benefiting from her good fortune too."
Old Madam Guo smiled faintly, holding Zhou Shaojin's hand as she stepped out of the cabin.
By now, the sky had completely darkened. The lights from the painted boat illuminated the lake surface brightly. Fireworks were being set off along the shore, attracting children to watch the spectacle, their laughter drifting intermittently across the lake.
Cheng Chi invited Madam Wang to explain the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon to Old Madam Guo, while he himself stepped back a few paces, standing behind them.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help feeling curious and carefully surveyed their surroundings.
She saw a new painted boat with green masts and red windows slowly sailing eastward not far from them. Through the transparent glass windows, a burly figure and a plump figure sat facing each other, drinking.
Zhou Shaojin instinctively glanced back at Cheng Chi.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Chi was looking right at her.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
Cheng Chi's expression was open and honest, smiling slightly as he nodded toward her.
Zhou Shaojin, however, flushed bright red as if she had been caught peeking at something private, lowering her head and turning away.
Cheng Chi couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth lift slightly.
When he saw Zhou Shaojin at Lingyin Temple, he had indeed been greatly startled. Yet unexpectedly, this girl seemed like a different person—not only pretending not to know him at all, but also nonchalantly stopping the pear-selling woman to buy pears...
Thinking of this, his eyes darkened slightly.
Xiao Zhenhai!
Too accustomed to arrogance beyond the Great Wall.
Thinking that occupying a mountain makes him a local tyrant.
Never mind that he had his eye on the Xiao family's limited territory—even if there were no conflicts between them, just based on Xiao Zhenhai's insolent attitude, he would have to teach him a lesson. Otherwise, Xiao would think that relying on the Cao Gang meant he could swagger around Jiangnan!
Cheng Chi's expression gradually turned cold.
He thought of Zhou Shaojin as he had seen her at Lingyin Temple.
The southern pearl hairpin on her head was delicate and exquisite, round and lovely—just like the girl herself, well-behaved and obedient. Whatever you told her, she would listen attentively, never causing anyone worry.
He felt quite gratified, warmth spreading slightly in his heart.
Zhou Shaojin sensed a sudden chill emanating beside her, which quickly dissipated.
But she couldn't help shrugging her shoulders.
Chunwan, who was attending to her, quickly whispered, "Miss, are you cold?"
"It's nothing," Zhou Shaojin replied softly, seeing that Madam Wang was explaining to Old Madam Guo how to view the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. "Perhaps the night wind is a bit chilly. It'll pass soon. Let's not spoil Old Madam's enjoyment."
Chunwan closed her mouth and nodded.
Old Madam Guo then called to Zhou Shaojin, "Come over and take a look too. As for Si Lang, we won't mind him—he comes to Hangzhou often."
Cheng Chi laughed, "Mother is just being partial. My frequent visits to Hangzhou and you letting me broaden my horizons with you are two different matters!"Old Madam Guo stepped aside with a smile, saying, "Good, good, good. Today, I'll also guide you to appreciate the beautiful scenery."
Everyone laughed heartily.
Amid the laughter, Cheng Chi walked over. He stood there watching for a long while before remarking, "The scenery is indeed quite lovely."
This amused Old Madam Guo so much that she couldn't stop laughing. She beckoned to Zhou Shaojin, saying, "Let's ignore him."
Zhou Shaojin walked over with a beaming smile.
Cheng Chi then moved aside.
Old Madam Guo pointed at the moon reflected on the lake for Zhou Shaojin to see.
As Zhou Shaojin looked up, she noticed Huaishan standing silently at the stern of the boat.
She was taken aback.
Old Madam Guo had already said, "Did you see it? Did you see the five moons?"
Zhou Shaojin quickly composed herself and looked in the direction Old Madam Guo pointed.
Indeed, there were five moons on the lake, all as bright and pure as jade. It was impossible to tell which was the real moon in the sky and which were the lights from the pagoda.
No wonder it was called one of the Ten Scenic Views of the West.
Zhou Shaojin was deeply moved. She glanced at Jiying, who looked envious, and then at Old Madam Guo, hesitating to speak.
Old Madam Guo smiled approvingly and said to Nanny Lu and the others, "You all should take a look too! It's rare for us to come out like this."
Everyone couldn't help but cheer, "Old Madam!"
Old Madam Guo beamed with joy and led Zhou Shaojin into the cabin.
Afterward, they ate mooncakes and drank some osmanthus wine. By the time they returned to the city, the sky was faintly bright, and the city gates had already opened.
Zhou Shaojin fell asleep as soon as she lay down and didn't wake until dusk.
Chunwan told her with a smile, "Old Madam just woke up too. She sent word through Sister Biyu, saying we should each rest in our rooms today and head to the villa near Qiantang early tomorrow morning to watch the Qiantang tidal bore."
Zhou Shaojin nodded sleepily. After taking a nap, she slowly became more alert.
Chunwan brought in a meal.
Zhou Shaojin drank some porridge and ate a few rice cakes before asking about Old Madam.
Chunwan said, "Old Madam has gone back to rest. Feicui and Manao are on duty."
So, there was no need to go and pay respects.
Zhou Shaojin rinsed her mouth and lazily lay down on the bed.
A faint fragrance of osmanthus drifted in through the window.
Unable to sleep, Zhou Shaojin draped a robe over her shoulders and pushed open the window, finding the moonlight even brighter than yesterday, spilling into the courtyard.
After a moment of thought, she asked, "Chunwan, has Jiying gone to bed?"
"Probably not yet?" Chunwan replied uncertainly. "I saw a light in Jiying's room, but I don't know if she's asleep."
Zhou Shaojin hesitated for a moment before saying, "Come with me to check."
Puzzled, Chunwan agreed, helped Zhou Shaojin change her clothes, and accompanied her to Jiying's room.
Cheng Chi was still awake, speaking with Huaishan: "...Xiao Zhenhai must have grown suspicious, which is why he changed his mind at the last minute to go to Lingyin Temple yesterday. Fortunately, by sheer luck, Madam Wang arranged for Mother to enter the temple through the side gate via Xiangyun Road. When she encountered Second Miss, Second Miss cleverly pretended not to know us. This Xiao Zhenhai can no longer be kept."
"Fourth Master," Huaishan immediately grew tense, "Xiao Zhenhai has already made contact with Jiang Qin. The Tianjin Beitang Wharf will sooner or later drag him down. Why go to the trouble of taking action yourself? Wouldn't it be better to let him fend for himself? Perhaps he might even be grateful to you for saving him from dire straits? You always say we should use our brains when doing things, that confronting head-on is the most foolish approach. Why would you think of putting Xiao Zhenhai to death today? Didn't they set aside their concerns and go to Yangzhou to raise funds?"Cheng Chi was momentarily dazed.
His anger towards Xiao Zhenhai today had indeed been too forceful.
Huaishan's approach was what he usually employed.
Hadn't he been feigning civility with Xiao Zhenhai and Jiang Qin today precisely to reap the benefits of their conflict?
So why, at the critical moment, did the thought of mutual destruction spring to his mind?
Cheng Chi furrowed his brow.
Huaishan, who had reached the door, turned back and said, "Granny Shang mentioned that Second Cousin went to Jiying's room."
※
Sisters, here is today's update.
Tomorrow's extra update is scheduled for around 5 p.m.
⊙﹏⊙b sweat
I've been too busy these past two days, only able to write during lunch breaks and evenings at home.
※(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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