Cheng Chi couldn’t help covering his forehead.

Truly a child—quick to change moods like the wind brings rain.

However, seeing that she’d already begun cultivating flowers, she must be getting along quite well at Fuicui Pavilion.

Cheng Chi’s heart settled, and he instructed Nanny Shang: “Second Young Miss has come over. Have someone prepare some pastries and send them to her.”

Nanny Shang smiled and agreed.

Cheng Chi returned to his study to attend to his own affairs.

Zhou Shaojin turned a corner into where Ji Ying and the others lived, and the surroundings quieted down.

She entered Ji Ying’s room without obstruction.

Two junior maids were helping Ji Ying freshen up, and her complexion appeared somewhat pale.

Traveling was exhausting work.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help silently laughing at herself, feeling she’d come at the wrong time and should have waited for Ji Ying to rest before visiting her.

No wonder Uncle Chi hadn’t invited her for tea just now.

Uncle Chi hadn’t even changed his clothes yet!

Thinking this, her heart inexplicably surged with joy again.

But Ji Ying had already seen her and turned around with a smile: “Your information network is excellent—you knew the moment I returned. It seems Old Madam treats you well.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand at first.

Ji Ying laughed with a snort: “Truly blessed in your simplicity.” Then she explained: “Fourth Master, like Old Madam Guo, most detests people spying on their movements. So after we moved into Hanbi Mountain House, we all became rather constrained. Yet you can come and go freely. I can’t speak for Fourth Master’s side, but Old Madam definitely turns a blind eye where you’re concerned. Otherwise, how could you run around everywhere like this!”

Zhou Shaojin grinned sheepishly.

Ji Ying invited her to sit on the luohan bed nearby.

Zhou Shaojin smiled: “Perhaps I should come back later! Rest well—I noticed you don’t seem to be in good spirits.”

Ji Ying sat down across from her with a smile: “It’s nothing. Even if you told me to sleep, I couldn’t. Since you’re here, you might as well keep me company and chat.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a junior maid brought over tea and pastries.

Ji Ying helped arrange the tea cups and pastries in front of Zhou Shaojin.

Seeing Ji Ying’s right hand hanging down and only using her left, Zhou Shaojin’s heart stirred: “Your right hand…”

“It’s nothing,” Ji Ying said dismissively. “Got bumped.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t believe her: “Let me see!”

Ji Ying wouldn’t let her, smiling: “The physician just finished bandaging it. If you open it up, I’ll have to see the physician again. Better not—it’s just superficial injuries. A couple days’ rest and it’ll be fine.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Shaojin said, raising an eyebrow.

Ji Ying looked startled, finding the gesture familiar. She couldn’t help saying: “What do you mean? Would I lie to you?” Then she changed the subject: “You’re staring at me like this and came looking for me the moment I returned—you want to ask about Second Master Yi, don’t you?”

Zhou Shaojin’s face reddened.

Right. How had she forgotten such an important matter?

Hadn’t she been constantly thinking about Ji Ying’s quick return? She’d even said she wanted to counsel her… yet upon seeing Ji Ying, all she wanted was to ask where she’d been and what she’d done…

She quickly gathered her thoughts: “What exactly happened that day? Why couldn’t you keep your composure?”

Ji Ying might still be dwelling on it, so when Zhou Shaojin brought it up, her temper flared and her willow-leaf eyebrows stood on end: “That Cousin Yi of yours is truly no good! When we met, he actually asked if I could serve him in the future. Your Uncle Chi is a decent person, so I thought the Cheng family must have excellent household discipline. For a moment, I didn’t think in other directions and explained nicely that I’m already serving your Uncle Chi and couldn’t possibly serve him as well. His kind intentions were appreciated. Who knew he’d say: ‘I know asking you to serve me is somewhat beneath you, but I truly like you. Although our family has a rule against taking concubines before forty without sons, didn’t my Uncle Wen still keep someone outside? The family hasn’t dared do anything to him. If you agree, I’ll ask Fourth Uncle Chi for you, return your contract of servitude, set you up in a residence outside with a few maids and servant women to attend you. That would be better than watching Fourth Uncle Chi’s moods here…’ How could I restrain myself? I kicked him to the ground on the spot…”

Zhou Shaojin wished for a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Cousin Yi… could he be any more foolish!

But what worried her more was the meaning revealed in Cheng Yi’s words—”didn’t my Uncle Wen still keep someone outside, and the family hasn’t dared do anything to him?” If the Cheng family members all thought this way in the future and followed suit, wouldn’t this household descend into chaos!

Her expression grew serious: “I’ll tell my grandmother about this.”

Seeing her like this, Ji Ying felt somewhat embarrassed instead: “I already beat him, and your grandmother didn’t say anything. You shouldn’t stir things up. No matter what, Cousin Yi is her beloved grandson. What grandmother wouldn’t feel distressed when her grandson is beaten? Your grandmother’s reaction already shows she’s very reasonable!”

Zhou Shaojin thought this matter should probably be discussed with Uncle Chi or Old Madam Guo so they’d understand her concerns. She said no more, apologized to Ji Ying on Cheng Yi’s behalf, comforted her a few words, then asked about her trip: “…Where did you go? I noticed you were away quite a while this time? It seems you left even before Uncle Chi? Were you together afterward?”

Ji Ying smiled: “Your Uncle Chi and I weren’t together. Your Uncle Chi went to Shandong, and I returned home for a visit. We came back together later.”

So Ji Ying had no idea what Uncle Chi had been doing?

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat disappointed but still asked: “What was Uncle Chi doing in Shandong?”

“Who knows?” Ji Ying said. “Perhaps with nothing to do, he went for a stroll. Come to think of it, he hasn’t been to Shandong in several years.”

It couldn’t have been idle wandering.

Zhou Shaojin pondered inwardly.

Uncle Chi already believed her words. With his temperament, he should have begun investigating the matter. How could it be idle wandering?

Was it possible Uncle Chi had discovered something?

Zhou Shaojin felt restless.

Just then, a junior maid brought over more pastries.

Ji Ying said curiously: “Are these newly made? I already have pastries here.”

The junior maid smiled: “This servant doesn’t know. Nanny Shang instructed them to be sent over.”

But Zhou Shaojin immediately spotted the crystal cakes on the crimson porcelain dish: “Then let’s keep them! Since they’re already here, we’ll try them.”

The junior maid smiled as she arranged the pastries on the tea table.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin eat the crystal cake first, Ji Ying smiled: “You like crystal cakes?”

Zhou Shaojin nodded and smiled: “My wet nurse said that from childhood I loved cleanliness—wouldn’t eat anything colored like black sesame paste, jujube paste cake, or mung bean paste. I only ate white things like crystal cakes and water chestnut cakes. My wet nurse also feared water chestnut cakes would be hard to digest, so she only let me eat crystal cakes. My taste was probably formed then—even after growing up, crystal cakes are what I love.”

“No wonder you’re so fair!” Ji Ying extended her hand with a smile to compare with Zhou Shaojin’s. “Look! People say I’m pale, but I think you’re even paler than me!”

Zhou Shaojin giggled. She chatted with Ji Ying while drinking tea and eating pastries, then took her leave after a while.

Ji Ying was probably too tired and didn’t see her out. After she left, Ji Ying collapsed into sleep.

Zhou Shaojin admired the scenery around her as she went to the front courtyard.

Presumably the trunks had been organized, as the servants who’d been moving them had all withdrawn. The courtyard was quiet. The windows of the western study were wide open, and she saw Cheng Chi at a glance, seated behind the large desk.

His back was ramrod straight, both hands naturally resting on the armrests of the grand armchair, his expression solemn as he spoke about something.

Wind blew through the treetops and into the room.

The account books before him rustled loudly.

Huai Shan, Qin Zi’an, and two other unfamiliar men stood before the large desk, heads slightly lowered, listening respectfully. Qin Ziping was not visible.

Of the two unfamiliar men, one was about Qin Zi’an’s age but stood tall and elegant with handsome features and refined manners—completely different from Qin Zi’an. The other appeared a few years older than Qin Zi’an, also well-built with an honest, loyal countenance and serene, upright bearing between his brows—again different from Qin Zi’an’s stern look.

She’d really come at the wrong time.

Uncle Chi was clearly busy.

Zhou Shaojin sighed inwardly and turned to leave.

Who knew all the men inside would turn to look at her in unison.

And every gaze was piercing.

Being watched this way by so many men, Zhou Shaojin felt awkward, her face burning. She hastily curtsied and was about to leave when Cheng Chi stood and walked to the window, beckoning to her with a smile.

Zhou Shaojin walked over uneasily.

Cheng Chi asked her: “Finished talking with Ji Ying?”

His voice was somewhat low, even a bit hoarse, yet the eyes that looked at her remained warm and gentle.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled completely, and she nodded bashfully.

Cheng Chi smiled: “I still have matters to attend to. Go amuse yourself! I brought you a small gift—I’ve already had it sent to your room.”

As if she were a seven or eight-year-old child.

Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat dissatisfied, but thinking of the gift Cheng Chi had brought her, her heart had its own mind and bloomed with happiness.

She nodded with a beaming smile and scurried off.

Cheng Chi shook his head. Turning around, he’d already resumed his solemn expression: “It’s enough if the Jinsha Gang knows their place. Previously we merely demonstrated our power to them. This time, however, we must make them work for us—strong measures are essential. If they don’t submit, destroy them and support a new gang instead. This matter is urgent—we must see results by the end of next year. From the capital to Jinling, I want not even a mosquito to escape my eyes.”

Neither Huai Shan nor Qin Zi’an spoke, but the handsome-featured man said somewhat hesitantly: “Fourth Master, heroes violate prohibitions through martial prowess. Such large-scale actions involve virtually the entire Northern martial world. A few years ago, you also stirred up the Southern martial world. I fear this will not only provoke wariness from the Southern martial world but also attract official attention…”

“You needn’t concern yourself with this matter,” Cheng Chi said coldly. “Don’t worry about the Southern martial world—at most they’ll be wary. If you asked them to push forward someone to negotiate with me, I doubt anyone would willingly grasp this hot potato. As for the government offices, I’ll go to the capital for an extended stay after some time.”

The handsome-featured man breathed a sigh of relief.

Cheng Chi’s gaze fell upon the honest-looking man.

That person bowed respectfully, then grinned—instantly radiating fierce menace as he said sinisterly: “Rest assured, Fourth Master. I understand.”

Cheng Chi nodded with satisfaction.