The spring midday sunlight shone into the blue gauze alcove, casting a cool glow throughout the room.

Zhou Shaojin sat quietly in the blue gauze alcove, listening somewhat distractedly to Old Madam Guo and Zhang Chengyu’s conversation, not even thinking to look at what the famous Zhang Tianshi from Longhu Mountain looked like.

Uncle Chi had gone to great lengths to bring her to Hanbi Mountain Manor under Maternal Grandmother’s name. With the separation between branches and considering her reputation, it must have taken considerable effort, right?

But when she said she didn’t want to go, Uncle Chi agreed without saying anything, telling her to trust him: “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.” But how could things be that simple?

She thought of her previous life.

Back then, she had relied wholeheartedly on Elder Sister. Whenever something came up, she would go to Elder Sister, and Elder Sister would say the same thing. But in this life, she had come to realize how much trouble she had caused Elder Sister, how much thought Elder Sister had put into her affairs.

She seemed to be acting in front of Uncle Chi the way she had acted in front of Elder Sister in her previous life.

Throwing everything at him to solve.

As soon as she heard there was nothing for her to worry about, she was so relieved and happy she forgot herself, never carefully considering whether her actions would cause Uncle Chi trouble or put him in a difficult position.

Was she thinking too much about herself?

Especially when Uncle Chi was so good to her.

Not only did he believe her words, he even let her return to Baoding Prefecture with her stepmother, telling her to “go home with peace of mind and wait for news.”

As Uncle Chi had asked her, “Why was the Cheng family raided?”—even she, someone who had been reborn, didn’t know. How much less would Uncle Chi know, hearing everything secondhand from her?

Perhaps she should stay at Hanbi Mountain Manor after all?

At least she could help Uncle Chi organize his thoughts.

Hadn’t Uncle Chi said? His mind was still a bit muddled, and he didn’t have anything to ask her right now. Given Uncle Chi’s temperament, this was practically saying he was somewhat at a loss…

She should return to Jiuru Lane after all!

But Cheng Xu…

Zhou Shaojin’s fingers twisted together. Yet a small voice in her heart told her: Didn’t you say you wanted to change? That you wanted to become strong and stop relying on others like you did in your previous life? Then why run away? Those things haven’t happened yet, have they? When you were first reborn, you made two vows—first, to repay Lin Shisheng, and second, to tell Cheng Jing about the Cheng family’s fate. When you made those vows, didn’t they seem overwhelmingly difficult, like two mountains pressing on your heart? But what about now? Lin Shisheng has married Concubine Mu, and you’ve told Uncle Chi, who can handle anything, about the Cheng family’s situation. This shows that nothing happens overnight—you need to gather your courage and do it.

Cheng Xu bullied you in your previous life, but it hasn’t happened in this life yet, has it?

Before, you were alone, but now you have Uncle Chi. You also have the protection of Old Madam Guo and Maternal Grandmother. Can’t you prevent and change what happened?

In your previous life, you had some responsibility for how poorly things went. In this life, will you just drift along with the current like before?

Zhou Shaojin’s hands clenched tightly into fists.

She had to become strong.

She couldn’t always expect others to help her.

Even if that person was Uncle Chi.

She couldn’t become a burden to Uncle Chi.

With this thought, Zhou Shaojin stood up somewhat excitedly and paced back and forth in the blue gauze alcove twice. When she heard Old Madam Guo instructing Biyu to see the guest out, her mood finally calmed down.

That settled it then.

She would move to Hanbi Mountain Manor according to Uncle Chi’s original decision, and she would also ask Uncle Chi not to let Cheng Xu come running to Hanbi Mountain Manor.

When Cheng Xu discovered that the grandmother who had always doted on him wasn’t someone he could see whenever he wanted, his expression would surely be priceless.

Just thinking about it made Zhou Shaojin feel much better.

The most important thing now was to tell Uncle Chi of her decision.

However, would Uncle Chi be annoyed that she kept changing her mind?

Zhou Shaojin worried about this, feeling somewhat anxious even at mealtime.

Old Madam Guo noticed but said nothing.

Girls of fourteen or fifteen were at an age when they had many concerns. They could agonize for half a day over an extra crease in their clothing. No need to worry—in a few hours, something else would happen around them and they would forget.

She smiled and had Biyu serve Zhou Shaojin food: “Today’s shad fish is well-prepared. Try some.”

It was only March, yet shad fish was already on Hanbi Mountain Manor’s menu.

The food at Hanbi Mountain Manor was truly excellent!

If she lived here for two years, would she have trouble adjusting when she went back?

Zhou Shaojin’s thoughts wandered as she asked quietly: “Isn’t Uncle Chi eating with us?”

“He went to see Zhang Chengyu off,” Old Madam Guo smiled. “Even if he comes back to eat, it won’t be until this afternoon.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded. After finishing lunch and drinking tea with Old Madam Guo, when Old Madam Guo showed signs of fatigue and wanted to rest, Cheng Chi still hadn’t returned.

She had no choice but to take her leave and return to Jiashu Hall.

Old Madam Guan asked with a smile: “What did Old Madam Guo say?”

Zhou Shaojin replied: “She asked if Madam was free tomorrow. If so, she’d like to invite her to dinner.”

Seeing it was getting late, Old Madam Guan said: “I won’t keep you today then. Remember to send me word after you go back.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she asked Old Madam Guan: “I’d like to stay at Jiashu Hall. Could you speak to Father about it?”

Old Madam Guan was overjoyed and quickly said: “Don’t worry, I’ve already sent someone with a letter to your father. We should have news in a day or two at most.”

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.

Good thing she hadn’t refused Uncle Chi.

If Father agreed to let her stay at Jiuru Lane and she wanted to go to Baoding Prefecture instead, how much effort would Uncle Chi have to expend!

However, since she hadn’t seen Uncle Chi today, and Uncle Chi acted decisively and swiftly, she feared that the moment she said she wanted to go to Baoding Prefecture, Uncle Chi had immediately started thinking of ways to make it happen. To be safe, she should write a letter to Father anyway.

After seeing Mian Grand Madam, Zhou Shaojin returned home.

When Li Shi heard that Old Madam Guo wanted to invite her to dinner, she was pleasantly surprised beyond her initial shock.

She was unfamiliar with everyone in Jinling and worried about her young daughter left at home—the days were truly difficult to endure. Being able to visit Jiuru Lane would both please Zhou Zhen and relieve her boredom. Two birds with one stone.

Li Shi sent Nanny Li with several boxes of pastries to Jiuru Lane.

Zhou Shaojin then had an intimate conversation with Li Shi: “…From what Maternal Grandmother said, she wants me to continue living at Jiuru Lane. If Maternal Grandmother makes this request, Father certainly won’t refuse. After all, the grace of raising is greater than the grace of birth. I’m afraid I won’t be able to return to Baoding Prefecture with you.”

Her face was full of regret.

Li Shi was surprised, yet felt this was within reason.

If Old Madam Guan hadn’t insisted back then, the Zhou sisters would have gone to Nanchang Prefecture.

She had no say in this matter.

She smiled ingratiatingly: “Old Madam treats you sisters like treasures in her palm—it’s natural she can’t bear to part with you. Second Young Miss might as well stay peacefully at Jiuru Lane for a while longer. When New Year comes, I’ll send someone to bring Second Young Miss home for the reunion.”

Zhou Shaojin did indeed want to visit Father in Baoding Prefecture.

She smiled and said “good,” then talked with her stepmother about her younger sister Zhou Youjin: “Who does she look like? Can she walk yet? Do the clothes I made for her last time still fit? I want to make her a few winter garments. Do you think I should add a few inches to the measurements…”

When Nanny Li returned, she saw Zhou Shaojin and Li Shi chatting intimately. If not for the generational difference, they looked like sisters.

***

The next day, Zhou Shaojin and Li Shi went to visit Hanbi Mountain Manor.

Old Madam Tang, Old Madam Li, Hong Shi, Jiang Shi, and others all came out to entertain the guests. The family had invited Gao Huizhu from the Changgao Theater Troupe to perform excerpts from operas. Siyilou was lively and bustling—even the servants passing by would slow their steps to listen.

But Zhou Shaojin was pulled by Cheng Jia to the pastry room of Siyilou to talk: “…Tell me, how should I respond to Li Jing?”

“How would I know!” Zhou Shaojin said. Seeing servant women occasionally passing by the pastry room door, she added: “Let’s go talk outside Siyilou. Hiding behind the door like this—if someone is lurking somewhere, we wouldn’t see them either. Better to stand openly in the courtyard and talk. We can see everyone coming and going at a glance.”

“Good idea!” Cheng Jia said. “Shaojin, I’m discovering you’re getting better and better at this. You can even think of such ideas.”

Zhou Shaojin paused slightly.

This seemed to be Uncle Chi’s idea.

She hadn’t seen Uncle Chi all day. According to Nan Ping, after Uncle Chi saw Zhang Chengyu off, he went directly to Zao Garden. If he didn’t return today, she wouldn’t be able to see him!

Zhou Shaojin absentmindedly stood with Cheng Jia on the stone arch bridge in front of Siyilou, listening to Cheng Jia ramble: “He sent someone to ask me, but I don’t know what to do either! Mother certainly won’t agree. I don’t even know why Cousin Jing would take a liking to me. He said he’d handle everything else, but who knows what he’ll say to my mother? If Mother misunderstands and thinks there’s something between him and me, how could I have any face left to live? How could I stand in society…”

“This matter is indeed somewhat unsettling,” Zhou Shaojin said after she finished. “I think you’d better be cautious!”

Not everyone was like Uncle Chi, able to achieve their goals without making a fuss.

But what was Uncle Chi doing at Zao Garden?

Why hadn’t he returned yet?

She still needed to discuss staying at Jiuru Lane with him!

Zhou Shaojin absentmindedly broke off a branch from the pomegranate tree and began plucking the tender green leaves.

“Shaojin,” Cheng Jia stared at her with wide eyes. “Why are you breaking off branches? Whenever I used to break branches to make flower wreaths, you would scold me for ages. How is it that today you’re breaking branches yourself?”

Zhou Shaojin’s face immediately turned hot as she mumbled: “I’m worried for you too! Why don’t you find someone else to ask?”

Cheng Jia’s expression darkened: “Who else can I tell about this besides you?”

Zhou Shaojin immediately thought of a candidate.

She said: “How about we go ask Ji Ying for advice?” She told Cheng Jia about how Ji Ying had chopped off her former fiancé’s arm. “…She’s so formidable, why don’t you have her help investigate Li Jing’s background!”

Cheng Jia’s eyes lit up, and she grabbed Zhou Shaojin and ran toward Tingli Pavilion.

Zhou Shaojin quickly said: “Slow down, slow down! Ji Ying isn’t home!”

Cheng Jia stopped in disappointment.

From the second floor of Siyilou, Jiang Shi beckoned to Cheng Jia, signaling her to come upstairs.

Cheng Jia trudged back to Siyilou with her head hanging.