Zhou Shaojin didn’t know what to say.

The reason Uncle Chi believed what she said was because he mistakenly thought she had heard some fragments of information from somewhere, but she truly hadn’t received guidance from anyone. She couldn’t just fabricate a person, could she?

“It probably won’t happen,” she stammered, having no choice but to promise, “If there really is anything, I will definitely tell Uncle Chi.”

Cheng Chi was somewhat doubtful.

Given Zhou Shaojin’s nature, unless she was pushed to the brink, she probably wouldn’t ask for help.

He wasn’t worried that Zhou Shaojin had accidentally overheard something. What concerned him was that someone had deliberately let Zhou Shaojin hear certain things.

If it was Zhou Zhen, he wouldn’t harm his own daughter.

But if it was someone else, what was their purpose?

Cheng Chi thought for a moment and asked, “Does Miss Zhu from Duke Liangguo’s Mansion still keep in touch with you regularly?”

“I wrote her a letter before coming to Hangzhou Prefecture,” Zhou Shaojin answered honestly. “I promised to bring back some combs for her.”

“Have you bought those combs?”

“I have,” Zhou Shaojin said. “I bought them that day we went to Qinghe Market. I bought two sets—one with the ‘Full Pond of Beauty’ pattern, one with the ‘Flowers Blooming in Wealth’ pattern.”

The Full Pond of Beauty pattern mostly featured mandarin ducks playing in water.

She felt a bit embarrassed mentioning it.

Cheng Chi didn’t notice at all. He mused, “Do you know when Duke Liangguo will return to Jinling?”

“I do,” Zhou Shaojin said, as Zhu Zhu had mentioned this. “She said he would return before the Double Ninth Festival.”

It probably wasn’t Duke Liangguo’s Mansion then.

Duke Liangguo had already returned to Jinling City on the tenth day of the eighth month.

When Zhang Junhua retired, Duke Liangguo had already departed—he couldn’t have received the news.

Cheng Chi recalled that he had promised Zhou Shaojin not to press her about this, and decided to wait and see how things developed.

He stood up and said, “It’s getting late. You should rest early! Tomorrow we still need to go to the Qiantang River to watch the tidal bore.”

Zhou Shaojin obediently agreed and saw Cheng Chi to the door.

When Cheng Chi reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped, pondering, “If Miss Zhu from the Zhu family invites you to visit their home, remember to tell me.”

Zhou Shaojin docilely answered, “Alright.”

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but smile. Looking at her gentle and compliant manner in the lamplight, he couldn’t help but say, “You’re quite something—you agree to everything I say. Aren’t you afraid of being deceived?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips and said, “I know Uncle Chi is looking out for me.”

So certain!

Even he himself didn’t know whether he would always consistently look out for her.

Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow, a hint of teasing flashing in his eyes.

Uncle Chi must think I’m just being polite with him.

Zhou Shaojin hastily said, “I know you’re worried that after the Heir Apparent of Duke Liangguo returns, he’ll bring up the marriage proposal with Cousin Jia again, and I’ll get muddled up and drawn into it…”

Cheng Chi’s heart trembled.

She actually knew what he was thinking!

She usually seemed rather foolish, but unexpectedly she wasn’t confused at all when it mattered.

His gaze flickered slightly. Though his face still wore a smile, the teasing expression gradually faded, and his expression slowly became more solemn.

Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt that Cheng Chi had changed.

Though he was usually refined and cultured, a perfect gentleman with a warm and gentle smile, calm and composed demeanor, and peaceful and tolerant temperament, she always felt there was an invisible distance between herself and Uncle Chi—like a star at the edge of the sky. You could see it shining brightly, you knew it was brilliant and dazzling, but it was thousands of miles away from you, making you want to approach but frustratingly realize you had no idea where to find a ladder to heaven.

But at this moment, Uncle Chi was serious, stern, profound, and aloof, even carrying a hint of looking down upon the world with disdain.

This was the real Uncle Chi, wasn’t it?

Otherwise, how could he make Jiaxing’s wealthiest man, Fang Xingtong, chase after him? Otherwise, how could he establish the Yutai Bank? Otherwise, how could he have raided the execution grounds?

Like seeing clearly through layers of mist to the hidden unknown.

It turned out not to be frightening at all.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart suddenly settled, becoming at ease. Looking at Cheng Chi again, she felt less awe.

She explained, “The Emperor requires feudal princes and nobles stationed in various regions to come to the capital for an audience. Duke Liangguo’s Mansion wanted you to travel with them, which shows that Duke Liangguo doesn’t have much prestige before the Emperor either. The Cheng family is a centuries-old aristocratic family of Jinling. If Duke Liangguo’s Mansion could form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family, most people in scholarly circles would treat them more leniently out of respect for the Cheng family. As long as no censors impeach them and they keep a low profile, even if something happens, Duke Liangguo’s Mansion won’t bear the brunt of it.

“Cousin Jia became the best marriage alliance candidate.

“But this matter has no benefit whatsoever for the Cheng family. Not only is there no benefit, but forming a marriage alliance with Duke Liangguo’s Mansion would make some people in scholarly circles feel the Cheng family is servile and lacks the proud spirit of a family with a legacy of scholarship and propriety, damaging the Cheng family’s reputation. The Cheng family definitely won’t agree to it.

“But Duke Liangguo’s Mansion won’t give up so easily either.

“Last time, the Heir Apparent of Duke Liangguo used Azhu to send us things. Who knows what he’ll do this time.

“And Cousin Jia is from the Third Branch.

“Third Aunt Lu has always wanted to find a good match for Cousin Jia. Though Duke Liangguo isn’t a good choice for the Cheng family, he could elevate Cousin Jia’s status and position. Third Aunt Lu will most likely be vague and ambiguous about this matter.

“Little does she know that Duke Liangguo’s Mansion actually wants to use the Cheng family as a shield this time.

“It would be fine if Third Aunt Lu flatly refused, but if she wants to use Duke Liangguo’s Mansion to raise Cousin Jia’s value and isn’t careful, she might end up being too clever by half.

“Uncle Chi, are you worried that the Heir Apparent of Duke Liangguo will use me?” She gazed at Cheng Chi with her large dark eyes. “Please don’t worry. I won’t let them use me—if they use me, they either want to drag the First Branch into trouble or make the Fourth Branch lose face. I won’t do anything to let you down.”

Cheng Chi felt his teeth aching slightly.

Just a moment ago he had thought this young lady wasn’t confused when it mattered, but before that thought had even dissipated, she was talking foolishly again.

Whether the First Branch or the Fourth Branch, which wasn’t more shrewd than this girl? She didn’t worry about being deceived and still counting money for the deceiver, but instead worried that others would be deceived!

Cheng Chi rubbed his forehead, his tone carrying a helplessness he himself hadn’t noticed, and said, “Just remember to tell me when the time comes.”

Zhou Shaojin repeatedly answered “Yes” and saw Cheng Chi to the door.

Chun Wan came in to clear away the tea cups and quietly asked her, “What did Fourth Master say?”

Her eyes were shining.

Ever since Cheng Chi had paid for a whole pile of glass ornaments for Zhou Shaojin to take back as gifts, the people around Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi as if he were the God of Wealth.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh and teased her, “Don’t get your hopes up! Fourth Master came this time to scold me, telling us not to buy everything we see in the future, acting like country people coming to the city who haven’t seen the world—it’s too embarrassing!”

Chun Wan’s eyes widened as she said, “It must be because Second Young Miss had someone fetch bricks from Leifeng Pagoda that made Fourth Master feel too embarrassed!” She muttered quietly, “You didn’t see the looks the gatekeepers gave us when Pozi Shang brought those two bricks over. They thought one of us was praying for a son…”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.

It wasn’t she who had sent someone to fetch bricks from Leifeng Pagoda. It was clearly Uncle Chi who had sent someone.

How could he scold her for that?

***

The Qiantang River is Zhejiang’s largest river. Its northern source is the Xin’an River, its southern source the Majin Stream. It flows through Hangzhou, Quzhou, Jinhua, Shaoxing, and Lishui, entering the East Sea through Hangzhou Bay. But the tidal bore could truly only be seen along a short stretch of several miles in Hangzhou Bay.

The place Zhou Shaojin and the others went to was not far from the Zong family’s villa. It was rather secluded, but standing on the embankment, one could clearly see the Qiantang River’s tide surging forward, then retreating exhausted, washing the beach along the embankment completely clean and smooth as glass.

After getting off the carriage, Zhou Shaojin stared in astonishment and said, “This is the Qiantang tidal bore?”

That river water wasn’t much different from the ocean waves at Mount Putuo, and wasn’t even as clean and clear as Mount Putuo’s water.

Ji Ying also looked puzzled.

Qin Ziping, who was directing servants to move things, smiled and said, “The reason the Qiantang River’s tidal bore is famous is that it’s very different from other places—its tidal bore changes in timing and size depending on the weather and water flow. Fourth Master has calculated that the tidal bore will be largest today at this section near the Zong family villa. And it happens to be at the si hour (ten in the morning). After watching the Qiantang River’s tidal bore, we can return just in time for lunch. If you still want to watch the tidal bore, we’ll need to go toward Xiaoshan—the shen hour (three in the afternoon) is when the Xiaoshan tidal bore occurs.”

Zhou Shaojin and the others were greatly surprised. “You can chase after the tidal bore to watch it?”

“Otherwise, why would it be called a wonder of the world?” Cheng Chi had gotten off the carriage at some point and walked to their side. Looking at the vast Qiantang River, he said, “If you find it boring, walk along the shore. If I can calculate when the Qiantang tidal bore occurs, others should be able to calculate it too. People should arrive shortly. When they do, you can sit in the carriage drinking tea, and come out when the tidal bore arrives—that won’t be too late.”

No wonder they had changed carriages when leaving today.

Zhou Shaojin and the others nodded repeatedly.

Ji Ying pulled her to go look at the beach.

Zhou Shaojin preferred quiet to activity. Hearing this, she smiled and shook her head, saying, “I’ll go take a look when the tidal bore comes.”

However, Old Madam Guo encouraged her, “Just go with her and look! Since we’re here, you should have a good time. I have Nanny Lu keeping me company, so you don’t need to worry.”

Zhou Shaojin still hesitated.

Chun Wan and the others looked at her with eager eyes, afraid she would refuse—if Zhou Shaojin didn’t go, how could these servants go?

Zhou Shaojin laughed and agreed to walk on the beach with Ji Ying.

Chun Wan and the others could barely contain their joy.

The young ladies went chattering off to the beach.

Old Madam Guo watched their lively figures with a loving smile and said to Cheng Chi, who was accompanying her, “Seeing them so happy makes my mood improve as well.”

Cheng Chi smiled without speaking.

Sometimes, joyful emotions were contagious.

The sun gradually rose, the lake surface glittering with golden light.

The young ladies’ laughter was like clear silver bells.

Cheng Chi saw Zhou Shaojin holding up her skirt, laughing as she stomped forcefully on the beach, leaving a trail of footprints, like a cheerful little bird.

She must be quite suppressed normally!

Cheng Chi smiled and shook his head.

Carriages came galloping over with whips cracking.

Cheng Chi’s gaze flickered. He helped his mother up, saying, “Mother, let’s go sit in the carriage! People are coming!”

Old Madam Guo pointed toward the beach. “Shaojin…”

“I’ll have Pozi Shang call them back,” Cheng Chi smiled and beckoned to Pozi Shang.