Zhou Shaojin remembered that when she accompanied Grandmother Guo to Putuo Mountain to offer incense, it took three days to reach Zhenjiang.

Yet Li Jing, from when the message was sent to his return, had taken only a short day. How did he manage it?

Zhou Shaojin was extremely curious and couldn’t help but lift her skirt and come out to look.

Li Jing dismounted in one swift motion, covered in sweat and dust, his fair face streaked with black marks where sweat mixed with dirt.

He tossed the riding crop to the accompanying servant boy, and the horse collapsed to the ground with a loud thud, foaming at the mouth.

Li Jing didn’t even glance at it. As he strode quickly inside, he called out loudly: “How is Cousin Jia? How is Cousin Jia?”

With an air of unstoppable determination and dominance that left Zhou Shaojin momentarily stunned.

Cheng Lu, hearing the commotion, came out, his expression so dark it seemed rain could drip from it.

He shouted angrily: “Li Jing, I respect you as the old madam’s grandnephew, yet you spy on my inner quarters—utterly shameless! You even dare to shout here? Li Sheng, what are you standing there for? Throw him out! Who’s on duty at the main gate? Drag them out and give them twenty heavy strokes!”

The Third Branch’s head steward Li Sheng was originally Old Madam Li’s dowry servant and Cheng Lu’s milk brother, while Li Jing was the young master of the Li family. He stood there in great difficulty. After hesitating a moment, he still stepped forward to block Li Jing, saying quietly: “Young master, Miss Jia is fine. She was just bitten by an insect and remains unconscious. Master Shi Hui has already given her medicine. They say she’ll recover soon.”

Li Jing didn’t dare force his way through. He grasped Li Sheng’s arm urgently: “How could Cousin Jia be bitten by an insect? Is Master Shi Hui’s medicine effective? I know a physician whose ancestors served as imperial physicians. Should I invite that physician to come examine her?”

His eyes, however, looked at Cheng Lu standing in the covered walkway.

Li Sheng’s lips twitched, not knowing what to say.

Cheng Lu’s face was iron-blue. Without even glancing at Li Jing, he just scolded Li Sheng: “Why haven’t you thrown him out yet? What kind of place is this? Can just any idle person come here?”

Zhou Shaojin’s expression was somewhat dazed.

She remembered someone had told her in her previous life that the Li family was the wealthiest in Luoyang. Li Jing’s father had originally been the clan heir, but when Li Jing was ten years old, he passed away. Li Jing had fought openly and covertly with seven uncles in the main family. When his grandfather died in his twentieth year, he finally inherited the family business and became the Li family head.

He was an extremely formidable figure.

Not to mention the Luoyang Prefect—even the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Henan had to give him some face. He had great prestige throughout the Central Plains.

With Uncle Lu humiliating him like this, would he leave in a huff?

Zhou Shaojin was quite worried.

A trace of embarrassment flashed in Li Jing’s eyes, but he showed no resentment. Instead, he said quietly: “Uncle, I mean nothing else. I’m just worried about Cousin Jia. Since she’s alright, I’ll leave now. Please don’t be angry!”

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.

She saw Cheng Lu glare fiercely at Li Jing and say: “Why haven’t you left yet!”

Li Jing’s expression revealed a trace of dejection. He silently bowed to Cheng Lu and slowly turned to walk outside.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t bear it. She quietly instructed Chun Wan: “Have Xiao Tan follow him and give Young Master Li a place to stay, wash up, and rest. As soon as there’s news here, I’ll tell him.”

Chun Wan responded and left.

Because of Cheng Jia’s incident, Ganquan Temple had stopped receiving outside guests since yesterday afternoon, let alone providing lodging.

Li Jing had left a steward at the inn for Cheng Jia to dispatch when he went to Zhenjiang. With Cheng Jia still ill, how could Li Jing be at ease leaving?

But if he wanted to stay, he could only spend a large sum of silver to bribe the temple’s guest master, and even then might not get a spacious and bright room.

Li Jing had already given much for Cheng Jia in her previous life. In this life, she would help him when she could.

Zhou Shaojin went to report to Grandmother Guo.

Grandmother Guo sighed but said nothing.

During breakfast, a commotion arose from the Third Branch’s resting quarters.

Zhou Shaojin heard Cheng Lu’s voice, frustrated to the extreme: “…If you dare say such shameless words one more time! I’ll immediately have the magistrate send that lowlife Li Jing to the yamen…” Then a woman’s voice, like Jiang Shi’s, consoled him softly, mixed with barely audible weeping.

She couldn’t help but walk out.

Cheng Jia’s sharp voice came through: “…I will marry him! I will marry him! If you have the ability, lock me up too! I was running away to elope with him… Even if he doesn’t want me, I accept it… I just like him…”

Zhou Shaojin’s face turned pale with fright.

How dare Cheng Jia say such things!

If people heard this, Cheng Jia’s reputation would be ruined.

She quickly looked around and, seeing several attending maids and servant women all avoiding the area, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But just as she finished exhaling, a man’s low voice came from behind her: “Cousin Zhou, thank you for today!”

Caught off guard, Zhou Shaojin nearly screamed.

Fortunately, she was afraid of disturbing Grandmother Guo and Old Lady Guan, so she held back. She turned around and retreated several steps before recognizing the speaker as Li Jing, then steadied herself.

People could truly scare one to death!

She pressed her hand to her chest and said with displeasure: “Young Master Li, isn’t it improper for you to barge into the women’s quarters like this?”

She wouldn’t say anything harsher.

Moreover, though she had lived two lifetimes, she had always stayed in the inner quarters without much social exposure and didn’t know how to deal with outside men.

Li Jing showed an apologetic expression.

Only then did Zhou Shaojin calm down. She couldn’t help asking in confusion: “How did you get in?”

It appeared Li Jing had already washed up—not only was he clean and tidy, but he had changed into a sky-blue Hangzhou silk robe, looking refreshed and capable.

Li Jing smiled subtly: “I said I was a relative of the Cheng household and donated a sum for incense oil to the temple. They didn’t stop me.”

These money-hungry monks!

Zhou Shaojin criticized inwardly.

But Li Jing’s expression became serious: “I have a matter I’d like to ask Cousin Zhou’s help with. Please grant me this favor!”

As he spoke, he bowed deeply.

Zhou Shaojin stepped aside two paces to avoid it, asking warily: “I don’t know what Young Master Li wants from me. I also don’t know if I can help…”

Li Jing quickly said: “It’s nothing major. I just want Cousin Zhou to help me inquire about Cousin Jia’s condition. Is Master Shi Hui’s medicine effective? Are there any precautions afterward or any aftereffects?”

This was simple.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and couldn’t help glancing at the side room where Cheng Jia rested: “What are your plans?”

Li Jing listened, his gaze also falling on Cheng Jia’s resting quarters. After thinking, he said carefully: “I actually have many regrets…”

What did this mean?

Could he regret meeting Cheng Jia?

Zhou Shaojin’s expression turned displeased.

But Li Jing said guiltily: “That day when Cousin Jia asked me to take her away, I always felt there was still room for reconciliation, that it hadn’t reached that point, so I firmly refused her… I also told her to trust me, that I would definitely find a way to get Uncle and Aunt’s consent… But I never imagined my decision would cause her such suffering… She must have truly had no other option, and seeing I wouldn’t agree, she tried to secretly find me…”

Zhou Shaojin fell silent.

She believed Li Jing’s speculation was correct.

Otherwise, when Cheng Jia was found, she wouldn’t have had only the maid Cui Huan by her side. Moreover, they were hiding in a cave—if Cui Huan hadn’t heard the commotion and called for help, they wouldn’t have been found.

Li Jing had heard the name Shaojin countless times from Cheng Jia’s lips. He knew this slender, beautiful young lady was Cheng Jia’s best friend.

The reason he refused to simply take Cheng Jia away was because he understood human nature better than she did. He didn’t want Cheng Jia trapped in the painful choice between choosing her parents or her husband.

But in reality, Cheng Jia had ultimately fallen into exactly that pain.

At this moment, Zhou Shaojin became extremely important—without her natal family, she couldn’t lose her relatives too, especially Zhou Shaojin who had grown up with Cheng Jia. Moreover, Zhou Shaojin had always stood by Cheng Jia’s side, so he should win her over even more.

Li Jing was a decisive person. He quickly collected himself and said solemnly: “Cousin Zhou, I’ve decided to take Cousin Jia away! That’s why I’m asking you to inquire about her condition. If her illness isn’t serious, I plan to ask Master Shi Hui for a few more doses of medicine to bring along. If she still needs quiet recuperation, I’ll wait a few days… This time, no matter what, I will take her away. I can’t let her face Uncle’s fury alone. I’m also responsible for this!”

Zhou Shaojin had vaguely guessed from his tone earlier, but hearing this still shocked her greatly. After pondering briefly, she said: “Those who marry through betrothal become wives; those who elope become concubines! Have you considered this?”

Li Jing smiled proudly: “It’s just a marriage certificate! If the Jinling Prefect can’t issue it, can the Luoyang Prefect not issue it either? If Jiuru Lane won’t give it, won’t Xinglin Alley give it? If all else fails, there’s still Shuangyu Alley!”

Xinglin Alley was where Cheng Jing lived.

Shuangyu Alley was where Cheng Shao lived.

It seemed Li Jing had already planned everything.

Zhou Shaojin thought of how well Li Jing had treated Cheng Jia in her previous life. A faint smile finally bloomed at the corners of her mouth as she said quietly: “I’ll go inquire for you. Wait for my news!”

Li Jing bowed deeply to her again.

Zhou Shaojin quickly returned to the side room.

Grandmother Guo asked her: “How are things over there?”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t want to deceive Grandmother Guo. She said quietly: “I, I didn’t go over. I ran into Li Jing in the courtyard. He asked me for help… I agreed, but I’m afraid you’ll be angry…”

Grandmother Guo laughed heartily, pointing to the embroidered stool opposite and having Biyu refill half a bowl of white porridge for Zhou Shaojin: “It’s nothing more than deciding to elope with Cheng Jia. Besides this, what else could it be?”

Zhou Shaojin was astonished.

Grandmother Guo smiled: “I’ve seen plenty in my lifetime! Do what you want—don’t worry about me! I’ve always found the Third Branch tiresome. Let them make their own trouble. If Li Jing has the ability to bribe Ganquan Temple’s people, he can also bribe people around Old Madam Li. Cheng Jia, afraid of implicating you, has been ignoring you all this time. Presumably this Li Jing will also keep you out of it. Helping them with a small favor won’t offend the Third Branch, and Cheng Jia will owe you a debt of gratitude. This is a good thing!”

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened. After a long while, she finally managed to say: “Old lady, you’re truly formidable! I don’t think anything in this world can escape your eyes.”