Upon hearing this, Old Madam Guo laughed heartily and said, “My son already has children, and my grandson hasn’t yet married. I can only come to Leifeng Pagoda to pray for children when there’s another opportunity in the future!”

Seeing her flattery had missed the mark, Madam Wang said with a smile, “This is just hearsay anyway. Old Madam is a blessed person with thriving descendants, numerous offspring—why would you need to go to Leifeng Pagoda to pray for children!”

Zhou Shaojin wanted to go.

She wanted to carry a brick back for her elder sister.

But seeing Old Madam Guo had no interest, as an unmarried young lady, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to speak up.

The boat stopped by the embankment near Leifeng Pagoda.

Several other pleasure boats like theirs were also moored nearby, with bright lanterns hanging from their corners, casting hazy glows that reflected on the willow trees along both banks, their branches trailing in the water, creating dark silhouettes.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but gaze toward the shore.

From the neighboring pleasure boats came continuous laughter and the sounds of men reciting poetry and engaging in learned discourse. Some carried delicate feminine voices and the continuous sound of stringed instruments. Others, like theirs, were simply touring the lake, but most quickly moved away upon hearing those unseemly sounds.

However, since they were waiting for Cheng Chi, they had to moor by the embankment.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but blush.

A small boat approached them.

Zhou Shaojin looked carefully and saw it was actually Cheng Chi and Huai Shan.

Didn’t they say he would wait at Leifeng Pagoda?

Why was he coming from elsewhere instead?

Before Zhou Shaojin could think further, Cheng Chi had already leapt onto the pleasure boat as lightly as a swallow.

She couldn’t help but blink.

No matter how you looked at it, the small boat was at least three feet from the pleasure boat… Could he really jump across so easily?

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.

Huai Shan, however, rowed the boat away.

What was this situation?

Zhou Shaojin’s face was full of bewilderment.

Then she saw a finger waving back and forth before her.

Zhou Shaojin took a few steps back.

Cheng Chi stood before her with a smile at the corners of his mouth.

“What are you looking at?” he said gently. “You’ve gone silly!”

“Nothing, I wasn’t looking at anything.” Zhou Shaojin had many questions to ask Cheng Chi but didn’t know where to begin.

Cheng Chi, however, acted as if nothing had happened and said, “Why aren’t you in the cabin keeping Old Madam company? What are you doing by the boat’s rail? The water here is very deep—be careful not to fall in.”

His tone was warm and intimate, as if he had just walked out from the neighboring cabin, giving Zhou Shaojin the illusion that they were still on the sand boat and he had merely taken a quick turn around the room.

She stammered, “Old Madam was concerned about why you hadn’t arrived yet, so I came out to look… Since you’re here now, let’s quickly return to the cabin! Old Madam bought many mooncakes today and said she wanted to wait for Uncle Chi to come and eat them together!”

Cheng Chi smiled and entered the cabin with her.

Old Madam Guo was very happy to see her son. “Come sit quickly. We’ve been waiting just for you!”

Cheng Chi smiled gently and sat beside Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo lovingly asked if he had eaten dinner, where he had lunch, what he had eaten, whether he had met his friends, why he hadn’t invited his friends to come sit with them, and so on.

Cheng Chi answered each question: “I had both lunch and dinner at Fuyuan Restaurant. Just ordinary dishes, though perhaps because today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fuyuan gave each dining guest a plate of mooncakes. I originally wanted to invite them over to gather, but then thinking it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing people over might not be appropriate. After dinner we each went our separate ways.”

Old Madam Guo nodded with a smile and instructed Biyu to help Cheng Chi change clothes.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know why, but she felt Cheng Chi wasn’t telling the truth.

After Cheng Chi changed and returned to sit down, the pleasure boat had already left Leifeng Pagoda.

He said with a smile, “Today is the fifteenth of the eighth month, when the moon is at its brightest and roundest. We can go see the most famous Three Pools Mirroring the Moon.”

Madam Wang kept saying how wonderful this was, explaining, “The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon can’t be seen at just any time. The authorities generally only light the lamps in the pagodas during the Dragon Boat Festival, Ghost Festival, the fifteenth of the eighth month, and such occasions, covering the openings with thin paper to project the openings onto the lake surface, creating the scene of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. I don’t know how many people have come to Hangzhou Prefecture several times without the opportunity to see this spectacle. Old Madam saw it as soon as she arrived. We’re basking in Old Madam’s good fortune too.”

Old Madam Guo smiled slightly and, supported by Zhou Shaojin’s hand, left the cabin.

By this time the sky had completely darkened. The pleasure boat’s lanterns illuminated the lake surface, and on the shore people were setting off fireworks, attracting children to watch the excitement. Their laughter floated intermittently across the lake.

Cheng Chi asked Madam Wang to explain the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon to Old Madam Guo, while he himself stepped back a few paces to stand behind them.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but find this strange and carefully surveyed her surroundings.

She saw a new pleasure boat with green poles and red windows slowly sailing eastward not far from them. Through the transparent glass windows, a burly figure and a plump figure sat facing each other drinking.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but glance back at Cheng Chi.

To her surprise, Cheng Chi was looking right at her.

Their gazes collided directly in midair.

Cheng Chi’s expression was open and honest as he smiled and nodded slightly at her.

Zhou Shaojin, however, felt as if she had been caught red-handed discovering something. Her face flushed bright red, and she lowered her head and turned around.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but smile slightly.

When he saw Zhou Shaojin at Lingyin Temple, he had indeed been quite startled. But he hadn’t expected this girl to seem like a different person—not only pretending she didn’t know them, but also casually calling over the woman selling pears to buy some…

Thinking of this, his eyes darkened slightly.

Xiao Zhenhai!

Accustomed to being arrogant beyond the pass.

Still thinking that occupying a little territory made him some kind of overlord.

Never mind that he had his eye on the Xiao family’s small domain—even if there were no conflict between them, just based on Xiao Zhenhai’s arrogant attitude, he needed to teach Xiao Zhenhai a lesson. Otherwise he’d think that with the Canal Gang’s backing, he could swagger around Jiangnan!

Cheng Chi’s expression gradually grew cold.

He thought of Zhou Shaojin as he had seen her at Lingyin Temple.

The South Sea pearl flowers pinned in her hair were delicate and exquisite, round and lovely, just like that little girl herself—so well-behaved. Whatever you told her, she would listen earnestly and never caused anyone worry.

He felt quite gratified again, his heart warming slightly.

Zhou Shaojin felt a sudden chill appear beside her, then quickly dissipate.

But she still involuntarily hunched her shoulders.

Chun Wan, who was serving beside her, quickly said in a low voice, “Miss, are you feeling cold?”

“I’m fine.” Zhou Shaojin saw that Madam Wang was telling Old Madam Guo how to view the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. She said quietly, “Perhaps the night breeze is a bit cold. It’ll be fine in a moment. Don’t spoil Old Madam’s mood.”

Chun Wan nodded with her mouth closed.

Old Madam Guo called to Zhou Shaojin, “You come look too. We won’t worry about Si Lang—he comes to Hangzhou Prefecture all the time.”

Cheng Chi said with a smile, “Mother is being partial. My frequently coming to Hangzhou Prefecture and your letting me follow you to broaden my horizons are two different things!”

Old Madam Guo made room and said with a smile, “Fine, fine, fine. Today I’ll also guide you in viewing beautiful scenery.”

Everyone laughed heartily.

Amid the laughter, Cheng Chi walked over and stood observing for quite a while before saying, “The scenery is indeed excellent.”

This made Old Madam Guo laugh uncontrollably. She beckoned to Zhou Shaojin, “Let’s ignore him.”

Zhou Shaojin walked over with a smile on her face.

Cheng Chi then moved aside.

Old Madam Guo pointed to the moon on the lake surface for Zhou Shaojin to see.

When Zhou Shaojin looked up, she saw Huai Shan standing silently at the stern of the boat.

She was stunned.

Old Madam Guo was already saying, “Did you see it? Did you see the five moons?”

Zhou Shaojin quickly collected herself and looked in the direction Old Madam Guo was pointing.

There were indeed five moons on the lake surface, all bright and pure as jade. She couldn’t tell which was the moon in the sky and which were the lamplight from the pagodas.

No wonder it was called one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake.

Zhou Shaojin was quite moved. She glanced at Ji Ying, whose eyes revealed envy, then looked at Old Madam Guo, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Old Madam Guo smiled approvingly and said to Nanny Lu and the others, “You should all take a look too! It’s rare to come out like this.”

Everyone couldn’t help but call out “Old Madam.”

Old Madam Guo beamed with joy and led Zhou Shaojin into the cabin.

Afterward they ate mooncakes and drank some osmanthus wine. By the time they returned to the city, the sky was already growing light and the city gates had opened.

Zhou Shaojin collapsed into bed and slept until dusk before waking.

Chun Wan told her with a smile, “Old Madam also just woke up. Sister Biyu brought word that today everyone should rest in their own rooms. Tomorrow morning we’ll go to the villa by Qiantang to watch the Qiantang tidal bore.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded drowsily. After taking a nap, she gradually became more alert.

Chun Wan brought in food.

Zhou Shaojin drank some congee, ate a few rice cakes, and asked about Old Madam.

Chun Wan said, “Old Madam has gone back to rest. Miss Feicui and Miss Manao are on duty.”

Then there was no need to go pay respects.

Zhou Shaojin rinsed her mouth and lazily lay on the bed.

The faint fragrance of osmanthus flowers drifted in from the window.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t sleep. She put on a robe and pushed open the window, discovering moonlight even brighter than yesterday’s falling across the courtyard.

After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Chun Wan, has Ji Ying gone to bed yet?”

“Probably not yet?” Chun Wan said with some uncertainty. “I saw that Ji Ying’s room had a lamp lit, but I don’t know if she’s asleep.”

Zhou Shaojin hesitated for a moment and said, “Come with me to check.”

Chun Wan agreed with a puzzled “Yes,” helped Zhou Shaojin change clothes, and went to Ji Ying’s quarters.

Cheng Chi hadn’t slept yet and was talking with Huai Shan: “…Xiao Zhenhai must have grown suspicious, which is why he suddenly changed his mind yesterday to go to Lingyin Temple. Fortunately, it worked out—Madam Wang arranged for Mother to enter the temple through the side Incense Cloud Path. When we encountered Second Young Miss, she cleverly pretended not to know us. This Xiao Zhenhai cannot be allowed to remain.”

“Fourth Master,” Huai Shan immediately said nervously, “Xiao Zhenhai has already made contact with Jiang Qin. The Tianjin Beitang dock will drag Xiao Zhenhai down sooner or later. Why do you need to take extra action? Letting him self-destruct would be even better. He might even be grateful to you for saving him from disaster. You always say to use your brain when doing things, that going head-to-head is the stupidest approach. Why would you think of putting Xiao Zhenhai to death today? Didn’t they dispel their doubts and go to Yangzhou to raise funds?”

Cheng Chi was momentarily dazed.

His anger toward Xiao Zhenhai today had indeed been too forceful.

What Huai Shan suggested was his usual method.

Today he had been playing along with Xiao Zhenhai and Jiang Qin precisely to reap the benefits as the fisherman, hadn’t he?

Why had the thought of mutual destruction suddenly popped into his head when it came to it?

Cheng Chi frowned.

Huai Shan walked to the door then turned back, saying, “Pozi Shang says Second Young Miss has gone to Miss Ji Ying’s room.”