Zhou Shaojin knelt silently on the prayer cushion for a moment before rising and leaving the side room.

Fan Liushi was waiting for her outside. Seeing her emerge, she reported, “Grand Madam Mian has arrived.”

Zhou Shaojin said curiously, “What is Grand Aunt doing here?”

Fan Liushi said with a smile, “The First Miss is about to marry out. How many guests should be invited? How many tables of food should be set? Which route should the wedding procession take when arriving? Which route when departing… All of this must be discussed with the Liao family. How can Grand Madam Mian not come?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled awkwardly, changed her clothes, and went to Madam Li’s quarters.

Grand Madam Mian hadn’t seen Zhou Shaojin for over ten days. Upon seeing Zhou Shaojin, she couldn’t help but hold her hand and ask all sorts of questions.

Zhou Shaojin stood gently beside her, obediently answering.

Madam Li watched with a smile and said, “Grand Madam treats Second Miss just like her own daughter.”

Perhaps having set her heart on keeping Zhou Shaojin at home, Grand Madam Mian now found Zhou Shaojin more pleasing the more she looked at her. Hearing this, she said with a smile, “I don’t have a daughter. Not only do I treat these two sisters like my own daughters, but even after I marry in a daughter-in-law, I’ll treat her like my own daughter too.” As she spoke, she even glanced at Zhou Shaojin.

Madam Li’s heart stirred slightly upon hearing this, and she probed, “Then Miss He is truly fortunate!”

Grand Madam Mian smiled faintly and patted Zhou Shaojin’s hand.

Zhou Shaojin quickly found an excuse to take her leave.

She feared that if Grand Madam Mian’s behavior was too obvious, Madam Li would notice and then tell Father, causing some trouble.

Grand Madam Mian was quite disappointed and said, “I was hoping you’d help us write down the things we need to pay attention to!”

Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, “After you and Madam have finished discussing, it won’t be too late for me to come back.”

Grand Madam Mian had no choice but to let Zhou Shaojin go.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Cheng Chi stood with a grim expression in the dim passageway of the secret chamber, looking at Fan Qi who had been thrown onto a pile of straw in the chamber, unconscious. He asked Qin Zi’an, “What have you all done to him?”

Qin Zi’an’s brow furrowed slightly.

He was just a servant.

What did it matter if he died?

He had plenty of means to make this matter disappear without a trace.

Yet Fourth Master spoke as if he feared the man’s death.

But he didn’t dare show the slightest abnormality. He said respectfully, “Following your instructions, I asked Dongting to come and use hypnotic techniques on him.”

Cheng Chi nodded slightly and said, “What did he say?”

Qin Zi’an said, “He knows nothing.”

Cheng Chi turned to look at Qin Zi’an.

His bright eyes shone like stars in the night sky in the dim passageway.

Qin Zi’an said quietly, “According to him, he went to the capital on Second Miss’s orders. The person who escorted him to the capital was found by Second Miss. Where to stay was told to him by Second Miss. How to find the Lin and Mu families was also done according to Second Miss’s instructions. The only thing that changed was the marriage between the Lin and Mu families.

“Second Miss told him to find a way to get a wandering Taoist priest to play tricks and frighten the Mu family. But after lingering at Shangqing Temple for many days, he couldn’t find a suitable person. In the end, he had no choice but to take a risk and approach that greedy Taoist Yang, who had been demoted to the kitchen for making mistakes. Unexpectedly, the matter was accomplished so easily.

“After New Year’s, having him go to the capital to inquire about news of the Lin and Mu families was also Second Miss’s idea.

“As for why Second Miss wanted him to facilitate the Lin and Mu families marrying early? Whether Second Miss actually knows anyone from the Lin and Mu families… he knows none of this.”

Cheng Chi’s expression grew even darker.

He thought of how his brother Cheng Jing had become Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall!

Without Zhou Shaojin’s warning, his elder brother would definitely have thought Yuan Weichang would support him and placed his hopes on Yuan Weichang, ultimately losing to Huang Li without any preparation.

And now, the Jiawu year autumn examination cheating scandal had been exposed. As the primary person responsible, Master Mu was thrown into prison, yet Master Mu’s eldest daughter had coincidentally married early into the Lin family to whom she had been betrothed since childhood. Not only did she escape calamity herself, but because of this, the Lin family had reason to use silver to redeem Madam Mu and the second and third Mu daughters.

Was this merely a coincidence?

That would be too coincidental!

Thinking of this, Cheng Chi could no longer stand still.

He instructed Qin Zi’an, “Send Fan Qi back. Don’t let him discover he was abducted. Then send someone to watch him. Report to me immediately if there’s any unusual activity.”

Qin Zi’an nodded.

Cheng Chi had already swept out of the secret chamber’s passageway like the wind.

Qin Zi’an frowned and pressed the button to the secret chamber.

Cheng Chi rushed along. When he came back to his senses, he was already walking on the bustling street.

Huai Shan caught up, drenched in sweat, and said cautiously, “Fourth Master, shall I call a sedan chair for you?”

Cheng Chi usually didn’t like to ride public sedan chairs, but who knew this time he said, “Then go call a sedan chair. We’re going to Pingqiao Street.”

Huai Shan didn’t dare say more. He hurried to the street corner to hire a sedan chair and accompanied the swaying sedan to Pingqiao Street.

Because Zhou Chujin’s wedding was approaching, Zhou Zhen wasn’t home, and Madam Li didn’t know many of the Zhou family’s old neighbors, so the gatekeeper had been replaced by Ma Fushan’s nephew Ma Ci.

He recognized Cheng Chi.

So when he saw Cheng Chi descend from a sedan chair hired on the street, he stood dumbfounded for a moment before rushing over.

“Fourth Master!” Ma Ci bowed nimbly and said respectfully, “What brings you here? Grand Madam Mian is here discussing First Miss’s wedding with Madam. Are you looking for First Miss or Second Miss…”

Cheng Chi glanced at Ma Ci, committing him to memory, and said gravely, “I’m looking for Second Miss!”

“Then please have tea in the flower hall first!” Ma Ci said, gesturing to the young servant who had followed, and attentively ushered Cheng Chi to the guest flower hall, personally arranging tea and refreshments.

When Zhou Shaojin heard that Cheng Chi was looking for her, she freshened up and hurried over.

Before her feet had even entered the flower hall, her face was already full of sweet smiles.

“Uncle Chi, what do you need me for?” She walked briskly into the flower hall.

The flowering trees of March were lush and verdant, their branches and leaves luxuriant, filling the room with greenery.

Zhou Shaojin wore a plain goose-yellow Hangzhou silk vest over a white embroidered skirt. Standing in the spring light, she was as eye-catching as a blooming spring flower, bringing with her a fresh breath of spring.

What kind of person could portray such purity so flawlessly?

Cheng Chi’s breathing caught slightly.

Perhaps… he had made a mistake!

He stepped forward.

Zhou Shaojin looked at him with a smile, her eyes curved like crescents, gentle and docile.

He must have made a mistake.

Cheng Chi breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Come with me. I have something to ask you!”

Zhou Shaojin followed him out of the flower hall with a smile and stopped in the middle of the courtyard.

Cheng Chi looked into her eyes and said deliberately, “Do you know that Master Mu has gotten into trouble?”

How does Uncle Chi know?

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded like a drum, and the smile on her face slowly faded.

She did know after all…

Cheng Chi’s heart gradually sank, and his expression became stern. He said sharply, “What exactly is going on? Explain it to me clearly!”

Explain clearly!

How could she explain it clearly?

Should she say she had been reborn?

Should she say she knew what would happen in the next twelve years?

Should she say she had once married Lin Shisheng, and Lin Shisheng had taken good care of her, so in this life she wanted to repay Lin Shisheng?

Zhou Shaojin pressed her lips together. She couldn’t say a single word, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Cheng Chi was so angry his lungs felt ready to explode.

This dead girl actually dared to hide things from him!

His voice became sharp, “How did you know Huang Li and my elder brother were competing with Huang Li for Zhang Junhua’s position? How did you know Shen Minzhi and Yuan Weichang made a deal? How did you know the Jiawu autumn examination cheating scandal would be exposed in February this year? And why did you help the Mu family?”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t answer.

She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.

Cheng Chi looked at her glossy black hair, and the fire in his heart burned even hotter.

Didn’t she trust him unconditionally?

Didn’t she trust him without doubt?

How was it that at the critical moment she treated him like a stranger?

She didn’t even offer an explanation!

He laughed angrily and said, “Are you going to tell me or not!”

Zhou Shaojin’s tears fell without warning, pattering down.

Carrying these secrets alone in her heart had been very hard for her too, alright?

But how could she say it?

Such an unbelievable thing!

When that Taoist Yang told Master Mu that if Miss Mu didn’t marry Lin Shisheng early, the Mu family would face disaster, Master Mu thought Taoist Yang was talking supernatural nonsense. How much more so would Uncle Chi, who read the River Diagram and Luo Writing!

But if she didn’t say… Uncle Chi was already very angry now. Later he would definitely be even angrier.

He might even never acknowledge her again!

The moment this thought flashed through Zhou Shaojin’s mind, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, cold from the very bottom of her heart.

If Uncle Chi stopped acknowledging her, who would she turn to when she needed help in the future?

And who else could silently protect her like Uncle Chi always did?

What… what should she do?

Zhou Shaojin’s heart ached terribly.

But Cheng Chi felt like a hurricane was raging in his heart.

“Fine, fine, fine. You won’t tell me?” He said with a smile, “If you won’t tell me, I can still investigate and find out.”

Carrying his anger, he turned and walked toward the exit, as if tearing the very air apart.

Zhou Shaojin was frightened and quickly called out, “Uncle Chi!”

Cheng Chi stopped and turned to look at her.

But Zhou Shaojin didn’t know what to say.

Ask for his forgiveness?

Uncle Chi might not forgive her!

Ask him not to be angry?

On what basis could she ask Uncle Chi not to be angry!

Zhou Shaojin’s face was pale as paper, so fragile it seemed she might collapse at any moment.

After all, she was still just a child. His losing his temper would only frighten her, not make her trust him more.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He slowly walked back and stood before her, saying gently, “Don’t be afraid. Tell me what happened, and I’ll help you handle it.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t dare.

When she told Sister, Sister hadn’t believed her either.

But Sister loved her and trusted her, so she had been able to deceive her.

Although Uncle Chi treated her well, he regarded her like a small animal—playing with her when he was happy, and not bothering with her when he wasn’t.

She was afraid Uncle Chi would think she was a monster!

The wind blew through the courtyard’s flowering trees with a rustling sound, but Zhou Shaojin stood there like a clay statue, motionless for a long while.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but sneer and said, “Whether you speak or not is up to you. However, don’t come to Hanbi Mountain House anymore, lest my mother find out and be heartbroken!”

He quickly left the Zhou household.

Zhou Shaojin watched his vigorous figure disappear into the distance. She wrapped her arms around her chest, slowly crouched to the ground, buried her head between her knees, and cried silently.