Chun Wan asked strangely: “Second Miss, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Zhou Shaojin said, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. “Who came?”

Uncle Chi had just said she was not allowed to go to Hanbi Mountain Lodge anymore.

“It’s Feicui.” Chun Wan’s eyes still flickered with some confusion as she said, “She says the Old Madam is inviting you over to discuss matters regarding the Eldest Miss.”

Then she couldn’t even inquire why the Old Madam was looking for her!

Zhou Shaojin felt very dejected.

From Feicui’s side came urging: “The Old Madam is still waiting for Second Cousin Miss!”

Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to steel herself and change clothes, having Chun Wan arrange for a sedan chair.

Knowing she was going out, Zhou Chujin sent someone to ask: “Didn’t Uncle Chi just come over? Why is he suddenly inviting you over again?”

Zhou Shaojin said: “I don’t know either. I can only tell you after I return.”

But she felt uneasy inside, extremely flustered. Fortunately, Zhou Chujin didn’t ask further.

The Grand Lady of Mian in the study sent someone over saying: “I’m about to return to the mansion too. Wait for me, and we’ll go back to Jiuru Lane together.”

How could she go with the Grand Lady of Mian when her eyes were still swollen?

Zhou Shaojin had Bitao reply to the Grand Lady of Mian: “Feicui is still waiting in the entrance hall.”

Fortunately, she was usually obedient enough that the Grand Lady of Mian wasn’t displeased, only telling her to be careful on the road. These days many people were going out of the city for spring outings, and the roads were crowded with traffic—she shouldn’t collide with others.

Zhou Shaojin thanked her repeatedly, took a sedan chair from the sedan hall, and went to Hanbi Mountain Lodge.

But after getting out of the sedan at Hanbi Mountain Lodge, Feicui led her around the main house toward Tingli Hall.

Zhou Shaojin was frightened pale and stood there without moving, saying: “I’ll first go pay my respects to the Old Madam before visiting Uncle Chi.”

Feicui originally didn’t want to speak, but unexpectedly Nanny Shang’s gaze shot over like an arrow.

She had no choice but to smile and say: “The Old Madam is talking with Fourth Master at Tingli Hall right now!”

Over there, Nanny Shang was waiting with a beaming smile.

Zhou Shaojin had to follow Feicui to Tingli Hall.

But as soon as she stepped into Tingli Hall, she knew she had been deceived.

Tingli Hall was completely quiet—not a person could be seen, not a sound could be heard.

She immediately turned to leave: “I, I’m going to pay my respects to the Old Madam.”

Feicui wanted to step aside, but unexpectedly Nanny Shang pushed her. This push, as if by fate, pushed her right in front of Zhou Shaojin, making it look to others as if she had quickly moved to block Zhou Shaojin. Then Nanny Shang placed a hand on her shoulder, and her body immediately went numb with tingling pain, unable to speak for quite a while. Yet Nanny Shang said: “Second Cousin Miss, Feicui is just following orders. You should see Fourth Master first before paying your respects to the Old Madam. Otherwise it will be difficult for Feicui. Besides, Fourth Master’s Tingli Hall is only separated from the Old Madam’s main house by a flower wall. Whatever happens on this side can be heard on that side, and Fourth Master is not someone without propriety…”

Zhou Shaojin was very doubtful.

She feared that before she could make any sound, she would be restrained by Uncle Chi.

She didn’t know why, but she was just that certain, feeling that Cheng Chi definitely had such ability.

Seeing her unmoved, Nanny Shang didn’t dare use force. Her mind raced: “Second Cousin Miss, Fourth Master is not an unreasonable person. Why don’t you take this opportunity to explain things clearly to Fourth Master? Think about it—when has Fourth Master ever hurt anyone? When has he ever punished anyone…”

Standing opposite her, Zhou Shaojin saw her expression suddenly flash with relief as she spoke.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart sank. Looking back, she saw Cheng Chi standing with his hands behind his back at the entrance to Tingli Hall under the dripping eaves, though she didn’t know when he had arrived.

His posture was upright, as straight as a pine tree. His face was hidden in the shadow of the eaves, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

Zhou Shaojin felt extremely embarrassed.

Uncle Chi must think her very foolish—a few words from others and she had been tricked into coming here.

But for some reason, she also felt a hidden sense of relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart.

Only she had no time or energy now to carefully examine her emotions. Her face burned hot, and she mumbled, not knowing what to say.

“Come inside with me!” Cheng Chi said coldly, turning to enter Tingli Hall.

Feicui and Nanny Shang quickly stepped aside.

Zhou Shaojin’s legs felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. Only after Nanny Shang quietly called “Second Cousin Miss” to her twice did she reluctantly shuffle into Tingli Hall’s study.

The study door shut behind her with a “bang.”

Zhou Shaojin trembled in fright.

Inexplicably, she recalled what Cheng Chi had said the first time he went to Pingqiao Street.

She couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: Didn’t you say that standing in the courtyard to talk made eavesdroppers immediately obvious? How is it you’re not afraid of people listening now? You actually closed the study door…

When Zhou Shaojin stepped into Tingli Hall, Cheng Chi had already seen through the glass window her eyes that were still somewhat red and swollen. Now seeing her expression as panicked as a small rabbit fallen into a trap, the anger in his heart suddenly surged up again.

He was helping her—what was she afraid of?

Could he possibly eat her?

But as soon as this thought arose, he immediately took a deep breath and admonished himself: “Governing a country is like cooking a delicate fish, let alone these unclear domestic matters. I must stay calm, be patient, and not lose my temper.”

“Shaojin.” He said gently, walking forward a few steps and sitting on the daybed by the window in the study. His handsome, warm face came into Zhou Shaojin’s view. “We haven’t played chess in some time. Will you play a game with me?”

Zhou Shaojin took a small wary step backward.

She felt that Uncle Chi at this moment was like a hunter who had caught a small animal, and she was that caught creature. Uncle Chi’s so-called chess game was like the hunter’s domestication—merely preparation for the knife to come.

Rather than endure such torment knowing the outcome, it would be better to receive the knife directly.

“I, I don’t know how to play chess!” Zhou Shaojin said, her voice trembling slightly. “Uncle Chi, you, you know that!”

At least this little girl had some self-awareness!

Cheng Chi grumbled inwardly, but the smile on his face grew even gentler as he said: “Weren’t you quite confident before? How have you become so modest now?”

That’s because I didn’t know I’d be exposed so quickly before!

Zhou Shaojin lowered her eyelids.

Her long lashes left a shadow like a small fan.

Her hands were tightly clasped together again.

Cheng Chi sighed inwardly.

This habit was sometimes quite useful.

At least it let him know she was very nervous—she was much smarter than he had imagined.

This time, Cheng Chi’s gentle voice carried sincerity: “Shaojin, come sit beside me!”

Zhou Shaojin raised her head, her gaze bewildered and confused.

Cheng Chi’s heart stirred, suddenly realizing that Zhou Shaojin was even smarter than he had thought.

She could at least discern when he was sincere and when he was pretending.

His voice became even more gentle and sincere as he repeated: “Shaojin, come sit beside me.”

The bewilderment and confusion in Zhou Shaojin’s eyes slowly dissipated. She thought for a moment, then obediently sat down beside Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi didn’t immediately question her but personally brewed her a cup of tea.

Zhou Shaojin gripped the teacup with whitened fingertips, murmuring her thanks.

Cheng Chi pondered for a moment, then asked her with a gentle expression: “Shaojin, do you know why I asked you to come?”

Zhou Shaojin sat there for a long while before lightly nodding.

Cheng Chi said: “Then tell me, why did I ask you to come?”

Zhou Shaojin lowered her head, gazing at the teacup in her hands without speaking.

Cheng Chi continued: “Shaojin, think about it—if you were me, what would you think? There’s a young girl, not yet of age, who normally never goes out, let alone has contact with major court affairs. But one day she suddenly tells you that your brother will miss out on becoming Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall because of a deal between Huang Li’s mentor Shen Minzhi and the current Chief Minister Yuan Weichang. Wouldn’t you investigate whether this matter is true or false?”

Zhou Shaojin lowered her head even further.

Cheng Chi’s face didn’t flush and his heart didn’t race as he continued: “Then I inadvertently discovered that you had asked Ji Ying’s family to bring Fan Qi to the capital. I didn’t pay much attention at the time, thinking you might have had some matter for him to handle. Observe no impropriety, hear no impropriety—I’m not someone who likes prying into others’ secrets. I thought this matter would just pass. Who knew that the matter with Official Mu would emerge…”

Zhou Shaojin tightly rubbed the bright red crabapple flowers on the teacup.

Cheng Chi said: “Shaojin, I consider myself to have some discernment. I’m clear about what kind of person you are. Otherwise I wouldn’t have found an excuse to call you to Tingli Hall. Tell me the truth—is someone manipulating you to do this? Or is someone coercing you to do this? Or were you threatened over something, but because you wanted to repay my mother for taking care of you, you couldn’t help inadvertently revealing Huang Li’s matter to us? Shaojin, haven’t you always trusted me? Trust me this once too. No matter what happened, I’ll find a way to pull you out of this quagmire. But you must tell me the truth. Can you do that?”

No, she couldn’t!

Zhou Shaojin’s heart ached, and large tears fell.

Uncle Chi was so good to her!

Even at this point, he was still making excuses for her, thinking of her.

But she had no way to speak.

Not to mention whether Uncle Chi would believe the matter of rebirth—with Uncle Chi’s shrewdness, once she began, he would know the ending.

The matter of her once being violated by Cheng Xu… would be laid bare before Uncle Chi.

How could she ever face Uncle Chi again after that, how could she face the Old Madam?

It would be better to let him misunderstand!

At least in Uncle Chi’s heart, she could still keep that covering cloth.

But she knew even more clearly in her heart.

She and Uncle Chi could never return to how things were before, let alone gain his trust and save the Cheng family.

Thinking this, Zhou Shaojin’s heart ached as if being twisted.

The trip to Mount Putuo had been the happiest time of her two lifetimes.

She would forever be grateful to Old Madam Guo, grateful to Uncle Chi.

Zhou Shaojin slowly set down the teacup, took out the handkerchief from her sleeve, wiped her blurred eyes, and a slight smile bloomed at the corners of her mouth. She stood up and said solemnly to Cheng Chi: “Uncle Chi, I have never deceived you, nor do I distrust you. It’s just that my situation is too incredible. I can only tell you this: In the bingwu year, His Majesty will pass away and the Fourth Prince will ascend the throne; on the first day of the first month of the dingwei year, the era will be changed to Tianshun. In the wushen year, which is the second year of Tianshun, in the first month, the Cheng family will inexplicably be executed in its entirety…”