“You’ve lost weight,” Ling Ziyun remarked as he looked at Ji Cheng. People often say that girls change significantly as they grow, but Ling Ziyun felt that Ji Cheng, who was about to turn sixteen, had already transformed remarkably.
The current Ji Cheng seemed somewhat unfamiliar and distant to Ling Ziyun. Back in Jin, although Ji Cheng was beautiful and well-read, there was no sense of distance between them. Now, she seemed like a polished jade, glowing with a priceless luster, reminiscent of the legendary Heshi jade.
As for the distance Ling Ziyun felt, Ji Cheng was completely unaware. She looked at Ling Ziyun with a hint of greed. He seemed to have grown taller; he was already tall, and now he seemed to have caught up with Shen Che in height.
In truth, Ji Cheng thought Ling Ziyun had lost more weight. His cheeks were sunken, and the stubble on his face made him look even more gaunt and weary.
“You’ve lost weight,” Ji Cheng replied.
Ling Ziyun looked at Ji Cheng, unsure of what to say. Before coming, he had a thousand things he wanted to tell her, hoping to persuade her to return. But now, seeing her, he found himself speechless. The harsh winds of Jin made him reluctant to let her go back.
“Brother Ziyun, why are you in the capital at this time?” Ji Cheng asked.
With the New Year approaching, traveling from Jin required crossing many mountains. In winter, the heavy snow blocked the roads, making the journey to the capital perilous. Ji Cheng hadn’t received news from her father in a while, so she was surprised to see Ling Ziyun.
Ji Cheng’s gaze fell on Ling Ziyun’s hands. He quickly hid them, but she had already noticed his fingers were red and swollen like carrots, a result of the cold from the journey.
Looking at Ling Ziyun again, she noticed cuts on his face, hidden by his stubble, only visible up close.
Ling Ziyun smiled sheepishly, “I’ve always had thick skin, it’s nothing.”
Ji Cheng walked to the door and instructed Liuyue, who was standing outside, before returning. “Brother Ziyun, did you come because of the military equipment?”
Ling Ziyun scratched his head, “Uncle Ji came to see my father several times. My father was worried, so I said I’d come to the capital to ask you.”
Ji Cheng nodded, about to explain the situation to Ling Ziyun, but he waved his hand, “No, you don’t have to tell me, Little Rabbit.”
Little Rabbit was the nickname Ling Ziyun had given Ji Cheng. When she was young, she was as white as snow. Although Ji Cheng felt she was tanned like charcoal, compared to Ling Ziyun and others, she was still quite fair, hence the nickname.
“You know me, I’ve never hesitated when you ask for something. My father nags a lot, and I wanted to take the opportunity to see you, so I came,” Ling Ziyun said with a broad smile.
He made it sound easy, but he was placing the entire Ling family’s trust in Ji Cheng. For someone like Ji Cheng, who had spent years scheming for everything she wanted, Ling Ziyun was different. He always offered his genuine heart.
Thinking about her past months in the capital, Ji Cheng realized what she had given up, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.
Seeing her cry, Ling Ziyun panicked, kneeling on one knee before her. He was at a loss for words, so he pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe her tears.
Despite his rough appearance, Ling Ziyun’s touch was gentle, as if he were handling a delicate flower.
Looking at the old, yellowed handkerchief, Ji Cheng couldn’t help but ask, “You still have it?”
Back when Ji Cheng played with Ling Ziyun, she often cried. She understood early on that crying children get candy. Many girls liked Ling Ziyun, but he only had eyes for Ji Cheng.
When she cried, Ling Ziyun would wipe her tears. She disliked the roughness of his sleeves, so he switched to using her handkerchief. Ji Cheng didn’t even need to carry one when they went out; Ling Ziyun always had enough. She never expected that after all these years, he still carried her handkerchief.
“It’s a habit,” Ling Ziyun said with an embarrassed smile.
Ji Cheng smiled through her tears, “Brother Ziyun, get up. A man’s knees are worth gold, what are you doing kneeling to me?”
“If there were gold, I’d give it all to you,” Ling Ziyun teased.
As they spoke, Liuyue brought in snake oil ointment. Ji Cheng asked Ling Ziyun to sit, “Let me see your hands.”
Without hesitation, she took his hands and carefully applied the ointment. At some point, the boundaries between them had blurred, and they were as close as siblings, though their bond wasn’t familial.
Ling Ziyun watched Ji Cheng apply the ointment, realizing she hadn’t changed. She still cared for him.
After she finished, Ling Ziyun couldn’t help but ask, “Little Rabbit, will you come back with me?”
Ji Cheng didn’t answer, avoiding his gaze as she tidied up the ointment.
“If our families can suppress the Tan and Chen families, even the governor will have to respect us. You won’t have to worry about Zhu Jiajun’s nonsense anymore,” Ling Ziyun said.
It was tempting. Ji Cheng felt life in the capital was exhausting, but she was in a difficult position. She wasn’t sure how Shen Che would react.
She needed to wait until the matter was resolved and she had leverage with Shen Che before considering her next steps.
Normally, Ji Cheng would keep Ling Ziyun as a backup plan. She never explicitly rejected Shen Jing, leaving herself options.
But with Ling Ziyun, she couldn’t bear to. The future was uncertain, and even six months ago, she hadn’t imagined her current predicament.
“Brother Ziyun, I made it clear when I left. Now, I hope to see you married with children, and I’ll be their godmother,” Ji Cheng said.
“Are you still mad at me, Little Rabbit?” Ling Ziyun asked. For four years, he regretted not helping Ji Cheng when his mother forbade it. If not for that, he wouldn’t have watched her leave.
“I’ve never blamed you, Brother Ziyun,” Ji Cheng replied. “You know I don’t like talking about the past.”
Ling Ziyun’s expression darkened.
Ji Cheng felt sad but couldn’t show it. She changed the subject, discussing the military equipment and mining business with Ling Ziyun.
She didn’t mention Shen Che, only saying that coming to the capital had broadened her horizons. Jin was too small, and relying on the Tan and Chen families would eventually lead to their downfall.
At first, Ling Ziyun listened intently, but he was distracted by Ji Cheng’s soft voice and her petal-like face. His mind clouded, and he saw her face in every raindrop of his thoughts.
When Ji Cheng returned to the Shen residence, she remembered Shen Cui’s situation. She intended to change clothes first, but Qianyun, Shen Cui’s maid, rushed over, “Miss Cheng, please see my lady. She’s been crying since she returned and won’t say why. Madam is out.”
Ji Cheng hurried to Shen Cui’s room without changing. Shen Cui had stopped crying but sat on the bed, looking dazed.
Ji Cheng turned to Qianyun, “Leave us. Keep an eye on the door. I need to talk to your lady.”
Qianyun left, and Ji Cheng sat on a stool by the bed, “Did you see Qi Zheng? What did he say?”
Shen Cui lowered her head, finally speaking, “He said his mother is unwell and looking for a match for him. He can’t be unfilial.”
Ji Cheng raised an eyebrow, “Did you tell him you’re pregnant?”
“He said he couldn’t ruin me. If people knew I was pregnant before marrying into the Qi family, I’d never hold my head high,” Shen Cui cried. “I thought he’d be happy.”
Tears flowed again, and she wiped them on the quilt.
“What do you plan to do?” Ji Cheng asked.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” Shen Cui shook her head. Qi Zheng wasn’t in a hurry to marry her, as he had her firmly in his grasp. Shen Cui needed a respectable marriage to resolve her predicament.
“Did Qi Zheng say when he’d propose to the Shen family?” Ji Cheng asked pointedly.
Shen Cui shook her head, “He said my mother wouldn’t agree and would be furious. His mother is unwell and can’t handle any stress. If she passed away, he’d feel guilty forever.”
As Ji Cheng suspected, Qi Zheng wasn’t in a hurry. The Shen family would have to pay a high price to marry off Shen Cui respectably.
“You should tell Auntie soon. If Qi Zheng gets engaged to someone else, what will you do?” Ji Cheng advised.
“He wouldn’t dare!” Shen Cui screamed.
“Why wouldn’t he? Can you confront him?” Ji Cheng retorted. Could Shen Cui tell people she was pregnant with Qi Zheng’s child and that he abandoned her?
Ji Cheng couldn’t understand why Shen Cui was so afraid to tell Ji Lan. Didn’t she realize the consequences? Shen Cui knew that people tend to procrastinate when facing a storm, hoping to delay it.
Realizing Ji Cheng couldn’t help, Shen Cui felt resentful. She regretted confiding in her, thinking it gave Ji Cheng a reason to look down on her.
“Shut up!” Shen Cui pounded the bed. “You don’t understand anything.” She didn’t understand the pain, only pushing her, pushing her.
Ji Cheng looked at Shen Cui with a sense of helplessness, wondering how her aunt had raised Shen Cui to be like this.
Suddenly, Shen Cui sat up and glared at Ji Cheng, “Ji Cheng, remember, if you spread this matter, you’ll regret it!”
It was an empty threat, more for show than anything else.
“I won’t say anything,” Ji Cheng replied calmly.
“Are you feeling smug now? I didn’t listen to you back then, and now look at me,” Shen Cui said bitterly.
Ji Cheng was puzzled by Shen Cui’s anger towards her. “I’m not smug. You’re my cousin, and we’re all family. Your situation only makes me feel sad, not proud.”
Shen Cui closed her eyes, realizing she had gone too far. From the first time she saw Ji Cheng, she disliked her. Ji Cheng seemed perfect, always doing and saying the right things, making Shen Cui feel like a piece of rotten wood in comparison.
Fate between people is strange; being excellent doesn’t guarantee others will like you. Sometimes, it only takes one glance to dislike someone.
Ji Cheng felt powerless against Shen Cui. She realized they were natural adversaries. Shen Cui’s pregnancy was something Ji Cheng wanted to avoid, yet Shen Cui insisted on telling her. The thought of facing Ji Lan’s reproach gave Ji Cheng a headache.
Ji Cheng had someone watch over Shen Cui’s courtyard, but that night, Shen Cui didn’t tell Ji Lan about her situation. Instead, she went to bed early, and Ji Cheng admired her ability to remain carefree.
Since Shen Cui had retired for the night, Ji Cheng headed to her refuge, Lan Yue Zhai. After stopping her calming medication, she had trouble sleeping but found some peace there.
Lan Yue Zhai, originally a cramped and suffocating place, oddly gave Ji Cheng a sense of security. With no windows, there was no worry of being watched. As soon as she entered, she kicked off her shoes and lazily reclined on a couch. She had brought a box of snacks, including melon seeds, pine nuts, and walnuts, her favorite treats.
Ji Cheng placed an account book on her lap, snacking with one hand and flipping pages with the other, her mind already planning her trade route to the Western Regions.
Initially, Ji Cheng had sent Manager Mei and others to the Western Regions to expand their territory. Now, with the Jing Shi Army’s support, the foundation was laid. What was needed was a plan to establish their commercial empire.
For merchants, profit comes from buying low and selling high, but the key is information. Ji Cheng considered forming a caravan to regularly travel between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, as well as within the Western Regions, to transport goods. This caravan would handle both their business and external transactions.
Additionally, she planned to open inns in the Western Regions and major trade towns, not just small inns.
With their caravan and bases, everything would be easier to develop. Although they had some foundation, it was far from enough.
The more Ji Cheng thought, the more excited she became. Although she forced herself to read classics like the “Book of Songs” and “Yuefu” for cultural refinement, she found them less engaging than account books.
As she enjoyed her leisure, she heard the sound of a bell, followed by the creaking of the stone door. Ji Cheng sat up, quickly tucking her bare feet under her skirt. Her embroidered shoes lay scattered, one in the west corner and the other on a low cabinet in the east.
Shen Che entered and immediately noticed the shoes. It wasn’t intentional; he had a habit of surveying his surroundings, and the shoes were too conspicuous to miss.
Ji Cheng adjusted her posture, kneeling properly, and smiled at Shen Che, “Cousin Che, are you looking for me?”
“I have something to discuss,” Shen Che replied, sitting across from her and preparing tea. The tea set was his from a previous visit, but he had brought fresh water.
Ji Cheng was used to Shen Che’s behavior, acting like the host. He truly loved tea and enjoyed brewing it.
After kneeling for a while, Ji Cheng’s legs grew numb, so she shifted her position, no longer maintaining decorum in front of Shen Che.
Once Shen Che placed the kettle on the lotus-shaped stove, he asked, “Did Ling Ziyun arrive in the capital today?”
A question he already knew the answer to.
“Yes. Uncle Ling still had some doubts, so Brother Ziyun came to the capital to discuss it with me. There shouldn’t be any major issues with the Ling family. Since Uncle Ling allowed him to come, it shows he’s interested,” Ji Cheng explained.
Shen Che didn’t pursue the topic further. For him, it was enough to monitor progress; the specifics were Ji Cheng’s responsibility.
With the master silent, the atmosphere was tense. Ji Cheng searched for something to say, and she did have a topic. “Did Nangui tell you about Fifth Sister’s situation?”
Shen Che didn’t have time for daily reports from Nangui. They usually sent summaries, and even then, the information was filtered.
However, Shen Cui’s situation was significant enough to be reported to Shen Che.
He glanced at Ji Cheng, “I know a bit.”
Ji Cheng thought, good, then Shen Cui’s issue would have someone to handle it, sparing her the trouble.
“What do you plan to do about it?” Ji Cheng asked curiously.
Shen Che replied indifferently, “What can I do?”
Ji Cheng blinked in confusion, “If this isn’t handled well, it could affect the reputation of the Shen family girls. I thought you would…”
Shen Che chuckled, “Our branch has long been separated. Even if there’s an impact, it won’t be much. Ah Yuan is already engaged, and Ah Xun won’t be affected.”
Such heartless words, Ji Cheng thought. Then why did you use Shen Cui’s issue to coerce me before?
Ji Cheng had hoped to persuade Shen Che to intervene. As he said, it wouldn’t affect the other Shen girls much, but it would greatly impact Ji Cheng. If not handled well, Ji Cheng, living with the Shen family, would also be implicated.
“But the Old Ancestor might be saddened,” Ji Cheng said.
Shen Che poured tea into a cup, speaking slowly, “Third Aunt will handle it. I have a simple way to smooth things over, but if I do, Third Aunt and Shen Cui will never learn their lesson.”
Hearing Shen Che call Shen Cui by name, Ji Cheng knew he was still angry and indirectly blamed her.
Ji Cheng remained silent. Throughout history, older sisters have faced such grievances. When younger siblings misbehave, adults blame the older ones for not keeping them in check.
Ji Cheng was also frustrated, so she stopped engaging with Shen Che. Her thoughts drifted back to Ling Ziyun, the only one who would stand by her side unconditionally.
“Do you feel wronged?” Shen Che sneered, pushing a cup of tea towards Ji Cheng.
Ji Cheng took the cup and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Someone as smart as you should have noticed Shen Cui’s odd behavior,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng nearly bit her lip in anger. She had indeed noticed Shen Cui’s odd behavior during the autumn hunt in the southern garden. Shen Cui was often missing, but with so much happening, Ji Cheng hadn’t said anything.
“I noticed something was off, but I didn’t know Ah Cui would be so bold,” Ji Cheng replied, avoiding harsher words.
“Are you saying you didn’t stand by, waiting to see her suffer?” Shen Che pressed.
Ji Cheng felt cornered by Shen Che’s questioning. She did have such a dark thought.
“Since you chose to stand by then, now that her actions have implicated you, it’s the consequence of your own choice,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng looked at Shen Che, suddenly understanding why Shen Cui disliked her. Was she as preachy as Shen Che, making people want to throw hot tea in his face?
“So, Second Young Master is waiting to see us learn a lesson?” Ji Cheng put down her cup, speaking coldly.
“From Cousin Che to Second Young Master so quickly?” Shen Che chuckled.
Ji Cheng forced a smile but couldn’t manage it, finally saying, “There’s only Second Young Master, no Cousin Che.”
Ji Cheng felt short of breath, her head starting to ache. She rubbed her temples, realizing she wasn’t in the right state to face Shen Che. She didn’t want to say anything harsh or be lectured about not understanding her situation.