It must be said, Cheng Chi’s method was quite effective.
The next day when Zhou Shaojin accompanied Old Madam Guo playing cards, she wasn’t as confused as before. However, she took longer to think, so her card-playing speed slowed down, and Old Madam Guo sometimes became a bit impatient waiting.
Zhou Shaojin kept Cheng Chi’s words firmly in mind. She smiled apologetically at Old Madam Guo but continued as she should.
After several instances, Old Madam Guo noticed something.
She said privately to Nanny Lü, “I didn’t expect that once Shaojin realized her shortcomings, she would find ways to make up for them. People with this kind of temperament can succeed at anything!”
Life in great families was sometimes like a small village—not only were relationships intricate and complex, but snakes had snake holes and mice had mouse nests, each with their own sources of information, sometimes even better informed than the masters. Otherwise, how could people like them who watched their masters’ expressions to make a living know when to seek advantage and avoid harm, and thrive so well?
As Old Madam Guo’s most capable attendant, Nanny Lü had her own sphere of influence and sources of information.
Cheng Chi hadn’t concealed the fact that he had called Zhou Shaojin over to teach her about playing cards, so she naturally knew what had happened.
But she knew even better that criticizing Cheng Chi was something not only Cheng Chi greatly resented, but even Old Madam Guo wouldn’t speak well of you for it. She might even brand you as “disloyal and unrighteous” or a “gossipmonger” from then on, and who knew when she’d explode, leaving you not knowing what had even happened.
Hearing this, she smiled and said, “Second Young Cousin Miss wasn’t like this before. These days copying sutras in our room and learning to play go with Fourth Master—she’s so clever, she must have learned it!”
Old Madam Guo very much agreed.
Biyu walked in.
Her expression was somewhat panicked as she said, “Old Madam, Zhenzhu doesn’t look well to me. Should we have an experienced nanny go check on her?”
Since switching to the sand boat, Zhenzhu had been somewhat seasick.
Old Madam Guo had her rest in the cabin and didn’t assign her any duties.
Now hearing she wasn’t well, Old Madam Guo’s heart sank.
Servants were like this—what they feared most was falling ill and passing their illness to the masters. So unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn’t claim to be sick.
Zhenzhu’s condition was probably not just “not good” but already very bad.
Old Madam Guo quickly instructed Nanny Lü, “Go take a look!”
Nanny Lü solemnly acknowledged and hurried to Zhenzhu’s room with Biyu.
In just a few days, Zhenzhu with her apricot eyes and peach cheeks had become skin and bones. Her eyes that used to flow with light had become dull and lifeless.
“What happened?” Nanny Lü’s expression became even more solemn.
The junior maid attending Zhenzhu reddened her eyes and said in a low voice, “She keeps vomiting and can’t eat anything. The head cook in the kitchen specially made some sour soup, but Sister Zhenzhu vomited it all up after one sip… I heard the boatmen say eating ginger slices can treat seasickness, so I got some for Sister Zhenzhu to try, but it was completely useless…”
What could be done about this?
Nanny Lü had last spent a long time on boats over a decade ago when she accompanied Old Madam Guo south with the coffin after Grand Master Xun passed away. Everyone had been in a bad mood then—who had the mind to care about seasick maids, matrons, and servants?
Even if it were difficult childbirth, she would have methods, but this seasickness… she really had no solution.
But if Zhenzhu’s condition wasn’t properly treated, she might even lose her life over this.
That would be even more inauspicious than illness!
But how could she tell this to Old Madam Guo?
Old Madam Guo was bringing them to Mount Putuo to offer incense.
Since it was showing respect to the Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva should bless them. But now something like this had happened—if overly sensitive people thought about it, wouldn’t it mean Old Madam Guo didn’t have the fortune to offer incense at Mount Putuo?
Even Nanny Lü, who had been through so many things, suddenly became somewhat flustered.
Biyu kept urging from the side, “Nanny, what should we do? Should we have a physician come aboard to examine her when we dock tonight?”
This wasn’t something a mere servant woman could decide!
As this thought flashed through her mind, Nanny Lü suddenly thought of Zhou Shaojin.
How could she have forgotten about Second Young Cousin Miss?
Although she was a cousin miss, she was still half a mistress.
With her help in making decisions, even if something went wrong, it would be with good intentions!
Nanny Lü made up her mind and said to Biyu in a low voice, “Don’t spread this around. I’ll go ask Second Young Cousin Miss and see what she says!”
“That’s not quite appropriate, is it?” After all, Zhou Shaojin was just a guest. But Biyu had only said half her sentence when Nanny Lü had already turned and left the cabin.
Biyu quickly signaled the junior maid to take good care of Zhenzhu and hurried after her.
Zhou Shaojin was studying those one hundred and eight leaf cards. Hearing that Nanny Lü had come, she assumed she was delivering a message from Old Madam Guo and didn’t think much of it, directly having Chun Wan invite her in.
Fearing that delays would lead to complications, Nanny Lü came in, saluted Zhou Shaojin, and bluntly told her about the situation, saying, “What do you think should be done about this?”
Zhou Shaojin’s first reaction was that Old Madam Guo couldn’t know about this.
Her thinking was the same as Nanny Lü’s—this kind of matter could be big or small, and it was best to minimize major issues and resolve minor ones.
But having her make the decisions felt like overstepping her authority, not something she should do.
Yet watching Zhenzhu fall so ill, she couldn’t bear it.
After brief consideration, Zhou Shaojin said to Nanny Lü, “Please sit here for a moment. I’ll go see Fourth Uncle Chi. I’m afraid this matter will require Fourth Uncle Chi’s intervention.”
Nanny Lü was so frightened her face turned white.
Fourth Master was someone who would cast aside even the Second Branch’s Old Ancestress’s dignity without hesitation. Others might not know, but she had personally witnessed Grand Master Jing being careful around this younger brother. Otherwise, why would Madam Yuan avoid Fourth Master as much as possible?
“No, no!” She waved her hands repeatedly, saying, “This matter absolutely cannot let Fourth Master know…”
“Then we can only ask Old Madam to make the decision,” Zhou Shaojin said.
Nanny Lü’s expression was inscrutable.
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat displeased and said, “Nanny pushed this matter to me precisely because you wanted me to take the lead, didn’t you? Now I’m willing to take the lead, but you say this won’t work and that won’t work either. Fine then—I’m merely a guest. When have guests ever interfered in the host’s affairs? Please make the decision yourself, Nanny!”
Nanny Lü’s face flushed bright red.
She had never dreamed Zhou Shaojin would speak so bluntly, much less that after seeing through her intentions Zhou Shaojin would still be willing to step forward… She felt her old face burning with shame, wishing she could crawl into a hole. She quickly said, “Second Young Cousin Miss, I’ll go with you to find Fourth Master.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded and went with Nanny Lü to Cheng Chi’s cabin.
Qingfeng answered the door.
He looked at Nanny Lü sideways, about to say “Fourth Master has already retired for the night,” but halfway through saw Zhou Shaojin behind Nanny Lü. His expression changed slightly. With a stiff face he said, “I’ll go inform him immediately,” and turned back into the cabin.
Langyue is still more pleasant!
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help muttering internally.
But Nanny Lü quickly glanced at her—that Two of Bamboo that let Zhou Shaojin win the first hand had been played by her. But if she hadn’t seen Cheng Chi instructing Zhou Shaojin’s play, why would she have broken up a sequence to feed Zhou Shaojin a winning card?
It seemed Second Young Cousin Miss had quite a bit of face with Fourth Master Chi!
Nanny Lü pondered this in her mind.
Qingfeng came out.
He said in a low voice, “Fourth Master invites Second Young Cousin Miss to enter!”
Zhou Shaojin nodded at him and walked in with her head held high.
Nanny Lü hurried to follow.
Cheng Chi sat on the arhat bed by the boat window, drinking tea.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin enter, he pointed to a brocade stool by the bed and said, “Sit down and tell me what this is about!”
Zhou Shaojin acknowledged and sat down.
Nanny Lü, who could joke and remain composed before Old Madam Guo, seemed like a different person before Cheng Chi—not daring to breathe loudly, much less speak.
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to explain their purpose to Cheng Chi herself.
Hearing this, Cheng Chi thought for a moment and said, “How about this—I’ll have Ji Ying help her with massage first. If that still doesn’t work, when the boat reaches Changzhou, I’ll find an excuse to have her stay in Changzhou. Don’t spread this around.”
It seemed Fourth Uncle Chi also didn’t want Old Madam Guo to know…
Zhou Shaojin understood Cheng Chi’s meaning and looked toward Nanny Lü.
She had taken on this matter because she was worried about Zhenzhu’s life, but Nanny Lü couldn’t rely entirely on her, could she? She wasn’t the First Branch’s steward nanny after all.
Nanny Lü understood. She immediately said, “Fourth Master, Second Young Cousin Miss, rest assured. No one will speak of it.”
Cheng Chi acknowledged with a sound.
Nanny Lü quickly bowed and took her leave.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, reminding Nanny Lü, “Let’s wait for Miss Ji Ying to go together!”
Regardless of who Ji Ying was, on the surface she was Cheng Chi’s maid and had to follow his instructions. Without Cheng Chi’s word, how could they order Ji Ying around?
Hearing this, Nanny Lü’s face reddened even more.
She was indeed rather intimidated by Fourth Master and would become timid in his presence.
“Second Young Cousin Miss is truly thoughtful,” Nanny Lü said. “Although I’m several years older than Second Young Cousin Miss, I can’t remain as composed as you when things happen.”
A thousand piercings, ten thousand piercings—flattery never pierces through.
As she spoke, from the corner of her eye she glanced toward Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi maintained his composure, showing no unusual expression. He called for Huai Shan and had him tell Ji Ying to make a trip with Zhou Shaojin.
Huai Shan acknowledged and left.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin rise to take her leave from Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi nodded slightly without saying much.
Zhou Shaojin and Nanny Lü waited at the ship’s rail for a while. Ji Ying came out fully dressed but yawning, “I heard someone has seasickness and you want me to help with massage?”
“Yes!” Seeing she seemed not to have slept well, Zhou Shaojin said, “It’s Zhenzhu. Her seasickness is severe. Fourth Uncle Chi said we’ll wait until we reach Changzhou to move her off the boat.”
Ji Ying yawned and followed Zhou Shaojin to Zhenzhu’s cabin.
Biyu was sitting by the bed giving Zhenzhu ginseng tea. Seeing them, she quickly gave up her seat.
Ji Ying said, “No need. This method is very simple. I’ll teach you and you can also help Zhenzhu with massage. It’s just that because the pressure points are below the ribs, it’s inconvenient for others to do it.”
Everyone in the room gathered around to watch.
Ji Ying had Biyu help Zhenzhu unfasten her clothes and pressed on the area slightly below Zhenzhu’s lowest rib, saying, “Press ten times, three hundred and sixty breaths each time.”
Biyu helped Ji Ying count.
After repeating this several times, Zhenzhu indeed felt much better.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.