For a moment, Cheng Chi couldn’t move.
Zhou Shaojin had never been able to read any emotions from Cheng Chi’s expression. Her perceptions all came from her intuition. Seeing Cheng Chi looking at her without speaking, not seeming to be in a bad mood, she simply said, “Uncle Chi, then we’ll settle it like this. Until Xiao Zhenhai’s matter is resolved, you’ll stay at my home.”
Cheng Chi nodded.
Zhou Shaojin ran off with a giggle. Even after returning to her chamber, drinking two cups of tea, and sitting quietly for the time it took to burn a stick of incense, her heart was still pounding wildly.
Uncle Chi dressed so formally today!
He was even wearing a jade belt.
The small seal hanging from it was chicken-blood stone, shaped like a pagoda, carved with openwork auspicious Eight Treasures—clearly very expensive and extremely beautiful.
Uncle Chi rarely dressed so magnificently.
She didn’t know if he would actually stay.
Zhou Shaojin tossed and turned on her bed for quite a while before remembering that Nanny Shang still didn’t know where to find Uncle Chi.
But if she couldn’t find Uncle Chi, she would naturally return.
Zhou Shaojin instructed Ruyi to wait at the gate for Nanny Shang and bring her to see her as soon as she appeared.
Ruyi obediently acknowledged and left.
Nanny Li from Li Shi’s quarters came over with a menu, respectfully saying, “Madam asks Second Miss to look over the evening banquet menu, fearing there might be dishes that violate Fourth Master Cheng’s taboos.”
Zhou Shaojin carefully reviewed it, changed two dishes she thought weren’t very tasty, then handed it to Nanny Li.
Nanny Li smiled and said, “Fourth Master Cheng is Minister Cheng’s younger brother, isn’t he? How can he be so young?”
Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips, “He’s the youngest son of the first branch. Old Madam Guo was past forty when she gave birth to Uncle Chi.”
“Oh my!” Nanny Li said enviously, “Old Madam Guo is truly blessed.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled in agreement.
Nanny Li collected the menu and muttered “Fourth Master Cheng is really quite handsome” before leaving the chamber.
Thinking of Cheng Chi’s clear, bright eyes, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but hug her large pillow and giggle secretly.
Naturally Zhou Shaojin had no part in the evening banquet.
Zhou Zhen and Cheng Chi drank some wine, discussed court gossip and historical anecdotes, then each returned to their rooms and dispersed.
Li Shi had been waiting for Zhou Zhen all along.
While helping Zhou Zhen change clothes, she asked, “Is this Master Chi from the Cheng family easy to get along with?”
It was impossible to see Cheng Jing regularly, but if they could maintain close relations with Cheng Jing’s younger brother, conveying some matters to Cheng Jing through him might work even better.
Zhou Zhen’s initial warmth toward Cheng Chi had included this consideration. But seeing Cheng Chi’s coldness, he merely treated him as an ordinary in-law.
“Profound learning,” Zhou Zhen thought of what he and Cheng Chi had discussed earlier. “A decent person. Just a bit aloof and indifferent. But he’s a scholar who passed the examinations in his youth, so that’s normal. It’s just a pity to have him managing household affairs. Unfortunately, the first branch has a sparse population—not even a capable nephew. Even if he wanted to take office, there’s no one to entrust the household affairs to.” At this point, he laughed, “Other families worry about not having enough promising scholars. I see that the first branch of Jiuru Lane worries about having too few who don’t study—they can’t even find someone to manage household affairs.”
Li Shi smiled obediently.
But Zhou Zhen said thoughtfully, “However, I see the first branch only has about twenty or thirty more years of fortune—the third generation has produced a Cheng Jiashan. We’ll have to see if Cheng Jiashan can support the household. Meanwhile, the second branch already has two grandsons…”
Li Shi didn’t care about these matters. She said, “Why hasn’t Fourth Master married? Others his age already have children who’ve started their education. Do you think he might have some hidden ailment?”
Zhou Zhen frowned, “You should speak less of such things in the future. Each family’s situation is different. Even Old Madam Guo doesn’t interfere. As outsiders, we have even less grounds to speak of it.”
Li Shi said unhappily, “I’m only speaking to you privately.”
Zhou Zhen paused, then smiled, “Then just speak of it privately.”
Li Shi acknowledged this, beaming with joy.
***
Nanny Shang didn’t return until after the second watch drum. Learning that Cheng Chi was resting in the government office, she was so astonished her mouth hung open for a long time. The next morning before dawn, she went to wait in the guest room courtyard.
Cheng Chi made her stand outside for nearly an hour. Just as he had finished breakfast and was about to go greet Zhou Zhen, only then did he allow Nanny Shang to enter.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Nanny Shang said nothing and knelt before Cheng Chi, saying quietly, “Second Miss obtained the information. If I didn’t go, Second Miss wouldn’t agree.” As she spoke, she extended her hand, palm displaying two ten-tael banknotes. “Second Miss gave me these, saying she feared I might need silver…”
In the morning light, the creases on the two banknotes were clearly visible.
Cheng Chi’s heart suddenly felt as if something had struck it—numb, wooden, somewhat unable to breathe.
He covered his chest and took a deep breath.
His heart resumed its steady beating.
Cheng Chi said calmly, “You know about the Xiao family matter. Could Xiao Zhenhai harm me in the slightest? I had you follow Second Miss precisely because I feared they might discover something and act against Second Miss. Acting like this puts the cart before the horse. For Second Miss’s sake, this time I’ll let it go. But if there’s a next time, I’ll have to replace you as Second Miss’s attendant.”
“I’ve noted it!” Nanny Shang bowed her head deeply.
“Go!” Cheng Chi said coldly. “Remember not to act on your own initiative next time.”
“Yes!” Nanny Shang withdrew as if escaping death, her back drenched with sweat.
Seeing her condition, Huai Shan also breathed a sigh of relief and quietly comforted her, “It’s fine. Just attend Second Cousin Miss properly from now on.”
Nanny Shang returned to the chamber.
Zhou Shaojin was waiting for her there.
She asked anxiously, “Uncle Chi didn’t scold you, did he?”
“He did scold me!” Nanny Shang said aggrievedly, doing the opposite. “He said I didn’t follow his instructions and left you without permission. If anything happened to you, he’d replace me with someone else to serve you.”
Zhou Shaojin felt very guilty upon hearing this, “Then I’ll go explain to Uncle Chi.”
“You’d better not tell Fourth Master,” Nanny Shang stopped her. “If Fourth Master misunderstands that I’m complaining to you, he’ll think even less of me. You just need to let me stay with you. Fourth Master acts with propriety—nothing will happen.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded but didn’t take Nanny Shang’s words to heart.
Even tigers nap sometimes. What if—she was just saying what if—Uncle Chi was schemed against? What would happen then?
She had Fan Qi watch Cheng Chi: “If Fourth Master goes out, see whether Fourth Master returns every day. What time does he leave? When does he come back?”
Fan Qi smiled and acknowledged “Yes,” then scurried off.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt a sense of smug satisfaction.
Previously in Jiuru Lane, she had to be cautious about everything she did. Now in Baoding Prefecture, if she wanted to keep tabs on Uncle Chi, one word was all it took.
Let’s see if Uncle Chi could still keep everything hidden from her.
With her eyes and brows smiling, she hummed an unknown tune while doing her unfinished needlework.
Cheng Chi soon noticed something amiss.
Fan Qi was simply brazenly watching Cheng Chi’s movements.
Cheng Chi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This little girl—give her an inch and she takes a mile, climbing right over his head.
Yet his heart had its own will, softening until it could drip water, making it impossible to feel angry.
Cheng Chi instructed Huai Shan, “Xiao Zhenhai’s matter must reach a conclusion quickly. If it won’t work, replace him with Xu Mu, the leader of the Golden Sands Gang.”
Huai Shan’s steps slowed slightly. “Fourth Master, won’t you reconsider? Xiao Zhenhai is called the ‘Lord Mengchang’ in the northern martial world. He has great face in the underworld. Having him come forward to lead us can both confuse the court’s attention and free our hands to do other things. If we replace him with the Golden Sands Gang’s Xu Mu, he’s too young and may not be obedient. To use him, we’ll have to expend great effort…”
With the Xiao family in their hands, Xiao Zhenhai would act with scruples.
Xu Mu was an orphan—one person fed, the whole family satisfied, with few constraints and difficult to control.
Cheng Chi knew this well enough.
But he didn’t want Zhou Shaojin to continue watching his movements like this.
He said, “I originally planned to negotiate with Xiao Zhenhai for a few more days, but now it seems that won’t work. Go personally to negotiate with him. If he submits and pledges loyalty, proceed according to the original plan. If he continues to rely on his seniority, thinking I won’t dare act against him, then replace him.”
Seeing Cheng Chi’s mind was made up, Huai Shan dared not press further. He respectfully acknowledged and left the guest room.
Fan Qi went to report to Zhou Shaojin, “Fourth Master didn’t go out today. He rose early, practiced calligraphy after breakfast, then went to visit Master. I heard Master invited Fourth Master to lunch and even had the kitchen prepare lamb spine hot pot for noon! But Uncle Huai Shan and Steward Xiao Qin from Fourth Master’s side went out early in the morning—where they went, I don’t know!”
The Cheng family had many Steward Qins.
Chief Steward Qin was Qin Shouyue, Steward Qin was Qin Shouyue’s son Qin Xiao, Chief Steward Qin was Qin Zi’an, Junior Chief Steward Qin was Qin Ziping, and there were many other Steward Qins that Zhou Shaojin wasn’t familiar with and hadn’t bothered to remember.
Zhou Shaojin was playing a beanbag tossing game with Zhou Youjin on the bed—you throw at me once, I throw once. Hearing this, her eyes darted about, and Zhou Youjin hit her in the face with a beanbag.
Everyone was stunned.
Zhou Youjin’s wet nurse’s legs went weak and she was about to kneel.
But Zhou Shaojin just laughed and picked up the beanbag to throw it at Zhou Youjin’s feet, making Zhou Youjin giggle.
Those serving in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Shaojin handed Zhou Youjin to the wet nurse and called Nanny Shang in to question her: “…Sending out Huai Shan and Qin Ziping—what do you think Uncle Chi is really doing?”
Knowing something was one thing; speaking of it was another.
Nanny Shang smiled, “I don’t know. In the past when I served Fourth Master, I only handled his food and tea.”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t believe her.
But as long as she thought about Uncle Chi not going out and not encountering that Xiao Zhenhai, she felt relieved.
So when she heard Zhou Zhen was going out with Cheng Chi to visit friends, she was quite happy and eagerly asked who they were visiting.
Fan Qi smiled, “They say they’re visiting the retired former Vice Minister of Justice, Grand Master Zhang.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a beaming smile.
Father was a court official. With Father accompanying him, even if Xiao Zhenhai discovered Uncle Chi, he wouldn’t dare do anything.
Over the next several days, Cheng Chi kept going out with Zhou Zhen to visit friends.
Sometimes Grand Master Qian’s home, sometimes Grand Master Miao’s. After visiting people’s homes, they had to host return visits. With all this coming and going, hearing so much about it, even Zhou Shaojin, who never went out, knew which official households existed in Baoding Prefecture.