Сhеng Сhi wаs momentаrilу frоzеn in рlace.
Zhоu Shаojin had nеver beеn аblе tо disсеrn any еmotion from Cheng Chi's ехprеssion; hеr реrсeрtiоns аlwауs cаme from intuition. Sееing Chеng Chi looking аt her without sрeaking, аnd nоt арреаring to be in а bаd moоd, shе simрly sаid, "Unclе Сhi, then it's settlеd. Until thе mattеr with Xiao Zhеnhai is resolvеd, уоu'll staу at my homе."
Сhеng Chi nоddеd.
Zhоu Shаоjin rаn off сhеerfullу. Evеn after rеturning to hеr rооm, drinking two сuрs оf tеa, and sitting quietlу for the time it takes аn incense stiсk to burn, her hеart wаs still рounding.
Unсle Chi was dressed so formally today!
He was even wearing a jade belt.
The small seal hanging from it was made of chicken-blood stone, shaped like a pagoda, with openwork carvings of the Ruyi and Eight Treasures. It looked both extremely expensive and very beautiful.
Uncle Chi rarely dressed so opulently.
She wondered if he would actually stay.
Zhou Shaojin tossed and turned in bed for a while before remembering that Nanny Shang had gone to look for Uncle Chi and still hadn't returned.
But, if she couldn't find Uncle Chi, she would naturally come back.
Zhou Shaojin instructed Ruyi to wait by the gate for Nanny Shang and to bring her to see her as soon as she appeared.
Ruyi obediently agreed and left.
Mama Li, who served Madam Li, came over with a menu and respectfully said, "Madam asks the Second Young Lady to review the evening banquet menu, in case any dishes conflict with Fourth Master Cheng's dietary restrictions."
Zhou Shaojin carefully read through it, replaced two dishes she thought weren't very tasty, and then handed it back to Mama Li.
Mama Li smiled and said, "So Fourth Master Cheng is Grand Secretary Cheng's younger brother? How is he so young?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled slightly and replied, "He is the youngest son of the main branch. Old Madam Guo gave birth to Uncle Chi after she turned forty."
"Oh my!" Mama Li said enviously, "Old Madam Guo is truly blessed."
Zhou Shaojin smiled in agreement.
After tidying up the menu, Mama Li muttered, "Fourth Master Cheng is really handsome," before leaving the room.
Thinking of Cheng Chi's clear, bright eyes, Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but hug a large bolster pillow and giggle to herself.
Of course, Zhou Shaojin had no role to play during the evening banquet.
Zhou Zhen and Cheng Chi drank a little wine. They chatted about court gossip, historical anecdotes, and then each retired to their rooms.
Madam Li had been waiting for Zhou Zhen.
While helping him change clothes, she asked, "Is this Master Chi from the Cheng family easy to get along with?"
It wasn't possible to see Cheng Jing often, but if they could maintain close contact with his younger brother, some matters might be more effectively communicated to Cheng Jing through him.
Zhou Zhen had initially been warm and friendly toward Cheng Chi partly with this consideration. But seeing Cheng Chi's aloofness, he simply regarded him as an ordinary in-law.
"He is very learned," Zhou Zhen said, thinking of their earlier conversation. "A fine man. Just a bit aloof and reserved. However, he passed the imperial examination at a young age, so that's not unusual. It's just a pity he has to manage family affairs. Unfortunately, the main branch has few descendants, without even a capable nephew. Even if he wanted to pursue an official career, there's no one to entrust the family affairs to." At this point, he chuckled. "Other families complain about not having enough scholarly sons who succeed; it seems the main branch of Nine Prosperities Lane laments not having enough sons who don't study, to the point they can't even find someone to manage their affairs."
Madam Li smiled gently.Zhou Zhen, however, seemed lost in thought as he said, "But I think the eldest branch only has about twenty or thirty years of fortune left—among the three families, only Cheng Jiashan has emerged. It all depends on whether Jiashan can support the family. Meanwhile, the second branch already has two grandsons..."
Madam Li wasn’t concerned with these matters. She said, "Why hasn’t Fourth Master married? Others his age already have children starting their education. Do you think... could he have some hidden ailment?"
Zhou Zhen frowned and replied, "You should say less of such things in the future. Each family’s circumstances are different. Even Old Madam Guo doesn’t interfere, so as outsiders, we have even less right to comment."
Madam Li said unhappily, "But I’m only saying this to you in private, aren’t I?"
Zhou Zhen was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "Then let’s keep it just between us."
Madam Li agreed, beaming with delight.
※
Nanny Shang didn’t return until the second watch drum had sounded. Upon learning that Cheng Chi was staying overnight at the yamen, she was so shocked that her mouth hung open for a long while. The next day, before dawn had even broken, she went to wait in the courtyard of the guest quarters.
Cheng Chi made her stand outside for nearly an hour. Only when he was about to finish his breakfast and go greet Zhou Zhen did he finally allow Nanny Shang to enter.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Nanny Shang knelt silently before Cheng Chi and said softly, "The news was obtained by Second Miss. If I hadn’t gone, she wouldn’t have let it go." As she spoke, she extended her hand, revealing two ten-tael silver notes on her palm. "This was given by Second Miss, saying she was afraid I might need money..."
In the morning light, the creases on the two silver notes were clearly visible.
Cheng Chi’s heart suddenly felt as if it had been struck by something—numb, dull, and somewhat breathless.
He pressed a hand to his chest and took a deep breath.
His heart resumed its steady beat.
Cheng Chi said calmly, "You’re not unaware of the Xiao family’s affairs. Could Xiao Zhenhai harm me in the slightest? I asked you to stay with Second Miss precisely because I feared they might discover something and pose a threat to her. By acting this way, you’ve put the cart before the horse. For Second Miss’s sake, I’ll let it go this time. But if it happens again, I’ll have no choice but to replace you as her attendant."
"I’ll remember!" Nanny Shang bowed her head deeply.
"Go now," Cheng Chi said coldly. "Remember not to act on your own initiative next time."
"Yes!" Nanny Shang withdrew, her back drenched in sweat as if she had narrowly escaped death.
Seeing her state, Huaishan also breathed a sigh of relief and quietly comforted her, "It’s fine. Just stay by Second Cousin’s side and all will be well."
Nanny Shang returned to the side room.
Zhou Shaojin was waiting for her there.
Impatiently, she asked, "Did Uncle Chi scold you?"
"He did!" Nanny Shang took the opposite approach, sounding aggrieved. "He said I didn’t follow his orders and left you without permission. If anything were to happen to you, he’d replace me as your attendant."
Zhou Shaojin felt deeply guilty upon hearing this and said, "Then I’ll go talk to Uncle Chi."
"You’d better not tell Fourth Master," Nanny Shang stopped her. "If he misunderstands and thinks I’m complaining to you, he’ll dislike me even more. Just let me stay by your side. Fourth Master is measured in his actions; nothing will go wrong."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, though she didn’t entirely agree with Nanny Shang’s words.
Even tigers have moments of dozing off. What if—just what if—Uncle Chi were to be plotted against?She instructed Fan Qi to keep an eye on Cheng Chi: "If Fourth Master goes out, see if he returns every day? What time does he leave? When does he come back?"
Fan Qi smiled and replied, "Yes," then dashed off in a flash.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt a sense of pride and satisfaction.
Back in Nine Prosperities Lane, she had always been restrained in whatever she wanted to do. But now, in Baoding Prefecture, she could have Uncle Chi followed with just a single word.
Let’s see if Uncle Chi could still keep everything hidden from her.
With a smile in her eyes, she hummed an unknown tune while continuing her unfinished needlework.
Cheng Chi soon noticed something unusual.
Fan Qi simply began openly tailing Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi was both amused and exasperated.
This little girl, given an inch, she’d take a mile without even catching her breath, climbing right over his head.
Yet his heart had a mind of its own, softening so much it could drip with tenderness, making it impossible for him to get angry.
Cheng Chi instructed Huaishan: "We need to reach a decision on Xiao Zhenhai’s matter quickly. If it doesn’t work out, replace him with Xu Mu, the leader of the Golden Sand Gang."
Huaishan hesitated slightly and said, "Fourth Master, perhaps you should reconsider. Xiao Zhenhai is known as the 'Lord of Mengchang' in Northern Wuhan and holds great prestige in the martial world. Having him act on our behalf can both confuse the court’s attention and free us up to handle other matters. If we replace him with Xu Mu of the Golden Sand Gang, he’s too young. He might not comply, and if we want to use him, we’ll have to expend considerable effort..."
Xiao Zhenhai had the Xiao family in their hands, so he would act with caution.
Xu Mu was an orphan, with no one to worry about but himself, making him harder to control and less restrained.
Cheng Chi was well aware of this.
But he didn’t want Zhou Shaojin to continue tailing him like this.
He said, "Originally, I wanted to drag things out with Xiao Zhenhai for a few more days, but it seems that’s no longer possible. Go talk to him personally. If he submits and pledges allegiance, proceed as planned. If he continues to act arrogantly, thinking I won’t dare touch him, then we’ll replace him."
Seeing that Cheng Chi had made up his mind, Huaishan dared not advise further and respectfully acknowledged the order before leaving the guest room.
Fan Qi went to report to Zhou Shaojin: "Today, Fourth Master didn’t go out. He got up early in the morning, had breakfast, practiced calligraphy for a while, and then went to visit the master. I heard the master invited Fourth Master for lunch and even asked the kitchen to prepare lamb spine hotpot! But Uncle Huaishan and Steward Qin from Fourth Master’s side went out early in the morning. I don’t know what they were doing!"
There were many Steward Qins in the Cheng family.
Chief Steward Qin was Qin Shouyue, Steward Qin was Qin Shouyue’s son Qin Xiao, Big Steward Qin was Qin Zi’an, Little Steward Qin was Qin Ziping, and there were many other Steward Qins whom Zhou Shaojin wasn’t familiar with and hadn’t remembered.
Zhou Shaojin was on the heated brick bed with Zhou Youjin, playing a game of tossing a sandbag back and forth. Upon hearing this, her eyes darted around, and she was hit in the face by a sandbag thrown by Zhou Youjin.
Everyone was stunned.
Zhou Youjin’s wet nurse’s legs went weak, and she was about to kneel.
But Zhou Shaojin just giggled, picked up the sandbag, and tossed it at Zhou Youjin’s feet, making Zhou Youjin laugh heartily.
The servants in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Shaojin handed Zhou Youjin over to the wet nurse and called Nanny Shang in to ask: "...Sending Huaishan and Qin Ziping out—what do you think Uncle Chi is really up to?"
Some things were one thing to know, but another to say out loud.
Nanny Shang smiled and said, "I wouldn’t know about that. In the past, I was only responsible for Fourth Master’s meals and tea."
Zhou Shaojin didn’t believe it.But as soon as she thought that Uncle Chi wouldn’t go out and thus wouldn’t encounter that Xiao Zhenhai, she felt relieved again.
So when she heard that Zhou Zhen and Cheng Chi were going out to visit friends, she was quite pleased and eagerly asked who they were going to see.
Fan Qi smiled and said, “They said they’re going to visit the former Vice Minister of Justice, Lord Zhang, who has retired and is staying at home.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile.
Her father was an official of the court. With her father accompanying him, even if Xiao Zhenhai discovered Uncle Chi, he wouldn’t dare do anything.
Over the next few days, Cheng Chi continued to go out with Zhou Zhen to visit friends.
One moment it was Lord Qian’s house, another moment it was Lord Miao’s; after visiting others’ homes, they had to return the invitations. With all the back and forth, even Zhou Shaojin, who never went out, came to know which official families were in Baoding Prefecture.
※
Dear sisters and brothers, here’s today’s bonus update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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