Zhоu Shаоjin wаs suddеnlу lifted up, lеtting оut а smаll gаsp of surprisе аs she tightly grаsped Сhеng Сhi's аrm. Нis wаrm lips prеssed against hers.
She eхсlaimеd in pаniс, "Рut mе down quiсklу!"
Сhеng Сhi refusеd to let go.
Не found it аmusing how Zhou Shaоjin relied оn him so cоmрlеtеlу.
Zhоu Shаojin was furiоus.
Сheng Сhi сhuсkled аnd plасed her оn thе kang, sitting dоwn beside her bеfore starting tо brеw tеa аgain.
Zhou Shaоjin аdjustеd her соllаr аnd hаir оrnamеnts, hеr eхprеssion hesitаnt.
Chеng Сhi smilеd, the соrnеrs оf his lips lifting gently аs he asked softly, "Whаt's wrong?"
Zhou Shaоjin thought for а momеnt bеforе replying, "Is it really necessary to split the clan?"
Did she have to split the clan to marry him?
A married daughter is like water spilled on the ground.
In her natal family's genealogy, only her birth and marriage dates are recorded.
Once married, her status depends entirely on her husband!
However, because she grew up in Nine Prosperities Lane, if she married Uncle Chi, he would easily face criticism. If he pursued an official career, such a mistake would be even more unacceptable.
It seemed that nothing in this world could ever be perfect.
If she hadn't grown up in Nine Prosperities Lane, she would never have met Uncle Chi. Yet growing up there had become an obstacle to marrying him.
Zhou Shaojin felt deeply dejected.
Cheng Chi patted her head and said, "Splitting the clan is the best option... Unless you want to return to Nine Prosperities Lane with me every year to pay respects to our ancestors?"
He truly understood her thoughts better than anyone.
Perhaps because her memories of her past life were too vivid, she feared nothing more than becoming the center of attention and the subject of gossip. Whether the talk was good or bad, she disliked hearing it.
Zhou Shaojin murmured, "I just feel uneasy... Originally, there was no need to split the clan... I can't help feeling that it's because of me that Nine Prosperities Lane is being torn apart... If the ancestors and elders knew, they would surely blame me..."
"Shaoji!" Cheng Chi called her name affectionately, sighing as he pulled her into his embrace.
Zhou Shaojin loved this kind of embrace—quiet and peaceful, where she could hear Cheng Chi's heartbeat, as if she were nestled right in his heart.
She didn't struggle, obediently leaning into his arms.
He kissed the top of her head and whispered, "Second Brother came to see me earlier... He agreed to split the clan..."
Zhou Shaojin looked up in surprise, her lips brushing against his.
Her face flushed slightly.
Cheng Chi took the opportunity to lean in, cupping her face as their lips and tongues intertwined.
The window frame was fitted with transparent glass.
From the corner of her eye, Zhou Shaojin could see Qin Fang playing in the courtyard with Song Ming.
Her eyes widened as she struggled to push Cheng Chi away.
Cheng Chi immediately released her.
Panting, she said, "Outside... There are people outside..."
It wasn't like before, where she resisted him—this time, she was worried about people outside!
A tenderness he himself hadn't noticed flashed in Cheng Chi's smile as he chuckled and held her, leaning back against the large cushion.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.
Remembering how he had helped her adjust her clothing before others entered, and how he released her the moment she struggled... Her heart softened with warmth and reassurance.
In truth, Uncle Chi had never changed.
He always protected her, no matter the circumstances.
Even his excessive teasing only happened in private.
He never let her become a laughingstock.
She had been afraid for so long that she hadn't fully appreciated his kindness toward her.
With this thought, her previously tense body relaxed... and she nestled obediently in his arms.With a soft fragrance in his embrace and the woman he loved in his arms, nothing could be more delightful.
Cheng Chi idly stroked Zhou Shaojin's hair and said, "My second brother's intention is to take this opportunity to hand over the Seven Stars Hall..."
Zhou Shaojin immediately sat up in pleasant surprise, feeling an unprecedented fondness for Cheng Wei, whom she had never had much impression of before. Clapping her hands, she said, "Exactly, exactly! I think Second Master Wei makes a lot of sense. The division of the clan is a minor matter; finding a way to get rid of the Seven Stars Hall is what truly matters."
Seeing her eyes sparkling with joy, Cheng Chi smiled and pulled her back into his arms, speaking unhurriedly, "But we haven't yet uncovered why the Cheng family was raided. If we discard the Seven Stars Hall, who will help us investigate these matters?"
"Oh, right!" Zhou Shaojin's gaze dimmed again. "Who knows when we'll be able to uncover the truth? It's all my fault—I’ve only ever focused on my own little world and never cared enough about the Cheng family’s affairs. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be so passive now!"
Cheng Chi chuckled and said, "When the Cheng family was in trouble back then, what did Zheng Jie'er do?"
That’s right!
Cheng Zheng was far more capable than her, yet she too was helpless and couldn’t figure out what had happened!
Zhou Shaojin felt a bit better.
Cheng Chi added, "Didn’t your brother-in-law also fail to uncover why the Cheng family was raided?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
Cheng Chi kissed her cheek again and said, "It’s a good thing you knew nothing about it. If you had heard a few fragments and speculated before telling me, I’m afraid I’d never have been able to uncover the truth behind the Cheng family’s raid in this lifetime!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly, her brows curved like crescent moons.
Cheng Chi gently touched her face and whispered, "But if, in the end, I still can’t prevent the Cheng family from being raided..."
Zhou Shaojin had never worried about this.
She always felt that if Cheng Chi was determined, he could surely escape.
As for herself...
Zhou Shaojin chuckled softly and said, "In my previous life, I only lived to twenty-five."
In this life, having met him, even if she only lived to twenty-five and spent ten years by his side, she would have no regrets.
Cheng Chi pressed his lips to Zhou Shaojin’s forehead and kissed her for a long time.
No other woman had ever valued him as much as Shaojin did... She made him feel precious!
"Shao Jin, don’t worry. The clan division will go smoothly," Cheng Chi whispered to her. "Madam Yuan places great importance on her relationship with the Min family. On one hand, she hopes the Min and Cheng families can support each other; on the other, she’s unwilling to be outdone by the Min family out of vanity. I’ve already hinted to Madam Yuan that if the Min family finds out about Jiashan’s affairs, it will inevitably put her at a disadvantage. And once she’s at a disadvantage, she’ll lose momentum. Even if Jiashan’s career goes smoothly in the future and he needs the Min family’s support, I’m afraid the Min family will think twice—conduct comes before actions. If one’s conduct is flawed, how can they accomplish anything properly?"
"Madam Yuan is now locked in a struggle with the Second Master’s ancestors."
"The Second Master’s ancestors also understand that Madam Yuan is acting recklessly."
"They’re just probing each other to see where the other’s limits lie!""You know Mother's temperament—she would certainly disdain to argue with the Second Branch. Let Madam Yuan go and stir things up with them. Besides, the Yuan family's brother-in-law brought three legal secretaries with backgrounds in criminal law. They’re sure to keep the Second Branch’s Old Ancestor scrambling."
At this, Cheng Chi gave a cold laugh.
Zhou Shaojin hesitated, saying, "But what if the Second Branch’s Old Ancestor gains the upper hand? Would we really have to give them three million taels of silver? Does our family even have that much money?"
She always felt the Second Branch’s Old Ancestor wouldn’t agree to the clan division so easily.
Cheng Chi liked hearing her say things like "we" and "our family."
He teased Zhou Shaojin, "What? Can’t bear to part with the silver?"
"What nonsense!" Zhou Shijin said unhappily. "Three million taels of silver is no small sum. The Eldest Branch doesn’t engage in farming or labor—in the end, you’d have to repay that three million taels. How long would it take you to pay it back? That’s just too much hardship!"
But Cheng Chi laughed. "This is the Eldest Branch’s affair. It can’t all fall on me to provide the silver, can it? Besides, with the Second Branch making such a huge demand, the Eldest Branch will have no choice but to pawn what can be pawned and sell what can be sold, letting all of Jinling City know just how impoverished the Eldest Branch has become because of the clan division..."
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes lit up. She said, "That’s a brilliant idea—then everyone in Jinling will know what price the Eldest Branch paid... People will surely think, 'The Eldest Branch would rather pay such a huge sum to sever ties with the Second and Third Branches...' So it’s clear that the Eldest Branch’s desire to divide the clan isn’t necessarily because Uncle Jing became a Grand Secretary and looks down on the other branches..." Just thinking of Cheng Xu from the Second Branch’s furious expression upon hearing this news made her laugh. She thought the person who came up with this idea was clever and asked Cheng Chi, "Who thought of this? They’re truly smart! Even in dividing the clan, they’ve made sure the Second Branch won’t have it easy..."
Cheng Chi chuckled and said, "Then how do you plan to reward the person who came up with this idea?"
"Huh?" Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand.
Cheng Chi lowered his voice and laughed. "I’m the one who thought of it..."
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.
Cheng Chi had already leaned down and captured her lips... His warm breath enveloped her, making her feel dizzy and breathless. Yet in her heart, she wondered, Why does Uncle Chi like kissing me so much...
The two of them fooled around on the kang for a long while.
Apart from holding Zhou Shaojin in his arms and kissing her, Cheng Chi didn’t make any other improper moves.
He was restraining himself fiercely.
But Zhou Shaojin was perfectly content.
She felt this... was much better than letting Cheng Chi run wild...
It wasn’t until she returned to Yuqian Lane that Zhou Shaojin remembered she hadn’t asked Cheng Chi why he liked her... That seemed rather important now...
But as soon as she entered the Moon Gate, she saw Snowball, a white blur, barking and running toward her.
Zhou Shaojin immediately forgot everything else. She scooped up Snowball as he leaped into her arms, both surprised and delighted, and asked Jixiang, who was on duty at home, "How did Snowball get here?"
Xiao Que had already trotted over and said, "Second Miss, it was Fourth Master. When he passed through Baoding Prefecture, he told the master that you were bored here and asked Fourth Master to bring Snowball, Little Yellow, and Little Jade over for you. Fourth Master travels fast on horseback—we just arrived a short while ago."Snowball had been in Baoding Prefecture for some time now. Everyone from top to bottom knew it was Zhou Shaojin’s pet, treating it with great kindness and affection. And children were especially fond of such little creatures. Before Zhou Shaojin could even speak, Zhou Youjin, carried by her wet nurse and following Madam Li inside, was already happily calling out, “Snowball! Snowball!”
Snowball also loved playing with Zhou Youjin. Barking “woof, woof, woof,” it ran over and circled around her.
Zhou Youjin giggled, struggling to get down, then squatted on the ground and hugged Snowball.
Zhou Shaojin felt the very air grow lively.
Mama Li whispered to Madam Li with a smile, “Why don’t you also get a dog for the Third Young Miss?”
Madam Li shot her a glance and said, “Wouldn’t that just pit her against the Second Young Miss? Let’s leave it as is for now. If the Second Young Miss marries and takes Snowball with her, then we can get a dog for the Third Young Miss.”
Just as they were speaking, a young servant ran in to report, “Madam, the maternal uncle from Jiujiang, Jiangxi, has sent word that he will arrive in the capital tomorrow.”
※
Dear readers, here’s yesterday’s update.
I won’t be able to add an extra update today either.
And I won’t get a break for the Dragon Boat Festival either... Fortunately, it’s normal working hours, so I should be able to manage two updates...
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: I know the updates haven’t been very frequent lately, and I deeply apologize for that. Once the project inspection on my end is over, things should get better...
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel