Keeping her at Jiuru Lane and having her move to the First Branch to live—this was actually Uncle Chi’s idea!

Zhou Shaojin stared blankly at Cheng Chi, unable to recover her senses for a long while.

Cheng Chi was quite surprised.

He hadn’t expected Zhou Shaojin to resist this matter.

In his view, this was the best arrangement.

It would both allow him to save the Cheng family as Zhou Shaojin hoped, and also let Zhou Shaojin break free from the Fourth Branch and live as she pleased.

But Zhou Shaojin certainly wasn’t afraid of being implicated.

There were still eleven years before the Cheng family’s downfall. By then, Zhou Shaojin would have long since married. Married daughters were not held guilty. Since she had been reborn, she surely knew this.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have told him her secret.

That left only one possibility.

She didn’t want to see Cheng Xu.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Cheng Chi couldn’t help pressing his lips together.

In her previous life, what exactly had Cheng Xu done?

Should he or shouldn’t he open up this wound in Zhou Shaojin’s heart?

The usually decisive Cheng Chi suddenly found himself hesitating.

But Zhou Shaojin lowered her head and said quietly: “Uncle Chi, I want to go back to Baoding with my stepmother. If you have anything you want to ask me, you can ask while I’m still in Jinling, or you can write to Baoding. I’ll definitely tell you everything I know without reservation. Please don’t worry!”

Her slender lashes cast faint shadows on her eyelids, making her look as docile as a little lamb.

Cheng Chi suddenly felt compassion.

This was the Cheng family’s affair. She had done what she should do, and even what she shouldn’t have to do. Why should he drag her into this mess?

As she said, if he truly wanted to know something, he could easily write a letter or send someone to ask her. She didn’t necessarily have to live at the First Branch.

He said quietly: “Shaojin, Uncle Chi didn’t think this through carefully enough. You’re quite right. You’ve lived at Jiuru Lane with your sister for so many years—you must really miss home. Now that your sister has married, you should return home and reunite with your father. Spend more time with your father and stepmother!”

Zhou Shaojin raised her head, looking at Cheng Chi in astonishment.

She had thought she would need to expend great effort to persuade Cheng Chi. She might even have to tell Uncle Chi about some of her tragic experiences from her previous life before he would let her return to Baoding Prefecture with her stepmother.

But what she never expected was that before she could say anything, Uncle Chi had already agreed to let her go to Baoding Prefecture.

“You…” She looked at Cheng Chi in confusion, as if she had no idea what had just happened.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh.

This little girl—what would become of her, being so foolish? She’d better not be sold off and still help count the money for her buyer.

He said: “I’ll have Nanny Shang accompany you back to Baoding Prefecture!”

“What?” Zhou Shaojin blinked several times before understanding Cheng Chi’s meaning. She quickly waved her hands: “How can that be? If Nanny Shang leaves, who will attend to you!” As she spoke, another thought occurred to her, and she said anxiously: “Uncle Chi, Old Madam must have already agreed to let me come live at Hanbi Mountain Manor, right? If I leave now, how will you explain this to Old Madam!”

Cheng Chi smiled: “You’re only worrying about this now? What were you doing earlier?”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help feeling guilty.

Uncle Chi had done all this for her sake. It was she herself who had reservations, which was why she was unwilling to move to the First Branch.

She looked at Cheng Chi sheepishly, her clear eyes filled with guilt.

This little girl—her eyes spoke volumes.

Cheng Chi smiled: “Alright, alright, don’t feel bad. Didn’t you say you trusted Uncle Chi? Since I could get my mother to agree to raise you, I can also get Fourth Aunt to give up on bringing you into the mansion. Just go home with peace of mind and wait for news.”

That’s right!

Uncle Chi was the most capable.

With just a few words, he had fooled Old Madam. In her previous life, he had even rescued someone from an execution ground. Naturally, he had ways to make Maternal Grandmother rescind her order.

She could go to Baoding Prefecture with her stepmother.

She could escape the fate of her previous life.

Zhou Shaojin thanked Cheng Chi joyfully, her delicate features curving into crescents.

Was she really that happy?

Cheng Chi’s heart sank.

Just because he was letting her go back, she could be as cheerful as a bird released from its cage.

The situation was probably even worse than he had imagined.

And if she didn’t speak of it, who could imagine she had experienced such pain?

He couldn’t help saying: “Shaojin, do you hate them?”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand.

Cheng Chi said: “When you see those who once hurt you, do you hate them?”

Zhou Shaojin fell silent, lowering her eyelids as she said quietly: “Of course I hate them! Sometimes when I see them, I wish they would fall into a lake at a banquet and become a spectacle for everyone, or use the wrong classical allusion when showing off in front of people, losing face and gaining a reputation for being unlearned… But they haven’t bullied me in this life. I can’t take revenge on them just because of memories from my previous life, can I? Sometimes when I think about it, I feel wronged and resentful…” As she spoke, thinking that these matters had all passed, that she had repaid Lin Shisheng as she wished, and had even thrown the great burden of the Cheng family to Uncle Chi… she slowly raised her eyelids and broke into a smile.

For the first time in his life, Cheng Chi understood why people used the phrase “heart cut like a knife” to describe heartache.

How could Cheng Xu have had the heart to hurt Zhou Shaojin?

He sneered inwardly.

It seemed he should pay more attention to this nephew of his.

A shadow of darkness flashed through Cheng Chi’s eyes.

But Zhou Shaojin didn’t notice. She asked Cheng Chi with a smile: “Uncle Chi, is there anything you want to ask me?”

Cheng Chi didn’t understand.

Zhou Shaojin became somewhat smug: “Uncle Chi, didn’t you say you had things to ask me? If you have any questions now, you can ask me. Answering you face-to-face will certainly be clearer and more detailed than writing letters or sending someone to ask!”

Seeing her looking so pleased with herself, Cheng Chi forcibly suppressed his amusement and said seriously: “Then can you tell me why the Cheng family was raided?”

Zhou Shaojin’s face immediately turned bright red as she mumbled: “That, that doesn’t count…”

“Didn’t you say answering face-to-face would be clearer and more detailed?” Cheng Chi said solemnly.

“I, I, I…” Zhou Shaojin stammered, her face like a rosy cloud.

“I’m just teasing you!” Cheng Chi smiled. “My mind is still a bit muddled. I don’t have anything to ask you right now.”

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and smiled sheepishly at Cheng Chi.

This silly girl!

Cheng Chi smiled along with her.

His smile was warm yet carried a hint of restraint, appearing both gentle and modest.

Uncle Chi looks so handsome when he smiles!

Zhou Shaojin thought hazily, then asked Cheng Chi: “Uncle Chi, if you pass through Baoding Prefecture, will you come visit our home?” Before she finished speaking, she felt this question wasn’t quite right, so she quickly added: “When you pass through Baoding Prefecture, you must come visit our home. By then, I’ll have learned to make many pastries, and when you come, I’ll make them for you!”

Cheng Chi nodded with a smile: “When the time comes, I’ll definitely visit your home!”

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes curved with delight upon hearing this.

She could become so happy from just this.

Cheng Chi shook his head.

Zhou Shaojin suddenly jumped up, saying urgently: “Oh no, oh no! When I came, I still haven’t paid my respects to Old Madam yet!”

It was almost noon now. If she went to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo at this time, it would inevitably seem like she was trying to mooch a meal.

Cheng Chi smiled: “Then you might as well stay for lunch!”

“Uncle Chi!” Zhou Shaojin stared at him with wide eyes.

Cheng Chi laughed heartily.

Zhou Shaojin was exasperated.

Cheng Chi smiled: “Hurry and go! If you dawdle any longer, you can just sit directly at the table.”

Zhou Shaojin stamped her foot and ran off in a flash toward the main building of Hanbi Mountain Manor.

Old Madam Guo had already heard that Zhou Shaojin had entered the mansion. Since she hadn’t seen any sign of Zhou Shaojin, she assumed Zhou Shaojin had been kept by Old Madam Guan for lunch, so when she saw Zhou Shaojin, she was a bit surprised: “Have you had lunch yet?”

Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to say shamelessly: “I wanted to eat the fried響鈴 made by your private kitchen.”

Old Madam Guo was especially pleased. She instructed Biyu: “Quickly go tell the kitchen to make fried Xiangling for Second Cousin Miss.” Then she asked her, “What else would you like to eat?”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t have the nerve to order more dishes, so she said with a charming laugh: “I just like this dish from your private kitchen.”

Old Madam Guo chuckled and sat with her on the arhat bed to talk: “What have you been doing at home these days? Why did you suddenly come to Jiuru Lane? Is Madam well at home? Would she be free if I invited her for a meal tomorrow?”

Uncle Chi had already said he would handle this matter—she just needed to play deaf and dumb.

Zhou Shaojin smiled: “I originally wanted to do needlework at home, but I couldn’t settle my mind, so I came to see you and Maternal Grandmother. We only had a few tables of guests at home, so after cleaning up these past few days, Madam has also had some leisure. When I get back, I’ll ask Madam for you to see if she has any plans for tomorrow!”

Old Madam Guo nodded repeatedly: “Have you gone to see your Uncle Chi yet?”

Zhou Shaojin felt quite guilty but didn’t want to lie to Old Madam Guo: “I heard Uncle Chi has a guest—Zhang Tianshi from Longhu Mountain!”

Old Madam Guo smiled: “Zhang Tianshi’s name is Zhang Chengyu. He’s your uncle’s good friend. He hasn’t come in some years—he should be completing his training to go out and practice. So he came to see your Uncle Chi. Chengyu likes divination, and your Uncle Chi likes astrology. Sometimes when the two of them start talking, they go on endlessly, staying up for a whole day and night without rest.”

Zhou Shaojin was stunned.

Zhang Tianshi still hadn’t left?

Then how had Uncle Chi appeared where Ji Ying lived?

Zhou Shaojin asked Old Madam Guo hesitantly: “When is Zhang Tianshi leaving?”

She wanted to go see Cheng Chi.

Even if she said nothing, at least Uncle Chi would know she appreciated his kindness!

“He should leave after the Buddha Bathing Festival, I suppose?” Old Madam Guo guessed with a smile. “That year he stayed until after the Dragon Boat Festival before leaving.”

Zhou Shaojin’s lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing and helped Old Madam Guo to the banquet hall to eat.

But just as they sat down, Zhenzhu came in to report: “Zhang Tianshi has come to take his leave!”

Old Madam Guo was greatly startled and quickly said: “Why is he leaving at this time? Has he had lunch?”

Zhenzhu smiled: “Apparently, Zhang Tianshi is accompanying his martial uncle on a training journey this time. It will be at least three years, perhaps five years before he can return. So he made a special trip to the mansion to visit before leaving. Fourth Master has already arranged for Zhang Tianshi to have lunch.”

Old Madam Guo felt relieved and instructed Biyu to invite Zhang Tianshi in.

But Zhou Shaojin thought hazily—if she went to Baoding, wouldn’t it also be several years before she could see Uncle Chi again!