Cheng Lu patiently listened to his mother ramble on for quite a while, promising to have a maid send over a bowl of lotus seed soup before finally seeing his mother off.

He stood alone quietly under the corridor, gazing at the pomegranate tree his father had planted with his own hands years ago—now lush with branches and leaves—and let out one cold laugh after another.

What nonsense about fearing he had spoken carelessly without thinking, what nonsense about fearing someone with ulterior motives had spread false rumors—in reality, she had already decided in her heart that he was the one who said it, and even threatened him that if this talk reached his teacher’s ears it would be disadvantageous to him… Yet Mother didn’t say a single word in his defense, and handed all authority to deal with this matter over to Yuan Shi… So foolish… she was so foolish he didn’t even know how to describe it… never using her brain… How did he end up with such a mother!

He thought of Yuan Shi.

Refined and elegant in appearance, dignified in manner, adept at handling all situations, skilled at maneuvering… Compared to him, Cheng Xu’s only advantage was being born into the right circumstances…

His expression suddenly became gloomy.

Zhao Dahai, dressed in a short blue cloth tunic with a black cloth belt around his waist, walked in.

He was in his twenties, not tall but sturdy, with a square face and purplish-red skin, looking like an honest and sincere farmhand from an estate.

“First Young Master!” He respectfully bowed to Cheng Lu.

Cheng Lu nodded slightly and said in a low voice, “Let’s talk in the study.”

Zhao Dahai silently followed Cheng Lu into the study.

Cheng Lu pointed to the armchair across from him and said, “You’ve had a hard journey. Please sit.”

Zhao Dahai expressed his thanks but didn’t dare sit down. He took the tea offered by the maid and drank it all in one gulp. Seeing the maid withdraw, he finally said in a low voice, “I’ve investigated everything you asked me to look into. Young Master Xu was sent to Hangzhou Prefecture by Madam Yuan, supposedly to celebrate his teacher’s birthday. Young Master Shi has been spending his time at the flower market these past few days, aside from attending one poetry gathering with his classmates. According to the workers at the flower market, Young Master Shi seems to be hosting a chrysanthemum viewing party at home. He’s been searching the streets for rare chrysanthemum varieties.

“Young Master Zheng has visited the Guangdong Guild Hall several times and had two meals and one drinking session with the Second Master of the Thirteen Hongs. According to the attending servants, it seems the Third Branch wants to do overseas business together with the Thirteen Hongs. However, I couldn’t find out whether they finalized the deal. I’m thinking of checking the Third Branch’s pharmacy in a few days.

“If Young Master Zheng wants to do overseas business with the Thirteen Hongs, one share would require at least fifty thousand taels of silver. That’s no small sum. I estimate they’ll have to take silver from the pharmacy. As long as we keep watch on those pharmacies, we’ll know whether Young Master Zheng’s business succeeded.

“Since the last fire incident, Young Master Gao and Second Young Master Yi barely go out except to buy books at the bookshop or purchase writing materials at Wende Pavilion.

“Young Master Nuo is still the same as before, often being egged on by Young Master Ju to gamble at brothels near the Qinhuai River.” At this point, he paused slightly and said, “There’s one more thing. The woman Fifth Master keeps outside gave birth to a son yesterday. Fifth Master’s side is keeping it quiet for now.”

“Oh!” Cheng Lu raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Looks like there will be quite a show to watch at Jiuru Alley.”

Zhao Dahai laughed along with him.

Cheng Lu instructed him, “Keep a close eye on the Third Branch’s affairs. Come tell me as soon as there’s any news.” He muttered to himself, “Back then, Chi Si obtained the silver to open Yutai by trading overseas with the Thirteen Hongs. It looks like Cheng Zheng wants to follow Chi Si’s example.”

Zhao Dahai had no way to judge this and didn’t know how to respond.

Cheng Lu personally refilled his cup.

Zhao Dahai quickly bent down to express his thanks.

Cheng Lu again gestured for him to sit down and talk.

Only then did he sit on half of the chair.

Cheng Lu changed the subject. “Can you find out when Zhou Zhen will return?”

Zhao Dahai thought for a moment and said uncertainly, “I’ll try.”

Cheng Lu sighed, his expression somewhat melancholy.

Zhao Dahai gathered his courage and said, “Master, is it about Second Miss Zhou…”

Cheng Lu remained silent.

Seeing that he didn’t stop him from discussing this topic, Zhao Dahai asked with concern, “Master, are you really going to give up Second Miss Zhou to Cheng Xu? Now Zhou Zhen has been transferred to Baoding as prefect… Even if you could find someone with a background comparable to Second Miss Zhou’s, she might not have as good a temperament as Second Miss Zhou. And those with good temperaments might not have backgrounds as good as Second Miss Zhou’s…”

In this household, the only person who could really talk to Cheng Lu and whom he could trust was Zhao Dahai.

Cheng Xu felt extremely depressed and couldn’t help but indulge Zhao Dahai a bit, saying, “Do you think if I don’t give Zhou Shaojin to Cheng Xu, I’ll be able to marry Zhou Shaojin myself? Dream on! He would never marry Second Miss Zhou to me. Zhou Shaojin could investigate what happened back then, let alone him.

“If I hadn’t bought the neighboring mansion, perhaps I could have glossed things over in front of him. But now the property is under my name. If I still claim I didn’t know about what happened back then, it won’t hold up… But even so, that Zhou Shaojin shouldn’t expect to have a good life either.

“Yuan Shi won’t agree to Cheng Xu marrying Zhou Shaojin, but Cheng Xu is deeply devoted to Zhou Shaojin. Before Elder Miss Zhou’s wedding, Zhou Shaojin will certainly continue staying at the Cheng residence to accompany her sister. As long as Cheng Xu’s name is linked with Zhou Shaojin’s, if Zhou Shaojin wants to shake off the reputation of having ‘improper relations’ with Cheng Xu, with Cheng Xu turning a blind eye, it probably won’t be that easy.

“If Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng do something at this time, things will get interesting!

“But all that is for the future.

“What I’m worried about right now is actually Zhou Zhen. He’s just a scholar, yet he could make that wastrel from the Zhuang family never dare to trouble him again. I’m afraid he’s not a simple character. Cheng Xu can’t see my intentions, Chi Si doesn’t care to bother with such matters, and Zhou Shaojin is Zhou Zhen’s daughter—if he’s paying attention, he’ll definitely be able to see through it…” At this point, Zhou Shaojin’s delicate and charming face floated into his mind.

If only she weren’t Zhuang Liangyu’s daughter, how wonderful that would be… No, even if she were Zhuang Liangyu’s daughter, if she didn’t have a face identical to Zhuang Liangyu’s, perhaps he could pretend not to know… properly marry her and treasure her like pearls and jade the way Zhou Zhen treated Zhuang Liangyu… But now, every time he saw that face, he would think of Zhuang Liangyu.

He thought of the small portrait his father treasured in his study, of that year when he accompanied his father to offer incense at Ganquan Temple, when his father pointed from afar at that graceful beauty and asked him, “Would she be good as your mother?”… He thought of his father’s anguished and desperate expression before he died…

He closed his eyes.

There was no turning back once the arrow left the bow.

From two years ago when he accidentally encountered Zhou Shaojin, he had already lost any way to retreat.

Cheng Lu instructed Zhao Dahai, “Go visit those households again and send them some rice and grain. If they ask, say it’s a Mid-Autumn Festival gift and tell them to stay indoors. If anyone asks about what happened back then, they shouldn’t speak carelessly.”

Zhao Dahai respectfully acknowledged the order.

Cheng Lu asked, “That beggar?”

“Already sentenced to immediate execution.” Zhao Dahai quickly said, “I pretended to be an idler when I delivered the message to that household, and even pretended to extort two hundred taels of silver from them. That household didn’t suspect anything at all. You can rest assured.”

Cheng Lu nodded and saw Zhao Dahai off, then knelt before his father’s portrait.

“Father, rest assured, I won’t let your suffering be in vain. I only regret that Zhou Zhen would rather wear a cuckold’s green hat than reveal what happened back then.” He gazed at his father’s smiling face and murmured, “I can’t find Zhuang Liangyu, but I can find Zhou Shaojin. I want to make sure Zhuang Liangyu finds no peace even in the underworld. I want Zhou Zhen to regret marrying Zhuang Liangyu…”

He spoke through gritted teeth, his sinister voice echoing in the small side room.

※※※

Zhou Shaojin also received news that Cheng Xu had gone to Hangzhou to celebrate his teacher’s birthday. She couldn’t help but recite “Amitabha” in her heart.

It seemed that approaching Yuan Shi had been effective after all.

Two days later, Cheng Gao came over and quietly told her, “The Old Ancestor of the Second Branch said the atmosphere in the clan school was poor—the scholars weren’t focused on studying diligently and working hard, but were instead concerned with matters of the inner courtyards. He summoned Third Uncle Yi for a scolding. He told him that if he has time, he shouldn’t always be out sightseeing with others. Since he’s taken charge of the clan school, he should properly manage its affairs.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled.

Who would have known that just two days after Cheng Gao said this, another incident occurred at the Cheng clan school.

Given the poor academic atmosphere at the Cheng clan school, the First Branch decided to donate two thousand taels of silver to the clan school. Based on recommendations from the teaching masters, they would select ten students with xiucai degrees to study at Yuelu Academy, one of the Four Great Academies, for two years.

An average of two hundred taels of silver per person.

Forget about going to study at Yuelu Academy—with that amount, one could buy a small single-courtyard house in the inner city of Jinling.

Every student at the Cheng clan school was eager to try. Wherever one went in Jiuru Alley, one could hear servant women discussing this matter.

Cheng Lu’s face turned pale.

He knew that nine times out of ten, this matter was aimed at him.

Removing the firewood from under the pot.

He just didn’t know whether this was Chi Si’s idea or Yuan Shi’s. Even if it was Chi Si’s idea, without Yuan Shi mediating from within, would Chi Si bother with such trivial matters?

Cheng Lu didn’t register his name. But his name still appeared on the large red paper posted on the clan school wall.

People from the clan school—whether sincerely or jealously—congratulated him.

He smiled graciously and responded to each one. But inside his heart, it was like a hurricane was raging.

Yuan Shi, Cheng Xu. Just you wait!

Cheng Lu returned home to pack his luggage.

Dong Shi cried like a fountain of tears, clutching her son’s hand and asking, “Can you not go?”

“No!” Cheng Lu said gently. “It would offend the First Branch.”

Hearing this, Dong Shi became even more heartbroken and cried about Cheng Bo, “How could you bear to leave us mother and son behind? If you were still here, how would our son have to look at others’ faces even after passing the xiucai examination…”

Cheng Lu looked at his mother collapsed on the bed and only felt annoyed.

All she knew was how to cry!

If crying were useful, he would cry more sorrowfully than she did.

Father had always worked hard to prove himself to Zhuang Liangyu, to make Zhuang Liangyu regret her choices, but before Father could achieve his goal, Zhuang Liangyu died. Father lost all will to live and naturally departed… Mother was truly foolish beyond measure, not even knowing what the person beside her pillow was thinking… But Mother had said one thing correctly—if Father were still alive, with property and assets, why would he need to look at Jiuru Alley’s faces… Whatever happened, Father would naturally step forward… Father would protect him like an eagle!

Thinking of his father’s broad back and warm hands, Cheng Lu’s vision gradually blurred…