“Is that so?” Yi’s wife, Madam Hong, felt something wasn’t quite right no matter how she thought about it, but her daughter-in-law’s words made complete sense, and she couldn’t find any fault with them.

Madam Shi knew her mother-in-law was well-intentioned and kind to others, but couldn’t think through certain matters clearly. Seeing her confused expression, she simply smiled and said: “When we discussed this matter, Grandmother was also present. Among the three candidates, she chose Miss Wu from the Wu family. Fifth Aunt was willing, and the Wu family side goes without saying—according to the matchmaker, Madam Wu agreed without asking anything. Don’t worry. As the saying goes, ‘Once the new bride enters the door, the matchmaker is tossed over the wall.’ We’re just making the connection. As for what the two families say and whether their future life together will be good, they can only rely on themselves.”

This made even more sense.

Yi’s wife, Madam Hong, nodded.

Hong Rui walked in with a smile, curtsied, and said: “Madam, First Madam, a servant woman from Miss Wu’s side came over. She said she made summer garments for both the eldest young master and second young master. Seeing that the weather is getting hotter and she had no time to come herself, she specially sent someone to deliver them.”

Madam Zheng smiled meaningfully at Yi’s wife, Madam Hong: “The first time I saw this young lady, I knew she was clever. I merely mentioned once that Hong Rui and the others were rushing to make summer clothes for Geng and Yun, and she remembered it.”

Hearing this, Yi’s wife also felt this Miss Wu from the Wu family was quite good—at least someone who knew what was proper.

“Since both you and your grandmother approve, I won’t interfere.” Yi’s wife stood up to take her leave. “Once the date for the formal betrothal is set between the two families, just let me know.”

Madam Shi smiled and agreed, seeing her mother-in-law out.

Only then did Hong Rui whisper in Madam Shi’s ear: “I heard Madam Wu has been diagnosed with a pregnancy, and Miss Wu has been serving at Madam Wu’s side.”

Madam Shi was somewhat surprised, but quickly smiled: “That’s even better! If her natal family can’t be relied upon, she’ll have to rely on her husband’s family even more.”

Hong Rui just smiled without speaking.

Wen’s wife was extremely happy.

Her desire to betroth her niece to her son was also to prevent that outside woman’s niece from entering the household. But if she was being honest with herself, Miss Wu from the Wu family was several levels above her niece in both family background and appearance. Especially when she heard that Cheng Wen had reluctantly agreed to this match with a bitter expression before the Second Branch’s old ancestor, she became even more satisfied with it.

“It’s a pity I didn’t look more carefully at Miss Wu when she came to visit,” Wen’s wife said with some regret to her personal maid Xiang’er. “It seems the Second Branch truly put great effort into Nuo’s marriage.”

According to Cheng family ancestral rules, one could only take concubines after turning forty without a son. But Cheng Wen had set a precedent, so personal maids like Xiang’er naturally harbored some thoughts too. Hearing this, she smiled: “I heard Miss Wu is very close to the Second Branch’s Madam Shi, who understands Miss Wu’s character very well. If you want to know anything, you could just ask Madam Shi.” At this point, her tone paused slightly before continuing: “I seem to recall that Madam Wu’s maiden family surname is Guan. When Madam Wu first came to Jinling, she was closest to Fourth Branch’s Old Madam Guan. Madam Wu even specially brought the three Miss Wus to visit Old Madam Guan. That Miss Wu is about the same age as Second Young Miss Zhou—at the time, several of them played together. Second Young Miss Zhou should also be familiar with Miss Wu.”

Hearing this, Wen’s wife pursed her lips: “We’d best keep our distance from Second Young Miss Zhou. She’s now Old Madam Guo’s precious darling, protected by Old Madam Guo like a mother hen. Don’t let us ask about Miss Wu only to have other matters dragged in, with people saying we don’t know our place, using a young miss who’s a guest at Jiuru Alley as a scapegoat to stir up trouble!”

Xiang’er strongly disagreed.

No matter what, you, Wen’s wife, are still the mistress managing Fifth Branch of Jiuru Alley. How could you be inferior to a young miss living under someone else’s roof? It’s one thing to fear angering Old Madam Guo when matters arise. But now you’re even afraid of a junior—truly growing more cowardly with age. What can one hope for following such a person?

She complained inwardly but showed no trace of it on her face, smiling: “Madam speaks correctly. Better to avoid trouble than seek it. If you want to know about Miss Wu, just ask Madam Shi.”

Wen’s wife also felt this attitude of hers was rather pointless, but whenever she thought about how Fifth Branch still depended on dividends from Yutai Bank to get by, her spine couldn’t straighten, and she could only play dumb, ordering Xiang’er: “Then have a junior maid come help me change. I’ll go to Liuting Pavilion to chat with Madam Shi.”

Xiang’er went with a smile to call in a junior maid. After Wen’s wife freshened up, she accompanied her toward the Second Branch.

Passing by Fourth Branch, the two saw several rough servant women moving flowers—all valuable varieties like orchids, camellias, and chrysanthemums in ornate pots.

She couldn’t help taking a few extra looks.

Xiang’er quickly went forward to ask.

The servant woman smiled: “They belong to the young miss. Since Master Gao’s wedding date is approaching and the new residence needs renovation, with craftsmen and servants frequently coming and going, the young miss feared these flowers might be damaged, so she’s temporarily moving them to Fuicui Pavilion at Hanbi Mountain House.”

Wen’s wife was shocked: “Old Madam Guo agreed to this?”

The servant woman smiled: “This servant doesn’t know. It was Biyu from Old Madam’s side who gave the order—whatever she instructs, we servants do!”

Wen’s wife fell silent for a moment, then walked away with a dark expression.

The servant woman disdainfully let out a barely audible snort toward Wen’s wife’s retreating back.

Several other servant women helping out gathered around, whispering: “That was Fifth Branch’s Wen’s wife?”

“Who else could it be!” The servant woman’s voice dropped even lower. “If I were her, I’d have moved to another estate long ago. How does she still have the face to wander around the courtyards in broad daylight, as if afraid people don’t know about her affairs?”

The incident of Wen’s wife kneeling while a maid read the “Admonitions for Women” to her had long spread throughout Jiuru Alley. The more prominent maids, wives, and servant women all felt Wen’s wife had thoroughly lost face, losing it all the way to the Qinhuai River. They disdained that she could even swallow such humiliation, and their behavior carried a certain “persimmons are picked for the softest” mentality, lacking their former respect. Conversely, they grew even more respectful toward Old Madam Guo of Hanbi Mountain House.

Several people dared not slack off and carefully loaded all those flowers onto a cart in no time. One pulled while two guarded, with three more following to watch over them, hurrying energetically toward Fuicui Pavilion.

A pot of winter-flowering cherry at the entrance, a pot of cymbidium orchid by the bed, a pot of bamboo on the tea table, a pot of peony under the covered corridor… the courtyard immediately brightened.

Zhou Shaojin stood in the hall, satisfied as she lowered her rolled-up sleeves.

Xiao Tan rushed in, panting: “Second Young Miss, Fourth Master has returned!”

“Really!” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes lit up as she spoke, turning to head toward Tingli Pavilion.

“Second Young Miss, shouldn’t you change your clothes first?” Xiao Tan said. “You were just moving flowers with the servant women!”

Unfortunately, before she could finish speaking, Zhou Shaojin had already vanished in a flash.

Xiao Tan stamped her foot and could only follow.

When Uncle Chi wasn’t there, Tingli Pavilion was like a stagnant pool. Once Uncle Chi returned, Tingli Pavilion’s auspicious gate opened wide, servants carrying trunks came and went, and one could even hear a few bird calls—the entire courtyard came vibrantly alive.

Zhou Shaojin immediately spotted Cheng Chi standing under the covered corridor talking with Huai Shan.

Gray coarse cloth Taoist robe, dark coarse cloth shoes, hands clasped behind his back, stern-faced yet gracefully elegant, imposing in bearing.

Uncle Chi dressed so plainly, yet how was he still so handsome?

Zhou Shaojin muttered inwardly, her footsteps faltering.

But Cheng Chi seemed to know she had arrived, suddenly turning his head to meet her gaze directly in midair.

He smiled.

The sternness dispersed, leaving only the warmth of spring sunshine.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart warmed, and she rushed over like a little swallow.

Cheng Chi’s smile deepened. He said a few words in a low voice to Huai Shan, who glanced at Zhou Shaojin and quietly withdrew.

Zhou Shaojin stopped before Cheng Chi, pouting prettily: “Uncle Chi, why are you only returning now?”

Cheng Chi looked at her flushed face and the soil remaining at the edge of her sleeves, suddenly thinking of those wildflowers growing in deep mountain forests—brilliantly beautiful yet innocently carefree.

Sometimes Zhou Shaojin was like such a flower—no matter what she experienced, she could preserve her true nature.

Perhaps this was also why she could let bygones be bygones!

He smiled: “I haven’t even gotten my footing yet, and you already know I’m back. Whether I return early or late, you’re certain to know. But you’ve only been here a few days—don’t tell me you’ve already bribed the gatehouse guards?”

“How could that be!” Zhou Shaojin protested coquettishly. “I merely had Xiao Tan help me keep watch, and to tell me immediately if Uncle Chi returned!”

“Oh!” Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow. “So this doesn’t count as passing information!”

Zhou Shaojin’s face burned. She argued: “Who told you to appear and disappear so mysteriously…”

“I appear and disappear mysteriously?” Cheng Chi raised his eyebrow again.

Zhou Shaojin quickly corrected herself: “No, no. I misspoke. Uncle Chi is like a divine dragon—one sees the head but not the tail.”

Cheng Chi laughed heartily.

The servants carrying trunks all stole glances at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin was quite embarrassed. She didn’t want to leave just like that, wanting to ask Cheng Chi where he’d been and what he’d done, but felt somehow unable to voice it.

She thought and thought, finally asking Cheng Chi: “Uncle Chi, did Ji Ying return with you? I haven’t seen her for some time and rather miss her.”

“Is that so?” Cheng Chi smiled slightly. “She returned with me and just went back to her room. If you want to see her, go straight ahead and turn left—you’ll see her room.”

Of course she knew how to get to Ji Ying’s place!

But why didn’t Uncle Chi ask what she’d come to see him about?

Clearly he wasn’t particularly happy to see her… no, that wasn’t it. Uncle Chi seemed quite happy when he first saw her—she could feel it. But he wasn’t as happy as she was, otherwise why wouldn’t he invite her inside for tea or something…

Zhou Shaojin’s mood instantly deflated somewhat, along with an indescribable awkwardness.

“Then I’ll go find Ji Ying!” she said, hurrying toward where Ji Ying lived.