Сhеng Хu, hоwеver, felt quitе аggriеvеd аnd said, "Grandmothеr, I wаsn't fooling аround. I truly hаvе sоmеthing tо аsk of my сousin, the second Zhou dаughtеr!" Hе was оriginаllу tаll and hаndsоmе, аnd with his sinсerе exprеssiоn, the Dоwager Duchеss of Liangguо couldn't hеlр but smilе аs shе sаid tо Old Mаdаm Guo, "Yоu саn't just scоld the сhild withоut hearing him оut first. Аt leаst listen to what hе has to saу."
Еvеry рarent dotеs оn thеir own сhild.
Оld Маdаm Guо beliеvеd Chеng Xu hаd his reasоns for асting this wаy. Вut rеgаrdlеss of the reаson, his behavior was sоmewhat reсkless. Rathеr than bеing сriticizеd by others, it was better for him to be reprimanded by his own elders, turning a big issue into a small one and resolving it quietly, so those who had complaints about Cheng Xu would have nothing more to say.
This was precisely why Old Madam Guo had scolded Cheng Xu in public—she was protecting him. Even if no one had spoken up for Cheng Xu, Old Madam Guo would have found an opportunity to let him explain his actions.
After all, they couldn't let Cheng Xu leave the guests with the impression of being frivolous, could they?
Now that the Dowager Duchess of Liangguo had taken the initiative to speak up for Cheng Xu, how could Old Madam Guo refuse?
But she was no inexperienced woman. Though inwardly pleased, she showed no sign of it on her face and said sternly, "Since the Dowager Duchess of Liangguo has pleaded for you, I will spare you punishment out of respect for her. What help do you need from your cousin, the second Zhou daughter?" Cheng Xu awkwardly replied, "We were guessing riddles and accidentally dropped the reclining deer seal belonging to Cousin Gu into that Ruyao vase, and now we can't get it out. We tried a few young maids and servants, but none could manage it, so I thought of my cousin, the second Zhou daughter..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin's heart raced, feeling that Cheng Xu wasn't telling the truth.
The reason Cousin Gu's reclining deer seal had fallen into the vase was surely related to Cheng Xu.
But without evidence, she couldn't even voice her objections.
Everyone's gaze once again fell upon Zhou Shaojin. Several ladies seated by the pearl curtains in the corridor laughed, and one young woman in her prime, wearing a bright red robe embroidered with butterflies and flowers, remarked, "How clever of you to think of it! This young lady has wrists as fair as snow and as slender as willow branches—she truly would be a great help."
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Zhou Shaojin's wrists.
Blushing, Zhou Shaojin hid behind Zhou Chujin, tucking her hands into her sleeves.
Several of the older ladies, however, were more concerned with other matters. For instance, the Dowager Duchess of Liangguo, upon hearing this, grew serious and asked Cheng Xu, "The reclining deer seal—wasn't that bestowed upon Old Master Gu by Emperor Taizong in the Golden Hall?"
Cheng Xu hung his head in shame and softly replied, "Yes." "You children, how could you be so bold!" The Dowager Duchess of Liangguo stamped her foot anxiously. "That's an imperial gift, one of the Gu family's heirlooms. How could you gamble with it?"
Those who knew of the reclining deer seal nodded in agreement, while those who didn't looked somewhat bewildered.Seated beside the young woman in the bright red robe embroidered with butterflies and flowers was another young woman of similar age, dressed in a sapphire-blue robe woven with a landscape pattern. Her skin was snow-white, her eyes large and almond-shaped, and her demeanor gentle and graceful. Seeing that some did not understand, she softly explained, "When the realm was first pacified, Emperor Taizong sought to recruit talented scholars. The Jiangnan Circuit recommended Old Master Gu to serve in the Eastern Palace and teach the Crown Prince the Analects. The Duke of Liangguo visited his humble abode three times but failed to meet him. Emperor Taizong had no choice but to issue a special decree summoning Old Master Gu to the capital. As a commoner, Old Master Gu answered the emperor’s questions in the Golden Luan Hall. Since the founding of our dynasty, he remains the first and only person to have done so. The reclining deer seal knob, the hundred-beast inkstone, and the landscape brush washer were the three treasures bestowed by Emperor Taizong at that time."
The room immediately buzzed as if filled with thousands of bees, the hum of conversation ceaseless.
The young woman in the sapphire-blue robe woven with a landscape pattern paid no attention to this and asked Old Madam Guo with a smile, "The Ru ware vase—could it be the one called 'Beauty Under the Moon'?"
Old Madam Guo looked toward Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu nodded slightly and murmured, "If it weren’t for that 'Beauty Under the Moon,' I would have smashed it long ago..."
Someone then asked, "Madam Gao, what is the story behind this?"
It turned out this young woman was the wife of Gaoyao, the prefect of Zhenjiang.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but glance at Madam Gao.
Madam Gao smiled and said, "There’s no particular story behind this vase. It’s simply called by that name, and I liked it so much that I remembered it."
Some smiled faintly, while others said, "So that’s how it is!"
But Zhou Shaojin felt that this vase couldn’t be as simple as Madam Gao made it sound. Otherwise, how would Madam Gao have known its name?
A sense of foreboding crept into her heart.
The reclining deer seal knob was priceless, and this vase also had an extraordinary origin—it couldn’t be smashed... No matter how she looked at it, she had no choice but to go with Cheng Xu!
But if she gave in so easily, how would this be any different from her previous life?
Zhou Shaojin’s mind raced, and she quickly came up with an idea.
"Old Madam!" She took a deep breath, stepped forward with a smile, and bowed to Old Madam Guo. "Since that’s the case, why not ask Cousin Xu to bring the vase here? I’ll try it right here."
Old Madam Guo was slightly taken aback, and the expressions of Madam Gao and a few others grew subtly complex.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart sank. She knew she had said something wrong but had no time to figure out what it was. Old Madam Guo had already said, "The play is about to begin, and it’s chaotic here. Why don’t you go with your Cousin Xu?" As she spoke, she instructed Feicui beside her, "Accompany Second Miss. If the reclining deer seal knob still can’t be retrieved, just smash the vase."
Cheng Xu was stunned and exclaimed, "Grandmother..."
But Old Madam Guo waved her hand at him and said, "Since this happened in the Cheng household, the Cheng family must take responsibility. Say no more and do as I say."
"Old Madam’s righteousness is commendable!" The room buzzed with conversation once again.
But Zhou Shaojin noticed Madam Gao hesitating, her expression pained and reluctant.
This only confirmed her suspicion that the vase was anything but ordinary.
Yet no matter how extraordinary the vase was, since Old Madam Guo had given the order, if the reclining deer seal knob truly couldn’t be retrieved, she wouldn’t linger a moment longer—what did it matter what happened to the vase?
With her mind made up, Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed.Zhou Chujin, who had always doted on her younger sister, sensed Zhou Shaojin's unease. She smiled and said, "Shall I accompany my sister? She's still young—what if she gets clumsy and breaks something?"
Cheng Jia immediately jumped in, saying, "I'll go too. If Shaojin can't manage, I can help."
Everyone glanced at her wrists.
They looked as smooth and flawless as mutton-fat jade, round and unblemished.
Someone burst into a snicker.
Cheng Jia's face flushed bright red.
Madam Jiang quickly intervened, "Jia'er, don't be ridiculous! Shaojin is going to help your cousin Xu, not to play around. Don't cause trouble!" As she spoke, she pulled Cheng Jia aside, clearly worried she might continue making a scene, and added to Zhou Chujin, "You shouldn’t go either. With Miss Feicui accompanying her, what is there to worry about?"
Old Madam Guo, however, thought Zhou Chujin was afraid that if the reclining deer knob seal couldn’t be retrieved and the vase ended up broken, Zhou Shaojin would be blamed. Zhou Chujin’s behavior seemed to doubt her integrity. Slightly displeased, she echoed Madam Jiang’s words, saying to Zhou Chujin, "Don’t worry, I keep my word."
Zhou Chujin, sharp as she was, naturally understood the implication behind Old Madam Guo’s words. She couldn’t insist further and could only smile, saying, "Then I’ll stay here and keep Cousin Jia company." But still uneasy, she whispered to Zhou Shaojin, "Be careful."
If looks could wound, Cheng Jia would already have been scarred seven or eight times over.
Zhou Shaojin barely held back from rolling her eyes at Cheng Jia.
Why hadn’t she realized before that Cheng Jia was such a troublemaker?
Fuming inwardly, Zhou Shaojin followed Cheng Xu downstairs.
Cheng Xu led the way properly, even walking ahead as if afraid she might be nervous, and explained along the way, "We didn’t expect things to turn out like this. Cousin Gu still doesn’t know the knob seal can’t be retrieved. So I asked Da Su to wait for us at Everlasting Spring Hall with the vase."
Zhou Shaojin had no idea where Everlasting Spring Hall was but didn’t plan to ask, simply following Cheng Xu in silence.
Cheng Xu, however, was talkative. "Everlasting Spring Hall isn’t far from Four Seasons Tower, just before Listening to Pine Winds Pavilion, east of Three Branches Pavilion..."
Zhou Shaojin had always had a poor sense of direction. His explanation only confused her further.
She remained silent.
Cheng Xu, walking ahead, didn’t notice at all and continued, "Do you know Three Branches Pavilion? It was once the meditation retreat of our Cheng family’s ancestor. It’s filled with blooming flowers, murmuring streams, and lush trees—a truly beautiful sight. Especially in front of the stream, under the bodhi tree, there’s a bluestone as tall as a person that reflects the shadow of a seated figure. Everyone says it’s where our ancestor meditated and attained enlightenment. Would you like to see it?"
He eagerly introduced the place but received no response. When he turned around, he saw Zhou Shaojin expressionless, keeping her gaze straight ahead and following far behind him, unsure if she had even heard him.
Cheng Xu felt utterly disheartened.
But as they left Four Seasons Tower, his spirits lifted again. He smiled and stood on the pathway, waiting for Zhou Shaojin to catch up.
Seeing him stop, Zhou Shaojin stopped as well.
After waiting for a long time without her approaching, Cheng Xu finally understood her intention. He widened his eyes in disbelief and said, "Why are you staying so far away? Am I going to eat you or something?"
Shameless scoundrel!
Can’t even speak properly.Zhou Shaojin silently grumbled to herself, not even glancing at Cheng Xu as she turned to Feicui and said, "Though I am young, I still understand the boundaries between men and women. This distance is best."
Feicui was already eighteen; if she hadn't recognized Cheng Xu's intentions before, she was now absolutely certain.
How dare she get involved?
She mumbled a few vague sounds, unclear to anyone what she actually said.
Cheng Xu, however, was so angry he couldn't speak, flicking his sleeve as he stormed off.
Zhou Shaojin followed unhurriedly behind him.
Around them, green trees blocked the sun, casting deep shadows on the ground, with occasional crisp chirps of birds breaking the silence.
Cheng Xu's emotions gradually calmed.
Why couldn't he let go of Zhou Shaojin?
Aside from her beauty, there was also... how she treated only those she liked with unwavering kindness and sincerity!
Like her sister, like Cheng Jia, like Old Madam Guan, and Cheng Yi, Cheng Gao... she was always gentle, patient, and compliant.
They had never known each other; it was he who had forcibly called her out. Any respectable person would have found his behavior frivolous, so how could he expect her to give him a pleasant look?
Thinking this way, he felt his earlier behavior had been too rude and petty.
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A Monday that makes one weep, endless meetings, endless tasks...
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