Zhou Shаоjin rеаlizеd thаt аside from Сhеng Jiа, Gu Shiqigu, аnd Zhu Zhu, shе had no ideа whо else tо invite.
Mаdаm Fаn Liu оffеrеd suggestions: "Sinсe you've invited the Gu fаmilу's sevеnteеnth уоung lаdy, уоu shоuld аlsо send аn invitation to thе еighteеnth young ladу who lives with hеr. Then thеrе аrе thе уоung ladies оf thе Guo fаmilу—it wоuld be bеst to inquirе аnd find out which оnеs arе around yоur age. Alsо, rеgаrding Mаdam Mian's sidе, I wоndеr who Оld Маdаm Guо will invitе? If Old Маdam Guаn is invited, Мadam Мian will surеlу bе attеnding tо hеr. If уou don't send hеr an invitation, Madаm Mian might feеl a bit slighted. Вut if yоu dо invite Мadam Mian and say nothing to First Madam Lu, Cheng Jia's mother, that might also be awkward..."
Zhou Shaojin was completely bewildered by all these relationships. She simply took the list and went to find Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi was sitting at his large desk, speaking with the refined gentleman Zhou Shaojin had seen in his study last time. When Zhou Shaojin barged in, Cheng Chi introduced the man to her: "This is Huo Dongting. You can just call him Second Master Huo."
Zhou Shaojin hadn't known there was someone else in Cheng Chi's room. Her face flushed bright red, and she hurriedly curtsied in greeting.
Huo Dongting was momentarily stunned before he reacted. Lowering his gaze, he took a few steps back and bowed in return.
Cheng Chi then said to Huo Dongting, "We'll discuss our matter later. Go to the tea room for a cup of tea and also consult with Qin Zi'an."
Huo Dongting was utterly astonished.
He couldn't help but glance at Zhou Shaojin before respectfully replying, "Yes," and withdrawing.
Even a fool could tell that her intrusion had interrupted Cheng Chi's business.
Zhou Shaojin was too embarrassed to lift her head, caught in a dilemma.
She thought about asking this Huo Dongting to stay and continue speaking with Cheng Chi, but as an unrelated man, she didn't know what his relationship with Cheng Chi was or whether she should say anything, fearing she might speak out of turn. Yet if she didn't ask Huo Dongting to stay, she would have disrupted Cheng Chi's important affairs, which also troubled her.
But in the moment of her hesitation, Huo Dongting had already closed the door behind them.
Zhou Shaojin's face burned with shame. She lowered her head and said, "Uncle Chi, I didn't know you had someone in your room... I'll never do it again!"
Seeing her head bowed so low it nearly touched her chest, Cheng Chi sighed helplessly. "This isn't your fault. It's Qing Feng and Lang Yue's mistake."
"No, no," Zhou Shaojin was startled, afraid Cheng Chi would punish Qing Feng or Lang Yue. She quickly raised her head and urgently defended them, "It was me who didn't listen to Qing Feng and Lang Yue and barged in..."
Cheng Chi looked at her, on the verge of tears, both amused and exasperated. "Then tell me, what exactly did you do wrong?"
Huh?!
Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes.
Her originally clear, large eyes were now misty with confusion and bewilderment, like a little animal that had fallen into a trap, whimpering for help.
Cheng Chi's heart instantly softened into a blur.
But he hardened his resolve and said, "You often come and go in my courtyard, so the maids and servants on duty naturally don't stop you. Just now, Qing Feng was on duty outside the door, but I sent him to fetch something for Dongting, so he was temporarily absent. The study door was half-open. You must have seen my silhouette sitting by the desk through the gap, didn't think much of it, and pushed the door open to come in, right?"
Zhou Shaojin's eyes widened even further.
Uncle Chi is so impressive!As if she had seen it with her own eyes.
She couldn’t help but lean over the desk, staring straight at Cheng Chi.
Even though Cheng Chi was usually composed, he was still an unmarried man. Being stared at so directly, the tips of his ears couldn’t help but flush red.
He cleared his throat softly and asked, “What are you looking at?”
Zhou Shaojin said, “How is it that Uncle Chi seems to have three eyes, knowing everything?”
“What nonsense are you talking?” Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh and scold her, “Am I the Second Young Master?”
The Second Young Master even had a dog following him.
She might as well give Snowball to him.
Thinking of Snowball playfully circling around Cheng Chi’s feet, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but let out a giggle and said, “The Second Young Master is a handsome man!”
Cheng Chi was greatly embarrassed.
Was this little girl complimenting him on his good looks?
Zhou Shaojin wished she could seal her mouth shut with a piece of paper.
Why did she lose all sense when talking to Uncle Chi?
How could she comment on his appearance right in front of him?
But Uncle Chi was better-looking than the Second Young Master.
The Second Young Master had a celestial eye on his forehead, which made him look rather fierce. Uncle Chi was gentle, refined, and warm toward others, making people feel fond of him at first sight.
Zhou Shaojin lowered her head in embarrassment.
For a moment, it seemed both of them were stunned by that remark, and neither spoke.
The room fell silent, with only the rustling of wind blowing through the branches outside.
An indescribable awkwardness and… subtlety filled the air!
Just like the last time he had inadvertently felt Zhou Shaojin’s soft body.
Cheng Chi suppressed these emotions in his heart with some fluster and hurriedly asked, “What did you come to see me for?”
Zhou Shaojin let out an “oh” and quickly said, “I, I came to ask Uncle Chi who I should invite for the Dragon Boat Festival?” She also hastily pushed aside the distracting thoughts from earlier and said with difficulty, “I find hosting guests so complicated!”
“What’s so complicated about it?” Cheng Chi laughed. “Bring the list over and let me take a look!”
This is just asking her to host a gathering. If she were to manage the household affairs of Nine Prosperities Lane, wouldn’t it turn into a complete mess?
Zhou Shaojin handed the list with three names to Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi glanced at it and said, “What’s wrong with it?”
This little girl stays indoors all year round, either reciting scriptures, copying sutras, or embroidering and sewing. Being able to invite three people was already quite good.
Zhou Shaojin murmured, “Mama Fan said I should also invite Aunt Mian. Aunt Mian is an elder, and if the Old Madam invites Grandmother, Aunt Mian will surely accompany her… Then, if I invite Aunt Mian, it wouldn’t be right not to invite Aunt Lu…”
Cheng Chi understood and said, “You’re worried that inviting elders will make you uncomfortable, but you’re also afraid that if you don’t invite them and they receive my mother’s invitation, they’ll think you don’t respect them. Is that what you mean?”
Zhou Shaojin felt deeply ashamed.
She couldn’t even express herself clearly in front of Uncle Chi, forcing him to figure it out on his own.
It was fortunate that Uncle Chi understood what she was trying to say.
Her fingers unconsciously twisted together.
Cheng Chi said, “Don’t twist your fingers. Let go of them now!”
Zhou Shaojin let out an “oh” and immediately clasped her hands together.
Seeing her obediently follow his words, Cheng Chi nodded in satisfaction. His mood improved, and he asked, “Do you want me to help you find out who my mother has invited?”"No, no." How could she let Uncle Chi do such a thing? Zhou Shaojin shook her head and said, "I just don’t know what to do. And then there’s the Guo family. I’m not sure who to invite either."
Her voice grew softer and softer.
If it were her sister, she definitely wouldn’t trouble Uncle Chi like this.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "I booked a private room at Light Mist Pavilion precisely so you could enjoy yourself. I was worried you might feel lonely, which is why I suggested you invite a few people. But if you invite people you don’t know or don’t like, what’s the point? Just send out those three invitations according to your own wishes. If they have close friends they want to bring along, they’ll naturally send a maidservant to ask you. Just agree when the time comes. This will actually show your sincerity—if everyone gets an invitation, who would still value it?"
Could it really work this way?
Zhou Shaojin was once again astonished.
Back when her sister helped Madam Mian manage the household, she would deliberate for days over festival gifts, afraid of offending anyone by leaving someone out or being impolite.
Cheng Chi was amused by her wide-eyed, startled expression. "Don’t worry," he said. "My words won’t lead you astray!"
Only when one reaches a certain height can they act as they please.
There was no point explaining this principle to the little girl—she likely wouldn’t understand. It was better to let her remain blissfully unaware.
After all, with the reputation of Cold Green Mountain House backing her, any dissatisfaction others might feel would only be kept to themselves.
Zhou Shaojin thought it over and realized he was right.
If Uncle Chi said it could be done, then it surely could.
Perhaps he had already made arrangements and was just letting her handle her part.
Immediately, her spirits lifted again.
She thanked Cheng Chi with a bright smile and left happily.
Cheng Chi laughed heartily.
How could this little girl be so naive!
She took everything he said at face value, without even asking a single question.
Yet his heart felt like a sail filled by the wind—swollen, full, as if brimming with boundless energy.
He called Huo Dongting in and said, "Cangzhou has always been known for its fierce and bold people. Northern Martial Forest is their banner. As we head north, countless eyes are watching us. If they don’t fall, others won’t submit. Rather than wasting time arguing with them, it’s better to settle things with fists. This time, you and Qin Zi’an will go together. Target the largest martial arts school and challenge them. If anyone refuses to yield, beat them until they do. Then tell them we’re not here to compete for their livelihood—we just want to borrow a path. If they pretend not to know, we’ll pretend we never came. But if anyone spreads rumors outside, we’ll have to make an example by killing a chicken to scare the monkeys. Let’s see who’s willing to be that chicken. We don’t care either way, but the situation in Cangzhou Prefecture might just have to shift."
Huo Dongting replied with a "Yes," but inwardly, he was utterly puzzled.
Just moments ago, the Fourth Master had emphasized avoiding official attention and trying diplomacy first. How did a few words from this Second Cousin turn him into "those who submit will prosper, those who resist will perish"?
It seemed he needed to look into this Second Cousin’s background more carefully.
"If you have no further orders, Master, I’ll go find Zi’an," Huo Dongting said, cupping his hands in salute.
Cheng Chi gave a light "Mm" in acknowledgment.
Huo Dongting withdrew.
But just as one foot stepped over the study’s threshold and the other was about to lift, Cheng Chi’s faint voice drifted from behind: "Dongting, focus on your own tasks. Don’t look around aimlessly."Huo Dongting stiffened, turned around, and solemnly replied, "Yes," before finally departing.
Cheng Chi sat alone for a while.
He did not wish to involve Shaojin in his dark and bloody world.
She should be like a flower, blooming freely under the sunlight.
Cheng Chi gently closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
He must gather enough manpower by the end of this year. By next spring, Cheng Jiashan’s wedding date should be settled, and with Cheng Lu stripped of his scholarly honors, he could confidently maneuver in the capital.
How could the Cheng family be exterminated?
A thousand-mile dike collapses because of an ant hole.
Though it would happen more than a decade later, he believed the collapse of the Cheng family was not something that occurred overnight.
※
Dear readers, here is today’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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