Zhou Shaojin hadn’t expected Cheng Chi to ask her this question. She paused before saying, “He hasn’t done anything to wrong me. I just don’t particularly like his way of doing things…” She tried to explain, “A perfectly ordinary matter, but as soon as it becomes associated with him, everyone’s attention focuses on it, as if everything happens under the public eye, which makes me very uneasy…”
Cheng Chi knew that Cheng Jiashan was the ideal son-in-law in countless families’ eyes, and he believed Zhou Shaojin understood this very clearly in her heart.
This reason wasn’t sufficient to make a young woman avoid Cheng Jiashan like he was a venomous snake!
But Cheng Chi didn’t press further.
Some things cannot be rushed.
He was certain Zhou Shaojin had secrets, but whether these secrets would affect his plans remained to be seen, and whether they were worth investigating was still too early to tell.
Cheng Chi smiled and nodded, saying, “Some people indeed dislike living under others’ scrutiny. Cheng Jiashan is the eldest son and grandson of the Cheng family, so naturally he attracts attention. It’s normal that you’re not accustomed to it.”
Zhou Shaojin felt relieved, let out a long breath, and smiled gratefully at Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi said, “If I go to the capital and don’t have anything particularly important to do, I’ll let you know. If your grandmother and sister agree to you traveling with me, I’ll take you to the capital!”
“Really!” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes lit up, bright as stars in the night sky.
Cheng Chi shook his head inwardly.
No wonder Cheng Jiashan was shamelessly chasing after this little girl—she truly was beautiful.
He said, “I left Old Master Gu alone in the cabin, so I need to go back and check on him. You can stand at the bow and look around, but return to your room early! The evening wind is cool, be careful not to catch a cold. The sky is gradually darkening as well, so there isn’t much to see. Later when we’re approaching Jinling, I’ll have the maid call you. Many boats dock at North River Bridge. In the evening, the masts all hang red lanterns—some dozens of them, others just one or two—lighting up the lake surface in crimson red. The scenery is quite special. You rarely travel, so it’s worth seeing.”
His words were thoughtful and considerate, making Zhou Shaojin feel warm inside.
She sincerely thanked Cheng Chi. After his figure disappeared at the stern, she returned to the cabin.
Zhou Chujin had been paying attention to her sister’s movements. Hearing sounds, she sat up and asked, “Shaojin, is that you coming back?”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and answered “Yes,” sitting down beside her sister’s bed and telling her about encountering Cheng Chi at the bow. Of course, she naturally didn’t say a single word to her sister about Cheng Chi asking her about Cheng Xu.
Zhou Chujin chided, “Really, if you want to go to Baoding Prefecture to see Father, just tell me. We can always find an opportunity. Why trouble Uncle Chi? Although I’ve only met Uncle Chi a few times, from what you’ve told me, Uncle Chi is a gentleman who keeps his word. If he really tells you to go with him to Baoding when the time comes, will you go or not?”
If Cheng Xu were still in the capital, she definitely wouldn’t go. If Cheng Xu had returned to his hometown, she would risk punishment afterward and go to the capital no matter what.
But she couldn’t tell her sister this. She smiled and deflected.
That evening when they reached North River Bridge, Zhou Shaojin gazed at the large red lanterns reflected on the lake surface like brilliant stars and couldn’t help exclaiming repeatedly.
Zhou Chujin, squeezed with her sister at one window, was also mesmerized by the view and asked Zhou Shaojin, “How did you know there would be lanterns to see at night?”
Zhou Shaojin smiled, “Uncle Chi told me.”
On the other side, Cheng Jia pouted unhappily and said, “I ran into Cousin Chi today too. Why didn’t he tell me?”
“That’s because you didn’t talk to him!” Zhou Shaojin gazed at the large red lanterns passing by their boat and said, “Uncle Chi is very kind and willing to help people, but he seems a bit cold.”
“More than a bit cold,” Cheng Jia turned her head back, looking at the dozens of large red lanterns lit on an official boat in the distance, murmuring, “I think he’s very cold…” As she spoke, she suddenly shouted, “Look, over there, over there, there’s a pleasure boat!”
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin both looked in the direction she pointed.
There really was a pleasure boat.
Exquisite glass windows, brightly lit lanterns of various styles, shadowy figures appearing and disappearing, faint sounds of strings and flutes… attracting many people along North River Tower.
“I wonder whose pleasure boat that is?” Cheng Jia said enviously. “If I could ride on it around Lake Mochou, I could die without regrets.”
She spoke as if she were about to die immediately.
Zhou Chujin quickly bowed toward the west, saying, “Children speak without understanding, children speak without understanding! Buddha, don’t listen to her nonsense.”
Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia couldn’t help but laugh.
After disembarking, they boarded the carriage.
It was already the hour of Hai (9-11 PM). Zhou Shaojin was somewhat worried about the curfew.
When they reached the city gate, she lifted the curtain to look.
Leading at the front was Qin Ziping, riding on a tall date-red horse with a black lacquered flat-topped carriage beside him, the same style as theirs.
A basket was lowered from the city wall. Qin Ziping took out something like a token from his chest and placed it in the basket.
The guards on the city wall looked at it amid some commotion.
After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the side door by the city gate opened.
The carriage beside Qin Ziping entered the city first and sped away.
Following was the carriage with Jiang Shi and the others, then the carriage Zhou Shaojin was in.
As the carriage entered the city, Zhou Shaojin saw Qin Ziping talking cheerfully with the minor banner officer who had opened the door for them. From their manner, they appeared very familiar with each other.
Since the Cheng family had such a token, why hadn’t a single one of them managed to escape before the court issued its decree?
Could it be that when Uncle Chi left the Cheng family, he took this token with him?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this in her heart. When they returned to Nine Blessings Lane, she discovered that Old Madam Guan and Grand Madam Mian were both still awake, waiting to ask them about going to Pukou to deliver the betrothal gifts.
Jiang Shi, who had just seen off Grand Madam Gu, had been bustling about all day but was still full of energy. She talked endlessly about what she had seen and heard at the He family: “…Miss He truly lives up to being personally selected by younger sister-in-law. Not only is she beautiful, but her temperament is also good… Madam He has lived in the capital after all and is a woman of the world, so she handles matters graciously… When we went to deliver the betrothal gifts, they didn’t say anything at all and agreed readily… This marriage is truly well-arranged…”
Zhou Shaojin and the others listened drowsily on the side. Finally when Jiang Shi finished, Old Madam Guan and Grand Madam Mian, seeing that everything had gone very smoothly, were extremely pleased and insisted that Jiang Shi stay for a late-night snack before returning. Fortunately, Jiang Shi was concerned about Cheng Lu and politely declined for a long time but couldn’t refuse, so she invited them to a matchmaker appreciation banquet tomorrow. Only then did Old Madam Guan and Grand Madam Mian see Jiang Shi off.
After all this commotion, by the time Zhou Shaojin got into bed it was almost the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). As a result, the next day she slept until the sun was high in the sky before getting up.
She kept saying “How terrible!” and told Chun Wan, who had heard movement and come in to serve her, to quickly bring water.