Li Shi didn’t care what Madam Huang thought.

In her view, as long as she held to her principles and was neither greedy nor wrathful, she wouldn’t cause trouble for Zhou Zhen, and Zhou Zhen would respect her all the more.

She smiled as she saw off Madam Huang, settled Zhou Shaojin and her flowers and plants, then began preparing gifts for the guards who had escorted Zhou Shaojin here.

Madam Huang couldn’t help but be astonished, saying, “Madam, you’re being far too courteous.”

Li Shi smiled, “They’re guards from the Cheng family. We can’t let them make the trip for nothing.”

Madam Huang’s eyes darted about as she listened.

Li Shi continued, “Why did you come today? Is there some matter?”

They had arranged to go worship Buddha at Daci Pavilion the day after tomorrow.

Madam Huang smiled and lifted the food box in her hand, saying, “I made some more snacks today to bring over.”

Zhou Shaojin generally didn’t eat things sent by strangers.

Li Shi smiled as she accepted them, saying tactfully, “Everyone has different tastes. I quite enjoy these snacks of yours, but our Second Miss isn’t accustomed to them—she grew up in the south and likes sweet things.”

Madam Huang wasn’t discouraged and smiled, “It’s good that Madam enjoys them! When Second Miss returns, I’ll make them specially for you. However, what are Second Miss’s plans? Does she intend to stay here long-term or return to Jinling after the new year?”

Li Shi immediately became alert.

Living in the same courtyard with Zhou Zhen as the superior, it was impossible not to be subject to gossip. Zhou Zhen particularly disliked being gossiped about, so Li Shi was very careful in this regard, keeping a low profile and not letting others pry into her family’s affairs.

“We’ll certainly have to wait until after the new year to say.” She replied vaguely, “Even if Second Miss wants to return, our master couldn’t possibly let her go!”

Wasn’t this saying something without really saying anything?

Madam Huang was about to continue questioning when Madam Tan, wife of Assistant Magistrate Tan from the Bureau of Scrutiny, arrived.

She also held several boxes of pastries. After greeting Li Shi and Madam Huang with a smile, she too said she had come to see Zhou Shaojin.

Li Shi went to invite Zhou Shaojin out to greet Madam Tan.

Madam Tan’s eyes immediately went somewhat blank.

Zhou Shaojin wore a sapphire blue plain silk-carved vest over her robe, her jet-black hair bound in a bun. Yellow amber bead earrings hung beside her snow-white cheeks. Perhaps because she had been in a chamber heated by an underfloor heating system, her face was slightly flushed. She looked spirited and radiantly beautiful.

“This is your Second Miss?” She asked Li Shi somewhat incredulously, “She’s truly beautiful! Has she been betrothed? What time did she arrive yesterday? Did she disembark at Tianjin or travel entirely by land…” She fired questions like a rapid succession, and even tried to remove a jade bracelet from her wrist to give Zhou Shaojin as a meeting gift.

Zhou Shaojin declined repeatedly. Only when Li Shi spoke to persuade her did she finally accept it.

However, Madam Huang kept staring at the yellow amber beads on Zhou Shaojin’s ears.

Even Li Shi noticed.

Madam Huang explained with a smile, “I see Second Miss’s earrings don’t seem to be plain?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled, “You’re not mistaken. One bead on my ear is carved with Magu Offering Longevity, the other with Peace Through the Four Seasons.”

Madam Huang said curiously, “Why would they be carved with these? Such large beads—what a pity!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled, “These were originally beads from Old Madam Guo’s prayer beads in Jiuru Lane. She wore them for many years. Later, once when I caught a chill, the Cheng family physician gave me several doses of medicine but I didn’t improve. Old Madam Guo had two amber beads removed from that prayer strand and made into earrings for me. Strangely enough, within a few days of wearing these earrings, my illness was cured. When I came to Baoding Prefecture, Old Madam instructed me repeatedly to wear these earrings on the journey. I also like them very much, so I haven’t taken them off.” As she spoke, she was about to remove them to show Madam Huang.

Madam Huang quickly said, “No need, no need. They’re better worn by Second Miss.”

Since she was no longer curious, Zhou Shaojin didn’t bother.

Hearing this, Madam Tan became interested and quickly asked, “How does Old Madam Guo treat people? I heard she bore three sons, all three passed the imperial examination. The eldest son even became a Cabinet Minister?”

Thinking of Old Madam Guo’s appearance made Zhou Shaojin smile. She nodded, “All three uncles are people of profound learning.”

Madam Huang wasn’t to be outdone and asked about affairs in Jiuru Lane.

What could be told, Zhou Shaojin told. What couldn’t be told, she glossed over vaguely.

Nanny Shang came in, saying, “Second Miss, those guards will be setting out to return to Jinling shortly. The leader Qin Yang says he wants to come in and kowtow to you.”

Qin Yang was a distant nephew-grandson of Chief Steward Qin. This time he had led the escort bringing her to Baoding.

Zhou Shaojin smiled, “That’s not necessary. He’s also worked hard on this journey. Having him come in once is fine—I have a reward for him.”

Nanny Shang left with a smile.

Zhou Shaojin apologized to Madam Huang and Madam Tan and went to the main hall.

Both Madam Tan and Madam Huang couldn’t help but feel a tremor in their hearts.

Zhou Shaojin was a sheltered young lady. Even if the Cheng family worried about her and sent people to escort her to Baoding Prefecture, when they were to leave, they should be taking their leave of Zhou Shaojin’s father and brothers. Why would those guards need to kowtow to her, as if she were the master…

Madam Huang craned her neck to look outside.

She saw the guard respectfully bow to Zhou Shaojin through the screen before standing up, receiving a reward from Nanny Shang, and quietly taking leave of Zhou Shaojin before withdrawing.

Madam Huang’s hand tightly gripped her handkerchief hidden in her sleeve.

Within two days, the prefectural office began circulating stories about how favored Zhou Shaojin was in Jiuru Lane, and how excellent the relationship was between the Zhou and Cheng families…

Zhou Zhen smiled when he heard.

What he hadn’t expected was that once these rumors spread on wings throughout the entire office compound, his colleagues treated him with even more respect, and his work proceeded even more smoothly.

Zhou Zhen couldn’t help but laugh heartily, in an excellent mood.

When Zhou Shaojin and Li Shi were about to go worship Buddha at Dabei Pavilion, Zhou Zhen gave Zhou Shaojin twenty taels of silver coins, telling her, “Buy whatever you like, eat whatever you want—don’t deprive yourself.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled as she took it, but linked her arm with Li Shi’s, saying, “Whatever I want, Madam will buy for me.”

Li Shi was extremely pleased and quickly said, “Yes, yes, I’ll buy for Second Miss.”

Zhou Zhen smiled, “Then why did you still accept the silver I gave you?”

“If you’re giving it to me, naturally it’s mine.” Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.

Zhou Zhen and Li Shi both laughed along.

The atmosphere was warm.

While Li Shi was helping Zhou Zhen change into his court robes, Zhou Zhen quietly said to her, “I’d like Shaojin to stay at home for a few more years.” Li Shi also liked Zhou Shaojin very much and smiled, “I’d also like Second Miss to stay home for another couple years, but marriage discussions can’t be delayed. Why not betroth her first, then slowly set the wedding date.”

Zhou Zhen thought this was a good approach and went to the front hall with the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.

Li Shi and Zhou Shaojin waited until Madam Huang arrived, then went to Dabei Pavilion.

Dabei Pavilion was built in the previous dynasty—grand and magnificent with flourishing incense offerings. Yet it still couldn’t compare to Jiming Temple or Ganquan Temple in Nanjing. Zhou Shaojin enjoyed it well enough but still felt Jiming Temple and Ganquan Temple were better.

After offering incense and having vegetarian dishes at Dabei Pavilion, Madam Huang said, “Dabei Pavilion’s preserved vegetables are also quite famous. We might as well bring some back.”

Li Shi readily agreed and had someone go buy them.

The preserved vegetable shop was crowded three layers deep. They waited nearly half an hour before making their purchase.

Back in the side chamber, Zhou Shaojin tasted them—they were indeed delicious.

She couldn’t help but sigh, “If only I could send some to Old Madam Guo. These are just the flavors she enjoys.”

Nanny Shang smiled, “What’s difficult about that? Just have the escort service bring them along. It’s winter now, so they won’t spoil.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled, “Nanny Shang is still the most thoughtful.”

The next day she had someone buy a large quantity of preserved vegetables. Besides Old Madam Guo, Old Madam Guan, Madam Mian, and even the newly married Madam Gao all received her preserved vegetables. She also wrote separate letters to Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan describing her life in Baoding Prefecture.

When she went to Kui Tower, she discovered the baked flatbreads there were delicious and had someone bring back a pile of those too.

Fan Liushi laughed at her, “Second Miss is trying to move all of Baoding Prefecture to Jinling!”

Everyone laughed heartily.

Soon it was the twelfth lunar month. Every household began preparing to eat Laba porridge, and return gifts arrived from Jinling from Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan.

Old Madam Guo sent jewelry, Old Madam Guan sent silks and satins.

The one who came to deliver the return gifts was Nanny Lu. She told Zhou Shaojin that the fourth branch had already begun preparing for Cheng Yi’s wedding. After the wound on Cheng Xu’s face healed, he didn’t return to Duojia Pavilion but remained in Old Madam Guo’s Green Gauze Cabinet, studying diligently every day: “…The marriage between the Min family and the Cheng family has also been settled. They’ll be married next September. Madam has invited Young Master Xu back to Duojia Pavilion several times, but Young Master Xu hasn’t agreed.”

Meanwhile, Xiao Tan learned from the little maid who accompanied Nanny Lu that Cheng Xu was in poor condition—though young, he seemed to have experienced much suffering and was dispirited. Madam Yuan had quarreled with Old Madam Guo over this matter several times but always returned defeated, only daring to grumble a few words in private.

Zhou Shaojin heard all this without a ripple of emotion.

She just felt somewhat melancholy that there was no news of Cheng Chi.

She didn’t know if he would suddenly become betrothed like Cheng Xu.

As she lay in bed with wandering thoughts, Chun Wan rushed in urgently, saying, “Second Miss, Eldest Brother-in-law has arrived. He’s closeted in the study with Master talking!”

Zhou Shaojin was startled, “Isn’t he studying at the Imperial Academy? What’s he looking for Father about?”

Chun Wan shook her head, “I only heard that Eldest Brother-in-law had originally planned to take a boat back to Zhenjiang, but somehow came to Baoding first.”

At this time in her previous life, her brother-in-law had been burning the midnight oil in the capital. Why had he suddenly run to Baoding Prefecture in this life?

She had Nanny Shang go eavesdrop.

Nanny Shang soon returned, smiling, “Second Miss, it’s good news. Eldest Brother-in-law has been studying with the Second Elder Master of the first branch for several days now. From Young Master Liao’s meaning, it was Fourth Master Chi who arranged it. Young Master Liao came specially to inform us, lest Master Zhou didn’t know and wouldn’t even say a word of thanks when encountering Fourth Master.”

Zhou Shaojin was very surprised, “Why didn’t Uncle Chi say anything beforehand?”

He had quietly handled something that troubled her.

Now Elder Sister would be completely secure in her position in the Liao family!

She owed Cheng Chi even more.