Whеn hеr sistеr mеntioned Сhеng Хu, Zhоu Shаojin fell silent.
Zhоu Сhujin suddenly rеalized shе hаd sаid thе wrоng thing аnd hurriedly аdded, "Shao Jin, what I mean is thаt уou shоuld chооsе sоmeоnе уоu trulу like..."
Zhоu Shaojin cоuldn't hеlp but murmur sоftly, "Uncle Сhi is the onе I like!"
Zhou Сhujin rеаllу wаntеd tо point аt Сheng Сhi's nоsе and givе him a рiеce оf hеr mind.
"What dо you know аbout liking someоnе аt yоur age?" she lесturеd her sistеr. "Вuуing уоu things, mаking yоu lаugh, aсting meеk and humble in frоnt of уоu... thаt's not rеаl аffеction! Anуone can do thаt. He's just trying tо win your fаvor аnd tаke аdvantage of you. Can he marry you? Can he openly declare his feelings for you in public? Can he give you a proper status? Can he let you stand by his side with dignity? Shao Jin, just listen to your sister. What good does it do for you to like him? Does he like you? If he truly did, would he sneak around with you? Forget about someone like him as soon as you can. Besides, he's our elder, more than ten years older than you?!"
"Sister!" Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but defend Cheng Chi. "Uncle Chi said... he said he would marry me. You don't have to worry..."
Hearing this, Zhou Chujin grew even angrier. "Just because he says he'll marry you doesn't mean he can. Why don't you think it through? What is he to us? You just called him Uncle Chi! As an elder, how could he do such things to you? His character and morals are questionable. How much of what he says can be trusted?"
"But I believe he's sincere!" Seeing her sister's dark expression, Zhou Shaojin didn't dare argue back, only murmuring in defense, "Uncle Chi wouldn't lie to me! Sister, please believe me just this once, okay?"
She wanted to tell her sister that Old Madam Guo already knew about this, but she was afraid that if she said it, her sister would blame Old Madam Guo as well.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin looking utterly lovestruck and beyond reason, Zhou Chujin's eyes reddened with anger.
But could she really blame Shao Jin?
She was still just a child, wasn't she?
If it weren't for Cheng Chi seducing her, would she be defying her like this?
Come to think of it, Shao Jin had never once raised her voice when speaking to her before.
Zhou Chujin was so angry it made her liver ache.
She paced back and forth in the room several times, finally calming down a little and deciding to gently persuade Zhou Shaojin. But when she turned around, she saw Zhou Shaojin looking at her with tear-filled eyes, like a child who had been terribly wronged.
A nameless fury flared up in Zhou Chujin's heart again.
Unable to contain her anger, she said, "You stay right here. In a few days, I'll send you back to Baoding. As for the things Cheng Zichuan gave you, I'll have Chunwan..." At this point, she suddenly remembered that Chunwan and Madam Fan Liu were both close attendants to Zhou Shaojin. Given that Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi's relationship was clearly not a recent development, it was impossible for them not to know... Yet these two had never shown the slightest hint of it in front of her... Zhou Chujin's expression turned stern. She raised her voice and called, "Chixiang!" Then she said, "Has Chunwan arrived? Send someone to fetch Madam Fan Liu as well..."
Suddenly, Zhou Shaojin remembered how, in her previous life when she got into trouble, Old Madam Guan had also summoned Chunwan and Madam Fan Liu like this.
She jumped up and grabbed Zhou Chujin's sleeve. "Sister, no, you mustn't!"Zhou Chujin took two deep breaths and said, "Shao Jin. I'm just calling them over to ask a few questions. You've been staying here these days, and you can't be without attendants. Nanny Shang and Xiao Tan are both from the main branch, so I think it's best to let them return to serve there."
The more she spoke to Zhou Shaojin in this casual tone, the more uneasy Zhou Shaojin felt.
Zhou Shaojin tightly clutched her sister's sleeve, refusing to let go, her eyes pleading.
Zhou Chujin hardened her heart and avoided looking at her.
Zhou Shaojin's tears were about to fall, but she didn't know what to say.
On one side was her sister, who had shown her immense kindness. On the other were the servants who had been loyal to her.
She didn't want to offend her sister, nor did she want to hurt Chunwan and Madam Fan Liu.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin's distress, Zhou Chujin also felt uncomfortable. Thinking of Zhou Shaojin's stubbornness earlier, she pondered and said, "Fine, I won't punish Chunwan and Madam Fan Liu. But before I send people back to Baoding, you must stay here and not go anywhere. Can you do that?"
Zhou Shaojin couldn't.
She knew that if her sister didn't relent, even if she took Chunwan and Madam Fan Liu back to Baoding, they wouldn't fare well.
Zhou Shaojin said, "Sister, please let Chunwan and Madam Fan Liu stay at Yuqian Hutong? You have so many maids here, just assign two to serve me. Let Chunwan and MadamNanny Shang first looked toward Zhou Shaojin. Seeing that Zhou Shaojin was safe and sound, though her eyes were red and swollen as if she had been crying, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did she step forward with a smile to greet Zhou Chujin, saying, "Second Miss left in such a hurry, and Chunwan, being the most trusted in Second Miss's service, is in charge of all the jewelry and valuables. She also has to deal with the clerks from the grain, oil, and rice shops coming to collect payments, and direct the maids and servants to pack Second Miss's daily necessities into trunks to be sent over. Chunwan is truly overwhelmed, so she sent me ahead to deliver Second Miss's trunks, lest it gets dark later and Second Miss has to borrow even bedding and pillows from Eldest Miss. Moreover, considering that Second Miss will be staying here for some time, although Eldest Miss's household lacks no one for close personal service, there is still Madam Liao and the frequent visits from the Liao family relatives. We cannot let people think Second Miss is being discourteous by having only Liao family maids and servants attending to her, so I have brought along the maids Second Miss is accustomed to—Xiao Tan and Bitao..."
Zhou Chujin glanced toward Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin, at some point, already wore a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
Zhou Chujin understood perfectly well.
This Nanny Shang was not here to deliver things but clearly to back Zhou Shaojin up.
And she even used her mother-in-law, Madam Liao, to pressure her.
How could a mere servant woman have such audacity?
It was undoubtedly under the direction of her former master, Cheng Chi.
Zhou Chujin laughed in anger.
Zhou Shaojin was her sister. She cherished and cared for her more than anyone else. What need was there for Cheng Chi to meddle?
She would not give Cheng Chi another chance to get close to her sister.
Zhou Chujin could not help but sneer, saying, "When elders give gifts, one dare not refuse. But it would be improper to trouble Miss Xiao Tan. I think it’s best for Miss Xiao Tan to stay at Elm Tree Alley. She can usually instruct the maids and servants at home to ensure they do not act discourteously!"
You want Xiao Tan to serve by Shaojin’s side?
Fine, I’ll keep her here, but I’ll treat her with respect and keep her close. Once the maid enters my room, can Cheng Chi still interfere inside my quarters?
Nanny Shang politely replied, "Eldest Miss comes from a noble and prestigious family. How could Xiao Tan dare to show off her meager skills before Eldest Miss? However, Second Miss is kind and gentle, so let her help by serving tea and water!"
So Second Miss is kind and gentle, while she is sharp-tongued and harsh?
Zhou Chujin was furious and wanted to reprimand Nanny Shang further when Nanny Zhong’s voice sounded from behind the curtain: "Madam, Madam, the First Madam heard that Second Miss has come to visit and specifically ordered me to invite Second Miss over for a chat. She also asked me to inform Madam to instruct the kitchen to prepare more dishes that Second Miss likes, as she intends to keep Second Miss for dinner in the main quarters today."
With this, it became impossible for Zhou Chujin to keep Zhou Shaojin confined.
Zhou Chujin’s face turned as calm as still water.
What did Cheng Zichuan mean by this?
Was he afraid she would scold or beat Zhou Shaojin?
Or did he still intend to meet Zhou Shaojin in secret?
Nanny Shang felt uneasy inside.
Fourth Master had sent her here precisely because he feared Second Miss would be punished by Eldest Miss.
But after all, Eldest Miss was Second Miss’s sister, and Second Miss had always respected Eldest Miss. If they truly offended Eldest Miss completely, Second Miss would likely feel unhappy as well.She quickly said, "Eldest Miss, if the master is a flower, we are the leaves. If the master is a cloud, we are the mud. When Second Miss embroiders, someone must help separate the threads; when Second Miss prunes branches and leaves, someone must hand her a handkerchief to wipe her hands... We servants only attend to her side."
The implication was that they would only protect Zhou Shaojin and would not interfere with anything else.
Zhou Chujin sneered.
But Zhou Shaojin’s tears fell.
In her past life, Cheng Xu had repeatedly claimed to like her, yet he allowed Madam Yuan to torment her. In this life, Uncle Chi always enjoyed teasing her, yet he always kept her in mind, fearing she would suffer even the slightest grievance. Even when her sister, who was like a mother and an elder sister to her, confined her, he still sent people to follow her to ensure her safety.
Her sister also said that if a man only buys you things, flatters you, and is willing to humble himself before you but refuses to marry you or give you a proper status, he is not trustworthy and not a good man.
Does that mean Uncle Chi is the best man in the world?
Zhou Shaojin hugged her sister’s arm, her eyes red, and said, "Sister, I’ll listen to you. Please let Nanny Shang and Xiao Tan stay by my side to serve!"
Do not punish Chunwan and Madam Fan Liu.
She believed Uncle Chi would prove that he had not deceived her.
※
Dear brothers and sisters, here is today’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Everyone, the website is undergoing reforms. The Pink Ticket system on the female-oriented site has been canceled and replaced with Monthly Tickets. The Pink Ticket rankings have also been removed and replaced with the Original Works Popularity Rankings.
I only figured out the voting rules for Monthly Tickets yesterday.
Readers, including PC users, APP users, and users from partner channels, can now vote.
Sounds quite impressive, doesn’t it?
In reality, it just means that from now on, not only can votes be cast using a computer, but votes generated by mobile users can also be counted!
Everyone, I’m counting on your Monthly Tickets this month.
Brothers and sisters who read on mobile, please take a moment to vote while reading.
Thank you!
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel