Fan Qi thanked her again and sat halfway on the stool.

Zhou Shaojin asked him with a smile, “Have you seen your mother?”

“I have,” Fan Qi replied respectfully. “When I returned, I was wearing a robe of damask silk with gray squirrel trim. Fearing my mother would become suspicious, I went home first to wash and change before entering the mansion to speak with her.”

This was a prudent approach.

Zhou Shaojin nodded approvingly. After Chun Wan served tea and refreshments and withdrew, she asked Fan Qi about his trip to the capital.

Perhaps very satisfied with his journey, Fan Qi could no longer contain himself. His face animated with excitement, he recounted his travels, returning to his usual manner: “…The Ji family people never expected it—I lost them in an instant… I carefully pondered Second Miss’s words and felt that at my age, I probably couldn’t handle those cunning old hands.

“On the road, I was almost caught out by the Ji family people! But thinking it over, Second Miss’s method was still the most feasible. I couldn’t come up with any ideas for the moment, and seeing how the Ji family people always judged by clothes first and people second when traveling, I simply bought some fine garments and hired someone to pose as my elder. I disguised myself as a young master and stayed at Shangqing Palace, thinking I’d first get a clear picture of the Mu and Lin families’ situation before proceeding.

“Unexpectedly, there was a menial worker surnamed Yang at Shangqing Palace who had formerly been a guest reception master. He was later demoted to menial work after committing some offense. Not only did he love to boast, he also enjoyed drinking. I first wanted to learn more from him, so I often treated him to food and wine. Later I discovered he had very good relationships with some people in the temple, so I thought I’d have him introduce me to a Daoist priest traveling through Shangqing Palace…”

He recounted the events in detail. By the end, he himself was laughing: “…Unexpectedly, in the end, I hadn’t even mentioned paying him, but he couldn’t swallow the insult. He schemed to get the Mu family to marry off their daughter no matter what. He even said that after Miss Mu marries, he’ll go to the capital’s finest clothing shop ‘Hua Xiang Rong’ to order a glittering golden Daoist robe, and have a Taiji bagua diagram embroidered on the back. He’ll walk past the Mu family’s door again and force Lord Mu to donate dozens of taels of silver to Shangqing Palace.”

Zhou Shaojin listened with both alarm and delight.

Alarmed at how the situation had twisted and turned. Delighted that Fan Qi was quick-witted and bold, and had finally accomplished this task.

She couldn’t help but press her palms together, facing west and reciting “Amitabha Buddha,” saying “Thank you for the Bodhisattva’s protection.”

Seeing this, Fan Qi hesitated and said, “Second Miss, perhaps you shouldn’t believe in Buddhism? I heard those Daoist priests say that Bodhisattvas cultivate the next life, while they cultivate longevity. Someone with as good a fate as Miss should cultivate this present life and seek immortality.”

Zhou Shaojin was stunned.

After spending a few days at Shangqing Palace, had Fan Qi taken all those Daoist priests’ words to heart and converted to Daoism?

What if he became fanatically devoted and wanted to become a monk—what would happen to Nanny Fan?

She quickly waved her hand and said, “Let’s discuss that later, later.” Then she praised him: “It’s fortunate you went. If it had been someone else, things probably wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. You’ve worked hard during this time. Rest well these next few days. I’ve also given Nanny Fan time off in advance so you mother and son can talk properly. After the Lantern Festival, you’ll probably need to make another trip to the capital—since you told Daoist Yang you’d return next year, you might as well treat this as a joke and find a way to have him mediate from the middle, getting Miss Mu married into the Lin family as soon as possible.”

Fan Qi was thinking the same thing. He said, “If I hadn’t feared my mother would become suspicious, I would have waited until Miss Mu was married before returning.” As he spoke, he pulled a pouch from his pocket and said, “Second Miss, the Ji family paid for all my meals and lodging on the journey. When staying at Shangqing Palace, it would have cost only two taels of silver, but since I was pretending to be a young master, I gave them five taels. Then there was treating Daoist Yang to food and wine, which cost about fifteen taels of silver. He said he needed to ask his senior brother to help cover for him, so I gave him another twenty taels. Plus sedan chair hire, snacks, hiring servants… altogether it came to sixty-seven taels and three qian. Here are the remaining four hundred and thirty taels in banknotes and loose silver—it’s all here!”

Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed. She said generously, “Keep it! You’ll need to go to the capital again in spring. When you return, we can settle accounts then.”

Fan Qi refused, saying with trepidation, “I’m afraid I’ll lose it. You don’t know—I didn’t know how much silver a trip to the capital would cost, so I only took out five ten-tael banknotes. The other four hundred taels in banknotes I rolled up and sewed into the seams of my undergarments. I checked them every two hours, and the Ji family clerks thought I had developed an itch! Please keep the banknotes. I’ll ask you for them when I go again.”

Zhou Shaojin could understand his fear.

In her previous life, when she fled Jinling, she had only brought her personal savings of two hundred taels of silver. She felt that as long as she had those two hundred taels, she could find her sister. If she lost those two hundred taels in banknotes, she might never see her sister again. At that time, she had feared the silver would be dropped or stolen by thieves, and repeatedly instructed Fan Liushi to hide the silver well.

“Alright then.” She smiled as she accepted the banknotes, then turned to take out twenty ten-tael banknotes and handed them to Fan Qi with a smile. “This is the two hundred taels of silver I promised you. With the New Year approaching, the stewards are all very busy. The ten mu of prime paddy fields we discussed will have to wait until you return.”

Fan Qi’s face flushed red as he said, “Second Miss, my task isn’t completed yet! Wait until I return from the capital before rewarding me.”

“Just take it,” Zhou Shaojin pressed the banknotes into his hand with a smile. “You can have a proper New Year celebration.”

Fan Qi didn’t dare refuse and had to accept them.

Zhou Shaojin also gave him a box, saying, “Inside are a gold hairpin and a pair of gold bracelets. The hairpin is for your mother. You and your brother each get one bracelet to use when you marry.”

“Thank you, Second Miss.” Fan Qi stood and kowtowed to Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin smiled as she accepted his bow and had Chun Wan see him out.

Shi Xiang muttered quietly, “The two hundred taels of silver banknotes Madam rewarded haven’t even warmed your pocket and you’ve already given them away. If you continue like this, even mountains of gold and silver wouldn’t withstand your spending.”

Zhou Shaojin solemnly placed the pouch Fan Qi had returned on the table and said calmly, “There are four hundred and thirty taels in banknotes here. Put away the four hundred taels. Take the thirty taels to Elder Aunt’s place and exchange them for silver ingots—we’ll probably need to reward people this year. As for the loose silver… you’ve all been very diligent in your duties recently, so use it to buy some treats to share among yourselves!”

Chun Wan jumped for joy and nudged Shi Xiang with her elbow.

Shi Xiang blushed and lowered her head sheepishly.

Zhou Shaojin suppressed a smile as she went into the inner chamber, changed clothes, and went to Hanbi Mountain Lodge to copy scriptures.

Biyu was waiting for her at the crossroads.

Seeing her from afar, she came forward with a smile, curtsied to her, and said, “Fourth Master is moving to our side. Steward Qin is leading people in cleaning the Liyin Pavilion at the back. Curtains have been set up at Hanbi Mountain Lodge. Old Lady was afraid those rough workers would disturb Second Cousin Miss, so she specifically had me wait here for you.”

Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised and said, “Why would Uncle Chi suddenly move to Hanbi Mountain Lodge?”

“Perhaps because Xiaoshanconggui Courtyard is large but has few servants?” Biyu smiled. “I heard from people who formerly served in Fourth Master’s quarters that Fourth Master values old relationships—everyone around him has served for seven or eight years. The young male servants and attendants are fine, but we maids must be released when we reach a certain age. Fourth Master is unwilling to bring in new people, so he had no choice but to temporarily move here.”

“That makes sense,” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “You’re all clever, skilled, and well-mannered. Rather than promoting maids elsewhere, it’s better to have you serve him. However, this will increase your workload and make things harder for you.”

“This is what we servants are supposed to do. It hardly deserves to be called ‘hardship.'”

Biyu chatted with her as they walked toward Hanbi Mountain Lodge.

Zhou Shaojin soon saw the indigo coarse cloth curtains.

Walking inside the curtains, she could hear men’s voices outside saying hoarsely, “Hurry up, hurry up! Chief Steward Qin said we must finish before dark. Those who finish will each receive one tael of silver as a reward. Those who don’t will have one tael deducted. That’s a difference of two taels! Two taels of silver! You could buy your wife a flowered cotton jacket with that.”

Laughter erupted outside.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh as well, thinking this person knew how to motivate people.

Biyu said, “That’s Steward Lu from the mansion. When he was young, he accidentally damaged his throat with smoke. When he speaks, he sounds like a drake, which actually makes him easier to remember.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile.

Suddenly someone emerged from behind the curtain beside them.

Both Zhou Shaojin and Biyu were greatly startled.

Biyu even pulled Zhou Shaojin behind her and loudly demanded “Who’s there?”

“It’s me!” the person said cheerfully.

Zhou Shaojin looked closely and saw it was actually Ji Ying.

She couldn’t help but pat her chest and said, “You gave me such a fright.”

Ji Ying said, “Who set up these curtains here? I’ve been going in circles and nearly got lost.” Then she smiled at Zhou Shaojin and said, “Fourth Master said he’s moving to Liyin Pavilion here. Knowing you come to copy scriptures every afternoon, I came specially to tell you. It’ll be more convenient for you to find me now!”

Zhou Shaojin giggled and linked arms with Biyu: “We already knew!”

Ji Ying glared in mock anger.

Everyone laughed as they went to the main hall.

Ji Ying wanted to go see where Liyin Pavilion was: “…I want to choose a quiet place to live.”

Biyu told her, “Go south. There’s a three-bay side room there. You can see the lotus pond from the window, and there are several pomegranate trees planted behind the house.”

“Pomegranate trees?” Ji Ying’s eyes lit up. “You actually have pomegranate trees here. It’s been so many years since I’ve seen flowers.”

This was obviously an exaggeration.

Biyu covered her mouth and laughed, saying, “I heard Nanny Shi mention once that those pomegranate trees were planted by Fourth Master when he was young. He treasures them!”

“Then I’ll live there,” Ji Ying whispered to Zhou Shaojin. “Then I’ll hang the room full of colorful fragrant sachets and pouches on the pomegranate trees. Let’s see if Cheng Zichuan still acts so smug.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She waved goodbye to Ji Ying.