Ji Ying grabbed Yuan Shi’s hand in one swift motion and said clearly, “Madam, let’s talk properly. You’re an elder—it’s not appropriate for you to strike people like this, is it?”

“What are you?” Yuan Shi was blocked by a maid, and moreover this maid was her brother-in-law’s senior maid. She immediately became embarrassed and furious, shouting loudly, “How dare you interfere in my affairs! Since when has the Cheng family become so lacking in rules?” As she spoke, she searched for Cheng Chi with her eyes.

Old Madam Guo, who had originally been furious, slowly relaxed her raised eyebrows when she saw Ji Ying.

Before Yuan Shi could speak, she said gravely, “Yuan Shi, now is not the time to pursue these matters. Quickly fetch a physician to examine Jiashan. Although it’s not cold enough for water to freeze, if we let Jiashan lie on this bluestone slab, what if the cold seeps into his bones and leaves lingering ailments?”

Yuan Shi immediately panicked and hurriedly ordered those serving beside her, “Quick, quick, fetch a physician!” She then knelt on the ground and half-lifted Cheng Xu, saying urgently, “Jiashan, Jiashan, how are you?”

Cheng Xu’s gaze was bewildered, as if he couldn’t see anything around him clearly. After Yuan Shi called to him urgently several times, he mumbled a few sentences.

Yuan Shi couldn’t hear clearly and said urgently, “What did you say? Who beat you? Tell Mother quickly, and Mother will avenge you!”

Old Madam Guo walked over with displeasure in her heart.

Cheng Xu then loudly called out “Shaojin,” followed by a string of incomprehensible mumbling.

Everyone in the cave turned to look at Zhou Shaojin in unison.

Madam Yuan wished she could stuff something in Cheng Xu’s mouth, but seeing Cheng Xu’s face so battered his features were indistinguishable, sorrow welled up in her heart. She felt Zhou Shaojin was truly a calamity—if not for her, how could her son have become estranged from her and ended up like this?

But Cheng Shi looked toward Cheng Zheng.

Cheng Zheng seemed not to notice Cheng Shi’s action at all, seriously watching Zhou Shaojin.

Cheng Shi sneered inwardly.

It had been Cheng Zheng who leaked information to him initially, and also Cheng Zheng who helped bring Zhou Shaojin here. Now that things hadn’t turned out as they had expected, Cheng Zheng was afraid this matter would implicate him and had washed his hands of it.

What a petty person!

No wonder Great-Grandfather had always warned him that the people of the third household were cunning and untrustworthy. He had previously thought that was a matter from the previous generation and that Great-Grandfather was making a mountain out of a molehill. But now it seemed he had misjudged people and been played by Cheng Zheng.

But things being as they were, even if he withdrew now, the first household probably wouldn’t let it go.

Did that fool Cheng Zheng know how rare this opportunity was!

Having caught Cheng Xu’s weakness, even if he became the clan head in the future, he wouldn’t be able to command respect or control the family’s resources like previous Cheng clan heads. At that point, the position of Cheng family clan head would exist in name only. Even if the first household produced several more jinshi scholars, they couldn’t completely suppress the second household.

For the second household, this was a century-long plan!

Only this way could the descendants of the second household have a chance to rise!

His heart sank as he glanced at his father.

Cheng Yi nodded almost imperceptibly.

Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin, under the attention of so many gazes, first shrank her shoulders, but soon she straightened her body. Like a pine tree on a cliff standing firm against the wind, her expression gradually took on a resolute quality.

The corners of Cheng Chi’s mouth lifted slightly.

Cheng Lu’s gaze focused sharply.

Since when had Zhou Shaojin become so bold?

What gave her the right?

Cheng Lu’s gaze paused on Cheng Chi, a shadow of gloom flashing in his eyes.

Old Madam Guo, as if not noticing everyone’s strange reactions, walked to Cheng Xu’s side, crouched down, took his hand, and said, “I wonder who could be so cruel as to beat Jiashan like this, leaving him confused even in his mind…” As she spoke, she looked up and asked Shaojin, “Are you alright?”

Shaojin’s face immediately flushed red, her mouth opening and closing as she didn’t know what to say.

Old Madam Guo then said, “Seeing your Cousin Xu like this, I don’t feel safe letting him return to Duojia Pavilion. Your Uncle Jing’s wife isn’t home these days, and you’ve been managing the affairs of my quarters—no one is more familiar with them than you. The physician will take a while to arrive, and we can’t let your Cousin Xu just lie here. Go back to Cold Jade Mountain House quickly and clear out the gauze cabinet in my room. Let your Cousin Xu recuperate in my quarters!”

Truly worthy of being the person who raised someone as cunning as the Fourth Master!

Ji Ying almost applauded Old Madam Guo.

With just a few words, she had transformed Cheng Xu’s covetous intentions into concern for Zhou Shaojin. Especially that last line “Shaojin, are you alright?”—those who didn’t know the truth would surely think Cheng Xu had been playing the hero saving the beauty… No wonder her family could never outmaneuver the Fourth Master. The Fourth Master truly came from a learned lineage!

She looked at Old Madam Guo with admiration, thinking perhaps she should go serve Old Madam Guo and learn a few tricks to deal with the Fourth Master…

Zhou Shaojin felt relieved upon hearing this.

Whether it was she who had beaten Cheng Xu or whether Old Madam Guo wanted to punish her, it was ultimately a matter between them. She didn’t want the scheming second and third households to watch the spectacle, much less Wu Baozhang and Cheng Lu.

She agreed obediently, supported Chun Wan, and turned to leave.

But unexpectedly, Cheng Yi’s loud voice came from behind: “Niece from the Zhou family, please wait a moment!”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but frown, wondering if she should just leave anyway. After all, Uncle Chi and Old Madam Guo were here holding things together—if anything happened, it wouldn’t be her turn to step forward… But her footsteps paused slightly, and Cheng Yi guessed her thoughts.

Cheng Yi walked out in two quick steps and said loudly, “Niece from the Zhou family, Jiashan is our family’s first jieyuan scholar. Moreover, he’s only nineteen this year—his future is immeasurable. In this deep inner courtyard, we can’t speak of other things, but ruffians and scoundrels certainly can’t get in. Although Jiashan studies, he also had masters teach him defensive martial arts at home. How could he be beaten so badly without any ability to fight back? There are only you three in this cave. Please tell me what exactly happened? We can neither let Jiashan be beaten for nothing, nor can we wrong the niece.”

His words were spoken with righteous indignation, yet they concealed needles. If Zhou Shaojin revealed the truth, Cheng Xu’s reputation for immorality and frivolity would probably follow him for the rest of his life. But if she covered for Cheng Xu, Cheng Yi could point the finger at Zhou Shaojin, saying she had a tryst with someone here and was discovered by Cheng Xu, causing him to suffer an undeserved disaster!

Such vicious intent—even Cheng Wen felt it was inappropriate upon hearing it, let alone Cheng Chi.

He narrowed his eyes and walked out slowly, saying lightly, “Since Cousin Yi insists no outsiders could have entered, I think whatever the matter is, we should wait until Jiashan wakes up to discuss it. With all this clamor, we won’t get to the bottom of anything.” He then said to Zhou Shaojin, “You go back to Cold Jade Mountain House first!”

Zhou Shaojin barely suppressed the joy in her heart. Pulling Chun Wan along, she gave Ji Ying a meaningful look and walked outside.

Cheng Yi naturally disagreed.

He called out loudly, “Niece from the Zhou family.”

Yuan Shi trembled with anger all over.

What did Fourth Uncle mean by this?

Why had he taken it upon himself to let Zhou Shaojin go?

What if something serious happened to Jiashan?

Upon hearing this, she tried to stand up.

But as soon as she moved, Old Madam Guo grabbed her firmly.

She looked back in confusion and saw Old Madam Guo’s stern gaze suppressing fury.

“Has a dog eaten your brain?” Old Madam Guo said in a low voice. “Don’t you understand yet what happened? Shaojin not pursuing this is already magnanimous—what more do you want? Isn’t Jiashan disgraced enough?”

Yuan Shi quietly tried to argue, “Our Jiashan is about to be betrothed. How could he have any entanglement with Zhou Shaojin? It’s clearly Zhou Shaojin…”

Under Old Madam Guo’s sharp, blade-like gaze, she lowered her head, her voice gradually diminishing until it was barely audible.

Zhou Shaojin ignored Cheng Yi’s words completely.

Not only did she not stop, but she quickened her pace and left the cave.

Outside the cave, the autumn day was refreshing. Golden ginkgo leaves carpeted the ground, adding a touch of warmth to the cold air.

Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath.

Having walked out of that dark, damp cave unharmed, feeling the dappled sunlight filtering through the branches and leaves falling on her body, she felt as if she had come back to life.

Compared to the day of her rebirth, this day gave her an even stronger sense of being reborn.

She smiled and linked arms with Chun Wan, saying, “Come, let’s go tidy the gauze cabinet for Cousin Xu!”

Zhou Shaojin’s heartfelt smile was even more brilliant than the autumn sunlight.

Chun Wan watched in a daze.

But Ji Ying protested dissatisfied, “You’re still going to tidy a room for him? Can’t you have some backbone!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips, her arched brows like a crescent moon, serene and graceful: “Forgive others where you can. I’ve already vented this anger—I won’t fuss about other things.” Having said this, she playfully winked at Ji Ying. “Besides, I’m not tidying the room for him—I’m tidying the gauze cabinet for the Old Madam!”

Ji Ying laughed heartily and said happily, “Good! Let’s go tidy the gauze cabinet for that scum!”

She pulled Zhou Shaojin toward Cold Jade Mountain House.

Is this really alright?

Chun Wan followed worriedly behind them both.

When Old Madam Guo and Fourth Master Chi returned to Cold Jade Mountain House, would they still have it easy?

Why hasn’t Steward Ma arrived yet!

She dragged her feet at the rear. It took Zhou Shaojin a while to notice that Chun Wan hadn’t kept up. She turned back with a smile and called to Chun Wan, “Hurry up!”

Chun Wan said “Oh” and quickened her pace to catch up.

Meanwhile, in the cave, Cheng Yi’s face was livid with anger.

He said to Cheng Chi, “Cousin Chi, I’m doing this for your own good! Jiashan is the legitimate grandson of your first household! Are you just going to let him lie here in such confusion? If Cousin Jing saw this, who knows how heartbroken he would be!”

Cheng Yi looked toward Yuan Shi.

Yuan Shi bit her lip, her expression appearing somewhat uncertain.

But Old Madam Guo’s face remained completely calm.

A faint glimmer flashed in Cheng Chi’s eyes, disappearing in an instant.

He didn’t answer Cheng Yi’s words but let his gaze sweep over the faces of Cheng Lu and the others one by one, saying calmly, “Is this what all of you think as well?”

With elders present, the younger generation like Cheng Gao all lowered their heads.

But Cheng Shi couldn’t help but glance at Cheng Zheng from the corner of his eye.

Cheng Zheng gazed at his nose and his heart through his nose—he couldn’t have been more cautious and proper.

He involuntarily curled his lip.

Cheng Lu had already said, “Letting the Zhou family niece leave like that is indeed somewhat improper. However, the Zhou family niece is a delicate woman with a good temperament—she couldn’t possibly have struck him. It would be fine to wait until Jiashan wakes up and ask him what happened!”

He spoke very sincerely.