Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment, then told Zhou Chujin about her several encounters with Cheng Xu.

Zhou Chujin listened in stunned amazement, taking a long while to recover before stammering: “You’re saying, you’re saying that Fourth Master Xu from the first branch has, has… unusual feelings toward you?”

If this were her previous life, Zhou Shaojin would have nodded without hesitation, but after experiencing Cheng Lu’s sudden betrothal to Wu Baozhang, she had learned to keep her mouth shut. Unless others spoke plainly, she would absolutely not be presumptuous.

“I don’t know,” she said. “But I always feel this isn’t good. Given the potential for impropriety, it’s better to keep my distance from him…”

Zhou Chujin pondered for a long while before carefully saying: “I actually think he’s more reliable than Cheng Lu…”

Zhou Shaojin broke out in a cold sweat and quickly said: “Sister, you just said yourself that if I were to cause any incident with one of the Cheng family’s cousins, Grandmother and First Aunt would inevitably face accusations of negligent supervision. Both elders have been so loving toward us—we may not be able to bring them honor, but we certainly cannot bring them shame! I think this matter must never be mentioned again. You need to help me stay far away from that Cheng Xu.”

Thinking of how Fifth Branch’s Cheng Ju had pestered her after news of Cheng Lu and Wu Baozhang’s betrothal spread, she realized that Cheng Ju had long coveted her beauty and wanted to take advantage of her, only holding back because of Cheng Xu. She continued: “It’s best to stay far away from all these so-called cousins of the Cheng family.” Thinking of her difficulties after her sister married, she added, “After Sister marries, I’ll go to Father’s posting.” After all, Father was the head of the household—no matter how poorly Stepmother treated her, she wouldn’t dare make things difficult regarding marriage matters.

Zhou Chujin felt both shocked and ashamed upon hearing this. She grasped her sister’s hand and said: “Sister has been foolish. I only thought about wealth and glory, forgetting about matching family backgrounds. Fortunately you have a steady temperament, otherwise Sister would have ruined things for you.”

“No, Sister was simply too concerned to think clearly.” Zhou Shaojin felt that if she hadn’t lived two lives, she might not have seen things so clearly either. She sat down close to her sister and spoke intimately: “I know Sister worries about me and wants me to marry into a good family. But the Cheng family isn’t necessarily one that just anyone can marry into. Never mind anything else, just consider Third Branch’s Cousin Zheng. He’s already twenty-two this year, passed the xiucai examination in the seventeenth year of Zhide, yet still has no marriage arranged.

“I heard from Cheng Jia that her grandmother feels the third branch is weak in power and is determined to find Cousin Zheng a father-in-law who could assist his career. Even the third branch is like this—what more the first branch?

“You’ll certainly say that the first branch has already achieved the rank of Junior Nine Ministers, with five jinshi graduates across generations of fathers and grandfathers, so finding a father-in-law to assist their careers would merely be icing on the cake, nothing essential.

“But Sister, have you considered that while outsiders look at us wearing gold and jade, traveling with carriages and servants, and greatly envy us, we still feel our lives aren’t going smoothly and wish we could climb even higher? By the same logic, though I see Cousin Xu as already excellent, Aunt Jing might still hope he’ll become a chief minister, enter the cabinet, and leave his name in history.”

Having spoken to this point, Zhou Shaojin herself froze.

Why hadn’t she thought of this in her previous life?!

By rights, after such an incident between her and Cheng Xu, given Yuan Shi’s shrewdness, she should have considered Cheng Xu’s reputation first and married her into the family—whether to grind down, scold, let live or die, once she became a Cheng family daughter-in-law, even Father couldn’t interfere. Yet Yuan Shi’s reaction had been so extreme, completely furious to the point of hysteria, a desperate all-or-nothing approach… The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

She had not only ruined the marriage alliance between the Cheng and Min families and obstructed Cheng Xu’s future prospects, but had also shattered Yuan Shi’s hopes…

Who would benefit from this?

The second branch!

First Branch’s Second Master Cheng Wei’s son Cheng Rang was still young—though he studied well, his temperament was quite weak. Cheng Chi seemed to have neither married nor had descendants. On Second Old Master’s side, Cheng Xun had died young. If nothing happened to the Cheng family, Second Branch’s Cheng Shi surpassing Cheng Rang to become the family head was only a matter of time.

And the third branch!

Because Cheng Zheng eventually married a daughter of Personnel Vice Minister Wang Jian through the Hong family’s matchmaking, and passed the jinshi examination before Cheng Gao, entering the Hanlin Academy and serving as a Supervising Secretary in the Justice Ministry.

By that time, Cheng Jing’s health was already poor. According to Cheng Yi, after passing the juren examination, Cheng Zheng had been studying under Cheng Jing, and moreover, that year’s chief examiner for Cheng Zheng was Cheng Jing’s fellow disciple.

Thinking back now, Cheng Jing might have sensed something, which was why he began sparing no effort in supporting Cheng Zheng.

Cheng Zheng served as Supervising Secretary for only two years before being promoted to Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. His official career advanced so smoothly it made others jealous—even brother-in-law Liao Shaotang had remarked on it…

Zhou Shaojin pressed her lips together and told her sister about receiving Zichuan’s protection.

Zhou Chujin was shocked: “Did you hear clearly? Those people called him ‘Zichuan’?”

“I heard very clearly,” Zhou Shaojin said seriously. “They definitely called that young master ‘Zichuan.’ Could it be that Sister knows who he is?”

Zhou Chujin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “He’s Fourth Master Cheng Chi from the first branch, courtesy name Zichuan, a jinshi from the fifteenth year of Zhide.” As she spoke, she tapped Zhou Shaojin’s forehead. “You received an elder’s protection without even knowing it. Good thing you told me today, otherwise wouldn’t you not even know who to say ‘thank you’ to?”

“Is, is he Fourth Master from the first branch, Cheng Chi?” Zhou Shaojin truly had never dreamed of this. “I saw how casually he treated the Duke of Liangguo’s heir… I thought he was some prince or nobleman who came to congratulate Second Branch’s Old Ancestor on her birthday!”

She muttered quietly, thinking of how in her previous life he had rescued Cheng Xu from the execution ground, and suddenly felt he should naturally be this kind of person—otherwise he couldn’t possibly have done something like staging a jailbreak.

No wonder Cheng Xu said nothing and just pulled Pan Zhuo away.

And Pan Zhuo’s expression at the time, as if he were dumbfounded—he had obviously recognized one of them.

But who exactly had he recognized?

Gu Jiujiu wasn’t yet famous throughout the realm at this time, merely a hereditary family’s son in Jinling City known for his literary tradition. Though Zhu Pengju held noble ministerial rank, his influence among scholars was small, not enough to make Pan Zhuo so surprised… Could he have recognized Yuan Bieyun?

Zhou Shaojin’s heart was full of curiosity, but more than that, gratitude.

If the person she encountered today hadn’t been Cheng Chi, the outcome couldn’t possibly have been like this.

She said: “Sister makes a good point. As for Cousin Chi, not knowing is one thing, but now that I know it was him, I must go express my thanks. After Second Branch’s Old Ancestor’s birthday banquet, will Sister accompany me to thank Cousin Chi? And as for Father, I should probably mention it as well.”

Zhou Chujin nodded, then hesitated: “As for Father, I think it’s better not to make a fuss, to avoid complications.”

Indeed! How would she explain Cheng Chi’s help?

Zhou Shaojin nodded: “Should we mention it to Old Madam Guo?”

Zhou Chujin said: “It’s certainly inappropriate for you and me to speak of it. This matter is best discussed with Grandmother and First Aunt first.”

The sisters were just talking when Shi Xiang reported through the curtain: “Eldest Miss, Second Miss, Dong Wan says the opera at Peony Pavilion is about to finish and asks if you’re going over?”

Naturally they had to go.

Otherwise how would they answer when the elders asked?

Zhou Shaojin quickly changed clothes and went to Peony Pavilion together with Zhou Chujin.

Fortunately, they entered just as the performance was ending. Most people assumed Zhou Chujin had waited for Zhou Shaojin before entering together. Only a few noticed that Zhou Chujin hadn’t appeared again after Zhou Shaojin left, and Cheng Jia was one of them.

She tugged at Zhou Shaojin’s sleeve and whispered: “What were you sisters doing? So secretive!”

“You’re the one being secretive!” Zhou Shaojin said unhappily. “Why does everything sound so unpleasant when you say it? If you keep being like this, don’t talk to me anymore!”

Cheng Jia turned and walked away in a huff.

Zhou Shaojin paid her no mind, quietly observing the female guests.

Pan Qing calmly supported her grandmother Old Madam Tang, while Wu Baozhang chatted and laughed warmly in low voices with Miss Sun, who wore a crimson gold-threaded jacket.

As if nothing had happened.

Zhou Shaojin glanced at Feicui, who found an opportunity to approach Zhou Shaojin’s side. Zhou Shaojin asked her: “When did Miss Pan and Miss Wu return?”

Earlier she had been somewhat panicked and hadn’t paid attention to such things.

But now it was different.

To save herself, besides investigating why Cheng Lu wanted to ruin her reputation, she also needed to understand the power dynamics between the Cheng family branches!

Feicui was somewhat surprised but still said: “Before I returned, Miss Wu was talking with Miss Sun. About two quarters of an hour later, Miss Pan returned. Old Madam Tang even asked Miss Pan why she had been gone so long. Miss Pan said she encountered Young Master Pan and they talked for a while.”

Zhou Shaojin had thought Pan Qing returned first.

That is to say, after Pan Qing parted with Pan Zhuo, she didn’t immediately return to Peony Pavilion—either she went somewhere else or did something else…

Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked Feicui.

Feicui discreetly moved away from Zhou Shaojin.

Wu Baozhang, however, walked over with a smile: “I didn’t expect that just days after meeting Miss Feicui, Second Miss would get along so well with her, laughing and talking together. It truly makes others envious!”

So you’re not the only one who can pretend!

Zhou Shaojin sneered inwardly, but her expression remained courteous: “Thanks to Old Madam Guo’s favor in specially having Miss Feicui look after me, Miss Feicui is both attentive and considerate, and we get along very well.”

“Is that so?” Wu Baozhang smiled. “I thought it was because of Fourth Master Xu!”

Zhou Shaojin knew Wu Baozhang would make an issue of this.

She widened her eyes in astonishment and said strangely: “Cousin Xu? What does this have to do with Cousin Xu? Miss Feicui is someone from Old Madam Guo’s household.”

Wu Baozhang looked surprised, then slowly narrowed her eyes with a smile: “Second Miss, I didn’t expect you to be so interesting! Not just me—it seems Miss Pan also saw Fourth Master Xu chasing after you all the way to Three Branches Pavilion!”

So the place where Cousin Chi drank tea was called Three Branches Pavilion.

She had thought Three Branches Pavilion was a building, not realizing it was a thatched pavilion.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know why at this moment she had the leisure to care about such things… She said: “What is Miss Wu talking about? I don’t understand at all. You say Cousin Xu chased after me to Three Branches Pavilion, and Miss Pan saw it too…” She called out loudly “Cousin Qing,” then smiled and said quietly, “Why don’t we call Cousin Qing over for a confrontation!”