Zhou Shaojin, however, remained the same as before—paying her morning and evening respects, quiet and composed. In the mornings she did needlework, and in the afternoons she went to Cold Jade Mountain Studio to copy sutras.

But Jiuru Lane was, after all, a place of generations of official families. Many people had their own speculations about what Zhou Zhen’s transfer meant, and naturally became more attentive toward the Zhou sisters.

At first, Zhou Chujin worried that her younger sister might show some smugness, giving sharp-tongued maids and servants something to gossip about. Later, seeing that Zhou Shaojin remained impassive, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and set her mind at ease.

Ah Zhu from Duke Chengguo Mansion sent someone to deliver gifts to them.

For Cheng Jia, it was a set of eighteen Arhat dolls with a mechanism in their bellies—when pressed, the Arhats would perform boxing moves. For Zhou Shaojin, it was a pattern book recording the new fashions popular in Suzhou and the capital over the past two years, stamped with a private seal. Clearly it was privately printed and published by some young miss or madam—extremely rare. For Zhou Chujin, it was a set of one hundred and eight pieces of glass-fired enamel tableware made in the imperial palace. Using it as part of a dowry could not be more dignified.

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia were fine—though the items were valuable, at least they suited their interests, and obtaining them through various means was not excessive. But the tableware set for Zhou Chujin—not just Zhou Shaojin, but even Old Madam Guan of the fourth branch felt it was too rare.

The old lady specially summoned Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin, asking about their lake excursion with Ah Zhu.

Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin dared not conceal anything and related every single detail, no matter how minor, to Old Madam Guan.

When Old Madam Guan heard that the heir apparent of Duke Chengguo had given them four jade pendants as courtesy gifts, she fell silent for a long while. After the sisters finished speaking, she asked: “Did Miss Ah Zhu send a gift to Seventeenth Miss Gu? If so, what did she send?”

They truly hadn’t thought about this aspect.

Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin exchanged glances and said in unison: “We’ll send someone to inquire immediately.”

Old Madam Guan nodded. Though her face bore a smile, she showed no sign of happiness.

By afternoon, word came back from the Gu family. They said Ah Zhu had sent a servant woman to deliver a pair of palace-made pearl hairpins inlaid with silver.

Though also uncommon, compared to what was sent to the Zhou sisters and Cheng Jia, it was much inferior.

Old Madam Guan fingered her prayer beads without speaking.

But Madam Mian’s gaze kept shifting between Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin, her expression showing not a trace of ease.

Zhou Shaojin intuitively sensed that something had happened.

She asked her sister, and Zhou Chujin smiled: “Perhaps Duke Chengguo Mansion’s gifts were too valuable, and they don’t know what to give in return.”

In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin would naturally have believed this. But in this life, she couldn’t bring herself to believe it—no matter how valuable the gifts, the fourth branch had a hundred years of heritage. Even a rotten ship has three pounds of iron—they wouldn’t be in such difficulty!

Zhou Shaojin suddenly recalled the questions Cheng Chi had Nan Ping ask her… Thinking carefully now, she felt they had deeper implications.

After thinking it over, she went to Wishful Pavilion.

Cheng Jia was about to play with the gift Ah Zhu had sent her. Eighteen gold-leaf Arhats were arranged in a row—some in horse stance, some in golden rooster stance, some in crane wing pose… She was thoroughly enjoying herself. Seeing Zhou Shaojin, she happily waved her over. “Come quickly and look at my Arhats… Aren’t they fun? My mother went to the storeroom to find a return gift. This time I must give Ah Zhu a big surprise too!”

Carefree as a child.

Zhou Shaojin asked her: “What did Aunt Mian say?”

Her eyes fixed on the Arhats, she said somewhat absentmindedly: “She didn’t say much… Just called me over to ask about what happened… Then closed the door to discuss with Grandmother for a long time what to send as a return gift… If you ask me, just send Ah Zhu that red coral bead necklace Cousin Li gave me the other day. It has the auspicious meaning of the red color, and those beads are each the size of lotus seeds, inlaid with tourmaline and such. The quality is excellent—it couldn’t be more suitable…”

For the first time, Zhou Shaojin found Cheng Jia’s carefree attitude annoying.

She swept the Arhats into the wooden box beside them and said seriously: “I’m talking to you about something important—can you be serious too?”

Cheng Jia pouted with displeasure, but seeing Zhou Shaojin’s angry eyes, she quickly restrained her temper and sat up properly. “Go ahead! What do you want with me?”

Zhou Shaojin momentarily didn’t know what to say. After a long while, when her emotions had calmed down, she asked: “Did you mention that the heir apparent of Duke Chengguo gave us courtesy gifts?”

“Of course I did!” Cheng Jia said. “My mother was very happy to hear it. She asked carefully what kind of jade plaques we each chose, and this morning she sent someone to the Gu family to inquire what gift Miss Gu Shiqi received. Later, learning that Miss Gu Shiqi’s gift wasn’t as valuable as ours, my mother seemed even happier. Then for some reason she became worried again and sent someone to find out what your grandmother planned to send Ah Zhu as a return gift, though it seems they didn’t find out…”

In other words, Madam Jiang also felt something was amiss about Ah Zhu’s behavior!

Zhou Shaojin felt her mind wasn’t working well enough.

She wrung her fingers and paced back and forth in Cheng Jia’s room.

Cheng Jia said quietly: “Shaojin, you’re making my head spin from all your walking…”

“Then just close your eyes!” Zhou Shaojin said unceremoniously. After pacing a few more times, she swept out like the wind.

Cheng Jia stared in shock and quickly instructed Cui Huan: “Go see what Shaojin is doing!”

Cui Huan chased after her. About half an incense stick’s time later, she returned. “First Miss, Second Miss went to Small Mountain Osmanthus Courtyard!”

“Ah!” Cheng Jia’s eyes widened, her face full of confusion. “What does she want with Uncle Chi?”

Cui Huan didn’t know how to answer.

Zhou Shaojin was also hesitating about whether to seek out Cheng Chi.

What if Uncle Chi had only asked casually—what should she do?

But what if Uncle Chi knew something and had deliberately sent Nan Ping to warn her, and she failed to understand?

Zhou Shaojin’s fingers were practically twisted together.

A young Taoist acolyte walked over, bowing his head in salute. “Miss, who are you looking for?”

Zhou Shaojin looked carefully and almost laughed aloud.

It was Qingfeng.

Wearing a blue fine kudzu robe with a stern little face, he looked at her seriously, as if he didn’t recognize her.

She returned his salute playfully. “Is your Fourth Master home?”

Qingfeng said solemnly: “Our Fourth Master went out to visit a friend. If you have business, you can leave a message or come back tomorrow.”

Like a little Taoist acolyte studying under a worldly hermit.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help smiling.

Qingfeng displeasedly raised his eyebrows, looking as if he wanted to be angry but didn’t dare.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t stop laughing.

A gentle voice sounded by her ear: “Qingfeng, stop being mischievous. Invite Second Miss inside to sit.”

Zhou Shaojin looked up to see Nan Ping walking over wearing a moon-white ramie vest.

Her jet-black hair was tightly coiled in a bun, making her features appear even more gentle.

Zhou Shaojin quickly smiled and called out “Miss Nan Ping.”

Nan Ping smiled faintly and explained: “Fourth Master is not home. Qingfeng is on duty today. We have few visitors here, and he’s not skilled at receiving guests. Please don’t blame him for any impropriety, Second Miss.”

“Not at all!” Seeing her speaking with the tone of a mistress of the house, Zhou Shaojin said politely: “It’s I who came uninvited—I should ask Miss Nan Ping not to take offense.” Now that she was here, she actually calmed down—since she’d already come, she could hardly just turn back, could she? That would be fickle and invite mockery. She simply said: “I wonder where Uncle Chi went? When will he return? I have business with him. Could Miss Nan Ping relay a message for me?”

“Of course!” Nan Ping said readily. “Relaying a message is no problem.” As she spoke, she said apologetically: “It’s just that we truly don’t know where Fourth Master went, much less when he’ll return.”

No matter what, Nan Ping was still just a maid.

Zhou Shaojin had only asked casually and hadn’t expected them to truly know Cheng Chi’s whereabouts. She smiled and thanked her, asking Nan Ping to provide writing materials. “…I’ll leave a few words for Uncle Chi.”

Nan Ping hadn’t expected her to leave a written message. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly recovered her composure and smiled, leading her to a side room the size of a warm pavilion beside the small path. She personally ground ink for her, then closed the door and withdrew.

Zhou Shaojin very directly recounted what had happened over the past two days, then asked Cheng Chi what he meant by having Nan Ping relay a message to her, requesting that he speak plainly about whatever was going on. She said she’d been guessing for days without figuring it out. She also mentioned Madam Jiang’s reaction, writing: “Uncle Chi must not fob me off. Though I’m not clever, I can tell from Aunt Mian’s manner that this matter is not simple…” Finally, she sealed the envelope and handed it to Nan Ping.

Nan Ping smiled as she escorted her down the mountain. Only after watching her walk far away did she turn back toward the depths of Small Mountain Osmanthus Courtyard.

Passing through a tree-lined pathway, around rockery and pavilions, along the winding mountain path beside which grew an old osmanthus tree with only gnarled roots and trunk that had sprouted new growth.

As Nan Ping rounded the old osmanthus tree, someone suddenly appeared beside her.

“What are you doing?” The person wore black clothing and lightning-quick grabbed Nan Ping’s hand holding the letter, saying with a smile: “What’s this? For Fourth Master? Let me deliver it instead!”

Red marks immediately appeared on Nan Ping’s jade-white wrist, and beads of sweat the size of beans broke out on her forehead. But the hand gripping the letter didn’t loosen in the slightest as she said calmly: “Ji Ying, though we’re both Fourth Master’s senior maids, I entered his service earlier than you. By seniority, I’m your elder, and you should listen to me. If you feel aggrieved, I’ll report this to Fourth Master right now and have him send you back to your family…”

The person was indeed Ji Ying. Upon hearing this, a flash of anger crossed her cold, beautiful face. She snorted and flung Nan Ping’s hand away, disappearing into the forest like a phantom.

Nan Ping let out a long breath and gently rubbed her wrist. Then carefully using her sleeve to hide the red swelling on her wrist, she walked forward with a composed expression.

Before long, a small pavilion appeared ahead.

Gray eaves curved high upward, bowl-sized copper bells hanging motionless.

Huai Shan still looked half-asleep as always, hands tucked in his sleeves as he stood under the eaves.

“Uncle Huai Shan.” Nan Ping respectfully saluted him.

Huai Shan’s gaze fell on Nan Ping’s wrist where Ji Ying had grabbed it. After a moment, he took a step back.

Nan Ping smiled and pushed open the glass-inlaid door.