Zhou Shaojin only needed one glance to know that the bowl of so-called “soup” was actually talisman water.

She looked at her sister.

Zhou Chujin’s face was full of earnest expectation, but that expectation, falling in Zhou Shaojin’s eyes, suddenly made her feel somewhat heartsick. She pretended to know nothing, picked up the soup bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.

Watching this, Zhou Chujin’s smile bloomed.

Zhou Shaojin was slightly startled.

This was the first time she had seen her sister smile so radiantly.

If this could make her sister happy, why wouldn’t she be willing to do it?

Zhou Shaojin smiled and handed the bowl to Chi Xiang.

Zhou Chujin took her sister’s hand and said somewhat eagerly, “Let’s sleep together tonight, shall we?”

Ever since Zhou Shaojin had “fallen ill,” she had accompanied Zhou Shaojin almost every night. Later, when Zhou Shaojin became suspicious of her situation, she found an excuse, and only then did the two sisters sleep separately.

Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile.

They washed up and went to bed.

Zhou Shaojin properly pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, but Zhou Chujin leaned against the large welcoming pillow at the head of the bed and talked with her. “I heard you slept all day today? That’s not good. No matter what, you should eat something. Over time, be careful not to starve yourself sick. Your body is already weak and can’t withstand such treatment.” She continued, “Would you like me to have Ma Fushan’s wife buy some books to relieve your boredom? I heard that Top Candidate Ma has published a new poetry collection that people in Jiangnan are all competing to buy. It should be quite good.”

“No need.” Zhou Shaojin was originally quiet and spoke little, preferring stillness to activity. Sometimes she would stay in her room all day without going out and didn’t feel there was anything wrong with this. “I sleep in my room for a while and chat with Shi Xiang and the others, and the day passes.”

Zhou Chujin didn’t think so.

Her sister was innocent and straightforward, liking to tell her everything without reservation, including the matter of Cheng Lu secretly sending a servant with things for her. After she mentioned it several times, every time Cheng Lu sent her something, she still told her about it. What’s more, these past few days she had made her “fall ill,” burned yellow papers in her courtyard, and made her drink talisman water. She wasn’t stupid—she couldn’t possibly not have noticed, and it was even more impossible for her not to have the slightest resentment in her heart. Yet from beginning to end she hadn’t made a sound. This had never happened before.

Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but sit up straight, staring into Zhou Shaojin’s eyes. “Are you hiding something from me?”

Zhou Shaojin could be said to have been raised by her sister since childhood. What she feared most was making her sister sad, and secondly, she feared her sister’s stern face. Though things weren’t like before now, just thinking of how good her sister had been to her in the past, being stared at by her sister like this still made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

“No.” She said briefly, “I’m not hiding anything from you, sister.”

But the more she was like this, the more Zhou Chujin suspected.

Her gaze couldn’t help but dim as she said in a low voice, “Shaojin, Mother is gone, and Father isn’t by our side. We sisters should support each other even more. You mustn’t hide things from me.” Thinking for a moment, she continued, “Remember last time when you accidentally broke Master Wu’s qin? You came back and told sister right away. Sister thought of a solution early—not only did I find a qin similar to Master Wu’s to compensate her, but I also took the initiative to bring you to apologize to Master Wu before she even discovered it. Master Wu not only didn’t blame you but praised you for being forthright and magnanimous, having the bearing of a gentleman. She regarded you with special favor and often gave you individual guidance on the qin. Now your qin playing is even better than Cousin Jia’s… Have you forgotten?”

How could Zhou Shaojin forget?

Because of this matter, Cheng Jia’s mother, Jiang Shi, had even privately complained that Master Wu, who taught them the qin, was biased.

And after this incident, she not only received Master Wu’s praise but also received praise from Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, Eldest Uncle, and her cousins. Grandmother had even bestowed upon her a flawless mutton-fat jade pendant, Eldest Aunt had given her a pair of pearl flowers, and Eldest Uncle and her cousins had sent her writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

This was the first time in her life she had received so much praise, and also the first time she had surpassed Cheng Jia.

But what she wanted to do truly couldn’t be told to her sister!

What should she do!

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but grow anxious, calling out “Sister” and saying, “I’m really not hiding anything from you.”

“Really?!” Zhou Chujin didn’t believe her. She widened her bright, distinct eyes and quietly watched Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin, thinking of her sister’s seemingly gentle yet unyielding nature that wouldn’t give up until reaching her goal, immediately felt her scalp tingle. Her lips moved for a long while before she had no choice but to omit the beginning and end, picking out what wasn’t important to say: “I just heard that Grandmother will have guests these next two days, and I wanted to know who’s coming to visit Grandmother. Since I’m ill now, I don’t know if it will also prevent you from receiving guests?”

Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but laugh with a “puchi” sound, saying, “You’re worried about this?” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but pat Zhou Shaojin’s head. “Those who come to see Grandmother are nine times out of ten seeking something from the principal branch or second branch. It’s better not to see them. I’ll gladly take the leisure time to stay home and keep you company.”

This was indeed true.

Grandmother was self-respecting and self-reliant. She had raised three children as a widow and done well in raising them. Her eldest son was a juren scholar, her second son was a jinshi graduate. The second branch patriarch of the Cheng family and the eldest master of the principal branch both showed her great respect. Some people who couldn’t gain entry to seek help from the principal or second branches would instead turn to Grandmother. Fortunately, Grandmother was a sensible person and didn’t easily get involved in such matters.

Zhou Shaojin also couldn’t help but laugh with a “puchi” sound.

The atmosphere between the two sisters was like solid ice melting, gaining some warmth.

Zhou Chujin continued with the previous topic. “You don’t need to be anxious either. No matter who comes, if Grandmother intends for us to meet them, she’ll definitely tell us in advance. If she feels it’s inappropriate, naturally she won’t have us come out to receive guests. We just need to follow Grandmother’s wishes.”

Her sister’s words were like a blow to the head, bringing Zhou Shaojin sudden enlightenment.

These past few days she had been restless and anxious, which, as her sister said, was precisely because she had lost her usual composure.

Even if she had truly lived through life once before, there were still thirteen years until the Cheng family would be raided and the clan exterminated. She didn’t need to be so urgent in seeking verification. If she had only had a nightmare, when the dream ended, naturally everything would be fine—there was even less need to be so anxious and agitated.

She couldn’t help but tightly embrace her sister’s arm, saying, “Thank you, sister! I understand now.”

That voice was so sincere, like self-redemption, making Zhou Chujin’s heart vaguely uneasy. She wanted to ask more questions, but Zhou Shaojin had already said, “I heard that the eldest daughter of Prefect Wu’s family has a cinnabar mole between her brows. I wonder if it’s true or false? For the patriarch’s eightieth birthday, that Prefect Wu should come to offer birthday wishes too, right? I wonder if Madam Wu will bring Miss Wu to offer birthday wishes?”

Zhou Chujin was, after all, only eighteen years old, raised in the deep boudoir chambers, not yet possessing the shrewdness and keenness of later generations. Hearing this, she simply thought her sister’s quiet nature was seeking some excitement and smiled. “I’ll ask Eldest Aunt when the time comes. If Madam Wu brings Miss Wu to offer birthday wishes, I’ll definitely point her out to you.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded.

In her memory, on the day of the birthday banquet’s main feast, Wu Baozhang had been arranged to sit together with her sister…

The big stone weighing on her heart finally dropped, and she felt relieved. After chatting idly with her sister for a few more sentences, her eyes grew drowsy and she couldn’t hold on any longer.

“Sleep then!” Zhou Chujin smiled and turned to blow out the candle.

Zhou Shaojin quickly entered dreamland.

At midnight, she suddenly woke up. When she reached out her hand, there was no one beside her.

Zhou Shaojin broke out in a cold sweat from shock.

She saw light showing under the curtain of the adjacent side room. After thinking for a moment, she slipped on her shoes and walked over.

Zhou Chujin was kneeling before Zhuang Liangyu’s portrait, murmuring to her stepmother: “…Mother, I’m so afraid… You must protect Shaojin… keep her safe and sound… I’m willing to lose ten years of my life…”

Zhou Shaojin’s tears flowed out with a “whoosh.”

She tiptoed back, pulled the blanket over her head, and closed her eyes.

※※※

The next day, the sun shone brilliantly.

When Zhou Shaojin woke up, Zhou Chujin had already gone to pay respects to Grandmother.

Shi Xiang said, “Eldest Miss left word that she’ll attend to Old Madam during breakfast and told you not to wait for her.”

Zhou Shaojin let out a sound of surprise.

Grandmother wasn’t the type who liked making younger generations observe strict rules. Whether sons and daughters-in-law or grandchildren, they all took their meals in their own quarters. So each courtyard had its own small kitchen, yet the household expenses weren’t any more than other branches.

Perhaps sister had something to say to Grandmother?

Zhou Shaojin sat before the mirror to arrange her hair and dress, choosing a wormwood-green jacket with hidden lotus pattern and a white Hangzhou silk openwork skirt to change into. With the newly available spring bamboo shoots, water celery, and other small dishes, she ate half a bowl of porridge and two rice cakes before putting down her chopsticks and washing her hands.

Shi Xiang watched with great pleasure. While directing the young maids to clear the table, she said warmly, “Second Miss, I heard plums and apricots are already being sold at the market. Would you like to buy some to try?”

Zhou Shaojin knew that with her “illness,” those serving at her side had also had difficult days. This was Shi Xiang trying to coax her into eating, so she smiled and pointed to the small black box with eight-treasure inlay decoration at the head of the bed, saying, “Take two taels of silver yourself.”

Shi Xiang smiled and curtsied. A young maid came in to report, “Second Miss, Song Qing from Young Master Lu’s side has come. He says Young Master Lu heard you caught a cold and specially had him send you Ledebouriella Sagely Unblocking Pills.”

Cheng Lu?

Zhou Shaojin’s smile froze on her face.

She no longer remembered his kindness to her, but his ferocious face—that she could never forget.

After a long silence, she said, “Bring the things in.”

Shi Xiang’s smile completely vanished as she quietly responded “Yes” and brought the items inside.

Besides the box containing the pills, there was also a colorful butterfly kite.

Zhou Shaojin gently stroked the butterfly kite’s wings and said, “Shi Xiang, have Song Qing deliver a message to Young Master Lu for me. Say I thank him for his things and will accept them this time, but tell him not to send anything else in the future. After I recover from my illness, besides continuing to study the Admonitions for Women and Biographies of Exemplary Women with Nanny Shen, I also need to learn needlework from Niangzi Qian. I’m afraid I won’t have leisure time to play.”

In other words, Second Miss wanted to draw a clear line with Young Master Lu!

Shi Xiang was surprised but also relieved.

The master was already a fourth-rank prefect, and everyone said the master would be promoted further in the future. Second Miss was still young and wasn’t in a hurry to marry—why must it be Young Master Lu? Just like Eldest Miss, who married the heir of the Liao family and would become the principal wife of the Liao family. Although Second Miss didn’t have Eldest Miss’s illustrious background, she might not necessarily be unable to choose a family better than Young Master Lu!

She happily responded “Yes” and went out to relay the message.

Zhou Shaojin watched and was stunned.

She hadn’t expected that Shi Xiang and the others didn’t think highly of Cheng Lu… She had thought everyone would be pleased to see her and Cheng Lu together… It turned out only she had treasured Cheng Lu…

Zhou Shaojin smiled bitterly, her mood suddenly becoming dejected.