Zhоu Shаоjin tоok two or thrее days tо recоvеr hеr соmрosure.
Shе brought self-made incensе tо seе Mаdаm Мiаn.
Seеing thе inсеnsе was dеnsely and tightlу mаde, with а rich fragranсe that сlearеd thе mind аnd fеlt rеfrеshing, Мadam Мiаn askеd in surрrisе, "What inсensе is this? It smеlls so goоd! Did уou rеally makе it yourself?"
"Тhis is саlled оsmanthus incensе," Zhоu Shаojin smilеd. "It hаs саmрhоr addеd tо it. I madе it follоwing an anсient bооk а few dауs аgо. I didn’t expеct it to turn out well, so I thоught I’d present it аs one оf the gifts fоr Grаndmothеr’s birthday. I’m not sure if it’s suitable, so I brought it for you to take a look first."
"Very good, very good," Madam Mian hesitated. "Since it has camphor added, it should also repel mosquitoes, right?"
"It does repel mosquitoes," Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. When she originally asked Shi Xiang and others to help make the incense, it was for repelling mosquitoes. Later, when she needed to question the old beggar, she used this as an excuse and turned the coil incense into Buddhist incense. "So this incense is best used in summer. In winter, I’ll make sandalwood or lily incense instead."
"I never expected you, staying indoors all day, to come up with such things," Madam Mian laughed, appearing to approve of her continuing to stay at home and tinker with these elegant little items.
Zhou Shaojin seized the opportunity to take out a small plain pinewood box and said, "There’s some loose incense here, best used in an incense burner. This is for you. If you find it useful, I’ll start making winter incense in a few days and prepare more for you."
"Good, good, good," Madam Mian accepted it with a smile.
Zhou Shaojin chatted with Madam Mian for a while before taking her leave.
But upon returning to Fragrant Garden Residence, Shi Xiang quietly informed her, "Steward Ma requests an audience!"
Usually, if there was anything, Madam Ma Fushan would enter the mansion to report to Zhou Chujin.
For Ma Fushan to request an audience...
Zhou Shaojin’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly said, "Where is Steward Ma? I’ll go see him right away."
Ma Fushan was in his prime, and since this was the Cheng residence, it wouldn’t be appropriate to meet him in the inner courtyard.
Shi Xiang said, "He’s drinking tea in the gatehouse."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, instructing Shi Xiang to lead him to the flower hall beside the second gate. She changed her clothes and, accompanied by Chunwan, went to the flower hall.
Ma Fushan bowed to Zhou Shaojin, his expression showing some anxiety. He whispered, "Second Miss, that old beggar... he’s disappeared!"
Zhou Shaojin was astonished.Ma Fushan said with embarrassment, "I thought that old beggar was no good. You rewarded him with thirty taels of silver in one go, and I was afraid he would be insatiable and come back to blackmail you. So I took it upon myself to first give him ten taels of silver and made an agreement with him that if what he said was true, he would receive another twenty taels. I also thought that since he had caused trouble while working as a groom for that family, it would be better to carefully investigate the incident from back then. Even if we couldn’t lure that family here, we could still use this matter to threaten him into not bothering Second Miss again. Everything was agreed upon. But when I went to the inn early this morning to look for the old beggar, he was gone. And he left in such a hurry that he didn’t even take the clothes and towels he had bought just a few days ago. He even owed the inn three days’ rent—the innkeeper said he didn’t look like someone who could afford to stay there and was afraid he would skip out on the bill, so he had a clerk keep an eye on him. Even so, no one knows when he slipped away... Second Miss, what do you think... Could it be that someone found out the old beggar had returned to Jinling and scared him off... or silenced him for good?"
"Silenced him for good?" Zhou Shaojin exclaimed in horror. "That shouldn’t be the case, right?"
For the sake of her mother’s affairs and the old grudge with the Cheng family, would someone really resort to silencing him? Wouldn’t they be afraid of being discovered by the authorities?
But deep down, Zhou Shaojin felt that some people might indeed be capable of such a thing.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have "endured humiliation and shouldered heavy burdens" for so many years. In her previous life, even until her death, she never fully understood what had happened!
She asked Ma Fushan, "Do you know what crime the old beggar committed?"
Ma Fushan smiled bitterly. "When he worked as a groom for that family, he almost abducted and sold their young master. That’s why the family hated him so much and went to great lengths to track him down and hand him over to the authorities."
Zhou Shaojin was stunned and said, "If this person really was silenced for good, he wouldn’t be entirely undeserving."
Ma Fushan said, "These are just my speculations. That old beggar is very cunning. Perhaps he saw the situation turning unfavorable and slipped away early. But I’ll also have someone keep an eye on the official notices from the authorities."
If an unidentified body was found or a homicide occurred, the authorities would post notices on the "Eight-Character Wall."
For now, that was all they could do.
Zhou Shaojin carefully instructed him a few more times before having Shi Xiang see Ma Fushan out.
That afternoon, while copying scriptures at Cold Green Mountain House, she kept thinking about this matter.
If Cheng Lu was truly so ruthless and cruel, perhaps they could catch him red-handed and hand him over to the authorities, putting an end to it once and for all.
Old Madam Guo noticed she was copying fewer Buddhist scriptures than usual and asked, "Are you preoccupied with your grandmother’s birthday celebration? It’s been quite hot these days. Why don’t you take a few days off and come back when the weather cools down?"
Zhou Shaojin was worried about not having time to investigate Cheng Lu’s affairs, so she gratefully accepted the suggestion without declining.
Old Madam Guo appreciated her straightforwardness and rewarded her with two sweet melons, having Xiao Tan escort her back to Fragrant Garden Residence.
Zhou Shaojin then discussed investigating Cheng Lu with her sister.
When Zhou Chujin heard that Cheng Lu might be involved in a homicide case, she couldn’t help but feel terrified and quickly said, "We can investigate, but Ma Fushan must handle it. You are not to get involved."
Zhou Shaojin knew her own limitations and had never intended to investigate the matter herself. Delighted that her sister agreed, she repeatedly promised to stay out of it.Zhou Chujin was still uneasy. Coincidentally, Cheng Jia also complained that the weather was too hot, so classes at Jing'an Study were suspended altogether. Zhou Shaojin spent the entire day at Fragrant Garden Residence. Zhou Chujin then reported to Madam Mian and asked Zhou Shaojin to help her prepare for Old Madam Guan’s birthday celebration.
Madam Mian thought that once Zhou Chujin married, she might have to teach Zhou Shaojin how to manage a household. Having Zhou Chujin guide her now would make it much easier when she took over later. It was a good idea. Not only did she agree, but she also sent a trusted matron to assist the two sisters.
Zhou Shaojin was not unintelligent, but she used to hesitate and shrink from making decisions, appearing indecisive and causing others to worry on her behalf. Now, however, she had experienced some things and realized that what seemed overwhelmingly difficult at first often resolved itself naturally once she took action. Moreover, she had even set a fire... and ultimately, everything turned out fine. She now spoke with confidence, directing servants on what to account for and where to place things, appearing quite capable. When Madam Mian inquired later, she found nothing amiss in Zhou Shaojin’s arrangements.
Zhou Shaojin grew increasingly decisive in her work.
Considering that Old Madam Guan’s birthday fell in the heat of summer, Zhou Shaojin suggested to Madam Mian: "...The midday banquet should be held at Jia Shu Hall, and since the family’s loyal servants will come to congratulate Grandmother, it should be as solemn as possible. For the evening family feast, why not arrange the banquet at Han Qiu Hall? Firstly, it would reflect Eldest Uncle and Aunt’s filial devotion. Secondly, I thought of weaving a bamboo frame, covering it with wisteria and morning glories to create a floral screen, then hanging lanterns around it to add charm. After the meal, we could sit by the screen to drink tea, chat, and admire the moon. If it rains, we could move the screen into the main hall. It would be a delightful touch. What do you think, Aunt?"
Madam Mian thought that every year, they simply set up a few tables in the hall with some fruits and flowers. Although she wasn’t sure whether Zhou Shaojin’s idea would be as wonderful as described, it at least showed the children’s thoughtfulness. She couldn’t help but repeatedly praise the idea, saying, "Leave this matter to you. Just let me know whatever you need."
Zhou Shaojin was skilled with plants and flowers. In her previous life at the estate in Daxing, she had even grown a tree indoors, pruning it into the shape of a towering tree. Creating a decorative scene with wisteria was a simple task for her.
She agreed with a smile and led the servants to select wisteria in the garden.
On the way, she unexpectedly encountered Qing Feng and Lang Yue.
They were still dressed in green Daoist robes, one holding a ceramic jar and the other a Ru kiln flower vase with a single white lotus. As they walked, they whispered to each other: "Aren’t eunuchs supposed to be pale, beardless, and look like women? How is this Eunuch Wan so tall and imposing, like a great general..." Suddenly, one of them caught sight of Zhou Shaojin and the others. They immediately fell silent, looking over with slight apprehension. Upon recognizing Zhou Shaojin, they exchanged glances, tightly pursed their lips, straightened their backs, and walked past her without a glance, as if they didn’t know her.
Though clearly children, they pretended to be adults.
Zhou Shaojin nearly burst out laughing.Wan Tong... Could it be that Wan Tong who was said to be coming to Jinling to take up the garrison post the other day?
Judging by Qing Feng and Lang Yue's tone, Wan Tong came to visit Uncle Chi?
No matter what, he is an important court official, so why is there no news at all in the inner courtyard?
Zhou Shaojin's thoughts wandered aimlessly as Qing Feng and Lang Yue turned a corner in the path ahead, their figures disappearing into the garden.
A matron, thinking Zhou Shaojin didn't recognize Qing Feng and Lang Yue, smiled and said, "The people in Fourth Master Chi's household in the main branch all like to wear Taoist robes. These two young attendants are most likely serving in Fourth Master's household."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded.
Then a servant woman whispered, "I heard that Fourth Master Chi can tell fortunes, and he's very accurate at it. Is that true?"
"That's not called fortune-telling; it's called the 'Book of Changes,'" another servant woman quietly retorted. "I heard from people in the second branch that their old ancestor supposedly knows it too. That year when there was a great drought in the capital, even the Emperor asked the old ancestor of the second branch to perform a divination."
"Wouldn't that make him a living immortal!"
The servant women whispered among themselves.
But Zhou Shaojin inwardly grumbled: If he really knew how to divine, why didn't he foresee that the Cheng family would be raided and exterminated?
She soon found the wisteria she needed, carefully transplanted it into a pot, and instructed Shi Xiang and Chunwan to take turns caring for it day and night. After a few days, the wisteria leaves gradually perked up, and Zhou Shaojin finally breathed a sigh of relief. She then opened the storeroom with the matron in charge of Madam Mian's affairs, took out some festive lanterns, and selected several tall flowering trees to hang the lanterns on.
Just at that moment, Cheng Lu suddenly requested to see Zhou Shaojin.
※
Sisters, today's extra update.
The update will be around midnight.
These past few days with double updates, there's been too much going on, so I can only temporarily set it this way. Once things settle down at work in a few days, I'll try to adjust the schedule.
(^__^)
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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