Old Madam Guo was extremely surprised.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin realize that Ma Fushan had come at an inopportune time.
She feared that both Old Madam Guo and Uncle Chi would mistakenly think he had come to back her up.
Zhou Shaojin hastily said, “I was the one who called him here. I wanted to have him deliver some things to Baoding Prefecture earlier.”
Most likely, the people around Shaojin were worried she would suffer a loss and deliberately went to report the news, weren’t they?
But Old Madam Guo no longer had the heart to fuss over such matters.
It was originally their fault—could Shaojin only passively take whatever came her way?
Old Madam Guo said kindly, “Go on! See what matter Ma Fushan is seeking you for.”
She knew she couldn’t hide it from the Old Madam.
Zhou Shaojin blushed slightly and left the main hall of the Hanbi Mountain House to meet Ma Fushan.
Ma Fushan hadn’t come alone—he had also brought several burly, muscular men, though they all remained outside the Hanbi Mountain House. In his words: “We’re not here to fight with the Cheng family, just to ensure Second Young Miss isn’t forcibly detained.”
When he saw her, he looked her up and down without any sense of impropriety, fearing she had lost even a single hair.
If Father didn’t value her, how would Ma Fushan treat her this way?
Zhou Shaojin’s nose stung with emotion, and she grew even more determined to go to Baoding—out of sight, out of mind. Here, seeing Uncle Chi every day and hearing Old Madam Guo and Madam Yuan discuss finding a match for Uncle Chi, the days passed like cutting flesh with a dull knife, growing more heart-wrenching with each passing day, yet she couldn’t even cry out in pain.
She said to Ma Fushan, “With Uncle Chi here, nothing will happen to me. It’s just that there are some things I can’t clearly explain to Father. Please help me write a letter to Father saying I want to go to Baoding Prefecture for New Year. Come to fetch me first thing tomorrow morning. Regardless of Father’s reply, I can no longer continue staying at Nine Ru Lane.”
Cheng Xu was recuperating from his injuries in Old Madam Guo’s canopy bed chamber.
Ma Fushan nodded and said, “I understand. I’ll come to fetch Second Young Miss first thing tomorrow morning.”
Zhou Shaojin was about to see him out when Chun Wan burst in like a gust of wind.
“Second Young Miss, Second Young Miss!” She was panting, yet her eyes shone as bright as stars in the sky. “Fourth Master is truly formidable! With just a few words, it became that Young Master Xu had been drugged, lost his wits, and took liberties with Miss Ji Ying…”
“Ah!” Both Zhou Shaojin and Ma Fushan were greatly shocked. Zhou Shaojin said further, “Then what happened to Miss Ji Ying? Was she punished? What exactly did Uncle Chi say? Tell me quickly.”
To shift the matter onto a maid who served others was naturally the best outcome possible.
Ma Fushan didn’t leave either, standing at the doorway listening to Chun Wan recount what happened in the flower hall: “…Both Huanxi and Da Su were summoned. Before questioning even began, they were each given ten heavy strokes of the board. Da Su was all right, but Huanxi couldn’t even stand up—he had to be propped up by servants for questioning.” Perhaps thinking of that pitiful scene, Chun Wan’s face paled somewhat. “Both Huanxi and Da Su guaranteed that Young Master Xu had never taken anything like Five Stone Powder. Then Fourth Branch’s First Master Cheng Mian, who was sent to search Duojia Pavilion, also came back to report that there was no such substance in Young Master Xu’s room… Now everyone is discussing who drugged Young Master Xu, and no one is even concerned about Second Young Miss’s matter anymore. Fourth Master let me return, telling me to stay home properly these next few days and not go anywhere. If needed, I might be summoned again for questioning!”
The corners of Zhou Shaojin’s mouth curved in a slight smile.
She had known it—with Uncle Chi there, she would definitely emerge completely unscathed.
“What about Ji Ying?” Zhou Shaojin asked. “Was she also allowed to return? Didn’t she walk back with you?”
With Uncle Chi framing her like this, she must be very angry!
Chun Wan’s smile immediately vanished. She said, “Fourth Master said that Young Master Xu was beaten by Miss Ji Ying. Although Young Master Xu is a seven-foot-tall man, there are distinctions of rank and status. Miss Ji Ying must be confined for now. Once Young Master Xu’s matter is thoroughly investigated, then Miss Ji Ying will be dealt with!”
Zhou Shaojin became anxious.
It was she who had summoned Ji Ying over.
If she hadn’t called Ji Ying over, Ji Ying wouldn’t have encountered such trouble.
“Do you know where she’s being held?” Zhou Shaojin asked.
Tears welled up in Chun Wan’s eyes as she said, “I don’t know. Right after her questioning, she was led away by Uncle Huai Shan. I only learned she was confined from Qing Feng. I was in such a hurry to report back to Second Young Miss that I didn’t ask for details. I was thinking of waiting until the flower hall dispersed to find Qing Feng and inquire more.”
“Go right now!” Zhou Shaojin said firmly. “If there are no unexpected changes, we’ll return to Pingqiao Street first thing tomorrow morning. If Ji Ying’s matter isn’t settled, how can we leave in good conscience?”
Chun Wan didn’t want to stay at Nine Ru Lane either.
Before, it was because Second Young Miss was still young, innocent and unknowing about many things, needing guidance and care. Now Second Young Miss conducted herself with proper measure, and at the Zhou family ancestral residence there were only servant women—Second Young Miss would be the highest authority there. How free that would be!
She nodded repeatedly and ran off like a wisp of smoke.
Ma Fushan couldn’t help but sigh, “This matter was fortunate to have Fourth Master Chi! If not for the old master, even though Second Young Miss had done nothing wrong, being summoned to the flower hall for questioning by the Cheng family elders—word getting out would invite much gossip and slander. This debt of gratitude must be made known to the master.”
“Naturally!” Regardless of what the future held, Zhou Shaojin hoped Father and Cheng Chi could remain on friendly terms.
Both men were very important to her.
After seeing Ma Fushan off, with Chun Wan still not returned, she instructed Bitao and the others to pack up their belongings.
Though word of what happened in the cave hadn’t yet spread throughout Nine Ru Lane in a frenzy, the more respectable maids and matrons of the first branch all knew about it.
Xiao Tan poked her head around the doorway, asking Zhou Shaojin sadly, “Second Cousin Miss, are you leaving?”
Zhou Shaojin stood dazed for a moment, then walked over and gently put her arm around Xiao Tan’s shoulder.
Since she had begun frequenting the Hanbi Mountain House, Xiao Tan had been serving at her side, and after she moved here, was specifically assigned to her quarters.
Xiao Tan was not only clever and quick-witted but also lively and cheerful, handling matters quite methodically as well.
Now that she was leaving, she felt very reluctant to part with these personal attendants.
But there was no banquet in this world that never ended.
She had Bitao wrap up twenty taels of silver and two pure gold hairpins for Biyu, and wrap up ten taels of silver and two gold-plated hairpins for Feicui: “When they marry, I may no longer be in Jinling City, so consider this my contribution to their dowries in advance.”
Bitao took the items and left.
Zhou Shaojin then took out some of her old clothes and distributed them as rewards. For someone like Xiao Tan, she bestowed some gold and silver jewelry.
The Fubi Pavilion suddenly fell into silence, tinged with the bitterness of parting.
Cui Huan accompanied Cheng Jia over.
Zhou Shaojin rewarded Cui Huan with ten taels of silver, a pair of pure gold shrimp-whisker bracelets, and a pair of South Sea pearl hair ornaments.
Cheng Jia blushed crimson, grasping Zhou Shaojin’s hand and promising repeatedly, “I’ll definitely find Eldest Brother and ask him clearly why he suddenly ordered Cui Huan to serve that day. I waited for you at the Manfang Pavilion for ages without seeing anyone. If Cui Huan hadn’t come to find me, I still wouldn’t know such a thing had happened… How is Cousin Xu? He wasn’t beaten too badly, was he? Otherwise Ji Ying will surely have no good outcome!”
Zhou Shaojin thought of Cheng Jia who had died young in her previous life.
She felt that some matters need not be known by Cheng Jia.
She alone could bear these unpleasant matters.
“Uncle Chi is already investigating,” Zhou Shaojin comforted her. “You shouldn’t add to the confusion and needlessly damage sibling affection. You should just peacefully await your marriage.”
Cheng Jia gripped Zhou Shaojin’s hand tightly, feeling her heart weighed down heavily.
According to Cui Huan’s account, her brother definitely had something to do with this.
But to have her investigate the brother who had protected her since childhood and treasured her like a precious jewel… just thinking about it made her heart ache unbearably.
Cheng Jia didn’t dare investigate.
Zhou Shaojin’s words lifted a weight from her, yet the guilt in her heart only deepened.
She said petulantly, “Shaojin, then wait until after I’m married to go to Baoding Prefecture. Otherwise you’re holding this against me.”
As if only this way could she feel that her bond with Shaojin remained unchanged, only then could her heart feel somewhat better.
Zhou Shaojin placated her, smiling as she nodded without saying anything more.
With Cheng Zheng treating her this way, though she couldn’t speak of revenge, she had no way to attend Cheng Jia’s wedding as if nothing had happened.
She would deal with it when the time came!
If she was still in Jinling City, she would go see Cheng Jia off; if she wasn’t in Jinling City… then they simply weren’t fated for that moment!
Zhou Shaojin let out a long breath and chatted at length with Cheng Jia. After repeatedly assuring her that she held nothing against Cheng Jia, Cheng Jia finally left, supported by Cui Huan.
At lamp-lighting time, Chun Wan returned.
She told Zhou Shaojin with a light expression, “Miss Ji Ying is confined in her own side room. She’s being watched by two little maids, which shows Fourth Master is just putting on a show.”
Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled. She asked, “Then can we visit her?”
“No!” Chun Wan said regretfully. “It’s said that Fourth Master gave orders for Miss Ji Ying to reflect on her actions in the side room.”
Zhou Shaojin then instructed Chun Wan, “Tomorrow before we leave, let’s make some pastries to send her, then bid her farewell.”
Chun Wan nodded sadly.
The two packed up trunks together.
Fan Liushi came in and quietly told them, “According to Qi’er, Third Branch’s Young Master Zheng discovered the drug was placed in the tea. During that time period, only a servant boy from Second Branch’s Young Master Shi and those serving tea in the hall had entered the tea room. Young Master Shi’s servant boy said he only went at Young Master Shi’s command to fetch hot water for Madam Shi, but the people around Madam Shi don’t remember whether he brought hot water or not—there were too many people that day…
“Fourth Master Chi said that since this matter can’t be clarified for now, it should be set aside temporarily. He also said this type of drug isn’t cheap and is probably used more by people in brothels and pleasure houses, so they might as well start investigating from those places. They’ll speak again once there are results.
“It’s said that the Second Branch’s eldest young master’s face went from green to white upon hearing this, constantly explaining to Fourth Master Chi.
“Not only did Fourth Master Chi not rebuke him, he even consoled him saying: Even someone like Young Master Xu was secretly plotted against, let alone someone of scholarly renown like Young Master Shi! He told Young Master Shi not to worry—the pure will prove themselves pure, the turbid will prove themselves turbid.
“Young Master Shi was so grateful that he knelt down to kowtow to Fourth Master.
“However, Young Master Zheng’s expression wasn’t so good—he looked exhausted, or perhaps jealous. But by the time Young Master Shi stood up, he was smiling again, quite warmly in fact, without any of the earlier stiffness!”
Uncle Chi’s move was brilliant!
Investigating halfway and leaving half unresolved.
Letting the second and third branches speculate.
Keeping them constantly on edge.
This was the best form of torment.
Zhou Shaojin trusted Cheng Chi even more.