After listening and pondering for a long while, Cheng Gao said helplessly, “This is the only way. Uncle Bai died early, and Great Lady Bai doesn’t manage affairs—everything in the household is decided by Xiangqing. Now that he has his scholarly degree and is a stipended scholar, people outside respectfully address him as ‘Master.’ If we go to reason with him, first we have no evidence, and second it may not be useful. If we ask the family elders to intervene, we’re from the direct line and they’re from the branch line—word would get out that we’re using our power to bully the weak. The best method is to ask the clan branch to intervene. But if we go tell Madam Yuan, is that right? It feels like tattling!”

Cheng Gao had been taught by his grandmother and father since childhood to resolve his own matters.

“What’s wrong with it?” Zhou Shaojin said through gritted teeth. “They caused this trouble—should we be the ones cleaning up their mess? However,” she instructed Cheng Gao in a low voice, “go talk to Cousin Xu again. Explain all the serious implications to him. If he still remains unmoved, come tell me. I’ll have no choice but to ask Madam Yuan to intervene.”

Cheng Gao nodded and went to the clan school.

Zhou Shaojin returned to Jiashu Hall.

Cheng Jia was clinging to Old Lady Guan’s arm and acting coquettish: “…Shaojin is your granddaughter, so am I not your granddaughter? Please go talk to my mother! She respects you most—whatever you say, she thinks over carefully. I really don’t want to marry that heir of Duke Liangguo as a second wife, especially since their family is so heartless toward daughters-in-law.”

Old Lady Guan was shaken until her head spun, and her heart softened with pity for Cheng Jia. She said, “Right now there’s not even a hint of it happening, is there? When your mother truly makes up her mind to marry you off there, it won’t be too late for me to help plead your case.”

“By the time my mother makes her decision,” Cheng Jia’s tears were about to fall, “I’m afraid it will already be too late!”

“Not too late, not too late.” Old Lady Guan smiled. “There’s still Fourth Master Chi from the first branch! Since Duke Liangguo’s mansion wants to form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family, it wouldn’t make sense not to inform Fourth Master Chi.”

Cheng Jia’s eyes darted around, somewhat absent-mindedly saying, “Really? Having Fourth Master Chi is enough!”

“Would I lie to you?” Old Lady Guan smiled. “A marriage alliance joins two families in friendship. You can rest easy.”

Cheng Jia smiled sweetly and picked up the tea cup from beside Old Lady Guan: “Great-Aunt, Jia wishes to offer you tea.”

Old Lady Guan said reproachfully, “Such a smooth talker!” But still happily accepted the tea cup.

Cheng Jia then went behind Old Lady Guan to massage her shoulders.

Old Lady Guan laughed heartily and said, “Alright, alright, go play with Shaojin! A few more of your massages and these old bones will fall apart.”

Cheng Jia giggled, curtsied to Old Lady Guan, and left the main room together with Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin.

Zhou Chujin gave them a few instructions like “don’t play too much” and “be careful,” then went to Hanqiu Pavilion. Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia returned to Wanxiang Residence.

Cheng Jia leaned on the bed reading and eating fruit while Zhou Shaojin and Shi Xiang worked on making clothes for Zhou Zhen and his wife.

Someone from the third branch came and said, “Great Lady asks the eldest young miss to return quickly—the etiquette aunt is still waiting to teach her proper behavior!”

Cheng Jia tossed away an apple core and said, “Go back and tell Great Lady that Second Miss here has kept me for lunch. I’ll return after lunch.”

That servant woman didn’t dare insist, smiled bitterly, and took her leave.

While heating the iron, Zhou Shaojin said to her, “You can hide for a moment but not forever. You should go back and make things clear with Third Aunt Lu.”

Cheng Jia said dismissively, “I can’t make it clear anyway. This way, at least she knows my resolve.”

Zhou Shaojin had never been willful in either of her lifetimes. She let Cheng Jia do as she pleased and continued with her own work.

Around lunchtime, Jiang Shi personally came to “fetch” Cheng Jia away.

Zhou Shaojin smiled as she saw Cheng Jia off, then after lunch went to Cold Jade Mountain Lodge to copy scriptures.

Two days later, Cheng Gao came to see Zhou Shaojin with an ashen face, telling her, “You should find a way to tell Madam Yuan! I talked until my mouth was dry, and he actually thinks I’m making something out of nothing… Really…”

He was so angry he paced the room twice before calming down.

Zhou Shaojin was quite annoyed. After thinking it over, she went to Yunzhen Hall.

But she didn’t go inside. Instead, she lingered nearby for a while before turning back to Wanxiang Residence. In the afternoon, she went as usual to Cold Jade Mountain Lodge to copy scriptures. When she was halfway through copying, there was movement in the courtyard.

Xiao Tan told her, “Madam has come to visit the old lady.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded and continued copying scriptures without showing any reaction.

Before long, Yuan Shi walked in with a smile, bringing only one maid carrying items.

“Shaojin, copying scriptures!” She greeted Zhou Shaojin warmly.

Zhou Shaojin respectfully stood up, called out “Madam,” and instructed Shi Xiang to serve tea.

Yuan Shi didn’t stand on ceremony with her and sat down.

The maid who had entered with her placed two paper boxes tied with red silk on the nearby tea table.

Yuan Shi pointed to the paper boxes and smiled, “Two days ago I went to the Liu family for a wedding feast and happened to pass by Qifang Studio. I saw their new assorted pastries were quite good, so I brought back a few boxes. These are for you and your sister—try them and see how they taste.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked her.

The maid Yuan Shi had brought exchanged glances with Xiao Tan and Shi Xiang and withdrew.

Xiao Tan hesitated a moment before following suit.

But Shi Xiang acted as if she hadn’t seen anything and continued serving in the room.

Yuan Shi observed this, a flash of appreciation in her eyes, and smiled, “Shaojin, I heard from a servant that you went to Yunzhen Hall yesterday—was there something? Why didn’t you go in?”

Zhou Shaojin gripped her tea cup tightly, looking very flustered, as if she wanted to speak but held back.

Yuan Shi’s expression became even gentler.

She smiled and said, “What matter could it be that you won’t even tell your aunt? Should I go ask your sister instead?”

“Don’t, please don’t ask my sister.” Zhou Shaojin’s fingernails turned white gripping the tea cup, her expression even more flustered.

“Shaojin.” Yuan Shi then took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said softly, “There’s no one else here. Whatever you have to say, just tell me directly.”

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes reddened, as if after suffering great grievances she had finally found someone she could talk to. She choked up as she had Shi Xiang withdraw, and tears began streaming down, “I, I don’t know how to say it properly.”

Yuan Shi’s expression turned cold, but quickly became warm again as she smiled, “Is it your Cousin Xu…”

“No, no.” Zhou Shaojin quickly shook her head and said, “It’s, it’s Cousin Lu.”

“Cheng Xiangqing?” Yuan Shi was astonished.

What did this have to do with her?

She had thought Cheng Xu was finding ways to pester Zhou Shaojin, that Zhou Shaojin was at her wit’s end and came seeking her help but didn’t dare make it public or speak plainly, which was why she had used this pretext to have an intimate conversation with Zhou Shaojin.

Yuan Shi said, “What about him?” Her voice carried a trace of disinterest.

Zhou Shaojin seemed unaware of this, murmuring, “He, he said Cousin Xu made things difficult for him because of me…”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shi flew into a rage, her hair practically standing on end: “He really said this? Who told you?”

Zhou Shaojin said, “It was, it was Cousin Gao who told me. He told me never to pay attention to Cousin Xu or Cousin Lu again… He also said Cousin Xu clearly knew but didn’t stop it… I wanted you to talk to Cousin Xu… Cousin Xu is the top scholar—Cousin Lu would definitely listen to his words…”

Yuan Shi felt like her liver ached.

But now was not the time to lose her temper.

Zhou Shaojin was like glass—the slightest carelessness would shatter her.

She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice as gentle as possible, “Shaojin, you did the right thing in this matter—if your Cousin Xu made a mistake, you should come tell me. I will speak to your Cousin Xu. Don’t be afraid. From now on, Cheng Xiangqing definitely won’t say such things anymore.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded, looking as if a weight had been lifted. Her voice became cheerful too, “I, I didn’t dare tell anyone, afraid others would believe Cousin Lu’s words and say Cousin Xu bullied him… Cousin Xu’s scholarship is so excellent—how could he do such things?”

“Exactly.” Yuan Shi smiled and nodded. “Your Cousin Xu’s scholarship is so excellent—he wouldn’t do such things.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin’s face showed a faint smile.

Yuan Shi’s heart skipped a beat watching her.

This Zhou Shaojin truly resembled Zhuang Shi. Both were so beautiful they didn’t seem real. She wondered if her fate would also be like Zhuang Shi’s, dying young from illness…

Sudden sympathy arose in her heart. Her voice became even softer, “You copy your scriptures with peace of mind. In the future, if you have any difficulties you can’t discuss with your grandmother or sister, come find your great-aunt. Your great-aunt will stand up for you.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled shyly and thanked her.

Yuan Shi spoke with her a few more words before leaving the Buddhist hall.

Zhou Shaojin let out a long breath and collapsed into the armchair.

Shi Xiang asked worriedly, “What did Madam Yuan say to you?”

“Nothing, nothing.” But Zhou Shaojin’s answer was evasive. Like someone who had survived a disaster, she murmured wearily, “So Madam Yuan isn’t made of iron either. As long as you use the right method, she’s just as easy to talk to.”

Shi Xiang didn’t hear clearly.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and sat up, saying loudly, “Alright, let’s quickly finish copying the scriptures so I can copy my own Amitabha Sutra and then follow the old lady to Mount Putuo.”

Shi Xiang giggled.

Only then did Zhou Shaojin realize her back was soaked with sweat.

She quickly called Shi Xiang to bring water and help her change clothes.

But Yuan Shi returned to Yunzhen Hall drenched in sweat. Before she had even steadied herself, she was already shouting furiously at the servant woman beside her, “Go fetch that little beast for me! The Sage’s books—he’s really wasted reading them! I’ve treasured him like my own eyeballs, and he willingly lets others trample on him. Acting like this, he still wants his name in history? I think if he can walk out of the Hanlin Academy it will be good enough…”

The maids and servant women all looked at each other in dismay. Not one person dared make a sound.

Yuan Shi’s tea cup shattered on the stone floor: “What, you can’t even understand my words anymore?”

The maids trembled with fear.

Yuan Shi’s wet nurse, Li Shi, carefully stepped forward and gently said, “I’ll go summon the young master right away,” then quietly withdrew.

Only then did Yuan Shi’s personal maid dare to brew fresh tea and present it.

Yuan Shi drank her tea, her emotions gradually calming.

Trees won’t grow straight without pruning.

It seemed she needed to extend her hand.