Сhеng Gао wаs alreаdу mаrriеd, аnd Zhou Shaojin nо lоnger had аny eхсusе tо lingеr in thе Fourth Hоuse for long periods.
Тоdaу, Chеng Хu hаd lunсh in the оutеr соurtуard, аnd she had luckilу аvoidеd him. But what abоut tomorrоw? Or the dау аftеr?
Сhеng Хu was Old Маdam Guо’s lеgitimаte grаndson. It wаs his filiаl duty to visit hеr—hоw cоuld she possiblу stop him?
Evеn Оld Мadаm Guo, now advаnсеd in yеаrs аnd lоnging fоr hеr desсеndants tо gathеr around hеr, might evеntuаllу grow sоmеwhаt rеsentful if this went on fоr too long.
It truly seеmed she had rеachеd the роint wherе she had no choice but to leave.
After seeing off Cheng Gao and his wife, Zhou Shaojin noticed Madam Yuan seemed to have something to say to Old Madam Guo, so she rose and returned to Floating Emerald Pavilion.
Chunwan smiled and said, “Second Miss, you should take a nap now! Otherwise, you might be too tired when you go to Jia Shu Hall later.”
Since Cheng Gao and his wife were staying for lunch at Cold Green Mountain House, Old Madam Guo had sent someone to inform Old Madam Guan. In turn, Old Madam Guan invited Old Madam Guo to dine at Jia Shu Hall in the evening, explaining that the guests who had come earlier had gradually departed in the afternoon. She wanted to invite the members of the Eldest House to gather for the first meal after the new bride’s arrival.
Old Madam Guo happily agreed.
Zhou Shaojin would also be going along later.
How could she possibly sleep now? Sitting in the armchair by the window, she murmured, “I’ll weave a tassel for a while before resting.”
Chunwan couldn’t help asking, “Who is this tassel for? Is it needed urgently?”
Zhou Shaojin replied half-seriously, “It’s a fan tassel for Uncle Chi. Miss Nanping asked me to make it. I want to finish it quickly so I can start sewing small clothes for my nephew.”
Chunwan relaxed and smiled. “Shall I brew you a stronger cup of tea then?”
Zhou Shaojin agreed with a smile.
Xiao Tan walked in cheerfully and said, “Second Cousin Miss, Miss Cui Huan from Miss Jia’s side is here.”
What could she be here for?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this and asked Xiao Tan to bring her in.
Cui Huan curtsied to Zhou Shaojin and said, “Second Cousin Miss, our young lady asks you to go to Manfang Pavilion.”
Zhou Shaojin was surprised. “What for at Manfang Pavilion?”
It was a pavilion not far from Cold Green Mountain House, situated by the lake. In midsummer, standing there, one could see endless green leaves and lotus flowers standing tall. But now it was autumn, with withered flowers filling the lake and the wind carrying a chill.
Cui Huan smiled and said, “Our young lady said she’ll wait for you there, and then you can go together to Xingliu Garden.”
Xingliu Garden was Cheng Gao’s bridal chamber.
Zhou Shaojin smiled, tidying her things as she asked, “Does Madam Gao know your young lady is going?”
“Yes!” Cui Huan deftly stepped forward to help her pack the needlework. “The time was even set by Madam Gao. She said she was afraid it would be too late and interfere with dinner.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile, changed her clothes, and after a moment’s thought, instructed Chunwan to pack a few boxes of pastries for her. Then she followed Cui Huan toward Manfang Pavilion.
They headed west through a winding, secluded bamboo grove. After walking for about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Zhou Shaojin noticed several uniquely shaped Taihu stones appearing intermittently along the path.
She abruptly stopped.
In Jiangnan gardens, when such Taihu stones appeared beside a bamboo path, it usually meant that just ahead, one would encounter a stone forest or rockery made of Taihu stones.
Cui Huan looked at Zhou Shaojin, puzzled.
Zhou Shaojin asked, “Why did you think of taking this route?”
Cui Huan replied, “Master Zheng said this way is shorter!”
In an instant, Zhou Shaojin felt as if her breath had stopped.She paused for a moment before speaking softly, "Since it was Cousin Jia who invited me, why did Young Master Zheng get involved?"
Cui Huan smiled and replied, "I ran into Young Master Zheng as I was leaving. He had just returned from outside and said he had left some Chengxin paper in the study at the outer courtyard. He asked me to fetch it from the page there. But Miss Jia was waiting for me! I hesitated for a moment. Young Master Zheng then asked me what was wrong. I thought there was nothing improper about it, and I didn’t dare lie to him, so I told him. He pointed out this shortcut and told me to go quickly and return soon, then bring the Chengxin paper to Linglong Pavilion." As she spoke, a look of confusion crossed her face. "Second Cousin, is something wrong?"
Yes!
What was wrong?
Cheng Jia’s visit to Xingliu Garden had been a spur-of-the-moment decision with her. Cheng Jia had always been afraid of Old Madam Guo, so she had sent Cui Huan to invite her to meet at Manfang Pavilion. Cui Huan had unintentionally run into Cheng Zheng, who had pointed out a shortcut to her... Everything seemed so perfectly reasonable... If she hadn’t seen the Taihu stone beside the path, if she hadn’t seen this bamboo grove, if she didn’t have memories of her past life...
Zhou Shaojin stood amidst the rustling bamboo leaves, took a few deep breaths, and said firmly, "Lead the way."
Cui Huan replied, "Alright," though her expression remained doubtful.
Zhou Shaojin had no desire to say another word.
Some things were bound to happen, no matter what.
She couldn’t avoid them even if she tried!
But she was no longer the timid and weak Zhou Shaojin from her past life, the one who would blame herself first whenever something went wrong!
She whispered a few words to Chunwan.
Chunwan paled in shock.
Zhou Shaojin stared at her without a word, her clear, dark eyes as cold as distant stars.
Chunwan gritted her teeth, nodded firmly, and said, "Miss, don’t worry. I’ll go fetch it right away."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, watching as Chunwan left the bamboo grove.
After walking a few steps and noticing that Zhou Shaojin hadn’t followed, Cui Huan hurried back. Watching Chunwan’s disappearing figure, she couldn’t help but ask, "Second Cousin, what is this..."
"I remembered that the vest for Old Madam is ready, so I asked Chunwan to fetch it and bring it along," Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile, though her hands hidden in her sleeves were clenched tightly into fists.
She hoped she was wrong!
She hoped this was all just her imagination!
Zhou Shaojin lowered her eyelids.
As they waited for Chunwan, Cui Huan chatted idly with Zhou Shaojin. "Second Cousin, have you been doing embroidery again? Everyone praised the kang screen you embroidered for our miss last time. Second Cousin, why did you think of embroidering a kang screen for our miss? Do people in Luoyang sleep on kangs? Can’t they sleep on beds?"
She would be following Cheng Jia when she married, and she was even more anxious than Cheng Jia about what the Li family would be like.
Zhou Shaojin replied, "I’ve never been to Luoyang, so I don’t know what it’s like there. But I’ve heard that people north of the Yellow River sleep on kangs, though I’m not sure if it’s true. After you go with Cousin Jia, if you have time, you could write back and let the servants here see for themselves..."
As Cui Huan listened, she couldn’t help but wonder.
The weather was so cool, so why was Second Cousin sweating lightly on her forehead?
Just as she was about to ask, Chunwan came running back, panting heavily. "Second... Second Miss, I’ve fetched the vest!" As if afraid Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t believe her, she shook the vest in her hand for Zhou Shaojin to see.
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly.Cui Huan grew even more puzzled.
Why did Second Young Miss's smile seem so forced?
Could she be feeling unwell?
Cui Huan felt she ought to show some concern, but before she could speak, Zhou Shaojin had already stepped forward. "Let's not keep Cousin Jia waiting."
True enough!
Cheng Jia was impatient by nature and hated waiting most of all.
Cui Huan could only keep her thoughts to herself and hurried after Zhou Shaojin.
In no time, they caught sight of the Taihu rockery.
Moss-covered bluestone steps wound upward, dotted with swaying white wildflowers, full of rustic charm.
Zhou Shaojin’s face turned pale.
She still remembered how, in her past life, she had nearly slipped on the moss while walking up with Cheng Jia.
Had they reached that cave again?
Zhou Shaojin had never dared to dwell on the details.
Yet even now, a dull ache began to spread through her limbs.
She climbed step by step, each footfall feeling as though she were treading on knife blades—a torment as excruciating as death by a thousand cuts.
The cave was dark, and damp air rushed to meet them.
Someone was sitting on a bluestone slab near the cave entrance, clutching his chest and groaning.
The autumn afternoon sunlight was blocked by towering trees, making it possible only to discern the silhouette of a man.
Chunwan remained silent, her hands tightly clutching her handkerchief.
But Cui Huan, startled, rushed forward in a few quick strides. "Who’s there?" she demanded.
The man looked up, his handsome features faintly visible.
"It’s... it’s Master Xu!" Cui Huan breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to curtsy.
Cheng Xu, reeking of alcohol, sat there dazedly like a clay statue, showing no reaction.
Cui Huan took a few more steps closer and said gently, "Master Xu, why are you sitting here alone? Where are your attendants?"
Cheng Xu stared at her, his expression vacant.
Cui Huan sighed and turned to Zhou Shaojin. "Second Young Miss, Master Xu has had too much to drink. Perhaps he hid here to avoid embarrassing himself in front of the elders. Would you mind keeping an eye on him here? I’ll go find Huanxi."
For no apparent reason, Zhou Shaojin felt like laughing.
In her past life, she had done just that—foolishly walked over and even asked if he wanted her to fetch his personal servant... only for Cheng Xu to seize her in his arms... ignoring her tears, her pleas, her curses...
Then Cheng Jia returned, screaming... and soon, many people rushed in.
Only this time, it was Cui Huan who had led her here.
Zhou Shaojin found it bitterly amusing.
She slowly walked toward Cheng Xu.
Her heart felt as though it were submerged in ice water, chilled from within to her fingertips.
Cheng Xu grabbed her hand.
A wave of alcohol-laden breath washed over her.
Zhou Shaojin’s stomach churned, and she retched, vomiting on the spot.
"Second Young Miss!" Cui Huan, who hadn’t gone far, ran back in concern.
But before she could reach them, Cheng Xu had already pulled Zhou Shaojin toward him, muttering, "You’re Shaojin, I know, you’re Shaojin..."
Unlike in her past life, Zhou Shaojin wasn’t paralyzed with fear. Instead, she mustered all her strength and shoved him away in disgust.
Even so, her wrist remained tightly clamped in Cheng Xu’s grip, impossible to break free.
Chunwan rushed forward, placing herself between Cheng Xu and Zhou Shaojin.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin feel a searing pain in her wrist, as though it were being crushed.
Her eyes reddened instantly, and she hissed, "Cheng Xu, do you even know what you’re doing?"
Having lived two lives, this question had lingered in her heart for a long time, yet she had never found an answer.
Cheng Xu’s movements faltered.Someone burst in, throwing a punch straight at Cheng Xu's face and shouting, "Scum!"
Cheng Xu staggered backward but refused to let go of Zhou Shaojin's hand, nearly pulling her into his arms in the process.
The newcomer swiftly caught Zhou Shaojin in his embrace and kicked Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu let out a pained "Aiya!" as he clutched his chest, finally releasing Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin felt half her body go numb and instinctively nestled into the newcomer's arms, calling out, "Jiying."
※
Dear readers, here's today's update!
PS: Tomorrow, higher-ups will be coming for an inspection, so my schedule is unpredictable. The update will be posted around 11 PM, but I'll try to make it earlier if possible.
O(∩_∩)O~
Typos have been corrected. If any slipped through, please bear with me—I've proofread it twice.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel