Zhou Shaojin felt slightly displeased.
Regardless of the reason, she felt that Pan Qing was paying too much attention to her.
She smiled perfunctorily at Pan Qing and said: “It’s nothing. I’m just standing here enjoying the breeze.”
The wind blowing across the lake surface was quite cool.
“Is that so?” Pan Qing smiled and also looked toward the waterside pavilion opposite, saying: “I think the scenery over there is quite pleasant. It’s just a pity it’s the Fifth Branch’s small garden—not convenient to visit.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled without saying anything.
Cheng Jia walked over shaking a large red fan embroidered with colorful butterflies fluttering among flowers, with a Xiangfei bamboo gold-painted handle, saying: “Why are you all standing here? What’s there to see here?”
“It’s just cooler here,” Pan Qing said, smiling as she glanced at Zhou Shaojin.
“What’s wrong with you!” Cheng Jia muttered quietly, shooting a glance at Pan Qing, then smiled at Zhou Shaojin and said: “Can you take half a day off tomorrow afternoon? I want to invite you to go boating in the garden. The lotus flowers in Qingxi River have grown buds. I want to pick some lotus leaves to dry for making beggar’s chicken in winter.”
“That won’t work!” Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Since I’ve promised Old Madam Guo, I can’t go back on my word. Go by yourself, and pick some for me too.”
An open request—treating her like one of the family!
Cheng Jia immediately became happy and said: “With a whole pond of lotus flowers, there are plenty of lotus leaves. I’ll pick some tender ones for you. Besides making beggar’s chicken, they can also be used for tea…”
The two chattered on about this and that, not letting Pan Qing get a word in edgewise. When Cui Huan came to report that Lady Shen Da had arrived, Cheng Jia took Zhou Shaojin’s arm and went to Jing’an Study.
Pan Qing’s gaze turned slightly cold.
Unfortunately, neither Zhou Shaojin nor Cheng Jia walking ahead of her noticed. Even after arriving at Jing’an Study, the two continued whispering to each other from time to time, leaving her aside.
As it turned out, when Cheng Jia went to pick lotus leaves, she nearly fell into the lake.
Zhou Shaojin was greatly frightened.
In her previous life, before her own incident, Cheng Jia had been very fortunate. Why had such a major mishap occurred in this life?
Fortunately, Cheng Jia was pulled back in time by a servant woman and only suffered a bit of fright.
Zhou Shaojin and her sister went together to visit Cheng Jia.
After hearing about it, Old Madam Guan called them over and said: “…Also ask for me whether Jia girl needs to have her fright settled. If she needs it settled, I have superior cinnabar here.”
The two smiled and agreed. Together with Madam Mian, they went to Ruyi Pavilion.
Ruyi Pavilion was located in the middle of the Third Branch. To the east was Cheng Zheng’s Linglong Pavilion, to the west was Third Branch’s Old Madam Li Shi’s Daoxiang Courtyard, and to the front south was the Third Branch’s upper courtyard Changqing Hall. The scenery was very beautiful, decorated magnificently and splendidly. Particularly in the hall to the south was a treasure cabinet partition made of nanmu wood, filled with all kinds of gold, silver, and jade ruyi scepters that gleamed brilliantly. At a glance, it was almost blinding.
When they arrived, Cheng Jia was wrapped in a brocade quilt featuring crimson phoenixes facing the sun, leaning against the headboard talking with Jiang Shi and Old Madam Li who were seated around her bed. Cheng Xian and Pan Qing stood behind Jiang Shi and Old Madam Li, while the personal nannies and maids of Jiang Shi, Old Madam Li, and others were outside the inner chamber. The enormous main room was full of people everywhere, and even the air smelled of mixed fragrances from various cosmetics and powders.
Zhou Shaojin was accustomed to simplicity and couldn’t stand such smells. She couldn’t help but furrow her brow.
Perhaps it was like entering an orchid room and becoming accustomed to the fragrance—Cheng Jia showed no sign of discomfort. As Madam Mian exchanged greetings with Old Madam Li and the others, she beckoned to Zhou Shaojin: “Why did you come? I’m fine, don’t worry.” She also called out loudly to Zhou Chujin: “Sister Chujin!”
Zhou Chujin smiled at her.
Zhou Shaojin hadn’t noticed from afar earlier. Now drawing near, she discovered that Cheng Jia’s face was glowing with health, her smile blooming like flowers—she showed not the slightest sign of being frightened. Instead, it was Jiang Shi and the others whose expressions were more tense than hers.
Madam Mian smiled and said: “Children rarely suffer real illness. A typical case of forgetting the pain once the scar heals. When we were about to come, our Old Madam instructed us again and again to make sure we asked clearly how Jia girl was doing. She’s fine—acting as if nothing happened. It’s only we parents who suffer.”
“Exactly! She frightened her grandmother out of three of her seven souls.” Jiang Shi had just recovered her composure. Hearing this, she naturally felt the same way. Her eyes reddened as she took the tea a maid brought over and personally handed it to Madam Mian. “Yet she’s still smiling and laughing, making our Old Madam so anxious. If not for Lady Zhou saying it was nothing, we would have forced the master to summon another physician.”
Cheng Jia looked bashful and muttered: “It’s not that exaggerated. It was just that the woman picking lotus leaves accidentally stepped on the gunwale and the boat rocked a few times. I didn’t expect it and panicked a bit. When they pulled me, they only got my sleeves wet…”
“You still dare speak!” Jiang Shi glared at Cheng Jia. “You don’t give anyone peace of mind. If you wanted to pick lotus leaves, you could have just ordered it done. But no—you had to get on the boat yourself…”
Old Madam Li was displeased hearing this and said: “Enough, enough. How many times have you said this? She already knows she was wrong. Stop nagging her about it. What was the name of that servant woman who held onto Jia girl? She must be richly rewarded! Otherwise, who would want to be a loyal servant!”
Though Jiang Shi didn’t hold this mother-in-law in high regard, she was very respectful in front of others and behind their backs, never giving anyone something to hold against her.
She stood up, bowed respectfully, and said “Yes,” indeed saying nothing more.
Cheng Jia then winked at Zhou Shaojin.
But Zhou Shaojin sighed inwardly.
This was how Cheng Jia had been spoiled.
However, having someone to spoil you was better than having no one to spoil you.
Old Madam Li then took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said: “You’ve played together since childhood. Your Cousin Jia needs to rest at home for a few days now. When you have time, come keep her company and help relieve her boredom.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed.
Madam Wen from the Fifth Branch came over.
Upon entering, she didn’t ask how Cheng Jia was. Instead, she grasped Jiang Shi’s hand, tears streaming down like rain as she choked out: “I’m a woman with a bitter fate. With such things happening, I truly have no face to visit the various branches.”
Jiang Shi was annoyed that she didn’t know what was important and led her to sit in a grand armchair to the side.
Lady Yuan from the First Branch and Grand Madam Hong and Lady Zheng from the Second Branch also came.
The Fourth Branch people took their leave early.
Jiang Shi personally saw them out of Ruyi Pavilion.
The sky was already dotted with stars, the bright moon high above.
Zhou Chujin took Madam Mian’s arm, chatting about family matters, unhurriedly heading toward Jiashu Hall.
Following behind them, Zhou Shaojin was thinking about Cheng Yi’s matter, her mind full of worries.
At Cheng Yi’s age, it was precisely when boys were mischievous, curious about gambling, drinking, and spending time with courtesans. Even trying these things was very normal—as long as one could recognize mistakes and correct them, one was still a good child. Even if she brought this matter before her grandmother, her grandmother would at most confine Cheng Yi and prevent him from playing with those people. But she wouldn’t bother with whether the Fifth Branch’s small garden would continue its singing and dancing pleasures—after all, that was someone else’s place with someone else’s children. The Fourth Branch was neither the eldest nor from the primary line, and needed to maintain good relations with all branches. They had neither the qualification nor would they interfere. At most, they would tactfully inform the elders of each family. Once this storm passed, they would probably gather together again… The Fifth Branch’s loophole remained.
If she wanted to block this loophole, the best method was to make the matter big enough for the Cheng family elders to understand the danger involved.
But how could she, a young girl, bring the matter before the Cheng family elders?
Zhou Shaojin thought of Madam Wen… She couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
When they saw their grandmother and she finished asking about Cheng Jia’s matter, she told the sisters to never personally pick flowers or harvest from the river in the future, to be careful of “falling into the water or tumbling to the ground.” Zhou Shaojin’s heart stirred. After leaving Jiashu Hall, she had Chun Wan call Fan Qi over, saying: “I have something I need him to do.”
Zhou Chujin asked curiously: “It’s so late—what’s so urgent it can’t wait until tomorrow?”
“Oh, tomorrow morning I want to request half a day off to keep Cheng Jia company.” With Cheng Jia resting at home these days, only she and Pan Qing would be left at Jing’an Study. Rather than facing Pan Qing who constantly sought to talk with her, she’d rather listen to Cheng Jia’s chatter. Even if Pan Qing also requested leave to accompany Cheng Jia, with Cheng Jia and the maids and women serving her present, Pan Qing would have to restrain herself—she still had to maintain her image of virtue and propriety before others. How could she let Jiang Shi hear any gossip?
Zhou Chujin asked no more questions.
Zhou Shaojin instructed Fan Qi in a low voice: “Continue watching Second Young Master for me. As soon as there’s any movement on their end, come tell me. Also see how Second Young Master and the others get over from the Fifth Branch.”
Fan Qi thought she intended to report this to the elders. He patted his chest and said: “Rest assured, I guarantee I’ll find everything out clearly without disturbing a blade of grass or tree.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled with pressed lips. She had Shi Xiang grab a handful of copper coins for him, saying: “Also ask a few people to go pick some lotus leaves from the garden. This is for you to treat them to drinks.”
She had also been involved in Cheng Jia’s lotus leaf picking. Now that Cheng Jia was lying in bed, she should at least send some to her—it would be returning the favor.
Fan Qi happily accepted the silver and left.
The next afternoon, Fan Qi brought over two large baskets of lotus leaves.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had Chun Wan lead several young maids to sort them by age—dry the older ones for lotus leaf rice and beggar’s chicken, make lotus leaf tea from the tender ones, send some to her grandmother, and then send some to each branch in the Fourth Branch’s name as autumn heat-clearing gifts.
When Cheng Jia learned of this, she was extremely moved. She held Zhou Shaojin and smiled as sweet as honey, saying to Pan Qing: “Shaojin treats me the best.”
Pan Qing had also requested leave to accompany Cheng Jia, but Cheng Jia didn’t have a kind word for her. Yet she remained unruffled, doing whatever needed to be done. Zhou Shaojin felt uncomfortable watching on her behalf, but this also made her more determined to keep her distance from Pan Qing.
The next day, as soon as she came out of Bihan Mountain Villa, she saw Fan Qi squatting boredly under a tree by the roadside, holding a branch and drawing randomly.
“What are you doing?” Shi Xiang asked him.
Fan Qi immediately jumped up.
“Second Miss,” his eyes shone as he said in a low voice, “Second Young Master and the others have arranged to gamble in the small garden again tonight.”
Zhou Shaojin’s heart leapt with joy, but to ensure complete certainty, she said: “How do you know they’re going to the small garden to gamble?”
Fan Qi grinned proudly and said: “The Fifth Branch’s cook was hauling chicken, duck, fish, meat, and delicacies home early this morning, but the Fifth Branch’s lunch was still the usual dishes. Then a servant from Master Ju’s side went to the pawnshop and pawned a woman’s gold hairpin on temporary terms for ten taels of silver. According to the pawnshop clerk, that servant wasn’t there for the first time—he’s been going especially frequently these days… And Sanbao at Second Young Master’s side had a bulging purse at his waist. I deliberately bumped into him—damn it… If they’re not going gambling, what else would they be doing?”