Тhе nехt day, Zhоu Shаоjin wоkе up late.
Shе сouldn't helр but feel sесrеtlу rеliеved.
Fortunаtely, Old Madam Guо did nоt havе the hаbit оf imроsing strict rulеs оn оthеrs; оtherwisе, this alone wоuld hаve bеen enough fоr peоple tо сritiсizе hеr.
Zhоu Shаojin hurriedlу gоt up, hаd brеаkfast, аnd went tо thе main roоm оf Cоld Green Mоuntain Housе.
Оld Мadаm Guo had alrеаdу gonе tо thе Вuddhist hаll аnd was wаshing hеr hands in рreрaratiоn for сhаnting sutrаs.
Zhou Shаоjin wаlkеd in with a flushed faсe.
The morning sunlight shonе on her faсe, glowing аnd flawlеss, аs eхquisite as fine jade.
Old Madam Guo couldn't help but smile at Nanny Lu and say, "Youth is wonderful! She didn't rest until late last night, yet she looks full of energy as soon as she wakes up in the morning. Not like us, who look like old vines even under the lamplight."
Nanny Lu joined in with a hearty laugh.
Zhou Shaojin stepped forward shyly and called out, "Old Madam."
Old Madam Guo held her hand and said kindly, "It's fine! When I was your age, I wasn't as good as you! If I had gone out to play all day and had to get up this early, I wouldn't have been able to manage it."
Zhou Shaojin was very grateful. She helped Old Madam Guo sit down in front of the Buddha and began accompanying her in chanting sutras.
In the afternoon, she received a letter from her sister.
Zhou Chujin was very pleased to see that she was doing well in Nine Prosperities Lane and mentioned in the letter that during the Dragon Boat Festival, Liao Shaotang had used the excuse of visiting friends to secretly take her to watch the dragon boat races.
Zhou Shaojin knew her sister would be happy after marriage, but seeing her sister's letter and feeling the happiness between the lines still brought her great joy. She put down the letter and immediately wrote back to her sister, asking when she would go to the capital. If she went, she should remember to bring some preserved fruits, as she really wanted to try the snacks from the capital. She also shared some daily amusing stories with her sister but made no mention of unpleasant matters like Wu Baozhang and Cheng Lu.
However, before she could finish the letter, Cheng Jia arrived.
She brought a basket of cherries and a basket of oranges, grinning as she approached Zhou Shaojin and said, "Are you writing to Sister Chujin? What are you writing about? Is Sister Chujin doing well over there? Is her husband considerate?" Then she called out to Chunwan, "Distribute these cherries and oranges."
Zhou Shaojin ignored her and only said to Chunwan, "Remember to send some to the main room!"
Chunwan smiled and withdrew.
Cheng Jia diligently ground ink for Zhou Shaojin and said, "Shaoji. The heir of the Duke of Liang is getting married on the fifteenth, and I think Zhu Zhu probably won't be able to go out. I checked the almanac and thought of inviting everyone to our house to admire the lotus flowers on the twenty-fifth of May. What do you think?"
Zhou Shaojin still wore a cold expression and said, "You're inviting people to admire flowers—what does that have to do with me?"
Cheng Jia smiled apologetically and said, "Shaoji. There are only two young ladies in the mansion—you and me. How can you not come when I'm hosting? Besides, these people were originally your friends. I'm just borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha. How is it not your concern?"
Zhou Shaojin remained silent, imitating Cheng Chi's manner, leisurely sprinkling fine sand over the letter.Cheng Jia assisted from the side, sincerely saying as Zhou Shaojin waited for the ink to dry, "Shao Jin, I know I was wrong in this matter. I apologize to you! Please don’t be angry with me anymore. As for meeting Li Jing, it was... it was something I couldn’t help!" As she spoke, her cheeks flushed crimson, and her voice lowered slightly. "I went to plead with Grandmother, but I never expected she would also oppose it. She even said it was my mother’s wish. She thought my mother was right. Marrying into a merchant family means different habits and customs. There would be many hardships. But his shadow has settled in my heart. Whenever I think of marrying someone else, my heart feels as if it’s been gouged by a knife, bleeding and aching..."
Zhou Shaojin was stunned.
Seeing that she finally showed some reaction, and remembering that Shaojin was an extremely soft-hearted person—who would treat you even better if you were sincere with her—Cheng Jia couldn’t help but pour out her feelings: "At first, I thought he was just trying to take advantage of the influence of Nine Prosperities Lane. Later, I found out he was doing perfectly fine in Luoyang, and his family had produced scholars before. He was just being humble and accommodating in front of me, and I felt a bit guilty... Then, when I saw how he treated my words like imperial decrees—no matter what I mentioned or desired, he would go through fire and water to fulfill it for me, yet he never spoke of the hardships he endured in front of me—I could no longer see him as just a cousin... Later still, no matter what he did, he always put me first... To say something shameless, even my parents weren’t as considerate and gentle as he was. Gradually, I couldn’t let go of him..." As she spoke, her eyes grew slightly moist, yet a dreamy smile appeared on her face, her voice tender as if laced with honey: "Shao Jin, you’ve never liked someone before. If you had, you’d understand... When eating, if you see a delicious dish, you’ll think of him, wishing he could have a taste too. Passing by the garden, if you see a beautifully blooming flower, you’ll think of him, wishing he could admire it too. When talking to others, if something related to him comes up, you’ll think of him, wondering what he’s doing at that moment? Whether he’s thinking of you too? Even when sleeping, you’ll think of him... Your heart yearns, your mind is filled with him... Just knowing he’s still in Jinling City makes me feel as if I have something to rely on, steady and secure... As long as I can see him, even if I have to sneak around like a thief, doing things I despise and dislike the most, I’d gladly endure it... This kind of liking, it’s the first time in my life, something I’ve never felt for anyone else... And it will never happen again...
"So when I was at Qingyan Tower, knowing he was right next door, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
"Thinking that just seeing him once would be enough.
"Just one glance.
"Just a few words.
"Even if we did nothing else, just meeting him like that would be sweet."
Zhou Shaojin sat there in a daze, her fingers turning cold.
Cheng Jia’s words swirled in her mind.
"Doing nothing, just one glance, and the heart feels sweet."
"Things I despise and dislike the most, as long as it’s for him, I’d gladly endure."
"Just knowing he’s by my side makes me feel as if I have something to rely on, steady and secure."
"Whether eating, sleeping, walking, or talking, I’ll think of him, wondering what he’s doing, whether he’s thinking of me.""Even my own parents have never treated me as well as he does."
"This kind of fondness... it's the first time I've felt it..."
"Is this... what liking someone feels like?"
Zhou Shaojin felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body, collapsing into her seat, unable to move.
Meanwhile, Cheng Jia remained immersed in her own thoughts, saying sweetly, "You have no idea. When I ran over, Li Jing was so startled his face turned pale. He immediately pulled me into the private room. But there were several of his friends in the room, so he had to introduce me as my mother's head maid, saying I was there to deliver a message." Perhaps recalling the scene, she chuckled. "Then he took me to a secluded side room. I was furious at the time. Everyone says the most famous courtesans of the Qinhuai River often entertain at the Misty Pavilion, and he was so familiar with the place—he must go there often. But when he nervously asked me what was wrong, if I had been mistreated at home, and comforted me not to be afraid, telling me to blame everything on him if needed, my heart softened completely. All I could do was shake my head."
"When he realized I had only come to catch a glimpse of him, someone usually so steady and composed was overjoyed, fidgeting and pacing excitedly in front of me."
"Suddenly, I felt it was all worth it—even if someone had seen me, even if my mother scolded and shamed me."
She rambled on, noticing Zhou Shaojin hadn't responded at all, and awkwardly stopped herself, turning to look at her. "Shaoji, you must look down on me! You probably think I'm shameless, but I just like him. My heart feels like it's soaring one moment and sinking the next. If he treats me well, I feel like I'm in heaven; if he treats me poorly, I feel like I'm in hell... Shaoji!" she exclaimed. "What... what's wrong with you?"
Cheng Jia stared at Zhou Shaojin, whose face was as pale as paper, and was startled. She hurried over to feel her forehead. "What's wrong? Say something! Don't scare me!"
Zhou Shaojin's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.
Terrified, Cheng Jia cried out loudly, "Mama Fan, come quickly! Shaojin isn't well!"
Zhou Shaojin, who had seemed dazed, snapped awake as if startled by her voice. She grabbed Cheng Jia's hand, which was still on her forehead, and said, "I'm fine! Keep your voice down! Don't disturb the old madam!"
Her voice was weary and fragile, like a gossamer thread on the verge of snapping. Her hand was icy cold, as if it had been chilled in ice. If not for her faint breathing, Cheng Jia would have suspected she had fallen into an icy pit in the dead of winter...
Could it be that Shaojin had been possessed again, like two years ago?
Although Zhou Chujin had tried hard to keep it hidden at the time, Cheng Jia's mother happened to be at Huiji Temple in the southern part of the city and had seen Zhou Chujin... If she really was possessed again, it definitely couldn't be made known to everyone...Cheng Jia was instantly frightened, her face turning deathly pale. She wanted to push Zhou Shaojin away, but then she remembered the protective talisman Li Jing had given her—reportedly blessed by a high monk from Shaolin Temple. She immediately tightened her embrace around Zhou Shaojin and stammered, "Don’t scare me, I’m easily frightened! What’s wrong with you? I… I’ll write to Sister Chujin and ask her to come back. Are you feeling unwell anywhere? I… I’d better give you this protective talisman to wear… Li Jing said it was blessed by a high monk… He only gives me good things, nothing less… You have to believe him…"
She began to ramble incoherently, trembling as she fumbled to remove the Hetian jade pendant engraved with "Peace Year After Year" hanging from her neck.
Zhou Shaojin tightened her grip on Cheng Jia’s hand, preventing her from pulling away.
"I’m fine, I’m fine," she whispered, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "Tell me, you like Li Jing… Is liking someone exactly as you described… thinking of them in your heart, picturing them in your mind… feeling at ease just by thinking of them, willing to do even the most unpleasant things for their sake…"
Cheng Jia stared at Zhou Shaojin in astonishment. "Why are you asking this?"
"Don’t worry about why I’m asking!" Zhou Shaojin’s usually clear and serene eyes were now filled with agitation and unease. "Just tell me ‘yes’ or ‘no’!"
This furious version of Zhou Shaojin was something Cheng Jia had never seen before, something she could never have imagined.
She hurriedly replied, "Of course! If this isn’t liking someone, then what is? Would you think of your father this way? Would you think of Sister Chujin this way?"
※
Dear readers, here’s today’s bonus chapter.
I’ll be working overtime this entire weekend, so tonight’s update will likely be around midnight. Apologies for any inconvenience.
If there are any special circumstances, I’ll notify everyone promptly.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel