Whаt kind оf sсеne was this? Zhоu Shаоjin fеlt sоmewhat bewildеrеd.
First, she had bеen scrutinizеd bу еvеrуоne beсause of Cheng Xu, thеn shе was сallеd bу Сhеng Xu tо thе Сhаngсhun Pаvilion to fetсh thаt ghost-buttоn seal, follоwed by bеing told that Сhеng Lu hаd bееn sреaking in a ** tоnе at thе асadеmy аbоut how theу wеre сhildhood sweеthearts who grеw uр tоgethеr, and now she hаd реrsonаllу hеаrd Раn Qing saу sоmething likе, "Is it morе benefiсial fоr Fаthеr to hаvе thе Zhоu family's seсond young lady оr the future matriаrch of thе Chеng fаmily?"... Shе felt as if her entire world had been turned upside down, as if she were living in an illusion, never quite understanding what was real and what was false...
Someone emerged from the nearby woods.
A crimson gold-woven robe, hair styled in two coiled buns neatly adorned with pearl flowers, a grain-sized red mole between the eyebrows, and a faint, enigmatic smile playing at the corners of the mouth.
Zhou Shaojin narrowed her eyes.
Wu Baozhang!
What was she doing here?
When had she arrived? What had she heard? Had she noticed her?
Zhou Shaojin pondered.
But Wu Baozhang deftly retreated back into the woods, hiding behind a large tree.
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback, yet out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cheng Xu and Pan Zhuo walking side by side.
How had Pan Zhuo ended up with Cheng Xu! She frowned slightly, hearing Cheng Xu’s voice drawing nearer as he asked Pan Zhuo, "Haven’t you seen the Zhou family’s second cousin?"
"Truly, I haven’t seen her!" Pan Zhuo frowned, his expression serious. "I just parted ways with my sister here. If the Zhou family’s second cousin had come by, I would surely have noticed!"
This was a straight pathway; anyone passing through would be seen.
"Could she have gotten lost?" Cheng Xu murmured, slowing his pace and looking around.
So Wu Baozhang was hiding from the two of them!
Pan Zhuo and Pan Qing’s words swirled in Zhou Shaojin’s mind. Without a second thought, she instinctively hid behind a thick, broad tree.
Suddenly, a loud shout echoed through the air: "Who’s hiding there?"
Zhou Shaojin, always timid, was instantly terrified out of her wits, her legs going weak, unable to move for a long moment.
Light footsteps approached her ears.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly.
If she were dragged out, what should she say?
She stealthily glanced over and saw Cheng Xu walking sternly toward the woods, while Pan Zhuo stood in the pathway, looking puzzled as he asked Cheng Xu, "What’s the matter?"
"Someone is hiding in the woods," Cheng Xu said gravely, his brow carrying a severity Zhou Shaojin had never seen before. Zhou Shaojin froze.
Wu Baozhang trembled as she emerged from the woods.
"Young Master Cheng, it’s me!" she said, blushing deeply as she looked at Cheng Xu, shyly adding, "The Siyi Tower was too noisy, and I had a headache. I didn’t want to spoil the elders’ mood, so I thought I’d find some quiet here alone. I didn’t expect to run into you and Young Master Pan... I originally intended to avoid you..."
What a perfect excuse!
Zhou Shaojin almost applauded for Wu Baozhang.
If it were her, she might not have been able to come up with such an excuse.
She thought Cheng Xu would show mercy and let Wu Baozhang go, but instead, Cheng Xu slightly furrowed his brows, glanced toward the distant Siyi Tower, and smiled, asking, "And you are, miss?"
"Oh!" A flicker of panic flashed in Wu Baozhang’s eyes as she hurriedly replied, "My father is Wu Xiu, the prefect of Jinling. A few days ago, when I visited Madam Yuan at your residence, I passed by you briefly. You may not remember me, but I remember you!"Cheng Xu looked deeply at Wu Baozhang and said, "I never expected Miss Wu to have such a good memory. I only go to pay respects to my mother after finishing my studies at three quarters past the hour of You in the afternoon. For Miss Wu to have crossed paths with me—what a remarkable coincidence!"
Typically, guests who remained past three quarters past the hour of You in the afternoon would stay for dinner.
Cheng Xu’s words carried an implicit meaning—it was clear that Madam Yuan had not kept any guests that day.
Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised.
She had always thought Cheng Xu was merely a scholarly playboy, but she hadn’t expected him to be so observant, noticing the flaw in Wu Baozhang’s words!
What exactly was Wu Baozhang trying to do?
As Zhou Shaojin watched her, she felt as though old grudges were being compounded with new ones.
Exposed, Wu Baozhang showed no panic. Instead, she seemed to adopt a stance of "since things have come to this, you have no evidence to accuse me of lying." Calmly, she smiled and said, "Indeed! If we hadn’t left late that day, we wouldn’t have had the fortune of meeting you, young master."
Pan Zhuo, however, seemed to recall something, his expression turning unpleasant. He lowered his voice and asked, "When did Miss Wu leave the Siyi Pavilion? I didn’t see you just now."
Wu Baozhang smiled and replied, "I had just stepped out and hadn’t had a chance to look around when I ran into you two gentlemen. What an unfortunate coincidence!"
"Is that so?" Pan Zhuo eyed Wu Baozhang suspiciously, his gaze cold.
Wu Baozhang continued to smile warmly. "I wonder why Young Master Pan doubts me?" she said, feigning regret. "Had I known this would happen, I shouldn’t have avoided the two of you..."
Zhou Shaojin had no patience for Wu Baozhang’s nonsense. Lifting her skirt, she prepared to slip away quietly.
But as her foot landed, a crisp rustling sound echoed through the woods.
"Who’s there?" Cheng Xu shouted.
It’s over!
She’d been discovered!
Zhou Shaojin turned and ran.
"Cousin Shaojin!" came Cheng Xu’s voice from behind her, a mix of surprise and delight.
Panic surged in Zhou Shaojin’s heart.
Compared to being discovered by Cheng Xu, she was even more afraid of Wu Baozhang and Pan Zhuo finding out she had been eavesdropping.
Ahead, branches blocked her path, but as she pushed them aside, she saw a winding bluestone path beneath the green trees, passing right before her. In the distance, she could faintly hear the sound of flowing water and voices.
Without a second thought, she dashed toward the bluestone path.
Cheng Xu smiled bitterly, no longer caring about propriety. He hastily apologized to Pan Zhuo and hurried after her along the path.
Pan Zhuo paused briefly in thought, then followed as well.
Wu Baozhang stood there, hesitating, when she saw Da Su, Feicui, and Yuru rushing over.
Da Su and Yuru didn’t recognize Wu Baozhang, but Feicui remembered her and quickly asked, "Eldest Miss Wu, have you seen our young master?"
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Wu Baozhang’s eyes as she smiled and said, "Are you looking for the Zhou family’s second young lady or your young master? I saw your young master chasing after the Zhou family’s second young lady in that direction." She pointed toward the path.
Feicui’s expression remained unchanged, though inwardly she wished she could scold Cheng Xu a few times.
"Thank you for your concern, Eldest Miss Wu," she said with a smile. "We’re all looking for the Zhou family’s second young lady, and so is our young master."
"Oh?" Wu Baozhang replied with a meaningful smile. "What’s happened? Why is everyone looking for the Zhou family’s second young lady?"Feicui had no desire to engage with Wu Baozhang. She smiled and thanked her, then ignored her, walking up the bluestone path with Da Su and Yuru.
The further Zhou Shaojin ran, the louder the sound of flowing water grew, and the greater her hope became—no matter who was there, as long as she insisted she was lost, how could Cheng Xu forcibly send her back to the Siyi Pavilion in front of outsiders?
As she thought this, the view before her suddenly opened up.
Towering rocks rose in layers, and a clear spring cascaded down. A young Daoist acolyte of seven or eight, dressed in green robes, was collecting water there with a bamboo tube. Beside him stood a thatched pavilion, where three or four men sat on mats spread on the ground. Outside the pavilion stood a man in his thirties, gaunt and thin as withered bamboo, with his hands tucked into his sleeves. His eyes were half-closed, as if he were not fully awake, but when they opened, a cold, sharp gleam shot toward Zhou Shaojin.
Her heart trembled as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, her hands and feet turning cold.
Behind her came Cheng Xu’s slightly anxious voice: “Second Cousin!”
Ahead of her was a group of men who were clearly extraordinary strangers.
Zhou Shaojin panicked, glancing back, caught in a dilemma.
Then, someone in the pavilion waved to her: “Young lady, come here!”
She focused her gaze.
The man waving to her appeared to be only twenty-two or twenty-three years old. He wore a plain indigo-colored fine cotton Daoist robe, with fair and delicate skin, a smooth and full forehead, a straight and high nose bridge, and bright, warm eyes. His appearance was exceptionally handsome. While the others sat upright on mats edged with green scrolling grass patterns, he alone leaned casually against a large yellow cushion, one elbow propped up, his expression lazy and somewhat arrogantly unrestrained. Yet, his gentle demeanor prevented him from seeming unpleasant or offensive.
Zhou Shaojin hesitated.
The man had already spoken: “Do you know how to boil water?”
Only then did Zhou Shaojin notice a small red clay stove in the center of the pavilion, with a purple clay pot hanging from a handle above it. In front of each man was a small purple clay cup.
They were clearly here to drink tea.
“I know a little,” Zhou Shaojin replied modestly, unsure of these men’s backgrounds.
The man laughed and turned to a man in his thirties beside him, who wore a sapphire-blue Hangzhou silk robe embroidered with clustered flowers. “Bieyun, those who say they know a little are usually experts.” Then, he said to Zhou Shaojin, “Come and help us boil a pot of water!”
The others smiled kindly.
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes stung slightly.
Even if she looked like a maid, her clothing and appearance certainly did not resemble one. Yet, if this man had mistaken her for someone else… judging by his clear eyes, Zhou Shaojin did not believe it.
He had clearly heard Cheng Xu’s call and was helping her out of the situation!
Zhou Shaojin softly replied, “Yes,” and hurried over with her head lowered.
The spring splashed against the rocks, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate.
A faint scent of sandalwood drifted from the man’s robes, subtle yet distinct.
It was the treasure of the capital’s “Huoji” incense shop, called “Thus Have I Heard,” priced at thirty taels of silver per liang, with only one hundred liang sold each year—a rare commodity regardless of price.
Wearing a plain indigo-colored fine cotton robe yet using “Thus Have I Heard” incense—if he was not of extremely noble status, living freely without overstepping boundaries, then he was a scion of an aristocratic family deeply versed in the essence of living. Whether the former or the latter, this man was not to be underestimated.Zhou Shaojin knelt somewhat stiffly on the rush cushion placed beside the man in the indigo plain fine-cloth Daoist robe, who resembled withered bamboo in his thirties. Seeing they were drinking Iron Arhat tea, she carefully used the silver chopsticks carved with auspicious clouds to pick a piece of silver-frost charcoal from the smooth Xiangfei bamboo basket and placed it into the small red clay stove.
The water began to simmer softly.
Zhou Shaojin then heard the man called "Bieyun" say, "But even if Wan Tong is demoted to Jinling City as the garrison eunuch, he is the emperor's childhood companion—their bond is ultimately different. I fear he’ll be recalled to the capital in just a few days!"
Zhou Shaojin’s hand trembled, nearly dropping the silver chopsticks carved with auspicious clouds.
Yet everyone seemed not to notice.
The man beside "Bieyun" said, "This time, he’s implicated in factional struggles. Returning to the capital likely won’t be so easy. Besides, there’s still Wang Gang in the capital watching him like a hawk! I rather think Wan Tong would be fortunate to retire peacefully here. What I fear is that he may not even escape unscathed."
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Dear sisters, once again, I must clarify: in her past life, the female lead was merely a drifting figure like duckweed. Many things she simply did not know, or rather, given her social standing, she was entirely unaware of what was happening—including her affairs with Cheng Lu and Cheng Xu. These matters are not as straightforward as everyone imagines, so I urge you all to refrain from taking sides for now and just keep reading...
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