Rеgаrdlеss оf thе actuаl situаtiоn, nоminаlly, Jiying was Сhеng Chi's maidsеrvant.
She hаd bеаtеn Сhеng Xu, and bеcause of Wu Baоzhаng's scrеams, thе Сhеng fаmily wоuld likеlу аrrivе soоn. Having aссomрlished her task, whаt reasоn did she havе tо stау?
Jiуing widеnеd her eуеs.
Huаishаn mаde а few mоrе gestures.
Jiуing jumрed uр in anger.
Zhou Shаojin was, aftеr аll, а relаtive by marriаgе оf the Сhеng fаmilу, аnd Сheng Хu wаs in the wrоng first. Evеn if someоne wаntеd tо harm hеr, thеу wоuld have to сonsider their reputаtion, wouldn't theу? Morеovеr, with Fоurth Mаster Cheng Chi—a formidable presence—around, there was no way Zhou Shaojin would suffer any disadvantage. What was the point of having her stay here to protect Zhou Shaojin? Could she possibly take on Madam Yuan or Old Madam Guo with her fists?
Jiying raised her hand, intending to gesture back at Huaishan, but just as her arm lifted, Zhou Shaojin's concerned voice reached her ears: "Jiying, what's wrong?"
Huaishan's expression darkened, his face stern as he made a gesture meaning "do not disobey orders."
Jiying's face flushed crimson. She took several deep breaths before saying, "I want to beat up that Cheng fellow." As she spoke, she clenched her fists.
Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Xu, whose face was covered in bruises, and quickly said, "His actions don't deserve death. If we continue beating him, it would be excessive. Please spare him!"
Even if Cheng Xu deserved to die, she couldn't drag the innocent Jiying into it!
Jiying’s face remained gloomy, and she stayed silent for a long while.
Noise and commotion grew louder outside the cave.
Chunwan fearfully wrapped her arms around Zhou Shaojin's shoulders.
"Don't be afraid!" Jiying reassured them. "With me here, no one will dare lay a finger on you!"
Though uneasy inside, Zhou Shaojin tried her best to appear calm.
She said, "Jiying, you should leave quickly! Even if you can't get away, hide near the entrance. If anyone asks, I'll say I was the one who did it."
Jiying looked at the delicate Zhou Shaojin, then at the tall and sturdy Cheng Xu, and couldn't help but laugh. "If you say you beat Cheng Xu, who would believe you?"
So that was why Cheng Chi wanted her to stay here?
But why didn't he consider what she should do if Madam Yuan went mad?
Both were women—was Zhou Shaojin a treasure while she was just a weed?
Jiying felt indignant and decided she would confront Cheng Chi about it when she saw him later.
To her surprise, Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "If I insist it was me, they can't detain and interrogate me, can they? Besides, Chunwan has already sent someone to notify Ma Fushan. I just need to hold my ground for a moment, and I'll be free. By then, the truth won't even matter..."
Jiying found Zhou Shaojin's reasoning sound and couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
If even Zhou Shaojin could think of this, there was no way Cheng Chi hadn't considered it.
He simply wanted her to be Zhou Shaojin's scapegoat, to lessen Old Madam Guo's displeasure toward Zhou Shaojin—after all, someone as delicate as Zhou Shaojin couldn't possibly have instigated the beating. Even if Zhou Shaojin had tried to stop her, with her frail appearance, could she have succeeded?
No wonder Huaishan had been squatting in the tree, watching her without uttering a word.
Perhaps her confinement at home these past days was also Cheng Chi's doing, just to ensure Zhou Shaojin could find her when needed... The more Jiying thought about it, the more convinced she became that Cheng Chi was full of cunning schemes, and she couldn't help but curse him again in her heart.She thought Zhou Shaojin was blind to revere Cheng Chi so much.
When her ten-year term was up and she regained her freedom, she would definitely expose Cheng Chi’s true face in front of Zhou Shaojin...
Seeing Jiying standing still, Zhou Shaojin grew extremely anxious and urged her to leave quickly.
But it was already too late.
The sound of chaotic footsteps approached the cave entrance. Wu Baozhang, wearing a terrified expression, shrieked, "Over there! Over there!"
The eldest young master of the second branch, Cheng Shi, was the first to enter, followed by the eldest young master of the third branch, Cheng Zheng, the second young master of the second branch, Cheng Yi... the elder master of the second branch, Cheng Yi, the elder master of the third branch, Cheng Lu... the eldest young master of the fifth branch, Cheng Nuo. The collateral relative of the fifth branch, Cheng Ju... and from the fourth branch, Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi...
The small cave was instantly packed to the brim.
Wu Baozhang and her maid were squeezed into a corner, out of sight.
Staring at Cheng Xu, who lay collapsed on the ground, Cheng Shi was stunned, his lips trembling slightly. He glanced at Cheng Zheng behind him but tightly shut his mouth.
Cheng Zheng kept his hands tucked in his sleeves and remained silent.
The elder masters all wore grim expressions and said nothing.
Only Cheng Nuo and Cheng Ju, who walked at the back of the crowd and were unaware of the severity of the situation, acted without restraint. One stood on tiptoe, craning his neck to look ahead, and curiously exclaimed, "What happened? Didn’t they say Cousin Xu drank too much? How did he end up here? Why is Second Cousin here instead of staying at Cold Green Mountain House to accompany the Old Lady?" The other, with lustful eyes glued to Zhou Shaojin, chimed in playfully, "Cousin Xu must have been so drunk he lost his way and stumbled here... I just wonder where Second Cousin was heading? How did she run into Cousin Xu? With Cousin Xu in this state, I wonder if he offended Second Cousin? Second Cousin is as delicate as a flower bud—she must have been terrified..."
If he continued, this matter would be framed in a certain light!
Cheng Lu felt both heartache and anger.
Heartache that the family had finally produced a top scholar, and anger that Cheng Xu was so disappointing—how could he have offended Zhou Shaojin...
"Shut up!" he couldn’t help but roar, glaring angrily in their direction. "The elders are all here. When is it your turn to speak?"
Cheng Ju shrank back, hiding behind Cheng Nuo.
Cheng Lu couldn’t be bothered with Cheng Ju.
He asked Zhou Shaojin, who stood beside Chunwan, in a gentle voice, "Niece Zhou, tell us, what exactly happened here?"
As he spoke, Cheng Lu anxiously signaled to Zhou Shaojin with his eyes, as if pleading with her to say a few good words for Cheng Xu, to downplay the matter and let it pass.
But Zhou Shaojin didn’t look at him.
Ever since this group of people entered, her gaze had been fixed firmly on Cheng Chi, who stood at the very back of the crowd.
He walked in as leisurely as if strolling through a courtyard, with Cheng Lu following not too far behind him.
Uncle Chi looked relaxed and at ease, while Cheng Lu’s expression was inscrutable, occasionally glancing at Cheng Chi walking ahead of him, a trace of barely concealed resentment flashing in his eyes.
Zhou Shaojin’s vision immediately blurred.
Uncle Chi must have kept Cheng Lu by his side because he was afraid Cheng Lu would harm her.
She knew it—Uncle Chi would never abandon her!
Zhou Shaojin murmured, "Uncle Chi."
As if he had heard her, Cheng Chi stood with his hands behind his back, nodded slightly, and smiled at her, as if saying, "Don’t be afraid, I’m here."Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt filled with courage, her gaze directly meeting Cheng Shi and the others.
Cheng Lu, not waiting for Zhou Shaojin’s response, raised his voice and asked again.
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
How could she speak of such a matter directly?
The words turned over three times in her mind before she felt they were appropriate.
Just as she was about to speak, Cheng Mian stepped forward with a stern expression, facing Cheng Lu and saying, “She is an unmarried young girl—what do you expect her to say?” After speaking, he turned around and kindly addressed Zhou Shaojin, “Were you frightened, Chunwan? Accompany your Second Miss to Jia Shu Hall and rest with Old Madam. We’ll discuss any matters when I return.” His attitude was entirely protective, as if saying, “If you have any issues, direct them at me.”
Cheng Chi frowned almost imperceptibly.
Cheng Yi, however, said unhappily, “Cousin Mian, your words are not quite right! Jiashan has been beaten like this, his life hanging in the balance, and only the Zhou family’s niece and her maid were in the cave… Shouldn’t we at least ask?”
“You!” Cheng Mian’s anger showed on his face. “What is there to ask? My niece was raised with strict family teachings, gentle and chaste, her virtues, appearance, skills, and speech all taught by my mother. Would she beat Jiashan for no reason? You have children of your own—how can you say such things? And you call yourself the head of the Cheng Clan School!”
Cheng Yi trembled with rage. “What do you mean by that, Cousin Mian? Are you saying I’m not qualified to be the head of the Cheng Clan School? Or do you intend to take over and want me to step aside?”
Seeing Cheng Yi twist his words, Cheng Mian glared angrily. “What does Cousin Lu mean? We are discussing Jiashan now—what does it have to do with who heads the Cheng Clan School…”
The two were on the verge of arguing when another clamor of footsteps sounded from outside.
Madam Yuan supported Old Madam Guo as they hurried in.
“What is going on here?” Old Madam Guo swept her gaze over the crowd, horrified to see Cheng Xu lying on the ground. She had just cried out in shock, “How could this happen?” when Madam Yuan released Old Madam Guo’s hand and threw herself over Cheng Xu. “Jiashan, Jiashan, how are you? It’s your mother! Who did this to you? Who was so cruel to beat you like this?” As she spoke, tears streaming down her face, she turned her head, her gaze sweeping over Cheng Shi and the others before finally settling on Cheng Shi.
Cheng Shi glanced toward Zhou Shaojin, his eyes full of implication.
Madam Yuan understood, her voice sharp as she demanded, “Was it you who injured Jiashan?” A flicker of confusion appeared in her gaze.
Zhou Shaojin replied honestly, “Although it was not done by me, it happened because of me. If you have any grievances, direct them at me…”
Before she could finish, Madam Yuan’s eyes flashed with ferocity, like a mother beast whose young had been harmed, as if she might leap and tear her apart the next moment.
Zhou Shaojin was so frightened she stumbled back two steps before steadying herself.
Involuntarily, she looked toward Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi smiled and nodded at her, his expression full of encouragement.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled completely!
Madam Yuan’s face showed cold disdain. “Direct them at you? Who do you think you are? If I direct them at you, can you bear it? Our Jiashan is this year’s top scholar…”
Memories from her past life surfaced in Zhou Shaojin’s mind, slowly overlapping with the Madam Yuan before her.Those sorrows and fears flooded her heart. Clenching her fists, she spoke loudly, "Is your son being a top scholar something to be so proud of? I am also the treasure of my parents—what right do you have to speak to me like this? When your son does something wrong, you don’t punish him, but instead only know how to blame others and shirk your own faults. So what if your son is a top scholar? If he doesn’t learn to take responsibility because of your influence, he’ll end up offending his colleagues because of you—having a mother like you is worse than having none at all!"
"Outrageous!" Madam Yuan was so furious she nearly fainted. Rising to her feet, she raised her hand to slap Zhou Shaojin. "How dare you speak to an elder like that? Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents!"
※
Dear readers, here is today’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Tomorrow’s update is tentatively scheduled for one chapter, around 8 p.m.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel