“What child? Whose child?” Zhou Chujin’s hands gripped Zhou Shaojin’s shoulders tightly, her face pale. “Explain clearly, what happened?”

Zhou Shaojin’s shoulders burned with pain. She jolted awake from her memories of the past life, her heart filled with alarm.

Those were all matters from her previous life. She couldn’t let things from her past life affect her judgment, making her unable to distinguish between past and present, causing her to do things that would harm others and herself!

She steadied her emotions, saying: “Elder sister, I’m fine. I just felt upset and wanted to cry in elder sister’s arms.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Chujin was quite doubtful.

“I really haven’t deceived elder sister!” Zhou Shaojin acted coquettishly, using her usual tactics, trying to divert elder sister’s attention. “I, I’m just frightened in my heart!”

Hearing her younger sister say this, the confusion in Zhou Chujin’s heart only deepened.

Just now, when her younger sister was nestled against her shoulder, she had heard every word clearly. That tone was clearly that of a resentful young married woman who had suffered endless grievances, yet her younger sister was a girl kept in the inner chambers, not yet twelve years old… Could it be that whatever was clinging to Shaojin still hadn’t left?

She examined Zhou Shaojin carefully. She saw that Zhou Shaojin’s gaze was clear and bright, her manner peaceful, her behavior normal—she didn’t look like someone possessed by something… Could it be that the blessed water Master Jingfang sent had taken effect? So that the thing appeared and disappeared intermittently?

Several more threads of hope rose in Zhou Chujin’s heart. She was contemplating whether she should make another trip to Jihui Temple when a young maid ran in to report: “Uncle Mian’s wife has arrived!”

Fan Liushi ultimately couldn’t rest easy and had sent someone to inform Uncle Mian’s wife.

She had simply put her hair in a coil, with a bare face and no jewelry at all—clearly she had received the news and rushed over after getting up in haste.

Zhou Chujin most feared others knowing about Zhou Shaojin being possessed by evil spirits. One careless moment could affect Zhou Shaojin’s marriage prospects.

She quickly leaned close to Uncle Mian’s wife’s ear and whispered for a while.

Uncle Mian’s wife breathed a sigh of relief and laughed: “You two sisters really frightened me to death.” As she spoke, she embraced Zhou Shaojin, saying: “From now on you’re a grown young lady.” Then she spoke at length about precautions to take during monthly courses.

Zhou Shaojin hadn’t discussed such private matters with anyone for many years. Her face flushed bright red.

Seeing this, Uncle Mian’s wife cut short the topic, smilingly gave Zhou Chujin a few instructions, and rose to take her leave.

The Zhou sisters escorted Uncle Mian’s wife out, only to encounter Si’er, the personal maid of Old Madam Guan, at the main gate.

She curtsied with a smile, saying: “The old madam sent me to ask what happened at Wanxiang Residence?”

Everyone looked at each other.

Si’er explained: “The old madam’s sleep has been brief these past days. Just as she was preparing to rest, she saw someone from Hanqiu Hall carrying lanterns toward Wanxiang Residence, so she specially sent me to inquire.”

They had actually disturbed the old lady.

Zhou Shaojin felt ashamed.

Zhou Chujin spoke a few words quietly to Si’er. Si’er’s gaze fell on Zhou Shaojin as she smiled with pursed lips, saying: “I’ll go report to the old madam right away.”

She had lost face all the way to Jiashu Hall.

Zhou Shaojin’s face burned.

Uncle Mian’s wife and Si’er went toward the main chambers while she and elder sister returned to Wanxiang Residence.

Fan Liushi attended to Zhou Shaojin as she changed clothes and drank brown sugar water.

Zhou Chujin said: “Shaojin, I have so much to tell you. Tonight let’s sleep together again, shall we?”

Zhou Shaojin nodded emphatically.

Elder sister clearly suspected she was possessed by evil spirits, yet still disregarded her own safety to sleep beside her… To elder sister, she had always been the person she valued most, cared about most, and loved most dearly!

This warmed her heart with the pleasure of being doted upon.

Zhou Shaojin decided to take this opportunity to explain her rebirth to elder sister properly, making sure elder sister believed she wasn’t thinking wild thoughts. But when she looked at elder sister’s elegant, delicate face that couldn’t quite hide its youthful awkwardness, she felt a trace of hesitation.

In the previous life, elder sister had already borne too much suffering and responsibility for her. In this life, should she also make elder sister bear suffering and responsibility for her as in the last life? Moreover, speaking truthfully, her actual age was greater than elder sister’s—she should be the one taking care of elder sister!

She hesitated.

Zhou Chujin was already saying: “Shaojin, I see your illness is mostly recovered. How about tomorrow I speak with grandmother, and we sisters go together to offer incense at Jihui Temple?”

Jihui Temple was the Chan temple where elder sister had previously sought blessed water for her.

For an unmarried young lady to go offer incense alone with only servants—how many excuses would elder sister need to find, how much persuasion would it take to convince grandmother to agree?

Her heart ached dully with guilt over elder sister’s devotion to her and the troubles she had caused elder sister.

In that instant, she made up her mind.

No matter what difficulties she faced in the future, she couldn’t trouble elder sister with everything as in her past life, and even more, she couldn’t make elder sister pay the price for her sins as in her past life.

In this life, it would be her turn to protect elder sister, protect the Cheng family, protect father!

Just as she had thought before dying, she would definitely keep her eyes wide open, see clearly into people’s hearts, no longer be so weak, stay far away from Cheng Lu… and prevent the tragedy of her past life from repeating!

Zhou Shaojin secretly clenched her fists. After thinking for a moment, she affectionately leaned against elder sister’s shoulder, reminding Zhou Chujin: “Elder sister, you forgot—I need to copy sutras for grandmother! The Buddha will protect me!”

That’s right!

How could she have forgotten this matter!

Zhou Chujin nearly slapped her forehead.

Since those sutras were being offered to the Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva would naturally protect the person copying them.

Didn’t the people at the Chan temple say that the Buddha hall had the Bodhisattva’s divine light protection? Perhaps if her younger sister copied a few more pages of sutras and spent more time in grandmother’s small Buddha hall, it could completely drive away the unclean thing clinging to Shaojin!

“Elder sister will wake you early tomorrow morning!” She said with a beaming smile, her face full of joy and encouragement.

Watching this, Zhou Shaojin felt so sad her tears nearly fell.

She kept admonishing herself inwardly: Zhou Shaojin, oh Zhou Shaojin, look how simple elder sister’s wish is. You must live up to expectations. You absolutely cannot keep crying. When you encounter problems, you must learn from elder sister in your past life—use your brain to think of solutions, not push everything onto others…

Who knew that the next day, Si’er came over saying: “The old madam says that since Second Miss is unwell, she’s exempted from morning and evening attendance for the next few days. She should rest at home and recuperate. When she’s better, it won’t be too late to pay respects to the old madam.” She also produced several medicinal ingredients, saying: “The old madam instructed that Nanny Fan should brew these for Second Miss to drink.”

Zhou Chujin expressed her thanks, but felt quite dejected inside.

This way, wouldn’t Shaojin have to suffer for several more days?

She was pondering what excuse to use to let Zhou Shaojin start copying sutras earlier when Uncle Mian’s wife sent someone to request her presence: “We’re starting to cut summer clothes. Please come help keep the accounts, First Miss.”

Zhou Chujin had no choice but to go to Uncle Mian’s wife first.

The courtyard suddenly became quiet.

Zhou Shaojin took another nap. When she woke, Cui Huan was talking with Shi Xiang under the eaves.

Hearing movement, she came in to pay respects to Zhou Shaojin, saying: “Our First Miss invites you to pick roses in the garden at noon. She says she wants to make rose dew.”

Perhaps because she had cried so hard, releasing all the bad emotions in her heart, when she heard Cheng Jia’s name again, she had become much more composed.

“Go tell your First Miss,” she said lightly, “I temporarily cannot go out. I appreciate her kind intention!”

Cui Huan was surprised.

The Zhou family’s Second Miss had never refused First Miss before. This time, how… Could it be that First Miss had somehow offended the Zhou family’s Second Miss without knowing it?

Cui Huan hurriedly returned to Ruyi Pavilion where Cheng Jia resided.

With no one to disturb her, Zhou Shaojin lay quietly in bed alone, lost in thought.

Since she had confirmed she was reborn, then the Cheng family would certainly face house confiscation and clan extermination.

How could she prevent the Cheng family from being confiscated and exterminated?

She struggled to recall matters from her past life.

Because she had lived long-term at the farm in Daxing and disliked social engagements, aside from returning to the Lin family with Lin Shisheng during Spring Festival to worship ancestors and going to Dazhao Temple to worship Buddha, she hardly ever went out. She learned the news of the Cheng family’s confiscation from Lin Shisheng. Lin Shisheng had also comforted her, telling her not to worry—several regional governors who had old ties with the Cheng family were all thinking of ways to help. Even if something happened, since she was a married daughter, it wouldn’t implicate her.

Although her feelings at the time were somewhat complicated, she hadn’t thought it very serious—the Cheng family had enjoyed fame in scholarly circles for over a hundred years. Even if they had lost imperial favor, the family had plenty of scholarly talent. At most they would lie low for a few years, and once opportunity arose, their reputation would soar again and they would lead the way once more. She had even sighed to Lin Shisheng: “The Qiubo Pavilion in the Cheng family garden is a water pavilion. The ceiling, window lattices, and door panels are all nanmu wood inlaid with sapphire-blue glazed tiles, with gold bricks paving the floor. On clear days, when sunlight reflects off the lake surface, the shimmering waves make it seem like walking into the Dragon King’s crystal palace. People who haven’t seen it simply cannot imagine its beauty. I wonder if Qiubo Pavilion’s glazed tiles can be preserved…”

The Cheng family’s crime was that Cheng Jing committed a breach of etiquette before the throne, which then led to exposing Cheng Wei’s embezzlement case. The one who impeached the Cheng family was Cheng Jing’s political enemy, Grand Secretary Du. Even someone like Lin Shisheng, a close minister to the emperor, felt this was merely political suppression, an instance of the east wind prevailing over the west wind. Once the matter passed, the clouds would clear and the sky would brighten. Hearing her say this, he had even asked with a smile: “Although you almost never mention the Cheng family, whenever you do mention them, you have much to say. In my view, the time you spent at the Cheng family was probably when you were happiest!”

She didn’t acknowledge it and quickly changed the subject, speaking with Lin Shaosheng about nephew Liao Chengfang’s birthday instead.

Thinking back now, how ridiculous it was!

That had actually been the beginning of the great mansion’s collapse.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes couldn’t help moistening. She thought of how that evening, before Lin Shisheng had time to return to the city, elder sister had appeared at the farm with a simple entourage, her eyes red and swollen, holding her and sobbing incoherently: “…They say the men will be beheaded immediately, and all the women sold to the Jiaofang Bureau… It was Duke Liang who showed mercy, quietly sending word to the residence, and Magistrate Song turned a blind eye… Eldest aunt and the others all hanged themselves… Even Yuanyuan couldn’t escape… How could eldest aunt bear to do it… how could she bear to…”

Yuanyuan was Cousin Cheng Gao’s daughter. Because she was born on the fifteenth of the first month during the Lantern Festival, her infant name was Yuanyuan… She wasn’t even a month old yet…

She had been completely stunned at the time.

Afterward, everything was confused and chaotic. She only knew to cry, only knew to watch elder sister, brother-in-law, and Lin Shisheng rushing about while also comforting her, unable to help with anything. By the time she finally came to her senses, Fourth Master Cheng Chi of the main branch had already colluded with bandits to raid the execution grounds and rescued Cheng Xu. The Cheng family had become yesterday’s flowers… Only then did she think to ask elder sister: “What did the Liao family say? Did they give you any grief?”

Elder sister was the eldest daughter of a deceased mother. She could marry into the Liao family entirely because the Cheng family had always been a cut above the Liao family, and the Cheng family valued this granddaughter greatly. Now that the Cheng family had become a burden to the Liao family, who could guarantee the Liao family wouldn’t turn against them?