Chi Xiang’s voice was like a basin of cold water poured over Zhou Chujin’s head.

She couldn’t help but shiver.

With Li Shi having returned to Baoding Prefecture, she worried about her sister living alone in Elm Coin Alley and came to check on her every few days. Seeing her sister’s complexion rosy, her spirits lively, appearing more cheerful than ever before, she had finally felt relieved and focused her energy on Guan Ge’er, not having come over for some time. It was only when the household began preparing Mid-Autumn Festival gifts that she remembered the festival was approaching. She had specially prepared things to send to her sister, and passing by Qifang Studio, seeing people buying water chestnut cakes, she had deliberately had the accompanying servant go in to buy several boxes of pastries… Who could have known that this one small oversight would result in her sister… becoming embroiled in such a situation!

She now only felt grateful that, mindful of her mother-in-law, she had brought only two or three people with her when she came. Entering the gate and seeing no activity in the courtyard, recalling that her sister had sent word some days ago that she had brewed osmanthus wine and buried it in the back courtyard, her heart stirred and she had headed straight to the back courtyard carrying the pastries she’d bought for her sister.

The scene she had just witnessed floated through Zhou Chujin’s mind, and she couldn’t help but close her eyes.

Thank goodness she had left everyone who came with her in the courtyard. If they had seen how Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi looked… Shaojin could jump into the Yellow River and never wash herself clean!

But now was not the time to dwell on such matters.

Right now, the urgent task was to suppress this incident.

It must pass like water leaving no trace.

Absolutely no blemish could be allowed to touch Shaojin’s reputation!

Zhou Chujin took a deep breath and said to Chi Xiang, “With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Fourth Master came at Old Madam Guo’s behest to visit Second Miss. Second Miss brewed osmanthus wine and wanted to ask Fourth Master to bring a few jars back for Old Madam Guo to taste. She was just coming to the back courtyard with Fourth Master to dig up the wine! You come help too, and take two jars back for the Grand Madam to taste.”

Chi Xiang smiled in acknowledgment, though her heart was filled with confusion.

Fourth Master came at Old Madam Guo’s behest to visit Second Miss, Second Miss dug up new wine for Fourth Master to take back to Old Madam Guo—why was Young Madam explaining all this so clearly to her? She was merely a servant—whatever the masters asked her to do, she did. How would she dare say “no”?

Young Madam was acting very strangely this year… Why did her words sound like she was trying to cover something up?

Chi Xiang shook her head in confusion.

Second Miss and Fourth Master were also very strange today… Second Miss clearly appeared to be hiding behind Fourth Master, and Fourth Master seemed to be protecting Second Miss… Could it be that Second Miss and Young Madam had quarreled?

The thought flashed through her mind, but Chi Xiang immediately dismissed this idea.

She had served Young Madam for ten years now. Young Madam and Second Miss weren’t like ordinary sisters—Young Madam treated Second Miss just like her own daughter. No matter what, she always deferred to Second Miss. How could Young Madam possibly quarrel with Second Miss?

Yet the three people’s expressions and demeanor just now… made one can’t help thinking about it again and again.

What made Chi Xiang even more puzzled was that Young Madam clearly said Second Miss was helping Fourth Master dig up wine, but there was neither a hoe nor a shovel here… How were they to dig up wine?

Cheng Chi immediately detected Zhou Chujin’s intention and also detected Chi Xiang’s confusion. He immediately smiled unhurriedly, “That wine is brewed with sorghum liquor. The time is too short—if I dig it up now and take it back, I’d have to bury it in the ground again anyway. Better to wait a few years until the wine is properly aged before I come dig it up. Why don’t you just give me a few jars of the osmanthus wine you brewed with Jinhua wine instead?”

Zhou Shaojin had already been scared silly.

Her limbs were stiff, feeling both ashamed and mortified, wishing there was a crack in the ground to crawl into. How could she dare move even slightly?

Cheng Chi secretly frowned, feeling that Zhou Chujin was being too severe with Zhou Shaojin. But he was afraid that Zhou Shaojin, being considerate of Zhou Chujin, wouldn’t allow him to go embrace Zhou Shaojin and give her a bit of comfort. He could only say to her gently, “Shaojin, don’t be afraid! I’m here for everything! Let’s go to the storage room and get a few jars of the osmanthus wine you brewed with Jinhua wine…”

The words “I’m here for everything” struck Zhou Shaojin’s heart like a great bell, making her body tremble slightly as she came back to her senses.

Yes!

What did she have to be afraid of?

If the sky fell, there was still Uncle Chi, being tall, to hold it up!

But being caught by Elder Sister with Uncle Chi… was still so embarrassing… especially since she had been so dazed… If Elder Sister had arrived any later, she would have caught them red-handed… It was really too, too embarrassing…

“Alright, I… I’ll go get the wine,” she stammered, her face so red it could drip blood.

It was all Cheng Chi’s fault.

Her sister hadn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet—what could she know?

Zhou Chujin glared fiercely at Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi had never been this embarrassed in his entire life.

He could only pretend not to see, yet still couldn’t help but cough lightly.

Upon leaving the back courtyard, Cheng Chi immediately saw Nanny Shang standing anxiously in the corridor, looking at him with some trepidation.

Cheng Chi acted as if he had seen nothing and said nothing.

The few servants who had come with Zhou Chujin, completely unaware, were chatting and laughing quietly. Seeing Cheng Chi and the others, they all came forward to pay their respects.

Chi Xiang still remembered Zhou Chujin’s instructions and said with a smile to the maids and servants who had come along, “Second Miss brewed osmanthus wine and hid it in the back courtyard. She wanted to dig it up to send to Old Madam Guo and our Grand Madam, but Fourth Master said that wine is still too new and should be left a few more years before digging up. He asked Second Miss to give two jars of the osmanthus wine she brewed with Jinhua wine a few days ago to Old Madam Guo and our Grand Madam… Come with me to move the wine.”

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it!” How could Nanny Shang and the others dare let Zhou Chujin’s people move the wine? While observing Cheng Chi’s expression, they forced smiles and enthusiastically helped Chi Xiang move the wine.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t even dare glance at Zhou Chujin. Only when there were no others in the storage room did she finally gather courage to tug at her sister’s sleeve and say in a low voice, “Elder Sister, don’t be angry… I was willing… It’s because I came to like…”

“You shut your mouth!” Zhou Chujin was so angry her fingers trembled as she scolded Zhou Shaojin, cutting off her words. “Why are you saying such things at a time like this? Aren’t you afraid of others hearing!” With that, she shot a glare at Cheng Chi. “Even if there is fault, it’s not your fault.”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart felt as if pierced by a knife.

Indeed, once her relationship with Uncle Chi was discovered by someone, no matter what the truth was, the one at fault would be Uncle Chi.

“Elder Sister,” Zhou Shaojin straightened her back, clenched her fists and said, “This matter isn’t Uncle Chi’s fault. It was me myself…”

“Shaojin!” This time it was Cheng Chi who stopped her. He looked at Zhou Shaojin, his gaze gentle yet firm. “Don’t say anymore. Leave this matter to me!”

Cheng Chi fully understood Zhou Chujin’s feelings.

If their positions were reversed, he would probably be just as angry!

Since that was the case, the more Shaojin said, the more mistakes she would make. The more she defended him, the less Zhou Chujin would be able to forgive him!

Yet Shaojin had always valued Zhou Chujin highly. In the midst of Zhou Chujin’s fury, she could still speak up for him… This already filled Cheng Chi with hope for the future.

How could he bear to let Zhou Shaojin quarrel with Zhou Chujin over him?

Zhou Shaojin naturally nodded obediently.

Zhou Chujin felt her lungs would explode with rage!

What kind of bewitching potion had that bastard Cheng Chi fed Shaojin? Shaojin so foolishly listened to everything Cheng Chi said!

Her eyes moistened, and she grabbed Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said, “The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. There’s no reason to leave you alone in Elm Coin Alley for the festival. You’ll come with me now to Twin Elm Alley and stay for some days…”

Zhou Shaojin immediately panicked and hurriedly said, “Elder Sister, I’m not going! I’ll stay in Elm Coin Alley…”

Was Elder Sister preventing her from seeing Uncle Chi again?

Hearing this, Zhou Chujin’s face turned livid, and she looked at Cheng Chi with eyes like knives and swords.

Cheng Chi could only sigh helplessly.

Zhou Shaojin, however, keenly detected something from Cheng Chi’s expression.

She nervously glanced at her sister and didn’t dare say anything more.

Only then did Zhou Chujin’s expression improve slightly.

She called out loudly for Chun Wan: “I’m taking Second Miss to Twin Elm Alley right now. Help Second Miss pack a few changes of clothes and come along shortly.”

Not leaving Zhou Shaojin alone for even a moment.

Zhou Shaojin secretly looked at Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi almost imperceptibly nodded to her.

Zhou Shaojin then allowed Zhou Chujin to lead her away.

Zhou Chujin felt like eating Cheng Chi’s heart.

What kind of bewitching potion had he fed Shaojin!

Bewitching Shaojin until she didn’t know east from west…

She pulled Zhou Shaojin and headed outside.

Zhou Shaojin followed her sister with lowered head, but just as they were about to pass through the inner gate, she still couldn’t control herself and looked back.

That pitiful look, like an abandoned kitten, instantly pierced Cheng Chi’s heart.

But he could only smile at Zhou Shaojin consolingly, and then when Zhou Shaojin got into Zhou Chujin’s sedan chair, his expression immediately fell, becoming expressionless as he walked out of Elm Tree Alley, leaving behind the panic-stricken Nanny Shang.

Zhou Shaojin, meanwhile, followed Zhou Chujin to Elm Tree Alley in silence all the way.

The Liao family members were all somewhat surprised to see Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Chujin rallied her spirits and explained with a smile, “Only we sisters are in the capital. We can’t let her spend the festival alone, can we?”

Sisterly harmony was naturally a good thing.

Grand Madam Liao quickly had the maids clean out the small courtyard in the back where Zhou Shaojin had previously lived, and warmly said to Zhou Shaojin, “Just treat this like your own home and stay for several days. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, go out with us to view the lanterns.”

Having grown accustomed to living freely and independently in Elm Leaf Alley, Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat unaccustomed to returning to an environment with elders’ supervision. She smiled and thanked Grand Madam Liao. Upon leaving the main hall, she was pulled by Zhou Chujin into her resting chamber. Zhou Chujin even had a maid stand guard at the door. Before they had even sat down on the large kang by the window, she asked in a low voice, “Tell me the truth. You and Cheng Zichuan… What has he done to you… Have you two…”

Any deeper questions, she simply could not bring herself to ask.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand at first, but quickly caught on.

Her face flushed red, feeling both ashamed and timid, she said reproachfully, “Elder Sister, how can you think of Uncle Chi that way? Uncle Chi is a very good person. He’s helped me many times…”

As she spoke, seeing her sister’s expression growing increasingly ugly, she finally trailed off into mumbles.

“Shaojin!” Zhou Chujin was silent for a moment, then tried to counsel her sister. “You’re still young, and you’ve never really gone out into society much. There are some things you’ve seen too little of. Uncle Chi is our uncle—naturally he’ll be good to us. But we can’t simply attach ourselves to someone just because they’re good to us, can we? Isn’t Cheng Xu good to you? Isn’t Cheng Yi good to you? I don’t see you being particularly devoted to them!”