Dong Shi thought of her son’s words: “…I must first have scholarly achievement before discussing this matter with the Old Mistress of the Fourth Branch. At the Second Branch Old Ancestor’s birthday banquet, there will be a gathering of the wealthy and noble—who knows if someone might take a fancy to Shaojin. We must find a way to let Shaojin know our family’s intentions.”
Though this was somewhat improper, if Zhou Shaojin became her daughter-in-law, it would give her leverage over her.
That was why Dong Shi had said all that to Zhou Shaojin.
She never expected Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t take the bait.
Sitting on the toilet, she was so angry her chest ached. It took a while for her mood to calm down. Then, thinking that Zhou Shaojin was still waiting outside, she deliberately took her time counting bath beans.
Zhou Shaojin waited and waited until her legs grew sore, but Dong Shi still hadn’t emerged.
She thought for a moment, then beckoned to a little maid on duty outside the open hall: “Bring me a stool.”
The little girl ran off and brought her a small carved red lacquer stool.
She couldn’t just stand here blocking others’ way!
Zhou Shaojin looked around and noticed that where she stood happened to face a cluster of banana trees. The broad leaves hung down like an umbrella over a bluestone. If one wasn’t careful, one wouldn’t notice someone sitting beneath the banana trees at all.
She couldn’t help but smile.
She’d sit there—when Dong Shi came out and didn’t see her, she’d certainly be displeased. Then Zhou Shaojin could step forward, having both logic on her side and grounds to complain about why Dong Shi had stayed in the privy so long.
Zhou Shaojin picked up the small stool and headed toward the banana trees. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly glimpsed a vermilion skirt hem with embroidered linked pearl pattern trim beneath the banana tree cluster.
Like a startled bird, she stumbled back several steps, crying out sharply: “Who’s hiding there?”
The banana tree branches and leaves rustled. A young lady with an elegant slanting coiffure, wearing red gold peony butterfly hairpins and kingfisher-feather large flowers, walked out.
“Pan Qing…” Zhou Shaojin was dumbfounded. “Why are you hiding here?”
Didn’t that mean Pan Qing had heard everything between her and Dong Shi?
Pan Qing’s face was completely flushed. She explained urgently: “I didn’t mean to! I came here earlier… wanted to get some fresh air… didn’t expect you and Uncle Bai’s wife to suddenly stop… I’m not that kind of person, I won’t say anything. Really!”
She spoke incoherently, so anxious that sweat broke out across her forehead.
Zhou Shaojin believed her.
Pan Qing had no reason to spy on her like this—once discovered by others, her good reputation would be completely ruined.
Zhou Shaojin carefully thought through what she’d just said to Dong Shi. There didn’t seem to be anything improper. Even if someone lost face, it would be Dong Shi…
She therefore nodded and asked: “Are you returning to the open hall now or standing here for a while?”
Zhou Shaojin’s calm acceptance of Pan Qing’s explanation left Pan Qing speechless. After a long while she said: “I’ll return to the open hall… if I don’t go back soon, Mother will send someone to find me…”
Zhou Shaojin nodded politely.
Pan Qing’s face grew even redder. She lowered her head and brushed past Zhou Shaojin, ascending to the corridor.
Zhou Shaojin opened the small stool beneath the banana tree.
Pan Qing, walking along the corridor, moved slower and slower until she finally stopped and turned back.
Zhou Shaojin sat properly on the small stool, her expression peaceful and at ease.
Pan Qing thought of her calm composure earlier when she asked no questions about reasons or causes, thought of how she had advised Cheng Jia without batting an eye… possessing a magnanimity and composure rare among girls… then thought of how her brother had been stunned by his first sight of her… She thought for a moment, turned around, and walked quickly to Zhou Shaojin’s side.
“You trust me just like that?” She gazed intently at Zhou Shaojin. “What if I tell my mother?”
Zhou Shaojin had been lost in thought and only noticed when Pan Qing stood before her, which surprised her somewhat. But hearing Pan Qing’s words, she couldn’t help but smile and ask in return: “Would you?”
In her previous life, even when Cheng Jia played such tricks on her, she never complained to the elders, having a kind of pride in resolving her own matters. How much less would she involve herself in something completely unrelated to her?
The Pan family was also a prestigious clan with many members. Pan Qing must have witnessed plenty of sordid affairs!
Pan Qing choked on her words for quite a while before saying: “Of course I wouldn’t tell the elders, but you didn’t ask anything… aren’t you afraid of misjudging someone?”
Zhou Shaojin suddenly found Pan Qing rather interesting. She smiled: “Did I misjudge you then?”
“You…” Pan Qing again felt at a loss for words.
“Alright, alright.” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “You don’t need to be so nervous. This isn’t some major matter. Even if you spread it around, what then? Others would only think Dong Shi harbored ill intentions and lacked character. What does it have to do with me?”
So she had calculated everything from the start.
Pan Qing’s expression changed slightly.
Zhou Shaojin was naturally observant and sensitive—how could she not know what Pan Qing was thinking?
She felt somewhat wistful and sighed: “You people—when others trust you, you think they have ulterior motives. When others don’t trust you, you think they look down on you… You’re truly difficult to deal with!”
Pan Qing’s face instantly turned so red it could drip blood. She was too ashamed to speak.
Zhou Shaojin had a gentle nature and had lived two lives. Though still young in this life, psychologically she felt older than Cheng Jia and Pan Qing. How could she make things difficult for these young girls?
She quickly changed the subject: “How did you come out alone? Where are the maids and servants attending you?”
Zhou Shaojin’s voice was warm and sounded very sincere.
Pan Qing exhaled deeply, feeling her face cool down. She said softly: “Everything was fine originally, but that retired Madam Sun brought up a nephew from her natal family…” As she spoke, her face flushed again. “She held my hand and kept asking this and that. Mother tried several times to change the subject but couldn’t. I couldn’t stand her shameless behavior, so I made an excuse about going to the privy and ran out, even forgetting to call my maids and servants.”
So it was because Madam Sun wanted to arrange a match for Pan Qing, and Pan Qing didn’t agree!
Zhou Shaojin hadn’t expected Pan Qing to tell her these things. After her surprise, she felt some understanding.
It was just like her situation with Cheng Lu—although everyone knew what Dong Shi meant, as long as it wasn’t spelled out explicitly, there was still some uncertainty. Such open publicity wasn’t appropriate.