Cheng Jia laughed dismissively and took her hand, saying: “Good sister, don’t be angry anymore. I’ll compensate you however you want!”

Zhou Shaojin said ungraciously: “Then give me your maid Cui Huan?”

“That won’t do!” Cheng Jia wasn’t angry at all and still said with a smile: “How about I give you my zither ‘Autumn Parasol Tree’ instead.”

Autumn Parasol Tree was Cheng Jia’s favorite zither.

She actually wanted to give this zither to her!

Zhou Shaojin was very surprised and only then looked at Cheng Jia properly.

Cheng Jia’s smile gradually faded and her expression became serious. Allowing Zhou Shaojin to stare directly into her eyes, she said candidly: “Shaojin, I know I was wrong. I’ll compensate you however you want!”

She spoke so earnestly that Zhou Shaojin was very surprised.

For a moment the two stood confronting each other, the atmosphere tense.

Zhu Zhu quickly walked over, putting one arm around Zhou Shaojin’s shoulder and the other around Cheng Jia’s, smiling: “Hey! I heard the lotus flowers in your mansion have all bloomed. I’m at home worrying about having nothing to do. Why don’t one of you send us an invitation to admire the flowers? Everyone present gets a share—how about it?”

Zhou Shaojin felt very ashamed.

Today she was half the host. Instead of entertaining her friends, she was here quarreling with Cheng Jia—what kind of behavior was this?

Fortunately there were Zhu Zhu and Gu Seventeenth Aunt. They were true friends who came to help her when they saw she was in difficulty!

She glanced at Zhu Zhu gratefully and smiled: “Then let’s have Cousin Jia be punished by hosting! She has plenty of fine wine and delicacies. We must go feast at her expense before we’ll be satisfied.”

Zhu Zhu, Gu Seventeenth Aunt and the others all laughed heartily.

Cheng Jia patted her chest: “No problem. I’ll take care of this matter. As soon as I get home, I’ll send invitations to everyone.”

“Then we’ll be waiting!” Gu Seventeenth Aunt joined in the fun with a delighted expression.

The two Miss Guos smiled with pursed lips, clearly very interested in being able to go out visiting.

Zhou Shaojin sighed as she watched.

The Miss Guos were too reserved.

If Uncle Chi married a young lady from the Guo family, two taciturn people together—how dull those days would be!

In the dragon boat race finals, the Shen family took the championship.

Shen Qingyun was extremely happy and said he would treat everyone to drinks.

“Everyone” referred to those who had private rooms at Qingyan Tower.

Everyone congratulated him one after another.

Zhu Pengju wanted to pull Cheng Chi along to drink.

Cheng Chi politely declined.

Zhu Pengju wouldn’t accept this. Knowing Old Madam Guo was in the adjacent private room and relying on the close relations between the two families, he ran over with a grinning face to pay his respects to Old Madam Guo, wanting her to agree to let Cheng Chi go out drinking with him: “Zichuan must be concerned about you. I’ll have our household’s chief administrator personally escort you home. What else does Zichuan have to worry about!”

Old Madam Guo laughed and called Cheng Chi in, saying: “Silang, just go out and have fun with them. Second girl will keep me company!”

In front of outsiders, Old Madam Guo usually called Zhou Shaojin “second girl.”

Cheng Chi thought for a moment and smiled: “It’s not that I don’t want to drink with Pengju. I have some matters here. After I finish with them, it won’t be too late to come find you.” This last sentence was said to Zhu Pengju.

A trace of something unusual flashed through Zhu Pengju’s eyes. He smiled: “Do you have guests? Why not invite your guests to join us for the festivities! Surely Qingyun wouldn’t begrudge us this bit of wine?”

“That’s not it.” Cheng Chi smiled: “We have business to discuss and we’re at a critical point. Don’t make trouble for me. I’ll come after I see off my guests.”

Zhu Pengju couldn’t say more. After repeatedly instructing Cheng Chi several times “you must come,” he finally left.

Old Madam Guo hadn’t expected Cheng Chi to have guests. With some guilt she said: “Then you go attend to your business! Having Shaojin keep me company is enough.”

Cheng Chi smiled at Zhou Shaojin and said “Take good care of Mother,” then rose and went to the adjacent private room.

Zhou Shaojin thought of when she had gone to find Cheng Chi earlier and his action of closing the door. She was extremely curious.

As they were leaving, she couldn’t help but glance at Cheng Chi’s private room.

The private room door remained tightly closed, with Langyue standing guard at the door.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo approaching, he quickly bowed respectfully and whispered in Zhou Shaojin’s ear: “Fourth Master went to see off a guest. He’ll be back very soon!”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart jolted.

What kind of guest would make Uncle Chi put on an appearance that he was still entertaining in the private room?

Since this person was so important, why had Uncle Chi brought him to Qingyan Tower?

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t figure it out. As they exited through Qingyan Tower’s side door, she couldn’t help but look around.

Suddenly, her eyes widened. Craning her neck, she looked toward the bustling street outside the alley, as if she had seen some rare person or event. This drew Old Madam Guo to look her way as well, saying: “Shaojin, what’s happened?”

Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment but still couldn’t suppress the shock in her heart. She said: “I think I saw an acquaintance. Wait for me a moment—I’ll go have a look!”

With that, not caring what Old Madam Guo might think of her, she took off running to the alley entrance.

Outside, the crowd surged.

Zhou Shaojin searched for quite a while before finally seeing that familiar face wearing a blue straight robe in front of a stall selling incense and candles.

It really was him!

Shi Kuan, who after the Fourth Prince ascended the throne would become the Director of Ceremonial and most trusted chief eunuch of the emperor.

Zhou Shaojin could remember him not only because he would later be the person the emperor trusted most, but also because he didn’t seem like a eunuch at all.

Shi Kuan was not only refined in appearance and substantive in speech, but also graceful in bearing with excellent temperament. Those who didn’t know him all thought he was a scholar well-versed in books.

This was also why Shi Kuan was criticized by the Cabinet yet favored by the emperor.

How could he appear here?

He would be someone who could influence the emperor’s decisions in the future!

Zhou Shaojin urgently called to Chun Wan: “Go quickly and find Uncle Chi! Hurry!”

Chun Wan didn’t know what had happened and replied “yes” in panic, running swiftly into Qingyan Tower.

Old Madam Guo watched with a grave expression and furrowed brow, but asked nothing. Instead, she sent her attending servants back into Qingyan Tower to wait, keeping only Nanny Lu at her side.

Before long, Chun Wan came running over: “Second Cousin Miss, Fourth Master is nowhere to be found!”

Shi Kuan had also left the incense and candle stall, walking farther away.

Zhou Shaojin’s shoulders drooped.

Shi Kuan was someone from the Fourth Prince’s household. In her previous life, she had heard people say that at that time, many people saw the Fourth Prince as neither here nor there, also being an honest and dull person, so they all tried to transfer to other princes’ households. Only Shi Kuan remained.

Not only did he stay, but he also took over the chief administrator’s affairs, helping the Fourth Prince manage all matters large and small inside and outside the household. He was clearly the Fourth Prince’s chief steward.

If Uncle Chi could befriend Shi Kuan at this time, how wonderful that would be!

She listlessly lowered her head and said with disappointment: “Then let’s go back!”

Chun Wan nodded and stepped forward to support her.

Old Madam Guo said softly: “What’s happened?”

Zhou Shaojin never dared lie to Old Madam Guo, but she really had no way to explain this matter. She could only tell part of it: “I saw someone who seems to be an important court minister Father mentioned, so I wanted Uncle Chi to meet him and see if it’s really that person. If so, Uncle Chi could act as host.”

For a family to prosper, connections were very important.

Old Madam Guo was still somewhat puzzled: “How did you recognize him?”

Zhou Shaojin had to say: “I met him before when Father returned home.”

Old Madam Guo nodded thoughtfully.

Zhou Zhen’s rise to his current position didn’t rely entirely on the Cheng family’s connections. He should have befriended other people as well.

Perhaps the person Zhou Shaojin mentioned was someone backing Zhou Zhen.

Thinking of Cheng Chi’s reasons for keeping Zhou Shaojin, Old Madam Guo accepted Zhou Shaojin’s explanation.

She asked no more questions and returned with Zhou Shaojin to Jiuru Alley with a smile.

After Zhou Shaojin attended to Old Madam Guo settling down for rest, she returned to Fucui Pavilion to wash up, then kept waiting for news from Tingli Hall.

It wasn’t until the third watch had been struck that Chun Wan came running in breathlessly: “Second Miss, Second Miss. Fourth Master has returned!”

Zhou Shaojin hurriedly threw on a sleeveless jacket and went to Tingli Hall.

Lights blazed there like stars. Huai Shan was supporting the slightly tipsy Cheng Chi as they walked over.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin standing at the door, everyone was startled.

Cheng Chi even laughed softly.

His laughter was extremely pleasant as he said: “It’s so late—what are you running over here for? I’ve already spoken with Li Jing about Cheng Jia’s matter… He didn’t expect Cheng Jia would come looking for him. He only spoke a few words with Cheng Jia…”

She hadn’t come to see him about this!

Since he had taken charge of it, naturally he would handle things properly.

Zhou Shaojin muttered in her heart. Seeing his footsteps were somewhat unsteady and not knowing how much he had drunk outside, she couldn’t help feeling a bit distressed. After thinking briefly, she still stepped forward to support Cheng Chi’s other arm, saying: “Uncle Chi, why did you drink so much today? Whatever matters we have, let’s talk about them tomorrow! Hurry back to your room and drink a bowl of sobering soup, then get some sleep!”

Cheng Chi’s body stiffened slightly when Zhou Shaojin’s hand touched him, but he quickly relaxed and allowed Zhou Shaojin to support him. He put his weight on Huai Shan’s side and said: “It’s fine! I’m in a very good mood today, so I drank a few more cups. This bit of alcohol won’t make me drunk.”

Brother-in-law Liao Shaotang was like this too.

Usually he didn’t drink, but when he drank too much he would say this bit of alcohol wouldn’t make him drunk.

Zhou Shaojin smiled with curved eyes as she helped Cheng Chi into the room.

Going further ahead was Cheng Chi’s inner chamber.

Zhou Shaojin hesitated for a moment.

Who knew that Cheng Chi would say to Huai Shan: “Just put me on the arhat bed. The air in the hall is better.”

Huai Shan glanced at Zhou Shaojin and respectfully replied “yes,” calling people in to attend.

Before long, the mugwort incense burner for repelling mosquitoes was lit, the cool mat was laid out, water for washing was brought, and sobering soup was served.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help much, so she sat watching Qingfeng attend to Cheng Chi drinking the sobering soup, attending to him going to the inner chamber to wash his face and change clothes before coming out to lie on the arhat bed laid with the cool mat. He pointed to the embroidered stool in front of the arhat bed: “Come sit!”

Perhaps because the lamplight was too bright, he placed one arm across his forehead with his eyes closed.

Zhou Shaojin said: “Should I blow out the lamps for you?”

He gave a low “mm.”

Zhou Shaojin left only the standing lamp in the corner.

But Cheng Chi muttered “too hot” and turned over.

Zhou Shaojin asked Huai Shan for a fan and sat on the embroidered stool fanning him.