Huai Shan’s words were courteous, so naturally Zhou Shaojin couldn’t afford to be remiss in etiquette either. She smiled and said, “Uncle Chi is busy. These trivial matters are probably things Uncle Chi hasn’t had time to attend to yet.”

“Indeed!” Huai Shan exchanged pleasantries with her. “Fortunately, our master isn’t someone who’s overly particular about such things…”

Not particular?

Zhou Shaojin thought about the bowls Cheng Chi used for eating, the teacups he used for drinking, the incense he wore on his person… and felt that Cheng Chi wasn’t being particular—he seemed to be making do instead.

The two were still conversing when Qingfeng rushed in hurriedly, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he hastily performed a bow to Zhou Shaojin. He said to Huai Shan, “Uncle, Fourth Master wants to see the landscape map we brought back from Kaifeng Prefecture last time. I remember it was stored in that trunk sealed with the ‘Yin’ label. You’ll need to open the trunk yourself.”

Before Huai Shan could speak, Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Go quickly! I’ll just wait here.”

Huai Shan glanced at Zhou Shaojin apologetically and said, “When I go in, I’ll urge Fourth Master along.”

With matters weighing on his mind, how could he converse properly with her?

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Don’t rush either. If Fourth Master can’t get away for the moment, just come out and let me know. I can come visit another day.”

Huai Shan smiled and agreed, then left the reception room with Qingfeng.

Zhou Shaojin casually looked around the room for a while.

This reception room truly lacked vitality—there wasn’t even a teacup or teapot, let alone potted plants or flowers for entertaining guests.

If she were to furnish it, it would be best to cover the couch with new bright red brocade cushions, use famille rose porcelain teacups with bird and flower patterns, and place several pots of seasonal fresh flowers on the tea table. The room would immediately come alive…

She pondered this in her heart and unconsciously backed up toward the doorway, wanting to see if her ideas would work best.

The curtain at the door suddenly lifted. Someone walked in.

Zhou Shaojin was badly startled.

Chun Wan, who had accompanied Zhou Shaojin here, quickly stepped forward to block Zhou Shaojin’s front and shouted, “Who is it? How dare you barge into the inner residence!”

The other party was a young gentleman of seventeen or eighteen, accompanied by a young servant still in his early teens. He wore a sapphire blue robe with purple auspicious cloud and cluster patterns from Huhang. Upon hearing this, his fair face immediately flushed red. He quickly bowed his head in salute and said, “I didn’t know there was a female guest here. How presumptuous of me. Please forgive me, Miss. I’ll withdraw immediately.”

With that, he turned and lifted the curtain to leave.

The young servant curiously glanced at Zhou Shaojin, then immediately opened his mouth wide, as if he’d seen something extraordinary. After a moment, he scurried out of the reception room.

Chun Wan then said, “Miss, let’s return! Fourth Master’s household has no female relatives managing domestic affairs, so visitors probably won’t be so careful. Better to avoid having someone else barge in and disturb you.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded with a downcast expression.

Although Uncle Chi treated her well, he hadn’t truly taken her to heart. Otherwise, knowing clearly that she had arrived, he hadn’t even given a word of instruction, just letting guests wander about freely.

Her heart felt as if it were being squeezed, making it somewhat hard to breathe.

Just like at Nine Ru Lane. The people serving around Cheng Chi also seemed few. After they left the room, they didn’t even see anyone on duty. Zhou Shaojin could only rely on her experience to head toward the reverse-seat hall that might be set up as a study.

After passing through the inner gate, they finally saw a woman passing by.

Zhou Shaojin asked and confirmed she was a servant woman Cheng Chi had newly purchased. She asked her to carry a message to Huai Shan.

The servant woman’s face was full of amazement. She looked at Zhou Shaojin several times before smiling and respectfully agreeing, then went to find Huai Shan.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t even have the mood to wait here for Huai Shan. She said despondently to Chun Wan, “I’ll go wait in the sedan chair. You stay here and let Huai Shan know.”

Chun Wan also felt that Yuqian Alley had been too discourteous today. Harboring resentment in her heart, she naturally agreed wholeheartedly and said, “Then Miss should sit in the sedan chair first! Standing here, if someone else collides with you again, that would be bad.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded and was about to board the sedan when Langyue came running over carrying a tea tray: “Second Cousin Miss, Second Cousin Miss! Why are you leaving? Fourth Master was afraid you’d be bored sitting alone, so he specially had me brew tea for you. Look, this is the finest Da Hong Pao, your favorite. It was delivered yesterday by express courier from the Thirteen Hongs. Fourth Master hasn’t even tasted it yet but had me bring it to you first…”

Even so, Zhou Shaojin wasn’t pleased.

She said in low spirits, “Thank you, Langyue. Please thank Uncle Chi for me too. It’s just that I’ve been out quite long already. Elder Sister is still waiting for me to return, and my little nephew also needs my help, so I won’t wait for Uncle Chi. I’ll come visit Uncle Chi again in a few days.”

Zhou Shaojin spoke sincerely, so naturally Langyue couldn’t keep her. She saw her into the sedan chair and returned to report to Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi was discussing the Yellow River governance of the Kaifeng Prefecture section with Old Master Song when he heard this and couldn’t help but pause.

Shaojin had a gentle temperament. Whenever she came to see him, she was never in a hurry to leave. When he was busy, she could always find things to occupy herself. What was wrong with her today?

Could she have some difficulty requiring his help, but unable to wait, she had to think of another solution?

But when Nanny Shang came yesterday, she hadn’t mentioned anything at all?

Or was there something even Nanny Shang didn’t know about?

The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. Old Master Song said something, but he didn’t catch it. After mumbling a few “mm-hmms,” he suddenly realized the room had fallen eerily silent. Looking up to see Old Master Song’s astonished expression, he came back to his senses and quickly said, “I was thinking about something and got distracted.”

Old Master Song was extremely displeased and said, “Then let’s take a break. We’ll continue when you’ve cleared the distractions from your mind.”

Was he being that obvious?

Cheng Chi suddenly felt somewhat guilty. He responded with a few perfunctory remarks, then actually called Huai Shan in to speak in the corridor.

Old Master Song was so angry his eyes bulged.

He had hoped Cheng Chi would eagerly discuss this Yellow River governance matter with him, not have him set aside his work to manage trivial affairs.

This was a bridge he was building for Cheng Chi.

If their discussed plan was truly feasible, he would introduce Cheng Chi to his own son, having Cheng Chi go to the Ministry of Works to manage river courses. With Cheng Chi’s background and genuine ability, in at most two years, he could stride confidently through the Ministry of Works. Wouldn’t that be better than a distinguished double-examination degree holder haggling with merchants over every penny? Moreover, successfully managing river works would also benefit the common people!

Old Master Song angrily set his teacup down heavily on the tea table and said to his own young servant attending in the room, “Where’s the Young Master? I asked you to call him over to help. Where has he run off to?”

This young servant was the same one Zhou Shaojin had encountered in the reception room earlier.

His expression tightened as he called out, “I’ll go find Young Master right away,” but inwardly he couldn’t help grumbling. Earlier, when the Elder had Young Master working on examination essays at home, Your Lordship said you wanted to bring Young Master out to gain experience. When Young Master came out, Your Lordship had Young Master attend to ink and brush here. Attending to ink and brush is understandable—Young Master is the grandson, you are the grandfather. That’s also filial piety! But Young Master had just finished grinding the ink when Your Lordship complained that Young Master was getting in the way and told him to wander around the courtyard by himself. Young Master had just gone out when you asked him to call Young Master back, saying that regardless, this was the inner residence and one shouldn’t wander freely. He hurriedly called Young Master over, but Old Master had Young Master wait outside. Now that Young Master is waiting outside, Old Master says Young Master is running around everywhere… Old Master is truly difficult to serve! No wonder Madam acts so timid and doesn’t dare say much when she sees Old Master.

The young servant went to invite the Song family’s Young Master, namely Song Mu, to come in.

Old Master Song handed Song Mu a landscape topographical map and said, “Look carefully. See if you can understand it.”

Song Mu didn’t dare be negligent. He sat down and began studying the map carefully.

But Cheng Chi’s mood was inexplicably somewhat irritable.

He asked Huai Shan, “She really didn’t say anything and just left? What was her demeanor like? Was she cheerful as usual, or was she anxious?”

How would he know?

Huai Shan was somewhat stumped. After thinking for a moment, he said, “It was Langyue who attended to her in the reception room.”

Standing nearby, Langyue shot Huai Shan a resentful glance. After thinking for a long time, she said somewhat uncertainly, “Second Cousin Miss… seemed a bit unhappy, listless. Usually when she encounters me she’s all smiles, but this time she barely smiled… But Sister Chun Wan seemed a bit angry…”

Right, the little young lady had never been angry with him.

That maid’s mood was probably the normal one!

He asked Langyue, “Was Second Cousin Miss like this when she arrived? Or was she like this when she left?”

Langyue shook her head and said softly, “When Second Cousin Miss arrived, it was Uncle Huai Shan who greeted her…”

Huai Shan looked at Langyue coldly and said, “When Second Miss arrived, she was fine—cheerful and happy. She even told me to take my time speaking with you, and if you were truly busy, she’d come another day. Later I helped Qingfeng search for something…”

Not a single one of them was reliable.

If only Nanny Shang were here.

Cheng Chi felt irritable and said, “There are too few people in this residence. Find someone to manage and organize the inner residence for me—preferably a woman in her forties.”

Young girls always liked to meddle, taking it upon themselves to arrange this and organize that for him.

Huai Shan acknowledged the order.

But Cheng Chi no longer had the mood to continue discussing with Old Master Song. He wanted to dismiss Old Master Song with a few words, but Old Master Song had been lonely in the capital for so long. Having finally met Cheng Chi, a kindred spirit despite the age difference, how could he be so easily dismissed? No matter what Cheng Chi said, he insisted Cheng Chi produce a plan for governing the Yellow River section at Kaifeng Prefecture. Annoyed, Cheng Chi said directly, “I have matters today and cannot work on this. Let’s discuss it another day.”

Old Master Song was even more stubborn.

He simply refused to leave.

He said, “That’s fine too. I haven’t slept well these past few days. Give me a guest room to rest in, and we’ll continue our discussion tomorrow.”

The Emperor would summon his ministers again the day after tomorrow to inquire about this matter. If they produced a plan before then, it would be like timely rain—it might even reach the Emperor’s ears directly.

Then Cheng Chi wouldn’t have to remain in his current state of frustrated ambition.

Better than being unable to shake him off.

Cheng Chi took a step back and had someone prepare a guest room for Old Master Song.

Song Mu was so embarrassed his face turned red enough to drip blood. He respectfully apologized to Cheng Chi, “My ancestral home is in Jingzhou, where crops fail nine years out of ten. My grandfather suffered from floods since childhood. His lifelong wish has been to control water, so the common people need not become displaced refugees and families need not be separated. Please don’t be angry, Uncle. Grant my grandfather his sincere patriotic heart.”

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but regard this eldest grandson of Old Master Song with solemn attention.