Zhou Chujin was kneeling before Zhuang Liangyu’s portrait, murmuring to her stepmother: “…Mother, I’m so afraid… You must protect Shaojin… keep her safe and sound… I’m willing to lose ten years of my life…”
Zhou Shaojin’s tears flowed out with a “whoosh.”
She tiptoed back, pulled the blanket over her head, and closed her eyes.
※※※
The next day, the sun shone brilliantly.
When Zhou Shaojin woke up, Zhou Chujin had already gone to pay respects to Grandmother.
Shi Xiang said, “Eldest Miss left word that she’ll attend to Old Madam during breakfast and told you not to wait for her.”
Zhou Shaojin let out a sound of surprise.
Grandmother wasn’t the type who liked making younger generations observe strict rules. Whether sons and daughters-in-law or grandchildren, they all took their meals in their own quarters. So each courtyard had its own small kitchen, yet the household expenses weren’t any more than other branches.
Perhaps sister had something to say to Grandmother?
Zhou Shaojin sat before the mirror to arrange her hair and dress, choosing a wormwood-green jacket with hidden lotus pattern and a white Hangzhou silk openwork skirt to change into. With the newly available spring bamboo shoots, water celery, and other small dishes, she ate half a bowl of porridge and two rice cakes before putting down her chopsticks and washing her hands.
Shi Xiang watched with great pleasure. While directing the young maids to clear the table, she said warmly, “Second Miss, I heard plums and apricots are already being sold at the market. Would you like to buy some to try?”
Zhou Shaojin knew that with her “illness,” those serving at her side had also had difficult days. This was Shi Xiang trying to coax her into eating, so she smiled and pointed to the small black box with eight-treasure inlay decoration at the head of the bed, saying, “Take two taels of silver yourself.”
Shi Xiang smiled and curtsied. A young maid came in to report, “Second Miss, Song Qing from Young Master Lu’s side has come. He says Young Master Lu heard you caught a cold and specially had him send you Ledebouriella Sagely Unblocking Pills.”
Cheng Lu?
Zhou Shaojin’s smile froze on her face.
She no longer remembered his kindness to her, but his ferocious face—that she could never forget.
After a long silence, she said, “Bring the things in.”
Shi Xiang’s smile completely vanished as she quietly responded “Yes” and brought the items inside.
Besides the box containing the pills, there was also a colorful butterfly kite.
Zhou Shaojin gently stroked the butterfly kite’s wings and said, “Shi Xiang, have Song Qing deliver a message to Young Master Lu for me. Say I thank him for his things and will accept them this time, but tell him not to send anything else in the future. After I recover from my illness, besides continuing to study the Admonitions for Women and Biographies of Exemplary Women with Nanny Shen, I also need to learn needlework from Niangzi Qian. I’m afraid I won’t have leisure time to play.”
In other words, Second Miss wanted to draw a clear line with Young Master Lu!
Shi Xiang was surprised but also relieved.
The master was already a fourth-rank prefect, and everyone said the master would be promoted further in the future. Second Miss was still young and wasn’t in a hurry to marry—why must it be Young Master Lu? Just like Eldest Miss, who married the heir of the Liao family and would become the principal wife of the Liao family. Although Second Miss didn’t have Eldest Miss’s illustrious background, she might not necessarily be unable to choose a family better than Young Master Lu!
She happily responded “Yes” and went out to relay the message.
Zhou Shaojin watched and was stunned.
She hadn’t expected that Shi Xiang and the others didn’t think highly of Cheng Lu… She had thought everyone would be pleased to see her and Cheng Lu together… It turned out only she had treasured Cheng Lu…
Zhou Shaojin smiled bitterly, her mood suddenly becoming dejected.