Сheng Chi lооkеd аt Zhоu Shaojin, whosе snоw-white faсe was buriеd in thе furrу hооd оf her saрphire-blue kesi cloаk еmbroidеred with fоur sрrауs of ruуi раttеrns, аnd cоuldn't help but smile.
Аftеr just a fеw days aрart, the littlе girl's brows and еуеs hаd rеlахed, revеаling a wоmаn's sоft beаuty.
Аftеr exсhаnging a fеw polite wоrds with Zhou Zhen, he аskеd Zhоu Shaоjin, "With such heavу snоw fаlling, what mаdе уоu think оf gоing to wоrshiр Buddhа?"
Zhou Shаojin stammеred, unаblе tо answеr.
Shе sееmed like a misсhievous child caught rеd-handed by аn adult.
Chеng Chi's smilе widеned аs he turned back to Zhou Zhen and said, "That's roughly how things stand. Lord Zhou is broad-minded, and Zi Chuan admires you greatly while feeling quite ashamed. After returning, I will certainly discipline Jiashan properly, so as not to disappoint.However, this is a good thing.
It shows that Shaojin is doing well in Nine Prosperities Lane.
Forget it, for his daughter's sake, he won't bother arguing with Cheng Zichuan over these matters.
Zhou Zhen called for Li Changgui with a smile. He instructed him to prepare a guest room for Cheng Zichuan and said, "Inform Madam as well, have her order a banquet from Yi Chun Restaurant. I'll have a few drinks with Zichuan today."
Zhou Shaojin quickly added, "Uncle Chi doesn't eat fish."
Li Changgui respectfully acknowledged and withdrew with a smile.
Zhou Zhen felt a bit frustrated.
Cheng Zichuan doesn't eat fish, but he does!
He invited Cheng Zichuan to his study for tea.
Before Cheng Chi could speak, Zhou Shaojin already chided playfully, "Father, really, Uncle Chi just arrived and has been talking with you for so long. Instead of letting him rest early, why insist on tea? Uncle Chi will be staying with us for a few days anyway—you'll have plenty of time to drink tea with him. Today, let Uncle Chi go to the guest room and rest quickly. Later, he still has to accompany you for drinks!"
She also wanted to tell Uncle Chi about Xiao Zhenhai!
Ignoring whatever Zhou Zhen might say, Zhou Shaojin pulled Cheng Chi outside, saying, "Uncle Chi, I'll accompany you to the guest room. I know where it is!"
She was very enthusiastic.
Cheng Chi couldn't help but smile.
The little girl was much livelier than when she was at Cold Green Mountain House, clearly showing that Zhou Zhen and Madam Li treated her very well. Sending her back was a very correct decision.
But before the smile fully faded from his eyes, Cheng Chi's expression turned serious.
He noticed Zhou Zhen's brows furrow almost imperceptibly.
Zhou Dacheng probably didn't like Shaojin treating him this way.
If he were Zhou Zhen, he likely wouldn't like it either.
Cheng Chi stood firmly in place, and Zhou Shaojin couldn't pull him along.
Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi, puzzled.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Shaoji, you just returned from the temple and must be tired too. Go back to your room and rest early. The servants can show me to the guest room."
"How could that be?" Zhou Shaojin replied with a bright smile. "This is Uncle Chi's first time visiting our home. How could we let you go to the guest room alone?" With that, she tried to pull him again.
Zhou Zhen, however, was displeased.
Although Shaojin had received care from the main branch while in Nine Prosperities Lane, and Cheng Zichuan had helped her out when Cheng Xu acted foolishly, he still didn't appreciate Shaojin's enthusiasm...
He snorted inwardly but kept his expression neutral, smiling as he said, "Zichuan, Shaojin is right. Treat this place as your own home. If you want anything to eat or drink, just tell Shaojin."
Cheng Chi naturally didn't insist further.
If he continued to refuse, it would only embarrass Shaojin.
Cheng Chi thanked him with a smile and followed Zhou Shaojin outside.
Chunwan and a few others followed, keeping a respectful distance.
Cheng Chi's gaze sharpened slightly as he asked Zhou Shaojin, "Why haven't I seen Nanny Shang?"
Zhou Shaojin gave Cheng Chi a meaningful look.
Cheng Chi didn't ask further and followed Zhou Shaojin to the guest room.
Guests staying in the prefect's yamen were either wealthy or noble, so the guest room was naturally decorated with elegance and refinement.
But none of this caught Cheng Chi's attention.
He asked Zhou Shaojin, "Where has Nanny Shang gone?"
Nanny Shang was assigned by him to protect Zhou Shaojin. Before her departure, he had even broken his usual habit and repeatedly reminded her never to let Zhou Shaojin leave her sight. Yet, she had allowed Zhou Shaojin to return home alone.
Zhou Shaojin happened to want to discuss this with him, so upon hearing his question, she explained the entire situation to Cheng Chi.Cheng Chi gazed intently at Zhou Shaojin, remaining silent for a long while.
He understood at a glance what the matter with Cheng Xu was all about.
However, if this matter were to be seriously pursued, the elder of the second branch would step in. A single statement like "The child doesn’t understand, it was just a joke between cousins" would resolve the issue.
Thus, it was inconvenient for him to intervene.
It should be Cheng Xu who explains the grievances between them.
If Cheng Xu couldn’t resolve it, it would prove he wasn’t qualified to be the heir of the Cheng family. Even if he were forced into the role, he would end up like the eldest master of the Liao family—unable to command respect and causing the Cheng family to splinter. Coupled with his own plans, the matter had been dragged out like this.
But Shaojin’s side couldn’t afford to wait.
Once he had mostly settled his affairs, the first thing he did was personally visit Zhou Zhen to explain the situation.
Zhou Zhen was a gentle and magnanimous man. Not only did he understand the first branch’s predicament, but he also generously forgave Cheng Xu. Of course, this was largely because Zhou Shaojin had emerged unscathed, and Zhou Zhen didn’t want her to face criticism.
Unexpectedly, he ran into Zhou Shaojin on his way out…
Perhaps he also wanted to see for himself whether Shaojin was doing well.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have lingered in conversation with Zhou Zhen for so long.
Now, seeing that she was doing well, his heart was filled with both relief and a touch of sorrow.
Shaojin was no longer the little girl living under the Cheng family’s roof. She had her own family now and would have her own life and friends. Nine Prosperities Lane would ultimately become nothing more than a memory for her—perhaps even an unpleasant one, thanks to Cheng Xu.
He asked Zhou Shaojin, "The eldest daughter of the Duke of Liangguo’s household has also married into the area. Have you met her yet?"
Zhu Zhu’s wedding had been delayed by a month due to complications at the Ministry of Rites.
If Shaojin had a good friend like Zhu Zhu in Baoding Prefecture to visit and share intimate conversations with, her days certainly wouldn’t feel dull.
But Zhou Shaojin stomped her foot impatiently, complaining, "Uncle Chi, we were talking about Xiao Zhenhai. How could you change the subject again?"
Her expression was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Cheng Chi laughed heartily and said, "How did I change the subject? What about Xiao Zhenhai? He’s nothing but a stray dog now—why should I worry? Instead, why haven’t you visited Miss Zhu?"
Was he really not worried about Xiao Zhenhai?
But back at Jiangbei Bridge, Uncle Chi had seemed quite tolerant of Xiao Zhenhai…
Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi suspiciously, trying to find any hint of a flaw in his expression.
Cheng Chi said, "Would I lie to you?"
"Of course you wouldn’t lie to me," Zhou Shaojin muttered softly. "You just wouldn’t tell me."
That was true!
Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh again.
He hadn’t told Zhou Shaojin about his own affairs, but he hadn’t avoided her either. She vaguely knew some things, and he was aware of that. Yet, despite knowing, she had restrained herself from asking him and had even subtly helped him conceal matters from others, quietly passing him information. This had taken him somewhat by surprise.
His gaze grew even gentler as he looked at her and said, "You really don’t need to worry about Xiao Zhenhai. I’ll handle it soon. If you don’t believe me, just ask Nanny Shang when she returns."
Zhou Shaojin muttered, "It’s not that I don’t believe you…"
But she couldn’t help worrying all the same!A flicker of melancholy passed through Zhou Shaojin's expression, but she quickly smiled and said, "Then, Uncle Chi, why don't you stay with us for a few more days? Could you leave only after you've finished dealing with Xiao Zhenhai's matters?"
Is this little girl trying to let me borrow Zhou Zhen's influence?
Gazing at her slender, willow-like figure, which seemed as if it could be blown away by the wind, Cheng Chi suddenly felt a complex mix of emotions.
Since he took charge of the Cheng family's affairs, this was the first time someone had wanted to protect him.
And it was a delicate little girl who couldn't even lift a chicken.
Was he really that weak?
Or rather, did he hold such importance in her heart?
※
The internet connection was lost, and I couldn’t figure out why. So, I proofread this chapter several times and believe there are no typos. I wonder if it’s truly error-free...
PS: A friend left a comment pointing out issues with Zhou Youjin's age and Zhou Chujin's due date. I went back and checked the outline carefully, and indeed, I made a mistake. Zhou Youjin should be one year and ten months old, and Zhou Chujin's due date should be in February next year. I’ve already corrected this in the text.
Thank you to these friends for pointing it out. If there are any other issues in the future, please continue to remind me so that "Jinling Spring" can have fewer errors and be written even better.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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