"I hаvе nо idеа еithеr!" Jiying rollеd hеr еуеs and said, "If I saw him lоsing his tеmper аnd didn't run, wouldn't I be а fооl? Yоu shоuld knоw, your Unсle Chi rarely gets аngrу! At lеast in аll thе уеars I'vе fоllоwеd him, I'vе nevеr seen him eхрlodе with rage like this—whеn he's angrу, he usuallу just sсhеmеs аgаinst оthers. Hе sаys lеtting еmоtions shоw on his fасe is toо muсh effоrt! That's why I сame herе tо hidе!"
In the рast, when Jiying rереatеdlу sаid "уоur Unсle Сhi," Zhоu Shaоjin had оnly felt рroud оr swееt. Now, hоwеvеr, shе felt uneasу.
She couldn't help but sаy, "What nonsеnse arе yоu tаlking? Unclе Chi isn't mine alone!"
"He certainly isn't yours alone," Jiying said indifferently, taking a bite of crispy candy. "But he treats you the best. I'm just trying everything I can... If you can't protect me, no one else can either, so I'm not losing anything; but what if you can protect me? Then I'd have found the right person!"
Zhou Shaojin was exasperated and suspicious. "Did you provoke Uncle Chi? Otherwise, why are you hiding?"
"If I had provoked your Uncle Chi, I'd probably have been thrown into some remote corner by now," Jiying said discontentedly. "Would I still be sitting here drinking tea and eating snacks with you? Why won't you believe that your Uncle Chi is no saint!"
Zhou Shaojin rarely bothered to argue with her.
Nor did she want to keep circling back to Cheng Chi with Jiying, so she changed the subject, asking where Jiying had been all these days.
Jiying remained lazy and sighed, "Just wandering around aimlessly! If only I could settle down like you someday."
That way, she could properly practice her swordsmanship.
Now, she was like those wandering performers, still carrying the title of Cheng Chi's maid when she went out, which annoyed her just thinking about it.
Seeing that Jiying didn't want to say more, Zhou Shaojin didn't press further. Instead, she showed Jiying the winter clothes Biyu had newly made.
Jiying also knew that Biyu was about to get married and asked, "Have you met that Zuo Xian? What's he like? You're the head maid by the old madam's side. Marrying you is like holding the Cheng family's golden rice bowl. Before you, did he ever get involved with other women..."
A barrage of questions made Biyu blush.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but laugh. "Why do you sound like Biyu's mother?"
Jiying said, "I've suffered myself, so I don't want others to be deceived."
Biyu didn't know about Jiying's affairs, but Zhou Shaojin did. However, Biyu had served the old madam for years and knew exactly what to ask and what not to ask. She blushed and thanked Jiying, saying softly, "Both our families have been the old madam's servants for generations. I have an older sister who married into the Zuo family long ago. He grew up under my sister's watch, and it was my sister who arranged the match..."
"Oh, so it's a childhood sweetheart story!" Jiying was very interested and wanted to ask more, but Nanny Shang arrived.
Everyone was a bit surprised.
Especially Zhou Shaojin, who thought Cheng Chi was looking for her.
To her surprise, Nanny Shang greeted Jiying with a smile and said to Zhou Shaojin, "I happened to have nothing to do. I heard Second Miss was at Biyu's place, so I came to join the fun. It's so hot—would you like me to help give Snowball a bath?"
Since the start of the dog days, Zhou Shaojin had been bathing Snowball every day. Occasionally, Nanny Shang would pass by and pet Snowball, but since she wasn't one of Zhou Shaojin's personal attendants, she had never bathed Snowball before.Zhou Shaojin immediately felt a bit embarrassed and said, "I've already given Snowball a bath." Then she pointed to the embroidered stool, "Everyone, please sit and talk!"
"No need, no need," Nanny Shang smiled. "You young ladies chat among yourselves. I'll go feed Second Young Miss's birds."
"The birds have been fed too," Zhou Shaojin replied.
Upon hearing this, Nanny Shang smiled and said, "Second Young Miss has been doing needlework at home these past few days. Would you like me to go to the market and get you some more embroidery thread or bright paper?"
"No need," Zhou Shaojin said, "There's still plenty of those things at home." But she wondered inwardly, why did Nanny Shang seem so determined to do something for her?
After thinking for a moment, she said, "If you have nothing else to do, perhaps you could help me pass a message to the flower room—remind them to take out the camellia I'm growing in the evening to let it enjoy the night breeze."
Nanny Shang happily went off.
Zhou Shaojin asked curiously, "What's going on with all of you? Is Uncle Chi's temper really that frightening?"
Jiying was already too tired to explain.
The three of them spent the afternoon idling in Biyu's room.
Old Madam Guo kept Old Madam Guan for dinner.
Cheng Chi did not come over but sent someone to convey his regards to Old Madam Guan.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help feeling disappointed.
She had thought she would run into Cheng Chi and find out how he was feeling now!
She wondered how Uncle Chi was doing now.
Worried inwardly, Zhou Shaojin helped Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan set the chopsticks.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said to her, "Your cousin Gao invited Madam Gu from the Gu family to be the full-fortune person, but Madam Gu is currently in mourning and won't be able to attend. Instead, we've invited the elder sister-in-law from the Shen family, the maiden family of Madam Shen, the second wife of the Gu family. Your grandmother feels that since Madam Gu helped out earlier, making your cousin Gao's wedding preparations go smoothly, and now that Madam Shen has agreed to step in, we should express our gratitude to the Gu family. It's said that you recently hosted a flower-viewing party at home, which several young ladies attended, and both guests and host enjoyed themselves thoroughly. She would like you to host again, inviting the young ladies from the Gu family who are out of mourning to come over for a day of fun, as a way of acknowledging Madam Gu's earlier assistance."
In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had attended several gatherings, but she had always been like a blade of grass in the crowd, not even worthy of being called a foil. Gradually, she came to dread such events and lost interest. However, the flower-viewing party she hosted this time was different—Zhu Zhu and the others not only shared her temperament but were also considerate of one another. Even the two young ladies from the Guo family had a wonderful time and were reluctant to leave, promising to attend Zhu Zhu's wedding with the adults when the time came.
Now that there was a chance to gather again, Zhou Shaojin happily agreed.
Old Madam Guan chuckled and said, "You'll have to put in more effort then."
This sounded overly polite, and based on Zhou Shaojin's understanding of Old Madam Guan, she felt the smile was somewhat forced.
Could it be that she was worried about cousin Gao's wedding not going smoothly?
She speculated but didn't dwell on it.
After all, when two families unite in marriage, it's normal for each to have their own thoughts. As long as they are willing to sit down and discuss things carefully, nothing is impossible.
After dinner, seeing Old Madam Guan off, Chief Steward Qin requested an audience.
He reported that a letter had arrived from Xinglin Hutong in the capital. Madam Yuan had already set off and was expected to return home around the thirteenth of August, in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Old Madam Guo nodded coldly and instructed Nanny Lu to have someone thoroughly clean the main courtyard of the eldest branch, Accumulated Truth Hall.Zhou Shaojin imperceptibly furrowed her brows.
With Madam Yuan's return coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, Cheng Xu was sure to come back.
Where could she hide then?
As the thought crossed her mind, her mood settled again.
Since Old Madam Guo had received the news, Uncle Chi must have too. Knowing she disliked seeing Cheng Xu, he would surely make arrangements!
Leaving the main quarters, she gazed at the pitch-dark Oriole Hall, hesitating for a long while before finally returning to Floating Emerald Pavilion. Early the next morning, she wrote an invitation and handed it to Chunwan, who took it along with Nanny Wang to the Gu residence on Plum Blossom Lane, setting the visit for two days later.
Drawing from her previous experience, Zhou Shaojin smoothly handled the preparations for the banquet and invited Jiying over to help.
Jiying was most interested in sampling the pastries prepared for the feast in the kitchen.
But Zhou Shaojin asked her, "Has Uncle Chi's mood improved at all?"
"Who knows!" Jiying replied carelessly. "He mostly wears a stern expression—I can't tell."
Zhou Shaojin gave her a displeased nudge.
Unfazed, Jiying said to the kitchen master, "These bowl cakes are delicious. Could you steam a few more for me to take back?"
The kitchen matron looked toward Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin gave a slight nod.
The kitchen matron agreed with a smile.
Jiying remarked, "It's only been a few days, and you're already in charge of the kitchen affairs."
"Starting with nonsense again." The two chatted idly as they left the kitchen.
When returning to Floating Emerald Pavilion that evening, Oriole Hall remained dark.
He wasn't seen during the evening meal either!
Had Uncle Chi gone out?
Pondering this, Zhou Shaojin thought of her early start the next day and resisted the urge to knock on Oriole Hall's door.
The following day, she entertained the young ladies of the Gu family at the Water Pavilion named "Cool Breeze Pavilion," also inviting the Guo family's Sixth and Seventh Misses.
The two Guo sisters were livelier than when last seen, with the Sixth Miss even asking somewhat shyly, "That comb in your hair is so beautiful—where did you buy it?"
Zhou Shaojin thought sourly, If you became my aunt by marriage to Uncle Chi, you'd have countless beautiful combs... Yet her expression remained unchanged as she smiled and said, "It was bought from Hangzhou Prefecture. If you like it, I can have someone bring back a set for you and your sister."
The one in her dressing case, however, had been bought for her by Uncle Chi—she would never give that to anyone!
"No need, no need," the Guo Sixth Miss said upon hearing it came from such a distant place, fearing to trouble others. She waved her hands repeatedly. "I was just asking, not meaning to buy."
Zhou Shaojin took the cue and dropped the matter of bringing combs for her.
Then Old Madam Guo, Old Madam Guan, and Madam Mian arrived.
The young ladies all stepped forward to pay their respects.
Old Madam Guo smilingly excused them from formalities and introduced the Gu and Guo young ladies to Old Madam Guan.
Old Madam Guan smiled kindly and gave each a meeting gift.
Madam Mian merely stood by supporting Old Madam Guan, her expression rather poor.
Thinking it might be due to Cheng Gao's marriage matters, Zhou Shaojin thoughtfully had a maid serve Madam Mian a bowl of crystal sugar lotus seed and white fungus soup after she sat down.
Madam Mian took the bowl, placed it on a nearby tea table, and gently patted Zhou Shaojin's hand, her eyes seeming to well up with tears.Zhou Shaojin was startled and quickly lowered her voice, "Aunt, what's wrong?" She then shielded Madam Mian with her body.
Madam Mian took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her eye, saying, "It's nothing, nothing. I only have two sons and have always longed for a thoughtful and sensible daughter like you."
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly, but her heart was in turmoil.
Could it be that the Cheng family was going to propose to her father?
But that didn’t seem right either?
Shouldn’t a marriage proposal be a joyous occasion? Why did Aunt look so sad and distressed?
※
Dear readers, here’s today’s update!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: There are typos; they’ll be fixed later.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel