Cuando regresemos

Capítulo 33

As everyone was discussing, someone came out of the inner room carrying tea. You Tong looked closely and saw a young woman dressed in simple clothes. Although her attire was plain, her features clearly resembled You Tong's. Needless to say, this must be the young lady from the Liu family that everyone was talking about. The woman also noticed Xu Wei and You Tong at a glance. Upon seeing You Tong's appearance, she was stunned for a moment, a look of panic flashing across her face. Her hand loosened, and the teapot fell to the ground with a crisp "crack."

"What's wrong, Wen Feng?" Soon, someone rushed out of the house. A young man went straight to Wen Feng without looking at the others in the house. He hurriedly took Wen Feng's hand, carefully checked it, and said, "It's good that you're not hurt, it's good that you're not hurt."

The onlookers seemed used to his reactions and didn't make a fuss. Only one person laughed loudly, "Brother Liu still dotes on his wife so much. It makes us all blush."

Liu, the young man, wasn't embarrassed at all. He replied frankly, "My wife is a good person and beautiful. It's only right that I dote on her." Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter. Only Wen Feng lowered her head, her face pale, and didn't say a word. She didn't even dare to steal a glance at You Tong.

You Tong immediately recognized her identity, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions. She didn't know how to speak to her. After all, she was living the life she had now because of her identity, and seeing her dressed so simply, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Xu Wei understood what she was thinking as soon as he saw her expression. He gently took her hand and said softly, "No rush, we'll talk about it later."

You Tong nodded in agreement and sat down again without making a sound. The young man, Liu, coaxed Wen Feng back into the house and then personally came to greet the guests. He smiled and asked Xu Wei what he wanted to order. When his gaze swept over You Tong's face, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He stared at the couple for a long time before realizing what he'd said and added, "Our shop's specialties are sweet and sour pork ribs and braised pork belly. Would you two like to try them?"

Xu Wei ordered these two dishes, and added a plate of green vegetables. The young man, Liu, responded absentmindedly, then hurriedly ran into the inner room. After he entered the room, You Tong smiled wryly and whispered in Xu Wei's ear, "Do you think everyone will have a bad meal today?" Xu Wei only smiled and remained silent.

As it turned out, Brother Liu remained calm, and there was no problem with the dish being over-salted or undercooked. Everyone enjoyed the meal, and even You Tong and Xu Wei praised it repeatedly, saying they wanted to come again in the future.

As night fell, the customers, having finished their meal, gradually left, until finally, only the two of them remained in the restaurant.

Liu Xiaoge came out to pack his things, glancing at Xu Wei and his companion as he did so, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. Xu Wei didn't mince words with him and asked directly, "I am Xu Wei. May I ask your wife—" Before he could finish speaking, Liu Xiaoge jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and said urgently, "My wife is not Miss Cui the Ninth."

Xu Wei chuckled. Liu Xiaoge realized he had misspoke and angrily threw the rag on the table, saying, "You're already married, why bother us? This lady is beautiful, maybe even prettier than my wife. Just live your lives peacefully. If you keep making a fuss, your wife might get angry."

“Brother Liu—” As she spoke, Cui Wenfeng appeared out of nowhere, her eyes red, clearly having just cried. “Brother Liu, don’t say anything more. Anyway, I’m not going back no matter what. I—” She started to speak, but tears streamed down her face again, and she couldn’t finish her sentence.

Seeing their expressions, You Tong couldn't help but look up at Xu Wei. Seeing the helpless yet admiring look on his face, she cleared her throat and said softly, "Please don't misunderstand, we have no intention of separating you two."

Xu Wei couldn't help but laugh and said, "Just as the two of you are deeply in love, my wife and I are also inseparable. If Miss Jiu really returns to the Cui family, I'm afraid I'll be the one who will have a headache first."

Liu Xiaoge, who had been crying while holding Cui Wenfeng, immediately stopped crying upon hearing this. He wiped his face, his expression brightening with joy, and said to Wenfeng with a smile, "Wife, did you hear that? They're not here to arrest you."

Wen Feng stopped crying, sobbing as she looked up at them suspiciously and asked in a low voice, "Then what are you doing here?"

Xu Wei smiled and told them in detail how he and You Tong had found them. The two children then stopped crying and laughed, patting their chests and saying, "You scared us to death!"

You Tong felt guilty towards the real Ninth Miss Cui and couldn't help but ask her about her experiences after escaping her arranged marriage. It turned out that Miss Wen Feng had known the young man from the Liu family since she lived in the temple. He delivered vegetables to the temple every month, and the two initially only exchanged a few words, gradually becoming familiar with each other. The young man from the Liu family admired Wen Feng, but was too afraid to confess due to his status. Later, when the Shen family brought up the marriage proposal again, and Wen Feng was about to marry into the Shen family, the young man from the Liu family panicked. He knocked out a guard from the Cui family, disguised himself as a servant, and sneaked to Wen Feng's side to express his feelings directly. Wen Feng, being bold, actually escaped with him.

Fearing investigation by the Cui family, the two quickly left Longxi and eventually arrived in the capital, where they settled down. Wen Feng had taken some valuables with her when she left, and Liu Xiaoge had inherited his family's culinary skills. The two decided to open a small restaurant in an alley to make a living. Little did they expect that this small restaurant would attract You Tong and his companion.

The two women had been living in the capital for some time and had heard a lot about the Cui family. They knew that the Cui family had produced a ninth young lady who had married into the Xu family. They had even secretly discussed whether the fake ninth young lady looked like Wen Feng. When Wen Feng met You Tong today, she immediately guessed You Tong and Xu Wei's identities and assumed that the Cui family had found her, which was why she was so frightened.

When Youtong heard them talk about their lives over the past few years, their words were filled with joy and happiness, without any trace of the hardships and displacement they had endured during their escape. She knew that the two of them truly loved each other, so even if they suffered hardship and cold, they did so with relish.

Xu Wei was filled with admiration for the two of them, and said with a smile, "Speaking of boldness, besides my wife, it's my lady. I only now realize that when a daughter sets her mind to something, even a grown man can't compare." Although Liu Xiaoge and Wen Feng understood what he meant by mentioning You Tong's boldness, they also knew he was praising them, and immediately felt a little embarrassed. The two of them had eloped, which was against both propriety and law, and they usually dared not mention it to their neighbors, fearing ridicule. Now, seeing that Xu Wei not only didn't scold them but also praised them so much, they suddenly felt closer to him.

The four of them chatted amiably until the night watchman announced that it was midnight. Only then did Xu Wei lead You Tong back to his residence. Before leaving, he reminded the two of them that if they encountered any difficulties, they should definitely seek help from the Xu family.

On the way home, Youtong was already feeling sleepy and dozed off in Xu Wei's arms. Xu Wei held her with both arms around her and tightened the reins, glancing down at her every now and then, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Regarding Cui Wenfeng's matter, Youtong was unsure whether to tell Cui Weiyuan. After discussing it with Xu Wei, the two decided to keep it a secret for the time being. Although Cui Weiyuan was a man of strong emotions, he was still surnamed Cui, and sometimes his actions were not entirely his own. If the Cui family really knew that Wenfeng was in the capital, they would probably be restless and might try some method to get rid of the couple to prevent future trouble. In any case, Xu Wei could protect them, so there was no need to make a fuss.

Xu Wei had resigned from his official post and was now free of official duties, spending his days at home with You Tong, living a rather pleasant life. However, You Tong always felt somewhat guilty towards him. He was a fine young man with lofty ambitions, who should have been out there making his mark and achieving great things. Now, because of her, he was confined to the home, which was truly regrettable. Xu Wei, of course, understood her feelings, but simply patted his chest and said that he rarely got a break and wished he could rest even longer.

You Tong's mind was filled with Xu Wei's sigh when the eldest son returned home after his military service. She had initially considered mentioning it to the Grand Princess, but the thought was quickly suppressed. Although Xu Wei didn't stop her from chatting with the Grand Princess, he disliked her interfering in court affairs because of it. Besides, Xu Wei wouldn't be sidelined for long; once a suitable position became available, the court would surely give him an important position.

But the next day, the Grand Princess still sent someone to tell her to come to the palace to talk to her.

Since Youtong was abducted, she hadn't entered the palace for almost two months. It wasn't that she was deliberately avoiding the Grand Princess; it's just that her wounds looked quite frightening a few days ago, and she really didn't want the Grand Princess to feel distressed, so she kept putting it off. Later, rumors circulated in the capital that the Grand Princess intended to promote Xu Wei, and to avoid suspicion, Youtong tried to visit the palace as little as possible to prevent gossip.

After greeting Xu Wei, You Tong entered the palace that afternoon.

The Grand Princess was not at Chongfu Palace at the moment. An Hui told You Tong to rest in the palace, saying the Grand Princess would arrive shortly. You Tong often stayed here and knew the palace like the back of her hand, so she wasn't curious. She found a comfortable seat and leaned back to doze off. Half asleep, she suddenly sensed someone tiptoeing towards her. A thought struck her, but she didn't open her eyes, remaining alert and continuing to feign sleep.

The man stopped in front of her, as if staring at her for a long time, before reaching out and pinching her nose.

You Tong was both amused and exasperated. She quickly covered her nose, opened her eyes, and asked the mischievous little emperor in front of her, "Your Majesty, how have I offended you?"

The young emperor chuckled and said, "My aunt is receiving General Li in her study and can't come over right now. I happen to need to talk to you, and it's a bit urgent, so I woke you up." He glanced around to make sure no one else was there before beckoning to You Tong and whispering, "Come with me, I'll take you to see someone."

70. Murder?

The young emperor's mysterious demeanor piqued You Tong's curiosity, making her wonder what he was up to. Since the Grand Princess hadn't returned yet, You Tong decided to go with him to find out.

There were many patrols in the palace, and the young emperor led You Tong unimpeded, winding their way for an unknown distance until You Tong began to feel drowsy. Finally, the young emperor pulled her behind a clump of flowers and trees to hide, only peeking out his little head. You Tong was both amused and exasperated; was he playing hide-and-seek? But the young emperor's face was solemn, so it didn't seem like he was.

After waiting for a while and still seeing no movement around, You Tong couldn't help but try to get up. Just as she moved, the little emperor pressed her down and said in a serious, low voice, "Be patient." You Tong rarely saw the little emperor with such a serious expression, and she was really suspicious. Several times she wanted to ask, but she swallowed her words back and just followed him, shrinking back into the flower bushes, staring at their surroundings with wide eyes.

A moment later, sure enough, they heard voices coming from not far away. The young emperor's pupils contracted, and his face instantly contorted into a ferocious expression, his eyes flashing with a fierce and resentful light, startling You Tong. This young emperor was always mischievous, naughty, and unreliable; even when You Tong had brought him back after he sneaked out of the palace, he had only shown helplessness, never such resentment. As she was thinking this, the young emperor moved his hand, gripping You Tong's hand tightly, as if it were an iron clamp, causing her pain. But he seemed completely unaware of this, his eyes fixed fiercely on the people speaking in front of him, his lips bitten until they turned white.

You Tong followed his gaze and saw several palace maids approaching from a distance. The one in front was a matron of about forty years old, with a slightly stern face, thin eyebrows, and a sharp, unfriendly look. As she walked, the matron reprimanded the young maids in a shrill voice, as if someone were speaking in a pinched voice, making it very uncomfortable to listen to. The maids, terrified by her scolding, kept their heads down, holding their breath, making it impossible to see her face clearly.

You Tong pondered that the young emperor had specifically brought her here, probably not to see these palace maids, but rather to see that old nanny. Just as she was about to ask, the young emperor suddenly said with a stern face, "Did you see that person clearly?" Before You Tong could reply, he continued, "She is a favorite of the Empress Dowager, surnamed Zhou, and everyone in the palace calls her Granny Zhou."

You Tong looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?"

The young emperor's face hardened, and he replied, word by word, "I will kill her!"

"Youtong!"

You Tong suddenly looked up, glanced blankly at the Grand Princess, and then realized she had been daydreaming again. She quickly smiled sheepishly. Seeing that she had been somewhat dazed all afternoon, the Grand Princess, fearing a relapse of her illness, asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell again? Should I have An Hui summon a royal physician to examine you?" Then, somewhat displeased, she added, "What's wrong with Xu Wei? It's been over a month, and you still haven't recovered."

You Tong quickly replied, "It's alright, I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well last night, so I'm a little sleepy."

Seeing Xu Wei's protective expression, the Grand Princess couldn't help but chuckle. She shook her head and waved her hand, saying, "Alright, alright, do you think I'd hold a grudge against him? Seeing you two living such a sweet life makes me happy too." Then, suddenly remembering something, she couldn't help but lower her voice and ask, "Is there still no news about that?"

Seeing her expression, Youtong immediately understood what she meant. Her face flushed slightly, and her eyes filled with helplessness and sadness. She lowered her head and shook it. The Grand Princess, afraid she would take it to heart, quickly comforted her, "Don't worry, these things are a matter of chance. You two are still young, you have plenty of time. Don't think you've only been married a few months; there are plenty of women in the capital who haven't conceived even after two or three years. As long as Xu Wei treats you well, what's there to be afraid of?"

You Tong thought that Xu Wei had never mentioned this matter, so he probably didn't mind. She smiled and nodded. The Grand Princess had other political affairs to attend to, so You Tong stayed with her for a while before taking her leave.

Back at the manor, Xu Wei had just returned from General Li's place, drenched in sweat, having even taken off his outer robe. Seeing this, You Tong quickly ordered a servant to fetch hot water, while she herself brought over a cloak to drape over him, complaining, "You're such a grown man, why are you acting like a child? Where did you get so sweaty? You didn't even wipe yourself off before taking off your clothes; you'll catch a cold if you get chilled by the wind."

Xu Wei watched with a smile as You Tong helped him fasten his cloak, his mind filled with images of her slender, snow-white fingers. He casually replied, "There were a few Mongolian men in General Li's mansion who insisted on wrestling me, so I showed off my skills and knocked them all down." As he spoke, a hint of smugness crept onto his face, as if he were eagerly awaiting You Tong's praise. Seeing this, You Tong found it amusing, but she didn't hold back her praise, showering him with compliments. Xu Wei feigned modesty, but couldn't help smiling.

After Xu Wei had bathed and changed his clothes, You Tong dismissed the servants and told him about her encounter with the young emperor in the palace that day. Upon hearing this, Xu Wei frowned immediately and said in a low voice, "His Majesty's birth mother was originally a palace maid in the Empress Dowager's palace. After giving birth to the prince, she was only promoted to Consort Le. Consort Le was not particularly beautiful, and given her humble origins, the late emperor did not value her highly. In addition, the Empress Dowager made things difficult for her at every turn, so she and her son did not have a very happy life in the palace. Later, when the late emperor suddenly fell seriously ill, the Grand Princess returned to the capital to take over the government and pushed His Majesty to the throne. Only then did the Empress Dowager remember His Majesty and his son. As a result, before the late emperor passed away, Consort Le suddenly died."

Hearing this, You Tong could easily guess the conspiracy behind it all. If Consort Le didn't die, she would inevitably rise in status through her son, and once she gained power, she would likely be the first to oppose the Empress Dowager. Considering the young emperor's current intense hatred for Granny Zhou, it was highly probable that Granny Zhou was the one who struck that day. However, no matter how hateful Granny Zhou was, she was still just a knife, the handle of which was still in someone else's hand. Even if she were killed, how could revenge be achieved?

"Try not to get involved in palace affairs if you can avoid it." Xu Wei was afraid that You Tong might soften her heart and agree to the young emperor's request, so he couldn't help but admonish her: "His Majesty is young and inevitably lacks foresight. If something goes wrong, it might implicate you. Although the Empress Dowager has lost power, she still holds a certain status. His Majesty will need time to assume personal rule, and there are many areas where he will need the Empress Dowager's support. At this time, you must not offend her easily."

Seeing his serious expression, You Tong knew that this was no small matter, and quickly nodded solemnly.

Fearing being caught by the young emperor again, You Tong didn't enter the palace for several days. However, while the emperor wasn't in a hurry, the Third Princess repeatedly sent people to find her, insisting she come to the palace, saying she had important matters to discuss. You Tong knew perfectly well why the princess wanted to see her, and couldn't help but smile bitterly. This Third Princess had grown up deep within the palace and had only seen a few men. Now, due to mourning, she couldn't arrange marriages, and yet she was of marriageable age, so she was understandably anxious. She had previously been infatuated with Cui Weiyuan and run away from the palace, but after being scared off by a few words from You Tong, she had taken a liking to Shen San. It must be said that Shen San's appearance and demeanor were truly exceptional, easily captivating a naive young girl like her. Coupled with his noble family background, it's no wonder the Third Princess was so interested.

After being urged several times by the Third Princess, You Tong could no longer refuse and had to go find her herself. Before she even entered the palace, the Third Princess, having already received the news, hurriedly rushed out, lifting her skirt, and complained, "Why are you only coming now? I've sent people to urge you so many times. Do you dare to hide from me?"

You Tong really disliked her tone of voice, and it took her a lot of effort to suppress her anger. She replied indifferently, "After all, I am someone else's wife. How can I go out so casually? There are so many things to do in the manor. It is already difficult enough that I was able to find time to come to the palace today."

The Third Princess, however, was completely oblivious to her coldness and said dismissively, "You are the adopted daughter of the Grand Princess. Do you think the Xu family would dare to make things difficult for you? Go back and complain to the Grand Princess, and I guarantee they won't dare to say a word."

You Tong knew her temperament and dared not expect much from her awareness, so she rarely spoke to her again. Thinking maliciously, since even the Dowager Consort Mi didn't care, she was too lazy to cause trouble. She hoped she would just marry into the Shen family and cause chaos. So she put on a smiling face and asked, "Third Princess, what brings you to the palace?"

The Third Princess didn't mince words, and asked anxiously, "Didn't you say that the Third Young Master was interested in me? How come he's now arranging a marriage with someone else?"

You Tong had mostly been resting at home these days and hadn't paid attention to what was happening at the Shen residence, let alone know about Shen San's marriage proposal. So when she suddenly heard the Third Princess mention it, she was taken aback, then frowned slightly and fell into deep thought. The Third Princess was impatient and couldn't wait for her to think it over. She angrily shouted, "It's all your fault! You insisted on stopping me from talking to him. If he marries someone else, I will definitely not let you off the hook!"

You Tong ignored her, pretending not to hear. After thinking for a while, she said in a deep voice, "Third Princess, there's no need to panic. Since the marriage is still under discussion, it means it's not settled yet. For a prestigious family like the Shen family, marriage is no small matter and cannot be decided in a day or two. We still have time to maneuver. Marriage is traditionally arranged by parents and matchmakers. Even if the Third Young Master has his own ideas, he can't go against the elders of the Shen family. As long as the Third Princess is determined to marry him, I will naturally find a way to make it happen for you. However, this matter must never be told to outsiders."

The Third Princess, overjoyed that there was still a way to salvage the situation, immediately agreed, disregarding everything else. Seeing her elated expression, You Tong inwardly sneered, then hesitated before asking, "What about Consort Mi—"

The Third Princess said irritably, "All she does all day is cry and complain before Father Emperor's spirit. She would never think of me. Even Consort Sun knows how to plan for the Fourth Princess, but when has she ever cared about me?"

Upon hearing this, You Tong only looked at her and did not say anything more.

71 The Third Young Master's Marriage

That evening, Youtong stayed at her desk, scribbling and drawing, refusing to go back to bed. Xu Wei, growing impatient waiting in bed, tiptoed up behind her to peek. One glance was enough to leave him speechless, staring at the drawing for a long time. Finally, he said, half-laughing and half-crying, "Who are you planning to deal with?"

Without looking up, You Tong replied, "Who else could it be? Whoever messes with me, I'll deal with them."

"Shen San?" Xu Wei raised an eyebrow. "Will this work?"

"We'll see if it doesn't work." You Tong finished writing the last character, happily placed the brush on the brush holder, blew on the still-wet ink, and looked smug with satisfaction. "Anyway, it was the Third Princess who did it, so it won't involve me. Besides, even if the Third Princess had implicated me—" She looked up at Xu Wei with narrowed eyes, revealing a lazy, cat-like expression, "Isn't it because you're here to cover for me?"

Xu Wei chuckled and pinched her nose affectionately, saying, "Since you want me to cover for you, I certainly won't refuse. But how do you plan to reward me?"

You Tong rested her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful. After a while, she said seriously, "Since my husband wants to reward me, then I will bestow upon you a love lock, binding you to my side for life." She rarely spoke such straightforward words of love, which delighted Xu Wei so much that he couldn't stop smiling. In his excitement, he reached out and scooped her up in his arms, laughing loudly, "My lady, it's cold and the night is freezing. Let's talk about the love lock in bed instead!"

Early the next morning, Youtong went to the palace again, handed over what she had written to the Third Princess, and gave her some careful instructions. Only after the Third Princess patted her chest and assured her that everything would be perfect did she take her leave. On her way out of the palace, the carriage broke down on the road. Youtong felt uncomfortable in the carriage, so she lifted the curtain to get some fresh air. Just then, someone rode by on horseback. When she looked up, the person on horseback also looked down, and their eyes met. The two of them were instantly stunned.

Shen San's expression shifted, a complex emotion flickering across his face. A strange light flashed in his dark eyes. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately remained silent. You Tong blinked, a slight smile involuntarily appearing on her face as she thought of the letter she had just given to the Third Princess. She nodded slightly to him and slowly lowered the curtain. Seeing her face finally hidden behind the curtain, Shen San's mind cleared. He took one last, deep look at the still curtain, then resolutely turned away, spurred his horse, and rode off.

Upon returning home, a messenger from the Cui family arrived with a message saying that Old Madam Cui had come to the capital. Youtong was surprised to hear this and asked a few more questions before learning that not only Old Madam Cui, but also the remaining members of the Cui family had come to the capital. It seemed that the Cui family had been increasingly favored in the past six months, and Fourth Master and the others were also eager to take on new roles, hence their special trip to the capital to seek official positions. A wry smile couldn't help but escape her notice. It seemed the Second Madam was destined for a life of toil. She had just taken in a daughter-in-law and was finally able to act like a mother-in-law, but now the Old Madam had arrived in the capital. How could she possibly make the decisions in the household?

Back in Longxi, Old Madam Cui treated Youtong fairly well. Later, when she married into the Xu family, the old lady added a lot of dowry. Although it was all because of the Xu family, Youtong still appreciated her kindness. So she quickly changed her clothes, greeted Madam Xu, and went to the Cui family to pay her respects to the old lady.

Because the Cui family mansion was small, the sudden arrival of so many people inevitably made the place feel crowded. The Second Madam was indeed extremely busy, but fortunately, her new daughter-in-law was there to help, preventing any major chaos. Upon hearing that Youtong had arrived, the Second Madam didn't react much, simply instructing her daughter-in-law, Gao, to take Youtong to the Old Madam's room, while she herself summoned several nannies to continue managing the affairs of the mansion.

Since Youtong had met Gao twice before, the two were not unfamiliar with each other and chatted politely for a few minutes on the way. As soon as they arrived at the door of the old lady's room, a servant recognized Youtong and hurriedly stepped forward to greet her, saying, "Greetings to Ninth Miss."

"What Ninth Miss? She's the young mistress of the Xu family now." Madam Gao smiled and said, "Look at you, girl, how come you have no sense at all?"

Youtong recognized the maid as Huixiu, who always stayed by the old lady's side, and said with a smile, "Don't listen to the young mistress's jokes. I'm quite happy that you call me Ninth Miss." After saying that, she asked, "Is the old lady in the room?"

Huixiu nodded and replied, "I took a nap at noon and just woke up. The Second Madam said that the Ninth Miss will come to pay her respects this afternoon, and the Old Madam has been waiting for her."

Upon hearing this, You Tong quickly hurried into the house. Hui Xiu bowed to Madam Gao and then followed behind the two of them.

Upon entering the house, the old lady was indeed dressed in a deep purple brocade robe, sitting upright in the armchair in the main hall. Her full head of silver hair was neatly combed, and having just rested, she seemed to be in good spirits. She was engrossed in playing with a coral ornament in her hand. Hearing Huixiu announce that Ninth Miss had arrived, the old lady slowly raised her head. Youtong quickly stepped forward and knelt down to pay her respects. The old lady immediately smiled, put down the coral, and beckoned to her, saying, "Ninth girl, come here quickly. Let me see if you've gained or lost weight. Oh my child, you look even more radiant than when you came back before. I knew that the Xu family's child was quite good."

You Tong obediently stepped forward and took the old lady's hand, smiling as she said, "It's all thanks to you, Grandma. When did you set off? Why didn't you send a message to your granddaughter so I could have gone outside the city to meet you?"

The old lady shook her head and said, "I'm already such an old woman, why bother with all this trouble? It would only delay your important business."

You Tong said, "Grandma, you're being too polite. If welcoming you isn't a proper matter, then your granddaughter certainly doesn't have any proper matters to attend to. I'm cooped up in the mansion all day and I'm itching to go out and get some fresh air."

Seeing the two of them chatting so enthusiastically, Madam Gao couldn't help but laugh and say, "The old lady really dotes on Miss Jiu. Look, as soon as Wen Feng comes, she is in exceptionally good spirits. She didn't smile like this when Wen Yan came to pay her respects this morning."

The old lady said, "My granddaughter is the most lovable. She lost her parents when she was young and grew up in a temple, yet she still developed such a well-behaved and adorable personality. Of all the girls in this household, she is the most sensible. If I don't love her, who will? It's only because Heaven has eyes that it has arranged such a good marriage for her. I trust both Madam Xu and Wei-ge'er from the Xu family."

You Tong also looked touched, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and forced a smile, saying, "Oh no, Fifth Sister-in-law is jealous. Grandma, you must pamper her, otherwise she'll complain to Fifth Brother later."

The old lady burst into laughter, and Madam Gao joined in with a laugh, telling jokes to cheer her up. After chatting and laughing for a while, the old lady suddenly had the idea to play cards, and asked Huixiu to call Wenyan over as well. The four of them made a table and played two rounds. All three of them were trying to make the old lady happy, so they let her win, secretly giving her win signals. Before long, the old lady had a pile of silver coins in front of her, and she was beaming with joy.

That evening, she joined them for dinner. The whole family sat around two large tables, a lively gathering. Besides the second and fourth wives, the Third Master also came with his wife. Upon seeing Youtong, the Third Master looked somewhat embarrassed, wanting to say something several times but unable to speak in front of everyone. The Third Madam, on the other hand, was extremely affectionate towards Youtong, holding her hand and talking to her with a smile all evening. The Third Young Master, Weiqing, however, seemed listless, his head drooping and looking preoccupied. Youtong called him several times before he suddenly seemed to snap out of his daze and stared at her blankly.

On the other side of the fourth branch, the sixth young master, Wei Tai, was in high spirits, excitedly talking to Cui Weiyuan. Because they were far apart, You Tong couldn't hear what they were saying, but she noticed that Cui Weiyuan's face was getting increasingly unpleasant, while Wei Tai was full of enthusiasm. To be fair, the sixth young master wasn't bad-looking; his skin was even fairer than Weiyuan's, making him look more like a young master from a noble family. Unfortunately, his face always had an unnatural bluish-gray tinge, and his brows and eyes betrayed his weariness. His gaze was unfocused, making him unlikable at first glance. Considering the despicable things he had done, it was truly a case of "the face reflects the heart," and this was certainly true.

The busiest person in the manor was the Second Madam. With so many people coming to stay, she had to arrange everything, from food and drink to lodging. Plus, the manor wasn't very big, so some things were bound to be a bit unsatisfactory. Therefore, although she wore a smile, it seemed somewhat forced. The two sons born of a concubine from the second branch of the family were also unusually quiet in the manor, and their two young mistresses, both of quiet and gentle natures, obediently followed behind the Second Madam, helping her.

During the meal, Youtong sat with Wenyan as usual. Several of her half-sisters were also at the table. Youtong had met them before, but they hadn't spoken much, so there wasn't much of a warm connection between them. No sooner had they sat down than the old lady began calling her and Wenyan's names, insisting that they sit with her. Reluctantly, the two women got up and sat down on either side of the old lady with smiles on their faces.

During the meal, the Third Madam inexplicably brought up the Third Young Master's marriage. The Third Young Master was slightly older than Cui Weiyuan, and should have been engaged long ago, but for some reason, it had been delayed until now. The Third Madam seemed to have taken a liking to the daughter of the Prefect of Jingzhao, Lord Zhou, and was now discussing the matter with the Second Madam with great interest. The Fourth Madam chimed in, saying that the Third Young Master should have been married long ago.

The third young master, standing to the side, was deathly pale, muttering something like "A man should establish himself before starting a family." He was immediately rebuked by the third madam, who angrily retorted, "With your incompetent talents, when will you ever amount to anything? Do you expect your father and I to keep waiting? Even your fifth brother is married; there's no reason for you, the older brother, to keep dragging this out!"

Seeing that the Third Madam was angry, everyone remained silent. Only the Second Madam, noticing the tense atmosphere, quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Third Sister-in-law, don't be angry. I think Weiqing was just confused for a moment and got stuck in a rut. We all know this child's temperament; he's very smart and obedient. It's rare for him to have such ambition, so don't frighten him. However—" The Second Madam then said earnestly to the Third Young Master, "Although your idea is good, you still have to think about your parents. Your mother has been hoping for a grandson for so many years. Other families your age already have several children. How can we let you delay?"

The third young master didn't speak again, but he bit his lip tightly, and his face remained resolute.