Despite Madam Huang’s words, Li Shi still said, “I need to ask our Second Miss about this matter. She has a demure and chaste disposition, and rarely goes out casually.”

When Madam Huang heard that Zhou Shaojin had a demure and chaste disposition, she was even more satisfied and said, “I’ll go speak with Second Miss myself.”

Nanny Li, who was standing nearby, couldn’t help but snort coldly in her heart.

Who does she think she is?

Acting as if she has such great influence.

Li Shi was also somewhat annoyed in her heart, but didn’t show it on her face. She smiled and said, “If you can help me persuade our Second Miss, that would be even better.”

Madam Huang went smiling to Zhou Shaojin’s side chamber.

Zhou Shaojin was having Chun Wan and the others help make little shoes and socks for Zhou Chujin’s unborn child.

Seeing Madam Huang arrive, she went to the hall to receive the guest.

As soon as Madam Huang entered, her gaze was captured by the treasure box bonsai of jade and stone immortal peaches displayed on the multi-treasure shelf in the hall. Zhou Shaojin called to her several times before she came back to her senses, exclaiming in amazement, “How much must this cost? These peaches are carved from agate, aren’t they? My heavens! This is the first time I’ve seen such a large piece of agate! These leaves are jade, right? Look at these leaves—even the veins are carved so clearly.” As she spoke, she touched the trunk again and said, “Is this gold-plated or pure gold? It looks like pure gold to me. You just display it here so carelessly—what if someone plucked off a leaf? Second Miss is too careless!”

This was something Zhou Zhen had given Zhou Shaojin when she had just arrived.

Looking at the immortal peach bonsai, she had teased her father at the time: “This must be something someone gave you for your birthday that you’re regifting to me, right? With all these gaudy colors, isn’t it too garish?”

Zhou Zhen had smiled awkwardly then and said, “At least it’s worth some money. If you don’t like it, keep it to give as a gift or have someone remake it.”

She had never had time to deal with this bonsai and had just casually placed it on the long table.

Bitao, who was serving nearby, couldn’t help but exchange a glance with Ji Xiang.

However, Zhou Shaojin merely smiled with pursed lips and invited Madam Huang to sit in the armchair beside them, saying, “With such heavy snow, how did you come over? Didn’t you encounter our Madam’s accounting room?”

As she was speaking, Xiao Tan had already brought in tea.

But Madam Huang still wouldn’t let go of the jade stone bonsai, saying, “Second Miss should really find a way to make a cover for it. I feel worried just looking at it.”

Xiao Tan hadn’t heard the earlier conversation and couldn’t help but look at Madam Huang strangely upon hearing this.

Seeing that someone was listening to her, Madam Huang became even more energetic, pointing at the jade stone bonsai and directing Xiao Tan, “You should quickly go tell your Madam. Which family displays jade stone bonsais like this? Your Miss doesn’t speak up, but why aren’t you servants who attend to her being more careful?”

Could she be trying to fish in troubled waters, taking the opportunity to pluck off a couple of immortal peaches to sell?

Fortunately, she was somewhat aware of social proprieties and knew that while such words would please Zhou Shaojin, they would offend a whole room full of maids and servants. The words reached her lips but she swallowed them back with difficulty.

Xiao Tan had suffered an undeserved misfortune and couldn’t help but glance at the bonsai, saying, “What’s there to cover? It’s all jade and stone—we can just take it out to wash from time to time and it’ll be clean. It’s not silk gauze that can’t withstand water. It’s just that it’s been snowing these past few days. If the weather doesn’t warm up in a few days, it will be time for dusting anyway. We’ll clean it all together then.” As she spoke, fearing Zhou Shaojin might blame her, she stepped forward to look at the bonsai and said, “The little maids wipe it every day—it’s still quite clean.”

This was completely beside the point.

Madam Huang said, “I’m worried that if it’s left out like this and a leaf falls off… that would be bad.”

Xiao Tan smiled and said, “They’re just common jade pieces. If they fall off, they fall off—we can just replace them.”

That tone was more extravagant than even young misses from ordinary families would dare to adopt!

Madam Huang couldn’t help but look toward Zhou Shaojin.

Since they weren’t relatives or close friends, Zhou Shaojin felt there was no need to explain all this to her. If she said it didn’t matter, others would think she was wasteful and extravagant!

Just like how Madam Huang was feeling about Xiao Tan right now.

She smiled and said, “Xiao Tan originally served beside Old Madam Guo. When I returned, Old Madam Guo was worried, so she had her come back with me.”

The implication was that Xiao Tan was a servant from Nine-Ru Lane, with broader horizons and insight than ordinary servants.

Madam Huang understood immediately, and her smile suddenly grew several degrees warmer. She laughed and said, “No wonder Miss Xiao Tan carries herself with such grace! This truly fits the saying ‘even the gatekeeper at the Prime Minister’s residence holds the rank of a seventh-grade official.'”

Xiao Tan smiled politely at Madam Huang and quietly withdrew.

Madam Huang kept exclaiming as she watched, “Those who come from generations of official families are truly different. Look at how she walks—not making a single sound…”

Zhou Shaojin was beginning to find her somewhat tiresome.

But out of good breeding, she patiently listened to her finish speaking before saying, “Does Madam Huang have some matter to discuss with me?”

Only then did Madam Huang remember the purpose of her visit and quickly said, “Madam Tan and I and a few others want to go offer incense at the Great Compassion Pavilion while these days aren’t too busy yet. We wanted to invite Madam Li and Second Miss to come along.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Shouldn’t this matter be discussed with Madam?”

Madam Huang smiled and said, “Your Madam would like to go, but is worried that Second Miss might not be available. I thought I hadn’t seen Second Miss for several days, so I volunteered to come ask Second Miss. I also wanted to sit in Second Miss’s room and have some intimate conversation.”

Zhou Shaojin suspected nothing.

She had the careful Chun Wan by her side, the capable Nanny Shang, the sharp-witted Fan Qi, and her father’s backing—she wasn’t afraid wherever she went.

“Let me ask Madam first before giving you an answer!” With such heavy snow, Zhou Shaojin had no desire to run out into the wind, but if Li Shi wanted her company, she would go.

The topic circled back to Li Shi.

Madam Huang’s eyes darted around, and after exchanging a few more words with Zhou Shaojin, she rose to take her leave.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t take the matter to heart.

However, Madam Huang reported to Li Shi, “Second Miss has agreed, but is worried you won’t go…”

How could Li Shi have suspected anything amiss? She smiled and said, “If that’s the case, once you’ve set the time, just send a servant over with a message.”

Madam Huang left happily.

The next day she sent a trusted servant to report that they would go to the Great Compassion Pavilion early the following morning.

Li Shi looked at the snow accumulated up to knee-depth and couldn’t help but frown.

Nanny Li said, “Why not go another day?”

Li Shi thought for a moment but finally said, “Forget it! It’s rare for Second Miss to show interest—we’ll accompany her on this trip. With such heavy snow, perhaps it’s exactly what Second Miss hoped for, wanting to go admire the snow!”

“Second Miss is a scholar!” Nanny Li laughed. “Don’t scholars always go out to admire the snow when it snows?”

Li Shi chuckled and had the serving maids find fur coats, preparing to go out with Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Zhen did ask, “Isn’t this snow too heavy?”

Li Shi smiled and said, “You still went to admire lotus flowers even when it was pouring rain!”

Zhou Zhen smiled and personally saw Li Shi and Zhou Shaojin off.

Cheng Chi asked curiously, “What are they going out for in such cold weather?”

Huai Shan, while smoothing out the carrier pigeon message he had just collected, said, “They said several madams from the office made an appointment to go offer incense at the Great Compassion Pavilion together.”

Cheng Chi said “Oh” and asked, “Did Nanny Shang go with them?”

Would Nanny Shang dare not to go?

“She went,” Huai Shan said. “Xiao Tan also went.”

Cheng Chi nodded and said, “Tell her to watch Second Miss carefully so she doesn’t catch a chill.”

Huai Shan acknowledged and went to pass on the message.

Who would have thought that they had just finished their midday meal when Zhou Shaojin and Li Shi returned.

Cheng Chi’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He instructed Huai Shan, “Go see what happened.”

Huai Shan returned after almost half an hour, carefully approaching Cheng Chi and whispering, “They said when they went to offer incense at the Great Compassion Pavilion, they encountered a group including Minister Miao’s son. Minister Miao’s son stared fixedly at Second Cousin Miss, following wherever the madams went. If it hadn’t been for a scholar surnamed Chang who came forward and pulled Minister Miao’s son away, that Minister Miao’s son would have approached right up to Second Cousin Miss’s face. Second Cousin Miss felt uncomfortable and came back early with Li Shi.”

Cheng Chi’s hand holding the chopsticks didn’t move for quite some time.

Li Shi, with red-rimmed eyes, said to Zhou Zhen both urgently and angrily, “…You didn’t see it. If Madam Huang and the others hadn’t all recognized that Young Master Miao, I would have thought some rogue had appeared from somewhere. Even after scolding him several times he paid no attention, and no one could stop him. Second Miss was so frightened her face turned white, and she kept hiding behind Nanny Shang. If Scholar Chang hadn’t come out to block him, that Young Master Miao would have rushed right up to Second Miss’s face. I heard from Madam Huang that Young Master Miao is an incompetent person with no learning, and hasn’t yet discussed marriage. I’m now afraid the Miao family will come to propose marriage—what will we say then? I heard from Madam Tan that Minister Miao and the current Chief Grand Secretary, Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, and Minister of Personnel Yuan Weichang were from the same examination year. Master, you must think of something—we absolutely cannot marry Second Miss off like this! Even I look down on that Young Master Miao!”

Zhou Zhen’s face turned red with anger as he listened, and he said coldly with a sneer, “Rest assured! Shaojin is the pearl in my palm—I won’t marry her off casually to just anyone.”

Li Shi was still not satisfied and said, “That Young Master Miao was too disrespectful. I told him who we were, but he still didn’t restrain himself at all…”

Zhou Zhen nodded, furious in his heart.

For his precious treasure to encounter such a thing under his own jurisdiction—wasn’t this a slap in his face?

Zhou Zhen took the initiative, returning to his study to write a letter questioning the Miao family and having his aide deliver it to the Miao residence.

※※※

Zhou Shaojin, however, stood before the mirror carefully examining her own face.

In her past life and this one, it was this face that brought disaster.

She had thought that leaving the Cheng family would change her fate, but in reality, with such a face, she would probably never have peace wherever she went.

Her father loved her dearly.

She wasn’t worried that her father would marry her off to such an unreliable person.

But as for where she would go from here, she couldn’t see any future.

Beside her, Chun Wan uneasily exchanged a glance with Xiao Tan.

Xiao Tan gently shook her head.

Chun Wan sighed quietly in her heart.

Second Miss must be feeling terrible inside.

To encounter such a frivolous person for no reason—those who knew would think Second Miss had been wronged, but those who didn’t might think Second Miss had provoked him!

They said that Young Master Miao’s father and the current Chief Grand Secretary Yuan were from the same examination year… who knew what the Master would do?

She felt this matter should be reported to Fourth Master Chi.

After all, when Young Master Xu had been beaten by Ji Ying whom Second Miss had summoned, Fourth Master Chi had said nothing… She vaguely felt that if Cheng Chi knew about this matter, he would definitely help Zhou Shaojin.