Zhou Shaojin had no intention of having much contact with Min Jia, but the relationship between them made it impossible for her to avoid contact. Thinking this way, Zhou Shaojin felt relieved about the addition of one more person to Cheng Rang’s minor betrothal ceremony. She smiled and said, “One more person means more liveliness. It’s wonderful that you can go.”

One was a wedding, the other a minor betrothal—Yuan Shi’s choice wasn’t wrong. But Min Jia still felt Yuan Shi’s approach was inappropriate. After all, Fang Xuan was only Yuan Shi’s cousin’s daughter, while Cheng Rang was her own nephew by blood. Even if she couldn’t go to the Xie family, she should at least show her face on this day to express concern. Not even maintaining this much face—either she didn’t understand or she disdained to—the former could only mean her upbringing was poor, the latter could only mean her cultivation was lacking.

No wonder that day when Cheng Xu went with her to Chaoyangmen to acknowledge relatives, his emotions were written all over his face.

With such an unreliable mother teaching by example, how could he possibly understand these matters of human relations?

It was only because the Cheng family had few members and was fortunate enough to have married a husband with a smooth official career and given birth to a son who studied well. If this were in the Min family, she would have been trampled into dust long ago.

Yet her own mother-in-law remained completely oblivious.

She had tactfully reminded her that before Fang Xuan’s wedding, she could completely make it here to say a few polite words. Her mother-in-law had casually said, “It’s fine—it’s just a minor betrothal. In a few days during the Buddha Bathing Festival, when I see your second aunt, I’ll mention it. She’s not the narrow-minded type.”

Min Jia at the time truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Others aren’t narrow-minded, so you slight them? If others were narrow-minded, wouldn’t you fawn over them then? Isn’t this just stepping low and climbing high? Even if you want to act this way, don’t say it so plainly or do it so obviously!

Min Jia had lost her temper and decided to act separately from her mother-in-law—she would come here while her mother-in-law went to the Fang family’s wedding feast.

Her mother-in-law was utterly baffled, saying, “Aren’t you quite close with Ah Xuan? Won’t you go see her off when she gets married?”

She had smiled at the time and said, “Ah Xuan is also very nice. I’ll have a maid send her a message to explain.”

She returned the words exactly as they were to Yuan Shi.

Who knew Yuan Shi didn’t catch on at all and kept saying it wasn’t good. It was only after she gently persuaded her at length that Yuan Shi reluctantly agreed.

Min Jia could see clearly—it turned out her mother-in-law wasn’t ignorant; she knew too well and constantly used her position as eldest sister-in-law to pressure the family’s other sisters-in-law.

Thinking this way, she also felt her mother-in-law was very naive and easy to deal with. The marriage her family had found for her was actually quite good.

She just didn’t know if she also pressured Zhou Shaojin?

Min Jia smiled warmly and affectionately said to Zhou Shaojin, “Then Auntie must teach me more—I don’t know anything about these matters.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “However the Cheng family inserted the hairpin for you during your minor betrothal, that’s how we’ll insert the hairpin for the third young lady of the Xie family this time. You definitely know.”

These words left Min Jia slightly stunned.

She hadn’t expected that someone as gentle and beautiful as Zhou Shaojin would speak with needles hidden in cotton.

It showed her mother was right—no one was simple.

Min Jia exchanged a few words with Zhou Shaojin before moving closer to Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao, chatting with them neither too much nor too little, neither too warmly nor too distantly.

Compared to Zhou Shaojin, she valued these two sisters-in-law more.

No matter what, Zhou Shaojin was just her aunt. Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao were different—they shared blood ties with Yuan Shi. One sentence from them was worth ten from others, especially when speaking ill of someone…

After they chatted together for a moment, the matchmakers and the fortunate woman all arrived.

The fortunate woman, Madam Wu the Third, had also been the fortunate woman at Zhou Shaojin’s wedding, so they were familiar. Zhou Shaojin chatted with her in good spirits.

Qiu Shi knew they had all eaten breakfast at her home but still had the maids serve some liquid foods like soy milk and lotus seed soup for them to eat before having the matchmakers lead them to the Xie family.

The Xie family lived some distance from here, though not too far—half an hour by sedan chair.

Since the minor betrothal was mainly attended by women from the inner quarters, the men of the Xie family had all withdrawn to the study in the outer courtyard. As soon as Zhou Shaojin got out of her sedan, she saw the courtyard full of women and children, making the small residence quite crowded. However, most of these women had kind faces and bright smiles. Even the occasional one or two who looked somewhat sharp had traces of smiles on their faces—it was a festive atmosphere.

Zhou Shaojin really liked it.

She felt this marriage alliance with the Xie family was truly excellent!

The fortunate woman invited by the Xie family welcomed them into Xie Jue’s inner chamber. Xie Jue wore a bright red embroidered jacket, her face flushed red, sitting on the large kang accompanied by several women.

As soon as Zhou Shaojin entered, those women began saying auspicious words and made room for Zhou Shaojin to help Xie Jue insert the hairpin.

The hairpin the Cheng family provided for the minor betrothal was a very ordinary pure gold hairpin, though slightly heavier than usual and more finely crafted, but couldn’t be considered extravagant.

When she took out the hairpin, she clearly felt Xie Jue, sitting cross-legged across from her, breathe a huge sigh of relief.

She didn’t know why, but Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood—Xie Jue had probably been worried that the wealthy Cheng family would produce an antique hairpin or some precious hairpin for her minor betrothal. When families of equal standing married off sons or daughters, it was usually matched equally—meaning the woman’s family’s expenses for marrying off their daughter would be half of the man’s family’s expenses.

The Xie family wasn’t a wealthy household!

Having suffered much emotional hardship in both her previous and current life, Zhou Shaojin was particularly sensitive to such things.

She couldn’t help but smile softly and comfort Xie Jue in a low voice: “My second sister-in-law is truly wonderful!”

Xie Jue immediately understood her meaning and smiled gratefully at Zhou Shaojin.

This gave Zhou Shaojin the joy of helping someone.

That evening when she saw Cheng Chi, she told him about it.

Cheng Chi looked at her curved eyes and brows and held her tightly in his arms…

Perhaps because she felt she had done a good deed, or perhaps because Cheng Chi had frolicked with her, inexplicably, the resentment in Zhou Shaojin’s heart suddenly dissipated. She began following Old Madam Guo busily practicing calligraphy and painting again, and in her spare time embroidered that Guanyin image.

In the blink of an eye, they passed the Dragon Boat Festival and entered midsummer.

Qu Yuan was sentenced to execution after autumn.

Cheng Chi’s name was passed around among scholarly circles again.

Qiu Shi had people send over many melons and also invited Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo to come watch opera.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand: “In such hot weather, why would second sister-in-law think of having a performance at home?”

Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, “Your second uncle will be going to Ningbo in a few days.”

“An external appointment?” Zhou Shaojin was very surprised.

These days she had been constantly by Old Madam Guo’s side. Old Madam Guo hadn’t mentioned it, and Cheng Chi hadn’t said anything either.

Old Madam Guo smiled and nodded, saying, “Hasn’t Lady Pengcheng been frequently visiting our home these past days? She obtained a favor for your second uncle. Of course, your second uncle’s qualifications were also sufficient—he’s been appointed as Provincial Judge of Shandong. He’ll be setting off in a few days. Your second sister-in-law probably wants the family to gather together before your second uncle leaves!”

Zhou Shaojin blinked and said, “You’re truly amazing! I’m with you every day and didn’t notice at all…”

Her voice was naturally sweet and soft, and now carried some surprise, some admiration, and some dissatisfied coquetry, making Old Madam Guo laugh heartily. She told her: “I wasn’t certain about this matter either! I couldn’t very well go ask her—that would be beneath me! Good opportunities don’t necessarily come to us…” She carefully explained the intricacies to Zhou Shaojin. “I only received her letter this morning saying your second uncle got this position.”

Zhou Shaojin listened carefully, nodding continuously, and smiled, saying, “This is wonderful news. I must prepare some congratulatory gifts for second uncle.”

No matter what, Cheng Wei’s rank had been elevated. Even if he later returned to the capital to sit in some corner just collecting his salary, he would receive more money and have more prestigious ceremonies.

In her previous life, Cheng Wei hadn’t received an external appointment, had he?

Could it be that by revealing those heavenly secrets from her previous life, she had affected Cheng Wei’s fate?

She asked Cheng Chi.

Who knew Cheng Chi would only nervously ask her: “Will revealing heavenly secrets cause backlash?”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know either.

Cheng Chi immediately decided to go to the Great Xiangguo Temple tomorrow to perform a ritual for Zhou Shaojin. Then thinking that Old Madam Guo lived with them and elderly people believed most in such supernatural matters, it would be best not to alarm Old Madam Guo. So he instructed Zhou Shaojin: “Don’t let others know. Just say we’re going to see your sister. We’ll go quietly and return quietly.”

Zhou Shaojin watched Cheng Chi care for her so much, her heart sweet, and no longer worried about revealing heavenly secrets or facing backlash. The next day she happily followed Cheng Chi to the Great Xiangguo Temple.

She just watched Cheng Chi doing this and that for her, her eyes smiling like crescents, unable to stop.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but sigh.

Zhou Shaojin then hugged Cheng Chi’s arm and shook it back and forth.

Cheng Chi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and scolded her: “Stand still properly—this is a Buddhist temple.”

Zhou Shaojin wasn’t annoyed and smiled as she let go. Seeing it was noon and the small stalls had all closed up with no one around, she hugged Cheng Chi’s arm again and said, “We should have left the Buddhist temple already, right?”

She was incredibly clingy.

Cheng Chi was delighted in his heart and let her be, stuffing her into the carriage. All along the way she clung to him until he was covered in sweat, and the fire within suddenly flared up. He simply had the coachman take a detour and went with Zhou Shaojin to Yuqian Alley.

Summer cicadas called “cicada, cicada” in the trees. The large parasol trees provided shade from the sun, with only dappled tree shadows falling on the windows, making it feel even more quiet and cool.

Zhou Shaojin closed her eyes, not daring to look at Cheng Chi moving in and out of her body…

※※※

That day they returned rather late. When paying respects to Old Madam Guo, Zhou Shaojin’s legs were still weak.

Old Madam Guo didn’t notice and thought they were just tired from traveling in summer. She caringly told them to rest early, saying they still had to go to Cheng Wei’s place tomorrow.

Zhou Shaojin respectfully agreed, not daring to look at Old Madam Guo.

Cheng Chi, however, was calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

Upon returning to the inner chamber, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but pinch Cheng Chi.

That firm yet supple feeling made her involuntarily think of the afternoon’s events, and her face began burning again.

Cheng Chi good-naturedly smiled and went to the side room to bathe.

He was in high spirits today.

Certainly there was the reason that Zhou Shaojin had indulged his preferences, but more importantly, Zhou Shaojin had closed her eyes.

For the first time, she hadn’t looked at his face and hadn’t felt afraid.