Qi Hua was surprised by Ji Cheng’s generosity, as she didn’t seem to hold any grudges about the previous incident involving Qi Zheng and Shen Cui. This made Qi Hua feel somewhat guilty. “Sister Cheng, I truly owe you an apology.”
Ji Cheng gently pulled Qi Hua’s hand, not wanting to hear more about Shen Cui and Qi Zheng’s affair. She had decided to remain an outsider in this matter. Ji Cheng was very open-minded; Shen Cui and Qi Zheng were in love, which was something she couldn’t compete with. Ji Cheng herself had no real feelings for Qi Zheng, only regretting the loss of a suitable potential husband.
After Ji Cheng and Qi Hua chatted for a while, they saw Shen Cui and Qi Zheng arrive one after another. Shen Cui’s eyes were filled with emotion, her cheeks flushed, and a smile played on her lips. She was still the same person but somehow appeared three times more beautiful. Ji Cheng couldn’t help but marvel at the power of romance.
Seeing Ji Cheng, Shen Cui sat down next to her. “You left so quickly, you even got here before me.”
Ji Cheng merely smiled without responding.
“Let’s not rest any longer. It’s almost noon, and the Old Madam is waiting for us to have lunch,” Shen Cui said. She then took Qi Hua’s arm and invited her to dine at Huaixue Nunnery. As for Qi Zheng, Shen Cui deliberately gave him the cold shoulder to feign distance in their relationship.
Qi Zheng nodded at Ji Cheng with a smile, but it was filled with apology and an awkward air of having more to say. Finally, Qi Zheng spoke softly, “Miss Ji, I appreciate your kindness.”
Watching Qi Zheng walk away quickly, Ji Cheng suddenly realized that he was similar to her. Qi Zheng was to her what Shen Cui was to him.
Ji Cheng felt utterly bored and laughed self-mockingly. Regardless of Shen Cui’s true nature, whether she was passionate or willful, as long as she was the Fifth Miss of the Shen family, she would naturally have admirers like Qi Zheng.
Moreover, Ji Cheng could imagine that if Qi Zheng were to marry Shen Cui, he would treat her like a precious jewel, never allowing her to suffer any grievances.
Ji Cheng gazed at the white clouds in the mountains. People are born unequal, but aren’t kings, nobles, chancellors, and generals born from commoners? Sometimes it seemed that they indeed were “born different.”
Because Shen Che was born differently, he could ruin Hao Ren’s lifelong career and even threaten his life with just a few words. Such people were no different from Zhu Jijun back then. Ji Cheng couldn’t help but sympathize with Hao Ren a bit more, seeing that he was in a similar situation to herself in the past.
Thinking of Shen Che, when Ji Cheng arrived at Huaixue Nunnery for the vegetarian meal, she didn’t see him. Qi Hua and Qi Zheng were also absent. She later learned that Qi Zheng had declined Shen Cui’s invitation to avoid suspicion and had gone elsewhere with Qi Hua. It was uncertain when their affair would be exposed and whether it could have a happy ending.
After the meal, Ji Cheng discovered that there were also opera performances in the nunnery. She realized her ignorance, mainly due to her infrequent visits to nunneries and temples. However, it seemed that people in the capital, regardless of their social status, enjoyed worshipping Buddha and seeking spiritual guidance.
In Huaixue Nunnery, a few young nuns performed Buddhist parables and stories. The Old Madam watched with great interest, while Shen Yuan, Shen Qian, and the other young ladies didn’t enjoy it and went sightseeing with Su Yun and Lu Yuan.
Ji Cheng, however, stayed with the Old Madam, watching intently. The Old Madam smiled and said, “You’re young, don’t stay here with an old woman like me watching these things. Go enjoy yourself; the autumn scenery is beautiful.”
Ji Cheng replied, “The temples in Jin rarely perform these Buddhist parables. This is my first time seeing them, and I find them quite interesting. Please don’t send me away, Old Madam.”
Seeing Ji Cheng’s sincerity, the Old Madam was even more pleased. She watched the performance while explaining the origins and stories to Ji Cheng.
Just as the performance ended, Shen Che entered from outside. He appeared to have been drinking, his face slightly redder than usual.
The Old Madam immediately asked a maid to bring some sobering soup. “You’ve had quite a bit to drink, haven’t you?”
Shen Che smiled, “I only had a few cups. Zhen Chang brought two jars of chrysanthemum wine personally brewed by the Southern Commandery Prince’s wife.”
The Old Madam asked further, “Did you warm it before drinking? The autumn days are getting cooler; drinking cold wine might upset your stomach.”
“Of course, it was warmed. I knew you’d worry about that, Grandmother,” Shen Che said as he drank the sobering soup brought by the maid.
Ji Cheng watched the interaction between the grandmother and grandson, thinking that the Old Madam indeed favored Shen Che the most, no wonder he had grown up to be such a pampered young master.
As the group began to descend the mountain, the Old Madam and Madam Su rode in bamboo sedan chairs at the front. The Old Madam turned back to instruct Shen Che to look after Ji Cheng, “It’s easy to go up the mountain but difficult to come down. It’s easy to fall when descending. Call more people to assist Ah Yuan, Ah Qian, and the others. Be careful not to let them fall.”
Shen Che agreed to everything.
Ji Cheng walked in front, with Shen Che bringing up the rear. There were many maids and servants between them, eliminating any need for propriety. However, Ji Cheng wanted to speak with Shen Che, fearing that once they returned to the Shen residence, this elusive Second Young Master would disappear again.
So, after walking for a while, Ji Cheng pretended to be tired and rested by the roadside. When Shen Che’s group came down, Ji Cheng called out naturally, “Cousin Che.”
“May I have a word with you?” Ji Cheng asked.
As they were cousins, it was perfectly normal for them to have a casual conversation, and being open about it would not arouse suspicion. If they tried to be secretive, it might make people think there was something suspicious going on.
Shen Che looked at Ji Cheng silently for three breaths. Just as Ji Cheng thought he would refuse, Shen Che smiled and said, “If Sister Cheng wants to talk, this place with many people and prying ears might not be suitable for what you want to say.”
Ji Cheng’s heart sank. It seemed Shen Che had already guessed what she wanted to tell him. How much did he know about her relationship with Hao Ren? As Ji Cheng was pondering this, Shen Che continued, “I haven’t thanked you yet for the Double Ninth cakes you sent to Jiuli Courtyard yesterday. You’re very thoughtful.”
“I’m glad Cousin Che liked them,” Ji Cheng replied.
Shen Che’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and he smiled again, “As they say, ‘the one who eats your food becomes softer.’ Sister Cheng’s sword dance was truly a feast for the eyes. I wonder if there’s a chance to see your heavenly grace again tonight?”
With that, their meeting was set.
Ji Cheng continued to rest, while Shen Che went ahead. As soon as he left, Ji Cheng saw Su Yun approaching from the right side of the path with her maids and servants.
“Sister Yun,” Ji Cheng called out.
Su Yun smiled at her, “Sister Cheng, were you just talking with Cousin Che?”
Ji Cheng said, “I sent Double Ninth chrysanthemum cakes to Jiuli Courtyard yesterday, and Cousin Che was just thanking me for them.”
Su Yun let out an “Oh” and said, “Outsiders say Cousin Che is a playboy, but I think that’s just a rumor. He’s nothing but proper with us sisters, and he rarely even speaks much to us. However,” Su Yun’s beautiful eyes turned to Ji Cheng, “Cousin Che seems to treat you differently, Sister Cheng. He even specially thanked you for the cakes.”
Hearing this, Ji Cheng knew Su Yun was jealous. She smiled and said, “Indeed, he’s usually such a serious person. I don’t know what came over him today; I even felt a bit uncomfortable. Perhaps it was because he had been drinking. He even asked for sobering soup from the Old Madam earlier.”
Ji Cheng spoke frankly, and Su Yun’s eyes scanned her face but didn’t detect any shyness. Su Yun then wondered if she had been overthinking and changed the subject to other matters.
As for the time and place Shen Che had set, it was truly difficult for Ji Cheng. In summer, when she lived in Qing Garden, it was easy to go to Jiuli Courtyard. But now that she had moved back to the small side courtyard, it would be troublesome to go out after all the doors in the mansion were locked at night.
If Ji Cheng wanted to leave the small side courtyard, she would have to pass by the main courtyard where Ji Lan lived, and she might be seen by some servant who would tell Ji Lan.
So, as soon as Ji Cheng returned to the small side courtyard in the evening, she asked Yu Qian’er to get a long ladder, making it easier for her to climb over the roof ridge at night. But this was also problematic. In summer, clothes were thin and easy to move in, but now, although the weather wasn’t bitingly cold yet, the evening wind was chilly, and she needed to wear a long cloak when going out, which was quite cumbersome.
After paying respects to Ji Lan and having dinner, the sky had completely darkened. In autumn and winter, all doors were locked early. Ji Cheng waited in her room for a while until people in various places had started to rest. Only then did she take Yu Qian’er and climb the ladder over the roof ridge towards Qing Garden.
Liu Ye’er stayed in the small side courtyard, waiting for Yu Qian’er to return. When she heard a cat’s meow, Liu Ye’er would climb onto the roof ridge, tie a rope, and lower it down to help the two of them climb back up.
To get from the Third House to Qing Garden, they had to pass through another gate. In summer, the old woman guarding the door might stay awake to keep watch, and you could use some silver to have her open the door and keep quiet. But now, those old women either went to their rooms to drink and gamble or went to sleep, as no one could endure keeping watch all night in the cold wind.
Fortunately, Yu Qian’er usually had a good relationship with these door-keeping old women. So when Ji Cheng couldn’t conveniently tell Ji Lan she wanted to go out, she would quietly leave through the back door of the garden and return the same way, without anyone noticing. These old women were all on Ji Cheng’s payroll, so naturally, her outing tonight had been arranged in advance.
Yu Qian’er meowed like a cat, and sure enough, there was a response from the other side. The door opened quickly, and Yu Qian’er handed a purse to Old Woman Wang, who was guarding the door. “Thank you for your trouble tonight, old madam. I’ll have a maid bring you some wine to enjoy another day.”
Old Woman Wang weighed the purse in her hand, her face beaming with joy. “Don’t mention it. One good turn deserves another. I’m happy to be of use to Miss Yu Qian. But I wonder why your young miss is entering the garden so late? It’s dark and scary.”
As she spoke, Old Woman Wang kept curiously glancing at Ji Cheng, who was standing about ten steps away.
Yu Qian’er lowered her voice and said, “Oh, the young miss has taken up painting with a teacher and wants to paint an autumn night scene. That’s why we’re being troubled like this.” Yu Qian’er pretended to complain, “We’ll have to trouble you to open the door for us again later, old madam.”
Old Woman Wang thought to herself that these young ladies with nothing better to do were all the same, not just this Miss Ji who troubled people. But she said aloud, “It’s no trouble at all.”
Ji Cheng and Yu Qian’er finally entered the Qing Garden without incident. Yu Qian’er lit the wind-proof horn lantern with a fire striker, and they headed towards Jiuli Courtyard, one in front and one behind.
“Young miss, do you think the Second Young Master will spare Mr. Hao?” Yu Qian’er asked.
Ji Cheng didn’t know. She guessed it all depended on Shen Che’s mood. The reason Ji Cheng was so anxious about this matter was that she feared if she didn’t help Hao Ren, he might reveal their joint scheme against Ji Lan, which would be disastrous.