Wu Baozhang never expected that Zhou Shaojin—who in her impression was gentle, weak, and taciturn—would turn hostile at the slightest provocation, becoming aggressive in the blink of an eye.
Her expression changed dramatically, and she retreated several steps in succession, forcing a smile: “Second Miss Zhou is joking. Why must we have a confrontation with Miss Pan? That would make us seem petty…”
The strong fear the reckless.
Seeing a flash of determination cross Zhou Shaojin’s brow, Wu Baozhang truly feared that Zhou Shaojin, young and ignorant of social niceties, would recklessly escalate the matter to Pan Qing—she had heard Pan Qing and Pan Zhuo’s conversation perfectly clearly. Pan Qing might appear gentle and kind-hearted, but her mind was full of twists and turns; she was no easy opponent. Before Wu Baozhang had figured out how to exploit this situation, she had already alerted her prey by challenging Zhou Shaojin openly, and didn’t want to be attacked from both sides by dragging Pan Qing into it as well.
She quickly formed a plan and said: “Second Miss, perhaps my eyes were playing tricks on me and I saw wrong. It’s my fault. Please be magnanimous and don’t hold it against me.” After speaking, still feeling uneasy, she stepped forward to take Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said earnestly, “During the Dragon Boat Festival, why don’t you come to our house to admire the flowers? Someone gave us two pots of night-blooming cereus, and Father gave me one, which I keep in my room. The woman who tends our family’s flowers and plants says the cereus will bloom during the Dragon Boat Festival. Just a few days ago I was thinking about whether to invite three to five close friends for a flower viewing party, and I happened to meet Second Miss. Since arriving in Jinling, I haven’t made many congenial friends. Second Miss must come to admire the flowers and give me face!”
Wu Baozhang lowered her banner and beat her drum, adopting a conciliatory appearance.
You want to stab me and then walk away? As if it could be that easy!
Remembering her previous life, Zhou Shaojin felt a surge of anger.
While Wu Baozhang sang, recited, acted, and performed, her own mind was racing. When Wu Baozhang extended her hand, she let Wu Baozhang take it and said indifferently: “Going out requires Grandmother’s and First Aunt’s permission. We’ll talk about it then!”
She didn’t continue the topic.
Wu Baozhang breathed a sigh of relief, thinking smugly that Zhou Shaojin was young after all and liked hearing pleasant words. Once she had lowered her posture like this, the matter had been smoothed over. She just didn’t know what Zhou Shaojin’s temperament was really like—was she someone who could keep things to herself? Just to be safe, she should butter her up properly, so she wouldn’t hold this incident against her.
She smiled and linked arms with Zhou Shaojin: “Then shall I send you a formal invitation when the time comes?”
“Wonderful!” Zhou Shaojin said, walking with Wu Baozhang toward Siyi Hall. “Though I don’t know if the family will be holding a lantern festival then. If you’re sending an invitation, have someone deliver it a few days early.”
She’s actually looking forward to playing!
Wu Baozhang pouted inwardly, completely relieved, and laughed: “The Cheng family is planning to hold a lantern festival for the Dragon Boat Festival too! That must cost quite a bit!” As she spoke, she suddenly realized her slip and couldn’t help glancing at Zhou Shaojin, only to see Zhou Shaojin looking around as if she hadn’t noticed what had been said. She let out a breath of relief, then heard Zhou Shaojin call out loudly “Cousin Qing.”
Her heart tightened. Before she could think it through, Pan Qing had already walked over.
“What is it?” Pan Qing asked Zhou Shaojin.
Her smile was gentle, her manner gracious, and she still appeared elegant and refined, but in Zhou Shaojin’s eyes, she was like a masked opera performer.
“Miss Wu says she saw me alone with Cousin Xu,” Zhou Shaojin said, gradually revealing an undisguised mocking smile. “She also said that Cousin Qing saw me alone with Cousin Xu too. So I wanted to ask Cousin Qing face to face, gong to gong and drum to drum: I clearly wasn’t alone with Cousin Xu, so how could Cousin Qing say she saw me alone with Cousin Xu? Isn’t Cousin Qing spreading rumors?”
As she spoke, her expression changed to one of complete grievance, though inwardly she thought: You Wu Baozhang think you can smooth things over just like that? As if the world could be so convenient!
Pan Qing was greatly alarmed. A flash of cold light crossed her eyes, and her gaze toward Wu Baozhang immediately became sharp as a blade: “Miss Wu, what exactly is going on here? When did I see Second Cousin Zhou together with Cousin Xu? You’re also an official’s daughter, literate and educated—you must take responsibility for your words! I was with Grandmother the whole time. When I left midway, it was only to deliver a message to my brother on Mother’s orders. All the elders present can testify to this. Your careless talk is enough to damage the relationship between us cousin sisters. Who behaves like you, visiting someone’s home as a guest yet sowing discord between their sisters? Could this be a family tradition of the Wu family?”
This speech not only questioned Wu Baozhang’s character but also the Wu family’s upbringing. Most importantly, when she said this, she didn’t hide or hold back at all—standing perfectly straight, righteously indignant, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, but just right for everyone in the hall to hear clearly.
Bringing Pan Qing in to face off against Wu Baozhang was truly perfect!
Zhou Shaojin quietly took a step back, ceding the main battlefield to Wu Baozhang and Pan Qing.
Wu Baozhang never dreamed that Zhou Shaojin would be so two-faced—speaking so nicely to her face, then turning ruthlessly against her in the blink of an eye to sell her out. Shocked and alarmed, she cursed Zhou Shaojin thoroughly in her mind, but had no choice but to engage in battle. Forcing a smile, she said: “Miss Pan, Second Miss Zhou has completely misunderstood. When I was listening to Master Ma sing ‘Night Flight’ at Peony Pavilion, I suddenly felt dizzy, so I went out for a walk. Being enchanted by Peony Pavilion’s beautiful scenery, I unknowingly wandered into a corridor…”
Since you won’t leave me any room, don’t blame me for being ruthless.
She decided to threaten Pan Qing.
But she forgot that this was the Cheng family’s home turf.
Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Shi, alerted by a maid, entered with a face like still water and sternly questioned Pan Qing: “Girl Qing, what is Miss Wu talking about? Your mother only asked you to deliver a message to your brother—how did Second Miss Zhou and Fourth Master Xu get involved?”
It appeared to be a scolding, but was actually testimony for Pan Qing.
Wu Baozhang silently cursed her bad luck.
She hadn’t expected the third branch elder to arrive so quickly, and even less expected that the third branch elder would so openly protect her own like this.
Wu Baozhang was stuck between a rock and a hard place—if she argued, she carried little weight; compared to the third branch elder, whom would those present believe? If she didn’t argue—she would be admitting to Pan Qing’s accusations, and then she’d be stuck wearing the labels “likes to gossip” and “Wu family daughters lack proper upbringing.”
How could her stepmother, determined to arrange a good marriage for her biological daughter, let her off easily?
Even if her brother helped plead her case, Father would likely fly into a rage.
Just thinking about it made her feel chilled to the bone. She quickly lowered her head and began crying pitifully.
Some people in the hall frowned, some whispered, and others advised: “Miss Wu, please stop crying! Today is Old Ancestor Cheng’s birthday…”
But Wu Baozhang cried even harder.
She wanted everyone to see how the third branch’s Great Madam was bullying her!
Jiang Shi was furious inside. A flash of disgust crossed her eyes, but she had no choice but to step forward with a smile, put her arm around Wu Baozhang’s shoulders, and gently coax: “Child, what can’t be discussed properly? Did Girl Qing bully you? Tell me quickly, and I’ll help you teach her a lesson…”
Pan Qing was stunned.
She hadn’t expected Wu Baozhang’s reaction to be so quick. She immediately felt some regret.
After parting with Pan Zhuo, Pan Qing was still somewhat worried about her brother. She had almost reached Peony Pavilion when she turned back, and from a distance saw her brother follow Cheng Xu into a small path in the garden, while Wu Baozhang chatted and laughed with Cheng Xu’s attendant maid.
Pan Qing remembered very clearly—when she left, Wu Baozhang had been sitting behind Madam Wu listening to the opera. But when she returned, Wu Baozhang had appeared at the place where she and her brother were talking.
She had been somewhat uncertain before, but when Zhou Shaojin called her to confront Wu Baozhang, she understood that not only had Wu Baozhang overheard her conversation with her brother, but Zhou Shaojin might have heard what she said to her brother as well.
But no matter what, Zhou Shaojin was one of their own.
She should deal with Wu Baozhang first before settling accounts with Zhou Shaojin.
So without thinking, she immediately sided with Zhou Shaojin.
But looking at it now, this decision might have been wrong—Zhou Shaojin had a timid temperament and lacked strong opinions. Though Pan Qing had no particular need to help Zhou Shaojin, she didn’t like having someone around who couldn’t help and would carelessly drag you down. Wu Baozhang was different—her scheming, tactics, and even reactions were all first-rate. Even if such a person couldn’t become a friend, it was best not to make her an enemy.
Pan Qing decided to let Wu Baozhang off the hook.
She glanced at Zhou Shaojin, stepped forward to pull Jiang Shi aside, her lips slightly parted, and was just about to speak when Zhou Shaojin, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly stepped forward and casually pointed to a maid: “Go get Miss Wu a handkerchief to wipe her tears.” Then turning to Wu Baozhang, she said gently: “I’ve lived in the Cheng family for so many years, and the Cheng family elders are not unreasonable people. Whatever grievances you have, just tell the elders and they will surely see justice done for you. Crying like this, people will inevitably misunderstand that Aunt Jin has bullied you. Could it be that Miss Wu is trying to imitate the censors’ practice of remonstrating unto death?”
The last sentence was said with a smile, her tone even carrying a hint of teasing, yet it was a barbed compliment, clearly implying that Wu Baozhang was competitive and argumentative—at the slightest disagreement she would cry endlessly, insisting on winning no matter what, lacking the gentleness and forbearance expected of a noble young lady.
She had pushed Wu Baozhang to the edge of a cliff!
Pan Qing’s eyes lit up. She quietly took several steps back, immediately abandoning any thought of helping Wu Baozhang escape.
Zhou Shaojin saw this and couldn’t help feeling contemptuous.
Pan Qing was indeed not someone worth befriending.
However, since she herself had started this affair, how could Pan Qing withdraw just because she wanted to?
She called to Pan Qing: “Cousin Qing, you should also help persuade Miss Wu!”
Everyone’s gaze fell on Pan Qing—she was the one who had made Wu Baozhang cry!
Pan Qing’s hair practically stood on end.
Zhou Shaojin—was this still the Zhou Shaojin she knew?
Killing two birds with one stone!
No, not just two birds with one stone.
She herself was from the third branch and had been dragged into the water. Cheng Xu was from the first branch, Zhou Shaojin herself was from the fourth branch, and today the second branch was hosting… Except for the fifth branch, the entire Cheng family now stood opposed to Wu Baozhang… Though the fifth branch had always been useless and could be disregarded…
Pan Qing suddenly felt some sympathy for Wu Baozhang.
Today’s affair definitely wouldn’t end well.
And even if Wu Baozhang could escape today’s disaster, if she wanted to establish herself in Jinling City in the future, if she wanted to find a good marriage match in Jinling City, she could only hope for the Buddha to open his heavenly eyes!
She slowly walked over, but her heart no longer held the casual lightness she had felt toward Zhou Shaojin before.