The Zhou sisters closed the door to speak with Ma Fushan.

Ma Fushan sat half-perched on an armchair and said in a low voice: “Over at the government office, during those days there happened to be criminals being escorted from Jiangning and other counties. Some prisoners’ family members followed all the way, bribing jailers and hosting banquets and giving gifts. The prison was somewhat chaotic, and after investigating for several days, they found no leads. However, the clue Second Miss provided… allowed us to discover some rather suspicious matters regarding Zhao Dahai.”

“Shaojin?!” Zhou Chujin looked at her sister in complete confusion. “What clue did you provide?”

Zhou Shaojin had already prepared her response. She smiled and said: “I suspected Cheng Lu at the time. If Lanting and Xinlan were murdered, aside from Cheng Lu, I couldn’t think of anyone else who would do such a thing. So I reminded Steward Ma to investigate Zhao Dahai who serves by Cheng Lu’s side… We took the reverse approach, and we might gain something. It looks like my idea worked!” This last sentence was directed at Ma Fushan.

Ma Fushan smiled and said: “Second Miss’s idea indeed worked. We discovered that from New Year until now, Zhao Dahai has returned from Changsha Prefecture to Jinling City three times. The last time was three days before Lanting and Xinlan’s sudden deaths. He even dined with one of the jailers named Chen San. But when we found Chen San, he was already dead in his room. The coroner said he died from excessive drinking, but Chen San’s lover said Chen San rarely drank alcohol…”

Zhou Shaojin fell silent for a moment.

Cheng Lu… had he really gone this far?

Or had she simply never known that Cheng Lu had already gone this far long ago!

She couldn’t help but exchange a glance with her sister.

Zhou Chujin said: “Did you find out how Lanting and Xinlan died?”

“We did.” Ma Fushan said. “They died from arsenic poisoning. Magistrate Wu has already quietly sent people to investigate, to see if they can find out which pharmacy sold the arsenic. However, Zhao Dahai came from Changsha Prefecture. If he brought this arsenic from elsewhere, then there’s nothing we can do.”

Arsenic could be used in medicine, but the dosage used medicinally was usually very small—insufficient to poison someone to death. Few people bought arsenic in large quantities, so pharmacies usually had an impression of such customers.

Zhou Shaojin felt certain that Zhao Dahai wouldn’t have bought arsenic in Jinling City.

That would make it too easy to trace.

Either he brought it from elsewhere, or he bought a little bit in each place he passed through, then accumulated it bit by bit.

She pondered: “Regardless, you must investigate thoroughly. Even if we ultimately cannot interrogate Zhao Dahai, we must find out whether it was truly Cheng Lu who instigated it. Though I suspect him, I cannot wrongly accuse him either.”

Ma Fushan respectfully answered “Yes.”

The Zhou sisters personally saw him to the door.

Watching Ma Fushan’s figure disappear around the corner of the covered walkway, Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but let out a long sigh and said to her sister: “What do you think Cheng Lu was thinking? Lanting and Xinlan were to be executed after autumn anyway. Why did he need to go to such extra trouble?”

Zhou Shaojin said gravely: “Sister, what if Cheng Lu simply doesn’t believe his father did anything unconscionable? What if he thinks we kept Lanting and Xinlan to frame his father?”

Zhou Chujin was stunned.

Zhou Shaojin said: “Aside from this reason, I truly cannot understand why he would harm Lanting and Xinlan!”

Aside from this reason, she also couldn’t understand why he had harmed her in her previous life!

Zhou Chujin smiled bitterly and said: “If that’s truly the case, I’m afraid we’ll have more trouble in the future.”

Zhou Shaojin encouraged her sister: “Don’t be afraid! We already know he’s not a good person. If we’re careful and guard against him, he won’t be able to take advantage of us.”

“But being pursued like flies to rot isn’t a pleasant feeling!” Zhou Chujin said.

“Then we’ll find an opportunity to resolve this matter.” Zhou Shaojin very much agreed with her sister’s words. She still had many things to do—she couldn’t waste time on Cheng Lu.

Zhou Chujin laughed heartily and said: “Your courage has grown much stronger now, and you have your own opinions when doing things. The worry I’ve been carrying can finally be set down.”

Sister was afraid that after she married, she would be bullied, wasn’t she?

Zhou Shaojin hastily took Zhou Chujin’s arm and said: “Please rest assured. I’ll take good care of myself. In a couple of years, I’ll come visit you. Perhaps by then, Brother-in-law will have already passed the examinations to the capital, and you’ll have followed him there to reside. Then we sisters can visit Daxiangguo Temple together.”

Zhou Chujin’s face flushed slightly.

※※※

When Cheng Chi heard the news that Lanting and Xinlan had died suddenly in prison, he was also somewhat surprised. He said to Huai Shan: “This matter definitely wasn’t the Zhou family’s intention, nor could it have been done by the head jailer. Otherwise, those two maids wouldn’t have been able to wait until after autumn to be executed… It seems this matter is quite interesting. Go investigate and see what exactly happened!”

Huai Shan withdrew from the study.

After reading for a while, Cheng Chi figured his mother had finished her morning devotions by now and went to the main room.

Old Madam Guo was discussing with Nanny Shi which attendants to bring to Mount Putuo. Seeing Cheng Chi enter, Old Madam Guo showed her son the list and said: “You give me some advice too.”

Cheng Chi glanced at it and said: “It’s quite good. I don’t see anything that needs adding or removing.”

He now just wanted to satisfy his mother’s every request as much as possible.

Old Madam Cheng was very dissatisfied hearing this and said: “Don’t humor me! I feel like there are too many female attendants—that’s why I asked you to help look at it.”

Cheng Chi smiled: “We’re going out to enjoy ourselves. If we scrimp and save, what fun is there in that! Just follow my lead and relax.”

Old Madam Guo still hesitated somewhat, saying: “I’m afraid Biyu and the others will get seasick.”

Many of the female attendants were traveling for the first time—no one knew what they would be like once aboard the ship.

Cheng Chi smiled: “Second Miss Zhou doesn’t get seasick. When the time comes, have her look after you.”

Old Madam Guo was very pleased to hear this and smiled: “That child is quite compatible with me. Originally, I just saw her living under someone else’s roof, like a little bird trapped in a cage, and wanted to take her out to see the world. Who knew she actually doesn’t get seasick! I know you’re accustomed to freedom outside, but now that I’m old, sometimes I just want you to keep me company. Who knew she could actually play chess… This child is very good—we must find her a good family. When you go out and about, carefully observe for her. The temperament must be good, someone who knows how to cherish others. For a girl getting married, she doesn’t necessarily need a very high-ranking family. What’s important is harmonious partnership, loving consideration…”

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

That little girl truly did have good spirits aboard the ship. As for chess, it was just for show… However, Mother was right—for girls her age, what they worried about most was whether they could marry a satisfactory husband. Since she had served Mother once and pleased her, helping her find a good marriage would be a way to thank her.

He wondered if she was willing to marry far away?

He truly wasn’t familiar with these prominent families in Jinling City.

The Guo family was too rigid, the Gu family had too many people…

Cheng Chi decided to entrust this matter to Qin Ziping.

That fellow most enjoyed these family matters. Entrusting it to him would be more reliable.

He responded with “Mm, mm,” remembering all of his mother’s words in his heart.

At Wanxiang Residence, Zhou Shaojin’s head was splitting.

Cheng Jia paced around her room in anger. As she walked, she reproached her: “You’re going to Mount Putuo to offer incense, and you didn’t even tell me! I only heard about it from Cui Huan. Are we sisters or not? Is this how sisters behave? With such good fortune, you didn’t even mention it to me. If I’d known earlier, I would have found a way with my grandmother to have Old Madam Guo take me along too! How could you do this? Whenever I have good fortune, I think of you, but you don’t remember me…”

Zhou Shaojin truly had no solution and said: “Just the other day I sent you a dish of mulberries. How can you say I don’t think of you when I have good fortune? This time I’m also benefiting from Old Madam Guo’s kindness. What was I supposed to tell you? To suggest you come with me—wouldn’t that be inciting you to make a fuss?”

Cheng Jia immediately deflated and slumped into an armchair, murmuring: “Anyway, you should have told me earlier…”

Zhou Shaojin could understand her feelings.

Such opportunities to travel might not come even once in a lifetime—everyone wanted to go.

She could only console Cheng Jia in a low voice: “I heard from Cousin Gao that we’ll first take a boat to Zhenjiang, then travel the canal, passing through Changzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, Jiaxing to Hangzhou Prefecture, then from Hangzhou Prefecture to Ningbo, Zhoushan, and board Mount Putuo. When the time comes, I’ll bring you back a Buddhist lamp, all right?”

Cheng Jia kept a stiff face, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Zhou Shaojin could only rub her temples.

Bitao came in and said: “Second Miss, Miss Ji Ying from Fourth Master’s quarters has arrived.”

Zhou Shaojin felt relieved and hastily said: “Please invite her in quickly.”

Only then did Cheng Jia reluctantly sit properly.

Ji Ying never looked at people’s expressions. After greeting Cheng Jia, she smiled cheerfully and spoke with Zhou Shaojin: “I heard your scripture copying is almost finished. Fourth Master has tentatively set departure for the tenth of next month, wanting to catch the Qiantang tidal bore. I’ll be going with you then.”

Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed.

But Cheng Jia snorted coldly in dissatisfaction.

Zhou Shaojin smiled apologetically at Ji Ying.

But Ji Ying didn’t even glance at Cheng Jia and continued on her own: “When you pack your things, call me. I used to often travel with my father. I’ll come help you pack your luggage then.”

Zhou Shaojin repeatedly thanked her and said: “I heard people say that the tidal bore only surges on the eighteenth of the eighth month for the Tide God’s birthday. Doesn’t that mean we won’t be able to attend the ninth month’s nineteenth day temple fair for Guanyin Bodhisattva’s enlightenment?”

“What’s so interesting about a temple fair?” Ji Ying said strangely. “Do you know what the Qiantang tidal bore is? When the time comes, the Qiantang River will have towering waves, thunderous sounds, spraying pearls and splashing jade, tidal peaks like mountains… How many people never see it in their lifetime, yet you’re thinking about a temple fair? Temple fairs exist everywhere! Daxiangguo Temple in the capital, White Horse Temple in Luoyang, Jiming Temple in Jinling City—aren’t they all the same? Could the one at Mount Putuo somehow bloom flowers?”

Zhou Shaojin said weakly: “Aren’t we going to offer incense?”

Ji Ying said: “Even when you go out in a sedan chair, you still lift the curtain to look outside a few times, don’t you?”

Fine!

Zhou Shaojin admitted she lacked sophistication!

She said: “Then come help me pack my luggage in a few days.”

Only then did Ji Ying nod with satisfaction.

Cheng Jia, who had been sitting alone sullenly, watched Zhou Shaojin and Ji Ying conversing so happily and left in a huff.