When Cheng Chi walked into the Fucui Pavilion, he saw trunks and boxes filling the entire courtyard.
Standing beneath the camphor tree that remained lush and verdant, he suddenly felt breathing become somewhat difficult.
After such an incident, for Shaojin to continue staying at Nine Ru Lane wouldn’t be appropriate either emotionally or rationally.
He understood this clearly in his heart.
Yet in the flower hall, he had considered everything for her sake, but hadn’t given this matter the slightest thought.
And in his view, Zhou Shaojin was still young. Even if she had some awareness, given her timid and weak nature, she would surely need some time before gathering the courage to raise it with him… By the time she left, perhaps winter would have arrived.
But what he never expected was that she had begun packing almost immediately upon returning to the Hanbi Mountain House.
Cheng Chi’s gaze fell upon the potted ink chrysanthemum that Zhou Shaojin had previously placed in the corner but the maids had now moved under the covered corridor.
Shaojin clearly intended to take it with her!
She loved flowers and plants, loved the old things she had used, carrying them wherever she went.
He thought of the scene when she had first moved to Fucui Pavilion.
When watering the flowers, she would occasionally talk to herself while addressing the several pots of camellias she had planted, saying things like “we’ve moved to a new place again, are you getting used to it…”
Cheng Chi’s eyes felt as if countless tiny needles had fallen into them, stinging with pain.
Shaojin was truly like duckweed—from Wanxiang Residence to Fucui Pavilion, from Fucui Pavilion to Pingqiao Street, from Pingqiao Street to Baoding Prefecture… Perhaps she had never had a single place that was truly her home!
So she only grew flowers in pots, never planted trees in courtyards!
This was also good.
Zhou Dacheng was her father after all.
Didn’t someone once say that wherever parents are, that is home?
With her returning to her father’s side, she could barely be considered to have a home!
Cheng Chi departed from Fucui Pavilion as silently as he had arrived, heading to the main hall.
Cheng Xu was already awake, with Old Madam Guo sitting at his bedside with closed eyes, chanting sutras for him.
Hearing the movement, Old Madam Guo opened her eyes and said without surprise in a soft voice, “You’ve returned,” then stood up.
Cheng Chi stepped forward to support Old Madam Guo, and the two sat down together in the rest chamber. After the maids served tea and refreshments and all withdrew, Old Madam Guo asked, “Have matters outside been settled?”
“They’re settled!” Cheng Chi said softly. “I’ve set several small traps to make the second and third branches suspicious of each other and anxious. When we need to use them, we can deal with them then.”
Though his gaze remained clear and bright and his expression still gentle, he inexplicably gave the impression that his spirits were somewhat low.
Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but hesitate before asking, “Zichuan, are you very dissatisfied with Jiashan?”
Otherwise, why would he allow Ji Ying to beat Jiashan?
Cheng Chi neither confirmed nor denied this, saying lazily, “Don’t concern yourself with Ji Ying’s matter. If Elder Sister-in-law asks, just say I’ve already had her sold off. That will stop her mouth.”
Old Madam Guo nodded, not daring to pursue this topic further, and said, “Shaojin wants to return to Baoding Prefecture…”
Cheng Chi’s movements stiffened slightly. He said, “I heard before that Liao Shaotang wanted to go study in the capital. I’ll write a letter to Second Uncle asking him to give Liao Shaotang some guidance! Then I’ll see if there are any good estates I can purchase and register under Zhou Shaojin’s name.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Guo let out a long sigh and said, “It’s our Cheng family that has wronged her. You should look after her more!” Then, with a melancholy expression, she changed the subject. “What was the final word on Jiashan’s matter?”
Cheng Chi replied, “What else could be said—Jiashan was drugged by someone, lost his senses, mistook Ji Ying for Shaojin, and tried to drag Ji Ying here to you. Ji Ying thought Jiashan was taking advantage of his intoxication to molest her and accidentally struck him…”
He concisely told Old Madam Guo the course of events.
Old Madam Guo immediately followed Cheng Chi’s line of thinking and said thoughtfully, “Then the urgent matter is to investigate who drugged Jiashan. From the kitchen staff to the maids and servants serving tea and wine in the hall, everyone is under suspicion… Why not take this opportunity to dismiss a batch of people? Especially those around Second Branch’s Old Ancestor—after serving for so long, they’ve inevitably become slippery. Though such people are convenient to use, they also love to abuse borrowed authority, corrupting the atmosphere throughout the compound. I think that with Cheng Shi’s servant boy implicated in this drug matter, the second branch shouldn’t object.”
This way, they could take the opportunity to plant people in each branch.
Cheng Chi was clearly uninterested in these matters and said, “You can arrange it yourself.”
Mother and son talked for quite a while. Cheng Chi went in again to look at the sleeping Cheng Xu before finally returning to the Tingli Pavilion.
After practicing calligraphy for a while, it was time to rest.
But he didn’t feel the least bit sleepy. He simply took out a chess manual and set up an endgame position, playing left hand against right for quite a while. It wasn’t until Huai Shan came in to urge him that he finally, after dawdling for a good while, went to bed to rest.
The next day after breakfast, Cheng Chi was discussing matters concerning the Thirteen Hongs with Qin Ziping when Qing Feng came in to report, “Fourth Master, Steward Ma from the Zhou residence has arrived. He’s probably here to fetch Second Cousin Miss back to Pingqiao Street for a few days.”
Cheng Chi straightened his sleeves.
Huai Shan was greatly startled.
Whenever Cheng Chi made such a gesture, it was when his mood was very poor.
He couldn’t help but advise, “Fourth Master, regarding the cave incident, Young Master Xu was too reckless. You should speak well with him. As for Second Young Miss Zhou, having suffered such great grievance, why don’t you compensate Second Cousin Miss somehow!”
Listening to this, Cheng Chi glanced at him with a half-smile and said, “According to you, how should I compensate Second Cousin Miss?”
Huai Shan’s scalp tingled. In his haste, he had no time to think carefully and said, “Madam Zhou of Baoding Prefecture is Second Cousin Miss’s stepmother. I’ve heard people say that stepmothers and stepchildren are natural enemies—even if they’re affectionate, it’s only for appearances. I think you might as well let Ji Ying accompany Second Miss. First, it gives Ji Ying a place to stay; second, Second Cousin Miss will have a companion; third, if that Madam Li treats Second Cousin Miss disrespectfully, Ji Ying can help Second Cousin Miss stand her ground. In at most two years, Second Cousin Miss should be married, and then Ji Ying can return to Cangzhou with her mission accomplished.”
Cheng Chi stroked his chin and actually began seriously considering this matter.
While Cheng Chi wasn’t paying attention, Huai Shan wiped his forehead.
Qin Ziping’s expression became somewhat dazed as he lowered his head.
***