Li Shi was completely stunned upon hearing this.

She called out “Master!” in a fluster and hastily explained: “When I went to the capital, didn’t I discuss it with you? I went to care for First Young Madam during her confinement after childbirth! Besides being at Elm Tree Lane and Elm Coin Lane, I only went out two or three times, and each time Second Young Madam accompanied me.

“As for why Fourth Master of the Cheng family would arrange business for my eldest brother, I have no idea! That day we just happened to meet coincidentally, and it came up casually in conversation. When my eldest brother returned, he thought it was just wine-table talk that couldn’t be taken seriously. When a steward from Fourth Master Cheng’s household came looking for him the next day, my eldest brother thought he was dreaming!

“As for Shaojin’s residence, Fourth Master Cheng said Old Madam Guo had him arrange it… What family would complain about having too much silver and spend so much money buying a residence to give away for no reason! Moreover, First Young Madam was present at the time and knew about this matter.

“If there’s anything suspicious in all this, I truly don’t know!

“Master.” Tears of anxiety began falling from her eyes. “I truly did nothing, much less concealed anything from you! I don’t know what Fourth Master of the Cheng family said to you, but I’m willing to confront him directly!”

By the time Li Shi said this, her face had gone pale, full of despair.

What on earth was all this about?

Zhou Zhen’s anger burned on multiple fronts, but looking at Li Shi’s grief-stricken face, he inexplicably felt it was both tragic and absurd. He couldn’t help saying, “What are you thinking wildly about? If I didn’t trust you, would I have let you go care for Chujin during her confinement?”

Before he had even finished speaking, Li Shi’s face already showed renewed light.

“You, you truly trust me?” She felt her face burning hot.

Zhou Zhen casually said “Mm,” and continued, “After so many years of marriage, I know clearly what kind of person you are.”

Li Shi’s face immediately became radiant, and her mind began racing rapidly.

“Master!” She thought of a possibility and immediately spoke up, saying hurriedly, “Could something have happened to the Cheng family’s First Branch?”

Zhou Zhen said coldly with irony, “Now I finally understand how rumors start!”

Li Shi’s face turned red as the morning clouds, but her heart was sweet as honey without a trace of displeasure.

Her husband said he trusted her character!

Nothing could make her feel more rewarded for everything she had given.

She said with a smile, “Then what exactly happened?”

Zhou Zhen made no sound.

By rights, Li Shi should not have asked further. But Zhou Zhen’s earlier words had given her courage. After thinking it over, she still said, “Master, in these years since I married you, you have treated me well. If my eldest brother’s business puts you in a difficult position, I’ll go speak with him right away and tell him not to do business with the Imperial Household. I trust my eldest brother won’t forsake our sibling bond over money…”

Zhou Zhen frowned and said, “Don’t concern yourself with this matter. I know what I’m doing!” Having said this, he was about to leave.

If it wasn’t that something had happened to the Cheng family, and it also wasn’t because her brother was doing business with the Imperial Household, then what could it be?

Li Shi felt even more confused.

She grabbed hold of Zhou Zhen and boldly said, “Master, if you don’t tell me, how will I know what you’re asking about? You know I’m not clever and often don’t understand your thoughts. But you can tell me! I certainly won’t go against your wishes!”

This was indeed true!

Since Li Shi had married him, not only she but the entire Li family took their cues from him.

Zhou Zhen stopped in his tracks and couldn’t help pondering.

Li Shi quickly said, “Master, just speak plainly to me!”

Cheng Chi was not some seventeen or eighteen-year-old youngster. To manage the First Branch’s substantial business affairs, he certainly wasn’t a simple character.

If he had come to propose marriage, it definitely wasn’t some momentary impulse.

If Li Shi didn’t know about Shaojin’s situation, and the two men had argued in the reception hall, as long as Li Shi was observant, she would certainly know about it as the senior woman of the household. If Li Shi had known all along, or was even part of it, what meaning would his concealment have?

Zhou Zhen solemnly told Li Shi about Cheng Chi coming to propose marriage.

Li Shi was so frightened she stood there stupefied.

No wonder her husband was questioning her!

The person had been entrusted to her care, yet this kind of thing happened—who else would he confront if not her?

But she had discovered nothing at all!

How could things have turned out this way?

When the two were together, there had been no sign of anything unusual…

Could it have happened after she left the capital?

Zhou Zhen could tell from her expression that she knew nothing about this matter.

He couldn’t help but sigh deeply and said, “You truly noticed nothing at all?”

“I truly noticed nothing!” Li Shi’s eyes reddened. “Both of them were perfectly proper. There was never any inappropriate speech or behavior, otherwise I wouldn’t have been kept in the dark.”

Regardless of whether anything had actually happened between Shaojin and Cheng Chi, if Li Shi, who spent day and night with Shaojin, had detected no clues, others couldn’t possibly notice anything either.

As this thought flashed through his mind, Zhou Zhen felt as if struck by lightning.

Shaojin… could she have been willing?

Otherwise, if she had shown even the slightest sign of distress, Li Shi would have noticed… Perhaps Cheng Chi had seduced her?

For a moment, Zhou Zhen’s heart was in turmoil, an indescribable feeling.

But Li Shi, having recovered her composure, felt differently.

Shaojin… marrying Cheng Chi… Cheng Chi was a double-degree scholar!

Moreover, he was so handsome and distinguished, with such noble bearing.

Though he seemed somewhat aloof, upon actual acquaintance one discovered he was warm-hearted beneath a cool exterior, very willing to care for family. Like her eldest brother’s business—Cheng Chi had heard that her natal family had a wine distillery and had proactively helped her brother make the connection.

Thinking of this, she glanced at Zhou Zhen.

Now that Jiuru Lane and the Cheng family had divided their lineage…

Cheng Chi’s own brother was a Grand Secretary in the Cabinet!

If Shaojin married Cheng Chi… then Shaojin would be Cheng Chi’s younger sister-in-law… and the Zhou family would be marriage relations with the First Branch again… wouldn’t that provide support for Master’s official career?

The more Li Shi thought about it, the more she felt this was a good thing.

She couldn’t help but ask Zhou Zhen, “Did Fourth Master of the Cheng family truly come to propose marriage for Shaojin?”

Hearing these words, Zhou Zhen’s face immediately darkened like the bottom of a pot. He sneered coldly, “I see you looking quite pleased? What, you think doing business with the Wine and Vinegar Bureau isn’t careful enough, and now you want business with the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau too?”

The Li family’s main business was cloth and silk fabrics.

Ordinarily, upon hearing such words, Li Shi would likely feel Zhou Zhen was looking down on her merchant origins.

But after Zhou Zhen had said he trusted her character, even if Zhou Zhen really thought this way, she didn’t mind at all—after all, even though she came from merchant stock, Zhou Zhen still trusted her, and that was enough.

“Look at what Master is saying!” Li Shi said with a smile. “I’m just happy for Second Young Miss! Fourth Master of the Cheng family comes from a family we know well. Apart from being somewhat older than Shaojin, whether in learning, character, appearance, or family background, he’s one in ten thousand…”

Zhou Zhen spat and said harshly, “Have you lost your mind? He’s a double-degree scholar, I’ll grant his learning is probably excellent. But aside from his good learning, what character does he have? Would someone with character do such a thing? Shaojin is his niece! Once this matter becomes known, the spittle of public condemnation alone could drown him, and then what will become of Shaojin…”

He proceeded to criticize Cheng Chi thoroughly from top to bottom.

Li Shi disagreed. Inwardly she muttered, this isn’t good, that isn’t good—at least Fourth Master Cheng’s appearance is first-rate, right? Otherwise, why pick apart everything else but never mention Fourth Master Cheng’s looks!

Setting everything else aside, just based on Fourth Master Cheng’s appearance, any woman would be willing to marry him!

She suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Why would Cheng Chi come to propose marriage for no reason?

Could it be that he and Zhou Shaojin had already developed mutual affection?

Li Shi appeared to listen submissively to Zhou Zhen’s lengthy discourse on the surface, but inwardly she was contemplating this matter.

Perhaps Zhou Chujin also knew about this!

Otherwise, how could there have been no hint of it at home?

Her husband treasured both daughters from his previous wives like precious jewels. If she used this opportunity to curry favor with Cheng Chi, Zhou Shaojin, and Zhou Chujin, what then?

Seeing that her husband had been speaking for so long, Li Shi worried he might be thirsty and brought him a cup of tea. After Zhou Zhen finished speaking, she said gently, “Master, please don’t be angry. I understand you’re concerned about the relationship between Fourth Master Cheng and Second Young Miss. That was before. Now that Jiuru Lane and the First Branch have divided their lineage, our family is only related by marriage to Jiuru Lane in Jinling. What relationship do we have with the Cheng clan in the capital?

“Just because we’re related by marriage to Jiuru Lane in Jinling, does that mean we cannot marry into the Cheng clan in the capital?

“What about the Yuan family of Tongxiang? What about the Fang family of Shucheng? Which of those families doesn’t have marriages upon marriages among relatives? Why can’t we?

“Moreover, don’t those great households in Jiangnan emphasize ‘choosing worthy sons-in-law for daughters, not demanding heavy betrothal gifts’? We’re choosing a worthy son-in-law, not his family background. If his appearance and learning match Second Young Miss, why must you be bound by these constraints? Our Second Young Miss’s looks are too exceptional—ordinary families couldn’t handle her!”

Zhou Zhen’s heart shook.

He thought of the marriage between Zhuang Shi and Cheng Bai.

If Cheng Bai had been someone who could amount to something, how could Zhuang Shi have married him?

Would mother and daughter walk the same path?

Zhou Zhen’s resolve began to waver.

Since marrying into the family, Li Shi had always read Zhou Zhen’s mood. Now seeing his imposing manner weaken, knowing her words had moved Zhou Zhen, she continued, “Fourth Master Cheng is also considerate—he waited until after the First Branch and Jiuru Lane divided their lineage before raising this matter. If he had proposed before, it truly would have put our Second Young Miss in a difficult position. When all is said and done, it’s because of the generational relationship. I think if you still can’t decide, why not write to Madam and Old Madam Guan? She’s crossed more bridges than we’ve walked roads—asking more questions certainly can’t hurt.”

Should he let the Fourth Branch know about Shaojin’s situation?

Zhou Zhen felt very hesitant but made no sound.

Seeing that no amount of persuasion was working, Li Shi simply said nothing more and sat quietly there keeping Zhou Zhen company.

Marry Shaojin… to Cheng Chi?

Zhou Zhen’s feelings were complex.

He went to his study.

Li Shi thought he must have gone to burn incense before Zhuang Shi’s memorial.

Whenever he encountered such matters, he would always offer incense before Zhuang Shi’s portrait. For something as important as Shaojin’s marriage, he would naturally consult Zhuang Shi.

Li Shi quietly summoned Nanny Li and had her go inform Cheng Chi: “…Master is currently in the heat of anger. Fourth Master should wait a few days before calling again.”

Cheng Chi rewarded Nanny Li generously.

Like a snake in the grass leaving traces in ash, extending for a thousand li.

The flowers planted before had finally borne fruit!