Zhou Shaojin and Ji Ying covered their mouths and laughed. Ji Ying, being quite playful, put on a stern face and said, “How do you perform your duties? Such a big living person like me walked in from outside and you didn’t even see me. If there’s a next time, I’ll have you transferred to the outer courtyard to sweep the paths!”
The little maid was so frightened she trembled, tears nearly falling. She urgently addressed “Second Young Miss,” “This servant kept her eyes wide open the whole time. I truly didn’t see this young lady come in…”
Seeing the little maid had taken it seriously, Zhou Shaojin quickly said, “This is Miss Ji. She’s joking with you. She came in while you were making tea—you probably just missed each other. Don’t be afraid, it’s not a big deal!”
The little maid felt greatly relieved upon hearing this. She looked at Zhou Shaojin gratefully and repeatedly promised, “Second Young Miss, I’ll definitely keep my eyes wide open when on duty from now on.”
Zhou Shaojin grabbed a handful of candy for her, smiled and comforted her with a few words, then let her withdraw.
Ji Ying said boredly, “Really no fun at all!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly.
Perhaps it was because Ji Ying had always been heaven’s favored child?
She thought to herself that in her previous life, she had been someone just like this little maid, so she could particularly understand their joys and sorrows. Therefore, she was able to be considerate and generous with the maids and servants around her.
Zhou Shaojin then led Ji Ying to meet Li Shi.
Hearing that Ji Ying was Zhou Shaojin’s friend who had come specially from Cangzhou Prefecture to visit Zhou Shaojin, Li Shi was somewhat surprised by the age difference between them, but still warmly and thoughtfully received Ji Ying and invited her to stay for dinner.
Ji Ying politely declined and returned to the main house with Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Our family’s cook is from Jiangnan and makes excellent Hangzhou cuisine. You’re entering a treasure mountain but leaving empty-handed—don’t regret it later.”
Ji Ying had spent several years in Jinling City and loved the exquisite cuisine of Jiangnan very much. Upon hearing this, she couldn’t help but salivate, saying, “Next time I come, you can keep me for a meal, all right? Right now I need to find Qin Ziping, otherwise I’ll really have to marry him.”
Zhou Shaojin said, “Didn’t your two families already exchange betrothal gifts? If you don’t marry him, what will you do?”
Ji Ying appeared somewhat anxious, saying, “But I can’t just marry him like this!”
Zhou Shaojin said, “If you don’t mind that he once served as Uncle Chi’s attendant, I actually think he’s quite nice—meticulous and someone you know well…” Speaking to this point, she thought of Song Mu. Her tone couldn’t help but shift. “However, if you really don’t like him, then forget it. After all, he’s someone you’ll spend your whole life with. Talk it over properly with your father and Uncle Chi. I believe they definitely won’t force you.”
“Like him?!” Ji Ying frowned.
“Yes!” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “It’s not like you don’t know Qin Ziping. If you really can’t get along with him, living together will definitely be very painful…”
Ji Ying appeared somewhat conflicted, hesitating for quite a while before finally saying, “He used to be your Uncle Chi’s man… Naturally he’s very capable, but the more capable he is, the more annoying…”
Perhaps because the two had previously been adversaries, no matter how good that person was, she had no way to develop favorable feelings toward him.
Zhou Shaojin smiled gently and said, “Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly! You can know a person’s face but not their heart. Look at that Jiao Ziyang—if you hadn’t suddenly gone to Jiuru Lane, would you have known what kind of person he was? You should think this matter over carefully!” Then she said, “Do you want me to ask Uncle Chi where he went?”
Ji Ying nodded absentmindedly, saying, “Then please ask Fourth Master for me!”
Zhou Shaojin urged her to stay, “Why not stay here at my place! In the residence there’s only me, Madam, and my younger sister.”
“I still want to try to find Qin Ziping,” Ji Ying hesitated for a moment, then said, “The Ji family also has a shop in the capital. I’ll rest there. It will also prevent my father and mother from worrying.”
This was fine too!
Zhou Shaojin had Nanny Shang escort Ji Ying to the Ji family’s shop.
But Nanny Shang smiled and said, “Fourth Master told me not to leave your side for a moment. Miss Ji’s martial skills are excellent. I think just calling a guard to escort her to the Ji family shop will suffice.”
Ji Ying didn’t even need a guard.
In the end, it was only at Zhou Shaojin’s insistence that she took a sedan chair to the Ji family shop.
After this commotion, her mood improved considerably.
Nanny Shang came in smiling and said to Zhou Shaojin, “Second Young Miss, Fourth Master has come. He’s waiting for you in the study in the outer courtyard, saying he has something to tell you!”
“Really!” Zhou Shaojin was filled with joy.
Hadn’t he said he had matters to attend to and would be going out today?
She lifted her skirt and trotted to the study.
Cheng Chi wore a blue-green flowing water damask pattern lake silk robe with a jade seal hanging at his waist. Standing with his hands behind his back in the middle of the study, he saw her run in breathlessly, her face flushed, running in happily like a swallow returning to the forest.
The smile between his eyes and brows became brilliant.
He stepped forward to embrace Zhou Shaojin, saying gently, “What did you do today? Did you eat properly?”
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed slightly.
She had originally planned to finish sewing the sleeves on the winter garment she’d been making for Uncle Chi for a long time, but she’d dawdled around and still hadn’t sewn more than a few stitches.
“I was doing needlework at home!” Zhou Shaojin said vaguely. Remembering Ji Ying, she quickly said, “Uncle Chi, did you see Ji Ying? She just left, saying she wanted to find Qin Ziping. Do you know where Qin Ziping is?”
He knew it—when he wasn’t around, the little girl was too lazy to even go out the door.
Cheng Chi scraped her delicate nose and smiled, “Qin Ziping went out on an errand for me. He won’t be back for some days. I saw her in the sedan chair, so I didn’t greet her.”
He had initially thought it was Zhou Shaojin.
So that meant Uncle Chi had watched Ji Ying leave!
This seemed a bit wicked…
However, Uncle Chi seemed to have always treated people as he pleased… Zhou Shaojin didn’t say much more about it.
Cheng Chi took out a paper package from inside his robe and said, “They say it’s a type of water lily the size of a rice bowl. If you plant them now, they’ll bloom in autumn, and might even bloom in winter. Do you want to try planting them?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Zhou Shaojin was extremely happy.
Cheng Chi gave the paper package to Zhou Shaojin and said in a low voice, “I originally wanted to have your sister keep you in the capital. Now it’s perfect—my mother has come to the capital, so when the time comes you can keep her company in the capital—both emotionally and reasonably, you should!”