The nехt day аt noon, Zhоu Сhujin sеnt Zhоu Shаоjin to delivеr a letter to Cheng Сhi.
Zhоu Shaоjin held thе lеttеr withоut moving, hеr еуеs dаrting arоund as she said, "If уоu tell mе what Uncle Сhi discussed with уou yеstеrdау, I'll gо dеlivеr the lettеr tо him."
Evеr sinсе Chеng Chi lеft уesterdау, she hаd been pеstering her sister fоr аnswеrs, but her sistеr remained unmоvеd, kеeрing hеr liрs sеаlеd.
"You'rе аctuаlly bаrgaining with me!" Zhоu Chujin lаughеd аnd reасhеd оut to pinch Zhоu Shaojin's nose, saуing, "You don't want tо go, do уou? Тhеn I'll just send Сhixiang instead! It's just delivering a letter anyway. If you go, it's only to show our respect for Uncle Chi..."
How could Zhou Shaojin pass up an opportunity to see Cheng Chi and even speak with him!
She tilted her head to avoid her sister's hand, pouting and muttering, "Fine, I'll go! How could you be like this, sister? If you flatten my nose, just wait and see how much I'll cry!"
"I've only heard of noses getting flattened from collisions, never from pinching," Zhou Chujin laughed uncontrollably, saying, "Who told you to talk so much just for delivering a letter?"
Zhou Shaojin simply wanted to know.
She vaguely felt that this matter was related to her.
Otherwise, Uncle Chi wouldn't have gone to see her sister.
She clung to Zhou Chujin's arm with childlike affection, repeatedly calling out, "Sister!"
Seeing that the timing was about right and fearing that holding back any longer might backfire, Zhou Chujin pretended to be helpless and said, "It's about Cheng Lu. Your Uncle Chi told me not to tell you. You can go ask him yourself."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin's eyes lit up, and she said, "So Uncle Chi was the one who dealt with Cheng Lu's matter?"
Zhou Chujin smiled and nodded, hinting meaningfully, "Your Uncle Chi did it all for your sake. You must be more obedient in front of him from now on!"
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a beaming smile, chirping happily, "I'm already very obedient. How much more obedient do you want me to be? Not fighting back when hit, not talking back when scolded?"
Seeing Zhou Shaojin's demeanor, Zhou Chujin knew that Cheng Chi must dote on her immensely. That was why she wasn't the least bit afraid of this uncle who managed the affairs of Nine Prosperities Lane.
"That works too!" she joked with her sister, "When Uncle Chi hits or scolds you, you'll have to endure it and not come back crying."
"Are you really my sister?" Zhou Shaojin pretended to be angry and pushed her sister, then giggled and ran out of the inner room.
When Madam Li entered with a bowl of crucian carp soup, she only heard Zhou Shaojin's cheerful laughter echoing through the air.
She couldn't help but smile as well and asked, "What happened? Why is Second Miss so happy?"
Zhou Chujin couldn't hide her joy, pursing her lips into a smile as she replied, "It's nothing. I just joked with her a little!"
It wasn't the time to talk about Zhou Shaojin yet. Once her sister returned later, she would find out how things turned out.
She took the large bowl from Madam Li's hands and said with a smile, "You've worked hard these past few days. Once my confinement period is over in a couple of days, I can handle some things on my own, and you can take a break!"
Thinking about her sister marrying into a good family, Zhou Chujin's expression softened considerably.
Madam Li was overwhelmed by the gesture and repeatedly said, "I wouldn't dare."Zhou Shaojin returned to her room and changed into a moon-white robe of Hangzhou silk with a hidden diamond pattern, paired with a rose-red Xiang skirt embroidered with jade hairpin flowers and border designs. She gathered her jet-black hair into a tilted bun, securing it with only a comb inlaid with southern pearls. This made her face appear even more fair and delicate. She wrapped the 108-bead sandalwood prayer beads around her wrist, glanced at herself in the mirror, and then stepped out of the rear chamber with a smile in her eyes. She boarded the sedan chair.
This time, Cheng Chi was indeed waiting for her in the reception room. However, as soon as she handed him the letter, Old Master Song arrived.
Zhou Shaojin pouted.
Cheng Chi smiled wryly and said, "Old Master Song has serious business with me—the Emperor has summoned ministers these past few days to discuss flood control for the Yellow River. The old master came to me to help draft a flood control plan. I originally thought Grand Secretary Song would use it, but who knew he would include my name in the memorial when submitting it to the palace? My elder brother was also present at the time. You can imagine the scene. Yesterday, my brother summoned me and gave me a stern scolding. Early this morning, a message also arrived from Shuangyu Hutong, asking me to go over... I was just about to discuss with Old Master Song how to handle this matter."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin no longer had time to be upset and hurriedly said, "Then please invite Old Master Song in quickly?" She then asked with concern, "Will the Second Old Master punish you?"
"I don’t know," Cheng Chi replied. "Yesterday, my brother was too busy scolding me, and I was too busy being angry. I didn’t even ask what the ministers discussed during the summons. We’ll have to see if Old Master Song knows anything. In any case, this matter is quite troublesome!"
Zhou Shaojin gazed at him with a smile, like a kitten that had secretly eaten fish.
Cheng Chi’s heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing," Zhou Shaojin said, but she couldn’t help voicing her thoughts. "If the Emperor were to appoint you as an official because of this, how wonderful that would be! Then, even the ancestors of the second branch wouldn’t be able to stop you."
So that’s what the little girl was thinking!
Cheng Chi chuckled and said, "Do you really want me to become an official that much?"
"Of course!" Zhou Shaojin was delighted by Cheng Chi’s opportunity, her eyes filled with laughter. "Once you become an official, the ancestors of the second branch won’t be able to control you anymore. You’ll be free to do whatever you want!"
Cheng Chi was taken aback.
Qing Feng rushed in and said, "Old Master Song and Young Master Song Mu are here!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin wanted to excuse herself.
But to the east was Cheng Chi’s inner chamber, and to the west was the hall, where Old Master Song and Young Master Song Mu would enter... Should she hide in Uncle Chi’s inner chamber? That would be even worse than not excusing herself at all!
Thinking this, Zhou Shaojin shot Cheng Chi a glare, looking as if she were saying, "Hurry up and think of a solution for me."
Seeing her raise her face with a spoiled expression, Cheng Chi couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth. He said gently, "It’s fine. You know Old Master Song too. When you came to see me last time, Old Master Song heard it was you and even asked if you had grown taller. He wanted to meet you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Old Master Song and Song Mu walked in.
Seeing the delicate and graceful Zhou Shaojin before him, Old Master Song’s eyes lit up, and he smiled, saying, "Is this the second daughter of the Zhou family? It’s only been two years, and you’ve grown so beautiful! If I hadn’t met you here, I wouldn’t have recognized you!"
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to step forward and pay her respects to Old Master Song.The more Old Master Song looked at her, the more he liked her. Pointing at Song Mu, he said, "This is your Brother Song. Though he doesn't understand river engineering, he's quite good with numbers. I specifically brought him here for your Uncle Chi to give him some guidance. From now on, you two should get along like brother and sister."
Zhou Shaojin stepped forward to greet Song Mu, casually glancing at him. Seeing Song Mu with his eyes cast down, focused and proper, she felt slightly relieved and took a favorable impression of him.
Old Master Song hesitated for a moment, then said to Cheng Chi, "I have something to discuss with you. How about letting the second Zhou girl fulfill her duties as hostess and take our rather wooden eldest grandson for a stroll in the courtyard?"
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin immediately agreed.
Uncle Chi had serious matters to discuss with Old Master Song. Since there were no women managing household affairs in his residence, it was only natural for her, as his niece, to help Uncle Chi entertain the guests.
Cheng Chi smiled at her and said softly, "Go ahead."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin felt surprised.
Why did Uncle Chi's tone sound so sorrowful... as if it were a permanent farewell...
Meanwhile, Song Mu murmured his thanks to Zhou Shaojin and waited nearby for her to lead the way.
She had no choice but to suppress her surprise and walk out with Song Mu.
In the mid-spring courtyard, the plants were lush and verdant, brimming with greenery.
Zhou Shaojin smiled generously and said, "The old master asked me to show you around, but truthfully, I'm not very familiar with Uncle Chi's residence either. Old Master Song and Uncle Chi likely just found us in the way and casually sent us off. Why don't you, Young Master Song, take a seat under the grape arbor? Once Old Master Song and Uncle Chi finish their conversation, we can go back inside to attend to them."
A man and a woman, both past the age of sharing a seat. Old Master Song could act freely without overstepping boundaries, but she couldn't simply stroll around the courtyard with Song Mu as Old Master Song had suggested.
Her approach was just right.
Song Mu greatly admired her, finding her gentle yet decisive, unlike his cousin from the Wang family. Whenever she saw him, she would rush over without a care, disregarding all propriety and dragging him into her boudoir. Even among sisters, there was constant rivalry—one day one would fall into the water, the next another would develop a rash on her face from using scented powder... And his eldest uncle was insatiably greedy. Every time he saw Song Mu or his father, he would complain about how some family, though far less capable in business than him, had become a royal merchant through connections and made a fortune. Or how another family had secured a major deal because some high-ranking official put in a word. His words were always filled with blame toward Song Mu's father for not helping him... This was why Song Mu absolutely refused to marry his Wang cousin, and why his father hesitated after learning of his decision.
Song Mu thanked her warmly and sat down at the stone table under the grape arbor.
Zhou Shaojin asked Chunwan to help the servants from Yuqian Lane prepare tea and snacks, while she herself stood at a moderate distance outside the grape arbor.
Seeing this, Song Mu quickly stood up and said, "Miss, please sit here! I was just thinking of taking a look at what fish are kept in the fishbowl!" Without waiting for Zhou Shaojin to respond, he walked directly to the fishbowl on the opposite side, lowered his head, and pretended to observe the fish.
Zhou Shaojin's impression of him improved even further. She quietly instructed a maid to bring a stool for him and placed some snacks on the nearby railing.
Peeking from inside the room, Old Master Song chuckled with satisfaction, pulling Cheng Chi over to watch. "What do you think? Isn't my grandson a good match for your niece?"Under the warm spring sun, the woman was gentle and lovely, the man elegant and tall. Though they stood apart, they resembled the golden boy and jade girl before a Bodhisattva—an indescribably well-matched and pleasing sight.
Cheng Chi felt a sharp pang in his heart, yet he smiled and said to Old Master Song, "Let’s go! We have important matters to discuss!"
Old Master Song glanced back with delight a few more times before heading with Cheng Chi to the study in the west wing.
The courtyard fell silent, without a sound.
Song Mu glanced at the maidservants attending in the yard.
Each stood with lowered eyes and obedient demeanor, quiet and composed, exuding the grace of a distinguished household.
Song Mu recalled the way the servants at his uncle’s home would whisper and gossip about him, and he shook his head inwardly, thinking how his grandfather truly had vision and insight.
But would the Second Miss of the Zhou family take a liking to him...
When Song Mu arrived, he had been full of confidence, but now he felt uncertain.
He decided to speak a few words with Zhou Shaojin, so that at the very least, she could get to know him better. Even if they were to become engaged later, the Second Miss of the Zhou family would at least marry him joyfully.
※
Dear readers, here’s today’s bonus update.
PS: You can read the update tomorrow morning!
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel