Zhou Shaojin looked at the scene before her and thought of her previous life.

At that time, how similar she and Cheng Jia had been—she too had been so foolishly unguarded against Wu Baozhang…

She stepped forward and pulled Cheng Jia, saying in a low voice: “I have something to tell you.”

Cheng Jia immediately abandoned Wu Baozhang and asked curiously: “What is it?”

Zhou Shaojin said: “Those sisters from the same father but different mothers are fighting each other. Last time they nearly dragged me into it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you—be careful yourself. Don’t be sold and still count money for the person who sold you!”

Cheng Jia hated most when people called her foolish.

She immediately took it to heart and stamped her foot, saying: “Don’t think I don’t know she’s trying to ingratiate herself with me. I just didn’t take her seriously—a prefect’s daughter daring to come to the Cheng family to scheme. She really doesn’t know her own worth!”

Zhou Shaojin knew she had planted a thorn in Cheng Jia’s heart. From now on, even if Wu Baozhang treated Cheng Jia well, to avoid Zhou Shaojin’s ridicule, Cheng Jia would keep her distance from Wu Baozhang.

She therefore said nothing more and followed Cheng Jia to pay respects to the elders.

Having put on airs as the elder sister, Cheng Jia immediately became happy. When Wu Baozhang came over to talk to her again, she was cold and indifferent, no longer enthusiastic.

Wu Baozhang frowned secretly.

When the birthday celebration in the outer courtyard concluded, the birthday banquet began.

The banquet for the Grand Dowager of Duke Liangguo and others was set in the open hall behind Siyi Pavilion, while others’ banquets were set in the side rooms of Siyi Pavilion.

As in her previous life, because Cheng Jia had an impatient temperament, although she represented the Cheng family, she couldn’t handle things independently. So the steady and composed Zhou Chujin was asked to take charge of entertaining the visiting young ladies with her, while Zhou Shaojin was arranged to sit at the same table as Cheng Lu’s mother Dong Shi. Pan Qing was seated at a table in the open hall.

Cheng Jia’s expression immediately soured, but she wasn’t someone who didn’t understand priorities. She suppressed her displeasure and entertained the young ladies with Zhou Chujin, Wu Baozhang among them.

At Zhou Shaojin’s table, besides Dong Shi, there was Cheng Ju’s mother Yang Shi and several distant relatives of the Cheng family. As soon as Yang Shi sat down, she pulled Dong Shi into conversation. Zhou Shaojin remembered that in her previous life she had sat shoulder to shoulder facing Dong Shi, so she immediately sat diagonally across from Dong Shi without batting an eye.

Yang Shi’s voice drifted over intermittently: “…slapped her right across the face. I was so startled at the time that I quietly withdrew… Originally wanted to find you, but you weren’t there either, so I came alone… nearly missed paying birthday respects to Old Ancestor… Before I’d only heard them arguing, but this time they actually came to blows. If Old Master and Old Madam were here it would be better—at least there’d be someone to take charge. Now who can she turn to? She can only pretend nothing happened…”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly as she listened.

Had Wen Grand Master struck Wen Grand Madam?

She thought of Wen Grand Madam’s appearance earlier and sighed wistfully.

Dong Shi didn’t want to sit and chat with the gossip-loving Yang Shi, but was still a step too late and was caught by Yang Shi. After barely managing to listen patiently to her finish speaking, she looked up to find Zhou Shaojin was no longer beside her but sitting diagonally across from her.

She couldn’t help but frown.

When the banquet was halfway through, Dong Shi suddenly stood up and said to Zhou Shaojin: “I’m feeling a bit unwell. Come with me outside for a moment.”

Women had many things they couldn’t speak of explicitly to others. Who knew what this “unwell” might refer to?

Everyone’s eyes fell on Dong Shi and Zhou Shaojin.

This was another unexpected incident that hadn’t occurred in her previous life.

Zhou Shaojin was determined not to repeat past mistakes and stood up with a smile, unmoved as a mountain.

Dong Shi waited for her to come help her up—Zhou Shaojin had always been respectful and deferential toward her, and she enjoyed displaying their unusual closeness before others.

But Zhou Shaojin stood there for a long while without moving.

She glanced at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin still stood there smiling, looking as if she would follow wherever Dong Shi led.

Dong Shi recalled her son’s words that “Second Miss is somewhat different from before.” She furrowed her brows, stood up, and left the table.

Zhou Shaojin followed closely behind, hearing people behind her commenting: “That’s the Second Young Miss from the Fourth Branch, isn’t it? She’s truly beautiful! Looking at her appearance, she has a good temperament too. It’s just a pity her birth mother passed away.”

In marriage matters, this had always been a major flaw for her.

Whether in her previous life or this one.

But in this life, would she marry?

Marry whom?

She thought of Lin Shisheng, then suddenly had an inspiration.

If Concubine Mu married Lin Shisheng before trouble befell her at home, they could be husband and wife for life. And even if the Mu family ultimately met with misfortune, Lin Shisheng would have standing to rescue Concubine Mu’s three unmarried younger sisters!

She immediately felt her spirits lift.

She began thinking of sending someone to inquire about the Lin and Mu families’ situations.

But whom should she send?

All roads led back to the same problem—she had no one to use.

For the first time, Zhou Shaojin felt the urge to have a proper talk with her sister.

She wanted to get her dowry into her own hands early and raise a few servants she could command like her own limbs.

But would her sister misunderstand and think she was competing for dowry because she was jealous of Elder Sister’s magnificent ten-li red makeup trousseau?

Zhou Shaojin felt a headache coming on. Absent-mindedly thinking about these matters, she nearly collided with Dong Shi, who had been walking ahead but suddenly stopped.

“Uncle Bai’s wife,” she asked Dong Shi, “what happened?” Her eyes quickly swept the surroundings.

They were standing in the corridor connecting the side rooms and open hall of Siyi Pavilion. To the south were the side rooms, to the north was the open hall, to the northeast was the privy, and to the southwest was Peony Platform.

Zhou Shaojin asked: “Where are you going?”

Dong Shi didn’t answer. She looked deeply at Zhou Shaojin and said meaningfully: “Shaojin, your aunt became a widow young and only has your Cousin Lu as a son. I’ve always treated you like my own daughter. Tell me honestly—has someone been saying things about you? Why haven’t you come to visit your aunt these past days?”

Did she often visit her?

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

Even in her previous life when she wholeheartedly wanted to marry Cheng Lu, she hadn’t done anything so beneath her dignity. Moreover, her greatest wish in this life was never to encounter Cheng Lu again, even from a distance…

Dong Shi was clearly acting as a matchmaker for Cheng Lu!

She herself was young and ignorant, but Dong Shi was a woman managing household affairs, in charge of domestic management—how could she not understand the principles of marriage requiring parental orders and matchmaker’s words?

In the end, she was just taking advantage of Zhou Shaojin’s youth and lack of maternal guidance, leading and enticing her into secret dealings with Cheng Lu!

Without her previous life’s expectations of Cheng Lu, she no longer deceived herself. Dong Shi’s intentions and Cheng Lu’s malice were now laid bare in the sunlight, exposed in every detail.

Pretending ignorance while understanding perfectly, she smiled and said: “What are you saying, Aunt? I don’t understand! Every day I have to study with Grand Aunt Shen, and every other day I study needlework with Teacher Cen for half a day. Every five days I study the zither with Master Liu for two hours. These past days, to copy scriptures for Old Madam Guo, I’ve even had to suspend my lessons with Teacher Cen and Master Liu. How could I possibly have time to visit you?”

How could Dong Shi not know what she was doing? Hearing this, her old face flushed red, but for her son’s future, she could only press on: “Silly girl, don’t you understand your aunt’s meaning?” As she spoke, she reached for Zhou Shaojin’s hand, but Zhou Shaojin, who had been on guard against her, saw through it and pretended to fix her hair, avoiding her. Dong Shi’s hand hung in midair, making her smile somewhat awkward, but she still gritted her teeth and continued, “Among these girls, I like you best. Not only do you have a good disposition, you’re filial, obedient, and sensible. You’re about the same age as our Lu and grew up together as childhood sweethearts. I originally wanted to wait until your sister married before chatting with Old Madam Guan about this, but unexpectedly the Liao family entered mourning, so it became inappropriate to bring up. I heard your stepmother gave birth to a daughter. Won’t she bring the daughter back to the hometown to pay respects to ancestors? Your father is a man after all, not as attentive as a woman. You should remind your father. Then I could invite your stepmother to our home to sit and have an intimate talk.”

Though it violated propriety, anyone listening would think Dong Shi was proposing marriage, but upon careful consideration, she hadn’t mentioned a single word about forming a marriage alliance with the Zhou family.

What excellent calculations!

Zhou Shaojin was so angry her hands and feet trembled. She barely managed not to lose composure and said: “My sister has always managed household affairs. I’m not very clear about these matters. Shall I help you ask my sister?”

That sharp-tongued girl Zhou Chujin hid needles in silk—if she found out, wouldn’t she find ways to make her lose face!

Dong Shi hurriedly said: “No need, no need. For such a small matter, if you formally ask your sister on my behalf, she might think your aunt is a gossipy busybody!” After finishing, she realized her tone was too urgent, appearing somewhat timid, and felt both regretful and annoyed. Her tone became stiff: “Just help me ask casually!”

Zhou Shaojin sneered inwardly and simply said: “Alright! I think for such matters, asking my sister is not as good as asking Grandmother. My father writes a letter home every half month. Grandmother knows my father’s situation best.” Having said this, she turned toward the open hall.

Dong Shi was terrified out of her wits and hastily grabbed Zhou Shaojin.

“With so many distinguished guests today, how can we discuss such trivial matters?” She hadn’t expected things to turn out this way at all. She felt Zhou Shaojin was undermining her, yet also felt Zhou Shaojin shouldn’t be this shrewd. “Since your grandmother knows your father’s affairs best, after Old Ancestor’s birthday celebration ends, I’ll go ask your grandmother myself.”

Zhou Shaojin had only wanted to frighten her to prevent further pestering. To discuss such matters with Grandmother now—Dong Shi could afford to lose face, but she couldn’t!

She stopped accordingly and smiled: “Fine then. When Uncle Bai’s wife has time, you can ask Grandmother yourself.”

“Yes, yes.” Dong Shi nodded repeatedly, her back already covered in cold sweat.

Zhou Shaojin then asked: “Where is Uncle Bai’s wife feeling unwell? Where are you going?”

What else could she say?

Dong Shi seized the opportunity to retreat gracefully: “I need to go to the privy.” Though her voice was still somewhat stiff, it was much softer than before.

She had been far too accommodating before!

Zhou Shaojin thought—she could no longer allow herself to be shaped and molded by others as in the past.

“I don’t need the privy,” Zhou Shaojin said. “I’ll wait for you here!”

Dong Shi was startled. Looking at Zhou Shaojin’s calm and unruffled face, recalling what Zhou Shaojin had just said, she had a vague feeling that treating Zhou Shaojin as she had before would be rather difficult in the future!

What about her son’s marriage?

Though the Cheng family was prominent, there were many accomplished children—how could her son stand out?

A son-in-law is half a son. But a father-in-law is different. Moreover, there was also a capable brother-in-law… Such a family connection would be hard to find with their status!