Zhou Shaojin's expression stiffened when he heard that. He turned around and looked at Cheng Xu warily.
What is he going to do
However, since he came to see her, there must be something else going on. She didn't know why he came, and if she said too much, she would be exposed and he would find her weak spot. It would be better to wait for him to explain his purpose first and then make plans.
Zhou Shaojin hid half of his body behind Shi Xiang.
Shi Xiang's heart began to beat fast after hearing this.
Previously, the Second Young Miss called her over in a state of embarrassment, and only said that she was lost in the bamboo forest, but didn't mention anything else. But now she is very nervous... Could it be that, as Mr. Xu said, the Second Young Miss did something she shouldn't have done
Her heart was beating fast. Then she remembered what the eldest daughter often told them: "It's better to lose the battle than to lose the fight." Even if the second daughter did something she shouldn't have done, there were no witnesses and no evidence. Could they admit it based on a few words from Mr. Xu
Shi Xiang suddenly gained courage again. She stepped forward and blocked Zhou Shaojin behind her. She pretended to be calm and said, "What did Master Xu say? Why can't we understand?"
Cheng Xu couldn't help but look at Shi Xiang with a higher regard.
She dared to speak first in front of the young lady. It seems that this maid must be very respectable in Wanxiangju.
He looked at Zhou Shaojin with a half-smile and said, "You don't understand what I said, but your young lady must understand. Am I right? Zhou's cousin..."
Isn't he smart and modest, praised by the whole Cheng family, regarded by Yuan as the eldest grandson of the eldest son's family and the future head of the Cheng family? Why is he acting so frivolous and exaggerated
Could it be that everything I heard in my previous life was false
Zhou Shaojin pursed his lips and said nothing, but the vigilance in his eyes became even stronger.
Shi Xiang was panicked.
Cheng Xuke is the eldest son of the eldest son's family, how can he be compared with those reckless servants and stewards? Since he dared to come, he must have a plan in mind.
She glanced at Zhou Shaojin who was hiding behind her, and couldn't help but feel nervous. She said in a timid tone, "What do you want?"
Cheng Xu said nothing, but looked at Zhou Shaojin with a smile, and took out a hydrangea silk flower from his sleeve.
The old woman who opened the door for Zhou Shaojin was wearing a hydrangea silk flower.
Shi Xiang's expression changed drastically. When she looked at Zhou Shaojin again, her face turned frighteningly pale, as if he was about to faint.
She couldn't hold it in any longer and asked in a lost voice, "What do you want, Master Xu?"
Cheng Xu was very surprised.
He just wanted to tease this cousin of Zhou and then take advantage of the good atmosphere to resolve the previous grudge, but he didn't expect it to backfire and he scared the cousin of Zhou again.
This is not what he meant!
Cheng Xu regretted it very much.
Suddenly I thought of the scene when we first met in the bamboo forest.
Did she hear something she shouldn't have heard
He thought about how he sincerely apologized to Zhou Shaojin, but Zhou Shaojin ran away as if he had seen a ghost... The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Zhou Shaojin had obviously heard something in the bamboo forest.
He couldn't help but frown, and there was no longer the previous playfulness between his brows. Instead, he revealed a hint of seriousness that was rare for his age, and glanced at Da Su.
Da Su hid in the woods without saying a word.
Cheng Xu then said to Zhou Shaojin in a gentle voice: "Cousin Zhou, I want to talk to you alone for a few words, is that ok?"
However, Zhou Shaojin didn't want to stay alone with him at all, let alone talk.
"No!" She rejected Cheng Xu's proposal directly, and said sternly, "I have nothing to hide from others, and I have nothing to say to you!"
Cheng Xu couldn't help but get anxious, and said, "Cousin Zhou, I really mean no harm. If I wanted to tell grandma, I wouldn't have run out to chase you and said all these things to you." He added, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about what happened in the bamboo forest. But I also have a few words to tell you, please listen to me. The bamboo forest is a small Bagua formation, and ordinary people can't get out after entering. Since I can take this hydrangea, others can do the same. If I have caused you to misunderstand before, I apologize here, please listen to me. I am doing this for your own good. If you don't believe me, I swear to heaven!"
His expression was so sincere that no one would suspect he was lying.
But the person he met was Zhou Shaojin - even if she believed that what he said was true, she would not stay alone with him for even a quarter of an hour. What's more, Zhou Shaojin disliked this man from the bottom of her heart, and had preconceived ideas and did not believe what he said at all.
"No need!" Her face turned cold. "If you're okay, we'll go back first. I have to go to Jing'an Zhai for class tomorrow morning! Unlike Uncle Xu, he has already achieved fame and honor, so it doesn't matter whether he studies or not." Although she chose to forget, the resentment from her previous life could not be dispelled so easily. At the end, she couldn't help but stab Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu frowned.
This cousin of the Zhou family is as delicate and adorable as a flower, but why is she so stubborn
He showed a little displeasure and looked at Shi Xiang deeply.
Shi Xiang felt as though she was being looked at by the eldest lady and was terrified, so she turned around and wanted to leave.
However, Zhou Shaojin held Shi Xiang's arm tightly.
Shi Xiang had no choice but to whisper, "Second Miss, I'm standing next to the willow tree in front. I'll come over when you call me."
Even so, Zhou Shaojin still felt scared.
"No need." She hugged Shi Xiang's arm tighter, "I have nothing to say to him, he can tell whoever he wants. Let's go back to Wanxiangju!"
Shi Xiang did not have such confidence.
She was neither a servant of the Zhou family nor a servant of the Cheng family. She was originally from Jinling. When she was five years old, her family had no rice and she almost starved to death. That's why she was sold to the Zhou family. The Zhou family has always been kind to people. Her father and brother would occasionally come to see her. Every time they came to see her, they would not only talk to her about family matters, but also be glad that she had met a good family and asked her to cherish her blessings and work hard at Wanxiangju. For those of them who were born and raised in Jinling, the Cheng family was like a mountain they looked up to, a behemoth that they could not imagine, and they instinctively feared it.
"Second Miss," she hesitated for a moment and whispered to Zhou Shaojin, "Why don't you listen to what Master Xu has to say? It seems to me that Master Xu really has something to say to you..."
Zhou Shaojin shook his head stubbornly.
Cheng Xu really wanted to just walk away, but looking at Zhou Shaojin's snow-white face and gentle eyes, it was as if a pool of water was rippling in his heart, softening his soul. He just couldn't bear to leave like this!
"Alas!" He sighed and called Da Su, saying, "Watch out, I have something to say to the Second Miss." He then said to Shi Xiang, "Just listen from the side." After that, his face darkened and he said, "However, if a third person knows what I said to the Second Miss, you can just wait to have your tongue cut out and your eyes gouged out and be sold to the mountains!"
Shi Xiang shuddered with fear at his words. She wanted to listen to him and move aside like Da Su, but her arm was held by Zhou Shaojin and she couldn't move. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, "I'll listen to Second Miss." But when she looked at Zhou Shaojin, she couldn't help but reveal a hint of pleading.
Zhou Shaojin remained unmoved.
I didn't do anything at all, but Cheng Xu, this villain, actually said such words to scare them just to threaten me.
She couldn't help but sneer and said, "I'm afraid my maid is still not under the control of Master Xu of the eldest house!"
Cheng Xu was so angry after hearing this... He didn't know what to do, and said: "Do you think I want to intervene in your affairs? If you weren't my cousin..."
But Zhou Shaojin is not the only cousin of his. If we talk about blood relationship, Zhou Shaojin is not his cousin.
Cheng Xu was so angry that he couldn't say anything. He just made up his mind and said, "Did you hear what grandma and Qin Da Zongguan said? My second uncle likes to read and educate people, and doesn't like to be an official. But at that time, my grandfather passed away, and my father and second uncle had to return to their hometown to observe the mourning period. It's easy to be an official if there are people in the court. My second uncle had no choice but to take up the responsibility of the eldest house. When my father and second uncle returned to officialdom, my second uncle returned to the Hanlin Academy to continue his service as a bachelor. This time, because of the prince's affairs, the emperor dismissed many Beijing officials, including the Imperial College. My father felt that my second uncle was qualified, knowledgeable, and prestige enough to take on this position, so he planned for my second uncle in Beijing. Who knew that my second uncle didn't want to suffer from the paperwork anymore, and was unwilling to fight for the position of Imperial College. He talked to my father several times, and my father and second uncle wanted him to come out. He had no choice but to come to my grandmother.
"No matter what you heard, just don't tell anyone. I was in the bamboo forest at the time. If anyone suspects you, just say you know nothing. I will also testify for you. However, you really can't tell anyone about this matter, not even your great-aunt from the fourth room, or you will get into trouble."
Finally, he made a solemn confession.
Zhou Shaojin didn't understand a word and looked confused.
Cheng Xu looked at her and thought that she was just like his Pekingese dog, which would look around blankly when he couldn't see her... His heart was so soft that it seemed like water could drip out of it. He couldn't help but ask her softly, "Did you remember what I said?"
What does this have to do with me
Zhou Shaojin stared at him with his eyes wide open.
Although Shi Xiang didn't understand what Cheng Xu said, it did not prevent her from understanding the importance of the matter.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin's stupid look, she was afraid that Cheng Xu would change his mind, so she said earnestly, "Our second young lady understands. Master Xu, thank you for your kindness. Our young lady, and I, will not go out and spread rumors. If you hear any rumors, just come and settle with us."
Settle the score with them
Their young lady didn't say a word, so what a little maid like you says can count
Cheng Xu wanted to get a promise, but looking at the girl with drooped eyelids, silent, and her hair falling quietly on her face, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Never mind, it’s no big deal.
Just take care of it for her yourself!
"Let's go!" Cheng Xu waved towards Dasu, turned around and strode out of the corridor.
Shi Xiang took a long breath, clasped his hands together, and said "Amitabha" towards the west, and said with emotion: "Uncle Xu is such a good man!"
Good person
Cheng Xu
In the eyes of others, Cheng Xu is a good person
Zhou Shaojin lowered his head.
※
Sisters, have a nice weekend!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: I really don’t mean to create confusion and make everyone guess the male lead, but this is how the story goes…
※(To be continued)