Zhou Shаоjin gеntlу strоkеd thе windmill blades, аs if саrеssing dеlicate flоwеrs blooming in sрring.
Bitaо smilеd with рursеd liрs аnd said, "Fourth Мaster is truly thoughtful. Knowing thаt Sеcоnd Young Мiss wаs bоrеd staуing аt hоmе, hе spеcially sеnt sоmeоne to delivеr these windmills."
Zhоu Shaojin nоddеd, hеr ехрrеssion soft еnоugh to mеlt likе wаter, аnd instructеd Вitao, "Рlаcе all these windmills оn the window lattiсе."
Тhis waу, she could fаll аslеeр wаtсhing thеm.
Вitаo сhеerfullу resрonded "Yеs" and еаgеrly lеd sеvеrаl young maids tо arrange the windmills.
Old Мadam Guo, hоwever, wаs filled with арprеhension.
What was Si Lang trying to do?
Was he trying to tell her his decision, to show his determination?
Old Madam Guo took several sips of tea before her emotions settled slightly. With a composed smile, she said to the servants attending in the room, "Your Fourth Master treats Shaojin as if she were an innocent child. Seeing that Shaojin is ill, he actually bought a pile of windmills for her."
Biyu refilled Old Madam Guo's tea while smiling and said, "Among the young ladies in the mountain house, Second Cousin is the youngest and appears delicate and fragile, evoking pity in anyone who sees her. Naturally, Fourth Master treats her like a child! This is also because Second Cousin and Fourth Master share a special bond. As for Miss Sheng, she could turn ice into water just by eating it. Not only would Fourth Master find no need to coax her like a child, but even treating her with the respect due a young lady would likely seem unnecessary to him."
As she spoke, Zhenzhu and others fanning Old Madam Guo nearby burst into laughter.
Cheng Sheng was in excellent health and had hardly ever fallen ill in her life. Once, during a heavy downpour, the water rose so rapidly that Cold Green Mountain House was flooded to a foot deep. She ordered Nanny Lu to catch ducks and release them in the courtyard to paddle around. Dissatisfied with the ducks' slow paddling, she even rolled up her trousers and waded into the water herself to chase them. Cheng Chi happened to witness this and hurriedly had her pulled out. Fearing she might catch a chill, he summoned a physician for examination and prepared ginger soup for her. Unexpectedly, Cheng Sheng refused to take the medicine, forced the ginger soup into the mouth of her personal maid, and didn’t even sneeze once... From then on, even if Cheng Jia were to climb onto the roof and tear off tiles, Cheng Chi would no longer interfere.
Old Madam Guo also laughed.
Yet her heart felt somewhat bitter.
This child had always pitied the weak and favored the obedient and gentle. Shaojin’s temperament happened to suit his preferences.
No wonder he kept that little girl in mind in every matter.
Old Madam Guo sighed helplessly.
Zhou Shaojin, however, no longer dared to move about freely. She summoned Madam Ma Fushan, entrusted the task of delivering a letter to Li Jing to Ma Fushan, and obediently stayed at home, taking her medicine and resting. When Old Madam Guo came to check on her in the evening and gave her explicit permission, she felt even more at ease recuperating in her room.
Only, she felt somewhat saddened not to see Cheng Chi.
But what could she do about this sadness?
Could she go and ask Uncle Chi why he hadn’t come to see her?
Not to mention that Uncle Chi had been very busy these days. Even if she harbored those unusual feelings toward him, if he were to detect even a hint of them, it would be enough to make her die of shame.
Lying in bed, her spirits seemed somewhat listless.
Yet when she looked up and saw the windmills whirling briskly, her heart felt buoyant, as joyful as the mood of a spring outing.
However, this feeling did not last long.
On the day she received the windmills, she sent Chunwan to thank Cheng Chi. Chunwan returned and reported that Cheng Chi had only replied indifferently with "I know," and after that, he had been nowhere to be seen.Was Uncle Chi's gesture an unintentional, occasional act? Or did he buy it specifically to keep her from feeling lonely?
Zhou Shaojin couldn't guess.
She thought of the glass hairpins, the southern pearl jewelry set, the red coral accessories Cheng Chi had given her... and felt that Cheng Chi treated her somewhat differently from others.
Zhou Shaojin curled up in bed, alternating between joy and sorrow, her days becoming somewhat muddled. If she hadn't accidentally overheard the little maidservants gossiping outside her window about how when the heir of the Liangguo Duke's mansion married, the first dowry chest of the eldest Miss Liu had already entered the duke's mansion while the last one hadn't even been carried out of the Liu household yet—Miss Liu's dowry amounted to at least over ten thousand taels of silver—she might have remained lost in her own emotions, unable to break free.
"Chunwan," she struggled to sit up, asking, "Has the fifteenth of the fifth month already passed?"
The Cheng family had a good relationship with the Liangguo Duke's mansion. Since Zhu Pengju was getting married, logically the entire Cheng household should attend. Although Old Madam Guo and others were widows and couldn't attend the wedding, the Zhu family should have sent an invitation regardless. Why hadn't she heard any news about it?
And Cheng Chi hadn't come to see her either!
Her heart felt as if pricked by needles.
But Chunwan smiled and said, "How can you say that! When the Liangguo Duke's mansion sent the invitation that day, the eldest daughter of the duke's mansion specifically instructed the nanny delivering the invitation to greet you on her behalf. But you were sleeping so deeply, we couldn't wake you no matter what. Luckily, Mama Fan was sharp-eyed—she apologized to that nanny, explained that you were ill, and used her own savings to send the nanny off. Otherwise, it would have been quite embarrassing!"
Zhou Shaojin's face flushed so red it seemed blood might drip from it.
Chunwan brought in a bowl of bird's nest soup, smiling as she said, "Second Miss, this was sent over by Fourth Master yesterday through Nanny Shang. Mama Fan spent half a day with Xiao Tan and the others cleaning it. Drink it while it's hot! It won't taste good once it cools."
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback. "Why did Uncle Chi suddenly think to send bird's nest?"
Chunwan replied with a smile, "The old madam has had a sore throat these past few days. All the good-quality bird's nest in the house was sent to the capital some time ago as part of Miss Sheng's dowry. So Fourth Master specifically had someone buy more. Five catties in total—two for you and three for the old madam. Seeing that you haven't been in good spirits lately, Mama Fan took the liberty to stew some for you."
Zhou Shaojin felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her.
Uncle Chi liked her, but not in the way Li Jing did.
When Cheng Jia stood up Li Jing, Li Jing, not knowing what had happened, feared both that Cheng Jia might send someone to look for him and that she might leave the mansion without permission. Not only did he station people at the inn, but he also quietly spent a large sum to rent the second floor of the grocery store at the entrance of Nine Prosperities Lane, staying there for three or four days...
Zhou Shaojin blinked hard, forcing back the moisture at the corners of her eyes, and instructed Chunwan to fetch cold water for her to wash her face. "...I can't go on like this, muddled and confused!"
She had harbored impure thoughts and twisted Uncle Chi's kindness toward her into something sordid. Was there anything more despicable and shameless in this world?
If she continued like this, what kind of person would she be?
Would she even deserve to keep living in Cold Green Mountain House?
Zhou Shaojin submerged her face in the cold water.
Chunwan was terrified, her face pale with fright. "Second Miss, Second Miss, what's wrong with you?"
"I'm fine!" Zhou Shaojin lifted her head, her eyes red as if water had gotten into them. "The weather is too hot—this helps me cool down."Chunwan patted her chest, speaking with lingering fear: "You scared me to death! I thought you were feeling weak in your limbs..."
She took a handkerchief to wipe Zhou Shaojin's face.
But the water dripped from Zhou Shaojin's hair onto her clothes, leaving wet stains of various sizes.
Chunwan hurriedly called for a young maid to bring a dry handkerchief.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Forget it! Just have them bring in water to help me take a bath. I've been lying in bed these past few days without moving. I feel like my whole body has gone sour... After washing up, I can go pay my respects to the old madam!"
And wash away all the filth in her heart.
From now on, she would still be Uncle Chi's obedient niece.
She would obediently listen to Uncle Chi and properly accompany him.
Water droplets from her hair seemed to drip into her eyes, stinging, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
Seeing her regain her spirits, Chunwan was naturally overjoyed. As she wiped Zhou Shaojin's face with the handkerchief, she said, "Second Miss, you mustn't do this again in the future. This time it was just water getting into your eyes, but if it got into your ears or choked your throat, that would be troublesome. When I was little, Da Ya from our village died just like that..."
"Alright, alright!" Zhou Shaojin covered her eyes with the handkerchief, her voice muffled. "Why are you so long-winded? If you keep this up, be careful I marry you off!"
Chunwan flushed bright red with embarrassment and didn't dare speak another word. Meanwhile, Xiao Tan and the other maids attending nearby covered their mouths, laughing incessantly.
Zhou Shaojin took a bath, dried her hair, styled it into a bun, changed into a moon-white silk blouse with silver stripes, tied on a skirt of the same color with embroidered threads, put on a silver-red burnt cloth vest, and wore a pair of jade bracelets her father had given her. Then she went to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo was feeling bored and was playing leaf cards with Biyu and the others.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin arrive, Zhenzhu quickly stood up to offer her seat.
How could Zhou Shaojin presume to take the host's place? Smiling, she pressed Zhenzhu back into her seat and ran to sit beside Old Madam Guo, saying obediently, "I'll watch the cards for the old madam!"
Old Madam Guo chuckled. Seeing Zhou Shaojin's small face as smooth and tender as a freshly peeled egg, she asked, "Are you feeling better?"
"Much better!" Zhou Shaojin replied sheepishly. "I've worried you."
"Good that you're better! Good that you're better!" Old Madam Guo said with a laugh, then lowered her head to focus on playing cards.
Zhou Shaojin glanced at the cards and saw that Old Madam Guo played steadily and could even calculate how many cards had been played, how many she held in her hand, and how many were still out. Her thoughts were very clear, and she didn't need anyone watching beside her. Feeling somewhat awkward, Zhou Shaojin began attending to Old Madam Guo's tea and snacks.
Old Madam Guo seemed to have all her attention on the cards and didn't pay much mind to her tea and snacks.
Zhou Shaojin sensed a hint of coldness.
But why would Old Madam Guo be cold toward her?
Zhou Shaojin couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she thought.
Cheng Chi arrived.
He came to bid farewell to Old Madam Guo: "...I have to go to Huai'an tomorrow. I'll be back in ten days."
He had often traveled before.
Old Madam Guo was used to it and, as usual, reminded him of things to pay attention to on the road, but the corner of her eye glanced at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin sat there with lowered eyelids, eyes fixed on her nose, nose fixed on her heart, barely restraining herself from staring at Cheng Chi—she was afraid that once she looked at him, she wouldn't be able to look away.
Old Madam Guo breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Shaojin showed no unusual reaction.If Shaojin also developed feelings for Si Lang, that would truly be troublesome.
The thought flashed through his mind, but Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Shaojin, is there anything you'd like me to bring? I might make a trip to Zhenjiang!"
"Really?" Zhou Shaojin looked up, overjoyed, her large almond-shaped eyes sparkling as she gazed at him, like pools of spring water, and said, "Then could Uncle Chi help me deliver a letter to my sister?"
"Of course!" Cheng Chi replied with a calm smile, though his heart skipped a beat.
This little girl really is like a delicate flower—she must be carefully nurtured.
See, after resting well at home for a few days, she’s become even more radiant.
※
Dear readers, here is today's update.
o(n_n)o~
PS: Time is a bit tight, and I haven’t had a chance to proofread yet. I’ve posted it first and will correct any typos later!
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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