Old Madam Guan touched the eighteen-bead agarwood prayer beads on her wrist and remained silent.

Little maids brought up tea, refreshments, and fruits.

Zhou Shaojin accepted them with a beaming smile, arranged them on the tea table, and pointed to the half-green, half-red large dates in the fruit plate, saying, “Grandmother, you came at such a perfect time today! Uncle Chi had someone send these over yesterday. He says they’re tribute dates from Shandong—crisp and sweet. You’ll definitely like them.”

She spoke without the slightest timidity, receiving her like half a hostess.

Old Madam Guan smiled and took a date, saying, “Then I’ll try one.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled sweetly, used ivory chopsticks to pick up a piece of crystal cake for Old Madam Guo, and said in a delicate voice, “This was freshly made today. It’s not as sweet as yesterday’s. I also had them add some clarified flour to it—doesn’t it look better than yesterday’s?” Like a little child seeking praise from her elders.

Old Madam Guo said, “It does look whiter than yesterday’s!” Then she tasted it and said, “What’s in this? It doesn’t taste like frost sugar—the flavor is lighter than frost sugar, with a longer aftertaste.”

Zhou Shaojin giggled and said, “It’s rock sugar, dissolved in water and added in. You’re really amazing—you tasted it in one bite.”

Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, “That’s all I’m good for now.”

Zhou Shaojin wrinkled her nose, looking extremely adorable.

Then she obediently pushed the tea cup toward Old Madam Guo and said to Old Madam Guan, “Grandmother, please have some tea. It’s Lu’an Guapian.”

Lu’an Guapian tea was light, quite suitable for elderly people to drink.

Old Madam Guan slowly spit the date pit onto the gold-rimmed sweet white porcelain dish beside her, recalling the first time Zhou Shaojin formally met Old Madam Guo.

She had told Zhou Shaojin to serve Old Madam Guo well, but Zhou Shaojin, accustomed to being served, had felt somewhat aggrieved.

Yet in just two years, she now served Old Madam Guo as if she were her own elder.

Old Madam Guan was clear about Zhou Shaojin’s temperament. After all, she had her father to rely on, so she still had some pride in her bones. That she could show such filial devotion before Old Madam Guo—the First Branch’s prestige couldn’t possibly make her bow her head. The only possibility was that Old Madam Guo treated her like her own granddaughter, which was why she could be so gentle and compliant.

Old Madam Guan picked up the tea cup and took a sip.

When she was in the Fourth Branch, she was covered in thorns. Having come to the First Branch, she had grown into a delicate, tender flower.

Could Yi Ge’er afford to raise this flower? Could he protect this flower?

Old Madam Guan felt somewhat regretful for sending Zhou Shaojin to the First Branch for instruction.

But without Old Madam Guo’s guidance, would the Fourth Branch have even valued the former Zhou Shaojin?

For a family clan to prosper and rise, besides having people, there also needed to be harmony, unity.

Gao Ge’er’s wife was a young lady from the He family—born into an established family, her father a high-ranking official of the Third Rank.

If Yi Ge’er’s wife were Zhou Shaojin, such an appearance would draw admiring glances anywhere. But her background as the daughter of a Fourth Rank Prefect from a single-branch household would make her somewhat conspicuous… Yet with the First Branch as her support, even without intending it, Zhou Shaojin could steadily overshadow Miss He.

Even if Miss He had more inner cultivation than Zhou Shaojin, people mostly judged by appearances, and Miss He would struggle bitterly.

When a second daughter-in-law outshone the eldest daughter-in-law who managed the household, it was typically the root of family discord.

Shaojin was no longer suitable to be the Fourth Branch’s daughter-in-law.

Old Madam Guan immediately felt dispirited.

Those words she had thought over and over in her mind, pondered again and again in her heart, now held no meaning whatsoever.

Old Madam Guo had been observing Old Madam Guan’s expression all along.

Seeing Old Madam Guan’s face show some dejection, her anxious heart finally settled.

She could not keep Shaojin in the Cheng family.

Even less could she let Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Yi become engaged.

If before she had felt Cheng Yi was unworthy of Zhou Shaojin, now she feared her son might commit the scandal of seizing his nephew’s intended wife—everyone has moments of hot-bloodedness in their youth, sometimes for a woman, sometimes for their studies, sometimes for their interests. But as one ages and gains more experience, that passion gradually fades. Yet this time, even though her son had consulted with her and they had agreed to have Fang Daxian arrange a match for Cheng Yi to quietly remove Zhou Shaojin from consideration, her son had suddenly changed like a different person, simply and roughly arranging for Cheng Jing to propose a match for Cheng Yi.

She didn’t know what scheme this youngest son of hers was plotting!

Old Madam Guo had not slept well these past few days.

She believed her son was steady and prudent, not comparable to those rash young men. But he also liked Zhou Shaojin in his heart—otherwise he wouldn’t indulge Zhou Shaojin’s treating Tingli Pavilion like a vegetable garden, coming and going as she pleased.

Having someone constantly before your eyes versus longing from afar were different things.

With constant presence, feelings would only grow deeper and deeper.

With distant longing, time would always cause it to fade.

She didn’t want to take that risk.

So she pampered this young lady as before.

Making the frugal Fourth Branch retreat in the face of difficulty.

Then she would find the young lady a suitable husband, and her son would naturally retreat in the face of difficulty.

Otherwise, she would be shooting herself in the foot—having advised the Fourth Branch not to let outsiders think Zhou Shaojin was sent to the First Branch as a child bride for instruction, only for her to end up becoming her own daughter-in-law. In others’ eyes, Zhou Shaojin would still be a child bride.

This child’s fate was truly too difficult!

Thinking of how Zhou Shaojin had fallen into her scheme while still being utterly devoted to her without knowing, Old Madam Guo couldn’t bear to look into Zhou Shaojin’s eyes. She decided to cut the Gordian knot and resolve this matter quickly.

She asked Old Madam Guan candidly, “Have you come to find me about the matter from a few days ago?”

Though Old Madam Guan didn’t conceal anything, she had decided not to ask Old Madam Guo to fulfill the marriage between Zhou Shaojin and Yi Ge’er anymore. She said, “I feel somewhat uncomfortable inside and wanted to talk with you.”

Old Madam Guo smiled at Zhou Shaojin, who was serving beside her, and said, “Your grandmother and I need to have a private conversation. Go play with Snowball.” Then she half-jokingly added, “You mustn’t eavesdrop on your grandmother and me!”

Zhou Shaojin pouted in dissatisfaction and said, “When have I ever eavesdropped on you? You can’t falsely accuse me!”

Old Madam Guo chuckled, patted her hand, and said, “Go play by yourself!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled in agreement, instructed the little maids to bring fresh tea for Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan, and only then left the sitting room.

Old Madam Guan’s eyelids drooped.

Shaojin truly was no longer suitable for the Fourth Branch.

In the past, if someone had spoken to her like this, she would have only forced herself to smile fearlessly and withdraw. Now she was truly fearless.

Only those confident in themselves would not fear others’ jokes and laughter.

She sighed softly and asked Old Madam Guo, “Do you know what kind of temperament Miss Seventeen of the Gu family has? How many blood siblings does she have at home? Whose daughter is her mother…”

※※※

Zhou Shaojin actually very much wanted to eavesdrop.

She had learned from Biyu that someone was proposing a match for Cheng Yi.

The Fourth Branch’s frequent visits to Old Madam Guo must be related to Cheng Yi’s marriage.

Uncle Chi had promised her he wouldn’t let her marry Cheng Yi.

She didn’t doubt this at all, much less worry about it. She just wanted to know what exactly was going on. She wanted to know in advance who Cousin Yi’s bride would be. Was she easy to get along with?

To her, the Fourth Branch was like a second natal family.

She hoped the Fourth Branch could prosper, hoped someone could help Cheng Yi along, so that Cheng Yi wouldn’t end up with his fate from the previous life.

But since Old Madam Guo had already spoken, it wouldn’t be proper for her to eavesdrop.

She asked Biyu, “After that, did you hear the Old Madam say anything else?”

“No!” Biyu was about to be married off and had been doing needlework in her room when she had free time lately.

Although Old Madam Guo would arrange her dowry, items like shoes and socks for meeting relatives would be more sincere if made by her own hands. It would also let others see the virtue, speech, skills, and appearance of a senior maid coming out of Hanbi Mountain Manor.

Zhou Shaojin thought this was very good of Biyu. She drew patterns and tried to have the needlework room help Biyu embroider a bright red vest to wear when meeting relatives. Not only did Nanny Wang agree, but she also enthusiastically offered to make an additional outfit for Biyu to wear when returning to her natal home after the wedding, so she could marry out in glory.

Hearing Biyu say this, she couldn’t help saying, “I wonder if Uncle Chi has heard about it?”

Biyu smiled as she used scissors to cut the thread, then rethreaded a new color, saying, “You should wait a bit before going! I just heard the little maids say that Tingli Pavilion is completely silent, with an atmosphere that could crush someone to death. Even Qingfeng and Langyue, who usually serve Fourth Master closely, are standing far away, not daring to approach the study. I’m afraid something has happened that made Fourth Master uncomfortable!”

Zhou Shaojin found this strange.

From outside came Snowball’s barking sounds: “Woof woof woof!”

Zhou Shaojin and Biyu went out to look—Ji Ying was teasing Snowball with an embroidered ball!

“When did you get back?” Zhou Shaojin was pleasantly surprised.

Biyu hurried to make tea and bring refreshments to receive Ji Ying.

Ji Ying comfortably took a sip of tea and said, “Ah, this is what a proper life is like.”

“Have you been working very hard outside?” Zhou Shaojin looked Ji Ying over.

She seemed thinner and darker than before, but her features were more defined, her gaze brighter. Her whole person was like an unsheathed sword—cold light flashing yet inexplicably making one feel her striking brilliance.

Seeing no one else around, Ji Ying lowered her voice and said, “That Uncle Chi of yours works women like men and men like oxen and horses. He’s really not human!”

Zhou Shaojin hurriedly covered her mouth.

Biyu pretended to pour tea, acting as if she hadn’t heard.

Ji Ying giggled and said, “Being with you all is still more fun!”

Zhou Shaojin glared at Ji Ying.

Ji Ying consoled Zhou Shaojin with utter insincerity, saying, “Alright, alright. Your Uncle Chi won’t hear. He’s in the middle of throwing a tantrum right now—no time to pay attention to us.”

“Why is Uncle Chi throwing a tantrum?” Zhou Shaojin asked.

Even Biyu perked up her ears to listen.

Ji Ying took a piece of crispy candy and said lazily, “Probably that Madam Yuan did something stupid again and made him so angry that veins are popping at his temples. He even called Dongting over—definitely planning to scheme against someone again.” She added, “You should know Dongting, right? Wei Dongting. He says he’s met you. Your Uncle Chi gives him all the dirty work. Whenever he shows up, nothing good comes of it!”

Zhou Shaojin felt this was because Ji Ying was prejudiced against Uncle Chi.

She could turn even good things into bad, and if something didn’t suit her, she’d describe it as having sores on the head and pus on the feet.

“What exactly happened?” Zhou Shaojin pushed at her.