With the elders handling the matter of Duke Liangguo’s mansion, Zhou Shaojin slept soundly and peacefully that night.
When she woke the next morning, she felt refreshed and unprecedentedly lighthearted.
“Shi Xiang,” she said with a smile as she sat before her dressing table, instructing her senior maid, “After breakfast, heat up the iron. When I return from paying respects to Grandmother, we’ll quickly iron Father’s and Stepmother’s clothes. If Father can make it back for the Mid-Autumn Festival, there are only a few days left, and I still have to go to Cold Jade Mountain Lodge this afternoon to copy scriptures!”
Shi Xiang smiled and agreed, helping Zhou Shaojin put on her pearl hairpin and instructing the junior maids to set out breakfast.
Zhou Shaojin had just picked up her chopsticks when Cheng Jia arrived.
She wore a silver-red scorched cloth vest and looked somewhat tired.
Zhou Shaojin quickly invited her to sit down and asked if she had eaten breakfast.
Cheng Jia shook her head listlessly.
Shi Xiang had already swiftly brought in a bowl and chopsticks for Cheng Jia.
Cheng Jia glanced at the table and said disdainfully, “Why do you drink plain rice porridge every day? Can’t you have something different?”
“Plain porridge is good!” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “Plain porridge nourishes the stomach.”
“Do you have stomach problems or are you advanced in years?” Cheng Jia said dismissively, curling her lip. “You eat like an old lady.”
Zhou Shaojin was slightly stunned.
These words really hit the mark.
Since her rebirth, it seemed she had retained her original living habits…
Zhou Shaojin gave a self-mocking smile.
Cheng Jia was already instructing Shi Xiang: “Bring me a bowl of soy milk and three soup dumplings—no, make it five. I want to eat and drink my fill.”
Shi Xiang smiled with pursed lips and withdrew.
Zhou Shaojin teased her: “Are you planning to go work the fields harvesting crops?”
“Harvest what crops!” Cheng Jia said resentfully. “I’m eating my fill so I’ll have the energy to quarrel with my mother.”
Zhou Shaojin guessed something had gone wrong with the Zhu Pengjiu matter.
She said in confusion, “Could it be that Cousin Zheng…”
“No!” Cheng Jia said, her eyes reddening. “Brother said to wait and see for now. After all, Duke Liangguo’s mansion hasn’t explicitly said these items were sent by the heir. They weren’t specifically sent to just me alone. Even if they have some ulterior motive, who knows whether they’ve set their sights on you or me. We’re being so anxious, acting like we’re guarding against thieves—we’ll just be laughed at. I thought what Brother said made sense. As long as we don’t agree, we’ll deal with whatever comes—surely nothing will go wrong. But my mother seems to have her heart clouded by lard. Early this morning, she actually sent someone to inquire about Duke Liangguo’s mansion, and she told the aunt teaching me etiquette to put in extra effort. If she teaches well, she’ll be rewarded a hundred taels of silver. That aunt is crafty as can be—before, she only had me balance a book while walking, but now she’s replaced the book with a bowl… I was too lazy to deal with her, so I simply ran over here to you.”
Zhou Shaojin sighed.
Good thing she wasn’t born into the third branch. Good thing Father hadn’t married Cheng Xian!
The two quietly finished breakfast. Zhou Shaojin needed to go pay respects to Old Lady Guan.
Cheng Jia linked arms with her and said, “I’ll go with you!”
Zhou Shaojin thought that was fine, and went with Cheng Jia to her sister’s quarters. After Zhou Chujin finished getting ready, the three went to Jiashu Hall.
At the entrance, they encountered Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi, who had just finished paying their respects to Old Lady Guan.
Seeing Cheng Jia, both were quite surprised. After everyone exchanged greetings, Cheng Gao’s gaze fell on Zhou Shaojin, while Cheng Yi teased Cheng Jia: “You came so early in the morning to curry favor before my grandmother—could it be you have a favor to ask?”
Cheng Jia’s heart stirred upon hearing this, and she laughed, “How is it that when you come to pay respects it’s filial piety, but when I come to pay respects it’s ulterior motives? What kind of logic is that?”
“I didn’t say you had ulterior motives.” Cheng Yi bantered with Cheng Jia. “Those are your own words…”
But Cheng Gao turned away from Zhou Chujin and gave Zhou Shaojin a meaningful look, pointing toward the century-old locust tree at the entrance of Jiashu Hall. Then he pulled his brother along: “Early in the morning, instead of reciting your lessons, you know how to quarrel with people. Hurry up and come with me to the study hall. Be careful not to be late and get punished by standing. How many times this month have you been punished by the teacher?”
“Brother, Brother,” Cheng Yi pleaded. “The elder and younger sisters are all here—at least give me some face.”
Everyone laughed heartily.
Old Lady Guan inside the room heard them and couldn’t help but laugh as well.
When Zhou Shaojin and the others entered to pay their respects, she took Cheng Jia’s hand and asked with great interest about her daily life recently.
Zhou Shaojin, mindful of her appointment with Cheng Gao, sat for a while then excused herself to go to the washroom, leaving the Rest Banquet Room.
Cheng Gao was waiting for her under the tree.
She ran over breathlessly and said, “What did Cousin Gao want to see me about?”
Cheng Gao was silent for a moment, then said carefully, “The news about Uncle-in-law’s reassignment as Prefect of Baoding has spread throughout the family—did you know?”
Zhou Shaojin nodded in confusion.
Cheng Gao said thoughtfully, “It’s also spread throughout the clan school, and someone even wrote an essay about which positions more easily lead to promotion to capital official. If anyone tries to get close to you in the future, be more careful yourself and don’t trust what those people say so readily.”
“Who’s so bored!” Zhou Shaojin disliked people who focused their thoughts on seeking advantages. She frowned and said, “Cousin Gao, rest assured, I’ll be careful.” However, since Cheng Gao had specifically come to tell her this, the matter must be more than just people trying to get close to her. She said straightforwardly, “Cousin Gao, has something happened at the clan school? You should just tell me directly! Otherwise I’ll hear distorted versions from others.”
Cheng Gao was surprised and laughed, “Second Cousin, you’ve changed a lot. You even dare to ask me directly now!”
So before she hadn’t even dared to say this?
Zhou Shaojin’s face reddened.
Cheng Gao smiled and said, “Some things are just my own guesses… Xiangqing has been somewhat strange lately… He’s fine when he’s with Jiashan, but when he’s alone he’s always gloomy. When others ask him, he doesn’t share his thoughts like before, but instead smiles bleakly and says dispiriting things…”
“What has he been saying?” Involving Cheng Lu, Zhou Shaojin asked seriously.
Cheng Gao observed her, thinking she was worried about Cheng Lu. After hesitating for quite a while, he finally decided to say, “Things like sometimes people have no choice but to yield, and that a real man without achievements and fame shouldn’t think about beautiful wives and concubines—they’re just flowers in a mirror, the moon in water… I also heard rumors that Jiashan is very protective of you, and because of you, he once made things difficult for Xiangqing. Fortunately, Xiangqing thought quickly on his feet. With his superior learning, not only was he not stumped by Jiashan, but he even earned Jiashan’s admiration and became good friends with him…”