Оld Маdam Guo wаs ехtrеmеly surprised.
Zhоu Shаojin then rеalized thаt Ма Fushаn hаd сome аt an inopportune timе.
Shе feаred thаt bоth Оld Мadаm Guо аnd Unсlе Chi wоuld mistakenly think hе hаd cоme to baсk her up.
Zhоu Shaojin hurriеdlу ехрlаinеd, "I callеd him hеre. I оriginаllу wantеd him to dеlivеr some things tо Вaоding."
It was probаbly someоnе сlosе to Shaojin whо, fеаring she might suffеr а lоss, hаd dеlibеratеlу sent wоrd.
But Оld Madаm Guo nо lоngеr had thе hеаrt tо dwell on such mаtters.
After all, it was thеir fault in the first plаce. Сould it bе thаt Shaоjin was only allowed to passively endure the blows?
Old Madam Guo said kindly, "Go ahead! See what Ma Fushan needs from you."
She knew she couldn’t hide it from the old madam.
Zhou Shaojin flushed slightly with embarrassment and left the main room of Cold Green Mountain House to meet Ma Fushan.
Ma Fushan had not come alone; he had brought several strong, burly men with him. However, they all remained outside Cold Green Mountain House. As he put it, "We’re not here to fight with the Cheng family. We just want to ensure the Second Young Lady isn’t forcibly detained."
When he saw her, he unabashedly looked her up and down, as if afraid she had lost even a single strand of hair.
If her father didn’t value her, why would Ma Fushan treat her this way?
Zhou Shaojin’s nose tingled with emotion, and she felt an even stronger urge to go to Baoding—out of sight, out of mind. Here, she saw Uncle Chi every day and listened as Old Madam Guo and Madam Yuan discussed arranging a marriage for him. Each day felt like being slowly cut by a dull knife, the pain piercing her heart, yet she couldn’t even cry out in agony.
She said to Ma Fushan, "With Uncle Chi here, I’ll be fine. It’s just that there are some things I can’t explain clearly to Father. Please help me write a letter to him, saying I want to spend the New Year in Baoding. Come pick me up first thing tomorrow morning. Regardless of how Father replies, I can’t stay in Nine Prosperities Lane any longer."
Cheng Xu was recuperating in Old Madam Guo’s green gauze cabinet.
Ma Fushan nodded and said, "I understand. I’ll come for the Second Young Lady first thing tomorrow morning."
Just as Zhou Shaojin was about to see him out, Chunwan rushed in like a gust of wind.
"Second Young Lady, Second Young Lady!" she gasped, her eyes shining like stars in the sky. "Fourth Master is truly formidable! With just a few words, he turned it into Young Master Xu having been drugged, acting recklessly and disrespectfully toward Miss Jiying..."
"Ah!" Both Zhou Shaojin and Ma Fushan were greatly startled. Zhou Shaojin exclaimed, "What happened to Miss Jiying? Was she punished? What exactly did Uncle Chi say? Tell me quickly."
Shifting the blame onto a servant girl was naturally the best possible outcome.
Ma Fushan stayed as well, standing at the door to listen as Chunwan recounted what had happened in the flower hall: "...Huanxi and Da Su were both summoned. Before any questioning, they were each given ten strokes of the rod. Da Su was fine, but Huanxi couldn’t even stand and had to be supported by servants during the questioning." Perhaps recalling the gruesome scene, Chunwan’s face turned pale. "Huanxi and Da Su both swore that Young Master Xu had never taken anything like Five Minerals Powder. Then, Fourth Master Cheng Mian, who had been sent to search Duojia Xuan, returned and reported that no such substance was found in Young Master Xu’s room... Now, everyone is speculating about who drugged Young Master Xu, and no one is paying attention to the Second Young Lady’s matter anymore. Fourth Master let me return, telling me to stay home these next few days and not go anywhere. If needed, I might be summoned again for questioning!"
A faint smile curled at the corners of Zhou Shaojin’s lips.She knew that with Uncle Chi there, she would surely be unharmed.
"What about Jiying?" Zhou Shaojin asked. "Was she released too? Didn't she leave with you?"
After Uncle Chi framed her like that, she must be furious!
Chunwan's smile instantly vanished. "Fourth Master said that Young Master Xu was beaten by Miss Jiying. Although Young Master Xu is a grown man, there is still a distinction between superior and subordinate. Miss Jiying is to be detained for now. She will be dealt with after Young Master Xu's matter is fully investigated!"
Zhou Shaojin grew anxious.
Jiying had gone there because she called her over.
If she hadn't summoned Jiying, this wouldn't have happened to her.
"Do you know where she's being held?" Zhou Shaojin asked.
Tears welled up in Chunwan's eyes. "I don't know. After questioning, she was taken away by Uncle Huaishan. I only learned she was detained from Qing Feng. I was in a hurry to bring the news to you, Second Miss, so I didn't ask for details. I thought I'd find Qing Feng and inquire more after the gathering in the flower hall disperses."
"Go now!" Zhou Shaojin said urgently. "If nothing unexpected happens, we'll return to Flat Bridge Street first thing tomorrow morning. But how can we leave if Jiying's situation isn't resolved?"
Chunwan also didn't want to stay in Nine Prosperities Lane anymore.
Before, it was because Second Miss was young, naive and unaware, needing guidance and care. Now that Second Miss conducts herself properly and with discipline, the Zhou ancestral residence only has servants—Second Miss would be the highest authority there, how free she would be!
She nodded repeatedly and dashed off.
Ma Fushan couldn't help but sigh. "This time, we owe it all to Fourth Master Chi! If not for him, even if nothing happened to Second Miss, just being summoned by the Cheng elders for questioning in the flower hall would have sparked endless gossip if word got out. This kindness must be made known to the Master."
"Naturally!" Regardless of what might happen later, Zhou Shaojin hoped her father could maintain good relations with Cheng Chi.
Both of these men were very important to her.
After seeing off Ma Fushan, Chunwan still hadn't returned. She instructed Bitao and the others to pack their belongings.
Although what happened in the cave hadn't yet spread like wildfire through Nine Prosperities Lane, all the maids and matrons of some standing in the main branch already knew.
Xiao Tan peeked in at the door, asking sadly, "Second Cousin Miss, are you leaving?"
Zhou Shaojin was momentarily dazed, then walked over and gently embraced Xiao Tan's shoulders.
Ever since she started visiting Cold Green Mountain House, Xiao Tan had been serving by her side. After she moved in, Xiao Tan was even assigned to her room.
Xiao Tan was not only clever and quick-witted but also lively and cheerful, handling matters with proper method.
Now that she was leaving, she felt reluctant to part with all those who had served her closely.
But no feast in this world lasts forever.
She had Bitao wrap twenty taels of silver and two pure gold hairpins for Biyu, and ten taels of silver with two gilt hairpins for Feicui: "I might not be in Jinling City when they marry, so consider this my early contribution to their dowries."
Bitao took the items and left.
Zhou Shaojin also distributed some of her old clothes as rewards. For someone like Xiao Tan, she gave gold and silver jewelry.
Floating Emerald Pavilion suddenly fell into silence, tinged with the sorrow of parting.
Cui Huan accompanied Cheng Jia over.
Zhou Shaojin rewarded Cui Huan with ten taels of silver, a pair of pure gold shrimp-whisker bracelets, and a pair of southern pearl hairpins.Cheng Jia blushed with shame. Clutching Zhou Shaojin's hand, she repeatedly assured her, "I will definitely find my elder brother and ask him clearly—how could he suddenly order Cui Huan to take on that duty? I waited for you at Manfang Pavilion for a long time but never saw you. If Cui Huan hadn’t come to find me, I wouldn’t have known such a thing had happened... How is Cousin Xu? Was he badly beaten? Otherwise, Jiying probably won’t get off lightly!"
Zhou Shaojin thought of Cheng Jia, who had died young in her previous life.
She felt that some things need not be known by Cheng Jia.
It was enough for her alone to bear these unpleasant matters.
"Uncle Chi is already investigating," Zhou Shaojin comforted her. "Don’t add to the chaos and ruin the bond between siblings for no reason. Just focus on preparing for your wedding peacefully."
Cheng Jia tightly grasped Zhou Shaojin’s hand, feeling a heavy weight in her heart.
According to Cui Huan’s account, her brother was definitely involved in the matter.
But the thought of investigating her own brother, who had always shielded her and treated her like a treasure since childhood... made her heart ache unbearably.
Cheng Jia dared not investigate.
Zhou Shaojin’s words lifted a burden from her, yet her guilt only deepened instead of lessening.
She said petulantly, "Shaoji, you must wait until after I’m married before going to Baoding Prefecture. Otherwise, it means you’re blaming me."
Only in this way did she feel that the bond between her and Shaojin remained unchanged, and her heart felt slightly better.
Zhou Shaojin placated her, smiling and nodding without saying anything.
Given how Cheng Zheng had treated her, while she didn’t seek revenge, she couldn’t simply attend Cheng Jia’s wedding as if nothing had happened.
She would decide later!
If she was still in Jinling City, she would see Cheng Jia off; if she wasn’t... then she would consider it fate that they couldn’t meet.
Zhou Shaojin let out a long sigh. After chatting with Cheng Jia for a long while and repeatedly assuring her that she held no grudge, Cheng Jia finally left, supported by Cui Huan.
At lantern-lighting time, Chunwan returned.
With a lighthearted expression, she told Zhou Shaojin, "Miss Jiying is confined to her own side room, guarded by two young maids. It seems Fourth Master is just putting on a show."
Zhou Shaojin felt relieved and asked, "Can we visit her?"
"No!" Chunwan said regretfully. "It’s said Fourth Master ordered Miss Jiying to reflect in her room."
Zhou Shaojin instructed Chunwan, "Before we leave tomorrow, let’s make some pastries to send to her and bid her farewell."
Chunwan nodded sadly.
The two of them packed the trunks together.
Madam Fan Liu entered quietly and whispered to them, "I heard from Qi’er that Third House’s Elder Brother Zheng discovered the drug was put in the tea. During that time, only the servant of Second House’s Elder Brother Shi and those serving tea in the hall had entered the tea room. Elder Brother Shi’s servant claimed he was only following orders to fetch hot water for Elder Brother Shi’s wife, but her attendants couldn’t recall whether he had delivered the hot water—there were too many people that day... Fourth Master Chi said that since the matter couldn’t be clarified, it should be set aside for now. He also mentioned that such drugs aren’t cheap and are likely used more in places like brothels, so it might be better to start investigating from those places. They’ll wait for results before proceeding.
"It’s said Second House’s eldest young master turned pale and flushed upon hearing this, repeatedly explaining himself to Fourth Master Chi.""Fourth Master Chi not only did not scold him, but also comforted him, saying: Even someone like Master Xu was ambushed, let alone someone like Master Shi, who has long been known for his talent! He told Master Shi not to worry, as the pure will remain pure and the impure will remain impure.
"Master Shi was so grateful that he knelt down to kowtow to Fourth Master.
"However, Master Zheng's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, as if he were too tired, or perhaps out of jealousy. But when Master Shi stood up, he smiled, and quite warmly at that, with none of the stiffness from earlier!"
Uncle Chi's move was brilliant!
Revealing half and keeping half.
Let the second and third branches guess.
Occasionally, they’ll even feel a pang of anxiety.
That’s the best kind of torment.
Zhou Shaojin trusted Cheng Chi even more.
※
Dear sisters and brothers, this is the first extra update for April’s pink ticket ranking.
The update will be around midnight tonight.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel