The next morning when she woke up, Zhou Shaojin’s mood was still dejected. Cheng Chi knew she was truly unhappy this time. Despite having to go to Yuan Weichang’s place today, he held Zhou Shaojin and coaxed her for a long time. Only when her mood improved again did his anxious heart finally settle.

After being coaxed by Cheng Chi like this, Zhou Shaojin also felt she had been a bit stubborn about this matter.

Regarding children, as Cheng Chi said, it was best to let nature take its course.

However, going to Hongluo Temple to burn incense and pray to the Buddha for an early addition of a precious child shouldn’t be wrong, right?

Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help smiling with pursed lips.

Cheng Chi gave her a large stack of banknotes for incense money.

Zhou Shaojin happily stuffed them all into her purse and went out with Cheng Jia and Cheng Sheng.

Hongluo Temple was north of the city, over ten li from the city gates. It faced south with its back to the mountains, built against the hillside, surrounded by mountains and water with lush vegetation. However, when they arrived it was still early spring. New leaves hadn’t yet sprouted—there were mostly withered yellow branches. Though it looked somewhat desolate, there were still many worshippers. When they reached the mountain gate around noon, the accompanying steward had already prepared lodging chambers and vegetarian dishes for them.

Cheng Jia couldn’t help smiling, “It’s still more comfortable following our young aunt. Last time when several of us came, we waited forever before getting a place to stay.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand.

Cheng Sheng smiled and said, “We didn’t expect to run into Hongluo Temple’s temple fair then—people were packed shoulder to shoulder. The stewards couldn’t arrange things in time.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled, “Since you ran into a temple fair, naturally there were more people.”

The three of them had a simple meal, then went to the main hall.

Cheng Sheng had come to fulfill a vow, so other reception monks attended to her. Cheng Jia accompanied Zhou Shaojin, who donated ten taels for incense oil money and drew a fortune stick.

The fortune read: “Parasol tree leaves fall, autumn draws to a close. The traveler’s return journey goes swift as clouds. Thanks to Heaven’s great efforts, favorable winds carry precious treasures home.”

With talk of falling leaves and autumn’s end, of Heaven and precious treasures, neither Zhou Shaojin nor Cheng Jia could determine whether this fortune was good or bad.

The reception monk, seeing that though Zhou Shaojin was young she was very generous, personally led her to the fortune interpretation area.

The old monk took the fortune stick, read it once, and asked what they were praying for.

Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat embarrassed. Cheng Jia quickly answered for her, “Seeking a child!”

The old monk then smiled and said, “Benefactor, don’t be anxious. Though this divination shows parasol leaves falling, it also signifies that all matters will first face adversity then good fortune. This is an excellent fortune.”

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia were both overjoyed and gave ten taels for the divination fee.

The old monk smiled and said, “What the heart seeks, Heaven follows. In planning and undertaking matters, all can be accomplished. The benefactor will surely have her wishes fulfilled.”

This was similar to what Cheng Chi said about “letting nature take its course”!

Zhou Shaojin thanked the monk repeatedly. Upon leaving the hall, she felt the sky was high and the clouds vast—an indescribable sense of ease. Seeing a young novice monk pass by, she called out to ask where Cheng Sheng was.

The young novice’s ears turned red looking at her. He mumbled something about the east side, saying, “Madam Peng is talking with the Grand Master in the meditation room over there!”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart was full of joy with nowhere to pour it out. She enthusiastically pulled Cheng Jia, “Let’s go listen to what they’re talking about!”

Cheng Jia had always been active by nature. Having been confined at home by Li Jing for so long, even if Zhou Shaojin hadn’t suggested going, she would have urged Zhou Shaojin to go. Since Zhou Shaojin had already said they should go, she was even more enthusiastic, pulling Zhou Shaojin toward the east side.

Perhaps that meditation room wasn’t open to ordinary worshippers. As they walked along, there were fewer and fewer people.

Zhou Shaojin’s steps suddenly faltered and she stopped.

Cheng Jia quickly asked, “What’s wrong?” But she saw Zhou Shaojin standing on tiptoe, looking toward the woods down the hillside.

A small path led from the paved walkway where they stood down to the woods on the hillside. A man wearing a blue-green fine cotton robe was passing through the woods toward the ceremonial gate.

The man was tall and thin with hurried steps. In this meditation temple full of female worshippers, he seemed rather out of place.

Cheng Jia smiled and said, “Probably someone’s husband. When it comes to having children, there probably isn’t a man who can set his mind at ease…”

As she spoke, she pulled Zhou Shaojin to continue forward.

But Zhou Shaojin grabbed her hand, saying urgently, “Look at that figure—doesn’t it look like Cheng Lu?”

“Cousin Lu?!” Cheng Jia’s eyes widened. She looked carefully at the man, saying somewhat incoherently, “I haven’t seen him many times either. How would I know if it looks like him… Cousin Lu is also tall and thin… But how could he be in the capital? The worshippers at Hongluo Temple are all women. What would he be doing here…”

Zhou Shaojin’s mind was in turmoil for a moment.

Based on her understanding of Cheng Lu, as long as there was the slightest opportunity, he wouldn’t give up his malicious intent—just like how she had stayed quietly at home all those years, yet after the Cheng family’s incident, he had traveled a thousand li to find and threaten her.

If it really was Cheng Lu, she couldn’t let him just run away like this.

She quickly instructed the young Ji Xiang, “Hurry and find Fan Qi. Tell him I saw Cheng Lu wearing a blue-green fine cotton robe. Have him find a way to locate him.”

Zhou Shaojin was grateful she had left Fan Qi with Steward Xiang. Today when going out, since Old Madam Guo was at the Chaoyang Gate household and they couldn’t be short of people there, she had brought Steward Xiang out today.

Ji Xiang ran off like the wind.

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia’s good mood was completely gone.

Cheng Jia comforted Zhou Shaojin, “Maybe you saw wrong.”

“I hope so!” Zhou Shaojin said anxiously. The two continued wordlessly to the meditation room.

Cheng Sheng had originally been discussing Buddhist principles with the old monk just to wait for Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia. Now that they had arrived, she naturally took her leave.

The three of them returned along the same path.

Cheng Sheng asked Zhou Shaojin with great interest what fortune she had drawn.

Zhou Shaojin told her.

Cheng Sheng smiled and said, “My mother will definitely be very happy to hear this. She also said she wants to go with you to see Rang Ge’er’s prospective bride. When the time comes, we’ll go to Daxiangguo Temple to try their vegetarian dishes.”

Cheng Jia chimed in, “I want to go too! I won’t say anything. Just pretend I’m not there. I want to go to Daxiangguo Temple to eat vegetarian food.”

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng couldn’t help laughing.

The group chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere became lively again.

Zhou Shaojin bought some roasted vegetarian snacks to bring back for Old Madam Guo.

Seeing this, Cheng Sheng exclaimed, “No wonder Grandmother likes you so much. We didn’t even think of it.”

Zhou Shaojin said bashfully, “I just thought these tasted quite good.”

Cheng Sheng nodded repeatedly, instructing her accompanying nanny to also buy some to bring back, “For my in-laws to taste.”

Watching this, Cheng Jia also bought some, saying she would bring them back for Li Jing to taste.

Li Jing would surely be very happy!

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips. She looked around and asked Chun Wan, “Where did Fan Qi go?”

Chun Wan looked at Ji Xiang.

Ji Xiang said urgently, “I delivered Madam’s message to Steward Fan. After that, Steward Fan never came back…”

Could it really be Cheng Lu?

Zhou Shaojin pondered in her heart. She left someone there to wait for Fan Qi while they headed back home.

Who knew that when she returned to Chaoyang Gate, several people were sitting in Old Madam Guo’s room. Besides Madam Peng, the wife of Minister Peng from the Bureau of Military Selections at the Ministry of War who had been visiting their home frequently these days, there were also Madam Pengcheng and Qiu Shi, all sitting together eating pastries, drinking tea, and chatting.

Seeing her return, Madam Yuan quickly came forward, took Zhou Shaojin’s hand, and said enthusiastically with a smile, “Fourth Madam, congratulations! That Grand Secretary Qu has been thrown into prison. The Emperor is going to have a joint trial of the three courts!”

In other words, Cheng Chi was fine.

The one at fault was Grand Secretary Qu!

Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed, her face brightening several shades. She called out to Old Madam Guo, “Mother, is this true?”

“It’s true!” Old Madam Guo’s smile was more restrained than Zhou Shaojin’s, but her delight was still evident. “Madam Peng and Madam Pengcheng came specifically to tell me about this.”

Zhou Shaojin’s smile couldn’t be contained—it hung brightly on her face.

This made Madam Peng, Madam Pengcheng, and Qiu Shi feel they had done absolutely the right thing in bringing this news. They too were very happy.

When Cheng Chi returned that evening, after Zhou Shaojin helped him change his clothes, she couldn’t help embracing him. Smiling, she looked up at him and said, “Don’t you have something to tell me?”

If it were about the fortune stick, she would definitely ask him “Guess what fortune I drew.” So this must be about Grand Secretary Qu being imprisoned.

He hadn’t expected her to know so quickly.

But looking at her flushed face, his playful nature arose. He feigned normalcy and asked with some puzzlement, “Did something happen at home?”

Could it be that Silang didn’t know about Grand Secretary Qu being imprisoned?

Zhou Shaojin blinked and quickly told Cheng Chi about Madam Peng coming to bring them the news.

Laughter rippled like scattered starlight in Cheng Chi’s eyes.

Zhou Shaojin stared blankly, then immediately realized she had fallen for Cheng Chi’s trick again.

“I’m never helping you change clothes again!” Zhou Shaojin pushed Cheng Chi away, both shy and annoyed.

Cheng Chi laughed heartily, pulling Zhou Shaojin tightly into his embrace. Pressing his face against hers, he said, “I have another piece of news to tell you. I wonder if you’ll like hearing it?”

Zhou Shaojin was very curious. Forgetting that he had just teased her, she said, “What is it? How would I know if I like it if you don’t tell me?”

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “I’ve been transferred to the Censorate to serve as Administrative Director of the Administrative Bureau!”

Administrative Director of the Administrative Bureau at the Censorate—a sixth-rank position.

This wasn’t even the main point. The main point was that the Administrative Director would stay in the capital.

“I like it, I like it!” Zhou Shaojin was beside herself with joy, embracing Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi lowered his head, kissing the top of Zhou Shaojin’s head and murmuring with a smile, “Silly girl.”

※※※

That night, Fan Qi didn’t return.

Cheng Chi immediately sent people to search through the night.

Zhou Shaojin worried all night long.

The next day, when the news spread, relatives and friends of the Cheng family all came to offer congratulations.

While Zhou Shaojin directed the kitchen servants to prepare food for entertaining guests, she anxiously waited for news of Fan Qi. The joy of Cheng Chi’s promotion became muted.

If she had known it would be like this, she shouldn’t have sent Fan Qi to find the person.

If something happened to Fan Qi, how would she explain to Nanny Fan!

How could she face Fan Qi!

Zhou Shaojin finally made it to lamp-lighting time when Fan Qi returned, dusty from travel.

Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed. Disregarding the roomful of guests, she pulled Fan Qi to talk behind the kitchen, “How was it? You didn’t encounter any danger, did you?”

“No, no!” Fan Qi said breathlessly, “You didn’t recognize the wrong person—it was Cheng Lu… I followed him all the way. He’s working as an accountant for an official family in Huairou… and he’s changed his name to Dong Lichun.”