Тhе wind rushеd аgainst her fасе, hеr hеart poundеd wildlу, and she fеlt somewhаt brеаthlеss.
Zhоu Shаojin, having livеd two lifetimes, was running like this for thе first timе.
Mаdam Jiаng’s mаidsеrvаnt cаllеd оut аnхiouslу from behind.
Chеng Jiа let оut a bell-like lаugh.
Zhou Shaоjin felt a sеnsе оf unrеstrаinеd еxhilarаtiоn.
Thеn, shе sаw Pаn Qing and Сhеng Xu.
Under thе lаrge lоcust tree bеside the pаth, Раn Qing was gаzing at Cheng Хu with а bаshful eхрrеssiоn.
Сhеng Xu, drеssеd in a bаmboо-green rоbe, stооd tаll and hаndsоmе, grаceful as а jade tree in the wind.
Тhe two werе chatting аnd laughing, еngrоssed in thеir conversation.
Hearing the commotion, they turned to look in this direction, both wearing expressions of astonishment.
Zhou Shaojin nearly couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Heaven itself was helping her!
Pan Qing had indeed come looking for Cheng Xu, and she had even succeeded—they were meeting alone, just thirty or so steps away from the Water Pavilion, without bringing any servants or maids.
All she needed to do was exclaim in surprise, "Cousin Qing, what are you doing here? Didn’t I just tell you that Cousin Xu and the others are at the Water Pavilion?" Those who had been gathered around Madam Mian would testify for her, while Shi Xiang, who had stayed in the flower hall, could use the commotion of Madam Jiang’s maidservant chasing her and Cheng Jia to draw the attention of those in the flower hall to this scene… Everyone would then "realize" that Pan Qing had found out Cheng Xu was at the Water Pavilion and had secretly slipped out of the flower hall to meet him… Her goal would be achieved!
Zhou Shaojin gradually slowed her steps.
She looked expressionlessly at Pan Qing and Cheng Xu and pulled Cheng Jia to a stop.
Cheng Jia stood panting beside Zhou Shaojin, her bright, clear eyes fixed unblinkingly on Pan Qing.
Pan Qing had a guilty conscience. Being stared at like this by Cheng Jia, whom she had always suppressed, made her feel somewhat flustered.
Cheng Xu, on the other hand, was quite embarrassed.
He clearly hadn’t expected Zhou Shaojin to come across him and Pan Qing meeting alone. His lips moved as if he wanted to explain, but he didn’t know how to begin.
From the direction of the flower hall, Shi Xiang’s somewhat shrill voice rang out: "Second Miss, Miss Jia, don’t run! Be careful not to fall."
A faint smile curled at the corner of Zhou Shaojin’s mouth, and a flicker of mockery flashed in her eyes.
Pan Qing was taken aback and was about to speak when, unexpectedly, Cheng Jia jumped forward.
"Pan Qing, you knew perfectly well that Cousin Xu and the others were at the Water Pavilion, yet you still came here? What exactly are you trying to do?" Perhaps because she had been suppressed by Pan Qing for too long, or perhaps because these words had been brewing in her heart for a long time, she seemed agitated, the veins at her temples bulging. "This isn’t like that day during the qin competition, where it was all among our own family. Today is the birthday celebration of the Fourth House’s Elder Anren. Besides the Cheng family’s young men, there are also male guests from outside. How could you come out here without bringing anyone? Don’t forget, you’re a guest in the Cheng household! Although our Cheng family indulges its daughters, we are not without rules…"
Zhou Shaojin’s mouth fell open in surprise.
How could she have forgotten Cheng Jia’s temper… If she had known earlier, she shouldn’t have involved Cheng Jia! But without Cheng Jia, how could Madam Jiang’s people have chased after them? How could she have drawn the attention of those in the flower hall…
Zhou Shaojin felt a pang of guilt.
Madam Jiang hurried over.
"Hold your tongue!" Her fair face was now as dark as the sky before a storm, gloomy and overcast. "Who are you to speak here? Your cousin Qing merely happened to run into your cousin Xu. What are you making such a fuss about? She is your cousin, and you’re not acting like an elder sister at all!"
Zhou Shaojin turned away.She saw Cheng Xian behind Madam Jiang.
Her lips were bitten, her face somewhat pale, her gaze obscure.
Madam Yuan followed behind Cheng Xian.
She wore a smile, yet her eyes were like poisoned daggers, gleaming with a dark and icy light as she stared at Pan Qing.
Shi Xiang, Guo'er, and others followed behind Madam Yuan with fearful expressions.
Meanwhile, over at the flower hall, a crowd had gathered under the corridor.
Zhou Shaojin let out a long sigh, her palms drenched in sweat.
It was finally done smoothly… without any mishaps…
Shi Xiang ran over and softly called out, "Second Miss."
Her trembling voice betrayed her current tension and fear.
Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath and nodded at her with a smile.
Shi Xiang's expression eased slightly.
Cheng Jia, who had been repeatedly lectured by her mother in front of everyone, was utterly heartbroken.
Even at this moment, her mother was still defending Pan Qing… Wasn't she her own flesh and blood?
Tears suddenly fell as Cheng Jia sobbed, "Mother, why do you always protect Cousin Qing? If she did better than me, I wouldn't have anything to say. But this time, it was clearly her fault. Why do you still defend her? Is she the true daughter of the Cheng family, while I was picked up from the roadside? It was the same last time during the zither competition. That 'Phoenix Cry' zither was made by Cousin Xu himself. Although it was a prize, everyone knew that if one of us cousins won, the jade pendant given to him by the Second Branch's Old Ancestor wouldn't be suitable as a prize, so Cousin Xu offered the zither instead… You always say Cousin Qing is sensible, but if she truly were, she should have exchanged prizes with Cousin Chujin on the spot, not accepted the zither without hesitation and played it in her room every day…"
Zhou Shaojin broke out in a cold sweat.
Cheng Jia—when she didn't want to speak, she remained silent, but once she started, her words could wound someone to the bone.
They had considered everything, but they never expected the one to ruin things would be Cheng Jia!
Madam Jiang was so furious she could spit blood, wishing she could step forward and slap some sense into her foolish daughter.
Yet Cheng Jia remained completely unaware and continued, "Mother, do you know why I started paying attention to Cousin Qing? That day when Cousin Qing went for a walk, she somehow ended up all the way at Clear Stream Lake, where she happened to run into Cousin Xu passing by…"
Pan Qing was dumbstruck, only now realizing the situation had escalated!
She instinctively looked toward Madam Yuan.
Madam Yuan's gaze was like a poisoned blade, striking deep into her heart.
Pan Qing shuddered.
Cheng Xian, however, closed her eyes, her legs went weak, and she swayed unsteadily, about to "collapse."
She couldn't let Cheng Jia say any more… Who would have thought she knew so much… Why hadn't she guarded against the foolish Cheng Jia back then… And Madam Jiang, usually so shrewd and capable—why couldn't she step forward decisively now, cover Cheng Jia's mouth, and stop her from spouting nonsense?
She "slumped" to the ground.
"Madam!"
Madam Jiang hurried to support Cheng Xian.
Cheng Xu anxiously took two steps forward, but upon seeing his mother's dark expression, he reluctantly retreated.
Meanwhile, Pan Qing, her face as pale as plain silk, quickly ran to her mother's side. "Mother, Mother, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"
Servants from the Third Branch also rushed over.
Perhaps hearing the commotion, several men emerged from the Water Pavilion.
As they walked, they called out loudly, "What's happened?"For a moment, the scene became somewhat chaotic.
Cheng Jia hadn't expected her words to "faint" Cheng Xian.
She stood there in a daze, at a loss for what to do.
Zhou Shaojin hurried forward to take her arm, comforting her in a low voice: "It's all right. Aunt won't be in any danger. She probably didn't know about Cousin Qing's situation, and hearing it so suddenly was too much for her to bear. She'll be fine once she catches her breath."
Apart from Zhou Shaojin, no one paid her any attention.
Cheng Jia clung to this lifeline, tightly grasping Zhou Shaojin's hand resting on her arm.
Zhou Shaojin pulled Cheng Jia aside. In her heart, she silently prayed that nothing serious would happen to Cheng Xian. Otherwise, if the label of "defying one's elders" were pinned on Cheng Jia, her life would be ruined.
Cheng Xu had somehow made his way to Zhou Shaojin's side.
He whispered, "Cousin Shaojin, Cousin Qing came to me hoping I could put in a good word for her—to ask Grandmother to give her some guidance in calligraphy. I thought her handwriting was quite good, just lacking a bit of strength. If she could study under Grandmother, she would surely achieve greater mastery. That's why we... met... I thought everyone was at the Water Pavilion, and to avoid trouble, I didn't bring any servants... Who knew Cousin Qing didn't bring any either..."
Why are you telling me all this? Look at your mother's expression—shouldn't you be explaining this to her first? Don't let her anger fall on me later; I won't just stand there and let myself be trampled...
Zhou Shaojin grumbled inwardly.
Someone pushed Guo'er aside and exclaimed in alarm, "Mother! Mother, what's wrong with you?"
It was Pan Zhuo.
He had heard the commotion and come out from the Water Pavilion.
Zhou Shaojin looked up.
Cheng Lu and Cheng Shi stood not far away under a large tree. One was gazing thoughtfully at Cheng Xu beside her; the other was watching Cheng Xian, who was surrounded by the crowd, with concern.
Zhou Shaojin turned her head away.
Yet Cheng Lu's gaze remained fixed on her.
Nanny Wang approached with a cheerful smile: "The time for offering birthday wishes is almost here. The Old Anren has asked me to invite everyone back to the main hall." Then her expression tightened, and she exclaimed, "Oh dear!" anxiously asking, "What's wrong with Aunt? What happened?"
"It's nothing, nothing," Madam Jiang replied with an unnatural smile. "Aunt is just feeling unwell for a moment..."
Nanny Wang didn't press for details and quickly instructed the maids who had followed her to fetch some Ren Dan pills and draw some well water.
Zhou Shaojin stepped forward to bow to the elders and said softly, "Soon, those at the Water Pavilion will be coming to offer birthday wishes to Grandmother. Cousin Jia and I should return to the main hall first!"
Madam Jiang was truly afraid of her daughter—what if she said something else inappropriate? That would be disastrous.
Before anyone else could speak, she said, "Shao Jin, your Aunt Xian still needs help here. After all, it's the Old Anren's birthday, and you must be very busy. You go back to the main hall first! Jia'er will return with me later."
You're selling Cheng Jia out and still making her help you count the money...
Zhou Shaojin didn't want Cheng Jia to stay in this place.
She insisted on returning to the main hall with Cheng Jia: "There are plenty of maids and servants here. Cousin Jia is too upset right now and probably won't be of much help anyway."
Madam Yuan, who had remained silent until now, also said, "Just let them go back. What can two little girls do to help if they stay here?"
After all, it was her own daughter. Madam Jiang looked at Cheng Jia's dazed expression, sighed almost imperceptibly, and nodded.Zhou Shaojin pulled Cheng Jia away from the troubled spot.
On the way, she asked Cheng Jia, "Do you feel that you caused Aunt Xian to faint, and that's why you're so heartbroken and upset?"
The numb Cheng Jia remained silent, her tears falling even faster.
Zhou Shaojin said, "How can this be blamed on you? If we must talk about whose fault it is, it's Aunt Xian and Cousin Qing's fault—Aunt Xian is Cousin Qing's mother, yet she knew nothing about what Cousin Qing did. If you did something, would Aunt Lu know nothing about it? At least if I did something, I definitely couldn't hide it from my sister."
※
Today's bonus update!
o(n_n)o~
The regular update will still be around midnight.
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
OpenNovel