Nanny Shang comforted Zhou Shaojin: “Don’t worry, Second Cousin Miss. I’ll definitely bring Miss Jia back to the private room quietly without making a sound.”

Zhou Shaojin saw that although she wore a smile, her tone and demeanor were very confident. Zhou Shaojin immediately felt filled with confidence.

They went downstairs and quietly headed toward the side gate.

The courtyard was very small, silent without a sound. Looking through the half-closed side gate, it was empty without any figures—only the weeping willows planted by the roadside could be seen, their willow branches hanging down densely like silk threads.

Zhou Shaojin lightened her footsteps and was about to step forward to look when Nanny Shang beside her pulled her back, leading her to retreat several steps back into the building.

She turned her head in confusion.

Nanny Shang had already pointed eastward and whispered in her ear: “Second Cousin Miss, do you know this person?”

Zhou Shaojin looked carefully.

Behind the large scholar tree at the eastern corner of the wall actually stood a man.

He appeared to be in his twenties, wearing a sapphire blue straight robe with a dark silk belt at his waist, from which hung pouches, fan cases, and other items. He even wore two gold stirrup rings on his hands—the appearance of a wealthy merchant. Yet Zhou Shaojin still recognized him at a glance—that person was Zhao Dahai from Cheng Lu’s side!

How could he be here?

Zhou Shaojin was stunned for a moment.

Wasn’t Cheng Lu supposed to be in Hunan?

If he wasn’t following Cheng Lu, what was he doing back in Jinling City?

From his appearance, he seemed to be keeping watch or eavesdropping. Who exactly was the person outside the side gate?

If it was Cheng Jia, why would she secretly come out to meet this person without telling her?

If it wasn’t Cheng Jia, then who was that person dressed in red?

Zhou Shaojin thought of her previous life—because of Cheng Jia, she had gone to the garden without any guard up…

Could it be that Cheng Jia in her previous life wasn’t innocent after all?

Zhou Shaojin’s emotions surged. She didn’t move for quite a while.

Nanny Shang gently patted her.

Only then did she come back to her senses. Taking a deep breath, she said softly: “I know this person. His name is Zhao Dahai—he’s an attendant at Cheng Lu’s side, a very trusted one.”

Nanny Shang smiled and said gently: “Second Cousin Miss, I understand! You stand here for now. I’ll go deal with this Zhao Dahai person, then we’ll go to the side gate to have a look together.”

Zhou Shaojin grabbed hold of Nanny Shang and said nervously: “We should go tell Uncle Chi instead! This Zhao Dahai has great strength—ordinary people, even three to five of them, can’t get near him. Be careful he doesn’t hurt you!”

Nanny Shang laughed.

Her laughter contained a warmth and kindness not seen before. She said softly: “Second Cousin Miss, rest assured. Fourth Master had me accompany you precisely because I have considerable strength. Not to mention someone like him—even three to five more wouldn’t be my match. Just stand here at ease and watch.”

Zhou Shaojin still had some doubts.

Nanny Shang said: “If you don’t trust me, surely you trust Fourth Master?”

That’s right!

If there was danger, Uncle Chi definitely wouldn’t have let her come check in person!

Her eyes curved into a smile. She quietly tugged on Nanny Shang’s sleeve and said in a low voice: “Nanny Shang, you must be careful. If it doesn’t work, come back quickly. At worst, we’ll call people to carry Cousin Jia back.”

Only that way, Cheng Jia’s affair couldn’t be concealed.

But speaking of this matter, Cheng Jia was at fault to begin with.

Nanny Shang was silent for a few breaths, then smiled: “Second Cousin Miss, rest assured. Nothing will happen to me.”

Only then did Zhou Shaojin release Nanny Shang’s sleeve and hide behind the door.

Nanny Shang removed her outer jacket, revealing the inner garment with a cloth belt tied at the waist. Then she silently pushed open the small window on the west side and flipped out through the lattice.

Her movements were even more nimble and agile than a child’s.

Zhou Shaojin was greatly shocked and believed Nanny Shang’s words.

She tiptoed closer to the window lattice.

She saw Nanny Shang appear behind Zhao Dahai, while Zhao Dahai remained completely unaware, his eyes fixed intently on the activity in the courtyard.

Even being slow to catch on, Zhou Shaojin could see now that Nanny Shang possessed martial arts skills, just like Ji Ying. Neither was an ordinary woman.

But she still nervously clenched her fists.

If Nanny Shang and Zhao Dahai fought and alerted the enemy, should she cry out?

Since Uncle Chi intentionally concealed it and no one in the household knew Nanny Shang had martial skills, what if she cried out and others discovered it?

Zhou Shaojin was struggling with this dilemma when she saw Nanny Shang pull out something round like a bamboo tube from her bosom and blow it toward Zhao Dahai. Zhao Dahai’s body went soft and he was about to fall to the ground.

Nanny Shang moved swift as an arrow, grabbed Zhao Dahai in one motion, then slowly lowered him to the ground. Crouching down, she quickly patted Zhao Dahai from head to toe, as if wanting to know whether he was carrying anything.

This reminded Zhou Shaojin of those officials encountering bandits in serialized novels.

Her face flushed. Lifting her skirt, she carefully exited through the back door.

Nanny Shang showed her a smile indicating “success.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded and tiptoed over.

Nanny Shang came to support Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t refuse.

The two stood at the half-closed side gate, pricking up their ears to listen to the activity outside.

Cheng Lu’s voice came through: “…I had no choice either! You don’t even know how closely the Cheng family people watch me. Even if I just go to the market, someone follows me. What can I do? If we must blame someone, blame the Cheng family for being too heartless, blame me for being too incompetent, blame heaven for playing tricks on people… blame that we two have fate but no destiny…”

By the end of his words, his voice was already choked with emotion.

Zhou Shaojin felt as if struck by lightning.

In her previous life, when news came that Cheng Lu and Wu Baozhang were betrothed, she refused to accept it and wanted to find Cheng Lu to get an explanation. After Cheng Lu learned of this, he took the initiative to meet her and said these exact words to her.

At that time, she had locked herself in her room and cried for a full day and night.

So Cheng Lu had said the same words to other women too.

How ridiculous that she had resented Wu Baozhang back then.

She had thought that Wu Baozhang clearly knew she and Cheng Lu had a verbal marriage agreement, yet at that time she deliberately tried to please Cheng Lu. When the Wu and Cheng families became betrothed, she was full of joy and didn’t say a word of objection.

So Cheng Lu was just a ungrateful wretch.

She had merely been deceived by him.

Could it be that Cheng Jia’s secret meeting wasn’t with Li Jing but with Cheng Lu?

Zhou Shaojin was both ashamed and angry.

Both for her foolishness in the previous life and for the deception she suffered in this life…

She stepped forward to pull open the half-closed side gate, wanting to see clearly. But just as she raised her hand, Nanny Shang grasped her arm.

Zhou Shaojin turned her head in confusion.

Nanny Shang gently shook her head at her, signaling her not to act rashly.

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed and she calmed down.

A woman’s low, sorrowful voice came from outside: “Then what should I do? That Cheng Nuo is just a wastrel playboy who does nothing but eat, drink, and play all day without a single proper affair. Can you really bear to watch me marry him?”

Wu Baozhang!

It was actually Wu Baozhang!

When did they become entangled together!

Zhou Shaojin was dumbstruck, her mind in complete chaos. She only heard Wu Baozhang cry softly: “You don’t even know how I’ve spent these days! I wrote you letters but you didn’t reply. I sent messages but you didn’t respond. I was both afraid the letters would fall into others’ hands and afraid you’d hear the news, become anxious, and rush back regardless of consequences, ruining your prospects… Fortunately you found an excuse to hurry back… but the rice is already cooked… My father has already accepted the Cheng family’s betrothal gifts… I, I—we ultimately couldn’t have our wish fulfilled… I’m unwilling, unwilling!”

Cheng Lu’s tone was dejected as he said: “What good does unwillingness do? Are we supposed to elope? Even if I had that thought, I couldn’t let you suffer such grievance! Moreover, I still can’t support a household now and must rely on the Cheng family to live…”

Wu Baozhang seemed frightened by Cheng Lu’s mention of eloping and didn’t make a sound for quite a while.

Zhou Shaojin revealed a mocking smile.

Back then, after Wu Baozhang and Cheng Lu became betrothed, who knew how happy she was—she was absolutely radiant with joy. Not only did she mention her marriage everywhere, but even in First Young Madam Zheng’s room, in front of her and Cheng Jia, she didn’t hide her satisfaction with this match at all. She even said things like “Young Master Lu is the most gentle and considerate person. A few days ago when it rained heavily, he specially sent a servant to ask if I’d moved my potted flowers to the flower house.”

Hearing this had pierced her heart like a knife.

But after Cheng Lu was sent away by the Cheng family under some pretext, Wu Baozhang immediately broke off the engagement with Cheng Lu.

One could say she changed faces as quickly as flipping through a book.

Zhou Shaojin thought with no small amount of resentment.

If she had known Wu Baozhang and Cheng Lu were entangled together, she should have asked Uncle Chi to find a way to make Wu Baozhang and Cheng Lu a pair. Then when Wu Baozhang learned Cheng Lu had been stripped of his scholarly status, she could see what kind of face she’d show!

Her thoughts turned to her previous life with some feeling.

Cheng Lu had unexpectedly become betrothed to Wu Baozhang—could it be the two of them had already been having an ambiguous relationship?

Otherwise, why would Wu Baozhang always intentionally or unintentionally mention how good Cheng Lu was in front of her after becoming betrothed?

Zhou Shaojin felt so disgusted she wanted to vomit.

She was contemplating whether to expose the two’s conduct when she heard Wu Baozhang say pitifully: “Brother Lu, in the future, will you still acknowledge me?”

“You’re just like a younger sister to me.” Cheng Lu warmly assured, “If you have any troubles in the future, I’ll still help you as before. You can rest assured. After you marry, you’ll only have gained another brother to protect you.” After speaking, he sighed: “Unfortunately, I can only return at year’s end, and after returning, who knows what difficulties the Cheng family will give me…”

Wu Baozhang hesitated, then said: “Then does Brother Lu know what reason you offended the Cheng family for? If we could find out the cause, perhaps this enmity could be resolved? The Cheng family is too formidable. Once I tactfully suggested to Father that he bring you back, but Father scolded me severely and said if I continued such nonsense, he’d send me back to our ancestral home…”

Cheng Lu sighed: “What reason? It’s nothing more than both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang existing, one mountain cannot contain two tigers! I’ll tell you the truth! The reason Cheng Jiashan could pass the examination as the top candidate at such a young age was because the former prefect wanted to curry favor with the Cheng family. In terms of true learning and talent, which of the Cheng family second branch’s Cheng Youyi or third branch’s Young Master Zheng isn’t stronger than him? He just happened to be born in the first branch with a father ranking among the Nine Ministers…”

Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin sneered coldly.

Although Cheng Xu was a scoundrel, his scholarship was genuinely excellent.

In her previous life, when Cousin Gao mentioned Cheng Xu’s learning in Cheng Lu’s presence, Cheng Lu never denied Cheng Xu’s scholarship. Yet now he was saying Cheng Xu could pass as top candidate only by relying on his elders’ influence.

One face in front, another behind—Cheng Lu was truly a petty person!