On the road to Cold Jade Retreat, green trees provided shade and birds sang amid fragrant flowers. Zhou Shaojin walked while looking around, feeling her spirits lift considerably. She pointed at the tree canopy overhead blocking the sun and said to Shi Xiang, “Even when midsummer comes, with this green barrier, we won’t have to fear the hot weather.”

Shi Xiang nodded with a smile.

The two soon arrived at Cold Jade Retreat.

It was Biyu who came out to greet them. She softly greeted Zhou Shaojin while leading her toward the main quarters, quietly explaining, “The Second Old Master in the capital sent someone to pay respects to the Old Madam. Please wait a moment, Second Young Miss.”

Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment before remembering who this Second Old Master was.

He was the younger brother of the First Branch’s Great Old Master Cheng Xun and Old Madam Guo’s brother-in-law, Cheng Shao. He and the First Branch’s Great Master Cheng Jing had both been successful candidates in the twelfth year of Yongchang’s imperial examination. However, Cheng Jing had ranked sixteenth in the second tier that year, while Cheng Shao was the second-place scholar. This matter had caused quite a sensation in Jinling at the time, and even today, when people in Jinling City mentioned the Cheng family, they would bring it up. Afterward, Cheng Jing was selected as a Hanlin compiler, while Cheng Shao went directly to the Hanlin Academy as an editor. Later, when Cheng Xun died from illness and Cheng Jing, who had just obtained the position of Left Vice Minister of Works, returned home to observe the mourning period, Cheng Shao, who remained at the Hanlin Academy, was promoted from editor to Hanlin Academy Reader-in-Waiting, and then to Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Just when everyone thought Cheng Shao would have a brilliant future and shoulder the great burden of the First Branch, he seemed to exhaust his talent and never achieved anything more. On the contrary, Cheng Jing, after completing his mourning period, first obtained the position of Chief Clerk of the Court of Judicial Review. In less than half a year, he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and a year later, promoted to Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review… until he later became a minister and entered the Grand Secretariat. His official career was so smooth it was unstoppable. As for Cheng Shao, who had long since moved to the capital, he gradually faded from everyone’s view in the Nine Happiness Lane of Jinling and was rarely mentioned.

In her previous life, Jiang Shi had even maliciously speculated that Cheng Shao’s family had been squeezed out by Old Madam Guo.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but be curious.

She wondered if Cheng Xun had sent someone merely to politely greet Old Madam Guo or if there was some matter requiring Old Madam Guo’s attention.

According to Jiang Shi, the First Branch had not divided the household, and every year still had to send half their income to Cheng Shao far away in the capital. Managing the First Branch’s general affairs was Fourth Master Cheng Chi, who was Old Madam Guo’s son. If the First Branch wanted to make things difficult for Cheng Shao, apart from sending someone to “discuss” with Old Madam Guo, he really had no other options.

While Zhou Shaojin sat in the hall drinking tea, she unconsciously pricked up her ears to listen for sounds from the western resting room.

But it was completely quiet over there, not a sound could be heard.

Zhou Shaojin secretly felt disappointed.

Feicui lifted the curtain and emerged, still carrying a copper water kettle in her hand.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin sitting in the hall, she paused slightly, smiled and pointed toward the resting room, silently nodding at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin also smiled and nodded without making a sound, her ears immediately perking up.

A voice drifted out from the resting room, sometimes clear, sometimes faint: “…Many thanks to Second Uncle! Please convey my thanks to Second Uncle on my behalf, Mr. Wu…”

It was Old Madam Guo’s voice.

But why was it “Mister” instead of “Matron”?

Could it be that the person who came to pay respects to Old Madam Guo was a man!

Shouldn’t matters from the outer courtyard be addressed to Fourth Master?

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded chaotically. She felt as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have.

When Feicui lifted the curtain again and entered the resting room with another copper water kettle, she couldn’t help but stand up and walk a few steps toward the resting room.

A man’s voice came faintly: “…Second Old Master said that regarding this matter, please have the Old Madam persuade the Great Master…”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t dare listen anymore and hurried back to sit down.

Feicui still hadn’t come out.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart grew slightly wary.

Before long, Feicui lifted the curtain to see Mr. Wu out.

Zhou Shaojin took a quick glance.

This Mr. Wu was small in stature, wearing a very ordinary sapphire-blue base with purple-woven five bats surrounding longevity patterned straight robe. He was about fifty years old with a goatee, but his countenance was very gentle, calm and composed. He didn’t look like a steward running errands for others, but rather like a tutor employed by some prominent family, reminding her of the advisors around her brother-in-law.

Could he be Second Old Master Cheng Shao’s advisor?

Zhou Shaojin’s heart jumped. She quickly lowered her eyelids, eyes observing her nose, nose observing her heart, assuming the clay statue appearance of “see no impropriety.”

Mr. Wu quickly walked out.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Feicui returned and entered the resting room. She soon came back out and said to her with a smile, “Second Young Miss, the Old Madam requests that you come in.”

Zhou Shaojin softly expressed her thanks and followed her into the resting room.

Old Madam Guo sat on a low couch, calmly fingering the Buddhist beads in her hand, showing neither joy nor sorrow. The covered tea bowls and refreshments on the table had all been cleared away, clean and tidy, as if no one had ever been there.

She stepped forward and paid her respects.

Old Madam Guo smiled. “I won’t say much else. From today on, you’ll come over every afternoon. If you need anything, just instruct Feicui. If she can’t do it, come directly to me.”

“Yes!” Zhou Shaojin stood up and responded obediently yet respectfully.

Old Madam Guo nodded, her expression clearing slightly.

Zhenzhu came in to report, “Old Madam, the Madam says she has something to tell you.”

Yuan Shi held the rank of Third-Rank Lady, but people had the habit of elevating status, and regardless of rank, would uniformly address any woman with an imperial bestowment as “Madam” to show deference.

Zhou Shaojin quickly rose to take her leave.

Old Madam Guo didn’t try to keep her.

Zhou Shaojin ran right into Yuan Shi, who was standing under the eaves waiting for a maid to announce her.

Yuan Shi nodded at her and smiled. “Shaojin, are you here to copy sutras? Why not sit a while longer? Are you going to the Buddhist hall?” She also greeted Feicui, “Are you on duty today?”

Her attitude was intimate and natural.

This was a Yuan Shi that Zhou Shaojin found very unfamiliar.

She said nothing, only smiled and curtsied to Yuan Shi. It was Feicui who politely exchanged pleasantries with Yuan Shi for a few moments before leading her to the Buddhist hall.

On the large desk in the Buddhist hall, besides the writing implements, water bowl, brush holder, and a thick volume of the “Shurangama Sutra,” there was also a carved red lacquer with gold-painted crabapple tiered box containing candies and pastries.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin’s gaze fall on the tiered box, Feicui smiled. “The Old Madam specially instructed this, saying she was afraid your mouth might lack flavor, so she prepared some snacks for you.” She continued, “Is there anything else you’re lacking?”

“Nothing is lacking.” Zhou Shaojin smiled and exchanged pleasantries with her. “Please convey my thanks to the Old Madam.”

Feicui smiled and called in a young maid still wearing her hair in two tufts, saying, “Second Young Miss, this is Xiao Tan. From now on, she’ll serve you in the Buddhist hall.” She then said to Shi Xiang, “If you need anything, just instruct her to run errands.”

If she hadn’t heard those two sentences from Mr. Wu, Zhou Shaojin might have been astonished by such an arrangement. But having witnessed the scene in the resting room, she understood Feicui’s status and position at Cold Jade Retreat. She wasn’t surprised that Feicui wasn’t personally serving her but had instead arranged for a young maid to attend to her in the Buddhist hall.

Looking at it now, the fact that Old Madam Guo allowed Feicui to be at her disposal was already elevating her status.

No one at Cold Jade Retreat would dare slight her, would they?

After Feicui and Shi Xiang had exchanged greetings, established seniority, and addressed each other as sisters, Zhou Shaojin had Shi Xiang see Feicui out. She turned and grabbed a handful of bird’s nest candy from the tiered box for Xiao Tan, saying gently, “I’ll call you when I need something—go play with your sisters!”

Xiao Tan was fair and clean with a pair of round, large eyes. Hearing this, she held the candy and tilted her head, saying, “Second Young Miss, I won’t play with my sisters. I’ll just sit on the steps outside and wait for you to call me.”

Her voice was crisp, her appearance obedient and adorable, reminding Zhou Shaojin of Lin Shisheng’s eldest daughter—every time she saw that child, she would stuff a handful of candies into the child’s hands just like her grandmother, and each time the child would tilt her head like this, blinking her big eyes as she thanked her.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart melted completely. She stroked Xiao Tan’s head and smiled as she said “Go on,” watching until she left before turning to sit down at the large desk.

Shi Xiang had just seen Feicui off and returned, rolling up her sleeves to help Zhou Shaojin grind ink.

Zhou Shaojin took the opportunity to flip through the volume of the “Shurangama Sutra.”

Exquisitely printed, with large, pleasing characters and spacious formatting—it was actually an ancient book from the previous dynasty.

This First Branch—their resources were truly extravagant!

She muttered to herself. Once Shi Xiang had finished grinding the ink, she dipped her brush and began copying.

In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had copied the “Shurangama Sutra” before. Unlike those who had never encountered it or were encountering it for the first time and still needed to identify characters and parse sentences, she could recite an entire sentence from memory upon seeing the first character. Thus she could focus all her energy on the calligraphy itself. Not only did she copy quickly and well, but during the copying process she could also appreciate the subtle mysteries and philosophical meanings between the lines of the sutra.

She seemed to have returned to the estate in Daxing, thinking of nothing, caring about nothing, setting aside all worldly matters, immersed in the profound Buddhist teachings.

The sun gradually moved westward, and the light in the Buddhist hall dimmed.

Only then did Zhou Shaojin, who had been bent over copying, stand up. She rubbed her arms and instructed Shi Xiang, “Let’s stop here for today. We’ll come back tomorrow.”

Shi Xiang smiled and responded “Yes.” She tidied the desk, dismissed Xiao Tan, and went with Zhou Shaojin to the main quarters.

The maids and servants attending the main quarters all stood far away under the eaves of the eastern side building. Only Feicui and Biyu served at the entrance to the hall.

Having served as the mistress of a household, Zhou Shaojin could tell at a glance that this arrangement meant Old Madam Guo had dismissed the servants around her because she had something to discuss with someone.

She thought of Mr. Wu and the few fragmentary words she had overheard.

Could this matter be related to the Second Old Master in the capital and the Great Master?

She just didn’t know who Old Madam Guo was talking to.

While she was pondering, Feicui walked over quietly and said with a smile in a low voice, “The Old Madam is talking with the Chief Steward. Second Young Miss, are you here to take your leave of the Old Madam? Would you like to wait a while? Or perhaps have some tea in the flower hall?”

Going to the flower hall for tea would require summoning maids and servants to attend to her. Old Madam Guo had ordered all the servants around her to stand under the eaves of the eastern side building precisely to prevent servants from moving about freely and hearing things they shouldn’t hear or seeing things they shouldn’t see.

Zhou Shaojin had no intention of causing trouble for Feicui and the others. She smiled and said, “After copying sutras for so long, my back is sore. I’ll just walk around nearby.”

Feicui shot her a grateful glance.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, then left the main quarters with Shi Xiang.

She wanted to return early but didn’t want to wait foolishly in the Buddhist hall, so she left Shi Xiang to wait by the covered walkway where she could see activity at the main quarters: “Tell me as soon as the Old Madam sees her guest out.”

Afraid that Shi Xiang wouldn’t be able to find her later, Zhou Shaojin didn’t dare go far and just wandered around nearby.