In thе аftеrnoon, Zhоu Shаоjin wеnt tо Cold Greеn Мountain Нouse tо сору sсriptures. Вiyu and Feicui were busу dirеcting sеverаl mаids аnd оlder sеrvаnts tо mоvе tablеs, chairs, bowls, аnd dishеs.
Zhou Shаojin couldn’t hеlp but feеl curious аnd аskеd, “Is sоmеоnе coming?”
Вiуu smiled аnd rерlied, “Тhe еldеst daughter frоm thе third branсh has returned tо visit her family аnd will bе jоining us for dinnеr this evening.”
So, аftеr rеfusing her grаndmоthеr sо sinсеrelу еarliеr… it wasn’t thаt there wаs no timе, but rаthеr whethеr timе соuld be made оr not.
Fortunately, hаving lived two lives, Zhоu Shaojin hаd witnessеd thе ficklеness of human relationships. Though she felt slightly uncomfortable inside, she wasn’t so upset as to glare at Cheng Xian.
But with such people, no matter how kind they may seem, it’s better to keep interactions to a minimum!
She thought to herself, knowing that Old Madam Guo was not in her room, and took Shi Xiang with her to the prayer hall.
Unexpectedly, Old Madam Guo was actually in the prayer hall.
She sat upright by the desk, carefully flipping through the Buddhist scriptures Zhou Shaojin had copied.
“Old Madam!” Zhou Shaojin stepped forward to greet her.
“You’re here!” She smiled, putting down the paper in her hand, and kindly gestured to the armchair beside her, saying, “Sit! I didn’t expect you to finish copying so quickly!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and quietly took her seat.
Old Madam Guo nodded in satisfaction and pointed to a few characters on the paper: “Look, this stroke should be decisively pulled back, just like this downward stroke, which is done very well.” Zhou Shaojin obediently accepted the instruction.
Old Madam Guo had Zhenzhu grind ink and wrote a few characters for Zhou Shaojin to see: “Look, doesn’t this look better?”
The characters leaped off the paper with a fierce, martial energy… Zhou Shaojin felt that even if she practiced for another thirty years, she could never write like that.
However, people often say that one’s handwriting reflects their character. Old Madam Guo… her personality was exceptionally strong!
She muttered to herself but kept nodding.
Old Madam Guo, however, shook her head with a wistful smile and said softly, “Your temperament is different from mine… I’m asking too much of you…” She took a deep breath and immediately perked up again, saying, “Just take a look, no need to copy mine exactly. Everyone has their own preferences, so just write in the style you like.”
Zhou Shaojin respectfully replied, “Yes.”
For some reason, she suddenly felt that Old Madam Guo seemed very lonely.
Zhou Shaojin took the tea from Xiao Tan and offered it to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo took a sip and smilingly instructed her attendant Zhenzhu: “Go and wrap a few ounces of the West Lake Longjing tea that the eldest daughter just gave me, then brew some for Second Miss.”
Zhenzhu cheerfully acknowledged and turned to leave the prayer hall. Zhou Shaojin quickly stood up to decline.
But Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “I rarely drink green tea these days, but young ladies like you can handle it. It’s perfect for cooling off in the heat.”
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to thank her.
Biyu entered and said with a smile, “Old Madam, Madam has arrived.”
Old Madam Guo responded with an “Oh,” and with the help of Manao, she stood up. After a moment’s thought, she said to Zhou Shaojin, “Stay here for dinner tonight—I’m hosting a welcome dinner for the eldest daughter from the second branch. The two children from the Pan family will also be there. You young people will have plenty to talk about.”
But Cheng Xu would likely be there too, wouldn’t he?
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “I already met them at noon. I didn’t realize you had invited them to stay for dinner. I promised my grandmother I’d return early, as she wants to give us some instructions for tomorrow’s birthday celebration.”Old Madam Guo thought about it and realized that was indeed the case. Without pressing further, she smiled and allowed the maids and matrons to escort her out of the Buddhist hall.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief, calmed her mind, and copied a few pages of scriptures. Considering that Cheng Xian had come to visit, Cheng Xu might arrive early, so she decided to leave ahead of time.
When she went to bid farewell to Old Madam Guo, the latter did not try to keep her. Biyu escorted her all the way out of Cold Green Mountain House.
Zhou Shaojin felt relieved, but from a distance, she saw two young men slowly walking toward her.
One was dressed in jade-colored robes, the other in bamboo-green. One was spirited and lively, the other calm and composed... It was Cheng Xu and Pan Zhuo.
How had these two become so close so quickly?
In her past life, she had never heard that Cheng Xu and Pan Zhuo were particularly close. However, in that life, she had known very little about Cheng Xu. Perhaps the two were indeed close, and she simply hadn’t been aware...
Seeing that they would inevitably cross paths if she continued forward, Zhou Shaojin exchanged a glance with Shi Xiang, and the two hid behind a thick banyan tree.
Neither Cheng Xu nor Pan Zhuo noticed anything unusual. They continued talking as they walked closer.
"...Uncle Yi has many social engagements outside, so matters at the clan school are overseen by Mr. Zhang. He passed the imperial examination in the fourteenth year of Zhide, during the Xinmao cycle, and was in the same cohort as my fourth uncle. He began teaching at the clan school while still a xiucai, and his scholarship is solid. You would do well to seek his guidance."
Pan Zhuo nodded repeatedly and said, "With the prefectural examination approaching, my father originally wanted me to stay home and study. But my mother said that traveling a thousand miles is better than reading ten thousand books. The Cheng clan school has produced countless xiucai and juren, so she urged me to come and broaden my horizons. It’s just a pity that tomorrow we have to pay respects to the Second Branch’s venerable ancestor for his birthday. Otherwise, attending a few of your classes would surely be immensely beneficial."
"Studying is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Don’t rush..." Cheng Xu comforted Pan Zhuo as the two passed by the banyan tree where Zhou Shaojin was hiding.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.
The Pan family’s ancestral home was in Yangzhou. If Pan Zhuo wanted to take the imperial examinations, he would have to return to Yangzhou to sit for them. Fortunately, Nanjing was not far from Yangzhou, and with proper arrangements, it would not hinder his scholarly pursuits.
In her memory, Pan Zhuo and Cheng Lu had both earned the xiucai title in the same year, a fact that the Third Branch had widely celebrated.
If nothing unexpected happened, both Pan Zhuo and Cheng Lu would likely join the ranks of xiucai.
She hurriedly left the woods.
The attire she would wear for the birthday celebration had long been prepared. When she returned to Jia Shu Hall, Old Madam Guan couldn’t help but look surprised and said, "Why have you returned so early today?"
Not wanting to complicate matters, Zhou Shaojin smiled and replied, "I was thinking about tomorrow’s birthday celebration, so I came back early."Old Madam Guan did not suspect anything and said, "That's fine. I also have some words to advise you." She then instructed Si'er to call Madam Mian and Zhou Chujin over and told everyone: "The female guests are arranged at the Four Delights Pavilion, and the male guests are at the Gathering Blessings Hall. Before the birthday banquet, the matriarch will come to the Four Delights Pavilion. At that time, Old Madam Tang from the second branch will lead us in offering birthday wishes and presenting gifts to the matriarch. Afterward, the matriarch will go to the Gathering Blessings Hall. You should go back and check the gifts you've prepared to avoid any mistakes. The Peony Terrace and the Paulownia Pavilion are both arranged for opera performances. We will be at the Peony Terrace, and they will be at the Paulownia Pavilion. Make sure you don’t go to the wrong place, especially instruct the maids and servants not to wander off out of curiosity. Offending distinguished guests is a minor matter, but losing the Cheng family’s dignity is a serious one. Do you all remember?" By the end, her tone had become very stern, which was rare for Old Madam Guan.
Zhou Shaojin and the others solemnly replied, "Yes."
Old Madam Guan’s expression softened slightly, and she said, "You may leave now."
Zhou Shaojin and the others filed out of the main room. Madam Mian added a few more words to the sisters, such as "Don’t be afraid, as long as you follow the elders and don’t wander around, nothing will happen." Only then did everyone leave Jia Shu Hall and disperse.
Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but feel a bit worried.
Zhou Shaojin, however, was unconcerned.
The arrangements were the same in both her past and present lives. In her previous life, she had obediently followed the elders’ arrangements, and nothing had happened. Moreover, in this life, she had long resolved to live peacefully and inconspicuously.
She washed up early and went to bed.
She slept soundly through the night, without any dreams, and woke up feeling refreshed and radiant.
While Shi Xiang helped her dress, she couldn’t help but say, "Second Miss’s skin is truly lovely. Rouge and powder only make her look common."
When others wore powder, she wore powder; when others went bare-faced, she went bare-faced. She never sought to stand out or be unconventional.
Zhou Shaojin said, "On such an important day, how can I not use a little rouge and powder? Just help me with my makeup as usual."
Shi Xiang lamented for a while, but seeing that Zhou Shaojin had made up her mind, she didn’t press further and applied light makeup for her.
Zhou Shaojin was quite satisfied with the result. After having breakfast with Zhou Chujin, they went to Jia Shu Hall.
Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian were already dressed and waiting for them, chatting idly. Seeing the sisters standing side by side—one wearing a begonia-colored robe with magnolia floral borders, the other in a snow-blue robe with a subtle diamond pattern—one as elegant as a lotus emerging from water, the other as delicate as a flower reflected in stillness, they were indescribably beautiful. Both women’s eyes lit up. Old Madam Guan even turned to Madam Mian and said with a smile, "Look at this pair of sisters in our household—this is true beauty! Others are merely praised for the occasion."
Everyone in the room covered their mouths and laughed.
The Zhou sisters blushed deeply with embarrassment.
Madam Mian added, "You can only say such things in this room. Don’t let it spread outside, or others might accuse you of favoritism!"
"I won’t say it, I won’t say it," Old Madam Guan chuckled. "I’m not a child. I know what can and cannot be said."
Everyone laughed again.Old Madam Guan rose with the support of Mama Wang's hand and said, "It's getting late, let's head over now!"
Everyone smiled and agreed, gathering around Old Madam Guan as they made their way out.
A young maid hurried over to report, "Madam Bai has arrived."
Madam Bai—Madam Dong, Cheng Lu's mother.
Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised.
In her past life, they seemed to have gone directly to the Four Seasons Pavilion, where they encountered Madam Dong, Wu Baozhang, and others who had come to offer birthday wishes to the Second Branch's matriarch.
Why was it different this time?
She quietly took note. Seeing that Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian were both taken aback and exchanged a glance, Madam Mian finally said, "Please invite her over—we are about to leave for the Four Seasons Pavilion, and it will be too late if we delay any further."
The young maid understood and hurried out.
Shortly after, Madam Dong arrived, attended by two maids.
"Old Madam!" she greeted Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian somewhat awkwardly, saying, "Our Madam Wen won't be able to leave for a while, and I walk slowly, so I was afraid of delaying the timing. I came over to check on you, but I didn’t expect you had already stepped out. Perfect timing—I’ll accompany you there!"
"Your Madam Wen won't be able to leave for a while..." Old Madam Guan mused.
Madam Dong looked even more embarrassed, and after a long pause, she whispered, "They say Master Wen misplaced the Lantian jade Maitreya Buddha that Madam had prepared as a birthday gift for the matriarch..."
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It seems the heated discussions in the comment section have calmed down a bit lately...
Oo
Everyone, trust me, there won’t be such a disheartening plot twist...
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