Ноw соuld this bе?
Zhou Shaоjin dаrеd nоt аsk anyonе.
Shе fearеd that her inquiriеs might lеаd оthеrs tо noticе Cheng Chi's unusual behaviоr, аnd she аlso wоrriеd thаt this might bе a sсhеmе оrсhestrаted by Chеng Сhi himself, with Оld Madam Guо's silencе meant tо соореrаte with him. If she асted rаshlу, shе might disrupt Сheng Сhi's рlans.
But whiсh wаs it—the fоrmer or the lаtter?
What if it was nеithеr, аnd Unclе Chi had aсtuаllу enсоuntеrеd sоmе dangеrоus situatiоn?
Zhou Shаojin was sо anхiоus shе cоuld аlmоst сry.
With her sister аbout to return home fоr the customаry visit, therе was still nо nеws from Сheng Chi.
At this point, Zhou Shaojin was completely panicked.
Uncle Chi had never broken a promise he made to her.
He had said that if she did not wish to stay in Nine Prosperities Lane, he would find a way to persuade her grandmother to let her go to Baoding.
After her sister's return visit, her own fate would be decided.
Uncle Chi still did not know she had changed her mind. If he did not act now, it would be too late.
He must have encountered something... perhaps even a life-or-death matter!
Zhou Shaojin paced anxiously around the room, weighing her options. In the end, she decided to go to Cold Green Mountain House to see for herself—if Old Madam Guo knew about this and remained unperturbed, it would mean Uncle Chi was not in danger. If Old Madam Guo was unaware, she would risk everything to join forces with her and find Uncle Chi.
She hastily changed her clothes and went to Old Madam Guo's residence.
Old Madam Guo had a visitor.
Zhou Shaojin asked curiously, "Who is it?"
Manor whispered to her, "It's Madam Gu the Ninth."
Zhou Shaojin was even more puzzled.
The Gu family was still in mourning. Shouldn't Madam Gu the Ninth be observing mourning at home? Even if Gu Qingge sought Cheng Jing's help regarding his reinstatement, given the friendship between the Gu and Cheng families, he wouldn't need his wife to curry favor with the Cheng family like this. In the eyes of those who might take offense, this would be seen as unfilial.
Manor glanced around and lowered her voice even further, saying, "It seems someone in the Gu family has proposed dividing the family estate. Madam the Ninth is certainly opposed and likely wants to ask Old Madam to mediate."
The Gu family had built its reputation on teaching and nurturing, with brothers showing mutual respect, children being filial, mothers being kind, husbands being righteous, and wives being virtuous. Their family ethos was upright and pure. Since the time of Gu Qinghong, there had been no disputes, let alone talk of dividing the family estate.
Zhou Shaojin was greatly startled. "That would be a scandal."
"Exactly," Manor sighed. "Old Madam must be quite troubled right now. But this is not our concern. Second Cousin, would you like to wait in the tea room for now, or should I inform Old Madam right away?"
What she had to say was an even greater secret.
Zhou Shaojin said, "I'll wait in the tea room."
Manor smiled and led her to the tea room, instructing a young maid to bring out her usual cushion. She asked what tea she preferred, personally brewed it, and brought over a plate of snacks.
Zhou Shaojin repeatedly expressed her thanks, saying politely, "How could I trouble you to personally brew tea for me!"
Manor replied with a smile, "Second Cousin is such a gracious person. Even when the young maids don't meet your expectations, you never complain. I sincerely invited you to the tea room for tea—how could I let you make do?"
Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed.
Manor then chatted idly with her: "...It's been a few days since you last came to Cold Green Mountain House. What have you been doing at home? There's something I've been wanting to ask you, but every time I see you, you're busy with matters concerning the eldest cousin, and I never had the chance!"Zhou Shaojin smiled and asked, "What is it? You could have sent a little maid to bring me a message."
"How could that be proper?" Manao blushed slightly. "Before the New Year, didn't you give each of us a red envelope as a reward? I just wanted to ask what the name of the knot on that red envelope is, and who made it? I'd like to learn how to make it too..."
Zhou Shaojin laughed.
That was something she had figured out on her own in her previous life when she had nothing to do at the estate in Daxing. After making it for a long time, it actually became more convenient than other knots.
"I made it myself. The maids had nothing to do and thought it looked like plum blossoms, so they named it 'A Twig of Plum Blossoms.' If you think it's pretty, I can have Chunwan teach you."
Manao was overjoyed and stood up to refill Zhou Shaojin's teacup.
Just then, a little maid ran in looking for her. "Miss Manao, Miss Biyu said that the old madam has sent word to take out the boxwood wine cups from the 'Spring' room in the 'Ding' character storeroom. The old madam wants to give them to Madam Gu the Ninth."
Manao smiled apologetically at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin quickly said, "Go ahead and attend to your duties. I'll wait here for the old madam."
Manao replied, "Alright then, I'll instruct the little maids to inform you as soon as there's any movement from the old madam."
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile.
Manao hurriedly followed the little maid who had brought the message out of the tea room.
Left alone in the tea room, Zhou Shaojin began to let her thoughts wander again.
Logically speaking, the old madam was a very shrewd and capable person—she couldn't possibly be unaware that Uncle Chi had disappeared! Even if she had been too busy with other matters to notice at first, after such a long time, even she herself knew about it, so the old madam couldn't possibly be in the dark!
Could there be some secret behind this?
She should have come to ask the old madam long ago.
The old madam was Uncle Chi's mother; she couldn't possibly have any ill intentions toward him.
Even if something had happened to Uncle Chi, having the old madam help search for him would surely be better than her struggling alone in secret.
But what if the old madam knew nothing at all? What should she do then?
Uncle Chi had repeatedly warned her not to tell anyone about her experience of rebirth. To help her keep this secret, he had even devised a story to deceive the old madam.
But she didn't have Uncle Chi's ability!
If Old Madam Guo saw through her, how could she explain it to Uncle Chi?
Just thinking about how Uncle Chi might be put in a difficult position because of this made Zhou Shaojin's heart flutter anxiously like a little rabbit, leaving her utterly unsure of what to do.
She sat on the rosewood chair in the tea room, twisting her fingers nervously.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside.
However, the noise was brief, and soon everything returned to calm.
What could have happened?
Normally, Zhou Shaojin wouldn't have paid any attention, but today she was preoccupied with worries. Afraid that Old Madam Guo might have seen Madam Gu the Ninth off and the little maids had forgotten to inform her, she hesitated for a moment before lifting the curtain and stepping out of the tea room.
Unexpectedly, someone happened to be passing by the tea room.
Moreover, it was a tall man carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Caught off guard, she had no time to avoid him and nearly collided with him.
The man was equally surprised and quickly stepped back a few paces.
When the two looked at each other, Zhou Shaojin cried out in both shock and delight, "Uncle Chi!"As if a precious treasure had been lost and found again. Her emotions surged, and she spoke urgently, "When did you return? Are you well? Why didn’t you tell anyone at home before leaving? I’ve been worried sick these past few days!"
Cheng Chi smiled faintly.
His attire was neat, his smile refined, and his gaze bright. If Zhou Shaojin hadn’t been unable to find him for days, she would have thought he had merely taken a stroll to the front courtyard.
Or perhaps it was because Cheng Chi appeared completely unbothered, while she had been filled with anxiety and fear, that Zhou Shaojin felt an inexplicable sadness, like a child who had been wronged outside and finally encountered a trusted adult. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face: "Uncle Chi, why did you only return now? I’ve been looking for you for so many days..."
Cheng Chi was taken aback.
Although he hadn’t deliberately concealed his whereabouts, an inattentive person certainly wouldn’t have noticed.
Had Zhou Shaojin tried to find him?
Cheng Chi’s expression softened with apology, and he said gently, "I’m back now, aren’t I? I haven’t forgotten what I promised you. Your sister will return in five or six days. I remember! Don’t worry. Stop crying now, or your eyes will swell again..."
His words only made things worse. Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin felt even more aggrieved.
It wasn’t because of the matter regarding Baoding Prefecture that she feared he wouldn’t return—she was afraid he might end up like Cheng Li, the elderly master of the second branch, who died outside and wasn’t discovered until much later, with no one to prepare him for burial...
Zhou Shaojin’s tears fell even faster: "No one at home noticed you were gone... Huaishan had no news either... The Old Lady seemed unaware too... I didn’t dare ask anyone else... afraid you might have left quietly for some urgent matter, keeping it hidden from the people of Nine Prosperities Lane... and afraid you might have encountered danger outside... I was terrified, and yet you say such things..."
She kept wiping her tears.
Cheng Chi’s expression grew complicated.
It wasn’t about the matter of Baoding Prefecture. She was worried he might have met with misfortune silently...
How many years had it been since anyone had worried about him like this?
Cheng Chi remained silent for a long moment before slowly walking over.
"Shao Jin. Stop crying!" he coaxed softly. "Look at you, like a little kitten that’s fallen into a muddy pond..."
She hadn’t been eating or sleeping well these past few days, and yet he said she looked like a kitten that had fallen into a muddy pond...
Zhou Shaojin was overwhelmed with grievance.
How could Uncle Chi say such a thing about her?
Who wouldn’t want to appear polished and elegant in front of others?
But she had been so worried that pretending nothing had happened was simply impossible.
Since Uncle Chi already thought she looked like a kitten that had fallen into a muddy pond, why should she force herself to act as if everything were fine?
Zhou Shaojin turned her head and walked into the tea room.
Cheng Chi stared at the swaying door curtain, unable to gather his thoughts for a long while.
This little girl actually dared to turn her back on him.
But... considering how worried she had been about him... he’d let it pass!
After a moment’s thought, Cheng Chi followed her into the tea room.
Zhou Shaojin was leaning over the table by the window in the tea room, quietly sobbing.
"Shao Jin! Shao Jin!" Cheng Chi called out awkwardly twice.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t want to acknowledge him.
Cheng Chi stood quietly beside her for a while before whispering, "Shao Jin, stop crying. I’ll tell you before I go out next time, alright?"
Zhou Shaojin’s face burned with embarrassment.
Uncle Chi was a grown man—what reason did he have to explain his comings and goings to women and children?Zhou Shaojin grew up reading "Admonitions for Women," which taught her to obey her father at home and her husband after marriage.
Could Uncle Chi have misunderstood that she was forcing him to promise to report his whereabouts to her in the future?
Timidly, she peeked half her face out from behind her arm and stammered, "N-no, that's not necessary. Just... just don’t disappear without a trace in the future... I was really scared..."
Cheng Chi was speechless.
Letting her find him anytime was far more troublesome than simply telling her when he went out... But as he looked at her teary eyes and reddened nose, he thought, after all, they were allies now, and it was only right to let her find him whenever she needed... He couldn’t help but nod and say, "Alright!"
※
Sisters, this is a scheduled post.
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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