Madam Song knew that the old madam before her was the mother of the newly appointed Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, Cheng Jing. Naturally, she summoned her full spirit and attention. Not only was she all smiles, but her words and actions all conveyed warmth and familiarity. “I’m quite thick-skinned, so I won’t stand on ceremony with Old Madam. When Old Madam has leisure time, you must visit the capital so I can fulfill my duties as a host.” Then she removed a pair of twisted red gold bracelets from her wrists to give to Zhou Shaojin. “I didn’t know I would meet Second Young Miss here. This is a small token of my regard—Second Young Miss, please don’t disdain it.”

This was social courtesy between the two families. Zhou Shaojin naturally wouldn’t refuse and make the Cheng family seem lacking in judgment.

She smiled and stepped forward to express her thanks, accepted the bracelets, and handed them to Chun Wan beside her.

Madam Song was also a young lady from a family with generations of scholarly tradition, though by her generation they had declined considerably. Although she later married Song Jingran and followed him to the capital, most of the time she still managed household affairs in the inner quarters, and her experience was limited. Zhou Shaojin’s appearance was exceptionally outstanding, and she had shed that bit of provincial air. In Madam Song’s eyes, this was what a true daughter of a prestigious family should be like. She couldn’t help but like her very much. After the midday meal, when everyone moved to the lounge to drink tea, she pulled Zhou Shaojin along and asked endless questions.

However, Old Madam Guo was an astute woman. From her youngest son’s tone, Yuan Weichang and Song Jingran weren’t particularly close. Cheng Jing had just entered the cabinet as the most junior member. Whether to continue favoring the Yuan family or to maneuver between Yuan Weichang and Song Jingran—it was too early to tell at this point. Being too close to this Madam Song, who clearly didn’t quite understand the situation, wasn’t a good thing. At least not now. So regarding Madam Song’s questions, she was somewhat reserved in her responses.

Madam Song heard that the Zhou family and Cheng family were related by marriage, and that Madam Yuan, seeing Zhou Shaojin’s excellent calligraphy, had asked Zhou Shaojin to help copy a volume of the Surangama Sutra to offer at Mount Putuo. Madam Song couldn’t help but exclaim in wonder—Madam Song could only recognize her own name. She tentatively began asking about Zhou Shaojin’s marriage prospects.

Though Old Madam Guo was also surprised, she felt this was within reason. However, she had absolutely no interest in the old acquaintance Madam Song mentioned.

If this Madam Song was like this, one could imagine her old acquaintance couldn’t be much better!

So after drinking tea, Old Madam Guo sent Zhou Shaojin back to her room to copy sutras. “In a few days we’ll be stopping in Suzhou. Suzhou has many famous temples, and we’ll inevitably need to visit and pay our respects.”

Zhou Shaojin was merely less thoughtful, not stupid. As soon as Old Madam Guo spoke, she understood her meaning. Moreover, she didn’t much like the idea of a blind arranged marriage as Madam Song described. She always felt that if she were to marry in this life, it had to be someone her father and older sister approved of.

In her previous life, every New Year she had envied those couples who returned to the wife’s family home together, where the husband would sit with the wife’s brothers eating and drinking heartily.

She smiled and answered “Yes,” and returned to the eastern wing room with the maids and servant women attending her.

Chun Wan dejectedly helped Zhou Shaojin grind ink.

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips and said, “Go rest. Old Madam was just making polite conversation with Madam Song—how did you take it seriously?”

“Ah!” Chun Wan’s eyes widened. She said, “Really? But I thought Old Madam didn’t seem to be joking…”

“If even you could tell Old Madam was using evasive words, how could she possibly fool Madam Song?” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “Just listen to me and you’ll be fine. Go rest!”

“How strange!” Chun Wan muttered as she withdrew. “When did Second Young Miss become able to read even Old Madam’s thoughts…”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but pause upon hearing this.

Yes, indeed!

When had she become able to hear the subtext in Old Madam’s words… That Zhou Shaojin who trembled with fear, hid under the covers, and left all difficult matters to her older sister now seemed suddenly very distant and strange when she thought back…

Zhou Shaojin smiled and casually pulled a book from the curio cabinet shelf to browse.

It was a book praising the late emperor’s achievements, already rather old. She flipped through it but really couldn’t continue reading.

Fan Liushi walked in with a beaming smile and said, “Second Young Miss, Miss Ji Ying has come!”

Zhou Shaojin was feeling bored and quickly went out to greet her.

Ji Ying was wearing men’s short jacket and trousers. She pulled Zhou Shaojin toward the beach by the Qiantang River to play. “…Fourth Master found such a great location. Once I go to Suzhou, it won’t be this convenient anymore. Didn’t you say you wanted to take off your shoes and walk barefoot on the beach? While Old Madam has a guest and Fourth Master is resting, let’s go play for a bit and come right back.”

Zhou Shaojin was accustomed to following rules. Though she had become much more relaxed recently compared to her time in Jiuru Lane, some things were ingrained in her bones. Hearing this, her heart stirred greatly, but she still hesitated. “That doesn’t seem quite proper! We should tell Uncle Chi.”

In her intuition, Cheng Chi was easier to talk to than Old Madam Guo.

Ji Ying thought the opposite. “Telling Fourth Master would be harder than telling Old Madam! I see Old Madam treats people very kindly and amiably. How is Fourth Master not at all like her?”

By rights, they should inform Old Madam before going out.

Zhou Shaojin said, “Why don’t you go tell Old Madam?”

No matter how tolerant Old Madam Guo was, they couldn’t take advantage of her kindness!

Ji Ying pushed Zhou Shaojin. “If you can convince Fourth Master, why would I need to embarrass myself before Old Madam?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with the corners of her mouth lifted and went to see Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi was alone studying a game of chess. When he learned of their intention, he not only agreed to let her and Ji Ying play on the Qiantang River beach for a while, but also instructed Qin Ziping to accompany them, saying, “If Old Madam asks, just say I sent you.”

Zhou Shaojin was so happy she nearly jumped up. She thanked Cheng Chi repeatedly. On the way to the beach, she even asked Ji Ying, “Does Uncle Chi have anyone important he needs to curry favor with? When I return, I’ll embroider a Guanyin image for him too, which he can use when someone’s family celebrates a birthday or marries off a son.”

Chun Wan agreed heartily and quickly said, “Second Young Miss, I’ll help you separate the threads!”

Ji Ying, exasperated, said with disdain, “Fourth Master just agreed to let you go out and play for a bit—do you need to be so grateful as if he were your reborn parents? What Guanyin image? I think you should just buy him a box of pastries on the street. No need to be so fawning, right?”

Zhou Shaojin actually nodded seriously and said, “I think we should buy two boxes of pastries and also embroider a Guanyin image.” After finishing, she turned to ask Qin Ziping, who was following far behind them. “Do you know what kind of pastries Fourth Master likes to eat? We could learn to make some!”

Ji Ying indignantly grabbed Zhou Shaojin. “Can’t you have some self-respect!”

“What conflict is there between having self-respect and making pastries for Uncle Chi?” Zhou Shaojin asked, puzzled.

Ji Ying was speechless.

Qin Ziping had to suppress himself to keep from laughing out loud.

Ji Ying had always been somewhat gloomy, but since meeting Zhou Shaojin, she had become increasingly cheerful, lively, and active, gradually resembling the “Miss Ji family” of jianghu legends.

He said gently, “Fourth Master eats anything, as long as it’s well-made and delicious.”

Zhou Shaojin frowned. “That’s the hardest part! What tastes good—everyone has their own preferences. Can’t you give an example? Like, does he prefer flaky pastries, or does he like the fragrance of osmanthus…”

Qin Ziping smiled. “I truly don’t know about these things you mention. I’ll pay attention in the future.”

Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt there was good reason why Qin Ziping could become a steward at such a young age.

She smiled and thanked Qin Ziping, then went with Ji Ying and the others to the beach.

The river water that had been surging with mighty waves in the morning now gently lapped against the shore.

Zhou Shaojin looked around. Seeing that Qin Ziping was stationed on the embankment with a few young servants, and that aside from their group there were no others, she felt at ease. She took off her shoes and stepped onto the sand.

A river wave surged forward. Zhou Shaojin ran toward the shore but couldn’t avoid it—her hem got wet.

The cold river water soaked through her socks.

She smiled slightly and turned around to see Chun Wan and the others holding hands as they walked across the beach.

Ji Ying smiled. “Aren’t you going to take off your socks?”

“In a bit.” Perhaps because there were no elders present, Zhou Shaojin felt less urgency. She smiled. “I’ll walk on the beach for a while—it won’t be too late to take off my socks then.”

Ji Ying nodded and proceeded to remove her own socks.

Zhou Shaojin quickly said, “Can’t you find a secluded spot before taking them off? Steward Qin is watching from the embankment!”

“It’s so far away—what can he see?” Ji Ying didn’t care. She removed her other sock, stepped into the river water with one foot, and called out, “It feels so good! You should hurry and take off your shoes and get in the water too!”

Zhou Shaojin looked toward the embankment.

Qin Ziping was sitting leisurely by the embankment, talking with the accompanying young servants.

Chun Wan and the others were already playfully piling sand into walls.

Zhou Shaojin used her skirt to shield herself and quietly removed her socks.

Stepping barefoot on the sand felt ticklish and very unfamiliar, but also quite interesting.

Zhou Shaojin dug at the sand with her toes. A small hole appeared in the sand surface, water seeped in, like a little hollow formed by raindrops.

She became very interested and moved to another spot to continue.

A wave surged forward. Unable to avoid it in time, her skirt got completely soaked—quite embarrassing.

Zhou Shaojin laughed heartily and went to wring out her skirt.

Her knee-length pants clung tightly to her legs, slender and delicate. Her feet stepping on the beach were like carved mutton-fat jade, with beautiful lines. Placed together with the somewhat rough sand, the sight couldn’t help but evoke pity.

Qin Ziping quickly lowered his eyes and said to Cheng Chi, “Should we go call Second Young Miss and Ji Ying back…”

“No need!” Cheng Chi gazed at Zhou Shaojin’s face, bright with laughter like sunshine, and said lightly, “They rarely get to come out like this. Just let them play well. As for Mother, send someone to report back, saying I’ve taken Second Young Miss and the others to a nearby farm to inquire about agricultural matters.”

That Madam Song had heard that the decorative border on Mother’s skirt was dignified, substantial, yet bright, and knowing it was embroidered by this girl, insisted she draw a pattern for her. That’s why Mother had sent someone to find her… However, given Mother’s personality of disliking others ordering around people close to her, she would just have them look. If they couldn’t find her, Mother might even be happier.

Qin Ziping sent someone to report back.

Zhou Shaojin, who had been chasing waves back and forth in what seemed to Cheng Chi a rather foolish manner, inadvertently turned her head and caught sight of him.