The red visiting card proclaimed the visitor’s status as a successful candidate of both palace examinations.

But why would Hong She want to call on Zichuan?

He was the maternal brother of the second branch’s Great Madam Yi, Cheng Shi’s maternal uncle.

Zhou Shaojin looked at Zichuan.

But Zichuan calmly took the visiting card.

Yuan Bieyun frowned and said to Zichuan, “How does Hong Guozhen know you’re here?”

“I don’t know either!” Zichuan smiled and handed the visiting card to Qingfeng beside him. “Won’t we know once we see him?” Then he instructed the young Taoist acolyte who had come to report, “Langyue, tell him I invite him to drink tea!”

Langyue ran off smiling like a wisp of smoke.

Yuan Bieyun stood up and said, “I’ve had a bit too much tea. I need to visit the privy.” Then he called to Qingfeng, “Lead the way. The Cheng family estate is so large, I’m afraid of getting lost.”

Why did these words sound like he didn’t want to see Hong She?

Could it be that the Yuan and Hong families didn’t get along?

Zhou Shaojin felt slightly uneasy.

The only reason she could sit here peacefully was because Yuan Bieyun and the others, out of respect for Zichuan, were pretending not to know the truth while understanding perfectly well. But Hong She… seeing Yuan Bieyun’s manner, she didn’t know whether Hong She would pretend ignorance when he saw her. Moreover, since her rebirth, she had become suspicious about her previous life’s experiences, always feeling that things in her past life weren’t as simple as they appeared. In her previous life, since events had already occurred, she hadn’t wanted to make her sister sad or put her father in a difficult position, so she had deceived herself and buried her head in the sand. The Cheng family’s fate in her previous life made her feel in this life that whether it was the second branch’s Cheng Shi or the third branch’s Cheng Zheng, they weren’t as simple or harmless as they appeared on the surface.

She remained wary of the second and third branches.

And Hong She was a person of the second branch, even one of the second branch’s pillars of support.

She wanted to avoid him.

In any case, Cheng Xu had already left, and this place wasn’t far from Siyi Hall.

But how should she say this to Zichuan?

Zhou Shaojin bit her lip, pondering in her heart, when she heard Zichuan smile and instruct the man in his thirties who stood outside the pavilion looking like dried bamboo: “Huaishan, escort this young lady back. Hong Guozhen may not have time to drink Iron Arhat. Have someone brew a pot of Biluochun instead. We won’t need anyone to tend the fire anymore.”

This last sentence was directed at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin froze.

Huaishan hesitated slightly before lowering his head and answering “Yes.” He said to Zhou Shaojin, “Please follow me!”

At this moment, Zhou Shaojin no longer knew how to express her feelings.

Whether in her previous life or this one, all she had hoped for was a shelter, a home of her own, so that when cold wind and rain came she wouldn’t have to wander homeless, so that when desolate and helpless she wouldn’t have to live in fear… But her forbearance, her retreat, her silence had brought only repeated betrayals… Just when she thought from now on she could only face life’s ups and downs alone, a stranger with whom she had never met quietly rescued her from difficulty, without needing her to beg, without needing her to ask for help, not even seeking repayment… allowing her to preserve that tiny bit of meager dignity before the public… To him this was merely a casual act, merely momentary compassion, but for her it was enough to warm her heart and make it unforgettable—in her previous life, Lin Shisheng had treated her reasonably well, but that was what she had traded for with her wifely rights. To her, the Lin family was less a home than a temporary resting place. Once circumstances changed, having neither blood ties nor marital affection with Lin Shisheng, she would likely be the first to be abandoned…

Zhou Shaojin lowered her head… afraid tears would fall… She performed a deep curtsy, then rose and followed the person called “Huaishan” away from the thatched pavilion.

The trees were still verdant green, the morning breeze still gentle, but her footsteps no longer carried the panic and heaviness of when she had rushed in.

Music and noise filled her ears. Peony Terrace was now visible ahead. Because she was grateful to Zichuan for helping her out of her predicament, she was very respectful when thanking Huaishan: “You need only escort me this far. I can return by myself.”

“Very well.” Huaishan readily agreed. “I’ll stand here and watch you go in before I leave.”

Only then did Zhou Shaojin discover that his voice was very hoarse, like an old worn-out huqin.

Perhaps because of her mood, she didn’t find it unpleasant or grating.

She thanked Huaishan again and turned toward Peony Terrace. As she walked, she thought that judging from Huaishan’s appearance, he should be one of Zichuan’s attendants. But it truly proved the old saying: like master, like servant. He looked cold and icy, but actually, like Zichuan, he had a kind heart and was gentle, attentive, generous and considerate.

She looked back.

Sure enough, Huaishan still stood in the middle of the path watching her.

She smiled at Huaishan and walked into Peony Terrace.

On stage they were performing “The Fourth Son Visits His Mother.”

Feicui waited anxiously for her by the path leading to Peony Terrace.

Seeing her, Feicui ran over as if relieved of a heavy burden.

Zhou Shaojin was thinking that she would still need to go to Hanbi Mountain Lodge to copy scriptures in the future, and would inevitably have dealings with Feicui. Since she had left leverage in her own hands, rather than making a scene that everyone knew about and embarrassing Feicui, she might as well take this opportunity to do Feicui a favor, making it more convenient for herself to act in the first branch in the future.

So before Feicui could speak, she smiled and said, “Let’s go see the old madam together! Since the eldest young master’s matter is settled, we should report to the old madam as well. I just don’t know whether that seal was finally retrieved—I did my best.”

This meant she didn’t want to pursue the matter!

Feicui glanced at Zhou Shaojin, bent her knees and said quietly “Thank you, Second Young Lady,” then said meaningfully, “Thanks to the second young lady’s idea of using a red string to hook out that seal, I was just planning to accompany the second young lady to give the grand madam our report!”

Both knew what the other was saying.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, going with Feicui to the second floor of Peony Terrace.

Old Madam Guo wasn’t watching the opera but was whispering something in the ear of the Grand Madam of Duke Liangguo’s mansion.

Biyu stepped forward and whispered a few words in Old Madam Guo’s ear. Both Old Madam Guo and the Grand Madam of Duke Liangguo’s mansion turned their heads.

Old Madam Guo beckoned to Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin and Feicui stepped forward and paid respects to Old Madam Guo.

Everyone stopped watching the opera and looked over.

Feicui then repeated to everyone how they had “used a red string to hook out the seal.”

Madam Gao immediately breathed a sigh of relief and chanted “Amitabha.”

Old Madam Guo nodded repeatedly, saying, “That’s good, that’s good.” Then she told Biyu, “Bring Shaojin a stool and have her sit beside me to listen to the opera with us. And brew Shaojin a pot of the finest Longjing tea. Although it’s April, after walking such a long way, she must be quite hot.”

Old Madam Guan looked on with shared glory.

Zhou Shaojin had matters on her mind and couldn’t stay a moment longer. She smiled and said, “Grand Madam, I’m travel-worn. Rather than disturb everyone’s enjoyment, let me go down to change my clothes before coming back to watch the opera with you.”

Old Madam Guo liked straightforward people. Hearing this, she was very pleased and smiled, “Excellent, go quickly and change your clothes to come keep us company.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled in acknowledgment. As she turned, she cast a glance at her sister.

Zhou Chujin gave her younger sister an almost imperceptible nod and continued unhurriedly helping Old Madam Guan peel plums.

Zhou Shaojin had someone call Shi Xiang, who had been waiting in the back courtyard of Siyi Hall, and together they returned to Wanxiang Residence.

She had just finished washing up and hadn’t yet had time to change her clothes when Zhou Chujin hurried back.

Zhou Shaojin quickly dismissed all the servants attending in the room, pulled her sister to sit on the lacquered bed in the inner chamber, and in a low voice told Zhou Chujin what Cheng Lu had been saying at the clan school.

Zhou Chujin was extremely shocked and so angry she nearly fainted. She raged, “This Cheng Lu—what exactly does he want to do? He shows one face to us and another to others. How did we offend him that he would ruin your reputation like this?” Then she comforted her, “Don’t worry. I’ll tell Grandmother and Great Aunt about this. We definitely can’t let Cheng Lu off lightly!”

But Zhou Shaojin’s face turned pale. In a trembling voice she asked her sister, “If I truly had feelings for that Cheng Lu, would Grandmother agree to a marriage between me and Cheng Lu?”

Zhou Chujin was so frightened she jumped up, saying repeatedly, “What are you saying? Could it be that what Cheng Lu said is all true? How can you be so lacking in ambition as to fall for such a thing that doesn’t value you at all…”

Zhou Shaojin quickly grabbed her sister’s hand and said, “I haven’t taken a fancy to Cheng Lu. No matter how foolish I might be, after he’s treated me this way, how could I possibly be interested in him? I’m saying hypothetically—if I had feelings for Cheng Lu…”

Zhou Chujin looked at Zhou Shaojin suspiciously.

Zhou Shaojin let her sister observe her openly.

Seeing her younger sister’s sincere expression and clear, bright eyes, Zhou Chujin finally believed she wasn’t lying and began seriously considering the matter.

“They would probably agree, wouldn’t they?” She said thoughtfully. “You grew up at Grandmother’s knee. If such a thing happened, Grandmother and Great Aunt would both share some blame for failing to notice. Plus, your temperament is gentle and weak. That Cheng Lu was at least watched growing up by the elders and can be considered a scholarly prospect. Moreover, Cheng Lu is an only son, weak in power and influence. As long as he intends to enter officialdom, he’ll have to rely on the Cheng family. Even if he achieves success someday, for the sake of his reputation, he wouldn’t dare mistreat you…”

So this was why in her previous life Grandmother and Great Aunt had so easily acquiesced to her marriage with Cheng Lu?

Zhou Shaojin could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down as she choked out, “What feelings did he and I ever have? It was just that everyone said we were well-matched, and Grandmother and Great Aunt both said he was good. I thought that the elders had eaten more salt than I had crossed bridges, so they surely wouldn’t be wrong. That’s why I treated him well… Those things were only accepted after the elders had agreed to matters between us. Before that, it was always Cousin Yi and the others who brought them to me. I originally thought, since it was given by my cousin and had gone through proper channels, there was nothing wrong with accepting them. Who knew he would use this to make an issue of it…”

Why?

Why would Cheng Lu do this?

If her reputation was ruined, even if he married her, wouldn’t his reputation also be ruined? Moreover, he was someone who planned to become an official—a pure reputation was paramount… No, wait. In her previous life he hadn’t married her after all, but had become engaged to Wu Baozhang. After being expelled from the Cheng family and having his scholarly title revoked, the Wu family also broke off the engagement with him. He went far away to Ningbo, married the daughter of a local wealthy merchant, and relying on his in-laws became a regional merchant magnate!

Why would he do this?

He was such a clever person—could he not understand that doing this would place her in a fatal position?

If not for that incident with Cheng Xu, what would have happened to her in her previous life?

She would have been taken back by her father and then quietly married off!

At that time her father was already a fourth-rank official. No matter how poorly she married, he could guarantee her a dignified, respectable life with food and clothing for the rest of her days…

Zhou Shaojin shuddered.

How had she never connected these two events before?

She had always felt it was Cheng Xu who was beastly.

But she hadn’t considered that Cheng Lu had been present at the time yet hadn’t saved her… No, she had suspected before, but thought he was afraid of the first branch’s power and didn’t dare offend Cheng Xu… Or perhaps she was making excuses for herself, making excuses for having favored such a scumbag…

Zhou Shaojin paced the room bewildered and at a loss.

Zhou Chujin was so frightened her voice changed: “Shaojin, Shaojin, what’s wrong with you?”

Her sister’s voice brought Zhou Shaojin back to calm.

She embraced her sister and comforted Zhou Chujin: “I’m fine. Don’t worry, I’ll never have problems again.”

For the first time since her rebirth, Zhou Shaojin felt that to save the Cheng family, she must first save herself.