The wild geese of ten thousand li at Hengyang, customarily return at this point.

As the qin music deepened, Zhou Shaojin’s tears flowed freely.

Even wild geese had a place to land—where did she belong?

This melancholy lingered in her heart for a long time. When she finally came to her senses, she discovered she wasn’t the only one listening raptly—Cheng Jia sat at the round table in the pavilion with her elbow propped up and chin resting in her hand, eyes lightly closed, listening intently with raised ears; Pan Qing leaned against the beauty rest, gazing at Cheng Shi outside the curtain with rapt attention, her eyes full of amazement; only her sister was like her, with tears at the corners of her eyes, expression sorrowful, head lowered as she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Clearly different experiences led to different feelings.

In the end, she was still closest to her sister.

Zhou Shaojin wiped away her tears.

The lingering notes faded, the piece ended, and everyone awoke from their reverie.

Outside the pavilion, applause rang out continuously, praise without end.

Zhou Chujin also sighed: “I’ve lived in the mansion for these several years, yet I didn’t know that Cousin Shi was such a master!”

Cheng Jia felt indignant on behalf of her brother Cheng Zheng, saying: “What’s so special about that? Our family has many hidden dragons and crouching tigers! My brother also plays the qin very well. If you don’t believe me, I’ll have him play a piece later—I guarantee it will astonish everyone.”

“Astonish everyone!” Pan Qing laughed with a ‘pfft,’ “Is playing the qin about technique? Wouldn’t that make one just a craftsman? Playing the qin requires artistic conception—when the artistic conception is achieved, technique becomes merely supplementary and isn’t so important…”

Cheng Jia couldn’t stand hearing her speak. She interrupted Pan Qing and asked Zhou Chujin with a smile: “Elder Sister, do you know Cousin Shi’s nickname?”

Zhou Chujin shook her head.

Cheng Jia smiled cunningly: “Cousin Shi’s nickname is ‘Flower-Cherishing Hermit’…”

Zhou Shaojin and the others were all somewhat stunned.

After a long while, Pan Qing said indignantly: “Cousin Jia, why are you always chasing shadows without a serious moment? Is Cousin Shi’s nickname something you can spread around everywhere?”

Cheng Jia laughed heartily, saying: “What Cousin Shi loves most is growing flowers. The chrysanthemums he grows are each and every one as big as a bowl. The crabapple trees he cultivates can bloom until mid-spring. That’s how he earned the nickname ‘Flower-Cherishing Hermit’… Where did Cousin Qing’s thoughts wander to?”

Pan Qing’s face turned completely red as she argued forcefully: “How do you know what I was thinking? It’s you who thought crookedly and then pushed it onto others…”

The Zhou sisters didn’t want to get involved.

Zhou Chujin watched the two with a smile, while Zhou Shaojin’s gaze turned toward Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng outside Yicui Pavilion.

Both were equally tall and handsome with refined temperaments. The difference was that Cheng Shi had a bit more scholarly air, quite the romantic elegance of a noble family’s son; while Cheng Zheng was more steady and composed, appearing mature and capable, like a son from generations of scholarly farming families, with a touch of simplicity.

The two were speaking in low voices about something, with brilliant smiles, sincere expressions, and candid demeanors, just like a pair of good friends who had known each other for years.

But what they were really thinking in their hearts—probably no one knew?

Zhou Shaojin turned her head away.

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Cheng Xu.

He was staring at Yicui Pavilion.

Zhou Shaojin frowned slightly.

Cheng Xu withdrew his gaze and began joking with Cheng Gao and Pan Zhuo beside him.

Before long, a young servant brought over a qin. Cheng Xu sat cross-legged on the ground and began tuning the instrument.

Suddenly Pan Qing’s voice reached Zhou Shaojin’s ears: “I wonder what piece Cousin Xu will play? With Cousin Shi’s brilliant performance before him, will Cousin Xu be nervous?”

There was an indescribable emotion in her voice that Zhou Shaojin found very disagreeable. She smiled faintly: “Does Cousin Qing know what pieces Cousin Xu excels at playing? I certainly don’t!”

Pan Qing smiled slightly.

Pan Zhuo said something unknown, and Cheng Gao and the others all looked toward Yicui Pavilion with surprised expressions, then laughed as if they had seen something amusing.

Zhou Shaojin moved away from the bamboo curtain.

A young maid ran in, laughing loudly: “The young masters say they can’t let themselves monopolize all the glory. They request that the young ladies also play a few pieces, so everyone can critique each other.”

This was a qin competition!

Cheng Jia turned pale with shock, saying: “Whose idea was this?”

The young maid didn’t dare speak.

Pan Qing smiled and helped the maid out: “She’s just delivering a message—what use is losing your temper at her?” Then she said gently, “Who said this?”

The young maid looked at Pan Qing gratefully and said: “All the young masters said so…”

Cheng Jia stamped her feet in anger.

Cheng Shi’s hearty laughter had already come from outside Yicui Pavilion: “Since that’s the case, how dare I refuse?”

Zhou Shaojin and the others looked in the direction of the voice.

At some point Pan Zhuo had already stood beside Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng. Cheng Shi was untying the jade pendant at his waist, saying: “This jade was bestowed by Great-Grandfather—it can serve as the prize!” Then he slapped his forehead repeatedly in regret, saying, “Look at me—if the younger sisters win first place, this jade pendant wouldn’t be appropriate…” He thought for a moment, called Cheng Xu by his courtesy name “Jiashan,” and said, “I remember you have several good qins there. Bring one out later as a prize for the sisters.”

Cheng Xu laughed heartily: “Since Elder Cousin has spoken, how dare this younger brother not comply!” He ordered Huanxi in a loud voice: “Go fetch my ‘Phoenix Cry’ qin.”

Cheng Shi smiled: “Jiashan is still so thoughtful and considerate. The ‘Phoenix Cry’ has a light body and clear, pure sound—it couldn’t be better for girls to play.”

Cheng Jia wished she could go forward and poke her own brother Cheng Zheng hard: “What kind of brother is he? I always think of him, yet he turns around and sells me out. If I don’t complain to Grandmother and get him punished to kneel, I’m not the ‘Master of Ruyi Pavilion’…”

She had given herself the courtesy name “Master of Ruyi Pavilion.”

Pan Qing said with displeasure: “Over a joke between siblings, is it worth attacking Cousin Zheng like this?”

“I’m talking about my brother—what’s it to you?”

The two started bickering again.

Zhou Chujin glanced at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin said nothing.

She slowly stood up.

Pan Qing and the others looked at her in surprise.

A young maid ran in, out of breath, and curtsied to Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin, saying: “Second Miss, Sister Biyu says she has something to find you for and requests you move to Furong Pavilion.”

Cheng He was entertaining guests at Furong Pavilion, where all the distinguished female family members of the household were gathered. Biyu served beside Old Madam Guo.

Zhou Chujin asked the young maid: “What happened?”

The young maid shook her head and looked timidly at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t explain anything. She reassured her sister with “It’s nothing, I’ll go and come right back,” then took Chun Wan and walked straight out of Yicui Pavilion.

Biyu was waiting for her in the pavilion beside Furong Pavilion.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin, she smiled and came forward, saying: “What happened? You had a maid bring me word to find you and pull you out midway?”

“It’s just that some people’s faces are detestable and I didn’t want to see them, that’s all.” Zhou Shaojin said vaguely, taking Biyu’s hand. “Good sister, thank you so much for this. Tomorrow I’ll definitely treat you all to drinks.”

Originally she had only gone to Yicui Pavilion out of courtesy, but that didn’t mean she had to sit there feeling uncomfortable!

“Forget about drinks.” Biyu smiled as she looked over her slender figure, saying: “You’d fall over from a puff of wind. In the end, won’t you just coax us to drink while you watch from the side?”

The two giggled together.

Biyu said: “I still need to attend to the Old Madam, so I won’t talk with you anymore. Where will you go afterward?”

“I’ll just sit here.” Zhou Shaojin said, “When the banquet ends, I’ll go directly back to Furong Pavilion.”

Biyu left with her maid, smiling.

Below the pavilion, mandarin ducks swam in the water and brocade carp gathered in schools. Zhou Shaojin broke off a willow branch, sat on a Taihu stone stool outside the pavilion, and played with the fish.

Chun Wan watched as the sun gradually rose higher. Over at Furong Pavilion people had begun taking their seats, so she suggested to Zhou Shaojin: “Second Miss, shall I go to the kitchen and bring over some food?”

It was nearly noon. Zhou Shaojin had only eaten half a bowl of plain rice porridge in the morning, and the aroma of food was faintly drifting over from Furong Pavilion. Her stomach was somewhat hungry.

“Then be careful.” She instructed Chun Wan, “Don’t let anyone see through the ruse.”

Chun Wan knew she was avoiding the Cheng family’s banquet. She nodded with a smile and went to the kitchen with light steps.

Zhou Shaojin tossed away the willow branch, sat by the lake with her knees hugged to her chest, and squinted as she pondered.

But some things were too coincidental.

Pan Zhuo had become a scholar, and Cheng He was hosting guests… With the honest nature of Uncle Mian and the others, they certainly wouldn’t speak of the falling out between the fourth branch and Cheng Lu. Without the fourth branch as backing, if Cheng Lu wanted to advance further using the Cheng family name, whichever branch it was would carefully weigh his grievances with the fourth branch. So Cheng Lu wouldn’t speak of it either. Everyone still didn’t know about this matter, yet they hadn’t invited Cheng Lu, who was also a newly successful scholar… Cheng Shi and the others came to the garden to hold a musical gathering—all family members, and all Pan Qing’s and Cheng Jia’s family members… Old Madam Li went along with it… They went to Yicui Pavilion… She and her sister became supporting roles for certain people…

Zhou Shaojin thought of Pan Qing’s passive-aggressive manner toward her.

She and her sister might not just be supporting roles—perhaps they were even someone’s pawns.

Zhou Shaojin sneered coldly.

Someone walked past the piled Taihu stones, saying in a low voice: “…Miss indeed won first place. Our Miss’s hard work these past two days selecting pieces and secretly practicing behind people’s backs wasn’t in vain!”

Zhou Shaojin stood up.

She saw two slender figures in red and green heading toward Furong Pavilion.

This was the third branch’s territory. These two maids were either from the third branch or from the Pan family.

Were they going to report the good news to Cheng He or Old Madam Li?

It seemed Pan Qing was determined to marry into the Cheng family.

But if she thought she could use her or her sister as stepping stones, it probably wouldn’t be so easy!

Zhou Shaojin twisted her fingers together.

Cheng Shi was the eldest young master of the second branch—what kind of role did he play in all this?

When Zhou Shaojin returned to Furong Pavilion, everyone was discussing the musical gathering at Yicui Pavilion: “…Over there, Young Master Xu won first place. Over here, Miss Qing won first place… The young masters even composed poems. Young Master Shi said he wants to publish a collection… What a pity for the eldest Miss Zhou. Miss Qing played ‘Plum Blossom Prelude,’ while the eldest Miss Zhou chose ‘Song of Pure Peace.’ Although she also played well, the piece was too simple… Otherwise, the eldest Miss Zhou would have won this time…”

No one mentioned Cheng Jia, and no one mentioned Zhou Shaojin, as if their poor performance was something expected.

Cheng Jia ground her teeth in hatred, while Zhou Shaojin remained perfectly calm.

She had thought of an idea that might allow her to investigate the relationship between the Zhuang family and the Cheng family from years ago.