Zhou Chujin covered her face and cried: “When the Cheng family’s incident happened, your brother-in-law offered to relinquish his position as heir apparent, hoping to preserve you and your nephew. In the end, it was only because the great ancestor spoke up, saying the Liao family was not the kind without integrity, that the matter was dropped… Even if I work like an ox or horse for the rest of my life, I could never repay your brother-in-law’s kindness…”

At least elder sister was alright.

She felt much better in her heart, but she couldn’t help thinking constantly about the Cheng family members, remembering those days she spent at the Cheng family. Especially Cheng Gao—steady and reserved, magnanimous and benevolent. When her incident occurred, the people from the second and third households all remained silent. Only those from the fourth household stood up for her. Cheng Gao had even run off and given Cheng Xu a severe beating. In the twenty-seventh year of Zhide, Cheng Gao’s name appeared on the golden roll. He was admitted to the Hanlin Academy as a junior compiler and observed administration at the Ministry of Justice. He had even specially brought his wife and children to see her.

Such a good person with such a bright future ahead—how could he just be gone like that?

And there was Cheng Yi, who always wore a playful smile without proper decorum in daily life, yet had confronted Cheng Jia’s mother Jiang Shi for her sake and even turned against Cheng Ju.

What wrong had they committed?

Only being surnamed Cheng.

And just like that, they were all gone.

Thinking of these things, her tears flowed like a river, impossible to stop.

Later still, Cheng Lu came to find her.

She could no longer hold back.

How was it that all the good people had died, while someone like Cheng Lu—expelled from the Cheng family and struck from the clan registry—had turned misfortune into blessing and lived better and better…

Heaven was too unfair!

That was what led to the assassination attempt afterward.

Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin’s tears began falling uncontrollably again, but she quickly wiped them away.

Since she had said she would cry no more, she couldn’t shed tears when encountering problems in the future.

How hateful that in her past life she had lived too muddled, never caring about anything except her own affairs. Now wanting to use her past life knowledge to help the Cheng family, she had no clue whatsoever.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but hypothesize: If elder sister encountered such a situation, what would she do?

Tell grandmother?

Probably not.

She seemed possessed by evil spirits—elder sister tried so hard to conceal it for the sake of her reputation. Much less something like the Cheng family’s house confiscation and clan extermination, which was a major matter without evidence!

Figure out a solution herself?

The Cheng family’s destruction was clearly related to court politics. Never mind women like them who never stepped beyond the inner chambers—even someone like father who was called a “capable official” and held a fourth-rank position wasn’t qualified to participate in such matters, much less change the situation.

Thinking this far, Zhou Shaojin had a flash of inspiration.

She had no way to change the Cheng family’s misfortune, but she could tell someone who could influence the Cheng family’s advancement or retreat, and have that person prevent it!

However, “telling” didn’t seem quite right either.

These past days’ experiences had made her deeply understand one thing—if there was too great a disparity in status, ability, and knowledge between two parties, one’s words would carry no weight in the other’s eyes and couldn’t possibly attract sufficient attention.

This was what people commonly called speaking without authority.

And in the Cheng family, she was exactly such a person!

Born in the inner chambers, raised in the women’s quarters, in the eyes of the elders she was someone who hadn’t even fully learned to read, much less possessed any scholarly cultivation. How could she be qualified to discuss matters of clan rise and fall? Perhaps the moment she spoke, she would be considered to have “lost her mind” and handed over to father for handling, or like with elder sister, they would think her possessed by evil spirits and summon Daoist priests and monks to perform rituals. Then no one would believe her words even less, much less save the Cheng family!

But if she could gain the trust of some elder who had a say in the Cheng family, she could offer timely warnings at the appropriate moment. Wouldn’t this allow the Cheng family to avoid disaster without implicating herself!

Zhou Shaojin immediately became excited, thinking more and more that this plan was feasible!

If the Cheng family remained safe and sound, elder sister wouldn’t lose her support, father wouldn’t be implicated, grandmother and uncle and aunt would all be fine, Cousin Gao and Cousin Yi could unfold their grand ambitions and revitalize the family… Perhaps they could even surpass the main branch!

Then the main branch, second household, third household, and fifth household of the Cheng family would all have to defer to the fourth household!

Thinking that the fourth household might possibly suppress the other branches, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help smiling. She leaned against the headboard pondering who to warn.

The most suitable would undoubtedly be the second household’s great ancestor Cheng Xu—not only did he have prestige, but his experience, vision, and learning were beyond what ordinary scholars could compare to. Whatever he said, the Cheng family would certainly not dare disobey.

But he had passed away peacefully at age eighty-eight, while the Cheng family’s incident occurred in the second year of Tianshun, four years after his death… The second household’s great ancestor… wouldn’t work!

That left only the main branch’s First Master Cheng Jing.

He was not only the eldest son of the Cheng family’s main branch, but also currently the highest-ranking official in the Cheng family. He already showed signs of replacing Cheng Xu, and after Cheng Xu’s death, he naturally became the Cheng family’s decision-maker. Moreover, he entered the Grand Secretariat and became Second Grand Secretary.

But he was far away in the capital. He hadn’t returned home for almost ten years. She had only seen him once from afar when she was small. She couldn’t even remember what he looked like, much less speak with him or gain his trust.

The main branch’s Second Master Cheng Wei?

He was also in the capital, serving as Hanlin Academician. Although he later accumulated merit to become Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, under his elder brother Cheng Jing’s brilliance, she had no impression of this person whatsoever—she knew neither his character nor his conduct. Moreover, the Cheng family’s incident occurred precisely because they caught him by the handle… Finding him would be no better than finding his brother Cheng Jing!

The second household’s First Master Cheng Yi?

He obtained provincial graduate status at age eighteen, then repeatedly failed the higher examinations. Even after his own son passed the metropolitan examination to become a presented scholar, he was still marking time in place. It was said he was quite sensitive about “father being a provincial graduate while son is a presented scholar,” so he decided never to participate in the civil examinations again, thus taking over the position of headmaster at the Cheng clan school.

In her memory, he never left Jinling after that.

The Cheng family’s honor and disgrace rested with the court. If he didn’t serve as an official, how could he influence the Cheng family’s future?

He was also unsuitable.

The third household’s First Master Cheng Lu?

Everyone said he had read himself stupid—he couldn’t even distinguish between leeks and narcissus. His son Cheng Zheng was already a provincial graduate, yet he was still just a county graduate. Whenever the third household’s old master had any matters, he never asked this son but discussed directly with Cheng Zheng… He could be completely disregarded in the Cheng family.

Such a person… naturally wouldn’t work either!

Uncle Mian?

Better forget it!

Even elder sister didn’t believe what she said. Uncle Mian would believe her even less. One careless moment and she would alarm elder sister and grandmother—that would be more loss than gain!

As for the fifth household’s First Master Cheng Wen, aside from frequenting pleasure quarters, he had never done a single proper thing. Counting on him would be worse than counting on Cheng Gao.

Thinking of Cheng Gao, Zhou Shaojin’s eyes lit up.

Cheng Gao might believe her!

Then she could have him speak with First Master Jing… But he and First Master Jing were from different branches after all, and he was a junior, so it seemed quite difficult to even see First Master Jing…

Then, then it would be better to find Cheng Xu!

Thinking of that person, Zhou Shaojin’s feelings grew complicated.

Yuan Shi had consecutively given birth to two daughters. Only after turning thirty did she finally have this son. She treasured him like a precious jewel, wishing to present every good thing before him. Moreover, Cheng Xu was accomplished—at such a young age he had already passed the county examination and ranked first. Yuan Shi cherished him like her own heart and liver. Never mind speaking up—even if he just grunted, Yuan Shi would treat it as a sacred decree. If he would step forward, Yuan Shi would definitely stand on Cheng Xu’s side regardless of right or wrong. And First Master Jing both respected his wife and doted on his children. If Yuan Shi spoke up, even if First Master Jing found it absurd, he absolutely wouldn’t ignore it. This matter would already be half successful…

As the thought flashed through her mind, the joy on Zhou Shaojin’s face gradually faded away.

She… didn’t want to find that person.

In her past life, she and he had only met twice in total and exchanged fewer than ten sentences, yet Cheng Xu kept saying he liked her, and Yuan Shi kept slandering her for seducing Cheng Xu… If she spoke with him, the situation would definitely be worse than in her past life.

The Fujian Min clan had produced two Grand Secretaries, one principal graduate, one second-place graduate, over a dozen presented scholars, and countless provincial and county graduates. They were an aristocratic official family no less distinguished than Yuan Shi’s natal family—the Tongxiang Yuan clan.

Yuan Shi was wholeheartedly intent on forming a marriage alliance with the Min clan!

This was probably also why Yuan Shi was so furious after the incident, wasn’t it?

She absolutely didn’t want to have any connection with Cheng Xu in this life!

Zhou Shaojin forcibly cast that name to the back of her mind. She thought of Second Cousin Shi’s aloof manner, Third Cousin Zheng’s sharp gaze… Not one of them was easy to deal with.

Who else was suitable?

Names flashed through Zhou Shaojin’s mind like a revolving lantern, but she couldn’t find a suitable person.

She frowned.

Could it be that she absolutely had to deal with Cheng Xu?

What difference would that be from delivering herself to be humiliated by him? It would only confirm Yuan Shi’s accusations from her past life…

Zhou Shaojin felt very unwilling.

Shi Xiang came in to report: “Second Miss, Master Lu heard you were ill again and was very worried. He sent Song Qing to deliver some newly published travel journals for your entertainment.”

Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin’s mood became even more irritated.

“Have him take them back!” She frowned, saying, “After age seven, boys and girls should not sit together. If this happens again, you needn’t report to me—just send the person away directly.”

“Yes!” Seeing her poor mood, Shi Xiang lowered her eyes submissively and responded “Yes,” then withdrew.

Zhou Shaojin paced several circles around the room, then called Chun Wan in: “Go find me some plain paper. I want to sketch some design patterns.”

Since her mind was unsettled, she might as well find something to do.

Just like in her past life, when she concentrated wholly on her needlework, her thoughts would gradually calm down, and those troubling matters would slowly fade away.

Though, that wasn’t entirely accurate either.

At first, Nanny Fan took care of her food and daily life, while Nanny Min sent by elder sister managed the household. Later, when Nanny Min grew old and returned home to retire, elder sister tacitly approved of Nanny Zheng sent by Lin Shisheng to manage the household. Whenever she had troubling matters, Nanny Zheng would report to Lin Shisheng, and then everything would be smoothly resolved.

Thinking this far, Zhou Shaojin’s mind wandered.

Lin Shisheng… to be honest, he had treated her quite well!

She wondered what he was doing now?

Without her, she didn’t know if he could find someone else to help him and Concubine Mu!

In her past life, there were people like Cheng Lu and Cheng Xu, but there were also people like Lin Shisheng. Only after meeting him did she believe there were actually good people in this world.

Zhou Shaojin wanted to find an opportunity to give Lin Shisheng a heads-up.

If Concubine Mu’s family didn’t encounter trouble, she could smoothly marry Lin Shisheng. That would count as doing a good deed, repaying Lin Shisheng’s kindness in sheltering her for ten years in her past life.

Zhou Shaojin decided to make several summer shirts for herself and elder sister. When grandmother’s birthday arrived in summer, the sisters could wear them together—they would surely look very good.

When Zhou Chujin returned, she got quite a fright.

She pointed at the design patterns on the table, saying hesitantly: “These, did you draw these?”

The styles were bright and elaborate, unlike anything she had ever seen before, nor did they resemble popular Jinling fashions.

“Mm.” Zhou Shaojin raised her head, smiling radiantly at elder sister. “Do they look good?”