Zhou Shaojin returned to Pingqiao Street with her head hanging low.

Uncle Chi still hadn’t appeared.

Lady Li was quite excited, however, and said to Zhou Shaojin: “I never imagined that Elder Madam Yi’s wife would actually be a young lady from the Hong family of Jiujiang! The Hong family is famous for their strict and upright household traditions, and all the young ladies and gentlemen in their family are very accomplished. From what Elder Madam Yi said, her maternal family has a nephew whose parents died one after another, and at twenty years old he still hasn’t been betrothed. He’s of good character and well-educated too. It just so happens that my third elder brother has a daughter who is fifteen this year and is looking for a match. Do you think I should act as matchmaker for them?”

Only then did Zhou Shaojin remember that Lady Li was also from Jiangxi. But the Li family were merchants while the Hong family were scholars, so Lady Li’s admiration for the Hong family was understandable.

She felt that everything needed to be tried before knowing the outcome, but Elder Madam Yi was from the second branch, while the Zhou family was connected by marriage to the fourth branch, and she had decided to side with the first branch in the future. If the Zhou family became entangled with the second branch, this matter would become very complicated.

But seeing Lady Li’s face full of enthusiasm, she couldn’t bear to dampen her spirits, so she smiled and said: “I don’t really understand this matter either. I think you should still ask Father—even if you’re going to act as matchmaker, it would be better for Father to come forward.”

Seeing that Zhou Shaojin didn’t object, Lady Li’s spirits rose even higher. She smiled and said: “Then we’ll do as Second Miss suggests.” She added somewhat emotionally, “I didn’t expect Second Miss to agree.”

Zhou Shaojin asked curiously: “Why wouldn’t I agree?”

Lady Li said: “Second Miss, you don’t know—though our Li family is also a charitable family, we can’t compare to those humble households that have produced scholars. Whenever anything happens, it’s always our Li family that suffers losses. If a niece from the family could marry into a scholar’s household, then the young men of the Li family could attend better private schools in the future. Who knows, maybe our Li family could even produce a scholar!”

This was probably one of the reasons Lady Li married Father!

Zhou Shaojin pondered this but didn’t feel it appropriate to continue the topic. She smiled and said: “Father certainly hopes the Li family will do well too. That way Youjin will have more people to rely on!”

Lady Li nodded with a smile and said: “The master is truly wonderful!”

She spoke very sincerely, clearly very satisfied with Zhou Zhen.

Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed and chatted with Lady Li for a few more sentences before returning to the main chamber.

Without her elder sister, the main chamber with its three sections and two side rooms felt somewhat empty.

She sat alone before the bean-sized lamplight embroidering half an image of Guanyin holding a vase, and only retired after hearing the third night watch drum.

Early the next morning, Nanny Yu who managed the flower room came to ask her: “Should the double-colored peony plant you personally cultivated be moved to Baoding? It’s already forming buds and should bloom in the next few days. It would be such a pity if it bloomed on the road.”

Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment, went to the flower room to select a few potted flowers, and instructed Chun Wan and Nanny Yu to make a trip to Hanbi Mountain Lodge: “Give the double-colored peony to Old Madam Guo. Give the cymbidium orchid to Uncle Chi.” Then thinking she couldn’t give to Old Madam Guo without giving to Old Lady Guan, she added, “Send the clivia to Grandmother.”

She wanted to know whether Uncle Chi had returned.

She needed to tell Uncle Chi about her change of mind as soon as possible, lest Uncle Chi make arrangements and she changed her tune again on her end.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart grew anxious.

But when Chun Wan returned, she told her that Fourth Master hadn’t come back yet.

Could something have happened?

Zhou Shaojin vaguely felt that Cheng Chi wasn’t as simple as he claimed to be—just managing the Cheng family’s household affairs and doing some business with people.

She thought of the second branch’s old master Cheng Li, who according to legend had died at the hands of the Canal Gang.

Zhou Shaojin called Fan Lu in and said quietly: “Do you know where Fourth Master’s Zao Garden is?”

The fourteen-year-old Fan Lu had started his growth spurt and had grown half a head taller than Zhou Shaojin. When he smiled, he looked like a mischievous child, but when serious, his youthful face showed a steadiness and restraint rare for someone his age.

He said respectfully: “I don’t know, but I can help Second Miss make inquiries.”

In the two years since entering the household, Zhou Shaojin had only asked him to do one thing. Even now he wondered how he’d had such courage back then. But when he learned that the eldest Miss Mu had escaped disaster by marrying the eldest young master Lin early and had saved his younger siblings, he felt a mysterious awe toward Zhou Shaojin, always feeling that this second miss who appeared as delicate and beautiful as a flower was quite extraordinary.

Was it because of this attitude that in her previous life Fan Qi had been able to establish a property that could provide him with food and clothing despite having nothing?

Zhou Shaojin thought, then said: “I heard Fourth Master went to Zao Garden. Please deliver a message to Fourth Master for me—tell him I have urgent business with him.”

Fan Qi asked not a single extra question and withdrew with an acknowledgment.

That evening, Fan Qi returned and said: “Fourth Master is not at Zao Garden.”

Zhou Shaojin’s expression changed slightly as she asked: “Then has he returned to Jiuru Lane?”

Fan Qi said quietly: “He’s not at Jiuru Lane either.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t sleep a wink all night. The next day before dawn she rose from bed, preparing to go to Hanbi Mountain Lodge to check. Unexpectedly, after finishing breakfast, the household received a reply from Zhou Zhen.

Lady Li told her: “…Your father hopes you can return to Baoding Prefecture with me.”

Zhou Zhen had replied to the first letter Lady Li had written him.

Zhou Shaojin was in no mood to deal with these matters now—she only wanted to find Cheng Chi as quickly as possible. But this letter gave her the perfect excuse to go to Jiuru Lane.

The more Lady Li learned about the Cheng family, the more she felt they were deeply rooted like a great tree, and that her husband’s hope that she could get along well with the Cheng family members wasn’t without reason.

She thought Zhou Shaojin wanted to take this letter to show Old Lady Guan, so that Old Lady Guan would agree to let her return to Baoding Prefecture.

Lady Li couldn’t help but gently instruct her: “Don’t be forceful. If Old Madam’s expression doesn’t look good, don’t say anything—just come straight back. Don’t damage your relationship with the old madam. I’ll think of other ways to handle the rest!”

Zhou Shaojin thanked Lady Li.

But before she could leave, a young servant brought Zhou Zhen’s second letter, gasping for breath.

Lady Li and Zhou Shaojin hurriedly gathered together to open the letter.

Zhou Zhen’s tone had completely changed.

He told Zhou Shaojin to stay at Jiuru Lane to keep Old Lady Guan company, and also instructed Zhou Shaojin: “Whether big matters or small, you must heed your grandmother’s teachings. Your grandmother loves you dearly—she’s keeping you for your own good. When you grow up, you’ll understand.”

Did Father know or not that Grandmother intended to match her with Cousin Yi?

Zhou Shaojin felt her situation was like a broken boat riddled with holes, leaking water everywhere. If Uncle Chi didn’t appear soon, she would be submerged.

Old Lady Guan sent Nanny Wang over to invite them to Jiashu Hall for a conversation.

After seeing off Nanny Wang, Lady Li said pensively: “Could the old madam want to discuss keeping you here with us?”

Zhou Shaojin guessed the same.

The two freshened up and went to Jiashu Hall.

Old Lady Guan held Zhou Shaojin’s hand and exchanged pleasantries with Lady Li for quite a while before getting to the point: “Properly speaking, you treat Shaojin like your own daughter, so after Chujin’s marriage, Shaojin should return to live with you. But as you know, I raised Shaojin from childhood and truly cannot bear to part with her. Fortunately, the young master is thoughtful. When he heard I wanted to keep Shaojin, he agreed…”

Lady Li was a clever woman and naturally wouldn’t argue with Old Lady Guan at this time. Whatever Old Lady Guan said, she responded with a smile. By the time Lady Li and Zhou Shaojin left Jiashu Hall, Old Lady Guan’s impression of Lady Li had greatly improved. She even said privately to Nanny Wang: “This new wife the young master married is also a clever and perceptive person—very easy to talk to.”

Nanny Wang smiled in agreement.

Zhou Shaojin let out a long breath.

She had finally managed to keep herself at Jiashu Hall.

Next, she needed to find Uncle Chi.

Stopping at the sedan chair hall by the side gate, Zhou Shaojin said to Lady Li: “I should visit Hanbi Mountain Lodge. I sent a potted flower to Old Madam Guo yesterday… but now I feel something isn’t right. I want to sound out the old madam’s feelings.”

Lady Li had deep memories of the greenery filling one’s vision at Hanbi Mountain Lodge.

“Why would you send a potted flower to Old Madam Guo?” She urged Zhou Shaojin: “Go check quickly! I’ll wait for you here.”

“You should go back first!” Zhou Shaojin said. “I’m afraid Old Madam Guo will keep me to talk.”

Lady Li thought briefly and said: “That’s fine too. Otherwise I’ll be here making you anxious waiting. After you go to Hanbi Mountain Lodge, calm your mind and have a proper conversation with Old Madam Guo—just don’t cause any misunderstanding.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly. After seeing off Lady Li, she hurried to Hanbi Mountain Lodge.

Biyu and the others were drawing water to clean the leaves of the double-colored peony plant placed in the center of the courtyard.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin arrive, they all greeted her: “We never imagined Second Cousin Miss could actually cultivate a double-colored peony! We heard that besides the kind like the one in our household where each color takes half, there are also double-colored peonies where one branch produces two flowers of different colors. Which kind is Second Cousin Miss’s?”

Zhou Shaojin quickly said quietly: “Keep your voices down! Mine is the kind where one branch produces two flowers of different colors. Because I thought it was rare, I sent it over, but forgot that the old madam doesn’t keep flowers. Is Uncle Chi home? I also sent a cymbidium orchid to Uncle Chi. I wonder if I made a mistake?”

She sighed, and Biyu and the others all chattered to comfort her.

“The fact that double-colored peonies bloom differently is what the old madam told us herself. If the old madam was angry, how could she tell us these things? You’re overthinking!”

“The old madam also looked at the cymbidium orchid you sent over for quite a while and praised you for keeping it so well. She even had the flower room people clear out a space to grow cymbidiums for entertaining guests during New Year.”

“Really! Don’t worry, the old madam isn’t angry.”

Zhou Shaojin’s mind settled. Feigning casualness, she asked: “What about Uncle Chi? Did he say anything?”

“No!” Biyu smiled. “Fourth Master went to Zao Garden and hasn’t returned yet. According to Qin Ziping, Fourth Master said Jinling City’s summer is too hot, but Zao Garden is at Shihui Mountain—not only is the scenery beautiful, but it’s also refreshingly cool, a good place to escape the summer heat. It’s just that no one has lived there these past few years and some buildings have become dilapidated. Fourth Master wants to renovate that place and has invited craftsmen from Hangzhou to inspect the buildings for major repairs!” As she spoke, she lowered her voice and told Zhou Shaojin quietly, “Maybe we’ll get to go there to escape the heat too!”

But Uncle Chi wasn’t at Zao Garden at all!

Wasn’t Huai Shan the one serving Uncle Chi? How did Qin Ziping become the messenger?

And where had Qin Zi’an gone?

Zhou Shaojin felt restless and anxious, but didn’t dare show the slightest abnormality.

Summoning all her energy, she spoke with Old Madam Guo for a long time before returning to Pingqiao Street exhausted.

Over the following days, she tried every means to inquire about Cheng Chi’s whereabouts, but Cheng Chi had vanished as if into thin air with no one knowing where he’d gone. Yet whether it was Old Madam Guo or anyone else, not a single person had noticed that Cheng Chi was missing.