With the elders handling the matter of Duke Liangguo’s mansion, Zhou Shaojin slept soundly and peacefully that night.
When she woke the next morning, she felt refreshed and unprecedentedly lighthearted.
“Shi Xiang,” she said with a smile as she sat before her dressing table, instructing her senior maid, “After breakfast, heat up the iron. When I return from paying respects to Grandmother, we’ll quickly iron Father’s and Stepmother’s clothes. If Father can make it back for the Mid-Autumn Festival, there are only a few days left, and I still have to go to Cold Jade Mountain Lodge this afternoon to copy scriptures!”
Shi Xiang smiled and agreed, helping Zhou Shaojin put on her pearl hairpin and instructing the junior maids to set out breakfast.
Zhou Shaojin had just picked up her chopsticks when Cheng Jia arrived.
She wore a silver-red scorched cloth vest and looked somewhat tired.
Zhou Shaojin quickly invited her to sit down and asked if she had eaten breakfast.
Cheng Jia shook her head listlessly.
Shi Xiang had already swiftly brought in a bowl and chopsticks for Cheng Jia.
Cheng Jia glanced at the table and said disdainfully, “Why do you drink plain rice porridge every day? Can’t you have something different?”
“Plain porridge is good!” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “Plain porridge nourishes the stomach.”
“Do you have stomach problems or are you advanced in years?” Cheng Jia said dismissively, curling her lip. “You eat like an old lady.”
Zhou Shaojin was slightly stunned.
These words really hit the mark.
Since her rebirth, it seemed she had retained her original living habits…
Zhou Shaojin gave a self-mocking smile.
Cheng Jia was already instructing Shi Xiang: “Bring me a bowl of soy milk and three soup dumplings—no, make it five. I want to eat and drink my fill.”
Shi Xiang smiled with pursed lips and withdrew.
Zhou Shaojin teased her: “Are you planning to go work the fields harvesting crops?”
“Harvest what crops!” Cheng Jia said resentfully. “I’m eating my fill so I’ll have the energy to quarrel with my mother.”
Zhou Shaojin guessed something had gone wrong with the Zhu Pengjiu matter.
She said in confusion, “Could it be that Cousin Zheng…”
“No!” Cheng Jia said, her eyes reddening. “Brother said to wait and see for now. After all, Duke Liangguo’s mansion hasn’t explicitly said these items were sent by the heir. They weren’t specifically sent to just me alone. Even if they have some ulterior motive, who knows whether they’ve set their sights on you or me. We’re being so anxious, acting like we’re guarding against thieves—we’ll just be laughed at. I thought what Brother said made sense. As long as we don’t agree, we’ll deal with whatever comes—surely nothing will go wrong. But my mother seems to have her heart clouded by lard. Early this morning, she actually sent someone to inquire about Duke Liangguo’s mansion, and she told the aunt teaching me etiquette to put in extra effort. If she teaches well, she’ll be rewarded a hundred taels of silver. That aunt is crafty as can be—before, she only had me balance a book while walking, but now she’s replaced the book with a bowl… I was too lazy to deal with her, so I simply ran over here to you.”
Zhou Shaojin sighed.
Good thing she wasn’t born into the third branch. Good thing Father hadn’t married Cheng Xian!
The two quietly finished breakfast. Zhou Shaojin needed to go pay respects to Old Lady Guan.
Cheng Jia linked arms with her and said, “I’ll go with you!”
Zhou Shaojin thought that was fine, and went with Cheng Jia to her sister’s quarters. After Zhou Chujin finished getting ready, the three went to Jiashu Hall.
At the entrance, they encountered Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi, who had just finished paying their respects to Old Lady Guan.
Seeing Cheng Jia, both were quite surprised. After everyone exchanged greetings, Cheng Gao’s gaze fell on Zhou Shaojin, while Cheng Yi teased Cheng Jia: “You came so early in the morning to curry favor before my grandmother—could it be you have a favor to ask?”
Cheng Jia’s heart stirred upon hearing this, and she laughed, “How is it that when you come to pay respects it’s filial piety, but when I come to pay respects it’s ulterior motives? What kind of logic is that?”
“I didn’t say you had ulterior motives.” Cheng Yi bantered with Cheng Jia. “Those are your own words…”
But Cheng Gao turned away from Zhou Chujin and gave Zhou Shaojin a meaningful look, pointing toward the century-old locust tree at the entrance of Jiashu Hall. Then he pulled his brother along: “Early in the morning, instead of reciting your lessons, you know how to quarrel with people. Hurry up and come with me to the study hall. Be careful not to be late and get punished by standing. How many times this month have you been punished by the teacher?”
“Brother, Brother,” Cheng Yi pleaded. “The elder and younger sisters are all here—at least give me some face.”
Everyone laughed heartily.
Old Lady Guan inside the room heard them and couldn’t help but laugh as well.
When Zhou Shaojin and the others entered to pay their respects, she took Cheng Jia’s hand and asked with great interest about her daily life recently.
Zhou Shaojin, mindful of her appointment with Cheng Gao, sat for a while then excused herself to go to the washroom, leaving the Rest Banquet Room.
Cheng Gao was waiting for her under the tree.
She ran over breathlessly and said, “What did Cousin Gao want to see me about?”
Cheng Gao was silent for a moment, then said carefully, “The news about Uncle-in-law’s reassignment as Prefect of Baoding has spread throughout the family—did you know?”
Zhou Shaojin nodded in confusion.
Cheng Gao said thoughtfully, “It’s also spread throughout the clan school, and someone even wrote an essay about which positions more easily lead to promotion to capital official. If anyone tries to get close to you in the future, be more careful yourself and don’t trust what those people say so readily.”
“Who’s so bored!” Zhou Shaojin disliked people who focused their thoughts on seeking advantages. She frowned and said, “Cousin Gao, rest assured, I’ll be careful.” However, since Cheng Gao had specifically come to tell her this, the matter must be more than just people trying to get close to her. She said straightforwardly, “Cousin Gao, has something happened at the clan school? You should just tell me directly! Otherwise I’ll hear distorted versions from others.”
Cheng Gao was surprised and laughed, “Second Cousin, you’ve changed a lot. You even dare to ask me directly now!”
So before she hadn’t even dared to say this?
Zhou Shaojin’s face reddened.
Cheng Gao smiled and said, “Some things are just my own guesses… Xiangqing has been somewhat strange lately… He’s fine when he’s with Jiashan, but when he’s alone he’s always gloomy. When others ask him, he doesn’t share his thoughts like before, but instead smiles bleakly and says dispiriting things…”
“What has he been saying?” Involving Cheng Lu, Zhou Shaojin asked seriously.
Cheng Gao observed her, thinking she was worried about Cheng Lu. After hesitating for quite a while, he finally decided to say, “Things like sometimes people have no choice but to yield, and that a real man without achievements and fame shouldn’t think about beautiful wives and concubines—they’re just flowers in a mirror, the moon in water… I also heard rumors that Jiashan is very protective of you, and because of you, he once made things difficult for Xiangqing. Fortunately, Xiangqing thought quickly on his feet. With his superior learning, not only was he not stumped by Jiashan, but he even earned Jiashan’s admiration and became good friends with him…”
Zhou Shaojin was dumbfounded.
So she had become a two-timing femme fatale who, together with the bullying Cheng Xu, had helped establish Cheng Lu’s good reputation?
She was so angry her face turned red and her whole body trembled.
Cheng Gao, seeing this, felt sorry for her and quickly said, “But don’t take these words to heart. The important thing now is to ignore both of them. Qin Zi’an—well, he’s a classmate of mine at the clan school—he secretly told me that Xiangqing told him that Jiashan’s mother is determined to find a young lady from generations of official families for Jiashan, to help him in his official career…”
“How would he know?” Zhou Shaojin’s heart sank.
She thought only someone like her who had been reborn, who had experienced Yuan Shi’s hysteria, would know of Yuan Shi’s stubbornness and persistence.
“Xiangqing told him privately.” Cheng Gao’s expression grew somewhat heavier as he said in a low voice, “I keep feeling there’s something fishy about all this… Everyone knows you’re my cousin, yet they tell me these things. It’s as if we’re the ones trying to climb up and establish connections with the first branch…” He carefully observed Zhou Shaojin’s expression and said softly, “I feel like these words seem intended for me to pass on to you… And these words started circulating after Uncle-in-law’s reassignment to Baoding Prefect… Qin Zi’an said everyone knows, but when I tried asking a few classmates, whether they’re hiding it from me or what, everyone seemed bewildered…”
Cheng Lu, despicable villain!
Without asking, Zhou Shaojin knew whose handiwork this was!
In her previous life, he had treated her the same way.
Her eyes reddened as she said, “Cousin Gao, don’t worry about this matter. Grandmother said Father might make it back for the ancestral rites and Mid-Autumn Festival. When the time comes, I’ll tell Father.”
“Don’t, don’t, don’t.” Cheng Gao said awkwardly. “Some of it is just my speculation. If Uncle-in-law asks, I can’t produce any evidence. I just wanted to tell you that with things having reached this point, the best approach is for you to ignore everyone…”
He was tactfully advising Zhou Shaojin not to marry either of them.
Zhou Shaojin understood his implication and said, “Cousin Gao, I understand. I won’t pay attention to either of them.”
Cheng Gao’s expression relaxed as he said, “It’s a pity there isn’t a suitable person. Otherwise, if you were betrothed, the matter would be over.”
Since Cheng Lu intended to harm her, even if she became betrothed, would he let it go? He might even intensify his efforts and make things worse.
Zhou Shaojin resolved once again that after her sister married, she would leave Jinling City. Until Cheng Lu married and had children, she would never return to Jinling to visit family. But she also couldn’t let Cheng Lu continue spreading such talk—whoever caused the trouble should resolve it.
She suggested, “Cousin Gao, could you tell Cousin Xu what you told me? With Cheng Lu saying such things, it’s as if Cousin Xu and I have something going on. This ruins both my reputation and Cousin Xu’s reputation…”
Cheng Gao smiled bitterly and said, “How could I not have told Cousin Jiashan? But he doesn’t believe it. What can I do?”
With Cheng Xu’s intelligence, if Cheng Gao could see there was a problem, Cheng Xu couldn’t possibly fail to notice.
Why would he allow the situation to develop this way?
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t figure it out.
She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
If only Uncle Chi knew about this matter—he would surely figure out the whole cause and effect in an instant… But Uncle Chi had already helped her many times. How could she have the nerve to seek him out again? Moreover, when asking favors of people, once or twice others might help for the sake of face, but constantly asking for help with matters both big and small—even the most good-natured person would find it troublesome. She still needed to save that goodwill to ask Cheng Chi to warn Cheng Jing! She couldn’t waste it on this.
Zhou Shaojin could only say, “Then we’ll just have to wait until Father returns!”
Cheng Gao hesitated as if wanting to say more.
Zhou Shaojin said reproachfully, “At a time like this, what is Cousin Gao still holding back?”
Cheng Gao smiled embarrassedly and said, “I was thinking, what if Uncle-in-law doesn’t come back? What do we do? Tell my father? Or tell Grandmother?”
Even if she told the two elders, what good would it do?
Zhou Shaojin was silent for quite a while before saying, “If Father doesn’t come back…” She steeled herself. “I’ll tell Madam Yuan…”
She refused to believe that Madam Yuan would remain unmoved upon hearing this!