Zhou Shaojin’s heart was tormented, making her particularly miss her elder sister. Now hearing she could send a letter to her sister, how could she possibly sit still!

With a beaming smile, she took leave of Old Madam Guo and Cheng Chi, then jogged back to the Floating Jade Pavilion.

While instructing Chun Wan to pack several bolts of fine fabric for Zhou Chujin and Liao Shaotang to make clothes, she also instructed Bitao to open her jewelry box and pack the newly made set of ginkgo-patterned gold jewelry from a few days ago to bring along. She had Xiao Tan send word to Ma Fushan’s wife to buy some pastries and sweets that Zhou Chujin usually enjoyed and send them in, while she herself began grinding ink, preparing to write a letter to her sister… She was busy running around in circles.

Fan Liushi advised Zhou Shaojin: “Second Young Lady, don’t rush—Fourth Master isn’t leaving until tomorrow!”

“I have so many things to bring to my sister!” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, rolling up her sleeves. But when she sat down, she didn’t know what to write.

She couldn’t mention Uncle Chi!

She couldn’t mention Cheng Jia and Li Jing either!

What else could she tell her sister?

When had she and her sister become so distant?

Zhou Shaojin felt dejected. After writing about her recent situation in a perfunctory way, she put down the brush and helped Chun Wan select clothes and jewelry for her sister.

But Old Madam Guo was leisurely drinking tea, smiling as she said to Cheng Chi: “Are you planning to take the water route to Huai’an? Shaojin is just a child after all, with pure thoughts.”

Previously, to save time, Cheng Chi had always ridden horses, traveling day and night. Though arduous, he would arrive in just a few days.

By saying this, Old Madam Guo was inevitably hinting that Zhou Shaojin simply didn’t understand his feelings.

Cheng Chi felt it would be good to speak frankly with his mother about some things. After all, Zhou Shaojin was living under his mother’s watchful eye. If he made his mother unhappy, it would only make things complicated and troublesome—he had placed Shaojin by his mother’s side to protect her, not to make enemies for her.

With a composed expression, he picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip before smiling: “She’s just a young girl who hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet. What would she understand? It’s just that seeing her so young yet having to depend on relatives, I’ll help her when I can. As for gratitude and such, I’m not the type to look at others’ reactions. Whether something is good or not, I know in my own heart!”

In other words, it was her son alone burning with unrequited passion!

Old Madam Guo was exasperated.

Her son was handsome and talented, had passed both imperial examinations, and came from a wealthy family. What family’s daughter wouldn’t look at him favorably when he walked by? Why should he have to curry favor with that little girl?

Yet that little girl remained oblivious and knew nothing.

When had her son ever suffered such indignity!

Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but say loudly: “I never knew you had become someone who does good deeds without leaving a name!”

Cheng Chi knew his mother would react this way. He smiled mischievously and said: “So does Mother hope I’ll seek this fame?”

Old Madam Guo’s words caught in her throat.

She knew that continuing would expose everything.

She simply cursed “You scoundrel” and changed the subject: “Yesterday I had someone send watermelons to Jiashan. The person who came back said Jiashan had a cloth wrapped around his neck, his feet soaking in well water, studying very diligently. As his uncle, you should go see him.”

Cheng Chi smiled: “A few days ago I assigned him several examination essays. You can’t expect me to take the exam for him! Besides, just from what you’ve seen, our family has produced five imperial scholars, and which one didn’t go through this? How is it when it comes to him it’s particularly hard? No wonder people say children can’t be raised by their grandparents—they’re bound to be spoiled beyond measure.”

“Nonsense,” Old Madam Guo protested indignantly. “Zheng jiejie, Xiao jiejie, and Sheng jiejie all grew up by my side, and which one isn’t virtuous and gentle, each one exceptionally intelligent? The young masters can’t study well themselves, so how does it become the fault of the women in the inner quarters!”

Mother and son bantered back and forth for quite a while. Once Old Madam Guo had vented her frustration, Cheng Chi rose to take his leave.

But after Cheng Chi left, Old Madam Guo felt empty inside.

While clearing away the teacups, Biyu smiled and said: “Old Madam and Fourth Master have such a wonderful relationship! Not like other mothers and sons who, when together, only exchange formal greetings and have nothing else to say.”

Old Madam Guo was stunned, then smiled again.

That little rascal—when he wanted to cheer someone up, he could have them wrapped around his finger.

He had seen she was in a bad mood, so he deliberately teased her!

Otherwise, why would he have brought up what happened between himself and Zhou Shaojin?

If things were brought into the open, he probably wouldn’t know what to do for a while either, would he?

After all, he was the uncle, and Shaojin was still young. If the matter were exposed, others would only say it was his fault…

Thinking this way, Old Madam Guo felt her son’s situation was quite difficult too.

She shouldn’t add to her son’s troubles.

Let him sort it out himself.

Old Madam Guo sighed.

Looking at the several trunks of things Zhou Shaojin had prepared for Zhou Chujin, Nanny Shang couldn’t help but wipe the sweat from her forehead and quietly reminded Zhou Shaojin: “Second Young Lady, Fourth Master is taking the land route to Huai’an this time.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand at first.

Nanny Shang had to explain: “Fourth Master needs to reach Huai’an within five days and will be changing horses at various postal stations. He can only possibly detour to Zhenjiang on the way back.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin’s face burned with embarrassment: “I, I didn’t know. I thought since it was on the way, that’s why I…”

Fourth Master valued this Second Young Lady so much—surely he couldn’t let her down?

Nanny Shang thought for a moment and smiled: “If Second Young Lady isn’t in a hurry, why not have Fourth Master deliver the letter, and send the things by water?”

“But, but how would that work!” If sent by water, she’d have to pay someone to transport them. The money was a small matter, but she feared someone might covet the contents of the trunks. After all, the things in these trunks were worth at least five hundred taels of silver. If the items were lost, that was one thing, but some were private boudoir items—if exploited by someone with ill intentions, that would be disastrous. Zhou Shaojin said: “I should just put these things away.”

Nanny Shang smiled: “Second Young Lady needn’t worry. We have a boat going to Yangzhou in a few days. If you trust me, write out an itemized list to include in the letter for Fourth Master to take to Zhenjiang, and give me the trunks to transport for you.”

Zhou Shaojin naturally trusted Nanny Shang.

After thanking her profusely, she handed the trunks to Nanny Shang.

Fan Liushi smiled: “Who knows what Nanny Shang’s background and origins are? With someone like her serving at Fourth Master’s side, he must have so much less to worry about!”

Zhou Shaojin thought of how Nanny Shang had once carried her while hiding behind the large pagoda tree at the Qingyan Tower. She also remembered how Ji Ying had severed Jiao Ziyang’s arm with one sword stroke, and murmured: “They’re probably not ordinary people… To have such people working for him, he certainly isn’t ordinary either…”

But what did it matter if he wasn’t ordinary?

He was so good to her!

Knowing she missed her sister, when he went out, he would deliver letters to her sister for her… and this was even when it wasn’t on his way… Fortunately Nanny Shang had reminded her, otherwise if she had given him all those trunks, he would probably have frowned deeply enough to crush a fly between his brows… But even so, he would certainly help her deliver everything to her sister without a word of complaint… Just imagining him impatiently dragging several trunks while traveling made her unable to suppress a smile. She lay prone on the bed and asked Fan Liushi with a laugh: “Do you think I should go see Uncle Chi off when he leaves for Huai’an tomorrow?”

She really wanted to see him off, but was afraid others might notice something.

Fan Liushi said in surprise: “Why would you think that way? Traveling by boat or horse carries risks. If Fourth Master is going out, of course you should see him off! Not only should you see him off, you should also get him a peace talisman or something to wear on his body to bless Fourth Master with a safe journey. Old Madam would only be pleased to see it.” She also gave her advice: “Once Fourth Master has left, you should chant several volumes of peace sutras for him.”

Since even Fan Liushi said so, she could certainly do it.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart began racing again.

She stayed up all night copying a volume of peace sutras for Cheng Chi. The next morning, before dawn, she got up, washed and dressed, and went to Old Madam Guo’s place.

Old Madam Guo was accustomed to Cheng Chi’s departures and hadn’t gotten up yet. Leaning against the headboard, she asked about Cheng Chi: “…Is he up yet? Besides Huai Shan, who else is he taking? Has everything been packed?”

Nanny Lü had already gone to the Tingli Pavilion to gather news and returned, saying: “Fourth Master got up at the beginning of the mao hour. Everything was packed last night. Besides Huai Shan, he’s also taking Qin Zi’an. In about three-quarters of an hour, he should be coming to bid you farewell.”

Only then did Old Madam Guo get up and let the maids and servants attend to her. Hearing that Zhou Shaojin had arrived, she didn’t avoid her and had a young maid invite her in.

Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath.

In her previous life, her brother-in-law had once told her: the more you have on your mind, the more natural you need to appear.

With a sweet smile and composed expression, she walked in, handed the sutras she’d copied for Cheng Chi to Old Madam Guo, and said: “Had I known Uncle Chi was going on a long journey, I should have gone to the temple to get him a peace talisman! Since I don’t have a peace talisman, I copied a volume of sutras, but I don’t know what to do with it. Should I burn it for the Bodhisattva, keep it in the Buddhist hall, or take it to a temple… I’ve never done these things before, so I need Old Madam to advise me.”

If only Fourth Son didn’t have those particular feelings, how wonderful that would be!

Old Madam Guo thought wistfully in her heart, then affectionately patted Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said: “Good child, it’s rare that you have such thoughtfulness. Tomorrow we’ll go to the temple for the noon service and offer the sutras you copied to the temple.”

Zhou Shaojin was very pleased.

Not only had she done something for Uncle Chi, but Old Madam Guo, just as Fan Liushi had said, was very happy, treating her warmly and lovingly again, sweeping away yesterday’s coldness.

Zhou Shaojin then helped Old Madam Guo with her morning routine.

Old Madam Guo let her.

Before long, Cheng Chi came to bid farewell.

Old Madam Guo, with Zhou Shaojin’s light support, came out of the inner chamber.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin appear behind his mother, knowing she had come to see him off, Cheng Chi’s mood greatly improved.

After giving instructions to “be careful on the road” and having breakfast with Zhou Shaojin and his mother, he departed.

Zhou Shaojin watched as Cheng Chi mounted his horse with agile movements, tears nearly falling.

Huai’an was so far away, and he had to reach it in four or five days—how hard the journey would be for Uncle Chi.

Earning money truly wasn’t easy!

Uncle Wen really shouldn’t have done it—taking Uncle Chi’s hard-earned money to eat, drink, gamble, and carouse, and even keeping a mistress outside.

She wondered if Wu Baozhang, after entering the household, would live properly with Cheng Nuo!

She hoped things wouldn’t turn out as Uncle Chi predicted—that there wouldn’t be any entanglement with Cheng Lu!