Regardless of the actual situation, in name Ji Ying was Cheng Chi’s maidservant.

She had beaten Cheng Xu, and because of Wu Baozhang’s scream, the Cheng family members would surely arrive soon. Having accomplished her mission, what reason was there to remain here?

Ji Ying’s eyes widened.

Huai Shan made several more gestures.

Ji Ying jumped up in anger.

Zhou Shaojin was at least a relative by marriage to the Cheng family, and Cheng Xu had been in the wrong first. Even if someone wanted to move against her, they would have to consider their reputation, wouldn’t they? Moreover, with the great deity that was the Fourth Master present, he would never let Zhou Shaojin suffer a loss. Having her stay here to protect Zhou Shaojin—what was the meaning of this? Could she possibly punch out Madam Yuan and Old Madam Guo?

Ji Ying raised her hand to gesture back at Huai Shan, but as soon as her arm lifted, Zhou Shaojin’s concerned voice reached her ears: “Ji Ying, what’s wrong with you?”

Huai Shan’s expression darkened, his features stern as he made a gesture signaling “orders cannot be violated.”

Ji Ying’s face flushed deep red. She took several deep breaths before saying, “I want to beat that person surnamed Cheng again.” As she spoke, she clenched her fists.

Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Xu, whose face was covered in bruises, and quickly said, “His current actions don’t warrant death. If we continue beating him, we’ll be going too far. Just let him go!”

Even if Cheng Xu deserved to die, she couldn’t implicate the innocent Ji Ying!

Ji Ying maintained a dark expression and said nothing for quite a while.

The sound of approaching commotion came from outside the cave.

Chun Wan fearfully put her arm around Zhou Shaojin’s shoulder.

“Don’t be afraid!” Ji Ying comforted them. “With me here, no one dares lay a finger on you!”

Though Zhou Shaojin felt uneasy inside, she tried her best to appear calm in her expression.

She said, “Ji Ying, leave quickly! Even if you can’t get away, it’s better to hide near the entrance. If anyone asks, I’ll just say I was the one who struck him.”

Ji Ying looked at the delicate Zhou Shaojin, then at the large-framed Cheng Xu, and couldn’t help but laugh: “You say you beat Cheng Xu—would anyone believe that?”

So that was why Cheng Chi wanted her to stay here?

But why hadn’t he considered what she should do if that Madam Yuan went crazy?

They were both women—was Zhou Shaojin a treasure while she was just a blade of grass?

Ji Ying felt very indignant and decided that when she saw Cheng Chi later, she would definitely ask him about this.

But Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “If I insist it was me, they can’t very well detain and interrogate me, can they? Besides, Chun Wan has already sent someone to notify Ma Fushan. I only need to confront them for a moment before I’ll be out of trouble. At that point, the truth won’t even matter…”

Ji Ying felt Zhou Shaojin’s words made a lot of sense and couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

If even Zhou Shaojin could think of this, there was no reason Cheng Chi couldn’t.

He just wanted her to be the scapegoat for Zhou Shaojin, to reduce Old Madam Guo’s dissatisfaction with Zhou Shaojin—Zhou Shaojin was so delicate and gentle. Beating someone must have been her own idea. Even if Zhou Shaojin wanted to stop her, with Zhou Shaojin’s appearance, could she have?

No wonder Huai Shan had crouched in the tree watching her without making a sound.

Perhaps her staying at home these past days was also Cheng Chi’s idea, just to ensure she’d be available when Zhou Shaojin needed her help… The more Ji Ying thought about it, the more she felt Cheng Chi was full of scheming. She couldn’t help but curse Cheng Chi thoroughly in her mind again.

She felt Zhou Shaojin’s respect for Cheng Chi was truly blind.

When the ten-year term was up and she regained her freedom, she would definitely expose Cheng Chi’s true nature in front of Zhou Shaojin…

Seeing Ji Ying unmoved, Zhou Shaojin became extremely anxious and urged her to leave quickly.

But it was ultimately too late.

The cacophony of footsteps approached the cave entrance. Wu Baozhang, looking terrified, shrieked, “Right there! Right there!”

The eldest young master of the second household, Cheng Shi, was the first to walk in. Then came the eldest young master of the third household, Cheng Zheng, followed by the second young master of the second household, Cheng Yu… the eldest master of the second household, Cheng Hu, and the eldest master of the third household, Cheng Lu… the eldest young master of the fifth household, Cheng Nuo, and a collateral member of the fifth household, Cheng Ju… and also the fourth household’s Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi…

The small cave suddenly became packed to capacity.

Wu Baozhang and her maid were squeezed into a corner, their figures invisible.

Looking at Cheng Xu collapsed on the ground, Cheng Shi’s mouth opened and closed in astonishment. He glanced at Cheng Zheng behind him but kept his mouth tightly shut.

Cheng Zheng folded his hands inside his sleeves and said nothing.

All the eldest masters wore expressions as grave as water, remaining silent.

Only Cheng Nuo and Cheng Ju, who walked at the back of the crowd, didn’t know any better. One stood on tiptoe, craning his neck to look ahead, crying out curiously, “What happened? Didn’t they say Cousin Xu had too much to drink? How did he end up here? If Second Cousin isn’t at Cold Jade Mountain House accompanying the Old Madam, why is she here too?” The other’s lecherous eyes seemed glued to Zhou Shaojin’s body. While responding to Cheng Nuo, he laughed frivolously, “Cousin Xu must have been so drunk he didn’t know north from south, so he wandered here randomly… But I wonder where Second Cousin was going? How did she run into Cousin Xu? Looking at Cousin Xu’s condition, I don’t know if he offended Second Cousin? Second Cousin is like a delicate flower bud—she must have been frightened terribly…”

If he continued speaking, he would be setting the tone for this incident!

Cheng Lu felt both heartache and anger.

Heartache that the family had finally produced a jieyuan scholar, and anger that Cheng Xu hadn’t lived up to expectations—how could he have offended Zhou Shaojin…

“Shut your mouth!” He couldn’t help but bellow, his eyes turning angrily toward them. “The elders are all here—when is it your turn to speak?”

Cheng Ju shrank his neck and hid behind Cheng Nuo.

Cheng Lu couldn’t be bothered with Cheng Ju.

He asked Zhou Shaojin gently as she stood with Chun Wan, “Niece from the Zhou family, you tell us—what exactly happened here?”

As Cheng Lu spoke, he anxiously made eye signals at Zhou Shaojin, as if begging her to say a few good words for Cheng Xu, to turn a major issue into a minor one and let it pass.

But Zhou Shaojin didn’t look at him.

Since this group of people had entered, her gaze had been fixed directly on Cheng Chi at the very back of the crowd.

He walked in with a leisurely gait, with Cheng Lu following at a measured distance behind him.

Uncle Chi’s expression was relaxed and at ease, but Cheng Lu’s expression was obscure and difficult to read. He kept glancing at Cheng Chi walking ahead of him, a trace of barely perceptible resentment flashing in his eyes.

Zhou Shaojin’s vision immediately became blurred.

Uncle Chi must be afraid that Cheng Lu would harm her, so he had kept Cheng Lu at his side.

She knew it. Uncle Chi would definitely not abandon her!

Zhou Shaojin murmured softly, “Uncle Chi.”

As if hearing her, Cheng Chi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, nodded slightly at her with a smile, as if saying to her, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Zhou Shaojin immediately felt filled with courage, her gaze directly meeting Cheng Shi and the others.

Not having received Zhou Shaojin’s answer, Cheng Lu raised his voice and asked again.

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed crimson with shame.

How could she speak directly about such a matter?

The words turned three times in her heart before she felt they were appropriate.

Just as she was about to speak, Cheng Mian walked coldly to the front of the crowd and said to Cheng Lu, “She’s an unmarried young lady—what do you want her to say?” Having said this, he turned around and said kindly to Zhou Shaojin, “You were frightened, weren’t you? Chun Wan, take your Second Young Miss to Joyful Tree Hall. Rest there with the Madam. Whatever needs to be discussed can wait until I return.” It was entirely a protective attitude of “if you have issues, come at me.”

Cheng Chi’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

But Cheng Hu said with displeasure, “Cousin Mian, those words are rather inappropriate! Jiashan has been beaten like this, his life or death uncertain, and only the Zhou family niece and her maid are in the cave… Shouldn’t we at least ask what happened?”

“You!” Cheng Mian’s anger showed plainly. “What is there to ask? My niece was raised with proper instruction, is virtuous and chaste, and learned deportment, appearance, speech, and needlework from my mother. Would she strike Jiashan without reason? You have children too—how can you say such things? And to think you’re the headmaster of the Cheng family school!”

Cheng Hu trembled with anger and said, “What does Cousin Mian mean? Are you saying I’m not qualified to be headmaster of the Cheng family school? Or does Cousin Mian intend to take over the Cheng family school and wants me to step aside?”

Seeing Cheng Hu deflecting, Cheng Mian glared angrily: “What does Cousin Hu mean? We’re discussing Jiashan now—what does this have to do with who runs the Cheng family school…”

Just as the two were about to argue, another commotion of footsteps came from outside.

Yuan Shi supported Old Madam Guo as they hurried inside.

“What is going on here?” Old Madam Guo swept her gaze over everyone, and seeing Cheng Xu lying on the ground in shock, she had just begun to cry out “How could this happen” when Yuan Shi released Old Madam Guo’s hand and threw herself onto Cheng Xu: “Jiashan, Jiashan, what’s happened to you? I’m your mother! Who beat you like this? Who could be so cruel as to beat you like this?” As she spoke, her face streaming with tears, she turned her head back, her gaze sweeping over Cheng Shi and the others one by one before finally settling on Cheng Shi.

Cheng Shi looked toward Zhou Shaojin, his eyes full of hints.

Yuan Shi understood and said sternly, “Was it you who injured Jiashan?” Her gaze showed some confusion.

Zhou Shaojin said frankly, “Though it wasn’t my doing, it happened because of me. Whatever you want to say, just come to me…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Yuan Shi’s eyes already blazed with fierce light, like a mother beast whose cub had been injured, as if in the next moment she would leap up and devour her.

Zhou Shaojin was so frightened she retreated two steps before steadying herself.

She couldn’t help but look toward Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi smiled and nodded at her, his expression full of encouragement.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled greatly!

Yuan Shi’s face showed cold contempt: “Come to you? Who do you think you are? If I come to you, can you bear the responsibility? My Jiashan is this year’s jieyuan scholar…”

Memories from her previous life surfaced in Zhou Shaojin’s mind, slowly overlapping with the Yuan Shi before her eyes.

Those feelings of sorrow and fear washed over her heart. She clenched her hands into fists and said loudly, “So what if your son is a jieyuan scholar? I’m also the treasure of my parents! What gives you the right to speak to me this way? Your son did something wrong but you don’t punish him—you only know how to blame others and shirk your own fault. Even if your son is a jieyuan scholar, what of it? If he doesn’t become irresponsible due to your influence, he’ll offend his colleagues because of your involvement—having a mother like you is worse than having none at all!”

“Outrageous!” Yuan Shi nearly choked with rage. She stood up and raised her hand to slap Zhou Shaojin. “How dare you speak to your elders this way? Today I’ll discipline you on behalf of your parents!”