“I don’t know either!” Ji Ying rolled her eyes and said, “Seeing him throwing a tantrum—would I not run? I’m not stupid! You should know, this Uncle Chi of yours rarely loses his temper! At least in all the years I’ve followed him, I’ve never seen him this thunderously furious—when he’s angry, he usually just schemes against others in secret. He says showing emotions on his face is too exhausting! That’s why I ran over here to hide!”
Before, when Ji Ying kept saying “your Uncle Chi,” Zhou Shaojin only felt honored or sweet. Now, however, she felt guilty.
She couldn’t help saying, “What nonsense are you talking about? Uncle Chi isn’t mine alone!”
“He’s indeed not yours alone.” Ji Ying ate a bite of crispy candy unconcernedly and said, “But he treats you the best. I’m also treating a dead horse as if it were alive… If you can’t protect me, no one else can either, so I won’t lose out. But what if you can protect me? Then wouldn’t I have found the right person!”
Zhou Shaojin was exasperated and said suspiciously, “Did you anger Uncle Chi? Otherwise, why would you be hiding?”
“If I’d angered your Uncle Chi, who knows what corner I’d have been thrown into by now,” Ji Ying said with dissatisfaction. “Would I still be sitting here drinking tea and eating refreshments with you? Why won’t you believe that your Uncle Chi is no saint!”
Zhou Shaojin rarely argued with her at length.
Not wanting to keep circling around the topic of Cheng Chi with Ji Ying, she changed the subject and asked where Ji Ying had been all this time.
Ji Ying remained lazy and sighed, “Just running around east, south, west, and north! If only I could settle down like you one day.”
Then she could practice her swordwork properly.
Now she was like those traveling performers selling their skills, going out while bearing the title of Cheng Chi’s maidservant. Just thinking about it was annoying.
Seeing she didn’t want to say more, Zhou Shaojin stopped asking and took out the winter clothes Biyu had newly made to show Ji Ying.
Ji Ying also knew Biyu was about to be married off and said, “Have you met that Zuo Xian? What kind of person is he? You’re a senior maid beside the Old Madam—marrying you is like holding the Cheng family’s golden rice bowl. Has he had any entanglements with other women before you…”
A barrage of questions made Biyu’s face flush red.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Why are you acting like Biyu’s mother?”
Ji Ying said, “Haven’t I suffered losses myself? I’m afraid others will be deceived too.”
Biyu didn’t know about Ji Ying’s affairs, but Zhou Shaojin did. However, Biyu had served the Grand Madam for many years and knew clearly what questions to ask and what not to ask. She thanked Ji Ying bashfully and said quietly, “Our two families’ ancestors were both the Old Madam’s dowry servants. I also have an older sister who married into the Zuo family long ago. He grew up under my sister’s watch, and it was also my sister who arranged the match…”
“Oh my, so you’re childhood sweethearts!” Ji Ying was very interested and wanted to ask more when Nanny Shang arrived.
Everyone was somewhat surprised.
Especially Zhou Shaojin, who thought Cheng Chi was looking for her.
Who knew Nanny Shang would smile and greet Ji Ying, then say to Zhou Shaojin, “I happened to be free and heard Second Young Miss was at Miss Biyu’s place, so I came over to join the fun. It’s so hot—would you like me to help bathe Snowball?”
Since entering the Dog Days of summer, Zhou Shaojin had been bathing Snowball every day. Occasionally when Nanny Shang passed by, she would pet Snowball. Since she wasn’t one of Zhou Shaojin’s personal attendants, she had never bathed Snowball before.
Zhou Shaojin immediately felt somewhat embarrassed and said, “I’ve already bathed Snowball.” Then she pointed to the embroidered stool, “Let’s all sit and talk!”
“No need, no need.” Nanny Shang smiled and said, “You young ladies talk together. I’ll go feed the birds for Second Young Miss.”
“The birds have been fed too,” Zhou Shaojin said.
Hearing this, Nanny Shang smiled and said, “Second Young Miss has been doing needlework at home these past few days. Should I go to the street to buy you some more embroidery thread or tracing paper?”
“No need,” Zhou Shaojin said. “We still have plenty of these things at home.” Yet she wondered why Nanny Shang seemed so determined to do something for her.
She thought for a moment and said, “If you have nothing else to do, why not help me send word to the flower house to remember to move out the camellia I’m growing to get some night air this evening.”
Nanny Shang happily went off.
Zhou Shaojin said strangely, “What’s gotten into all of you? Is Uncle Chi’s tantrum very scary?”
Ji Ying was already too lazy to explain to her.
The three of them spent the afternoon together in Biyu’s room.
Old Madam Guo kept Old Madam Guan for the evening meal.
Cheng Chi didn’t come over but sent someone to pay respects to Old Madam Guan.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
She had thought she would encounter Cheng Chi and find out what his mood was like now!
She didn’t know how Uncle Chi was doing now.
Zhou Shaojin worried secretly in her heart as she helped Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan arrange the chopsticks.
Old Madam Guo smiled at her and said, “Your Cousin Gao had asked Madam Gu, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Gu family, to serve as the woman of complete blessings. Now that Madam Gu is in mourning and cannot attend, he’s changed to asking the elder sister-in-law from the natal family of Madam Shen, the second daughter-in-law of the Gu family. Your grandmother’s meaning is that some days ago, thanks to Madam Gu’s efforts, your Cousin Gao’s wedding proceeded very smoothly. Now that Madam Shen’s elder sister-in-law has agreed, we should also express our thanks to the Gu family. Speaking of how you held a flower-viewing party at home some days ago, with several young ladies all gracing it with their presence and both hosts and guests enjoying themselves, she would like you to host again and invite the young ladies of the Gu family who are out of mourning to come play for a day, as a way of reciprocating Madam Gu’s previous care.”
In her previous life, Zhou Shaojin had attended several gatherings, but she had been like a little blade of grass at those gatherings—not even worthy of being called an accompaniment. Gradually, she had come to view them with dread and lost interest. But at the flower-viewing party she hosted this time, not only did Zhu Zhu and the others suit her temperament, but they were all people who could accommodate each other. Even the two young ladies from the Guo family had enjoyed themselves thoroughly, feeling reluctant to leave when departing, making plans with Zhu Zhu that they would definitely come drink wedding wine with the adults when she married.
Now having the opportunity to gather again, Zhou Shaojin readily agreed.
Seeing this, Old Madam Guan chuckled and said, “You’ll have to take extra care when the time comes.”
These words were too polite, and based on Zhou Shaojin’s understanding of Old Madam Guan, she felt Old Madam Guan’s smile was also somewhat forced.
Could she be worried that Cousin Gao’s wedding wouldn’t go smoothly?
She speculated but didn’t take this matter to heart.
After all, it was a marriage between two surnames—it was normal for each side to have their own thoughts. As long as they were willing to sit down and discuss things carefully, there was nothing that couldn’t be accomplished.
After the evening meal, they saw Old Madam Guan off. Director Qin sought an audience.
He said that someone had been sent back with a letter from Xinglin Alley in the capital. Madam Yuan had already set out on her journey and would probably arrive home around the thirteenth of the eighth month, in time to return for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Old Madam Guo nodded coldly and instructed Nanny Lu to lead people to thoroughly clean Yunzhen Hall, the main courtyard of the First Branch.
Zhou Shaojin’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.