Whеn Сhеng Сhi еntered thе Flоаting Еmеrald Paviliоn, hе saw the сourtyаrd fillеd with trunks аnd саsеs.
Standing benеath the camphor trее that rеmainеd lush аnd vеrdаnt, he suddеnlу fеlt it diffiсult tо breаthe.
After suсh аn incidеnt, it was neither аpprоpriatе in sеntimеnt nоr rеаsоn for Shaоjin tо cоntinuе stаying in Ninе Prоsрerities Lаnе.
Hе understood this рerfectlу wеll.
Yеt in the flоwer hall eаrliеr, hе had соnsidеrеd еvеry аsрeсt for hеr sake, but hаd not givеn this mаttеr the slightеst thоught.
In his viеw, Zhоu Shaojin was still уoung. Even if she sensеd something, given hеr timid and feаrful naturе, it wоuld takе some time before she mustered the courage to bring it up with him... Perhaps by the time she left, winter would have arrived.
But what he never expected was that she had almost immediately begun packing her belongings upon returning to Cold Green Mountain House.
Cheng Chi’s gaze fell upon the pot of black chrysanthemums that Zhou Shaojin had once placed in the corner but were now moved by the maids to the corridor beneath the eaves.
Shaojin clearly intended to take them with her!
She loved flowers and plants, cherished the old things she had used, and carried them wherever she went.
He recalled the scene when she had first moved into Floating Emerald Pavilion.
While watering the flowers, she would occasionally murmur to the camellias she had planted, "We’ve moved to a new place again—are you all getting used to it?"...
Cheng Chi’s eyes felt as though pierced by thousands of fine needles, a sharp, stinging pain.
Shaojin truly resembled duckweed, drifting from Fragrant Garden Residence to Floating Emerald Pavilion, from Floating Emerald Pavilion to Flat Bridge Street, from Flat Bridge Street to Baoding Prefecture... Perhaps nowhere had ever truly been her home!
That was why she only kept flowers in pots and never planted trees in the courtyard.
Perhaps it was for the best.
After all, Zhou Dacheng was her father.
Hadn’t someone once said that where one’s parents are, there is home?
Returning to her father’s side, she could at least have something resembling a home.
Cheng Chi left Floating Emerald Pavilion as silently as he had come and went to the main quarters.
Cheng Xu had already fallen asleep. Old Madam Guo sat with her eyes closed by his bedside, reciting scriptures for him.
Hearing the movement, Old Madam Guo opened her eyes and, unsurprised, softly said, "You’re back," before rising to her feet.
Cheng Chi stepped forward to support Old Madam Guo, and the two sat together in the resting chamber. After the maids served tea and refreshments and withdrew, Old Madam Guo finally asked, "Have you settled matters outside?"
"All settled," Cheng Chi replied softly. "I set a few small traps to sow suspicion and unease between the second and third branches. I’ll deal with them when the time comes."
Though his gaze remained clear and his demeanor gentle, there was an inexplicable sense of despondency about him.
Old Madam Guo hesitated before asking, "Zi Chuan, are you very displeased with Jiashan?"
Otherwise, why would he have allowed Jiying to beat Jiashan?
Cheng Chi neither confirmed nor denied it, lazily saying, "Don’t concern yourself with Jiying’s matter. If Sister-in-Law asks, just say I’ve already sold her off. That should shut her up."
Old Madam Guo nodded, deciding not to press the issue further. She said, "Shaojin wants to return to Baoding Prefecture..."
Cheng Chi’s movements stiffened slightly. "I heard earlier that Liao Shaotang wishes to study in the capital. I’ll write a letter to Second Uncle, asking him to guide Liao Shaotang. Then I’ll see if there are any good manors to buy and register under Zhou Shaojin’s name."Old Madam Guo listened and let out a long sigh. "It's our Cheng family who has wronged her. Please help look after her a bit more!" she said, then shifted the topic with a melancholy expression. "What was the final decision regarding Jiashan's matter?"
Cheng Chi replied, "What else could be said—Jiashan was drugged and lost his senses. He mistook Jiying for Shaojin and tried to drag Jiying to you. Jiying thought Jiashan was taking advantage of his drunken state to harass her and accidentally struck him..."
He succinctly recounted the incident to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo immediately grasped Cheng Chi's train of thought and pondered, "Then the urgent matter to investigate is who drugged Jiashan? From the kitchen masters to the maids and servants serving tea and wine in the hall, everyone is a suspect... Why not take this opportunity to dismiss a group of people? Especially those around the Second Branch's Old Ancestor—they've served for too long and have inevitably become somewhat slick. Although such people are convenient to use, they also love to bully others under the guise of authority, corrupting the atmosphere in the courtyard. I think when Cheng Shi's servant got involved, the Second Branch shouldn't object."
This way, they could take the chance to place people in each branch.
Cheng Chi clearly showed no interest in these matters and said, "You arrange it as you see fit."
After the mother and son talked for a while, Cheng Chi went in to check on the sleeping Cheng Xu before returning to the Listening Oriole Pavilion.
After practicing calligraphy for a while, it was time to rest.
But he felt no sleepiness at all, so he simply took out a chess manual and set up an endgame, playing left hand against right hand for a long time. Only when Huaishan came in to urge him did he reluctantly go to bed after lingering a while longer.
The next day, after breakfast, while Cheng Chi was discussing matters of the Thirteen Guilds with Qin Ziping, Qing Feng came in to report, "Fourth Master, Steward Ma from the Zhou residence has come, wishing to take Second Miss back to Flat Bridge Street to stay for a few days."
Cheng Chi straightened his sleeves.
Huaishan was greatly startled.
Whenever Cheng Chi made such a gesture, it was a sign that he was in a very bad mood.
He couldn't help but advise, "Fourth Master, regarding the cave incident, Young Master Xu was too reckless. You should just speak to him properly. As for Second Miss Zhou, who suffered such great injustice, why not compensate her?"
Cheng Chi listened, glancing at him with a half-smile. "According to you, how should we compensate Second Miss?"
Huaishan felt his scalp tingle. In his haste, he didn't have time to think carefully and said, "Madam Zhou of Baoding is Second Miss's stepmother. I've heard that stepmothers and stepchildren are natural enemies—even if they appear affectionate, it's only superficial. I think you should let Jiying accompany Second Miss. First, it gives Jiying a place to stay; second, Second Miss will have a companion; third, if Madam Zhou treats Second Miss disrespectfully, Jiying can help shield her for a while. At most, in two years, Second Miss should be married, and then Jiying can return to Cangzhou, her mission accomplished."
Cheng Chi stroked his chin, actually giving serious thought to the matter.
Huaishan took the opportunity while Cheng Chi wasn't paying attention to wipe his forehead.
Qin Ziping, however, lowered his head with a somewhat dazed expression.
※
Zhou Shaojin went to bid farewell to Old Madam Guan, Madam Mian, and the newly married Madam Gao.Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian were both aware of the inside story. Each sighed and shed tears, pressing red envelopes into her hands, saying it was for her pocket money. They also urged her to send word when she had decided on the date to go to Baoding Prefecture, so they could see her off when the time came. Only Madam Gao was still unaware of what had happened. She thought it was truly just a case of Cheng Xu being drugged and taking liberties with Jiying, which Zhou Shaojin happened to witness. To spare the main branch any embarrassment, she had decided to go to Baoding Prefecture to visit Zhou Zhen.
She took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said with regret, “On the very first day I married into the family, your cousin Gao mentioned to me that I should treat you like my own younger sister. I remembered the jade-like, exquisite person I saw when the Cheng family came to deliver the betrothal gifts, and I already felt three parts fond of you. I was just thinking about how to get close to you properly, but who would have thought that before we even had a chance to speak properly, you’re already leaving for Baoding Prefecture…”
Zhou Shaojin comforted her, saying, “I just haven’t seen my father in a long time and want to spend the New Year with him. I’ll also take the opportunity to visit my sister in Zhenjiang.”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Guan hurriedly said, “Shao Jin, you’re going to see your sister? Help me bring some things to her!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed.
Old Madam Guan invited her to stay for lunch before leaving.
Zhou Shaojin politely declined, saying, “I’m only going back to stay for a few days. Who knows, I might come back to visit you in a few days!”
Old Madam Guan didn’t press her and personally saw her off to the corridor.
Madam Gao, on behalf of Old Madam Guan, escorted Zhou Shaojin out the door.
Old Madam Guan watched the two flower-like girls disappear into the greenery and sighed, “It’s all Cheng Jiashan’s fault!”
Madam Mian remained silent but thought to herself: If only we had kept Shaojin at Jia Shu Hall back then!
Zhou Shaojin returned to Floating Emerald Pavilion. The trunks were already mostly packed.
She stood on the steps of the main room, gazing toward the Oriole Listening Hall, hesitating for a long time. In the end, she decided to bid farewell to Cheng Chi.
Just this once!
She would take one last look at him!
From now on, she would keep him hidden in her heart.
If they ever had the chance to meet again, she would treat him like her own uncle. She would never let her thoughts wander again.
If they never had the chance to meet again, just remembering what kind of clothes Uncle Chi wore, what kind of incense he used, what he said to her, and what expression he had… would be enough for her to cherish for a lifetime!
Zhou Shaojin changed into a pink Hangzhou silk robe embroidered with plum blossoms, paired with an oil-green plain Xiang skirt. Over it, she wore a pink sheer gauze robe. She styled her hair into a bun and put on a pair of southern pearl earrings the size of mung beans before going to see Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi pointed at the sheer gauze robe she was wearing and asked, “Is this the fashionable style now?”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded. Thinking that she didn’t know when they would meet again and that she wouldn’t know if others would laugh at her for being embarrassed, she mustered her courage and asked, “Does it look good?”
“Not bad!” Cheng Chi glanced at it again and said, “It’s like being enveloped in a layer of mist. Quite nice.”
Zhou Shaojin pursed her lips and smiled.Cheng Chi then said, "You've come at the right time. When you return to Baoding for a short stay, we don’t know what Madam Li’s temperament is like. If she mistreats you, you’ll have no one to turn to. I originally intended to have Jiying accompany you to Baoding, but she performed exceptionally well this time, and I had already promised to let her return to Cangzhou. That leaves you without anyone reliable by your side... I’ll have Nanny Shang stay with you in Baoding for a while. In the future, if anything comes up, you can discuss it with her!"
"Nanny Shang?" Zhou Shaojin was taken aback and said, "But then won’t you be left without anyone to attend to you?"
"Isn’t there Huaishan and Nanping?" Cheng Chi replied nonchalantly. "Nanny Shang is older and can handle things with more authority. She’s more suitable than Jiying."
Zhou Shaojin lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
After all, Madam Li was her mother in name. Uncle Chi was afraid that Madam Li might treat her unfairly, and Jiying’s fiery temper wouldn’t be enough to manage the situation. That’s why he was sending Nanny Shang to accompany her to Baoding, wasn’t it?
Why was Uncle Chi so good to her?
It made her feel both heartbroken and distressed...
Seeing her lowered head and seemingly unhappy expression, Cheng Chi couldn’t help but walk from behind the desk to stand before her, speaking gently, "What’s wrong? Do you want Jiying to accompany you back? How about I send Xiao Tan with you to Baoding as well? With her by your side, you’ll have someone to talk to..."
※
Dear friends, here is today’s update.
Corrected typos.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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