She’s quite the actress!
Cheng Chi laughed inwardly.
Zhou Shaojin glanced sideways at Cheng Chi.
Her eyes, lustrous as black jade, seemed immersed in a pool of spring water. Her slightly upturned eyes with their gracefully curved lines were as enchanting as delicate flowers in May.
Cheng Chi’s heart felt as if something had struck it—with a “thud,” ripples spread outward in waves. For a long while, he couldn’t calm down.
Fortunately, he had always been skilled at concealing his emotions. His expression remained refined and elegant, revealing nothing.
Zhou Zhen naturally didn’t notice anything unusual about Cheng Chi. He was anxious to return to the inner quarters—yesterday Liao Shaotang had already set off for the capital to prepare the residence Lady Liao had given them. Zhou Shaojin would stay here temporarily until Liao Shaotang had everything arranged there before joining him. Now Zhou Chujin was in the rear courtyard resting during her pregnancy, with Lady Li keeping her company. Zhou Shaojin was an unmarried young lady who hadn’t given birth—if anything happened with Zhou Chujin, Lady Li certainly wouldn’t tell her. Now that Lady Li had agreed to let Zhou Shaojin come find him, he feared something had happened with Zhou Chujin and Lady Li had deliberately sent Zhou Shaojin away.
Zhou Shaojin smiled. “Shall I see Uncle Chi off on your behalf?”
Zhou Zhen, preoccupied with Zhou Chujin and deliberately trying to keep Zhou Shaojin occupied, naturally agreed readily and hurried back to the inner quarters with his servant.
Zhou Shaojin accompanied Cheng Chi as he walked out.
On both sides were bare towering trees and lush low-branched winter holly.
Zhou Shaojin smiled. “When will Uncle Chi come to live in the capital permanently?”
Cheng Chi smiled. “Once I’ve arranged matters in Baoding Prefecture, I’ll enter the capital.”
Zhou Shaojin stepped forward a few paces, stopped before Cheng Chi, and smiled. “My elder sister is also going to live in the capital, and she’s taking me with her!”
Cheng Chi stopped walking and looked at the young girl whose eyes only reached his shoulder. He smiled. “That’s wonderful! When you have time, come visit me!”
Zhou Shaojin’s smile gradually faded, and she frowned slightly.
She was going to the capital!
Shouldn’t Uncle Chi be very happy?
Why was his tone so indifferent!
Zhou Shaojin’s spirits immediately sank.
This little girl couldn’t take any teasing at all.
He had merely responded to her casually, and she was already unhappy.
In Cheng Chi’s clear, bright eyes, brilliant fragments of light sparkled like stars.
“Silly girl!” His hand lifted then lowered again. His voice was as gentle as a breeze. “Your sister’s residence on Dangui Alley is very close to Shuangyu Alley, and also very close to Yuqian Alley.”
“Really!” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.
Many of the capital’s alleys were named after their surrounding scenery.
Shuangyu Alley most likely had two elm trees in the alley.
And Yuqian Alley probably also had elm trees planted there.
Perhaps the two alleys were right next to each other!
Zhou Shaojin became happy again. “I knew it—Uncle Chi is the best!”
Buying a place in an alley neighboring her sister’s made him the best? If she knew that he had recommended Liao Shaotang to Second Uncle, arranging for Liao Shaotang to assist Second Uncle in compiling the “Capital Geography Records,” which was why Second Uncle had written to Liao Shaotang asking him to return to the capital immediately after New Year, and that Lady Liao, upon seeing this letter and thinking that once her son’s name was printed in the “Capital Geography Records” he would have a place in scholarly circles for life, had decided she couldn’t let her son delay his future prospects or let his reputation be ruined by these messy affairs that might damage his official career prospects—which was why she had resolved to send her son and heavily pregnant daughter-in-law to temporarily reside in the capital, allowing Liao Shaotang to extract himself from the family’s morass… would the little girl smile as adorably as a cat that had stolen fish?
The thought flashed by, and Cheng Chi’s heart grew slightly cold.
Since he had already decided to treat her as his niece, he needed to learn to exercise restraint in certain matters.
It was as if a basin of ice-cold water had been poured over his head from above. His mood slowly turned cold.
He smiled. “Then we’ll see each other again in the capital!”
Since she would be living with Zhou Chujin from now on, given Zhou Chujin’s character and Liao Shaotang’s integrity, they would certainly treat her well, so he had nothing to worry about.
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a beaming smile, unaware that Cheng Chi had unilaterally drawn an unbridgeable chasm between them.
※※※
That evening, Zhou Chujin came to find Zhou Zhen and Lady Li, saying that with her pregnancy so advanced, she was afraid to go to the capital alone and wanted Zhou Shaojin to accompany her, then stay to care for her for some time.
Zhou Zhen was reluctant to part with his unmarried Zhou Shaojin, but also worried about the pregnant Zhou Chujin. He hesitated. “Why don’t you just give birth in Baoding Prefecture?”
This was highly improper.
Moreover, Zhou Chujin might be carrying the Liao family’s legitimate eldest grandson. Even if it wasn’t the legitimate eldest grandson, it was still the first child of Liao Shaotang, the clan’s heir, so the child’s position within the family would be very prestigious.
But in Zhou Zhen’s view, there were exceptions to everything.
For instance, Zhou Chujin, so close to giving birth, had traveled a thousand miles with Liao Shaotang to reach the capital.
Being able to give birth in her natal home, together with her father and sister—Zhou Chujin was immediately tempted.
But what about her mother-in-law…
She gently shook her head. “Looking as I do, the uncles and aunts in the family all disapproved of me leaving home. It was only because mother-in-law took full responsibility that I could follow Shaotang to the capital and see Father, Madam, and my sisters…”
But Zhou Zhen was absolutely unwilling to let Shaojin live in his married eldest daughter’s home.
He was perfectly capable—he had originally placed them in Jiuru Alley so they could receive a better education. Why should his daughter live dependent on others now?
But before he could voice his objection, Lady Li had already tugged at his sleeve and shot him a meaningful look.