Cheng Xu was contemplating that he really ought to apologize to Zhou Shaojin.

He sneaked a glance behind him.

But he saw Zhou Shaojin still maintaining that appearance of eyes focused on nose, nose focused on heart, following far behind him.

He suddenly felt somewhat mischievous, wondering: walking like that, wouldn’t she trip and fall? If she did fall, would she cry loudly from the pain, or would she pretend nothing happened and get up to continue walking… However, given her temperament, she would probably pretend nothing happened and get up to continue walking… If he ran over to help her then, would she push him away in embarrassed anger… What would she look like when embarrassed and angry? Would her cheeks flush red with anger, her nose turn rosy, or would she keep a stern face with beautiful eyes brimming with tears? Either way, she would definitely look beautiful…

Thinking this, Cheng Xu turned back to glance at Zhou Shaojin again.

Zhou Shaojin acted as if she knew nothing, continuously reciting in her heart “the mirror is fundamentally not a stand, only foolish people trouble themselves.”

Feicui, however, was terrified, regretting so much she wanted to slap herself twice.

If only the eldest young lady of the Zhou family had followed along… What should she do now?

In the eerie silence, a small mountain appeared before them, with a bluestone path winding upward. Strange rocks lined the roadside, vines draped in layers of green, trees shading from the sun, with unknown white wildflowers blooming at various heights, presenting a scene of natural mountain charm.

Cheng Xu pointed toward the mountain peak: “That’s Changchun Hall up there.”

Zhou Shaojin vaguely saw gray eaves.

She stopped and asked, “Why don’t you have Da Su come down!”

This was the first time she had taken the initiative to speak to Cheng Xu. Her voice was soft and sweet, like that silky sugar candy, sweetening one’s heart all the way through.

Cheng Xu couldn’t help but be momentarily dazed.

Zhou Shaojin’s brow furrowed slightly.

Cheng Xu came to his senses, his face immediately heating up. He hurriedly said, “That ‘Beauty Under the Moon’ statue was bestowed upon our Cheng family by the imperial court of the previous dynasty. Although times have changed, only two or three still exist in the world, making it extremely precious. There’s nothing here—what if it gets bumped or damaged? Changchun Hall not only has tables and chairs, but also copper basins, scented soap, hot and cold water…” At this point, he finally understood what Zhou Shaojin was concerned about. Suddenly comprehending, he quickly added, “And there are two servant maids attending…” Afraid Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t believe him, he added, “Besides, there’s Feicui too, isn’t there?”

Feicui only hoped to complete this task quickly. Hearing this, she quickly said, “Yes, Second Young Lady, I’ll accompany you.”

In any case, the old madam had already given her word. If that seal couldn’t be retrieved, at worst they’d smash that reward vase… No matter what, she must return the second young lady of the Zhou family to the reception hall without a single hair harmed!

Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment, then extended her hand toward Feicui, saying, “This stone path isn’t easy to walk on. You’d better support me.”

Feicui looked at the neat bluestone path and silently supported Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin then looked at Cheng Xu.

Only then did Cheng Xu come to his senses, repeatedly saying, “Follow me!” He strode up the stone path with large steps.

Zhou Shaojin and Feicui followed behind him.

As the terrain rose higher, the undulating mountain ranges, pavilions at various heights, and buildings of all sizes gradually came into view. She even saw small figures dressed in red and green on the Peony Terrace.

She had never known that Jiuru Lane was this large.

The morning breeze brushed against her face, greenery filled her vision. Zhou Shaojin felt refreshed and relaxed, gradually letting her guard down. A hint of a smile appeared in her eyes, making her face become softer and more gentle.

Seeing this, Cheng Xu couldn’t stop the smile from creeping to the corners of his eyes and brows. He said, “Second Cousin of the Zhou family, the scenery here is quite nice, isn’t it?”

His tone carried unmistakable flattery.

Feicui couldn’t bear to watch.

Zhou Shaojin, as always, ignored him completely.

But Cheng Xu felt quite pleased with himself.

In his view, although Zhou Shaojin had remained silent, she had previously kept a stern face, but now her expression had softened, which showed that she was someone who could be approached. As long as he persisted with gentle words and soft speech, even if Zhou Shaojin had a heart of stone, there would come a day when it would soften like silk around one’s finger.

He immediately became more energetic and continued talking to himself: “Second Cousin of the Zhou family, actually you should come out and walk around more often. In the past when my sisters were at home, they often came here to climb mountains. You could also invite Elder Cousin of the Zhou family to come here when you have nothing to do, couldn’t you? Oh right, the Gu family is holding a poetry gathering in a few days. Would you like to go? How about I have my cousin from the Gu family send you an invitation?”

Zhou Shaojin now understood that the so-called Elder Cousin Gu referred to the family of Gu Qinghong, who had been the teacher of Old Madam Guo’s father, Guo Yuansheng.

Since Cheng Xu called people from the Gu family his cousins, it meant the Gu and Guo families were extremely close, and even the Cheng family had become family friends with the Gu family as a result. But today was the second branch’s old ancestor’s birthday banquet, and the Gu family had sent people to pay respects, so why were there no female relatives from the Guo family? Was it because Old Madam Guo’s natal family had no one, or was there another reason?

Zhou Shaojin’s thoughts wandered as her mood became somewhat melancholy.

Cheng Xu was so familiar with his cousins from the Gu family, so why hadn’t he taken a fancy to a Gu family cousin in her previous life? Why did he have to drag her down with him?

Cheng Xu was also quite melancholy.

Zhou Shaojin had just seemed quite happy, but why had her face darkened again in the blink of an eye… He didn’t know which of his words had offended her… Her temperament was too unpredictable!

Cheng Xu sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, they had arrived at Changchun Hall.

Gray tiles and white walls, the black-lacquered moon gate stood wide open, and a young maid still wearing her hair in loops stood in front of the moon gate, standing on tiptoe to look out.

Seeing them, the little maid immediately ran in joyfully. As she ran, she called out, “The eldest young master is here!”

Immediately, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old maid came out to greet them.

She wore a silver-red vest with yellow honeysuckle patterns, had delicate features, and a graceful figure.

Zhou Shaojin recognized her at a glance as Yuru, the head maid beside Cheng Xu.

No, she wasn’t yet the head maid beside Cheng Xu. Currently, Cheng Xu’s head maid was Biru. Only after Biru was sent away would Yuru be promoted to head maid.

She was Cheng Xu’s trusted confidante.

In her previous life, when she was being punished by Yuan Shi, Yuru often went to inform Cheng Xu, and Cheng Xu would find an excuse to come over, forcing Yuan Shi to let her off. After this happened repeatedly, Yuan Shi noticed the pattern. If not for Cheng Xu’s protection, Yuru would have almost been sold off by Yuan Shi.

Zhou Shaojin’s feelings were complicated.

But Yuru knew nothing of this. Smiling, she stepped forward to greet the three of them, saying cheerfully with a face full of smiles, “Everything is prepared, just waiting for the second young lady to come and try to see if she can retrieve the item.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded at her and entered through the moon gate.

Facing her were five spacious side rooms. The black-lacquered door panels with plum blossom ice-crack patterns were all inlaid with transparent glass. The sun shining on them made them sparkle brightly, like luminous gemstones.

And this was just one of the Cheng family’s reception halls for entertaining guests, and not even a frequently used one at that.

Walking inside, she faced a twelve-panel black-lacquered mother-of-pearl screen depicting immortals and playing children. Black-lacquered armchairs and black-lacquered mother-of-pearl tea tables and flower stands were arranged tastefully around the room. Because there were no flowers or plants displayed, although the entire reception hall was clean and tidy, it felt rather cold and lacking in vitality.

Da Su stood before the screen holding a jade-white large-bellied reward vase, looking nervous.

Seeing Cheng Xu, he breathed a sigh of relief, called out “Eldest Young Master,” and placed the reward vase on the nearby tea table.

Yuru and another little maid brought in water and scented soap.

Seeing that Cheng Xu and the others didn’t appear to be pretending, Zhou Shaojin calmed her mind and stepped forward to examine the reward vase.

Round and full, crystal clear as jade, like a bright moon.

Only the mouth of the vase was not even as large as a baby’s fist.

But it was still very beautiful.

Zhou Shaojin could barely restrain herself from reaching out to touch the reward vase.

Yuru had already skillfully mixed warm water and brought over the scented soap: “Second Young Lady, please lather this to soften your hands! Just now, Xiao E and the others couldn’t get their hands in.” Her tone was quite concerned.

Zhou Shaojin nodded, lathered her hands with the scented soap, and tried to insert her hand into the reward vase.

But after several attempts, she was unsuccessful.

Zhou Shaojin asked Yuru to bring in hot water.

The softer the hand, the easier it would be to insert.

She decided to try one last time.

Feicui was somewhat worried.

Sometimes getting in was easy, but getting out was difficult.

She glanced at Cheng Xu beside her, wanting to speak but hesitating.

But Cheng Xu seemed to suddenly come to his senses. He quickly called out to Yuru and said to Zhou Shaojin, “Please don’t force it. Let me think of another method!”

Zhou Shaojin was furious.

If you had another method, why did you call me here?

She looked at Cheng Xu.

Under Zhou Shaojin’s gaze, Cheng Xu sheepishly touched his nose and said, “I, I just thought of it…”

Yuru and the little maid looked at Cheng Xu in astonishment, their jaws nearly dropping.

Da Su turned his face to the side even more.

It was Feicui who had seen this several times and had developed resistance, helping Cheng Xu out of the awkward situation: “I wonder what good method the eldest young master has thought of?”

Cheng Xu smiled and said, “Watch me.”

He turned the reward vase upside down.

With a series of tinkling and clinking sounds, half of a bronze reclining deer appeared at the vase’s mouth.

But it was stuck right at the opening.

Cheng Xu smiled and said, “I think that since this thing could fall in, it must be able to come out—it’s just a matter of orientation.” He instructed Yuru, “Go fetch a red string.”

Yuru found a red string from somewhere and brought it over.

Cheng Xu tried to thread the red string through the small gap between the reclining deer’s hooves.

That way he could pull the seal out.

But Cheng Xu’s hand was somewhat unsteady. Several times the red string just missed the reclining deer.

This was because he had never worked with needle and thread.

Zhou Shaojin signaled to Feicui: “Go try it.”

Feicui had wanted to take over for a while now. Only because Cheng Xu hadn’t spoken, she couldn’t volunteer herself. Now that Zhou Shaojin had spoken up, she smiled and stepped forward: “Eldest Young Master, let me try!”

Cheng Xu laughed twice and handed the red string to Feicui.

Feicui tried several times but also failed.

Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to say, “Let me try.”

Feicui handed the red string to Zhou Shaojin. Zhou Shaojin tried it, then had Da Su gently rotate the reward vase, changing the seal’s position several times. As everyone held their breath, she threaded the red string through.

Yuru cheered: “Second Young Lady’s needlework must be excellent!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled.

Cheng Xu immediately said, “So your needlework is excellent! Yuru has the best needlework among all the maids in my quarters. If she says you’re good, you must be truly excellent. Why don’t you make me a few tassels? Last time I saw the tassels on the sachet on Elder Cousin Gu’s fan were beautifully made. I asked Yuru to make me one, but Yuru said she didn’t know how. You must know how…”

Hearing this, Yuru wanted to jump in frustration and hurriedly said, “Eldest Young Master, what kind of person is the second young lady? What kind of person am I? How can you ask the second young lady to make you tassels? If you truly want them, you should properly ask the old madam! That would be the proper thing to do!”