When she arrived at the Tan residence, Madam Tan was speaking with the wife of a minor clerk.

Seeing the two women break off their conversation and stand to greet her, she said with a smile, “What are you discussing? It sounds so lively?”

The minor clerk’s wife, seeing Madam Tan smile without speaking, said, “We were just talking about Magistrate Zhou’s household—didn’t his eldest daughter and son-in-law suddenly arrive?

“At first we all thought Eldest Young Madam wasn’t getting along with her in-laws and had been sent back by her son-in-law.

“Today I went to Magistrate Zhou’s residence to borrow an embroidery pattern and only then learned that their son-in-law had become a disciple of Grand Secretary Cheng’s second uncle. Grand Secretary Cheng’s second uncle currently serves as Academician-Reader at the Hanlin Academy and was the second-place scholar in the Yongchang twelfth year Jiaxu examination. Grand Secretary Cheng’s second uncle has been imperially commissioned to compile the ‘Capital Geography Records,’ and their son-in-law, being in an advantageous position, will reportedly assist Grand Secretary Cheng’s second uncle in compiling the ‘Capital Geography Records.’ That’s why he rushed to the capital, taking the opportunity to bring their eldest daughter to pay New Year respects to Magistrate Zhou.

“In a few days, they’ll go live in the capital. They say it’s to better care for their son-in-law, but we’re all sensible people—they still want to benefit from the Cheng family’s influence. That’s why even though she’s heavily pregnant, they’re having her travel a thousand miles to the capital, hoping the Cheng family will show some consideration for their married granddaughter’s sake and provide some support to that son-in-law.

“This really proves that saying—having connections at court makes being an official easier. I think this son-in-law only lacks the credentials of passing the imperial examination. Let’s just hope he doesn’t repeatedly fail the exams!”

Her tone started out normal enough, but by the end it had become sour, without a single kind word.

Madam Huang merely smiled, though inwardly she secretly scorned Madam Tan.

Always associating with such people, always gossiping behind others’ backs—no wonder her husband was still just a ninth-rank minor clerk to this day.

Madam Tan then said, “Madam Zhou and the others have set tomorrow as the day to depart for the capital. Should we go see them off?”

Madam Huang was inwardly shocked.

She hadn’t heard a whisper of this news!

Yet Madam Huang forced herself to remain composed lest anyone notice anything amiss, saying, “I always stand united with you.”

Madam Tan smiled with satisfaction. “Good. I think we should bring a few boxes of pastries…”

Madam Huang listened with murmurs of agreement. Once home, she sent a trusted nanny to investigate. Before long, news came back: “Their eldest daughter is due to give birth in February. Madam Zhou is taking Second Young Miss to attend to Eldest Young Madam during her confinement.”

“Second Young Miss is going too?” Madam Huang was greatly alarmed.

The nanny smiled. “When I went to ask, I happened to meet Nanny Li directing servants to move trunks. She said that after Second Young Miss goes, she’ll take up permanent residence in the capital. It seems the Cheng family has arranged a marriage match for Second Young Miss and she’s going to meet the prospect.”

Madam Huang was dumbstruck.

Lady Li, however, was all smiles as she said to Nanny Li, “Yes, that’s exactly what you should say. So that weasel won’t have designs on our household.”

In private, Lady Li had given Madam Huang the nickname “weasel,” saying she never had good intentions whenever she visited.

Nanny Li covered her mouth and laughed.

Zhou Zhen returned home.

Lady Li shot Nanny Li a meaningful look, indicating she should say nothing, before going out to the inner chamber to greet him.

Zhou Zhen asked, “Is everything packed?”

“All packed.” Lady Li smiled. “We’ll set out first thing tomorrow morning.”

Zhou Zhen asked detailed questions again. After visiting Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin, he finally retired for the night.

Zhou Chujin’s heart was full of joy at the prospect of seeing her husband soon. Zhou Shaojin, however, felt bitter.

She had sent someone to inform Cheng Chi that she would depart for the capital tomorrow. Cheng Chi had someone send travel money and told her if she encountered any difficulties, she should go find him at Yuqian Alley—he was staying at the third house from the east on Yuqian Alley.

On the surface, everything seemed normal. Yet Zhou Shaojin vaguely sensed a coldness and distance.

Could Uncle Chi’s business dealings not be going smoothly?

Zhou Shaojin struggled to control her emotions.

Women viewed the inner quarters as everything, but for men, the inner quarters were merely a small part of their lives.

She couldn’t let her imagination run wild and become anxious just because of Uncle Chi’s occasional coolness.

With this thought, Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath and rallied her spirits.

※※※

Perhaps even heaven was being helpful.

The next day the wind stopped, the snow ceased, and the sun showed half its face.

Zhou Shaojin supported her elder sister, bid farewell to the reluctant Zhou Zhen, boarded the carriage, and directly departed Baoding City.

In her previous life, after leaving the Cheng family she had never returned to Jinling, and she had traveled by water, only disembarking at Tongzhou Wharf. This time, however, she was traveling by carriage from Baoding Prefecture to the capital. The scenery was vastly different. Though it was winter, Zhou Shaojin still couldn’t help but lift the curtain and look outside a few times.

All along the way were people preparing for spring plowing, bustling with activity.

Zhou Shaojin lowered the curtain and said to Zhou Chujin with a smile, “This year should bring a good harvest!”

Zhou Chujin nestled in the carriage padded with thick bedding, her hand resting on her belly as she laughed. “Shaojin is actually concerned about the success of the harvest now?”

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed. “Father is now a prefectural magistrate. Isn’t it quite normal for me to be concerned about agriculture?”

Zhou Chujin laughed heartily.

The sisters teased each other some more.

That evening, they lodged at a post station.

Because Zhou Chujin was pregnant, Zhou Shaojin feared she might accidentally bump into her sister if they shared a bed while deeply asleep, so she requested separate rooms—one each for herself and her sister. Lady Li stayed in another room with Zhou Youjin.

How could a post station compare to home?

Zhou Shaojin, newly arrived in an unfamiliar place, slept lightly.

In the middle of the night, she felt as if there was someone in her room.

Chun Wan, who was on duty, was also exhausted from the day’s travel and hadn’t noticed her get up. Zhou Shaojin held up a lamp and looked around, but saw nothing.

When she lay back down, that strange feeling returned.

She couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.

She softly called, “Nanny Shang.”

Nanny Shang, lodging in the outer room, quickly came in wearing a robe. “Second Young Miss, what’s wrong?”

Zhou Shaojin felt uncomfortable all over and said hesitantly, “I keep feeling like there’s something in my room…”

Nanny Shang didn’t suspect anything. She held up a lamp and looked around, then stood before the post station’s tall cabinet near where trunks containing Zhou Shaojin’s and Zhou Chujin’s commonly used clothing were stacked, then turned back and shot Zhou Shaojin a meaningful look.

Zhou Shaojin quickly turned around and stood by the bed.

Nanny Shang suddenly threw open the tall cabinet.

The cabinet was empty.

Nanny Shang said, “Second Young Miss, you see, there’s nothing. Perhaps you were overthinking…”

She spoke with a smile, but her hand moved with lightning speed, slapping down on one of the trunks.

The trunk shattered with a “bang” into pieces, and a tall figure sprang out from within.

Zhou Shaojin saw the figure leap up like a rabbit and engage Nanny Shang in combat with a series of “bang bang bang” sounds. Zhou Shaojin was horrified. That figure clearly appeared to be a man.

Thinking that a man had been in her private chamber, Zhou Shaojin felt both anxious and angry. She quickly turned to put on her outer garments, wanting to dress properly before calling the guards to help.

But then the man and Nanny Shang suddenly separated.

The man stood before the floor screen covering his chest. Nanny Shang blocked her path protectively.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but raise her head, and her gaze met the man’s directly.

“It’s you!”

“It’s actually you!”

They both spoke in unison.

The man covered his chest and laughed with a wheezing sound. “I never thought you’d be the daughter of a prefectural magistrate!” As he spoke, he frivolously winked at Zhou Shaojin. “However, where did you find this nanny of yours? Such good skills. Among women, she ranks among the very best, though she’s no match for me. If I hadn’t been seriously injured, how could she have discovered me…”

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened in fear as she grasped Nanny Shang’s lapel and glared fiercely at the man.

The person hiding in her trunk was actually Xiao Zhenhai.

He wore a filthy brownish-gray short jacket, his hair disheveled and face grimy. He was so thin only his skeletal frame remained, yet his eyes were as bright as ever.

Wasn’t he supposed to be trying to harm Uncle Chi?

How did he end up hiding in her trunk?

She had just changed clothes in this room. Though she had habitually stood behind the screen, who knew whether he had seen anything?

As the thought flashed through her mind, she felt somewhat mortified and angry. She opened her mouth to call for help, but Nanny Shang’s urgent voice reached her ears: “Young Miss, don’t raise an alarm. Right now we can only try to frighten him away. Your family’s guards are no match for him. Calling people will only harm the innocent.”

How could this be?

Zhou Shaojin’s lips trembled, then pressed together. Tears were about to fall.

Xiao Zhenhai laughed softly. “Beauty, don’t be afraid. A good man doesn’t fight with women—I won’t harm you. I was merely being pursued by an old enemy. With no other choice, I borrowed the reputation of the prefectural magistrate’s family to escape the city, which is why I found a trunk to hide in. Who knew it was your trunk? Clearly we have some affinity.” As he spoke, he looked Zhou Shaojin up and down. “Two years since we’ve met, you’ve grown even more beautiful! That year at the temple was just a brief encounter, yet you still remember me…”

Though he spoke with a glib tongue and appeared rather frivolous, Zhou Shaojin, who had once been hurt by Cheng Xu, could sense he bore her no real malice—he was just talking.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart relaxed slightly.

Outside came a commotion.

“Did you hear that sound too?”

“Yes! It seemed to come from Second Young Miss’s room.”

“Go check quickly!”

“Tell Nanny Fan. It’s Second Young Miss’s room—we shouldn’t go in.”

Remembering Nanny Shang’s words, Zhou Shaojin quickly said, “Leave quickly! I won’t pursue this matter!”

Xiao Zhenhai was slightly startled, then smiled. “I didn’t expect this young lady to be not only beautiful but kind-hearted. Too bad I’ve fallen on hard times, otherwise I’d definitely marry you as my wife…”

Zhou Shaojin was mortified and indignant.

Nanny Shang tensely spread her arms wide, protecting her from behind.

Zhou Shaojin was shocked.

Nanny Shang had never protected her like this before.

Clearly this Xiao Zhenhai was truly formidable.

Someone spoke outside her door: “Second Young Miss, are you alright?”

“I’m fine!” Zhou Shaojin quickly said, afraid the guards would burst in. “I just accidentally dropped something on the floor. I’m perfectly fine.”

The guard responded and slowly walked away.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.

Nanny Shang also perceived that Xiao Zhenhai meant no real harm. She said coldly, “A grown man relying on a weak woman to avoid disaster—what kind of behavior is that? Now leave! Or must you force us to call the guards?”

Xiao Zhenhai laughed carelessly. Ignoring Nanny Shang, he looked at Zhou Shaojin. “Beautiful lady, why not be thoroughly charitable and lend me some travel money?”