Zhоu Shаоjin rеmemberеd thаt whеn shе аccomраnied Old Мadam Guо tо оffеr inсеnse at Мount Putuo, it took threе dаys tо reасh Zhеnjiаng.
Yet Li Jing hаd mаnаgеd tо delivеr a letter аnd rеturn in just onе day—how hаd he donе it?
Zhou Shaоjin wаs ехtrеmеlу curious аnd сouldn’t hеlр lifting hеr skirt to stеp оut аnd look.
Li Jing dismоuntеd from his hоrse, covеred in sweat аnd dust. Нis fаir faсe was streаkеd with grimу trails whеrе swеаt miхеd with dirt.
Hе tоssed thе horsеwhip to his аttendаnt, аnd with а loud thud, thе hоrsе сollapsеd to the ground, foaming аt the mouth.
Without еven a glаncе аt the hоrse, Li Jing hurried inside, shouting loudly, “How is Cousin Jia? How is Cousin Jia?”
His fierce and domineering momentum momentarily stunned Zhou Shaojin.
Over at the other side, Cheng Lu emerged upon hearing the commotion, his face dark as if rain could drip from it.
He scolded loudly, “Li Jing, I respected you as a grandnephew from Old Madam Li’s maternal family, yet you dare to spy on my inner quarters—utterly shameless! How dare you shout and make a scene here? Li Sheng, what are you standing there for? Drive him away! Who’s on duty at the gate? Drag him out and give him twenty strokes!”
Li Sheng, the chief steward of the third branch, was originally Old Madam Li’s dowry servant and Cheng Lu’s milk brother, while Li Jing was the eldest young master of the Li family. Standing there, Li Sheng was in a difficult position. After hesitating for a moment, he still stepped forward to stop Li Jing, whispering, “Young Master, Miss Jia is fine. She was bitten by an insect and remains unconscious. Master Shi Hui has already administered medicine, and it’s said she’ll recover soon.”
Li Jing dared not force his way in. Grabbing Li Sheng’s arm, he asked urgently, “How could Cousin Jia have been bitten by an insect? Is Master Shi Hui’s medicine truly effective? I know a physician whose ancestors once served as imperial doctors. Should we invite him to take a look?”
His eyes, however, were fixed on Cheng Lu standing under the corridor.
Li Sheng’s lips moved, unsure of what to say.
Cheng Lu’s face turned ashen. Without even glancing at Li Jing, he merely scolded Li Sheng, “Why haven’t you driven him away yet? What kind of place is this? Can just anyone come here?”
Zhou Shaojin’s expression grew somewhat dazed.
She remembered someone telling her in her past life that the Li family was the wealthiest in Luoyang. Li Jing’s father was originally the clan heir but passed away when Li Jing was ten. He had engaged in open and covert struggles with his seven uncles, and it wasn’t until his grandfather died when he was twenty that he finally inherited the family estate and became the head of the Li family.
He was a formidable figure.
Not to mention the Luoyang prefect—even the Henan Provincial Administration Commissioner would show him some respect. He held considerable prestige throughout the Central Plains.
Would he storm off in anger after being humiliated like this by Uncle Lu?
Zhou Shaojin was deeply concerned.
A flicker of embarrassment flashed in Li Jing’s eyes, but there was no trace of resentment. Instead, he lowered his voice and said, “Uncle, I meant no harm. I was just worried about Cousin Jia. Since she’s fine, I’ll leave now. Please don’t be angry!”
Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes.
She saw Cheng Lu glare fiercely at Li Jing and say, “You’d better leave quickly!”
A hint of dejection appeared on Li Jing’s face. Silently, he bowed to Cheng Lu, then slowly turned and walked away.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t bear it. She softly instructed Chunwan, “Have Xiao Tan follow him. Arrange a place for Young Master Li to stay, wash up, and rest. I’ll inform him as soon as there’s any news here.”
Chunwan acknowledged and left.Due to Cheng Jia's incident, Ganquan Temple had stopped receiving outside guests since yesterday afternoon, let alone allowing overnight stays.
Li Jing had left a steward in Zhenjiang for Cheng Jia's use, and Cheng Jia was still ill. How could Li Jing feel at ease leaving?
But if he wanted to stay overnight, he would have to spend a large sum of money to bribe the temple's reception monk, and even then, he might not be given a spacious and bright guest room.
Li Jing had already sacrificed much for Cheng Jia in his previous life; in this life, she could help him a little if possible.
Zhou Shaojin went to report this to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo sighed but said nothing.
During breakfast, the guest room where the third branch was staying became noisy.
Zhou Shaojin heard Cheng Lu's furious voice: "...If you dare say such shameless words again, I’ll immediately have that scoundrel Li Jing sent to the authorities..." There was also the low, soothing voice of a woman like Madam Jiang, mixed with barely audible sobbing.
She couldn’t help but step outside.
Cheng Jia’s sharp voice rang out: "...I want to marry him! I want to marry him! If you have the guts, lock me up too! I’ll elope with him... even if he doesn’t want me, I’ll accept it... I just like him..."
Zhou Shaojin was so frightened her face turned pale.
How dare Cheng Jia say such things!
If anyone overheard, Cheng Jia’s reputation would be ruined.
She quickly glanced around and saw several maids and elderly servants avoiding the area, which made her sigh in relief.
But just as she finished sighing, a man’s deep voice came from behind her: "Cousin Zhou, thank you for today’s help!"
Caught off guard, Zhou Shaojin nearly screamed.
Fortunately, fearing she might disturb Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan, she held it back. She turned around, retreating several steps before she realized it was Li Jing speaking, and only then did she steady herself.
How terrifying to be startled like that!
She pressed a hand to her chest and said unhappily, "Master Li, isn’t it inappropriate for you to barge into the women’s quarters like this?"
She wouldn’t say anything harsher.
Moreover, though she had lived two lives, she had always stayed within the inner household and rarely interacted with outsiders, nor did she know how to deal with men outside the family.
Li Jing looked apologetic.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin calm down and couldn’t help but ask in confusion, "How did you get in?"
It seemed Li Jing had freshened up. Not only was he clean and tidy, but he had also changed into a sky-blue Hangzhou silk robe, looking neat, sharp, and capable.
Li Jing smiled modestly and said, "I told them I was a relative of the Cheng family and donated a sum of incense money to the temple, so they didn’t stop me."
These money-grubbing monks!
Zhou Shaojin cursed inwardly.
But Li Jing’s expression turned serious as he said, "I have a favor to ask of Cousin Zhou. I hope you can help me!"
As he spoke, he bowed deeply.
Zhou Shaojin sidestepped twice to avoid his bow and said warily, "What matter do you need from me, Master Li? I’m not sure if I can help..."
Li Jing quickly replied, "It’s nothing too complicated. I just wanted to ask Cousin Zhou to help me find out how Cousin Jia’s injuries are progressing. Is Monk Shihui’s medicine effective? Are there any precautions or aftereffects to watch out for?"
That’s simple.
Zhou Shaojin sighed in relief and couldn’t help glancing toward the room where Cheng Jia was resting. "What are your plans?" she asked.Li Jing listened, his gaze also falling on the side room where Cheng Jia was resting. After a moment's thought, he carefully said, "I actually deeply regret..."
What did this mean?
Could it be that he regretted meeting Cheng Jia?
Zhou Shaojin's expression turned displeased.
But Li Jing spoke with remorse, "That day, Cousin Jia asked me to take her away. I always felt there was still room for reconciliation, that things hadn't reached such a desperate point, so I firmly refused her... I even told her to trust me, that I would definitely find a way to make her parents agree... But I never imagined my decision would cause her such suffering... She must have truly run out of options, and seeing that I wouldn't agree, she secretly went to find me..."
Zhou Shaojin fell silent.
She believed Li Jing's deduction was correct.
Otherwise, when Cheng Jia was found, she wouldn't have had only her maid Cui Huan by her side. Moreover, they were hiding in a cave—if Cui Huan hadn't heard noises and called for help, they might never have been found.
Li Jing had heard the name Shaojin countless times from Cheng Jia's lips. He knew this slender, beautiful young girl before him was Cheng Jia's closest friend.
The reason he had refused to simply take Cheng Jia away was because he understood human nature better than she did. He didn't want Cheng Jia to suffer the agony of choosing between her parents and her future husband.
Yet in the end, Cheng Jia had still fallen into that very torment.
Now, Zhou Shaojin became crucially important—having lost her natal family, she couldn't afford to lose her relatives too. Especially Zhou Shaojin, who had grown up with Cheng Jia, and who had always stood by Cheng Jia's side. He needed to win her over.
Li Jing was a decisive man. He quickly composed himself and said solemnly, "Cousin Zhou, I've decided to take Cousin Jia away! That's why I asked you to inquire about her condition. If she's well enough, I plan to ask Monk Hui for a few more doses of medicine to carry with us. If she still needs rest to recover, then I'll wait a few more days... This time, no matter what, I will take her with me. I can't let her face her father's wrath alone. I bear responsibility in this matter too!"
Zhou Shaojin had vaguely guessed something from his tone earlier, but hearing it still shocked her. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "A bride taken with proper rites becomes a wife; one who elopes becomes a concubine! Have you considered this?"
Li Jing smiled proudly and said, "It's merely a marriage certificate! If the Jinling magistrate won't issue one, can't the Luoyang magistrate do it? If Nine Prosperities Lane won't give it, can't Apricot Grove Lane? And if that fails, there's still Twin Elms Lane!"
Apricot Grove Lane was where Cheng Jing lived.
Twin Elms Lane was where Cheng Shao lived.
It seemed Li Jing had long made his plans.
Remembering how well Li Jing had treated Cheng Jia in her past life, Zhou Shaojin finally allowed a faint smile to touch her lips. Softly, she said, "I'll go inquire for you. Wait for my news."
Li Jing bowed deeply to her once more.
Zhou Shaojin hurried back to the side room.
Old Madam Guo asked her, "How are things over there?"
Not wanting to deceive Old Madam Guo, Zhou Shaojin whispered, "I... I didn't go over. I ran into Li Jing in the courtyard. He asked me for a favor... I agreed, but I was afraid you'd be angry..."
Old Madam Guo chuckled, pointing to the embroidered stool opposite and signaling Biyu to serve Zhou Shaojin another half-bowl of plain congee. She said, "It's just about deciding to elope with Cheng Jia. What else could it be besides that?"
Zhou Shaojin was astonished.Old Madam Guo laughed, "I've seen plenty in my lifetime! Do whatever you want, don't worry about me! I've always disliked the third branch, let them stir up trouble on their own. If Li Jing has the means to bribe people at Ganquan Temple, he can also bribe those around Madam Li. Cheng Jia, fearing she might implicate you by eloping with Li Jing, has been ignoring you all along. I suspect this Li Jing will also find a way to keep you out of it. By helping them with a small favor, you won’t anger the third branch, and Cheng Jia will owe you a favor. This is a good thing!"
Zhou Shao widened his eyes and after a long while finally blurted out, "Madam, you are truly remarkable! I don’t think there’s anything in this world that can escape your notice."
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Dear brothers and sisters, here’s today’s bonus chapter.
The update will be around midnight.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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