Volume 3: The Well Chapter 16: Overthinking

  Sun Guanzhu walked over when, under the corridor sat sewing stockings of young maid busy waving her hand.

  Sun Guan's host hurriedly stepped lightly and sat under the corridor.

  "Has the girl fallen asleep?" she asked in a low voice.

  The girl nodded.

  "My daughter's body is weak and her spirit is low. She needs to sleep for half a day." she said, her hands moving steadily with the needle and thread.

  Sun Guan nodded slightly.

  "But after all, it's getting better and better with time." She said with a smile, "It was not in vain that Mrs. Zhou had a sincere heart at the beginning."

  The girl nodded.

  "If madam were still here, how delighted she would be." She sighed and said, turning her head to look inside the house.

  What a clever child! What an awesome child!

  "Those two little ones have been sent away," said Sun Guanzhu, "Baoyuan Mountain Taoist Temple, I once practiced Taoism with the master of that temple together, don't worry."

  Which "put heart" is this?

  The girl lowered her head and did needlework, humming a sound of agreement.

  Sun Guanzhu praised her for a couple of sentences about the good needlework and bid farewell, Yatou held the needlework in a daze for a moment, and then came the sound of rustling from inside.

  "Daughter." The maid quickly put down her needle and thread and went in.

  Jiang Nang had already sat up on the couch.

  The girl served her and helped her sit down, had a cup of water, and then combed her hair.

  "Miss, Master said those two people have been sent away," Yatou said.

  Jiang Nang nodded and lowered her head to read a book.

  The house is quiet and still.

  "Do you think those two little ones are pitiful?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "There isn't, but a pitiful person must have a hateful place. They thought they had arranged everything thoroughly, but what if? What if something happens to the young lady..." Yatou hastily and tremulously said.

  I don't dare say any more, I don't even dare think about it. These past few nights have been filled with nightmares, all because of this.

  "If it's really like that, then we're all doomed." said Cheng Jiaoniang with a faint smile.

  The lady in the boudoir was humiliated, such a loss of face, the Cheng family will definitely silence all informants.

  "So those two little ones must be watching carefully outside, in case they really can't call you guys over, she'll also rush in." said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  The girl nodded slightly.

  "It's actually quite good that they're doing this," said Jingniang, holding onto the book. "These two kids are indeed clever."

  Ya Tou looked puzzled and stared at Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "Well, daughter, do you like these two little children?" she asked.

  Jiang Nang raised her head and looked at her.

  "I'm just stupid, not crazy," she said.

  The girl couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  "My dear, you're teasing me again." she called out.

  "I didn't tease you, I said, I'm very petty." Jingniang said, turning over a page of the book, "How can I possibly keep people who deceive me and take advantage of me by my side?"

  Yes, those two who bullied and trampled her are already dead.

  These two little ones were just sent to another Taoist temple, and it was really a stroke of luck.

  The girl lowered her head and responded with a soft "yes".

  "Daughter, I just bought some fish, how would you like it cooked?" she asked, her tone relaxed and cheerful.

  "What fish?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "The big green fish," said the girl.

  "What else is under the kitchen?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang again.

  "There are a few scallions, eggs, and mushrooms and wood ears picked from the mountain yesterday." The girl said with her hands on her hips, "And two melons..."

  "Alright." Jingniang interrupted her, "Let's make fish soup."

  The girl nodded happily and knelt down properly, ready to listen carefully.

  When night fell, Chen Shaochen finally waited for the housekeeper to return and tell him the details in the capital.

  "It was fortunate that Sixteen remembered someone calling out the name of that little girl, and it was even more fortunate that a young waiter also heard it, because he had brought food from home, so he remembered it with a grudge." The housekeeper sighed.

  Is this considered good fortune?

  Chen Shaobai stroked his mustache and thought, such cleverness, cleverness within cleverness.

  "So, which family's daughter is it?" he asked.

  "At that time, there were only two young masters in the private room," said the butler.

  Young master? Didn't Father say that the girl was following a young lady, or even a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old young lady? How did it become a young master?

  Chen scrunched up his eyebrows.

  "It's even more fortunate that these two young masters are also famous in the capital." The steward continued, "One is Old Shaanxi Zhou's sixth son, and the other is Young Master Qin, a cripple. As for who Half Cabbage belongs to, the shopkeeper doesn't know."

  The Zhou family, the Qin family.

  Chen Shaoming was silent for a moment.

  "So, take my post and you will know at once," he said.

  The steward was just that, and these two families were not ordinary commoner households, so it wasn't easy to casually go to the door and ask about the young lady of the house. With the old master's name card in hand, things would be much more convenient for him. He responded with a nod and turned to leave immediately.

  Because he had been drinking and horseback riding, Qin Langjun lay down to rest after bathing and changing clothes. The soft conversation of the maids outside disturbed him.

  "Who was it that just came looking for whom?" he asked from behind the curtain.

  The girls hurried over and knelt down outside the curtain.

  "Back to Lang Jun," they said, "it was Chen Shao Chen's family who sent someone to ask if our family had a maid named Ban Qin. It's very strange, I don't know why."

  Qin Lang suddenly sat up.

  "Who? Chen Shao?" he asked, "Ban Qin?"

  The girls rarely saw the young master speak in such a tone, and were somewhat surprised, hesitating for a moment before rolling up the curtains.

  "Yes, it's Mr. Chen's name card, asking if Half Cinnamon is our household maid." The maid said seriously.

  Qin Langjun was silent for a moment, then reached out and took the crutch by the bed.

  "Go to Zhou's house," he said.

  Now?

  The girl looked out in surprise.

  Zhou Liulang was in high spirits, and when his father called him over, he was in the middle of practicing martial arts in the courtyard, so he walked in with sweat dripping down his face.

  "It's getting cool and windy." Mother Zhou said with concern, urging Yatou to bring over the washing.

  Zhou's father waved his hand impatiently.

  "Get down," he said.

  Zhou's mother did not dare disobey and led the maidservants out.

  "What is it, Father?" Shūroku asked.

  "The little girl you brought back is not ordinary," said Zhou's father.

  Zhou Lang frowned.

  "He said, 'His words and deeds seem somewhat unusual at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they appear to be nothing out of the ordinary.'"

  Zhou's family members were used to speaking directly and bluntly, he finished speaking and looked at his father.

  "Whatever you have to say, Father, just say it," he said.

  "Mr. Chen Shaochen just sent someone over," said Father Zhou.

  Zhou Lang's eyes lit up. How could such a high-ranking Confucian scholar come to visit the Zhou family? Could it be because of the matter of establishing the crown prince?

  The emperor's years are growing longer, and his body is weak and sickly. The selection of the crown prince is imminent, and the two princes are divided into factions in the court. Others find it a troublesome matter that brings no benefit but only harm, and they try to avoid it as much as possible. However, the Zhou family thinks this is a great opportunity.

  Unfortunately, the military is looked down upon and the Zhou family's official position is even lower among them. If it weren't for their grandfather's foresight, they would have risen to fame in the capital that year. Alas, at this moment, no one has come to win them over, leaving them with a burning passion but nowhere to express it.

  I didn't expect that if he wasn't coming, then he wouldn't come, but when he did come, it was such a big shot.

  "Has Lord Chen already made his choice?" Zhou Liu Lang couldn't help but get excited, his eyes shining brightly, "With whom?"

  That manner or with sleeves rolled up, no matter who he is, he immediately wants to follow up and make a big fuss.

  Since ancient times, wealth and honor have been sought in danger. Looking around cautiously, fearing wolves and tigers, it's not necessarily possible to be safe. A fierce battle, regardless of victory or defeat, is exhilarating.

  Zhou Fu looked at his son's appearance and couldn't help but smile wryly, but then he thought that he had probably looked the same way when he received the letter from the housekeeper just now.

  "Sixth Brother, you're thinking too much." He shook his head and said, "The Chen family is here to ask about a young girl."