Zhou Shaojin’s mind churned with thoughts as she supported Grandmother Guo back to the main room.
Grandmother Guo discussed with Nanny Lü about tomorrow’s temple visit: “…We usually go to Ganquan Temple, so let’s go to Ganquan Temple this time as well. Though there are some matters to attend to, they’re not too difficult. We’ll depart at the hour of the rabbit and return after having vegetarian lunch there.” She then asked Nanny Lü to visit the Fourth Branch and see if Old Lady Guan and Lady Mian wanted to go out for a walk.
Nanny Lü smiled and agreed, personally delivering the message to the Fourth Branch.
The weather had been particularly hot these past few days. Some of the craftsmen renovating the new house for Cheng Gao had nearly suffered heatstroke, so Cheng Mian had halted the work. Old Lady Guan had nothing particular to do, but Lady Mian was busy purchasing maids and servant women. Upon hearing the invitation, she sent someone to reply to Grandmother Guo: “…The old madam would be delighted, but the grand lady is too occupied with Master Gao’s wedding preparations to get away.”
Grandmother Guo rewarded the servant woman and arranged a time with Old Lady Guan.
Zhou Shaojin treated it as a pleasure outing. Though she wanted to go, without Cheng Chi, she felt as if something was missing, diminishing some of her joy at going out.
After accompanying Grandmother Guo in reciting scriptures in the Buddha hall, she began copying sutras.
Since she was praying to the Bodhisattva for Cheng Chi’s safe travels, it would be better to copy more sutras to show her sincerity.
Grandmother Guo nodded approvingly in secret.
This child was obedient, sensible, sincere, and courteous… What a pity!
She sighed, instructing Biyu to attend to Zhou Shaojin while she returned to her room to lie down, having a young maid massage her legs as she pondered her thoughts.
That afternoon, Cui Huan came to see Zhou Shaojin, saying she was sent by Cheng Jia’s orders to invite Zhou Shaojin over for a visit tomorrow.
Zhou Shaojin knew this was Cheng Jia’s way of thanking her for delivering the letter to Li Jing. She smiled and declined: “…Tomorrow I must accompany the old lady to the temple to offer incense!”
Cui Huan was quite disappointed.
Cheng Jia had gone to great lengths to invite Zhou Shaojin. Who would have thought it would conflict with Grandmother Guo’s plans? What a pity.
She reluctantly left Hanbi Mountain House.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t dwell on the matter, thinking she could visit Cheng Jia when she had time in a couple of days.
But before the sun had even set, Old Madam Li came in person, saying she wanted to accompany Grandmother Guo to Ganquan Temple to offer incense tomorrow.
Grandmother Guo found this rather strange.
Old Madam Li explained awkwardly: “This is also for Jia—that girl—Jiang Shi has been quarreling with her every other day. The girl was driven to desperation and came crying to me all afternoon. I thought this couldn’t continue, and just happened to hear you were going to Ganquan Temple to worship Buddha, so I wanted to bring her along to relax and chat with Shaojin.”
In any case, with the scorching summer heat, there wasn’t much else to do. Grandmother Guo agreed indifferently.
Old Madam Li complained about Jiang Shi for a while before returning home.
Grandmother Guo raised her eyebrows dismissively and said: “After all, she’s her own family’s grandniece. With Jiang Shi being so relentless, she’s losing face too. That’s why she wants to bring Cheng Jia along with us to the temple to offer incense!”
Who would dare respond to such words?
It was still Biyu who was bold enough, smiling as she changed the subject: “Old lady, the old madam from the Third Branch will likely ride in the same carriage as Miss Jia. Tomorrow, will you ride with Second Miss Biao or with Old Madam Guan?”
Grandmother Guo smiled: “I’ll still ride with Old Madam Guan! Tomorrow with that girl Jia along, who knows how mischievous she’ll be—she won’t mind squeezing into a carriage with Shaojin.”
This wasn’t entirely impossible!
Biyu smiled with pursed lips.
The next day at the hour of the rabbit, everyone met at the second gate. Grandmother Guo and Old Lady Guan took one carriage, while Old Madam Li and Cheng Jia took another. Zhou Shaojin was left alone.
Not only Zhou Shaojin but even Grandmother Guo was quite surprised, saying: “That girl Jia is much more sensible today!”
Cheng Jia supported Old Madam Li respectfully, her demeanor proper as she blushed and said: “I rarely accompany Grandmother. Please don’t tease me, old lady.”
Grandmother Guo nodded kindly, assisted by Zhou Shaojin into her carriage, and they headed to Ganquan Temple.
Master Shi Hui, the abbot of Ganquan Temple, personally greeted them in front of the main hall.
The Cheng family had already sent a steward ahead yesterday to arrange accommodations. Master Shi Hui knew their purpose, and when Zhou Shaojin presented the sutras she had copied, he couldn’t help but smile: “Second Miss Biao’s calligraphy has become increasingly elegant and refined. In a few more years, she’ll be ready to take students.”
Young ladies from prominent southern families were typically taught by their aunts or sisters-in-law. Being able to take students was extremely high praise.
Zhou Shaojin wasn’t quite accustomed to such social exchanges. She blushed and spoke a few modest words.
Since that year’s Buddha Bathing Festival when Grandmother Guo had offered sutras copied by Zhou Shaojin, it had left a deep impression on Master Shi Hui. Over these two years, whenever Grandmother Guo came to worship Buddha, Zhou Shaojin had accompanied her, so he remembered her well. He carefully exchanged a few subtle pleasantries with Zhou Shaojin before conversing with Grandmother Guo and the others.
Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Jia standing across from her, respectful and gentle, and felt it very strange.
Cheng Jia had never been patient with such matters—why was she so quiet this time?
She signaled Cheng Jia with her eyes.
But Cheng Jia acted as if she hadn’t seen, remaining by Old Madam Li’s side the entire time.
Zhou Shaojin felt something wasn’t quite right. Thinking of how Cheng Jia had asked her to help inquire about Li Jing… could the secret have been exposed? But if it had been exposed, why would Old Madam Li bring her to Ganquan Temple to worship Buddha?
She sent Xiao Tan to investigate.
Around lunch time, Xiao Tan quietly told her: “They say someone came to propose marriage to Miss Jia. Lady Lu was very satisfied, and the matchmaker will come calling in a few days. Miss Jia knelt before Old Madam Li, crying and making a scene. Old Madam Li felt sorry for Miss Jia, so she brought her out to relax.”
Zhou Shaojin was greatly shocked and whispered: “Do you know who proposed to Cousin Jia?”
“They say it’s the eldest son of the county magistrate of Jinhua,” Xiao Tan said. “Lady Sun, wife of the Vice Minister, arranged the match. Though from a humble background, the young master is quite learned—he passed the scholar examination at sixteen and became a recommended man at twenty.”
This was exactly the type of son-in-law the Third Branch favored.
The Third Branch’s brother-in-law Pan Zhi also came from such origins.
Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat sad for Cheng Jia.
The greatest sorrow is a dead heart.
For Cheng Jia to be like this, her heart must have died.
When they sat down for the vegetarian meal, Zhou Shaojin deliberately tried to sit with Cheng Jia.
But Cheng Jia avoided her, as if she had some conflict with Zhou Shaojin.
Naturally, the old ladies wouldn’t concern themselves with this.
Zhou Shaojin ate her vegetarian meal feeling awkward.
Master Shi Hui urged them to rest before leaving: “The weather is too hot. It would be better to set out after the afternoon passes.”
Grandmother Guo looked at the scorching sun and decided to return to Jiuru Lane after the afternoon hour.
Master Shi Hui quickly instructed the young novices to tidy up the courtyard specially reserved for the Cheng family ladies, while he continued conversing with the three old ladies.
Cheng Jia could bear it no longer. She whispered a few words to Old Madam Li and left the side room.
Old Madam Li could only let her go.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a young novice came to report that the courtyard had been tidied.
Master Shi Hui personally escorted them to the courtyard entrance. After exchanging a few courteous words, he turned and left.
Cheng Jia accompanied Old Madam Li to the western side room. Zhou Shaojin followed Grandmother Guo to the eastern side room. After directing the maids to help Grandmother Guo and Old Lady Guan settle down to rest, she also yawned and lay down to sleep.
In her drowsy state, Zhou Shaojin felt as if someone was pushing and shoving her.
She opened her eyes to find Grandmother Guo and Old Lady Guan gathered around her bedside, looking at her with concerned gazes.
Zhou Shaojin came fully awake with a start, sitting up abruptly: “What happened? Is it…”
Is something wrong with Uncle Chi?
Fortunately, Zhou Shaojin reined herself in and swallowed those words.
Grandmother Guo and Old Lady Guan hadn’t noticed her slip at all. Seeing she was awake, they got straight to the point: “That girl Jia is missing, and Cui Huan is missing too. Did she say anything to you?”
Zhou Shaojin was stunned. After a long moment, she recovered and said: “What did you say? Cousin Jia is missing? What do you mean missing?”
The Cheng family guards had the courtyard surrounded so tightly not even water could leak through—how could Cheng Jia disappear?
Old Lady Guan glanced at Grandmother Guo upon hearing this.
Grandmother Guo’s expression showed slight displeasure: “I told you Shaojin had nothing to do with this, but you wouldn’t believe me!”
Old Lady Guan said sheepishly: “I just thought since Shaojin usually plays so well with that girl Jia, I wanted to see if Shaojin had any information!”
Zhou Shaojin understood now. She quickly asked: “Old lady, Grandmother, what exactly is going on?”
Grandmother Guo remained silent.
Old Lady Guan thought for a moment and said: “Just now Old Madam Li came over saying that when she woke from her afternoon rest, she didn’t see that girl Jia. She thought the girl had run out to play. When she finished dressing and was about to come to our side to pay respects, Cheng Jia still hadn’t been found. Moreover, according to the maids and servant women by Old Madam Li’s side, they never saw that girl Jia come out. Later we discovered a stepping stone by the back window… Old Madam Li cried until her eyes were swollen. She just kept wailing that if that girl Jia wasn’t found, she wouldn’t want to live either…”
Could Cheng Jia have eloped with Li Jing?
Realizing she was privy to this information, Zhou Shaojin felt very uneasy.
Old Lady Guan treated people quite strictly, so naturally she didn’t dare look at her.
Zhou Shaojin glanced at Grandmother Guo.
Grandmother Guo’s expression remained unchanged, but she said to Old Lady Guan: “Please go tell Third Sister-in-law. Just seeing her like that gives me a headache.”
Old Lady Guan shook her head and went to Old Madam Li’s quarters.
There was no time to delay!
Zhou Shaojin told Grandmother Guo everything about Cheng Jia and Li Jing in complete detail.
Grandmother Guo’s expression gradually became stern as she listened, but she never scolded Zhou Shaojin. Instead, she asked: “Does the Third Branch know about this?”
“They should know!” Zhou Shaojin said guiltily. “But whether the Third Branch knows about Cousin Jia going to see Li Jing at Qingyan Tower and asking me to deliver a letter to Li Jing, I don’t know!”
Grandmother Guo thought for a moment and said: “Pretend you know nothing of this matter. Whoever asks, just say you’re the younger sister and don’t know. I’ll handle Old Madam Li’s side. Stay quietly in the side room now and don’t come out. Neither our First Branch nor the Fourth Branch can take the blame for that girl Jia’s actions. We’ll have no choice but to summon Master Lu and Lady Lu from the Third Branch.” She then added, “I’m afraid we won’t be able to return today. Fortunately, we’re at a temple, so staying one or two nights won’t be a problem.”