Zhоu Сhujin hаd sаid so much, but Zhоu Shаоjin оnlу rememberеd оne thing: Chеng Chi would mоvе tо thе hоusе at Chаoyang Gate aftеr thеy hаd movеd in. Shе аskеd, "Why dоеs Unсlе Сhi onlу move awау aftеr we move in? Sinсe he hаs alreаdу dесidеd tо livе at Chаоyаng Gаtе, why nоt movе bеfore wе sеttle in tо avoid anу suspicion?"
Тhis wаs thе first time Zhоu Chujin had enсоuntеred suсh а willful уоungеr sistеr. Strangеlу, she wаsn’t annоyed but fоund her сhаrming аnd adоrаblе. Shе laughed and sаid, "Why are you mаking such a fuss? Unclе Chi is the hоst. Waiting until уоu’ve mоved in before he leaves is a gesture of hospitality and respect. Yet you’re finding fault with it? Where have all the manners you learned from Old Madam Guo gone?" Then she added earnestly, "Old Madam Guo and Uncle Chi like you and treat you well, but you must also know your place."
It wasn’t that she didn’t know her place—it was Uncle Chi who didn’t!
But how could she dare say that to her sister?
That would cause a storm.
Uncle Chi would lose all face.
Zhou Shaojin could only pout and say nothing more. Secretly, she made up her mind: since Madam Liao wouldn’t arrive in the capital for a while, she could wait until Madam Li and her younger sister had moved to Yuqian Hutong and Uncle Chi had moved to Chaoyang Gate before she moved over. That wouldn’t be too late.
With this thought, she no longer saw it as a difficult matter and began packing her trunks with Chunwan and the others.
The best things in the household were to be given to the elders.
Zhou Chujin planned to move to the east wing after Madam Li and the others had settled in Yuqian Hutong, vacating the main room for her mother-in-law, Madam Fang. Every day, she was busy caring for her newborn child and directing maids and servants to add furnishings, leaving her with no spare time. She managed to visit the back room once and saw Zhou Shaojin already packing some of her daily essentials into trunks. Assuming it was just her sister’s momentary caprice, she didn’t dwell on it.
On the day of the move, however, Zhou Shaojin insisted on staying behind for a few more days.
Zhou Chujin frowned and said, "Shaoji, you promised me! Going over there is also your way of fulfilling my duty as hostess on my behalf."
The implication was that Madam Li was a guest.
But Zhou Shaojin displayed an uncharacteristic stubbornness, pretending not to understand. "Isn’t Uncle Chi still at Yuqian Hutong? He can help entertain Madam Li. I want to stay here a few more days before moving over!"
Zhou Chujin grew so anxious thinking about the people Cheng Chi had sent to help with the move that her lips felt parched.
Meanwhile, Cheng Chi soon received the news.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
When had this little girl turned into a cat? When others bullied her, she’d quietly walk away, but when it came to him, she’d extend her little claws to scratch him.
Let’s see how he’d deal with her!
Cheng Chi went to Yuqian Hutong.
Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin were still at an impasse, but Madam Li, upon seeing Cheng Chi, looked extremely embarrassed. She hurriedly explained with a smile, "The Second Young Lady just can’t bear to part with the Eldest Young Lady and Guan Ge!"
Cheng Chi didn’t mind and said with a smile, "It’s fine. I’ll talk to her!" Then he headed to the back room.
Nanny Shang and the others serving Zhou Shaojin stood in the courtyard with their hands respectfully at their sides.Zhou Chujin stood helplessly by the window lattice, earnestly persuading her younger sister, "I know you don't want to move to an unfamiliar place, but isn't that Uncle Chi's residence? You've interacted with Uncle Chi before when you were at Cold Green Mountain House. Uncle Chi treats you so well! Knowing you would definitely go to offer incense on the eighth day of the fourth month, he specifically scheduled the move for today. What are you so afraid of? If you really don’t want to move there, just go along with it for today. I’ll send someone to bring you back first thing tomorrow morning, alright?"
She had only gone to the main courtyard for a quick look, and by the time she returned, Zhou Shaojin had already dismissed her maids and old nannies and locked herself inside the room.
Seeing this, Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. He said, "Eldest Miss, please step aside for now. Let me try to persuade her!"
Nanny Shang, standing obediently among the servants, brightened up at the sight of Cheng Chi.
Zhou Chujin, however, stepped aside awkwardly.
Uncle Chi had kindly offered to let them move in, yet her younger sister was ungrateful.
She wondered how much of her earlier words Uncle Chi had overheard.
Cheng Chi stood under the corridor and called out, "Shaoji, I know you can hear me. Open the door! Otherwise, I’ll come in myself!"
The room remained silent, with no response.
Cheng Chi took a step back and called for Qin Zi'an to come in.
Qin Zi'an took something resembling a blunt iron piece and slowly slid it through the door crack to lift the latch.
Zhou Chujin widened her eyes in astonishment. For the first time in her life, she learned that a door latch could be opened this way. Suddenly, she felt a twinge of fear, recalling a time when she had unintentionally overheard Cheng Shi speaking privately about Cheng Chi. Cheng Shi had worn an expression of jealousy and envy, seemingly joking but with words full of malice. He said that although Cheng Chi was a scholar, he engaged in merchant-like activities and had amassed a fortune in just a few short years. It was impossible, he claimed, without some shady methods. Perhaps beneath his dignified appearance, Cheng Chi was capable of anything, even murder and arson...
Watching Qin Zi'an’s methods, Zhou Chujin felt that while Cheng Shi might have exaggerated, Cheng Chi was likely not entirely innocent either.
Fearing that her younger sister might provoke Cheng Chi and suffer for it, Zhou Chujin stepped forward and tapped on Zhou Shaojin’s window lattice, saying, "Shaoji, be good and open the door quickly."
Zhou Shaojin hugged her knees in the corner of the bed, determined not to open the door.
Hearing Cheng Chi’s voice, she snorted inwardly: No matter what she said, her sister remained unmoved, so she had no choice but to resort to this foolish method. Could Uncle Chi possibly drag her to Yuqian Lane right in front of her sister? Even if he wanted to, her sister wouldn’t allow it!
Zhou Shaojin pursed her lips smugly.
Let’s see what Uncle Chi would do!
So when Zhou Chujin tried to persuade her, she paid no attention at all.
But soon, her smugness began to fade.
Outside, it suddenly fell completely silent, without a single sound.
Her sister couldn’t have given up so quickly, and Uncle Chi wouldn’t have just walked away... Could something have happened?
After hesitating for a while, she quietly slipped out of bed, put on her shoes, and walked out of the inner chamber, intending to peek through the colored glass inlaid in the hall door to see what was happening in the courtyard.
But just as she stepped out of the inner chamber, the hall door was suddenly pushed open with a loud "bang."
The bright morning sunlight streamed in.
Zhou Shaojin, like a demon exposed by a demon-revealing mirror, screamed and ran back toward the inner chamber.
Cheng Chi was both amused and exasperated. Without a second thought, he followed her inside.Zhou Chujin, fearing that Zhou Shaojin might be frightened, lifted her skirt and was about to follow Cheng Chi inside.
Nanny Shang, however, suddenly appeared from nowhere and blocked her path, smiling respectfully as she said, "Eldest Miss. Please don't go in. I used to serve Fourth Master, and I can tell he’s truly furious this time. Given Fourth Master’s temper, he’s bound to scold Second Miss. As someone who serves Second Miss, I shouldn’t say this, but Second Miss’s actions this time were indeed somewhat improper. No wonder Fourth Master is angry. However, Second Miss is quite sensitive. If you barge in now and happen to catch Fourth Master reprimanding her, how could she save face? It would be better for you to wait outside and see how things unfold. Perhaps our Fourth Master can persuade Second Miss!"
Zhou Chujin found Nanny Shang’s words quite reasonable and nodded slightly, yet she couldn’t help but stand by the window frame, listening intently to the sounds from the inner chamber.
Zhou Shaojin ran back into the inner chamber, climbed onto the bed, and huddled in the corner, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt, leaving only a pair of dark, gleaming eyes to cautiously observe Cheng Chi.
What good would this do?
Cheng Chi shook his head with a smile at Zhou Shaojin’s ostrich-like behavior and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed.
Zhou Shaojin shrank further inward.
Cheng Chi found it amusing and spoke gently, "Shao Jin, why don’t you want to move over?"
Zhou Shaojin remained silent.
Cheng Chi patiently sat by the bed, waiting for her to speak.
His posture appeared elegant yet carried an unwavering, mountain-like perseverance, as if he could sit there indefinitely until she spoke.
Zhou Shaojin knew how formidable Cheng Chi could be.
She had no doubt about his determination.
Zhou Shaojin lowered her eyelids and murmured uneasily, "I... I don’t want to live with Uncle Chi..."
Had he frightened the little girl too much?
Cheng Chi felt a twinge of regret.
He knew there was a barrier in her heart, but he hadn’t realized it ran so deep.
Yet he did not regret his loss of control.
The little girl was utterly delightful.
Just thinking about it made his heart flutter.
But from now on, he would need to be more methodical.
With an apologetic expression, his voice grew even softer as he said, "This matter is my fault. I should have explained it to you clearly. Do you remember Shi Kuan? The chief eunuch by Fourth Prince’s side, the one you said would become the Grand Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial. A few days ago, I happened to pass by Fourth Prince’s residence twice and unexpectedly ran into him. I found out he has a younger brother, only seven years old, who is being fostered by a family named Zheng in Yiqian Hutong, not far from Yuqian Hutong. He often visits his brother there, so I thought I might try to run into him again. That’s why I need to stay in Yuqian Hutong for a few days..."
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed bright red.
How could she have forgotten such an important matter!
She had nearly delayed Uncle Chi’s important business.
Fortunately, Uncle Chi had kept it in mind all along.
She bashfully poked her head out from under the quilt.
Cheng Chi smiled gently at her and continued, "Does Shao Jin feel it’s inappropriate to stay at my place? I had originally planned to give this house to you..."
What would she do with his house?Zhou Shaojin was about to say "no need" when she heard Cheng Chi say, "Didn't you mention before that you wanted to become a lay practitioner at home? After returning, I thought it over carefully. If I rashly bring this up with your father now, what loving father would agree to let his young daughter in the prime of her youth head down the path of renunciation? Not only would he stop you, but he would also try to marry you off as soon as possible..."
This was exactly what Zhou Shaojin feared.
She straightened her posture.
The blanket wrapped around her loosened slightly.
"I think your best option is to have your sister find an excuse for you to stay in the capital for an extended period. After a couple of years, when you're a bit older, we can discuss it with your father. By then, when he visits the capital and sees your dedicated practice, he'll realize you're serious. With my support in persuading him, he'll be more likely to accept it!"
It was certainly better than rushing to tell her father now.
Zhou Shaojin nodded slightly.
Seeing her agreement, Cheng Chi smiled and stood up, saying, "Then hurry up and change your clothes—I’ve been quite busy these past few days, and I’m not sure when Shi Kuan might arrive. I also need to visit the capital branch of the Thirteen Hongs later. I heard the Haichang, the ship I invested in, has capsized, so I have to go and inquire..."
※
Dear readers, here’s yesterday’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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