Zhоu Shаоjin knеlt silеntly on thе рrауеr cushion for а mоment befоre rising and lеаving thе sidе rооm.
Madаm Fan Liu was waiting outside and rерortеd upоn sееing hеr: "Mаdаm Мiаn hаs arrivеd."
Zhou Shaojin аskеd curiоusly, "What has brоught Aunt herе?"
Madаm Fаn Liu smilеd аnd sаid, "Тhе eldest уоung ladу is аbоut to bе marriеd. Нow manу guеsts should bе invited? How mаny banquet tаblеs shоuld be sеt? Which route shоuld thе wеdding prосеssiоn tаkе when аrriving аnd deрarting? Аll these mаtters nееd tо be disсussеd with thе Liаo family. Нow could Madаm Mian not сome?"
Zhоu Shaоjin gаve аn awkward smile, changed her clothes, and went to Madam Li's place.
Madam Mian hadn't seen Zhou Shaojin for over ten days, so she couldn't help but take her hand and ask all sorts of questions.
Zhou Shaojin stood gently by her side, obediently answering each one.
Madam Li watched with a suppressed smile and remarked, "Madam treats the second young lady as if she were her own daughter."
Perhaps because she had intentions of keeping Zhou Shaojin at home, Madam Mian now found herself growing fonder of her with each glance. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "I have no daughters of my own. Not only do I regard these two sisters as my own daughters, but even when I take a daughter-in-law in the future, I will treat her as my own daughter as well." As she spoke, she glanced at Zhou Shaojin.
Madam Li felt a slight stir in her heart and probed, "Then the young lady from the He family is truly fortunate!"
Madam Mian smiled faintly and patted Zhou Shaojin's hand.
Zhou Shaojin quickly found an excuse to rise and take her leave.
She feared that Madam Mian's behavior might become too obvious, leading Madam Li to notice and inform her father, which could cause trouble.
Madam Mian looked somewhat disappointed and said, "I was hoping you could help us write down the things to pay attention to."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and replied, "It won't be too late for me to come after you and Madam have discussed everything."
Left with no choice, Madam Mian let Zhou Shaojin go.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Cheng Chi stood with a grim expression in the dimly lit passage of the secret chamber. Gazing at Fan Qi, who lay unconscious on a pile of straw in the chamber, he asked Qin Zi'an, "What have you all done to him?"
Qin Zi'an frowned slightly.
He was just a servant boy.
What did it matter if he died?
He had plenty of means to make the matter disappear without a trace.
Yet the Fourth Master spoke as if he feared the boy's death.
But he dared not show the slightest hint of his thoughts and replied respectfully, "As per your instructions, I invited Dongting to perform hypnotism on him."
Cheng Chi nodded slightly and asked, "What did he say?"
Qin Zi'an replied, "He knows nothing."
Cheng Chi turned to look at Qin Zi'an.
His bright eyes shone like stars in the night sky within the dim passage.
Qin Zi'an lowered his voice and said, "According to him, he went to the capital on the orders of the Second Young Lady. The people escorting him were arranged by her, the places to stay were told to him by her, and how to find the Lin and Mu families was also done exactly as she instructed. The only variation was regarding the marriage between the Lin and Mu families. The Second Young Lady told him to find a wandering Taoist to deceive the Mu family with supernatural tricks. However, after lingering at the Shangqing Temple for many days, he couldn't find a suitable person. In the end, he had no choice but to take a risk and approach the gluttonous and wine-loving receptionist Taoist Yang, who had been demoted to the kitchen for making mistakes. Unexpectedly, the matter was accomplished quite easily.
"As for sending him to the capital after the New Year to gather information about the Lin and Mu families, that was also the Second Young Lady's idea.""As for why Second Miss wanted him to devise a way to hasten the marriage between the Lin and Mu families... whether Second Miss actually knew anyone from the Lin or Mu families... he had no idea about any of it."
Cheng Chi's expression darkened further.
He thought of how his elder brother Cheng Jing had risen to become Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall!
If not for Zhou Shaojin's warning, his elder brother would certainly have believed that Yuan Weichang would support him. Placing his hopes on Yuan Weichang, he would have ultimately lost to Huang Li, completely unprepared.
And now, the Jiashen Imperial Examination Autumn Session cheating scandal had erupted. Mu Daren, as the top examinee, had been thrown into prison. Yet, by sheer coincidence, Mu Daren's eldest daughter had married into the Lin family, to whom she had been betrothed since childhood, just before the scandal broke. Not only did she escape disaster herself, but this also gave the Lin family grounds to use silver to ransom Madam Mu and the Mu family's second and third young misses.
Could this merely be a coincidence?
If so, it was far too convenient!
At this thought, Cheng Chi could no longer remain standing.
He instructed Qin Zi'an, "Take Fan Qi back. Make sure he doesn't realize he was ever abducted. Then have someone keep an eye on him. Report to me immediately if there's any unusual movement."
Qin Zi'an nodded.
Cheng Chi had already swept out of the secret passage like a gust of wind.
Qin Zi'an frowned and pressed the button leading to the secret chamber.
Cheng Chi hurried along, and by the time he regained his senses, he was already walking on a bustling street.
Huaishan caught up, sweating profusely, and cautiously suggested, "Fourth Master, shall I call a sedan chair for you?"
Cheng Chi had always disliked riding in outside sedan chairs. But this time, he said, "Then go and call one. We're going to Flat Bridge Street."
Huaishan dared not say more. He hurried to the street corner to hire a sedan chair and accompanied the swaying chair to Flat Bridge Street.
As Zhou Chujin's wedding date was approaching, Zhou Zhen was not at home, and Madam Li was not very familiar with the Zhou family's old neighbors, so the person on duty at the gate had been replaced by Ma Fushan's nephew, Ma Ci.
He recognized Cheng Chi.
So when he saw Cheng Chi step out of a sedan chair that took passengers from the street, he stood dumbfounded for a moment before hastily running over.
"Fourth Master!" Ma Ci swiftly bowed and said respectfully, "What brings you here? Madam Mian is currently here discussing the Eldest Miss's wedding with Madam. Are you looking for the Eldest Miss or the Second Miss..."
Cheng Chi glanced at Ma Ci, committing his face to memory, and said gravely, "I'm looking for the Second Miss!"
"Then please come to the reception hall for some tea first!" Ma Ci said, winking at the servant boy who had followed him. He eagerly ushered Cheng Chi into the guest reception hall and personally arranged tea and snacks.
Upon hearing that Cheng Chi was looking for her, Zhou Shaojin freshened up and hurried over.
Even before her foot crossed the threshold of the reception hall, her face was already brimming with a sweet smile.
"Uncle Chi, what did you need me for?" She walked into the reception hall with light, quick steps.
The flowering trees of March were lush and verdant, their branches and leaves flourishing, casting a vibrant green hue throughout the room.
Zhou Shaojin wore a plain goose-yellow Hangzhou silk vest and a white pleated skirt. Standing in the spring light, she was as eye-catching as a blooming spring flower, bringing with her a fresh, spring-like aura.
What kind of person could feign such innocence without a single flaw?
Cheng Chi's breath caught slightly.
Perhaps... he had been mistaken!
He took a few steps forward.
Zhou Shaojin smiled at him, her eyes curved gently, appearing docile and tender.
He must have been mistaken.
Cheng Chi let out a sigh of relief and said, "Come with me. I have something to ask you!"
Zhou Shaojin followed him out of the reception hall with a beaming smile. They stopped in the middle of the courtyard.Cheng Chi gazed into her eyes and said thoughtfully, "Do you know that Mu Daren has gotten into trouble?"
How does Uncle Chi know?
Zhou Shaojin's heart pounded like a drum, and the smile on her face slowly faded away.
So she really does know...
Cheng Chi's heart gradually sank, and his expression turned stern. He demanded sharply, "What exactly is going on? You must explain this clearly to me!"
Explain it clearly!
How could she possibly explain it clearly?
Say she has been reborn?
Say she knows what will happen in the next twelve years?
Say she once married Lin Shisheng, who treated her with great care, and in this life she wants to repay him?
Zhou Shaojin pressed her lips together, unable to utter a single word, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Cheng Chi was so angry he felt his lungs might explode.
This stubborn girl actually dared to keep this from him and not tell him!
His voice grew even sharper. "How did you know Huang Li and my elder brother are competing with Huang Li for Zhang Junhua's position? How did you know Shen Minzhi and Yuan Weichang made a deal? How did you know the cheating scandal in the Jiawu Autumn Examinations this February would be exposed? And why did you help the Mu family?"
Zhou Shaojin had no way to answer.
She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.
Cheng Chi looked at her dark, glossy hair, and the fire in his heart burned even fiercer.
Didn't she trust him unconditionally?
Didn't she believe in him without a doubt?
Why, at this critical moment, does she treat him like a stranger?
Not even a word of explanation!
He laughed in extreme anger. "Are you going to tell me or not?"
Zhou Shaojin's tears suddenly fell, pattering down uncontrollably.
These secrets weighed heavily on her heart—wasn't it hard enough carrying them alone?
But how could she explain?
Such an unbelievable thing!
Even when that Taoist surnamed Yang told Mu Daren that if Miss Mu didn't marry Lin Shisheng early, the Mu family would face a bloody disaster, Mu Daren thought the Taoist was spouting superstitious nonsense. And Uncle Chi is someone who reads the Hetu Luoshu!
But if she didn't speak up... Uncle Chi was already very angry, and he would surely become even angrier later.
Perhaps he would even ignore her from now on!
As soon as this thought flashed through Zhou Shaojin's mind, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, chilled to the core.
If Uncle Chi ignored her, who would she turn to when she had problems in the future?
Who else could protect her as quietly and steadfastly as Uncle Chi?
What, what should she do?
Zhou Shaojin felt utterly miserable.
Cheng Chi, however, felt as if a hurricane had swept through his heart.
"Fine, fine, fine. You won't say it, right?" he said with a laugh. "Even if you don't tell me, I can find out."
Carrying his anger, he turned and strode out, the air seeming to tear apart around him.
Zhou Shaojin was terrified and hurriedly called out, "Uncle Chi!"
Cheng Chi stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.
But Zhou Shaojin didn't know what to say.
Ask for his forgiveness?
Uncle Chi might not forgive her!
Ask him not to be angry?
What right did she have to ask Uncle Chi not to be angry!
Zhou Shaojin's face was as pale as paper, fragile as if she might collapse at any moment.
After all, she's still just a child. His outburst would only frighten her, not make her trust him more.
Cheng Chi couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Slowly, he walked back, stopping in front of her, and said gently, "Don't be afraid. Tell me what's really going on, and I'll help you handle it."
Zhou Shaojin didn't dare.
Even when she told her sister, her sister didn't believe her.Although Sister Ke loved and trusted her, that was precisely why she had been fooled.
Uncle Chi treated her well, but he saw her as a little pet—amusing her when he was in a good mood and ignoring her entirely when he wasn’t.
She was afraid Uncle Chi would think she was a monster!
The wind rustled through the flowering trees in the courtyard, but Zhou Shaojin stood there as still as a clay statue, unmoving for a long while.
Cheng Chi couldn’t help but sneer, saying, “Whether you speak or not is up to you. However, you must never go to Cold Green Mountain House again, lest my mother find out and be heartbroken!”
He strode quickly away from the Zhou residence.
Zhou Shaojin watched his strong, receding figure, wrapped her arms around herself, slowly crouched down, buried her face in her knees, and wept silently.
※
Dear brothers and sisters, here is today’s update.
PS: Thank you 44xixi for the spirit beast egg!
o(n_n)o~
Considering the need for proofreading, the extra update will be posted around noon tomorrow.
Thank you all!
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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