“I don’t know either!” Ji Ying rolled her eyes and said, “Seeing him throwing a tantrum—would I not run? I’m not stupid! You should know, this Uncle Chi of yours rarely loses his temper! At least in all the years I’ve followed him, I’ve never seen him this thunderously furious—when he’s angry, he usually just schemes against others in secret. He says showing emotions on his face is too exhausting! That’s why I ran over here to hide!”

Before, when Ji Ying kept saying “your Uncle Chi,” Zhou Shaojin only felt honored or sweet. Now, however, she felt guilty.

She couldn’t help saying, “What nonsense are you talking about? Uncle Chi isn’t mine alone!”

“He’s indeed not yours alone.” Ji Ying ate a bite of crispy candy unconcernedly and said, “But he treats you the best. I’m also treating a dead horse as if it were alive… If you can’t protect me, no one else can either, so I won’t lose out. But what if you can protect me? Then wouldn’t I have found the right person!”

Zhou Shaojin was exasperated and said suspiciously, “Did you anger Uncle Chi? Otherwise, why would you be hiding?”

“If I’d angered your Uncle Chi, who knows what corner I’d have been thrown into by now,” Ji Ying said with dissatisfaction. “Would I still be sitting here drinking tea and eating refreshments with you? Why won’t you believe that your Uncle Chi is no saint!”

Zhou Shaojin rarely argued with her at length.

Not wanting to keep circling around the topic of Cheng Chi with Ji Ying, she changed the subject and asked where Ji Ying had been all this time.

Ji Ying remained lazy and sighed, “Just running around east, south, west, and north! If only I could settle down like you one day.”

Then she could practice her swordwork properly.

Now she was like those traveling performers selling their skills, going out while bearing the title of Cheng Chi’s maidservant. Just thinking about it was annoying.

Seeing she didn’t want to say more, Zhou Shaojin stopped asking and took out the winter clothes Biyu had newly made to show Ji Ying.

Ji Ying also knew Biyu was about to be married off and said, “Have you met that Zuo Xian? What kind of person is he? You’re a senior maid beside the Old Madam—marrying you is like holding the Cheng family’s golden rice bowl. Has he had any entanglements with other women before you…”

A barrage of questions made Biyu’s face flush red.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Why are you acting like Biyu’s mother?”

Ji Ying said, “Haven’t I suffered losses myself? I’m afraid others will be deceived too.”

Biyu didn’t know about Ji Ying’s affairs, but Zhou Shaojin did. However, Biyu had served the Grand Madam for many years and knew clearly what questions to ask and what not to ask. She thanked Ji Ying bashfully and said quietly, “Our two families’ ancestors were both the Old Madam’s dowry servants. I also have an older sister who married into the Zuo family long ago. He grew up under my sister’s watch, and it was also my sister who arranged the match…”

“Oh my, so you’re childhood sweethearts!” Ji Ying was very interested and wanted to ask more when Nanny Shang arrived.

Everyone was somewhat surprised.

Especially Zhou Shaojin, who thought Cheng Chi was looking for her.

Who knew Nanny Shang would smile and greet Ji Ying, then say to Zhou Shaojin, “I happened to be free and heard Second Young Miss was at Miss Biyu’s place, so I came over to join the fun. It’s so hot—would you like me to help bathe Snowball?”

Since entering the Dog Days of summer, Zhou Shaojin had been bathing Snowball every day. Occasionally when Nanny Shang passed by, she would pet Snowball. Since she wasn’t one of Zhou Shaojin’s personal attendants, she had never bathed Snowball before.

Zhou Shaojin immediately felt somewhat embarrassed and said, “I’ve already bathed Snowball.” Then she pointed to the embroidered stool, “Let’s all sit and talk!”

“No need, no need.” Nanny Shang smiled and said, “You young ladies talk together. I’ll go feed the birds for Second Young Miss.”

“The birds have been fed too,” Zhou Shaojin said.

Hearing this, Nanny Shang smiled and said, “Second Young Miss has been doing needlework at home these past few days. Should I go to the street to buy you some more embroidery thread or tracing paper?”

“No need,” Zhou Shaojin said. “We still have plenty of these things at home.” Yet she wondered why Nanny Shang seemed so determined to do something for her.

She thought for a moment and said, “If you have nothing else to do, why not help me send word to the flower house to remember to move out the camellia I’m growing to get some night air this evening.”

Nanny Shang happily went off.

Zhou Shaojin said strangely, “What’s gotten into all of you? Is Uncle Chi’s tantrum very scary?”

Ji Ying was already too lazy to explain to her.

The three of them spent the afternoon together in Biyu’s room.

Old Madam Guo kept Old Madam Guan for the evening meal.

Cheng Chi didn’t come over but sent someone to pay respects to Old Madam Guan.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.

She had thought she would encounter Cheng Chi and find out what his mood was like now!

She didn’t know how Uncle Chi was doing now.

Zhou Shaojin worried secretly in her heart as she helped Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan arrange the chopsticks.

Old Madam Guo smiled at her and said, “Your Cousin Gao had asked Madam Gu, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Gu family, to serve as the woman of complete blessings. Now that Madam Gu is in mourning and cannot attend, he’s changed to asking the elder sister-in-law from the natal family of Madam Shen, the second daughter-in-law of the Gu family. Your grandmother’s meaning is that some days ago, thanks to Madam Gu’s efforts, your Cousin Gao’s wedding proceeded very smoothly. Now that Madam Shen’s elder sister-in-law has agreed, we should also express our thanks to the Gu family. Speaking of how you held a flower-viewing party at home some days ago, with several young ladies all gracing it with their presence and both hosts and guests enjoying themselves, she would like you to host again and invite the young ladies of the Gu family who are out of mourning to come play for a day, as a way of reciprocating Madam Gu’s previous care.”

In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had attended several gatherings, but she had been like a little blade of grass at those gatherings—not even worthy of being called an accompaniment. Gradually, she had come to view them with dread and lost interest. But at the flower-viewing party she hosted this time, not only did Zhu Zhu and the others suit her temperament, but they were all people who could accommodate each other. Even the two young ladies from the Guo family had enjoyed themselves thoroughly, feeling reluctant to leave when departing, making plans with Zhu Zhu that they would definitely come drink wedding wine with the adults when she married.

Now having the opportunity to gather again, Zhou Shaojin readily agreed.

Seeing this, Old Madam Guan chuckled and said, “You’ll have to take extra care when the time comes.”

These words were too polite, and based on Zhou Shaojin’s understanding of Old Madam Guan, she felt Old Madam Guan’s smile was also somewhat forced.

Could she be worried that Cousin Gao’s wedding wouldn’t go smoothly?

She speculated but didn’t take this matter to heart.

After all, it was a marriage between two surnames—it was normal for each side to have their own thoughts. As long as they were willing to sit down and discuss things carefully, there was nothing that couldn’t be accomplished.

After the evening meal, they saw Old Madam Guan off. Director Qin sought an audience.

He said that someone had been sent back with a letter from Xinglin Alley in the capital. Madam Yuan had already set out on her journey and would probably arrive home around the thirteenth of the eighth month, in time to return for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Old Madam Guo nodded coldly and instructed Nanny Lu to lead people to thoroughly clean Yunzhen Hall, the main courtyard of the First Branch.

Zhou Shaojin’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.

When Madam Yuan returned, and it being the Mid-Autumn Festival, Cheng Xu would definitely come back.

Where would she hide then?

The thought flashed by, and her mood calmed again.

Since Old Madam Guo had received the news, Uncle Chi must have received it too. Knowing she didn’t like seeing Cheng Xu, he would naturally make arrangements!

Leaving the main quarters, she looked at the pitch-black Tingli Pavilion. After hesitating for a long time, she finally returned to Fucui Pavilion. Early the next morning, she wrote invitations and gave them to Chun Wan, who brought the invitations along with Nanny Wang to the Gu family in Meihua Lane, setting the visiting day for two days later.

Having had previous experience, Zhou Shaojin made preparations for the banquet with practiced ease, then invited Ji Ying to help.

What interested Ji Ying most was going to the kitchen to taste-test the refreshments being prepared for the banquet.

Zhou Shaojin, however, asked her, “Has Uncle Chi’s mood improved at all?”

“Who knows!” Ji Ying said carelessly. “Most of the time he keeps a stern face—I can’t tell.”

Zhou Shaojin pushed her with displeasure.

She paid no mind and said to the kitchen staff, “This bowl cake is delicious—can you steam a few more for me to take back?”

The kitchen woman looked toward Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin nodded slightly.

The kitchen woman smiled and agreed.

Ji Ying said, “Haven’t seen you for a few days, and you’re already managing kitchen affairs.”

“There you go talking nonsense again.” The two of them chatted about this and that while leaving the kitchen.

When returning to Fucui Pavilion in the evening, Tingli Pavilion was still pitch-black.

He wasn’t seen at the evening meal either!

Could Uncle Chi have gone out?

Zhou Shaojin pondered this. Thinking that she needed to get up early tomorrow, she forced herself not to knock on Tingli Pavilion’s door.

The next day, she entertained the young ladies from the Gu family in a waterside pavilion called “Sending Cool Pavilion,” and invited Miss Six and Miss Seven of the Guo family.

The two young ladies from the Guo family were even livelier than when last seen. Miss Six of the Guo family even asked her somewhat bashfully, “That comb in your hair is really beautiful—where did you buy it?”

Zhou Shaojin thought sourly, if you became my Uncle Chi’s wife, who knows how many beautiful combs you’d have… Yet her expression showed nothing as she smiled and said, “It was bought from Hangzhou Prefecture. If you like it, I’ll have someone bring back a set for both you and your sister.”

The ones in her dressing case were bought for her by Uncle Chi—she wouldn’t give those to anyone!

“No need, no need.” Hearing it was bought from such a distant place, Miss Six of the Guo family feared troubling others and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, “I was just asking. I’m not asking you to buy one.”

Zhou Shaojin went along with this and didn’t mention bringing her combs again.

Old Madam Guo, Old Madam Guan, and Mian’s First Wife arrived.

The young ladies all came forward to pay their respects.

Old Madam Guo smiled and told everyone to dispense with formalities, introducing the young ladies from the Gu and Guo families to Old Madam Guan.

Old Madam Guan smiled kindly and gave meeting gifts to all.

Mian’s First Wife only stood to the side supporting Old Madam Guan, but her expression wasn’t very good.

Zhou Shaojin thought it was because of Cheng Gao’s wedding. After Mian’s First Wife sat down, she considerately had a little maid bring Mian’s First Wife a bowl of rock sugar lotus seed and white fungus soup.

Mian’s First Wife took the bowl and set it on the tea table beside her. She held Zhou Shaojin’s hand and patted it gently, tears seeming about to well up in her eyes.

Zhou Shaojin was greatly startled and hurriedly said in a low voice, “Eldest Aunt, what’s wrong?” She also used her body to shield Mian’s First Wife.

Mian’s First Wife took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes, saying, “It’s nothing, nothing. Your eldest aunt only has two sons and wishes for a daughter as caring and sensible as you.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips, but her heart was in turmoil.

Could the Cheng family be preparing to propose marriage to her father?

But that didn’t make sense either!

A marriage proposal should be a happy occasion—why did Eldest Aunt look so sad and sorrowful?