Cheng Chi looked at Zhou Shaojin, her snow-white face buried in the furry hood of her sapphire blue four-lobed auspicious pattern silk-carved cloak, and couldn’t help but laugh.

After just a few days apart, the young girl’s features had relaxed, taking on a woman’s soft beauty.

After exchanging a few courteous words with Zhou Zhen, he asked Zhou Shaojin, “With such heavy snow, what made you think of going to worship Buddha?”

Zhou Shaojin stammered, unable to answer.

Just like a mischievous child caught red-handed by adults after causing trouble.

Cheng Chi’s smile deepened. He turned back to Zhou Zhen, “That’s roughly how things stand. Master Zhou’s broad-mindedness fills Zichuan with both admiration and shame. After returning, I will certainly discipline Jiashan properly and not fail Master Zhou’s magnanimity. However, I still have matters to attend to. Staying at the government office might be somewhat inconvenient, so I won’t disturb Master Zhou.”

Zhou Zhen didn’t press him to stay, “If that’s the case, let me see Zichuan out.”

Zhou Shaojin stood there dumbfounded.

Uncle Chi had come to her home but wouldn’t stay the night?

Why didn’t Father urge him to stay?

Also, she had encountered Xiao Zhenhai at the temple…

Zhou Shaojin’s hands and feet moved faster than her brain. She grabbed Cheng Chi’s robe, “Uncle Chi, didn’t you promise to come visit me? I just returned and you’re leaving already… Please stay at our home for a few days!”

Moreover, this way Xiao Zhenhai wouldn’t be able to find Uncle Chi. And even if, taking a thousand steps back, Xiao Zhenhai knew where Uncle Chi was, he wouldn’t dare forcibly break into the prefect’s office.

She turned to look at her father, “Father, please ask Uncle Chi to stay. When I was in Jiuru Lane, I benefited greatly from Uncle Chi’s care.”

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly with resignation.

This little girl—just moments ago he thought she’d grown up, but in the blink of an eye she revealed herself.

Was this any way to ask a guest to stay?

He had destroyed the Xiao family, and Xiao Zhenhai was leading several clan elders who had escaped, seeking revenge against him! If he stayed here overnight and was discovered by Xiao Zhenhai, it would be troublesome if the Zhou family became targeted.

Cheng Chi smiled, “I still have matters to attend to. I’ll come visit you another day.”

Zhou Zhen felt a headache watching this.

Cheng Chi represented Jiuru Lane in apologizing to him over Cheng Xu’s matter. Seeing that both daughters had grown up in Jiuru Lane, that the Cheng family had handled things appropriately, and that Zhou Shaojin’s reputation and person had suffered no harm, he hadn’t held it against the Cheng family. By rights, Brother Zichuan should be able to sense his goodwill. Yet he kept calling him “Brother Zichuan” while Cheng Zichuan kept addressing him as “Master Zhou”—smiling warmly but revealing a certain aloofness and indifference from his very bones.

He, Zhou Dacheng, wasn’t the sort of person without shame or dignity.

In the future when they met, they could simply be polite to each other.

He had no intention of asking Cheng Zichuan to stay at his home.

Couldn’t his daughter hear this?

But when he saw the pleading look in Zhou Shaojin’s eyes, his heart softened. He had no choice but to say, “Zichuan, you see. Even Shaojin is so sincere in asking you to stay—please remain for a few days. Otherwise, when I return to Jinling, how will I face Old Madam Guan? How will I face Old Madam Guo?”

Zhou Shaojin looked toward Cheng Chi.

Her beautiful eyes were dark and moist, like a small beast still crying to be fed.

Cheng Chi surrendered.

He had originally planned to subdue Xiao Zhenhai to restrain the Xiao family members.

If this was how things stood, then forget about Xiao Zhenhai.

He smiled at Zhou Zhen, “I’d be disrespectful to refuse such kindness.”

A flash of surprise crossed Zhou Zhen’s eyes.

Cheng Zichuan toward Shaojin… truly did care for her!

That smile radiated warmth.

Still, this was a good thing.

It meant Shaojin had fared very well in Jiuru Lane.

Fine. For his daughter’s sake, he wouldn’t quibble with Cheng Zichuan over these matters.

Zhou Zhen smiled and called for Li Changgui, instructing him to prepare a guest room for Young Master Cheng. He added, “Also inform Madam. Have her order a table from Yichun Hall. Today I’ll drink a few cups properly with Zichuan.”

Zhou Shaojin quickly said, “Uncle Chi doesn’t eat fish.”

Li Changgui respectfully acknowledged this with a smile and withdrew.

Zhou Zhen felt slightly dejected.

Cheng Zichuan didn’t eat fish, but he liked it!

He invited Cheng Zichuan to the study for tea.

Before Cheng Chi could respond, Zhou Shaojin was already complaining, “Father, really! Uncle Chi just arrived and already talked with you for ages. You won’t let him return to rest early—what tea drinking? Anyway, Uncle Chi will be staying at our home for several days. If you want to drink tea with him, there’s plenty of time. Today just let Uncle Chi go rest in the guest room quickly—he still has to drink with you later!”

She still needed to tell Uncle Chi about Xiao Zhenhai!

Without caring what Zhou Zhen might say, Zhou Shaojin pulled Cheng Chi toward the door, saying, “Uncle Chi, I’ll accompany you to the guest room. I know where the guest room is!”

Very enthusiastic indeed.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh.

The young girl was much livelier than when she’d been at Hanbi Mountain Villa. Clearly Zhou Zhen and Li Shi treated her very well—sending her back had been the right decision.

But even as this smile lingered in his eyes, Cheng Chi’s expression grew slightly more serious.

He noticed Zhou Zhen’s brow furrow almost imperceptibly.

Zhou Dacheng probably didn’t quite like Shaojin treating him this way.

If he were Zhou Zhen, he probably wouldn’t like it either.

Cheng Chi stood firmly in place. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t budge him at all.

Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi uncomprehendingly.

Cheng Chi smiled, “Shaojin, you just returned from the temple. You must be very tired. Go back to your room and rest early. A servant woman can take me to the guest room.”

“How could that work?” Zhou Shaojin said with a beaming smile. “This is Uncle Chi’s first visit to our home as a guest—how could we let you go to the guest room alone!” Having said this, she tried to pull him again.

But Zhou Zhen was quite displeased.

Though Shaojin had received care from the first branch when in Jiuru Lane, and Cheng Zichuan had helped resolve matters when Cheng Chi acted foolishly, for Shaojin to show such enthusiasm when he didn’t appreciate it…

He snorted inwardly but showed nothing on his face, smiling calmly, “Zichuan, Shaojin is right. Just treat this place as your own home. Whatever you want to eat or drink, just tell Shaojin.”

Naturally Cheng Chi wouldn’t insist further.

If he continued to persist, it would only make Shaojin lose face.

Cheng Chi smiled his thanks and followed Zhou Shaojin out.

Chun Wan and the others followed behind, keeping a respectful distance.

Cheng Chi’s gaze focused slightly as he asked Zhou Shaojin, “Why don’t I see Nanny Shang?”

Zhou Shaojin shot Cheng Chi a meaningful look.

Cheng Chi asked nothing more and followed Zhou Shaojin to the guest room.

Those who could stay in the prefect’s office were either wealthy or noble. Naturally the guest room was furnished beautifully yet elegantly.

But none of this merited a second glance from Cheng Chi.

He asked Zhou Shaojin, “Where did Nanny Shang go?”

Nanny Shang had been arranged by him to protect Zhou Shaojin. Before her departure, he had even uncharacteristically and repeatedly instructed Nanny Shang never to let Zhou Shaojin leave her sight under any circumstances. Yet she had let Zhou Shaojin return home alone.

Zhou Shaojin had been wanting to discuss this matter with him. Hearing this, she told Cheng Chi the whole story from beginning to end.

Cheng Chi gazed at Zhou Shaojin intently for a long while without speaking.

He understood at a glance what had happened with Cheng Xu’s matter.

But if this affair were seriously investigated, the second branch’s old ancestress could step forward with a single phrase—”The child didn’t understand, cousins were just playing a joke”—and the matter would be resolved.

So it wasn’t convenient for him to get involved.

It should be Cheng Xu who explained the grievances between them.

If Cheng Xu couldn’t resolve it, that would prove Cheng Xu lacked the qualifications to be the Cheng family’s heir apparent. Even if he barely managed to become one, he would be like Grand Master Liao of the Liao family—unable to command respect and causing the family to fragment. With other plans in mind, he had let this matter drag on.

But Shaojin’s situation couldn’t be delayed.

Once he’d finished his pressing business, the first thing he did was personally visit Zhou Zhen to explain this matter.

Zhou Zhen was a gentle and magnanimous person. Not only did he understand the first branch’s predicament very well, he also generously forgave Cheng Xu. Of course, this had much to do with Zhou Shaojin emerging unscathed and Zhou Zhen not wanting Zhou Shaojin subjected to criticism.

Who would have thought that as he was leaving, he’d encounter Zhou Shaojin…

Or perhaps he had also wanted to see with his own eyes whether Shaojin was doing well.

Otherwise he wouldn’t have talked with Zhou Zhen at such length either.

Now seeing that she was doing well, his heart felt half comforted, half melancholy.

Shaojin was no longer that young girl living under the Cheng family’s roof. She had her own family now and would have her own life and friends. Jiuru Lane would ultimately become just a memory for her—possibly even, thanks to Cheng Xu, an unpleasant memory.

He asked Zhou Shaojin, “The eldest daughter of Duke Liangguo’s household also married here. Have you seen her?”

Zhu Zhu’s wedding had taken considerable effort at the Ministry of Rites, and the wedding date had been postponed by a month.

If Shaojin had Zhu Zhu as a good friend here in Baoding Prefecture to visit back and forth with and confide in, her days certainly wouldn’t feel boring.

But Zhou Shaojin stamped her feet in agitation, saying unhappily, “Uncle Chi, we’re talking about Xiao Zhenhai—how can you change the subject again?”

That expression—like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Cheng Chi laughed heartily, “How have I changed the subject? What about Xiao Zhenhai? He’s nothing but a homeless dog now—what do I have to worry about? Rather, why haven’t you gone to visit Miss Zhu?”

Really no need to worry about Xiao Zhenhai?

But back then at Jiangbei Bridge, Uncle Chi had seemed quite tolerant of Xiao Zhenhai…

Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi suspiciously, trying to detect some flaw in his expression.

Cheng Chi said, “Would I really deceive you?”

“Of course you wouldn’t deceive me,” Zhou Shaojin muttered quietly. “You just wouldn’t tell me.”

That was actually true!

Cheng Chi couldn’t suppress another laugh.

He hadn’t told Zhou Shaojin about his affairs, but he hadn’t hidden from her either. She vaguely knew some things—he was aware of that. Yet knowing this, she could restrain herself from asking him all along, and had even intentionally or unintentionally helped him conceal things from others while quietly passing him information. This had rather surprised him.

His gaze toward her softened as he said, “Regarding Xiao Zhenhai’s matter, you truly needn’t worry. I’ll handle it soon. If you don’t believe me, just ask Nanny Shang when she returns.”

Zhou Shaojin muttered, “It’s not that I don’t believe you…”

But she just couldn’t help worrying!

A trace of melancholy flashed across Zhou Shaojin’s expression, but she quickly smiled again, “Then Uncle Chi, please stay at our home for several more days, all right? Wait until you’ve finished dealing with Xiao Zhenhai before leaving, okay?”

The little girl wanted him to borrow Zhou Zhen’s influence, didn’t she?

Looking at her slender willow-like figure that seemed as if a gust of wind could blow her away, Cheng Chi’s heart suddenly became very complicated.

Since he had taken charge of the Cheng family’s household affairs, this was the first time anyone had wanted to protect him.

And it was a frail young girl without the strength to truss a chicken.

Did he seem that weak?

Or rather, in her heart, was he that important?