After returning to Wanxiang Residence, Zhou Shaojin didn’t close her eyes all night.

She carefully paid attention to any commotion outside, but there was no sound at all, as if everything she had experienced was merely a dream.

The next morning, she had dark circles under both eyes for the first time ever.

Shi Xiang and Chun Wan, who served her during her washing and grooming, weren’t much better off. Fan Liushi, who wasn’t on duty, came over early like someone joining the excitement, helping Shi Xiang and Chun Wan pass towels and the mirror stand… bustling about, her gaze falling on Zhou Shaojin several times only to move away hesitantly each time.

No matter how slow Zhou Shaojin was, she could tell Fan Liushi had something to say to her.

She simply dismissed the other servants in the room and asked Fan Liushi, “What does Nanny have to say?”

Upon hearing this, Fan Liushi exchanged glances with Shi Xiang and Chun Wan. The three of them knelt together before Zhou Shaojin and said in low voices, “Second Young Miss, after we returned yesterday, we thought it over repeatedly. The matter of encountering Fourth Master Chi can only be treated as if it never happened, buried in our stomachs. In the future, no matter what happens, no matter who asks, we cannot speak of it…”

As she spoke, she gazed earnestly at Zhou Shaojin, as if she needed Zhou Shaojin to give her a response before she could feel at ease.

Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood.

For inner courtyard servants like Fan Liushi who attended closely to their masters, keeping their masters’ secrets was the most basic principle of survival. They were afraid she would speak of this matter, especially tell her older sister Zhou Chujin…

Of course she had to keep the secret!

Otherwise, wouldn’t it implicate Uncle Chi!

However, if Uncle Chi needed her to speak out, she would definitely do so.

But at this moment, there was no need to worry Fan Liushi and the others…

Zhou Shaojin gestured for Fan Liushi and the others to rise quickly and said, “You’ve considered things more thoroughly than I have—I forgot to mention this to you. It’s excellent that you think this way. You surely heard what Uncle Chi said yesterday. He’s already cleaned up this mess for us. If we still drag him into it, that would be terribly unconscionable. This matter must never be mentioned again!”

Upon hearing this, all three breathed sighs of relief and stood up happily.

Fan Liushi went down to arrange Zhou Shaojin’s breakfast. Chun Wan directed the young maids to pour the washing water and tidy the bed. Shi Xiang helped Zhou Shaojin change clothes. The room was again filled with a lively and harmonious atmosphere.

Zhou Chujin sent Dong Wan over to ask Zhou Shaojin, “The Fifth Branch had a fire last night. The eldest young miss asks if the second young miss was frightened?”

Only then did Zhou Shaojin feel a wave of belated fear.

It turned out that when the Fourth Branch saw the firelight from the Fifth Branch side and began beating gongs and drums, Qiuhan Pavilion received the news. Fearing people might take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble, they immediately issued a prohibition: people from all branches must remain behind closed doors. If there was urgent business, two people must travel together; otherwise, anyone caught would be beaten with clubs indiscriminately, with no concern for life or death.

The Cheng family was a virtuous household—how could they beat and scold servants at will?

Such a prohibition hadn’t been issued in several years.

No one dared violate it.

That was why they could safely return to Wanxiang Residence without drawing attention.

Otherwise, with her sister’s concern for her, she would have come to check on her as soon as the Fifth Branch discovered the fire, and she would have been exposed at that time…

This kind of high-difficulty task really wasn’t something she could handle!

Zhou Shaojin thought somewhat painfully, smiling as she had Dong Wan relay the message back: “Yesterday I heard the commotion and didn’t know what happened. The Fifth Branch had a fire—is there any serious damage?”

Everyone at Wanxiang Residence knew Zhou Shaojin was carefree. Dong Wan didn’t become suspicious either, smiling as she said, “It’s said that Fifth Branch’s Master Nuo brought people home to gamble and accidentally set fire to the trees by the water pavilion. Fortunately our Fourth Branch arrived promptly and immediately extinguished the fire. Our eldest master was summoned early this morning by the Second Branch’s Old Ancestor to be questioned about this matter!”

Her face showed pride at being associated with glory.

But Zhou Shaojin secretly rejoiced in her heart.

If the responsibility for the fire was attributed to “Cheng Nuo bringing people home to gamble,” Cheng Yi’s responsibility would be relatively much less, wouldn’t it?

If matters were ultimately determined this way, the Fourth Branch would owe Uncle Chi an enormous debt of gratitude.

However, she hoped that after this incident, Cheng Yi would learn his lesson and stop treating others’ words as wind past his ears.

By the time they went to pay respects to Old Madam Guan, the news had spread everywhere.

Old Madam Guan was trembling with anger.

Before Cheng Mian could return from the Second Branch’s Old Ancestor Cheng Xu, she sent someone to bring Cheng Yi back from the Fifth Branch.

“You really bring honor to your parents!” Old Madam Guan made Cheng Yi kneel in the middle of Jiashu Hall’s courtyard and instructed Nanny Wang to take a switch and question him from the side.

“Who told you to gamble?”

“How is the Cheng family’s household rules written?”

“Are you or aren’t you a descendant of the Cheng family?”

“Where have all your studies gone?”

With each question, she struck him with the switch.

Under the sunlight, Cheng Yi’s thin, pale back showed blue and purple welts—shocking and unbearable to look at directly.

Cheng Yi lay sprawled on the spring stool, screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

Mian First Madam hid in the tea room covering her face and crying softly, yet never said a word of pleading for her son.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help viewing her eldest aunt with new respect.

She went forward to embrace Mian First Madam, continuously comforting her: “Jade must be carved to become an implement. Grandmother is doing this for Cousin Yi’s own good. Elder sister has already sent for a physician. Nanny Wang knows her limits—nothing serious will happen.”

Mian First Madam nodded through tear-filled eyes, tightly gripping Zhou Shaojin’s hand.

But Cheng Mian was not satisfied with this punishment. Not only did he summon Cheng Yi to his study to scold him, he also had Cheng Gao supervise him in copying the Spring and Autumn Annals ten times.

Cheng Yi wailed incessantly, thereafter plunging into a mountain of texts and sea of ink.

Old Madam Guan called Cheng Mian over to speak: “What did Old Ancestor say?”

Compared to Cheng Yi gambling due to youthful inability to resist temptation, how this fire incident was evaluated would have greater impact on Cheng Yi’s future.

Cheng Mian smiled and said, “You needn’t worry! Old Ancestor was very gratified by our vigilance and praised me for managing the household well. He proposed having me assist Zichuan in managing household affairs…”

Old Madam Guan immediately became tense upon hearing this and hurriedly said, “Did you agree?”

“How could I?” Cheng Mian smiled. “Zichuan handles household matters perfectly, knows how to employ people well, and has little to do himself. What would I do there? Go be Zichuan’s assistant or compete with Zichuan? I’m not that confused. Mother can rest assured.”

“It’s good that you understand.” Old Madam Guan breathed a sigh of relief.

Cheng Mian said, “The fire matter has also been investigated. It was an accident—they carelessly ignited something. Just be more careful with candles and lamps in the future.”

Old Madam Guan nodded.

Only after hearing this did the stone in Zhou Shaojin’s heart finally settle completely.

However, regarding the handling of the gambling disciples, the difference between families became starkly evident.

Cheng Wen only beat Cheng Nuo once, then left it at that. Cheng Ju’s family spoiled him even more. They let his mother, Yu First Madam, bring him to apologize to Cheng Chi, who managed the Cheng family’s household affairs, even saying things like “His father is too ashamed to see you. I’ve brought him here—whether you want to beat or scold him, it’s up to Fourth Master to handle.”

It was said that Cheng Chi laughed a few times, said a few painless words to Cheng Ju, then sent the mother and son away.

What the Second Branch’s Old Ancestor Cheng Xu wanted to investigate was why no one in the Fifth Branch discovered and fought the fire promptly.

Cheng Wen’s knees were still aching from being made to kneel by Cheng Xu. He was looking to make trouble for Wen First Madam. When such an incident occurred, and the fire had started in the inner residence, Cheng Wen became as excited as if he had taken a full tonic pill. He summoned all of Wen First Madam’s natal family brothers over, shouting that Wen First Madam was incompetent at managing the household and wanted to divorce her.

The Cheng family had never had a divorced wife.

This was naturally just talk.

It was merely to humiliate Wen First Madam.

Having been caught at fault, Wen First Madam couldn’t say a word in her own defense. Yuan Shi of the First Branch, relying on her status, never gossiped with these sisters-in-law. Hong First Madam of the Second Branch was taciturn. Mian First Madam of the Fourth Branch was a peacemaker. So Wen First Madam went crying to Jiang Shi, giving Jiang Shi such a headache, yet unable to ignore the matter. The entire Nine-As-One Lane had somewhat of a chicken-flying-dog-jumping feeling.

To the younger generation, the disputes among elders seemed like a grand drama.

Cheng Jia drank iced plum soup while whispering in Zhou Shaojin’s ear: “Do you think Fifth Uncle Wen will take this opportunity to propose bringing that outside woman home?”

Before Zhou Shaojin could answer, Pan Qing said seriously, “If he brings that matter up again at this time, his brain would truly be damaged—even if the family agreed to divorce Wen First Madam, they couldn’t possibly let him bring the outside woman home. This concerns the household rules. It would disrupt the hierarchy, and cause endless trouble afterward.”

Cheng Jia was very dissatisfied with Pan Qing’s interruption and pouted, “How would you know!”

Pan Qing ignored her and lowered her head to quietly practice calligraphy.

Cheng Jia asked Zhou Shaojin, “If you were Fifth Aunt Wen, what would you do?”

“Me?” Zhou Shaojin was startled, then said earnestly, “I probably wouldn’t get to this point, would I? If the man likes her, just let him take her in as a concubine. What’s the point of all this arguing?”

At worst, she could just go live at a country estate.

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t lived there before.

Cheng Jia disapproved of Zhou Shaojin’s answer, but thinking it over carefully, Zhou Shaojin really was that kind of person.

She whispered in Zhou Shaojin’s ear: “My mother said that if you encounter this kind of situation, it’s best not to make a fuss. Place a few women around Fifth Uncle Wen who are more beautiful than that outside woman and better at pleasing people. If both sides still can’t sever ties, then bring the woman in—distant fragrance, near stench. There are still ways to deal with a person. Making such a commotion loses all your own face.”

Without encountering such matters, no one dared claim they could handle them well.

Zhou Shaojin nodded perfunctorily.

A trace of disdain flashed through Pan Qing’s eyes nearby.

But Cheng Yi had another grievance.

He came limping to visit Zhou Shaojin: “…I asked around, and that fire wasn’t set by us at all. But when the fire occurred, the Fifth Branch had no one fighting it. That Qin Mian was like a black-faced god—after asking a few questions, somehow it became us who set the fire… Tell me, isn’t that unjust?”

Cheng Yi lay on the cool couch in Zhou Shaojin’s west wing study, venting by tugging at Zhou Shaojin’s wolf-hair brush.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin’s eyes brightened as she said, “Qin Mian? Who is he? I’ve never heard of him before?”

“Oh!” Cheng Yi said lazily, “He’s the grandson of Head Steward Qin. He’s served Uncle Chi since childhood. Later when Uncle Chi took over managing the household affairs, he also began serving as a steward in the mansion… Most of the time he’s outside collecting accounts, only returning during festivals… This was my first time encountering him… I didn’t expect people around Uncle Chi to be so formidable! However, they really did wrongly accuse us in this matter…”

Zhou Shaojin was no longer interested in whatever else he rambled on about afterward.

She now knew that Steward Qin was Cheng Chi’s person. Cheng Chi would be fine—that was enough.

However, who was that Ji Ying?