When Qiu Shi hosted family banquets, she did so just like herself—low-key, simple, and restrained, only inviting those from Xinglin Alley and Chaoyangmen.

Old Madam Guo was very satisfied with Qiu Shi’s approach of doing what she could within her means. Not only did she bring Zhou Shaojin along, but she also brought a bundle of Chengxin paper, two Duan inkstones, and a box of Huzhou writing brushes as gifts for Cheng Rang.

However, when Zhou Shaojin helped Old Madam Guo down from the carriage at the ornamental gate and saw Wu Baozhang following behind Yuan Shi, Cheng Zheng, Min Jia and the others as they came forward to greet them, she couldn’t help but pause in surprise.

Seeing this, Min Jia smiled and explained, “I invited Sister-in-law Nuo to come along—she’s all alone in the capital and quite lonely.”

Had their relationship grown this close in just a few days since they’d last met?

Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly without saying anything.

This was Qiu Shi’s banquet, so naturally she wouldn’t presume to take over as host.

After exchanging greetings, the group entered the reception room to drink tea, and Old Madam Guo had Zhou Shaojin give the gifts for Cheng Rang to Qiu Shi.

Having received a reward from Old Madam Guo, Qiu Shi was naturally overjoyed and quickly brought out the menu for Old Madam Guo to review. “Please see if there’s anything you’d like to add or remove.”

Zhou Shaojin hurriedly helped Old Madam Guo put on her reading glasses.

However, Old Madam Guo was too lazy to look at it herself and passed the menu to Zhou Shaojin, saying, “You take a look—you know what dietary restrictions to keep in mind.”

After marrying into the Cheng family for over twenty years, if she still didn’t know her mother-in-law’s preferences, what kind of daughter-in-law would she be? Besides, Qiu Shi had already quietly discussed this menu with Zhou Shaojin beforehand.

She smiled as she looked over all the dishes on the menu, and seeing that they matched what the two of them had discussed earlier, she smiled and handed the menu back to Qiu Shi, saying, “Thank you for your trouble, Second Sister-in-law. Everything prepared is what Mother loves to eat.”

Old Madam Guo laughed upon hearing this.

Qiu Shi was also very pleased and handed the menu to the steward behind her. She sat around Old Madam Guo together with Yuan Shi and the others, chatting with Old Madam Guo. “Second Master has always been in the capital and never left. I didn’t know what to bring for him. I asked Eldest Sister-in-law, and she gave me a list, otherwise I would have been completely at a loss!”

Yuan Shi smiled and said, “I was just following a template myself. Back then I didn’t understand these matters either—it was Mother who told me!”

Elderly people love to reminisce about the past.

Hearing this, Old Madam Guo began talking about some events from when Cheng Xun and Cheng Jing first entered official service.

Min Jia couldn’t help but look at Old Madam Guo with new eyes.

Seeing Yuan Shi’s unreliable appearance, she had thought the Cheng family was exaggerating. She hadn’t expected the old madam to actually be shrewd and capable.

The weather was quite hot, and after the afternoon meal, everyone rested for a while before the opera performance began.

Cheng Zheng and Old Madam Guo critiqued the actors’ skills, while Cheng Xiao, Yuan Shi, Min Jia, and Wu Baozhang all listened with great interest. Yuan Shi and Min Jia occasionally offered their own commentary, which was quite insightful. Clearly they were people who enjoyed listening to opera.

Zhou Shaojin had no interest in joining the excitement and sat to the side listening. Seeing that her mother Qiu Shi was busy preparing the evening meal, Cheng Sheng came over to talk with Zhou Shaojin about needlework. “…Cousin Xiao found that swaddling cloth pattern you drew for their Rui Ge’er back then and showed it to me. I had someone embroider one following the pattern. I’ll bring it to show you later!”

“Really?” Zhou Shaojin had almost forgotten about this matter. She smiled and said, “That’s good. I’ll see what color scheme you used.”

A beautiful pattern also needed good color coordination.

Cheng Sheng smiled and said, “Do you still have any patterns for children’s clothing? When the time comes, I’ll have the maids copy a few to bring back.”

“What kind do you want?” Zhou Shaojin still liked Cheng Sheng very much. “I’ll draw a few for you. These patterns are updated every year. I do have ones from before, but I don’t know if they’ll meet your standards.”

“Auntie’s needlework has always been praised by everyone. Whatever you’ve kept must all be good things,” Cheng Sheng said with a smile. “Then it’s settled. I’ll bring people to your place tomorrow to have a look.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded.

Suddenly someone laughed and said, “What have you settled on?”

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng looked up to find Wu Baozhang had somehow made her way over to them.

Cheng Sheng didn’t know about Wu Baozhang’s situation. As the wife of her maternal family’s younger cousin, and a guest at her maternal home, naturally she should show proper hospitality. Cheng Sheng smiled and explained what had happened.

Wu Baozhang held her handkerchief and laughed, saying, “Third Miss has found the right person. When Aunt Chi was still a young lady, she had a shy temperament. She either stayed home reading and writing, or doing needlework at home. We often asked Aunt Chi to help draw patterns for us.”

Zhou Shaojin had no desire to get involved with Wu Baozhang and feigned confusion, saying, “When I was at home, people did often ask me to draw patterns, but did I also draw for Nephew’s Wife Nuo? I can’t seem to remember. Most of the time I stayed at home. When Nephew’s Wife Nuo came to visit, I think I only saw her two or three times…” She recalled, “What pattern did I draw for Nephew’s Wife Nuo? Can Nephew’s Wife Nuo give me a hint?”

Wu Baozhang had tried to ingratiate herself with Zhou Shaojin several times, but Zhou Shaojin never appreciated it. She couldn’t help but feel secretly angry. She mumbled a few vague words, then turned around to listen to Cheng Zheng critique the opera, no longer paying attention to Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin’s ears were finally quiet.

Cheng Sheng got up to use the washroom.

Seeing her supporting her waist and moving slowly, completely different from her usual nimbleness, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but worry. She got up to support her and accompanied her to the washroom.

Min Jia, who had been earnestly listening to Old Madam Guo talk about opera, suddenly turned around and said in a low voice with a smile to Wu Baozhang, “I didn’t expect you and our young aunt to have such a good relationship?”

Thinking of what had just happened, Wu Baozhang’s expression turned somewhat cold. “I wouldn’t say good—we just know each other, that’s all!”

Min Jia smiled and said, “That’s still better than me. At least you know her. You don’t know, but when I first saw her that day, I thought I had an aunt who was actually three years younger than me. I thought she was some uncle’s second wife, never imagining she was Uncle Chi’s wife. How did Uncle Chi marry such a young aunt? Sometimes I feel embarrassed calling her that.”

Hearing Min Jia say that Zhou Shaojin seemed like some uncle’s second wife, Wu Baozhang felt a rush of satisfaction and couldn’t help but say, “You’re telling me! She used to call me elder sister, and now I have to call her auntie instead…”

Min Jia pursed her lips in a smile and said, “I see this young aunt has a very gentle temperament. I’m sure she won’t hold anything against you!”

In the past, Wu Baozhang didn’t even dare speak loudly in front of her, but now that she’d married Cheng Chi, she put on the airs of an elder and treated her with indifference.

Thinking of this, Wu Baozhang felt stifled.

However, Min Jia’s eyes shifted slightly as she smiled at Wu Baozhang and said, “I should also go to the washroom.”

Wu Baozhang thought about how Min Jia had been inexplicably affectionate when they first met, and then enthusiastically invited her over afterward. She sneered inwardly.

Although she wanted to step on Zhou Shaojin a few times, she wasn’t brainless. Who did Min Jia think she was? Did she think a few nice words and some flattery would confuse her and make her available for use?

Wu Baozhang decided to accompany Min Jia to the washroom to see what she was really up to.

The two women walked arm in arm, appearing very close as they left the hall through the back door.

Several peony bushes were planted in the corner of the back courtyard, blooming magnificently in vibrant purples and reds.

The two slowly made their way toward the washroom.

Just a few steps from the washroom, they ran into Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng coming toward them. Both parties exchanged greetings and went their separate ways.

However, Min Jia couldn’t help but glance back at Zhou Shaojin and said, “Tell me, did all the Cheng family brothers used to dote on young auntie?”

“Yes!” Wu Baozhang really wanted to see what kind of expression would appear on Min Jia’s composed face when it cracked. “I don’t even need to mention Cousin Gao and Cousin Yi from the fourth branch. They treasured her like they were afraid she’d break if held in their hands or melt if kept in their mouths. Even Cheng Lu—from the Cheng family’s branch line, yet the best scholar among all the Cheng brothers—would send her things every few days… We all thought back then that she would stay with the Cheng family. Never expected that she really did stay with the Cheng family, but not by marrying… well… but by marrying Uncle Chi… Though back then Uncle Chi also protected her very much…”

Hearing this, Min Jia’s heart skipped a beat.

When Wu Baozhang talked about Zhou Shaojin’s marriage, she didn’t use the word “married into” the Cheng family, but rather “stayed with” the Cheng family. If Zhou Shaojin had something with that branch family member called Cheng Lu, Wu Baozhang wouldn’t have used the word “stayed.”

Could it be, as she suspected, that there was something between Cheng Xu and Zhou Shaojin?

But if that were the case, how could Zhou Shaojin possibly have married Cheng Chi?

Or was there… an illicit relationship?

Min Jia sensed Wu Baozhang’s malice.

But she had no way not to think about it.

Her heart pounded like a drum as she smiled and said, “Is she beautiful? Everyone protects beautiful young ladies—that’s just human nature.”

“Exactly!” Wu Baozhang smiled and said, “Even if she did something wrong, everyone could forgive her quickly.”

Min Jia’s eyelids twitched.

She knew perfectly well that Wu Baozhang had dug a pit for her, but she couldn’t help jumping in—these past few days she had exhausted herself trying to find out about Zhou Shaojin, but learned nothing. Instead, she managed to learn something from a servant woman beside Second Madam Fang.

What did Zhou Shaojin have that could compare with Fang Xuan besides her looks?

But which family chose a daughter-in-law based on appearance?

The fact that Zhou Shaojin could make the Cheng family give up Fang Xuan to marry her was unusual in itself.

“Did something wrong?” Min Jia showed surprise and said, “What did she do wrong?”

Wu Baozhang hemmed and hawed, changing the subject and refusing to say anything more about the matter.

Min Jia’s curiosity was killing her, but Wu Baozhang’s mouth was shut tight as a clamshell, and she couldn’t get anything more out of her.

She could only try to find out from people in Xinglin Alley, but even when news came from Cheng Sheng’s side announcing the birth of a big fat baby boy, this matter still had made no progress.

In the dead of night with the moon high in the sky, Min Jia looked at the dim yellow light reflecting on the window lattice of Cheng Xu’s tightly closed study, and her hands clenched into fists.

Either Cheng Xu had someone in his heart, or he was naturally cold toward people.

In all the time since their marriage, the days they’d shared a bed could be counted on one hand.

Her mother-in-law hinted both directly and indirectly that she should keep Cheng Xu close to her quarters as soon as possible and produce heirs for the Cheng family quickly. Cheng Xu hadn’t taken the civil service examination last spring, but he would definitely try for the next one. After the new year, Cheng Xu would need to focus wholeheartedly on his studies, so she’d better not “disturb” him.

She simply had Su Yue go serve Cheng Xu in the study.

But Cheng Xu remained perfectly proper and never gave Su Yue an extra glance.

If she still didn’t understand that Cheng Xu was hiding someone in his heart, she would have lived all these years in vain.

But how could she break through this situation?

Min Jia felt that aside from Wu Baozhang, she really couldn’t find a second person.

Although it was like seeking skin from a tiger, if she didn’t even have the courage to try, she’d never be able to obtain the tiger’s skin!