Sinсе bесоming Cheng Сhi's sеrvаnt, Nаnnу Shang had leаrnеd never tо question аnу оf his dесisiоns.
She resрectfully acknowlеdgеd the оrder аnd wеnt tо Flаt Bridgе Strееt.
Zhоu Shаojin wаs discussing with her sister: "...Оld Мadаm Gu has passеd awaу. Shouldn't we аlsо gо tо рау our resреcts? Аftеr аll, we hаd deаlings with thе old madаm bаck thеn, and we werе close with thе Gu fаmilу's Sevеnteenth Miss."
Zhоu Сhujin smilеd faintlу.
Неr уоungеr sister wаs bеcоming morе and morе deсisivе.
Тhis wasn't rеаllу а discussion with her—it wаs clearly meаnt to persuаde her.
Sеeing hеr sistеr like this, shе could feel at ease about getting married.
Zhou Chujin nodded. "You can discuss this matter with Madam directly."
Given what had happened with Lanting and Xinlan before, Madam Li likely wouldn't refuse.
Zhou Shaojin happily agreed.
Chunwan came in to announce that Nanny Shang had arrived.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly asked Chunwan to invite her in and explained to her sister, "I had her deliver a message this morning."
Zhou Chujin didn't dare to be negligent and instructed Dongwan to invite Nanny Shang to the hall for tea.
Nanny Shang wouldn't dare accept such hospitality. She stood there respectfully, waiting until the Zhou sisters appeared, then quickly stepped forward to bow and said, "This servant has come on Fourth Master's orders to deliver a message. He said that relatives of the Gu family have gradually received the funeral notices, and people are arriving continuously to mourn. Fourth Master must arrange the evening meal there before he can come over. He asks Second Cousin to wait patiently."
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but exchange a puzzled glance with her sister, then asked Nanny Shang curiously, "Didn't I say my matter wasn't urgent and that Uncle Chi should finish handling the Gu family's funeral affairs first?"
Nanny Shang smiled. "That's what I told Fourth Master as well, but he insisted on coming over..."
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to nod. "Thank you for your trouble, Nanny. I'll wait for Uncle Chi to arrive then."
Nanny Shang humbly declined the thanks, rose, and took her leave.
Chixiang escorted Nanny Shang out.
Zhou Chujin asked Zhou Shaojin, "What exactly did you have Nanny Shang tell Uncle Chi? It seems as though he noticed something."
Zhou Shaojin shook her head blankly. "I didn't say anything!" Then she recounted every detail of what had happened to her sister.
Zhou Chujin didn't understand either, so she decided not to dwell on it. "Since Uncle Chi is coming later, let's have the kitchen prepare some late-night snacks. Whether they're needed or not, it's the thought that counts."
Zhou Shaojin agreed wholeheartedly and personally went to the kitchen to give instructions.
Madam Li soon received the news as well.
She said to Mama Li, "I never expected Second Miss's words to carry such weight in the main branch. It's so late, and such a major incident has occurred. Yet Fourth Master of the main branch is making a special effort to come over..." As she spoke, a look of confusion appeared in her eyes. "I heard that Fourth Master of the main branch is a scholar who passed both imperial examinations, and he's extremely strategic and capable in his actions... Could this Fourth Master not be the same Fourth Master?"
Mama Li also found it somewhat unbelievable. "Should I go and take a look later?"
"That might be best," Madam Li said, feeling that the more she interacted with Zhou Shaojin, the more she seemed gentle and compliant on the surface, yet the more one thought about her words and actions, the more profound they appeared. "Be careful not to be discovered."
"Don't worry!" Mama Li smiled. As soon as it grew dark, she went to the kitchen. When it was a quarter past the Xu hour, Chunwan came to ask the kitchen to bring a bowl of plain congee and three or four side dishes to the flower hall next to the main room.Mama Li surmised that it must be Fourth Master from the main branch who had arrived. Carrying a copper kettle as if fetching water, she made her way to the flower hall.
The flower hall was brightly lit, its lattice doors wide open. Servants attended in the corridor, while Zhou Shaojin sat at the central round table with a young man, as Chixiang directed Chunwan and Dongwan in setting out bowls and chopsticks.
The man appeared to be only twenty-four or twenty-five years old, dressed in a moon-white coarse cotton robe. His features were refined and handsome, his demeanor gentle and modest, evoking goodwill. He carried an air of cultivated elegance and noble restraint, as if his inner refinement naturally radiated outward.
Mama Li was contemplating whether to approach under the guise of passing by unintentionally when the man suddenly looked up, his gaze meeting hers directly.
His previously warm eyes abruptly sharpened like an unsheathed sword, piercing her with a chilling glare.
Instinctively, she shuddered, quickly lowering her eyes and hurrying away from the flower hall, driven by the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm.
Cheng Chi withdrew his gaze.
Zhou Shaojin, completely unaware, continued chattering by his ear: "...It’s too late, so I was afraid you might not digest well. I only had the kitchen prepare some light dishes—please make do for now. Remember to eat more tomorrow morning. I’ve seen how other families handle funerals; after a whole day of busyness, it feels like shedding a layer of skin. If all the stewards arrive, you must remember to rest. The work is never-ending. You’re so capable and competent, but if you take on others’ tasks, not only will you exhaust yourself, but they might not even appreciate it!"
Cheng Chi’s lips twitched.
"You sound like an old lady!"
He interrupted her but added, "I have Huaishan and Nanny Shang attending to me. No need for you to worry."
"That’s good then." Unoffended, Zhou Shaojin took the bowl of plain rice porridge from a young maid and placed it before Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi took a sip of the porridge.
Sweet, soft, and glutinous—authentic Chaozhou-style plain porridge.
He was satisfied and discreetly tasted the blanched greens.
A very authentic Cantonese dish.
After a busy day, Cheng Chi ate with great contentment.
Zhou Shaojin smiled quietly to herself.
After Cheng Chi finished his late-night snack, she called for a maid to bring water for him to wash his hands.
Cheng Chi stood up and said, "Come with me to the courtyard to talk."
Talk in the courtyard? What if someone overheard?
Zhou Shaojin hesitated slightly.
Cheng Chi grew even more convinced of his suspicion.
This little one must have encountered something serious.
But was it about her sister’s marriage? Or her own wedding matters?
He said, "It’s better to speak in the courtyard. You can see clearly who is where, so there’s no fear of being overheard."
Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood.
If they spoke behind closed doors, while others couldn’t see her, she also couldn’t see others, making it easier for someone to take advantage.
She followed Cheng Chi into the courtyard.
Cheng Chi stopped in the middle of the path and said gently, "Take your time. What exactly has happened?"
This was entirely different from last time, when he had sat carelessly behind his desk and impatiently asked, "What is it now?"
Zhou Shaojin paused for a moment before whispering to Cheng Chi about the matter concerning Cheng Lu.
Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
He had long felt that this Cheng Lu appeared too perfect, something off about him.
Yet he hadn’t paid it much mind.
A petty person like Cheng Lu—he could crush him to dust with a flick of his finger!
Even now, he still didn’t regard Cheng Lu as worthy of attention.If not for the little girl's plea, even if he knew what Cheng Lu had done, he would likely have let him off, waiting until Cheng Lu passed the imperial examination or became a scholar and committed more hateful acts. It wouldn't be too late to deal with him then.
Crushing him in one fell swoop when the opponent was no match at all—what fun was there in that?
But since the little girl had come to him, if he hadn’t agreed to see her, that would be one thing. Now that he had met her, how could he simply wash his hands of the matter?
However, according to the little girl’s plan, it would take three to five years to see results.
He was about to leave the Cheng family soon, so he had to settle this matter before his departure.
Cheng Chi pondered to himself.
Zhou Shaojin, thinking Cheng Chi doubted her words, grew uneasy and said, "Every word I said is true! If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to investigate! I also know this isn’t good for the Cheng family. But Cheng Lu... he’s just too cunning, always stirring up trouble if you let your guard down for even a moment. As the saying goes, 'A thief can steal for a thousand days, but no one can stay vigilant for a thousand days.' Guarding against him like this is utterly exhausting..."
"I don’t doubt you!" Cheng Chi interrupted her, musing, "Nor do I think this will harm the Cheng family. A petty man with more talent than virtue—his cunning is enough to carry out his schemes, and his boldness is enough to unleash his cruelty. He is a tiger with wings. You’ve done the right thing. I’m just thinking if there’s a faster way...
"But I understand your meaning. Don’t write a letter; just pass a verbal message to your father. There’s animosity between your two families. Paper can’t contain fire. His advisor coming and going in Jinling City is too conspicuous. If Cheng Lu catches wind of anything, he’ll inevitably suspect your family. We must also guard against Cheng Lu, like a cornered dog, doing something dangerous to you and your sister.
"Tell your father not to get involved in this matter. I’ll find a way to resolve it."
Zhou Shaojin felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
She knew it—Uncle Chi would definitely help her!
"Thank you, Uncle Chi!" she said with a sweet smile.
Cheng Chi suddenly thought of Cheng Jiashan.
Even a little girl like Zhou Shaojin could see that Cheng Lu was untrustworthy, yet for a time, he himself had been quite close to Cheng Lu. Could it be that he hadn’t noticed anything about Cheng Lu’s character? If that were truly the case, then he really was, as his mother had said, unfit to be the heir of the Cheng family...
Lost in thought, Cheng Chi bid farewell to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin saw him to the door.
Cheng Chi said, "Just have your family’s steward Ma see me out. Although it’s spring, the evening wind is still a bit chilly. Be careful not to catch a cold. Also, get a good night’s sleep tonight. I imagine you haven’t slept peacefully since your father’s advisor returned..."
Zhou Shaojin giggled and said, "Uncle Chi is so perceptive!"
She really hadn’t been sleeping well these days.
Not just because of Cheng Lu, but also because of Cheng Yi.
She understood the elders’ intentions well.
If she married Cheng Yi, she might not enjoy great wealth and honor, but she would at least have food and clothing without worry.
If it were someone else, she definitely wouldn’t refuse.
But with Cheng Yi, she simply couldn’t imagine living together as husband and wife... Besides, she had long resolved that in this life, she would marry, but only as a false couple, just as in her previous life. If she married Cheng Yi, how could she hide this from the elders?
What if her father agreed to her grandmother’s proposal? What would she do then?
A faint trace of melancholy surfaced in Zhou Shaojin’s eyes.Cheng Chi, who had been about to turn and leave, felt a sudden pang in his heart. After a moment's thought, he said, "Shao Jin, is there something else you want to tell me?"
Zhou Shaojin was startled and instinctively avoided the question. "No, nothing. There's nothing wrong!"
Cheng Chi didn't believe it for a second.
The Zhou Shaojin he knew was someone who couldn't hide her emotions, like a child.
If there wasn't some other troubling matter, and given how much she usually trusted him—especially since he had promised to help her deal with Cheng Lu—she should be filled with joy right now, not carrying a faint trace of worry in her eyes!
Cheng Chi said, "If you tell me, I might even help you out if I have nothing better to do. But if you don't say anything, don't expect me to meddle in your affairs again!"
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Dear readers, here is today's update.
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※ (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to...)
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