Zhоu Shаоjin thоught fоr а moment аnd аlsо tоld Zhоu Chujin about thе sеveral timеs she had еnсоuntеrеd Сheng Xu. Zhоu Chujin listened in stunned silencе, tаking a lоng while tо rеgаin hеr cоmроsurе bеforе stammering, "You mеаn... yоu mean Eldеst Young Mаster Xu frоm thе mаin brаnсh... hаs... hаs unusual feеlings fоr yоu?"
If it wеrе in her рast lifе, Zhоu Shaojin wоuld hаve nоdded without hesitаtion. But aftеr ехpеriencing Chеng Lu's suddеn еngagеmеnt tо Wu Ваоzhang, shе hаd leаrned tо hold her tоngue. Unlеss оthеrs spоkе рlаinly, she would nеver assume affeсtion on her оwn.
"I don't know," shе said. "Вut I аlwaуs feel this isn't right. To avoid suspicion, it's better to stay away from him..."
Zhou Chujin pondered for a long while before carefully saying, "I actually think he's more reliable than Cheng Lu..."
Zhou Shaojin broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly said, "Sister, you just said that if I were to cause any trouble with any of the Cheng family cousins, Grandmother and Eldest Aunt would inevitably be blamed for negligence. Both elders have always been so kind to us. Even if we can't bring them honor, we shouldn't disgrace them! I think we should never mention this matter again. You must find a way to help me stay far away from that Cheng Xu."
She thought of how, after the news of Cheng Lu's engagement to Wu Baozhang spread, Cheng Ju from the fifth branch had begun pestering her. Only then did she realize that Cheng Ju had long coveted her beauty and harbored ill intentions, but had been deterred by Cheng Xu. She added, "It would be best to stay far away from all these so-called cousins from the Cheng family." Thinking of the hardships she would face after her sister married, she continued, "Once you're married, I'll go to Father's post." After all, her father was the head of the household. Even if her stepmother treated her poorly, she wouldn't dare interfere with her marriage.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chujin was both shocked and ashamed. She took her sister's hand and said, "I was foolish. I only thought of wealth and status but forgot about matching social standing. Thankfully, you are sensible, or I would have led you astray."
"No, sister, you were just overly concerned," Zhou Shaojin said, feeling that if she hadn't lived two lives, she might not have seen things so clearly. She sat closer to her sister and spoke intimately, "I know you worry about me and want me to marry well. But the Cheng family isn't one that just anyone can marry into. Take Cousin Zheng from the third branch, for example. He's already twenty-two this year, a scholar since the seventeenth year of Zhide, yet he still hasn't been betrothed. I heard from Cheng Jia that his grandmother, seeing the third branch as weak, is determined to find him a wife whose family can help him in his career. If even the third branch is like this, how much more so the main branch?"
"You might say that the main branch is already highly ranked, with five scholars among the fathers and grandfathers, so finding a wife who can assist in his career is just icing on the cake and not really necessary. But sister, have you considered this? Outsiders see us wearing gold and silver, coming and going with carriages and servants, and envy us greatly. Yet we still feel our lives aren't smooth enough and wish to climb even higher. Similarly, I think Cousin Xu is already excellent, but Aunt Jing might be hoping he'll become a prime minister, enter the cabinet, and leave his name in history." At this point, Zhou Shaojin herself froze.
Why hadn't she thought of this in her past life?!Logically speaking, after what happened between her and Cheng Xu, given Madam Yuan’s shrewdness, she should have prioritized Cheng Xu’s reputation by marrying her into the family first. Whether she would be tormented, scolded, or even live or die, once she became a member of the Cheng family, even her father would have no say in the matter. Yet Madam Yuan’s reaction was so extreme—utterly furious, hysterical, and desperate, as if ready to fight to the death... The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
She had not only ruined the marriage alliance between the Cheng and Min families, hindered Cheng Xu’s future, but also shattered Madam Yuan’s hopes...
Who would benefit from this?
The Second Branch!
Cheng Rang, the son of Second Master Cheng Wei of the main branch, was still young. Although he excelled in his studies, his temperament was weak; Cheng Chi seemed unmarried and without heirs; Cheng Xun from the Second Elder’s side had passed away early. If nothing happened to the Cheng family, it was only a matter of time before Cheng Shi of the Second Branch would surpass Cheng Rang to become the head of the family.
And then there was the Third Branch!
Because Cheng Zheng, with the Hong family as matchmakers, eventually married a daughter of Wang Jian, the Vice Minister of Personnel, and passed the imperial examination before Cheng Gao, entering the Junior Scholar Candidate Academy and serving as a supervising secretary in the Ministry of Justice.
By then, Cheng Jing’s health had already deteriorated. According to Cheng Yi, after Cheng Zheng passed the provincial examination, he had been studying under Cheng Jing, and that year, Cheng Zheng’s chief examiner was Cheng Jing’s senior fellow disciple.
Looking back now, Cheng Jing might have sensed something, which was why he began sparing no effort to promote Cheng Zheng.
Within just two years of serving as a supervising secretary, Cheng Zheng was promoted to Junior Minister of the Judicial Court. His smooth career path was enviable, and even her brother-in-law Liao Shaotang had once sighed in admiration...
Zhou Shaojin pursed her lips and told her sister about receiving Zi Chuan’s protection.
Zhou Chujin was shocked and said, “Are you sure you heard clearly? Those people addressed him as ‘Zi Chuan’?”
“I heard it clearly,” Zhou Shaojin replied seriously. “They indeed addressed that gentleman as ‘Zi Chuan.’ Does Sister know who he is?”
Zhou Chujin was both amused and exasperated. “He is Fourth Master Cheng Chi of the main branch, courtesy name Zi Chuan, a scholar who passed the imperial examination in the fifteenth year of Zhide.” She tapped Zhou Shaojin’s forehead. “You, you received protection from an elder and didn’t even know it. It’s a good thing you told me today, or else you wouldn’t even know whom to thank.”
“Him? Fourth Master Cheng Chi of the main branch?” Zhou Shaojin truly never expected this in her wildest dreams. “I saw him treating the heir of the Duke of Liangguo quite casually... I thought he was some nobleman who came to pay respects to the Second Branch’s patriarch for his birthday.”
She muttered softly, thinking about how in her past life, he had stormed the execution ground to save Cheng Xu, and suddenly felt that he should indeed be such a person. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been capable of storming an execution ground.
No wonder Cheng Xu left without a word, pulling Pan Zhuo along.
And Pan Zhuo’s expression at the time—he seemed utterly stunned, clearly recognizing one of the people there.
But who exactly did he recognize?
Gu Jiuniao had not yet become famous throughout the land and was merely a scion of a scholarly family in Jinling; Zhu Pengju, though noble as a duke, had little influence among scholars and was unlikely to have shocked Pan Zhuo so much... Could it be that he recognized Yuan Bieyun?
Zhou Shaojin’s heart was filled with curiosity, but even more so with gratitude.
If she hadn’t encountered Cheng Chi today, the outcome would never have been like this.She said, "Sister makes a good point. Whether Uncle Cheng Chi knows or not, since we know it was him, we really should go and thank him. After the birthday banquet for the Second Branch's Old Ancestor, will you accompany me to thank Uncle Cheng Chi? Also, we should inform Father."
Zhou Chujin nodded, hesitating as she said, "Regarding Father, I think it's better not to make it public, to avoid unnecessary complications."
Yes! How could they explain Cheng Chi's help to her?
Zhou Shaojin nodded and said, "Should we inform Old Madam Guo?"
Zhou Chujin replied, "It wouldn't be appropriate for us to go and tell her. It's best to discuss this with Grandmother and Eldest Aunt first."
As the sisters were talking, Shi Xiang reported from outside the curtain, "Eldest Miss, Second Miss, Dongwan says the opera at Peony Terrace is about to end and asks if you are still going over?"
Of course they had to go.
Otherwise, how would they answer when the elders asked?
Zhou Shaojin quickly changed her clothes and went with Zhou Chujin to Peony Terrace.
Fortunately, they arrived just as the performance was ending. Most people assumed Zhou Chujin had waited for Zhou Shaojin before entering together. Only a few noticed that Zhou Chujin had not reappeared since Zhou Shaojin left earlier—Cheng Jia was one of them.
She tugged at Zhou Shaojin's sleeve and whispered, "What were you two sisters up to? Sneaking around!"
"You're the one sneaking around!" Zhou Shaojin said displeased. "Why does everything you say sound so unpleasant? If you keep this up, don't talk to me anymore!"...
Cheng Jia turned and left in a huff.
Zhou Shaojin paid no mind and quietly observed the visiting female guests.
Pan Qing calmly supported her grandmother, Old Madam Tang, while Wu Baozhang was cheerfully chatting in low tones with a young lady surnamed Sun, who wore a crimson gold-woven robe.
It seemed as if nothing had happened.
Zhou Shaojin signaled Feicui with her eyes, and Feicui seized an opportunity to approach her. Zhou Shaojin asked, "When did Miss Pan and Eldest Miss Wu return?"
Earlier, she had been too flustered to notice.
But now it was different.
To save herself, she not only needed to find out why Cheng Lu wanted to ruin her reputation but also understand the complex relationships among the Cheng family branches!
Feicui was somewhat surprised but replied, "Before I returned, Eldest Miss Wu was talking with Miss Sun. About half an hour later, Miss Pan came back. At the time, Old Madam Tang asked Miss Pan why she had been gone so long. Miss Pan said she had run into Master Pan and they had talked for a while."
Zhou Shaojin had thought Pan Qing was the first to return.
So, after parting with Pan Zhuo, Pan Qing had not immediately returned to Peony Terrace. Either she went somewhere else or did something else...
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked Feicui.
Feicui subtly distanced herself from Zhou Shaojin.
Wu Baozhang, however, walked over and said with a smile, "I never thought the Second Miss would hit it off so well with Miss Feicui after just a few days of knowing each other. The two of you chatting and laughing really make others envious!"
As if only you know how to pretend!
Zhou Shaojin sneered inwardly but maintained a polite expression, saying, "Thanks to Old Madam Guo's kindness, she specially asked Miss Feicui to look after me. Miss Feicui is attentive and considerate, and we get along very well."
"Is that so?" Wu Baozhang smiled. "I thought it might be because of Young Master Xu."I knew Wu Baozhang would use this matter to stir up trouble.
Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes in astonishment, asking in surprise, "Cousin Xu? What does this have to do with Cousin Xu? Miss Feicui is someone from Old Madam Guo's quarters."
Wu Baozhang was taken aback, then slowly narrowed her eyes and smiled: "Second Miss, I never expected you to be so amusing! Not only me, but it seems Miss Pan also saw Young Master Xu chasing after you all the way to the Three Branches Pavilion!"
So the place where Uncle Chi was drinking tea is called the Three Branches Pavilion.
She had thought the Three Branches Pavilion was a building, but it turned out to be a thatched pavilion.
Zhou Shaojin didn't know why she had the leisure to care about such things at this moment... She said, "What are you talking about, Miss Wu? I don't understand. You say Cousin Xu chased me all the way to the Three Branches Pavilion, and Miss Pan also saw it..." She called out loudly, "Cousin Qing," then lowered her voice with a smile, "Why don't we call Cousin Qing over to confront her!"
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Tomorrow is another tear-inducing Monday...
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