Cheng Chi gave a cold laugh.

Qin Ziping quickly said, “Then I’ll go find Second Master.”

Second Master referred to Cheng Chi’s second brother, Cheng Wei.

Now that made sense.

Cheng Chi nodded.

Qin Ziping withdrew.

Cheng Chi sat alone in the study, eyes closed, leaning against the back of the grand armchair, lost in thought.

Second Brother had spent his whole life learning from Second Uncle, yielding his position to Eldest Brother. Even with his only son, Rang Ge’er, he merely taught him to study and learn, to be gentle and honest, fearing any conflict with Jiashan that would make others laugh at the First Household. But Eldest Brother was too upright—sometimes, being overly rigid led to easy breaking.

But could a family clan truly prosper relying on just one person?

Would having an abundance of talent necessarily invite suspicion and wariness from the imperial family?

Yet even with the Cheng family keeping such a low profile, hadn’t they still ended up with their entire household executed?

A bold idea emerged in Cheng Chi’s mind.

But before he could think it through carefully, Zhou Shaojin arrived.

He had Nanny Shang invite Zhou Shaojin to the resting chamber while he turned to fetch a canister of Da Hong Pao tea before going to the resting chamber himself.

Zhou Shaojin was sitting on the arhat bed, flipping through the go manual he had left on the tea table. The apricot-red vest set off her white jade-like delicate face, and the South Sea pearl earrings the size of lotus seeds shimmered faintly, lending her an elegant grace tinged with luminous serenity—an indescribable refined beauty.

Those earrings were ones he had given her…

Cheng Chi’s breathing caught slightly, an indescribable subtlety stirring in his heart.

Sensing movement, Zhou Shaojin turned around with a beaming smile, happily calling out “Uncle Chi,” her curved eyes bright as a crescent moon.

Cheng Chi casually raised the tea canister in his hand and said, “Let’s brew some Da Hong Pao.”

Zhou Shaojin jumped down from the arhat bed and said excitedly, “I’ll boil the water.”

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh, teasing her, “That’s about all you’re capable of.”

Zhou Shaojin thought nothing of it and said with a charming laugh, “Uncle Chi’s standards are so high. If the water I boil satisfies you, clearly my skills aren’t bad.”

Cheng Chi was amused by her brazenness and laughed again.

Langyue was very perceptive and helped Zhou Shaojin boil the tea water. Zhou Shaojin didn’t stand on ceremony either. She knelt on the mat fanning the fire while smiling and chatting with Cheng Chi: “Today I was playing at Gu Family’s Seventeenth Miss’s place. I really didn’t expect that such a large family as the Gu’s would have no space to live. But Seventeenth Miss said her living quarters were actually quite good—facing south from the north. Her nineteenth and twentieth younger sisters live in a side chamber that faces the opposite direction—facing west from the east. Winter is fine, at worst you just wear more layers, but come summer, the heat makes people break out in rashes. So they give up the main hall for Nineteenth and Twentieth Misses to live in…”

Cheng Chi flipped through the go manual while responding absentmindedly, “That’s why many great clans and families look quite glorious on the surface, but in reality their lives aren’t much better than ordinary households. In some families, all the clothing and shoes for all four seasons are made at home. They never hire seamstresses, telling outsiders it’s because these are personal items they fear being seen by strangers. In reality, they’re saving every penny they can.”

Zhou Shaojin knew this.

Many declining meritorious families in the capital lived this way.

“Ultimately, it depends on the descendants making something of themselves,” she said. “Even mountains can be eaten bare. Otherwise, they should let go of face and keep a low profile. What can be saved will naturally be saved.”

Cheng Chi quite agreed with this point.

Seeing the water boiling, Zhou Shaojin carefully carried the iron kettle of hot water over using a handkerchief, making small talk: “What is Uncle Chi looking at?”

An unfamiliar fragrance wafted faintly around his nose.

Cheng Chi smiled slightly, his mood suddenly becoming very pleasant. He said with a smile, “What you were just flipping through—Liu Fuzhi’s Lishan Immortal Matron position.”

Zhou Shaojin just smiled.

She had glanced at it briefly but couldn’t understand it at all. She only felt there was still a large empty area on the side where they could open up new territory to compete for victory.

Cheng Chi didn’t expect her to understand. He reached for the teapot in her hand and said, “Be careful not to burn yourself. Let me do it!”

“No need, no need.” Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “I’ll help you wash the cups.”

Cheng Chi glanced at her and said, “Can you?”

“Of course I can!” Zhou Shaojin glared at Cheng Chi and said, “It’s just that my tea ceremony skills aren’t as refined as yours!”

Cheng Chi said nothing.

As if to say, you clearly know that already.

Zhou Shaojin smiled awkwardly and handed the iron kettle to Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi skillfully washed the bowls and warmed the teapot.

Zhou Shaojin sat to the side watching.

As soon as the water was poured into the teapot, the tea fragrance wafted out.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but take a deep breath and say, “It smells wonderful.”

Cheng Chi smiled slightly and poured the tea into the small tea cups.

The two of them savored the tea fragrance and quietly drank a pot of tea. Only then, as he began brewing the second infusion, did he speak up: “Who did Cheng Jia marry in your previous life?”

Zhou Shaojin said, “Li Jing!”

But her eyes were fixed on Cheng Chi’s hands.

Cheng Chi’s hands were pale and slender, his movements deft and nimble. Against the light-colored Ge kiln tea cups, they seemed carved from mutton-fat jade, yet full of vitality.

She couldn’t help but look at her own hand holding the tea cup.

Slender and pale as scallions, the pinkish nails like petals delicately placed at the fingertips.

Also quite pretty.

Zhou Shaojin nodded with satisfaction in her heart, then heard Cheng Chi say, “Then why were you crying?”

Her face flushed crimson as she said, “I really was thinking about Elder Sister. Why does Uncle Chi keep asking?”

Zhou Shaojin herself didn’t notice that when she said this, she had actually pouted, her sweet and soft voice sounding both coquettish and pleading.

He knew this little girl was a rascal.

Knowing she couldn’t hide from him, she simply clenched her teeth and refused to speak.

If Ruyi Pavilion hadn’t turned up nothing in their investigation, would he need to interrogate her here?

Cheng Chi snorted softly in his heart and said, “Was Li Jing very bad to Cheng Jia?”

“He was very good to her!” Zhou Shaojin was so afraid Uncle Chi would interfere in Li Jing and Cheng Jia’s affair.

Without the events of the previous life, it was already very difficult for Li Jing to marry Cheng Jia. If Uncle Chi got involved, the two of them definitely wouldn’t succeed!

She quickly told Cheng Chi about the events from her previous life.

As Cheng Chi listened, his chest felt as if it were being torn apart.

This little girl was so heartless and unfeeling.

With Cheng Jia’s temperament, if she hadn’t been consumed by guilt, how could she not dare to see her? How could she have died young from melancholy!

Yet this girl spoke of it without any reservations.

This further confirmed his suspicions—clearly in the previous life, Cheng Xu couldn’t have merely been improper. He must have done something even more excessive!

As Cheng Chi thought about this, a searing pain welled up in his heart.

The young girl was like a flower blooming on a branch in early spring—tender and delicate, untainted by any worldly dust. How could Cheng Xu have done such a thing? How could he bear it?

He closed his eyes, forcibly restraining himself from reaching out to touch Zhou Shaojin’s hair—since he had resolved to keep his distance from the gradually maturing young girl, he should have that self-control.

Seeing Cheng Chi’s expression wasn’t quite right, Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat anxious and said softly, “Uncle Chi, do you think there’s something wrong with Li Jing?”

In her previous life, it was Li Jing’s people who had sent Cui Huan to find her, then Cui Huan returned to Luoyang, and after that she never had news of Li Jing again. Of course, if she had wanted to inquire, she certainly could have. But she didn’t want to inquire or know.

Her feelings toward Cheng Jia were very complex—both sisterly affection and piercing pain. The only thing she could do was not think about this person, this matter.

After her rebirth, she discovered that because of her avoidance, she actually knew nothing about many things. Nor were things as she had imagined. This made her even more afraid to act based on events from her previous life.

Seeing her large clear eyes, distinct in black and white, gazing at him unblinkingly, filled with unquestioning trust, Cheng Chi’s heart immediately felt as if it had collapsed, soft and tender. He couldn’t help but show a warm smile: “Right now we don’t know what he’s planning! However, based on what you’ve said, Li Jing has most likely fallen for Cheng Jia. But no matter how things develop, that’s all Third Household business. It has nothing to do with us. From now on, you should meddle less in their affairs. When things come to light, Madam Lu might become so angry she’ll take it out on you, saying you were the one who arranged things between them.”

With Jiang Shi’s personality, this was certain.

Zhou Shaojin loved chatting with Uncle Chi.

She obediently nodded and said, “Then I’ll just stay in my room making autumn clothes for Old Madam—I’ve already cut out two garments but haven’t had time to sew them.”

Cheng Chi was very satisfied and said with a smile, “You don’t need to push yourself so hard. Needlework strains the eyes. If you can delegate some work to people around you, then do so. If there’s no one suitable, I’ll assign you two maids skilled in needlework.”

The corners of Zhou Shaojin’s mouth couldn’t help but turn up as she said sweetly with a smile, “How could I let others make things for Old Madam? Besides, it’s only late spring now. Autumn is still far off!”

“Then you decide for yourself!” Cheng Chi felt that sometimes no amount of talking was useful—one had to learn from experience. So he changed the topic: “You just said that when you were at the Gu family, Seventeenth Miss entertained you. Are you on good terms with Gu Family’s Seventeenth Miss?”

Zhou Shaojin thought of what Gu Shiqi had asked of her and quickly said, “Gu Shiqi is a very good person. Her father is Fifth Master Gu, one of the less prominent among the several masters, but she has a cheerful and lively personality, is even-tempered and straightforward. I really like her.”

Cheng Chi nodded noncommittally and brought up the Guo family: “…My maternal uncle is an informal person, and my mother is also forthright. During festivals, if we three brothers are home, we deliver the festival gifts ourselves. If we’re not home, we send a steward. This year I want to visit the Guo family together with Mother. You should come along too.”

Zhou Shaojin was like a child being forced by adults to go socialize. She said with lowered brows and obedient eyes, “Can, can I not go?”

“Why?” Cheng Chi asked, though his expression remained gentle.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and said somewhat embarrassedly, “The young misses of the Guo family are all so reserved and serious. If I went, I wouldn’t know what to say to them…”

Moreover, judging from Old Madam Guo’s tone that day, one of the Guo family’s young misses might become her aunt. She… she didn’t want to go.

In other words, the young girl didn’t get along with the Guo family people.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “That’s fine! Then I’ll go deliver the festival gifts to the Guo family alone. When Mother goes by herself, with no one by her side to keep her company, I’m somewhat worried.”

Uncle Chi wouldn’t enter the Guo family’s inner courtyard, would he?

Zhou Shaojin felt a bit happy in her heart.

She quietly tugged at Cheng Chi’s sleeve and said, “Uncle Chi, let me also make you an autumn garment, shall I?”