Zhou Shaojin sat upright in a rose-wood chair in Jiashu Hall’s reception room. She appeared to be listening with a smile as Old Madam Guan and Madam Wu conversed, but from the corner of her eye, she was actually watching the pomegranate tree outside the window sprouting tender buds.

Originally, it had been agreed that First Madam Mian would return after the Lantern Festival, but her trip had been postponed again and again. Now it was already mid-April and she still hadn’t appeared. If First Madam Mian were home, Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t necessarily have to accompany Old Madam Guan out to receive guests.

She remembered that in her previous life, First Madam Mian had returned after the Lantern Festival, then went back to Pukou in April, and Cousin Gao’s engagement to Miss He was settled.

Could there have been some change this time?

She was very grateful to this cousin-in-law.

Not only was she beautiful, gentle, and generous, but she was also very good to Cousin Gao.

After the fourth branch was affected by her situation, it was thanks to her stepping forward to manage household affairs that things didn’t become even more difficult for the fourth branch.

Zhou Shaojin was pondering whether to write a letter to test her eldest aunt’s intentions when she suddenly felt someone gently push her from behind. She composed herself slightly and looked up to see everyone in the reception room smiling at her.

What had happened?

She couldn’t help breaking into a cold sweat. At her ear came Chun Wan’s voice, soft as a mosquito’s buzz: “Miss Wu has invited you to appreciate flowers at the Wu residence.”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart immediately flared with anger.

In her previous life, Wu Baozhang had also invited her to appreciate flowers at this time. Back then, their relationship had already been quite good. Cheng Jia liked to go out and about, and Wu Baozhang was currying favor with Cheng Jia, so the cousins had gone together to the Wu residence. As it turned out, at the Wu residence they encountered Wu Baozhang’s brother Wu Taicheng, who had also invited Cheng Yi and the fifth branch’s Cheng Nuo and Cheng Ju to appreciate flowers at the Wu residence. Wu Baozhang had said something about how they were all relatives and it was such a rare beautiful spring day, so they shouldn’t be so formal and should all walk together.

Though she had felt it inappropriate, she couldn’t withstand Cheng Jia’s agreement and had no choice but to follow them to the back garden.

Wu Taicheng’s eyes had stared straight at her while he attentively entertained Cheng Jia. Then there was Cheng Ju—calling her “little sister” left and right, constantly praising her beauty. That fool Cheng Nuo only cared about fishing with Cheng Yi on the side, paying attention to nothing… She had been both ashamed and angry and left in a huff.

Cheng Jia had chased after her.

The two had parted on bad terms.

Though Cheng Jia had ultimately followed her back to Jiuru Lane, for a long time she hadn’t paid attention to her, leaving her aside to have a wonderful time playing with Wu Baozhang. It was then that Wu Baozhang gained the favor of Second Branch’s Second Madam Shi, and it was then that Wu Taicheng began associating with Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng.

“I’m not available.” Zhou Shaojin refused without thinking.

Madam Wu’s expression became somewhat unpleasant.

Wu Baohua also furrowed her brow.

Old Madam Guan was quite surprised.

This past year, Zhou Shaojin had hardly ever spoken so bluntly as before. How could she suddenly…

She couldn’t help feeling somewhat uncertain.

Zhou Shaojin immediately understood and secretly reproached herself for her rashness. With a gentle smile, she said, “I have to go to Hanbi Mountain Villa to copy sutras every day. I truly envy Miss Wu for being able to move about freely!”

Madam Wu’s expression cleared slightly as she smiled. “How is Second Cousin Miss’s sutra copying coming along? It’s been nearly a year. Haven’t you finished copying them yet?”

“I should be able to finish by September.” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “Only after I finish copying the sutras can I host the three Wu young ladies at my home!”

She could have finished earlier, but after Cheng Chi moved to Hanbi Mountain Villa, she had changed her mind.

However, if by September she still had no way to strike up a conversation with Cheng Chi, she had a vague feeling she would never be able to talk to him. At that time, she would just have to think of another method.

Staying at Hanbi Mountain Villa would have no meaning!

Madam Wu sighed. “Second Cousin Miss truly has excellent perseverance. If it were someone else, the sutra copying would likely have been passed to another person!”

Old Madam Guan smiled and nodded, clearly very pleased.

Madam Wu then smiled. “I’m telling you about some old stories from the past. These young girls are probably restless already. I think Second Cousin Miss should take them to walk in the garden.”

She had something to say to Old Madam Guan.

Zhou Shaojin took the Wu sisters to the garden.

On the way, she smiled at Wu Baohua and said to her in a low voice, “Last time I heard your elder sister was going to be engaged to Third Master of the Liu residence. What happened? Hasn’t the wedding date been set yet? I see your elder sister is still accompanying Madam Wu on social calls—is the wedding date still far off?”

On the forest path in spring, even bird calls carried far.

The Wu sisters were stunned.

Though this matter had quickly been suppressed by both the Wu and Liu families, all the families in Jinling with any standing knew about it. Zhou Shaojin asking so directly—was it because she lived in seclusion and no one had told her so she didn’t know? Or was it to humiliate the Wu family?

Wu Baohua quickly rejected the latter possibility.

Given the current relationship between the Cheng and Wu families, Zhou Shaojin shouldn’t do such a thing. Moreover, if Zhou Shaojin intended to humiliate the Wu family, she could have chosen a different occasion to ask about this matter or asked Wu Baozhang loudly. Instead, she chose to whisper privately with her…

Wu Baozhang, however, was so angry her blood rushed upward. She had already decided to forget about the incident at Second Elder Matriarch’s birthday celebration, yet Zhou Shaojin was still picking at this wound.

She couldn’t help looking around.

Wu Baozhi walked behind her. Ahead were Zhou Shaojin and Wu Baohua, with the serving maids and matrons following at a distance.

She forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart and said coldly, “Second Cousin Miss, marriages are commanded by parents and arranged by matchmakers. I don’t know where you heard such gossip, but my parents haven’t mentioned this match to me. Second Cousin Miss’s tongue is too long.”

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened with a look of complete surprise. She hesitated as if wanting to speak, and after a long while said, “Then let’s go sit in the pavilion by the lake? The scenery there is quite nice.”

Having blocked the fifth branch’s leak, and with Cheng Xu gone, the Cheng family was once again a safe place for her.

Wu Baohua and the others naturally had no objections.

The group headed toward the water pavilion.

Wu Baohua looked at Wu Baozhang’s ashen face, and her heart stirred. She apologized to Zhou Shaojin in a low voice, “My elder sister’s mood hasn’t been good these days. If she said anything wrong, please don’t take it to heart, Second Cousin Miss.”

Zhou Shaojin discovered that Wu Baohua was quite clever.

Look how well she phrased that.

Wu Baozhang denied the engagement, so Wu Baohua said her mood wasn’t good.

What could make her mood bad?

That invited speculation.

Zhou Shaojin deeply disliked Wu Baozhang, and this dislike wasn’t only because of Wu Baozhang’s actions in her previous life. More so, it was because every time Wu Baozhang appeared, the things she did triggered bad memories from her previous life, like a lingering ghost, making her emotions sink.

She hoped Wu Baozhang would marry quickly and move far away, never appearing in her life again.

Zhou Shaojin decided to test Wu Baohua.

She said softly, “Did something unexpected happen? I truly didn’t mean anything by it just now.” As she spoke, she glanced at Wu Baozhang.

Usually at this moment, the speaker would say a few words to comfort Zhou Shaojin and change the subject. But Wu Baohua smiled bitterly instead. “Second Cousin Miss might not know yet? The Liu family did propose to our family. My eldest sister didn’t say anything, but my eldest brother said he despised the other party for being a widower and, without even telling my father, beat the man up…”

“Second Sister, what nonsense are you spouting?” Wu Baozhang’s face went deathly pale. She never imagined that Wu Baohua, who always kept “the bigger picture” on her lips, would say such things. She jumped up to grab Wu Baohua’s arm.

Whether intentionally or not, Wu Baohua took two large steps forward, just avoiding Wu Baozhang, while saying, “Elder Sister, there’s no one else here anyway. Moreover, this matter has already spread throughout Jinling. Even if I don’t say it, Second Cousin Miss will find out sooner or later. Rather than letting Second Cousin Miss hear embellished stories from others’ mouths, we might as well tell her frankly. Then if someone gossips in front of Second Cousin Miss another day, she can defend us a bit…”

Wu Baozhang felt like a mouse fallen into a pot—she wanted nothing more than to tear Wu Baohua apart.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but glance at Wu Baohua.

Wu Baohua happened to look her way at the same time.

Their eyes met, and they smiled knowingly with meaning.

So Second Cousin Miss of the Cheng family was targeting Wu Baozhang.

Though she didn’t know why, this situation was ultimately favorable to herself.

Wu Baohua thought to herself.

It seemed her memories from her previous life weren’t wrong—Wu Baohua and Wu Baozhang were like fire and water, fundamentally unable to get along.

Zhou Shaojin thought to herself.

The two unconsciously separated, one to the right and one to the left, as if drawing clear boundaries, opening up some distance.

***

After seeing off Madam Wu, First Madam Mian returned.

This was truly speaking of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arriving.

In her last letter, First Madam Mian had said she wouldn’t return until after the Dragon Boat Festival.

Zhou Shaojin, both surprised and delighted, followed her sister to welcome her.

First Madam Mian descended from the sedan chair with Cheng Gao’s support. Though her face was full of fatigue, she couldn’t hide the joy between her brows.

The engagement must have been settled, right?

Zhou Shaojin silently speculated.

When First Madam Mian was talking with Old Madam Guan, she pricked up her ears to listen.

However, after First Madam Mian gave the Zhou sisters the local specialties she had brought them, Old Madam Guan sent them back to their rooms to rest.

Zhou Shaojin let out a wail. Early the next morning, she dragged her sister to pay respects to Old Madam Guan.

Old Madam Guan, all smiles, told them about Cheng Gao’s upcoming engagement to Miss He.

Zhou Shaojin had already known the outcome and was relatively composed, but Zhou Chujin asked anxiously, “Eldest Aunt must have met Miss He, right? What is Miss He’s temperament like? Is she pretty? What did Cousin Gao say?”

About to gain an eldest grandson’s wife, Old Madam Guan was extremely happy and chuckled, “The reason your eldest aunt stayed in Pukou for so long was to carefully observe Miss He’s character. This match was arranged by Old Master He, and he only nodded his approval after examining your Cousin Gao’s scholarship. It’s truly a wonderful match!”

Zhou Chujin breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Shaojin just smiled with her lips pressed together.

Just then, First Madam Mian came in.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin smiling like a blooming flower, she felt indescribably delighted.

With the eldest son supporting the family reputation and Miss He dignified and virtuous, in another two years when Cheng Gao married Shaojin, she could peacefully stay at home playing with her grandchildren!

She took Zhou Chujin’s hand but spoke to Zhou Shaojin, “I’ve been quietly observing Miss He for a long time. She’s a sensible child who will definitely get along well with you all after entering the family.”