But Cheng Xu felt very wronged and said: “Grandmother, I’m not causing trouble. I really do have urgent business with Second Cousin Zhou!”

He was originally tall and handsome, and his face showed such frankness that the Grand Dowager of Duke Liangguo couldn’t help but smile and say to Old Madam Guo: “You can’t just give the child a beating without asking what happened. You should at least hear what the child has to say, shouldn’t you?”

Every family loves their own children.

Old Madam Guo believed Cheng Xu had his reasons for acting this way. But regardless of the reason, his behavior was somewhat rash. Rather than being criticized by others, it was better to be scolded by one’s own elders—making a big issue small and a small issue nothing, so that those who had complaints about Cheng Xu would have nothing more to say.

This was why Old Madam Guo had rebuked Cheng Xu before the public—Old Madam Guo was protecting Cheng Xu. And even without anyone pleading for Cheng Xu, Old Madam Guo would have found an opportunity to let Cheng Xu explain his actions.

She couldn’t let Cheng Xu leave all the guests with an impression of frivolous behavior, could she?

Now that the Grand Dowager of Duke Liangguo had taken the initiative to speak for Cheng Xu, how could Old Madam Guo refuse?

But she wasn’t some inexperienced woman. Though pleased in her heart, her face showed nothing as she said sternly: “Since the Grand Dowager of Duke Liangguo has pleaded for you, for her sake I won’t punish you. What help do you need from your Second Cousin Zhou?”

Cheng Xu said awkwardly: “We were playing a riddle game, and Cousin Gu’s reclining deer seal somehow fell into that Ru ware vase and we can’t get it out. We tried several young maids and servants who were still children, but none worked, so I thought of Second Cousin Zhou…”

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly. She felt Cheng Xu wasn’t telling the truth.

The reason Cousin Gu’s reclining deer seal had fallen into the vase must have something to do with Cheng Xu.

But without evidence, she couldn’t even voice a rebuttal.

Everyone’s eyes once again fell on Zhou Shaojin. Several ladies sitting by the pearl curtains in the corridor laughed. Among them, a young woman in her prime wearing a bright red embroidered jacket with a hundred butterflies and flowers pattern said: “What a clever idea! This young lady’s hands are as white as snow and as slender as willows—she’s indeed a good helper.”

Everyone looked toward Zhou Shaojin’s wrists.

Zhou Shaojin blushed and hid behind Zhou Chujin, tucking her hands into her sleeves.

But the older ladies had other concerns. The Grand Dowager of Duke Liangguo, upon hearing this, looked thoughtful and asked Cheng Xu: “The reclining deer seal—is it the one Emperor Taizong bestowed upon Old Master Gu in the Golden Throne Hall that year?”

Cheng Xu lowered his head in shame and quietly responded “Yes.”

“You children, how dare you be so bold!” The Grand Dowager of Duke Liangguo stamped her foot anxiously. “That’s an imperial gift, one of the Gu family’s heirlooms. How could you use it for betting?”

Those who knew about the reclining deer seal nodded, while those who didn’t looked somewhat confused.

Seated beside the young woman in the bright red hundred butterflies embroidered jacket was a woman of similar age wearing a sapphire blue mountain-and-water pattern embroidered jacket. She had snow-white skin, large almond eyes, and a gentle temperament. Seeing some people didn’t understand, she explained softly: “When the realm was first unified, Emperor Taizong recruited talented scholars. Jiangnan Circuit recommended Old Master Gu to lead the Eastern Palace and teach the Crown Prince the Analects. Duke Liangguo made three visits to his cottage without success. Emperor Taizong had no choice but to issue a special summons for Old Master Gu to come to the capital. Old Master Gu, as a commoner, answered the Emperor’s questions in the Golden Throne Hall. Since our dynasty’s founding until now, he remains the first and only person to do so. That reclining deer seal, the hundred beasts inkstone, and the landscape brush washer were the three treasures Emperor Taizong bestowed at that time.”

The room immediately buzzed like a thousand bees, with constant humming in their ears.

The young woman in the sapphire blue mountain-and-water pattern embroidered jacket ignored this and smiled as she asked Old Madam Guo: “The Ru ware vase—could it be that ‘Beauty Under the Moon’?”

Old Madam Guo looked toward Cheng Xu.

Cheng Xu nodded gently and murmured: “If it weren’t that Beauty Under the Moon vase, I would have smashed it already…”

Someone asked: “Madam Gao, is there a story behind this too?”

So this young woman was the wife of Zhenjiang Prefect Gao Yao.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but glance at Madam Gao.

She saw Madam Gao smile and say: “This vase doesn’t have any particular story—it’s just called that name. I liked how it sounded, so I remembered it.”

Some smiled faintly, others said: “I see!”

But Zhou Shaojin felt the vase certainly wasn’t as simple as Madam Gao made it sound. Otherwise, how would Madam Gao know the vase’s name?

She had a bad feeling.

That reclining deer seal was extremely precious, and this vase also had an extraordinary origin and couldn’t be smashed… No matter how she looked at it, she had no choice but to make this trip with Cheng Xu!

But if she just accepted defeat so easily, how would that be different from her previous life?

Zhou Shaojin’s mind raced, and she quickly thought of an idea.

“Old Madam!” She took a deep breath, smiled, and stepped forward to bow to Old Madam Guo. “Since that’s the case, why not have Cousin Xu bring the vase over? I can try right here.”

Old Madam Guo was slightly taken aback, and Madam Gao and the others’ expressions became somewhat subtle.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart sank—she knew she’d said something wrong, but before she could think about what exactly was wrong, Old Madam Guo had already said: “The opera is about to begin, and it’s chaotic here. You’d better make the trip with your Cousin Xu.” As she spoke, she instructed Feicui beside her, “Accompany Second Miss there. If that reclining deer seal still can’t be retrieved, just smash the vase.”

Cheng Xu was stunned and cried out: “Grandmother…”

Old Madam Guo had already waved him off, saying: “The incident happened at the Cheng residence, so the Cheng family must take responsibility. Don’t say more—just do as I say.”

“Old Madam’s righteousness is admirable!” The room buzzed again.

But Zhou Shaojin saw Madam Gao hesitate to speak, showing an expression of heartache and reluctance.

She became even more certain the vase was not simple.

But no matter how extraordinary the vase was, since Old Madam Guo had spoken, if the reclining deer seal truly couldn’t be retrieved, she would not linger—what did the vase’s fate matter to her?

Zhou Shaojin made up her mind and smiled her acceptance.

Zhou Chujin, who always doted on her sister, sensed Zhou Shaojin’s unease. She smiled and said: “Why don’t I accompany my sister? She’s young—she might be clumsy and break something!”

Hearing this, Cheng Jia jumped out and said: “I’ll go too. If Shaojin can’t get it out, I can help.”

Everyone looked toward her wrists.

They appeared smooth as snow, lustrous as suet jade, round and flawless.

Someone laughed with a “pfft.”

Cheng Jia’s face flushed red.

Jiang Shi hurriedly said: “Jia, don’t cause trouble! Shaojin is going to help your Cousin Xu, not to play. Don’t make things difficult!” As she spoke, she went to pull her, looking as if she feared Cheng Jia would continue causing trouble. She also said to Zhou Chujin: “You shouldn’t go either. With Miss Feicui accompanying her, what are you worried about?”

Old Madam Guo, however, thought Zhou Chujin was afraid that if the reclining deer seal couldn’t be retrieved and the vase was smashed, Zhou Shaojin would be blamed. Zhou Chujin’s behavior clearly showed she doubted Old Madam Guo’s character. She was somewhat displeased and followed Jiang Shi’s words, saying to Zhou Chujin: “Rest assured, I keep my word.”

Zhou Chujin was quite perceptive and naturally heard the implication in Old Madam Guo’s words. She could no longer insist and could only smile and say: “Then I’ll stay here and keep Cousin Jia company.” But she was still worried and quietly told Zhou Shaojin to “be careful.”

If looks could wound, Cheng Jia would already have seven or eight injuries.

Zhou Shaojin barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes at Cheng Jia.

How had she never noticed before that Cheng Jia was a troublemaker?

Zhou Shaojin followed Cheng Xu downstairs with suppressed anger.

Cheng Xu properly led the way ahead, even adopting an expression as if afraid she was scared. As he walked, he said: “We didn’t expect it would turn out this way. Cousin Gu still doesn’t know the seal can’t be retrieved. So I had Da Su hold the vase and wait for us at Changchun Pavilion.”

Zhou Shaojin had no idea where Changchun Pavilion was, but she didn’t plan to ask. She just followed Cheng Xu with her head down.

But Cheng Xu was quite talkative, saying: “Changchun Pavilion isn’t far from Siyi Pavilion, not quite to Listening to Pine Wind Place, on the east side of Sanzhi Pavilion…”

Zhou Shaojin had never had much sense of direction. Before he spoke it was fine, but after he spoke, Zhou Shaojin was even more confused about the location.

She still said nothing.

Cheng Xu, walking ahead, didn’t notice at all and continued: “Do you know about Sanzhi Pavilion? It was once our Cheng family old ancestor’s meditation retreat. Flowers bloom like brocade, streams flow gently, trees are lush—the scenery is extremely beautiful. Especially under the bodhi tree by the stream, there’s a person-height bluestone that reflects the image of someone sitting cross-legged. Everyone says it’s where our Cheng family old ancestor meditated and gained enlightenment. Would you like to go see it?”

He introduced things attentively but waited long without receiving any response. When he looked back, he saw Zhou Shaojin expressionless, looking straight ahead, following far behind him. He didn’t even know if she’d heard him.

Cheng Xu felt deeply discouraged.

But as they left Siyi Pavilion, he recovered his spirits and stood smiling on the garden path, waiting for Zhou Shaojin to approach.

Zhou Shaojin, seeing him stop, also stopped.

Cheng Xu waited for a long time without Zhou Shaojin approaching and finally understood her intention. He couldn’t help but widen his eyes and say: “Why are you staying so far from me? Am I going to eat you or something?”

Shameless wretch!

He couldn’t even speak properly.

Zhou Shaojin grumbled inwardly, not even glancing at Cheng Xu. She turned to Feicui and said: “Though I’m young, I know about proper conduct between men and women. This distance is best.”

Feicui was already eighteen. If she hadn’t noticed Cheng Xu’s intentions before, she was absolutely certain now.

How could she dare get involved?

She hummed and hawed vaguely—no one could hear clearly what she actually said.

But Cheng Xu was so angry he couldn’t speak. He stormed off with a flick of his sleeves.

Zhou Shaojin followed behind him at an unhurried pace.

Around them, green trees shaded the sun, thick shade covered the ground, and bird songs occasionally rang out crisply.

Cheng Xu’s mood gradually calmed.

Why could he never let go of Zhou Shaojin?

Besides her beauty, there was also… she was only good to people she liked, wholeheartedly good to them!

Like her sister, like Cheng Jia, like Old Madam Guan, and also Cheng Yi, Cheng Gao… she was always gentle in speech, patient and compliant with them.

They didn’t know each other originally—he had forcibly called her out. Anyone proper would think his behavior frivolous. How could he expect her to show him a pleasant face?

Thinking this way, he felt his earlier behavior had been too rude and too petty.