Zhou Shaojin’s hands twisted together again.

She said worriedly, “But what about Third Aunt Lu…”

Cheng Chi forced himself not to rub his forehead. He said, “That still requires Cheng Zheng’s agreement, doesn’t it?”

Cheng Zheng’s agreement?

Why wouldn’t he agree?

Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood.

Cheng Zheng was a scholar. Scholars advanced through the imperial examinations—what use was climbing up to imperial relatives? Could they possibly expect in-laws to lend a hand in their official career? The Emperor was most wary of imperial relatives participating in court politics, so princes consort could only take their stipends and stay at home…

“That’s right! How did I not think of that!” Her eyes shone like stars, her face glowing faintly. “The third branch is still counting on Cousin Zheng to succeed in the examinations and bring glory to the ancestors! If Cheng Jia married Zhu Pengjiu as a second wife, the censors’ criticism alone would be enough to drown Cousin Zheng…” Thinking of this, she felt as if a weight had been lifted, feeling entirely relaxed. She jumped up excitedly. “I’ll go tell Cousin Jia right now… Anyway, no matter who Zhu Pengjiu has his eye on, he won’t be able to marry her!” As she spoke, she became somewhat uncertain again, hesitantly asking Cheng Chi, “Uncle Chi, my, my father definitely wouldn’t agree either, right?”

Even if her father agreed, her maternal grandmother and First Aunt from the fourth branch wouldn’t agree, would they?

What if, just what if they all agreed—could she ask Uncle Chi to sabotage this matter?

She dared not ask this last question, fearing that their shallow acquaintance made such deep words inappropriate, and she might receive a completely opposite answer.

How could he be certain about such things?

But seeing Zhou Shaojin’s cautious manner, his heart felt slightly sour. He couldn’t bear to discourage her, so he smiled and said, “Probably not!”

Zhou Shaojin laughed.

With curved eyes and brows, she smiled while bending her knees and curtsying to him, saying, “Uncle Chi, then I’ll take my leave first. I’ll come back another day to thank you properly!” Then, like a cheerful little bird, she left the Little Clear Sound Pavilion with light steps.

Cheng Chi was stunned.

Just left like that… She trusted what he said so completely without question?

Cheng Chi looked puzzled. Gazing at the faint green mountains and forests, he said nothing for a long while.

Huai Shan kept his head lowered, his mouth pressed into a tight line. Yet his shoulders gave two light shrugs.

※※※

Zhou Shaojin headed east all the way to the Ruyi Pavilion.

Cheng Jia was about to look through the menu sent over from the third branch’s small kitchen. Seeing Zhou Shaojin arrive, she happily welcomed her into the inner room to sit down, pushing the menu in front of Zhou Shaojin and asking, “Why don’t you stay here for dinner? I’ll have Cui Huan go tell Jiashu Hall. What would you like to eat? Today the kitchen has crystal shrimp, steamed flatfish, three-cup chicken, squirrel fish… I’ll have Cui Huan go to the kitchen to check—don’t want it to be like last time. We ordered crystal shrimp, but the shrimp were smaller than river snails…” She grumbled.

The third branch differed from the fourth branch. The third branch had the kitchen send daily menus to each room for ordering, while the fourth branch arranged everything uniformly. For instance, Zhou Shaojin sisters and Great Lady Mian had four dishes and one soup, the Cheng Gao brothers had six dishes and one soup, Old Lady Guan had three dishes and one soup. Zhou Shaojin sisters and Great Lady Mian dined as two people, the Cheng Gao brothers were growing boys with large appetites. The old lady ate less, so one dish was reduced—not wasteful at all.

The first branch seemed different again. At least when she had eaten at the Cold Jade Mountain Lodge, not only were the dishes well-balanced between meat and vegetables, the chef’s skills seemed particularly exceptional, with especially diverse dishes—probably emphasizing refinement.

Zhou Shaojin’s thoughts wandered randomly. She nodded and said, “I actually have something to tell you today. I’ll stay here for dinner. Have Cui Huan go inform them.”

They had often eaten together before, though Zhou Shaojin staying at Ruyi Pavilion for meals was more common, while Cheng Jia going to Wanxiang Residence for meals was less frequent—the fourth branch’s dishes were predetermined. The third branch’s dishes could be ordered on the spot, making Ruyi Pavilion seem more free and easy.

Cui Huan smiled and said, “Yes.” Without waiting for Cheng Jia’s instruction, she withdrew.

Cheng Jia then pulled Zhou Shaojin onto the daybed. She asked quietly, “What do you want to tell me?”

Zhou Shaojin told Cheng Jia about how she had sent the purse to test Azhu, but she concealed the matter of seeking out Cheng Chi. She felt uneasy, always feeling that the relationships between the first, second, and third branches were complex and intertwined—if she could avoid mentioning Cheng Chi, she should try not to mention him.

Cheng Jia was shocked. “Is what you’re saying really true?”

After asking, her expression showed a moment of confusion, her face alternating between joy and worry.

Zhou Shaojin watched with great concern.

Among the young ladies of Jinling City, most probably wanted to marry into Duke Liangguo’s mansion and become Jinling City’s first lady.

But this matter was not for her to decide.

If Cheng Jia thought this way too, even if she found a way to keep Cheng Jia from the marriage, Cheng Jia might think she had cut off her happiness.

Her tone involuntarily softened. She said slowly, “Why would I lie to you? Regardless of what Duke Liangguo’s mansion is planning, I’ve made up my mind to go home and discuss with my grandmother… Think about it—just because the heir’s wife hasn’t borne children, for the sake of future descendants, Duke Liangguo’s mansion won’t request an imperial title for the heir’s wife. Such a family, no matter how prominent, I won’t marry into! Much less as a second wife.”

Cheng Jia didn’t understand.

Zhou Shaojin explained to her: “Without requesting the title, she cannot be entered into the family registry. If a subsequently married wife bears children, that child would be the legitimate eldest son by right.”

Cheng Jia immediately shuddered and hurriedly said, “I, I also don’t want to marry there.” After speaking, her brow furrowed tightly, and she said worriedly, “But if it really is me, my mother…”

Her eyes were clear, no longer showing the earlier confusion.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief, her heart warming.

This is my good sister.

She won’t be blinded by power and nobility.

She couldn’t help but change direction, sitting down close beside Cheng Jia, and spoke of Cheng Zheng: “…He intends to pursue an official career path—he may not necessarily think this is a good thing.”

Speaking of scholarly farming families, Cheng Jia understood without Zhou Shaojin needing to say much.

She couldn’t help but hug Zhou Shaojin tightly, laughing, “Shaojin, you’re my younger sister, when did you become so capable? You make me look like an empty-headed fool!”

Zhou Shaojin’s face burned hot upon hearing this.

Would Uncle Chi think of her this way too?

He had someone tell her a few words, and she had personally run over to ask twice before figuring this matter out… In Uncle Chi’s eyes, she was probably also an empty-headed fool…

※※※

After dinner, Zhou Shaojin returned to Jiashu Hall.

Great Aunt Mian and her sister were still keeping Old Lady Guan company, talking and drinking tea.

After she greeted the elders, her sister pulled her to sit beside her. She said reproachfully, “Since you were staying at Ruyi Pavilion for dinner, why didn’t you say so earlier? The meal was already set out, and you suddenly had Cui Huan say you weren’t coming back to eat!”

In her previous life, her sister had also nagged her this way, and she had only felt apprehensive. Hearing it again in this life, she discovered there was deeper meaning—by preemptively scolding her like this, her grandmother and aunt wouldn’t be angry with her anymore.

She linked arms with her sister, giggling and acting coquettish: “I had urgent matters to discuss with Cousin Jia!”

Great Lady Mian looked at her charming appearance and laughed, “What urgent matters could a little child have? Discussing things? I think you were just playing around together!”

First Aunt had never joked with her like this before.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes grew slightly moist. She told everyone in the room how she had been organizing things at home and discovered two seasonal purses, how she had Fan Liushi deliver them to Duke Liangguo’s mansion, and what the report was when she returned… She attributed all of Cheng Chi’s warnings to her own discoveries, telling them everything in one breath.

Everyone was both surprised and pleased. Surprised that the heir of Duke Liangguo matched their hesitation, pleased that they had all kept it from Zhou Shaojin, yet Zhou Shaojin could guess the heir’s intentions from slight clues.

Old Lady Guan took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said emotionally to Zhou Chujin, “Now you can rest easy! Even if you’re not always watching over her in the future, Shaojin won’t be unable to manage. She’s just pure-hearted and doesn’t think in those directions with some matters, but she’s not stupid!”

Zhou Chujin nodded repeatedly, tears glistening in her eyes.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart sank upon hearing this. She wished she could take back everything she had said.

She knew her own situation. Even living another ten years, she couldn’t be as shrewd and capable as her sister… If her sister truly stopped managing things for her, what would she do?

Zhou Shaojin instinctively reached out to grab her sister’s sleeve.

But when that soft lake silk was pinched between her fingers, her heart tightened again.

When she was reborn, she had vowed never to trouble her sister again, that she would protect her sister instead, be filial to her grandmother, aunt, uncle, and father… How had she forgotten in the blink of an eye!

Even if her sister stopped managing things for her in the future, she still had two years. Her sister wouldn’t marry until two years later. In two years’ time, she would definitely be able to manage her own affairs!

Zhou Shaojin secretly clenched her fist.

Old Lady Guan asked her, “…What did that girl Jia say?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “After dinner, Cousin Jia went to find Cousin Zheng. She said rather than alert the enemy and talk herself hoarse with Third Aunt Lu, it would be better to discuss it with Cousin Zheng. If that doesn’t work, she’ll tell this matter to Second Cousin Shi from the second branch—Cousin Shi definitely won’t want his own cousin to marry into Duke Liangguo’s mansion as a second wife.”

Old Lady Guan nodded, smiling at Great Lady Mian, “I must say, these two children really did come up with a plan! This is a good idea. Our Cheng family cannot afford to lose this face.”

Great Lady Mian smiled and nodded, gently agreeing, “Yes.”

Zhou Shaojin hurriedly said, “Grandmother, then, will my father…”

Before she finished speaking, Old Lady Guan’s face darkened as she said sternly, “He wouldn’t dare! I’ll break his legs if he does.”

No matter what, Zhou Zhen was still a father. Great Lady Mian, worried that Old Lady Guan’s words might embarrass Zhou Shaojin sisters, quickly smiled and said, “Don’t worry, your father respects your grandmother most. Since your grandmother has spoken, he won’t disobey.” She added, “Shaojin, don’t concern yourself with this matter anymore. Just act as if you don’t know. Your grandmother and your Great Uncle Mian will make decisions for you.”

Only then did Zhou Shaojin’s heart finally settle.

She then thought to herself: It’s better to stay at home in the future. Going to the Gu family once, she met Azhu. Meeting Azhu led to Zhu Pengjiu. Fortunately, the elders at home were reasonable—if she had encountered those who sought to climb up by clinging to the powerful, even crying her eyes blind would probably be useless.

She felt deeply frightened in retrospect.

She thought again: Uncle Chi is truly formidable.

If not for him, she would probably still be kept in the dark even now, sold off while helping count the money.

When the opportunity arose, she must properly repay Uncle Chi.