The squirrel fish was sweet and sour, the Longjing shrimp had an elegant color, the honey-glazed ham was sweet, salty and richly fragrant, the fried响铃 crispy outside and tender inside… In the finest private room at Fuchun River Restaurant, the large round table of pear wood was covered with dishes, each one perfectly seasoned. Li Shi and the others ate with endless praise.

Zhou Shaojin held her chopsticks but was somewhat distracted.

Uncle Chi had said he wanted to marry her…

Her face flushed slightly.

But between her and Uncle Chi, it was as if a vast chasm separated them. For them to marry, how could it be easy?

Uncle Chi must know this too, right?

Never mind two years—even if it took a lifetime, she would be willing to wait.

She only feared that what she would receive would not be a joyous marriage, but overwhelming censure and abuse.

If it were only herself, what would she have to fear?

What she feared was harming Uncle Chi—as soon as he proposed to the Cheng family that he wanted to marry her, it would inevitably cause tremendous waves in the Cheng family. Given Uncle Chi’s temperament, he must have already calculated everything. If Uncle Chi succeeded, he would likely pay a great price nine times out of ten. If Uncle Chi failed, being expelled from the Cheng family was entirely possible.

People couldn’t just live—they needed friends, needed wealth, needed social status.

If Uncle Chi lost everything, would he feel happy?

How could she let him risk everything for her sake just because she had fallen in love with someone?

Zhou Shaojin looked toward where Cheng Chi was.

A rosewood screen carved with playful figures blocked her view. She couldn’t even see Cheng Chi’s shadow.

She recalled Cheng Chi’s seemingly calm yet determined gaze and expression when he said he wanted to marry her, and her heart filled with both shyness and sweetness.

She was foolish herself—how could she have thought Uncle Chi only valued her appearance?

Though she was beautiful, she wasn’t irreplaceable.

With Uncle Chi’s experience, if he only wanted to find a beautiful woman, why would he not even have a bedwarmer to this day?

Uncle Chi’s affection for her had always been sincere and genuine.

Thinking of this, she bit her lip and secretly made a decision.

With a “plop,” something fell in front of her.

She jumped in fright. Looking closely, she saw it was a marinated peanut that had slipped from Zhou Youjin’s chopsticks, bounced on the table, and landed in her bowl.

Zhou Shaojin laughed heartily and ruffled Zhou Youjin’s hair.

It was rare for her to show such emotion.

Zhou Youjin bashfully hid in Li Shi’s embrace.

Li Shi smiled and hastily apologized on her behalf to Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin felt slightly emotional.

If this were a full-blooded sister, Li Shi probably wouldn’t apologize to her like this.

Some things simply were what they were, or were not what they were not. Not the slightest bit was up to anyone.

She smiled and said to Li Shi, “We’re one family—no need for such formality. You’re being too polite, Madam.”

Li Shi smiled faintly.

The matter was thus put to rest.

But Zhou Shaojin’s heart couldn’t calm down.

After returning, she personally made ginseng soup and took it to the study in the outer courtyard.

Hearing movement, Cheng Chi sat behind his desk waiting for her to come over, smiling. “You’ve been running around all day today. Aren’t you tired? Leave this kind of thing to the little maids. Go back to your room and rest quickly!”

In both her lives, this was Zhou Shaojin’s first time doing such a thing, so she couldn’t help feeling nervous and shy.

She was afraid Uncle Chi would be especially intimate with her because of this, making it seem like she was impatient.

So Cheng Chi’s attitude was just right.

Though Zhou Shaojin’s face was flushed, her expression was much more at ease.

She pointed to the large desk in front of Cheng Chi and smiled. “Isn’t Fourth Master also busy?”

Fourth Master?!

Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow.

Zhou Shaojin’s face instantly turned red as blood.

Cheng Chi’s smile couldn’t help but overflow from his eyes, illuminating his face.

Zhou Shaojin was so embarrassed she couldn’t lift her head. Clutching the tray, she ran off.

Cheng Chi smiled silently and picked up the stew pot to savor a sip carefully.

Zhou Shaojin was almost out of the courtyard when she remembered the purpose of her visit.

She turned back to find Huai Shan.

Huai Shan was very surprised by what she said and asked as if seeking confirmation, “You’re saying that if Fourth Master has a conflict with the family elders, I must tell you?”

Zhou Shaojin nodded.

Her face still bore traces of her earlier blush as she said, “You just need to tell me. I’m afraid Uncle Chi will suffer a loss.”

If things really came to that point, she wouldn’t let Uncle Chi bear it alone.

At worst, she would step forward and acknowledge it!

In her previous life, she had been able to marry and live alone. In this life, she could naturally live with only a lamp and Buddha.

Come to think of it, if Uncle Chi hadn’t made this clear, wasn’t she already prepared to become a nun?

Either way, the outcome would be the same—what did she have to fear!

Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled greatly.

The next day, she cooked several dishes and sent them to the study. She also opened her trunks to find suitable fabrics to make Cheng Chi some winter clothes.

Li Shi, thanks to Cheng Chi, also ate dishes Zhou Shaojin had made. Learning that Zhou Shaojin wanted to make clothes for Cheng Chi, she came in to ask, “Do you have suitable materials? If not, you can have people from Furui Fabric Shop send some over. That’s my maiden family’s silk shop. Whenever you want to buy anything, you can also have them deliver it.”

Zhou Shaojin had thought Li Shi would try to stop her, so she was somewhat surprised.

Li Shi smiled. “I’m not blind—Fourth Master gave us the inner courtyard and moved himself to the reverse-seat building… Just for this consideration he’s shown, we should treat him as an honored guest.”

Since returning from the Buddha Bathing Festival, her favorable impression of Cheng Chi had been rising steadily.

Strategic, capable, tactful, and neither rigid nor tactless… Just a small outing for the Buddha Bathing Festival, yet everything was arranged thoughtfully and thoroughly. Everywhere made people feel secure and content. Most precious was his respect for them, which left her both pleasantly surprised and grateful.

No wonder he could manage the household affairs of Jiuru Lane. Only after interacting with him did she know his temperament was so gentle, his manner of dealing with people like a spring breeze caressing the face, naturally inspiring goodwill.

Zhou Shaojin could sense Li Shi’s attitude toward Cheng Chi.

She pursed her lips and smiled.

Did this count as Cheng Chi bribing Li Shi?

She then generously helped Cheng Chi select clothing fabrics and went to take his measurements.

Cheng Chi stood there letting her pull and tug at him, never mentioning that she had changed how she addressed him.

Huai Shan observed thoughtfully. He very much wanted to tell Zhou Shaojin that if she had the mind to, she could simply take one of Fourth Master’s old garments and cut according to that pattern. But seeing that one was willing to strike and the other willing to be struck, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

Zhou Shaojin sat down to record Cheng Chi’s measurements.

Cheng Chi thought for a moment and ultimately didn’t bring up what she had instructed Huai Shan to do—if it made her feel more secure, then let her be at ease.

He signaled Huai Shan not to hide anything from Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin, however, tilted her head and looked at the scribbles on his desk curiously. “What is this?”

Cheng Chi walked over.

Huai Shan helped them close the study door.

Cheng Chi said in a low voice, “I made contact with Shi Kuan and later investigated the Fourth Prince. I discovered that the Fourth Prince’s birth mother was a palace maid beside the Empress. After giving birth to the Fourth Prince, she was never enfeoffed. Before the Crown Prince was born, she was raised in Kunning Palace and nearly registered under the Empress’s name. After the Crown Prince was born, his birth mother was only then enfeoffed as a seventh-rank Selected Attendant. Shortly after, she moved out of Kunning Palace.”

“Such a thing happened?” Zhou Shaojin was hearing this for the first time.

The imperial family’s selection of an heir was based on nothing more than legitimate birth and virtue.

And legitimate birth ranked before virtue.

A child raised by the Empress had advantages over children born to other consorts when selecting an heir.

She hesitated. “Are you suspecting the Fourth Prince?”

Cheng Chi smiled. “It’s too early to say. First, learn what should be learned, then make plans.”

Zhou Shaojin said guiltily, “I said I would help you, but I haven’t helped at all.”

“You truly haven’t been able to help at all,” Cheng Chi smiled, leaning close to her ear and whispering, “How about I ask Madam to go care for Elder Aunt, and in a few days you accompany me to climb the mountain at the Great Xiangguo Temple again? I’ve been working very hard these past few days!”

The suggestive tone made Zhou Shaojin’s heart flutter. Her face flushed crimson as she fled in panic.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t come back to her senses until she stepped through the gate. She couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

These past few days, Madam had been busy arranging local specialties as gifts for Father and his advisors and superiors’ wives, with no time to visit Elder Sister. And he said such things… Really… she didn’t even know what to say!

However, that day Uncle Chi had embraced her, but he had only held her like that and done nothing else.

What was she panicking about?

Uncle Chi liked to tease her—this wasn’t something new…

Zhou Shaojin returned to her room.

A woman’s figure flashed in the mirror.

Exquisitely beautiful features, eyes and brows smiling with tender affection.

Was this… her?

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but turn and stand before the mirror.

That shy and timid appearance—who else could it be but her?

Zhou Shaojin’s brows immediately filled with more bashfulness.

Zhou Chujin sent someone to tell them that Great Madam Liao would arrive in the capital on the twenty-eighth of April.

Li Shi could no longer worry about the local specialties and pulled Zhou Shaojin to prepare a welcoming banquet for Great Madam Liao.

Zhou Shaojin had dealt with Great Madam Liao in her previous life. She brought out that set of霁red porcelain tableware with富贵 flower patterns to entertain Great Madam Liao, then went to the back courtyard to look at the flowers she had planted.

Seeing that only the roses and hollyhocks in the flower garden were blooming vigorously, Li Shi worried, “This probably won’t do, will it?”

Indeed, it wouldn’t do.

Great Madam Liao was that typical young lady from a great house—everything had to be unique.

Uncle Chi’s gift of that霁red porcelain tableware set was this year’s new product from the official kiln. Though brilliant, Great Madam Liao had never seen it before, so bringing it out could earn them a point or two of face. But the room’s arrangement required careful thought.

She went to Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi was talking with someone.

Zhou Shaojin waited for him in the side room for a while, only to discover that the person who walked out of his room was actually the advisor to Second Old Master Cheng Shao of the Cheng family, Mister Wu.

She entered the study suspiciously and found Cheng Chi’s expression somewhat grave.

“Has something happened?” Zhou Shaojin asked carefully.

Cheng Chi didn’t want to hide it from her.

This girl could always keenly sense his emotions.

Rather than hiding it from her and making her worry, it was better to tell her the truth.

“We don’t know yet,” Cheng Chi said. “We’ve discovered that the Fourth Prince has a very good relationship with Chen Li, the head eunuch of Qianqing Palace.”

Chen Li—that Chen Li who had been by the Emperor’s side since the Emperor was still in his princely residence, serving him for a lifetime?

Zhou Shaojin’s mouth fell open.

Cheng Chi put his arm around her shoulder and smiled. “Don’t worry, this is very normal. Who doesn’t want to befriend a few people in the palace to help keep an eye on things? Even I am on good terms with that Liu Yong, aren’t I?”

That’s different.

Zhou Shaojin thought instinctively.

Though the court had rules forbidding princes from associating with court officials, princes associating with eunuchs was also explicitly prohibited.

The Fourth Prince knowingly violated this, and moreover, he had befriended Chen Li, the head eunuch managing Qianqing Palace!

She vaguely felt something was wrong.

The Fourth Prince might not be as innocent and harmless as she had seen him in her previous life.