Hanbì Mountain Villa was even larger than she had imagined. To the east of the bamboo grove, there seemed to be another courtyard—she spotted several bright red pomegranate flowers peeking out from behind a flower wall.

Who could be living there?

Zhou Shaojin had no intention of prying into the First Branch’s affairs. She turned and followed the small path through the bamboo grove toward the main house.

But as she wound her way through, all she could see before her eyes were bamboo, nothing but bamboo. The pebble-paved paths led in all directions, and she had no idea which path went south or which went north. Every scene looked identical—all exactly the same.

She had gotten lost!

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help breaking into a sweat. She lowered her head and searched for a while longer, but still couldn’t see any other colors.

She’d search for another quarter hour.

If she still found nothing, she’d have to swallow her pride and call for help!

Gritting her teeth, she chose a path that seemed to lead east.

The path twisted and turned, seemingly without end. In the bamboo grove where green shade covered the ground, her ears were filled with the rustling sound of wind blowing through branches and leaves, with no human voices to be heard.

Zhou Shaojin’s hands were covered in sweat.

Just how large was this bamboo grove?

Why had she never known that the First Branch had such an enormous bamboo grove?

How much longer would it take to get out?

Was she walking farther away? Or getting closer?

Zhou Shaojin grew so anxious that tears nearly fell.

She tried calling out loudly, “Hello!”

Her slightly panicked voice echoed through the bamboo grove, only startling several unknown birds that fluttered overhead as they flew past.

Ahead was a three-way intersection.

Should she continue straight? Go left? Or right?

Zhou Shaojin stood there unable to make up her mind, rising on her tiptoes to look around.

To the right, the bamboo grove faintly revealed a section of pale white wall and half a window lattice with large red ice-crack patterns covered with tender yellow gauze.

All the window lattices at Hanbì Mountain Villa were large red with ice-crack patterns, covered with tender yellow gauze.

Overjoyed, she lifted her skirt and hurried toward that direction while calling out loudly, “Is anyone there?”

Suddenly someone leapt out from behind her and covered her mouth.

Zhou Shaojin shrieked in terror, swinging her fists and kicking.

“Don’t scream, don’t scream!” Someone walked toward her—in brocade robes and fine clothes, with a face like jade, tall and handsome, with a clear, bright voice. “I’m not some bad person! I was just passing through the bamboo grove. Don’t scream, I’ll have Da Su release you right now!”

Zhou Shaojin felt as if struck by lightning.

How could she suddenly encounter him?

Shouldn’t he be at the clan school at this time?

Where exactly was she?

Zhou Shaojin trembled, as if plunged into an icy cave.

The person covering her mouth, seeing she had stopped struggling, first tentatively and slowly released his hand. Seeing she didn’t move, he finally let go of her completely.

Only then did Cheng Xu clearly see Zhou Shaojin’s appearance.

His face full of amazement, he let out an “Oh!” and said in astonishment, “I don’t know which branch this young lady is from? I’m Cheng Xu from the First Branch. This is Hanbì Mountain Villa, my grandmother’s place of quiet cultivation. May I ask what young lady is called? I don’t recall having seen you before…”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t utter a single word.

Every bone in her body ached.

Although she had decided that when she saw Cheng Xu again she would definitely smile and greet him as if nothing had happened, when she actually saw Cheng Xu again, she found herself completely unable to do so. The way Cheng Xu looked at her made her feel even more horrified, and she instinctively wanted to flee.

Seeing her face turn pale, Cheng Xu couldn’t help feeling embarrassed. After casting a reproachful glance at his attendant Da Su, he smiled at Zhou Shaojin and said, “Young lady, I’ve frightened you, haven’t I? This is all my fault. I didn’t expect someone to suddenly pop out in the bamboo grove either. I apologize to you here.” As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Zhou Shaojin. “Young lady, please don’t be angry anymore!”

But Zhou Shaojin was so frightened that she retreated several steps, until the sound of branches breaking under her feet brought her back to her senses.

Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid!

Nothing has happened!

I can definitely save the Cheng family!

She kept comforting herself, hurriedly said, “I was also just passing through the bamboo grove,” then took off running toward the path on the right, not even asking for directions.

“Hey!” Cheng Xu called after her retreating figure. “Take the middle path—turn the corner and you’ll reach the back door of the main house.”

Zhou Shaojin’s steps faltered slightly. She thought for a moment, then finally chose the middle path.

Cheng Xu watched, smiling with the corners of his mouth curved upward.

After walking less than a bow-shot’s distance, Zhou Shaojin indeed saw a corner. Past it was the back door of the main house, with bamboo planted all around as well.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t dare wander about and went forward to knock on the door.

A woman wearing an embroidered ball hairpin came to answer the door and, upon seeing her, opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Zhou Shaojin sheepishly explained her situation.

The woman immediately opened the door and welcomed her in, laughing as they walked, “Second Young Miss, you’re not the first person to get lost in the bamboo grove. Miss Sheng once got lost in the bamboo grove too. When Madam found out, she even said she wanted to plant a few trees in the bamboo grove, so if anyone got lost in the bamboo grove again, they could just walk toward where the trees were and get out…”

Zhou Shaojin gratefully thanked her, afraid her current appearance would alarm Old Madam Guo. She quietly asked if the woman could help her find a secluded place to wash her face: “I still need to take my leave of Old Madam later.”

“That’s no trouble at all.” The woman was very enthusiastic, leading her to a tea room. “In the past, when Miss Sheng played wildly outside and didn’t dare let Old Madam know, she would wash her hands and face here… Let me look and see, there should still be the copper basin and scented soap that Miss Sheng used…” She added, “I’m rough-handed and clumsy, I’m afraid I might hurt Second Young Miss’s delicate skin. Where is your maid? I’ll quietly go call her in to serve you!”

The woman’s words reminded Zhou Shaojin.

She quickly said, “I’m not as delicate as Nanny says. It’s just that my maid Shi Xiang is still waiting for me outside. If she doesn’t see me and starts making a fuss, that would be troublesome. Please, Nanny, go help me send her a message.”

The woman cheerfully agreed, brought in hot water, and in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, returned with Shi Xiang.

Shi Xiang was greatly startled to see Zhou Shaojin’s disheveled appearance.

Before she could ask, Zhou Shaojin told her what had happened, though she omitted the part about encountering Cheng Xu.

Shi Xiang couldn’t help feeling frightened in retrospect. “Fortunately, Old Madam is still talking with the head steward.”

This could be considered a close call without real danger!

Zhou Shaojin also felt somewhat fortunate.

After Shi Xiang helped her wash up in the side room, guided by the woman, they left the main house through the back door.

Before long, Old Madam Guo’s side sent out the First Branch’s head steward, Qin Shouyue.

Zhou Shaojin, afraid of encountering Cheng Xu again, hurried in to take her leave of Old Madam Guo.

But she was in a hurry while others were not—Old Madam Guo held onto her and asked about copying scriptures for quite some time.

Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to patiently answer each question.

But before Old Madam Guo had finished asking her questions, Feicui walked in with a smile, “Old Madam, the Eldest Young Master has come.”

Old Madam Guo was very surprised, then became delighted, saying, “What’s he coming to my place for at this time instead of going to Shenhui Hall?” Then she instructed Biyu, “He loves eating orange cakes the most. Pack some of the orange cakes the Elder Master brought me from the capital a few days ago… Also pack some of those golden thread candied dates… and those sesame brittle pieces… Brew a pot of Da Hong Pao tea. I heard from Jumei that this child has caught a bit of a chill these past few days, so don’t serve him those green teas…”

Biyu smiled and agreed, turning to prepare the tea and snacks.

Zhou Shaojin felt uncomfortable all over and stood up to take her leave.

But Old Madam Guo held onto her, “It’s your Cousin Xu. You’ll be copying scriptures at the First Branch from now on, so you’re bound to run into him.” She added, “Though he has the temperament of a troublemaker, he’s most patient with his sisters. You needn’t be afraid.”

At this moment, Zhou Shaojin’s heart was set on leaving—how could she hear what Old Madam Guo was saying? But before she could speak, the curtain lifted and Zhenzhu was already attending Cheng Xu as he entered.

“Grandmother!” He respectfully bowed to Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo looked at him, her eyes filled with smiles. After he finished bowing, she introduced Zhou Shaojin to him, “The second young miss from the Fourth Branch’s eldest son-in-law’s family, Cousin Zhou.”

He came forward to bow to Zhou Shaojin, his eyes and brows carrying a smile as he greeted her.

Zhou Shaojin woodenly returned the greeting, but when she raised her head, she saw Cheng Xu, with his back to Old Madam Guo, smugly winking at her.

She had no idea what Cheng Xu was feeling smug about. She only felt his smile was somewhat glaring, and without even realizing it, she frowned. Then she once again took her leave of Old Madam Guo, saying, “It’s getting late. Since it’s my first day here, I’m afraid my grandmother still has things to ask me, so I’ll return first!”

Old Madam Guo didn’t keep her, having Biyu respectfully escort her out.

Zhou Shaojin hurried out of Hanbì Mountain Villa, and only when her feet stepped onto the pebble path leading to the Fourth Branch did her emotions finally calm down.

But Shi Xiang recalled the earlier meeting with Cheng Xu, “…No wonder everyone says Old Madam Guo’s favorite is Eldest Young Master Xu. Just look at how Old Madam Guo looked at Eldest Young Master Xu just now—as if she was afraid of dropping him if she held him in her hands, afraid of melting him if she held him in her mouth. What’s even more rare is that Eldest Young Master Xu isn’t spoiled at all… Cui Huan’s older brother serves at the main gate and says Eldest Young Master Xu never comes home in the middle of the night. If he goes on a distant trip, he always brings back local specialties to reward them. All those hereditary servants are racking their brains trying to get assigned to serve at Liangyi Pavilion…”

Zhou Shaojin felt annoyed listening to this and snapped irritably, “What’s there to talk about regarding other people’s affairs? If you’re so idle, starting tomorrow you can help my sister and me make a dozen or twenty cords. They’ll be just in time to fill sachets as gifts for the Dragon Boat Festival.”

Shi Xiang, scolded for no reason, couldn’t help feeling embarrassed.

Suddenly, a “pfft” of laughter came from the roadside.

Zhou Shaojin heard it was a man’s voice, and memories from her past life surfaced—if not for the Cheng family’s strict control over servants, if she hadn’t lived in the Cheng household for over ten years without ever encountering a single outside man in the inner courtyard, how could she have been so unguarded as to follow Cheng Jia alone to the garden?

Her expression immediately tensed. She tightly grasped Shi Xiang’s arm and called out warily, “Who’s there?”

Cheng Xu emerged from the trees beside the path, followed by his short-statured attendant Da Su with his purplish-brown face.

“Young lady acted so obedient and sensible in front of Grandmother, but who knew that behind Grandmother’s back you enjoy gossiping about others!” He smiled at Zhou Shaojin, his gaze as bright as brilliant summer sunshine. “Seeing as you and I share the bond of having traveled the same path, I’ll kindly keep this secret for you.”

“Young lady this, young lady that”—so he was a frivolous person all along!

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t even be bothered to look at him and turned to leave.

But Cheng Xu laughed behind her, “Aren’t you afraid Grandmother will find out you got lost in the bamboo grove?”

His tone carried quite the flavor of stirring up trouble.