Liao Shaotang stayed only one night at the Baoding Prefecture office. Early the next morning, he set out for Tianjin.

He would travel by water route back to Zhenjiang for the new year.

Zhou Shaojin brought steaming hot rock sugar red bean soup to the study and asked Zhou Zhen, “What did Brother-in-law discuss with you?”

Looking at his daughter in her pink plain Hangzhou silk vest, standing gracefully like a lotus, Zhou Zhen’s smile overflowed from his heart.

He teased Zhou Shaojin, “Your brother-in-law discussed many things with me. What do you want to know?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips, “I want to know if Brother-in-law will bring Elder Sister to the capital. That way I could visit her often.”

Zhou Zhen smiled, “Your brother-in-law rushed here so urgently not only to inform me about the Cheng family matter but also to discuss your sister’s situation with me. The Liao family has had quite a few incidents these past years, stemming both from clan members’ selfish interests and largely from the fact that Grand Master Liao as clan head cannot command respect. Grand Madam Liao and your sister are merely inner chamber women—even if they have the will, they lack the power for some matters, and sometimes are even implicated by Grand Master Liao. Your brother-in-law’s intention is to bring your sister and her child to the capital after she gives birth, but he fears the child will be too young for your sister to manage alone. He’s thinking of discussing whether to invite Grand Madam Liao to the capital as well after returning—this would both help care for your sister and block the mouths of those Liao family members. I told him to discuss it with Chujin when he returns. If Chujin feels it’s too difficult to manage the child alone, then invite Grand Madam Liao to the capital together with your sister to help care for the child. But if your sister feels capable, Grand Madam Liao is after all the clan matriarch—being away from the main family too long would be seen as unfilial by the clan elders. He needs to balance this matter well.”

Zhou Shaojin giggled, “Father, you’re so crafty!”

Elder Sister was so capable and had a group of servants attending her—how could she not manage even one child?

By saying this, Father clearly didn’t approve of Grand Madam Liao going to the capital with Elder Sister.

Zhou Zhen smiled and tapped her nose, calling her a “clever little ghost,” then sighed, “The main thing is that the Liao family is too chaotic right now. If Grand Madam Liao doesn’t help shield your sister, your sister’s days won’t be easy. In a few years, when Grand Madam Liao is older and your brother-in-law can stand on his own, it won’t be too late to bring Grand Madam Liao over. But now it’s too early.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.

A wife’s status follows her husband’s.

If they brought Grand Madam Liao, Grand Master Liao would also come to the capital to stay every few days. Then the Liao family’s various relatives visiting the capital would all come to call on Grand Master and Grand Madam Liao, and Liao family matters would still trouble Brother-in-law and Elder Sister. Right now Brother-in-law hadn’t yet achieved success in the examinations and had no weight in the family—he couldn’t help resolve those matters. It would only create vexing disturbances.

In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had experienced this firsthand.

Once, when Elder Sister had no other recourse, she had hidden at her estate pretending to be ill.

In this life, Zhou Shaojin hoped Elder Sister could first bear several healthy children and nurture her health before dealing with those Liao family conflicts.

Father and daughter talked in the study for quite a while, until Assistant Magistrate Tan from the Bureau of Scrutiny sought an audience with Zhou Zhen on official business. Only then did Zhou Shaojin return to the inner courtyard.

But she had just stepped into the courtyard when she saw Li Shi seeing Madam Huang out of the main hall.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin, Madam Huang enthusiastically approached, “Where did Second Miss go? Tomorrow Country Squire Wang’s household is hosting a flower viewing party—Second Miss should come along too. Such a beautiful person kept hidden at home where no one can see—it’s truly a waste!”

Zhou Shaojin secretly frowned.

She disliked people making an issue of her appearance.

But she still smiled and greeted Madam Huang before returning to her chamber.

Shortly after, Li Shi came over, “You don’t want to go?”

“I don’t want to go,” Zhou Shaojin said. “I like staying at home. I don’t enjoy going out.”

Li Shi noticed a pair of endearing tumbler dolls on the windowsill, several camellia branches arranged casually in the tea vase on the side table, and half of an embroidered bib for Zhou Youjin peeking from the sewing basket on the bed. She vaguely understood Zhou Shaojin’s temperament and smiled with understanding, “I see. Then I’ll decline Country Squire Wang’s invitation.”

“That’s not necessary,” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “If I don’t go, you can still go. There will be many such occasions in the future. You can’t always accommodate me—I wouldn’t feel at ease even staying home.”

Li Shi replied vaguely, “Let me discuss it with Master first!”

Zhou Shaojin had firmly decided not to go.

She didn’t want to meet anyone and felt her current way of life was quite good.

Zhou Zhen, however, felt she should meet more people and urged her to attend Country Squire Wang’s flower viewing party.

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat unhappy, “I’ll stay home with Youjin.”

Zhou Zhen immediately changed his tune, “If you don’t want to go, then don’t go.”

Only then did Zhou Shaojin beam.

Zhou Zhen smiled and shook his head.

Zhou Shaojin then thought of an old acquaintance, “Father, you know of the Fan family in Baoding, right? The eldest daughter of Duke Liangguo’s household married into the Baoding Fan family. I’d like to visit her. Could you help me inquire?”

Zhou Zhen agreed.

Who knew that very evening Zhou Youjin would develop a fever, her little face burning bright red as she cried incessantly.

Zhou Shaojin was terribly frightened.

In her previous life, this little sister had died young.

She reverently knelt before the ancestral shrine to pray for Zhou Youjin’s blessing.

Two days later, Zhou Youjin recovered.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and decided to go offer incense at Dabei Pavilion.

Zhou Zhen knew about her praying for Zhou Youjin and thought she might have made some vow before the Bodhisattva while Youjin was ill and now wanted to fulfill it. He didn’t stop her and sent guards and elderly servants to escort her to Dabei Pavilion.

Li Shi was deeply moved, holding Zhou Shaojin’s hand with reddened eyes for a long while without speaking.

Zhou Shaojin wasn’t good at comforting people. She just smiled and returned to her chamber.

But on that day, heavy snow began falling.

Snowflakes like cotton descended in large flakes. In less than the time it took to burn an incense stick, the rooftops were blanketed white.

Li Shi hesitated, “With such heavy snow, Second Miss should go offer incense another day!”

“It’s fine,” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “The more wind and snow, the more we should go—only then will the Bodhisattva know our sincerity.”

Li Shi couldn’t stop her.

Zhou Zhen in the court hall only said, “Be careful on the road,” then assigned two additional guards.

The group braved the snow to Dabei Pavilion.

Perhaps because the wind and snow were too severe, there were few people at the temple.

Zhou Shaojin devoutly knelt before the Bodhisattva and offered three sticks of incense, donating ten taels of silver as incense money.

The reception monk led her to the merit book.

Four or five men approached from the opposite direction.

She lowered her head and stepped aside.

Those men conversed as they passed by her.

She heard someone say, “Followed him here, then lost him.”

Then a voice that sounded very familiar said, “Doesn’t he usually lodge at that Li Er fellow’s shop? Have someone keep watch…”

The speaker’s tone was quite vicious. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but glance up.

She was instantly thunderstruck and hurriedly lowered her head. Only after the group had walked far away did she leave her surname in the merit book and hastily return to the carriage.

“Nanny Shang,” she pulled Nanny Shang to sit in the carriage and said in a low voice, “I encountered that man called Xiao Zhenhai. He was saying something about losing someone and having people watch some shop belonging to someone called Li Er…”

Though Nanny Shang tried hard to conceal it, her expression still changed. “Second Miss, shouldn’t we return first?”

Zhou Shaojin quickly instructed the coachman to hurry back, then said to Nanny Shang, “If you have business, go ahead. I have guards protecting me here. As for Father, I’ll say I had the temple monks perform a ritual and left you there.” She then added, “One cannot tell lies before Buddha. After you finish your business, remember to have a ritual performed at the temple.” She then pulled out two ten-tael banknotes and handed them to Nanny Shang. “One for you to use, one for the temple ritual.”

Nanny Shang looked at her anxious face, feeling a mixture of emotions. After a moment of silence, she accepted the banknotes and said quietly, “Fourth Master instructed me never to leave Second Miss’s side under any circumstances. After I deliver Second Miss back to the office, it won’t be too late to go out.”

Zhou Shaojin felt afraid remembering how that Xiao Zhenhai had looked at her that time, but she still said, “Matters have varying degrees of urgency. Nanny, you go do what you need to do. I have guards protecting me, and this is Father’s jurisdiction—nothing will happen.”

But Nanny Shang still escorted her to the government office gates before leaving.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but let out a long breath.

The duty servant woman heard the commotion and immediately came forward, fawning, “Second Miss, someone has come from Jiuru Lane in Jinling. Said something about a Fourth Master. I thought he looked quite young—how could he be a master? But Master was very courteous to that Fourth Master…”

Fourth Master?

Could it be Cheng Chi?

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly. Unable to control her expression of delight, she lifted her skirts and ran toward Zhou Zhen’s study.

Chun Wan was startled and chased after her.

The duty servant woman called out, “Second Miss, watch your step! We cleared the snow, but the covered walkway is paved with blue stone—blown by the cold wind, it’s very slippery…”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t carefully listen to what the woman was shouting. She rushed to the entrance of Zhou Zhen’s study and reached out to lift the cotton curtain. Who knew her foot would slip and she would slide forward.

She cried out “Oh!” and was about to fall against the door.

But the cotton curtain lifted, and she fell into the embrace of a man wearing a blue auspicious cloud patterned Hangzhou silk robe.

Zhou Shaojin’s nose was surrounded by a faint, delicate fragrance that came and went.

“Uncle Chi!” she exclaimed happily, jumping up.

Those gentle eyes and brows, that warm smile.

Who else could it be but Uncle Chi?

Before Zhou Shaojin could speak, her feet slipped again.

She quickly grabbed Cheng Chi’s robe.

Cheng Chi smiled and caught her arm.

Zhou Zhen appeared behind Cheng Chi mid-sentence, “…Since you’ve come, how could you stay at an inn! The guest room to the east is still empty…” Looking up to see Zhou Shaojin nestled in Cheng Chi’s embrace, his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

Zhou Shaojin felt guilty, her mind instantly in chaos.

But Cheng Chi remained calm and composed, smiling, “Stand steady now—don’t slip and fall again when I let go!”

“I won’t!” Zhou Shaojin said with burning cheeks, stammering.

Cheng Chi slowly released Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin carefully stood to the side.

Zhou Zhen recovered himself and quickly asked, “Are you all right? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

“No!” Zhou Shaojin’s face was burning. She hastily testified to Cheng Chi’s innocence, “Just now if Uncle Chi hadn’t caught me, I would have fallen to the ground.”

Zhou Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and smiled his thanks to Cheng Chi.