She raised her hand to touch Qi Su's face, but Qi Su avoided it.

Aunt Ji pinched her fingers.

"But your return was too sudden, without even telling me beforehand so I could have started preparing for you. Your father..."

She looked at Qi Su, hesitant to speak, her face full of concern.

“Your father is still angry about what happened to you. For the past year or so, he has never allowed your name to be mentioned in the mansion.”

Qi Su sighed softly.

"It's all my fault. At the time, I was only thinking about finding a good marriage and making my aunt proud. Who knew that men are all unreliable? I've learned my lesson after this big mistake."

She turned her head to look at Aunt Ji.

"My father dislikes me, will my aunt dislike me too?"

Aunt Ji forced a smile.

"How could that be? Third Sister, I think of you every day." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

Qi Su smiled slightly.

"Then please think of a way to let me return to the manor. I've heard that my second sister is still unmarried?"

Aunt Ji interrupted her.

"That was in June of this year. You can no longer interfere in her marriage. Otherwise, your stepmother will never tolerate you."

Qi Su pouted.

"If you don't want to interfere, then don't. Don't worry, Auntie. With my looks, this time I will definitely find a rich and powerful husband to bring honor to you and make you proud."

Aunt Ji: "Good, good. You certainly have the ability."

Qi Su: "When will you tell Father, Aunt? I can't wait too long. Living outside is not as comfortable as living at home. If I get impatient, I'll go straight home."

Aunt Ji took her hand.

"My son, don't be impatient. Let your mother plan for you slowly."

Qi Su nodded.

"I'll listen to whatever you say, Auntie." She seemed to have suddenly thought of something.

"By the way, Sun Er suddenly passed away. My mother-in-law took pity on me and gave me a large sum of gold and silver so that I could live a good life from now on. Aunt, we will never have to suffer like before again."

Aunt Ji's gaze swept over the ruby ​​and gold pendant by her ear and the gemstone necklace hanging on her chest.

He nodded in agreement.

"Third Sister, it's all because Auntie is useless. You've suffered these past few days. Where are you living now?"

Qi Su: "If Aunt sends any letter, just give it to the young novice monk who sweeps the Guanyin Hall at Ciyun Temple. My current place of residence is not good; I will let Aunt know when I find a new one."

After a moment of maternal love and filial piety, Aunt Ji left with great reluctance.

…

Qi Su crumpled up all the remaining pastry crumbs in her hands and threw them into the water.

The shimmering blue water reflected her face.

Suddenly, the girl with the cold face smiled.

The sky was clear and cloudless. The weather in Beijing was much better than in Jincheng.

The best days are yet to come.

.

Although the Lantern Festival has passed, the capital city is still adorned with lanterns after nightfall.

The Cai River, not far from Longjin Bridge.

The woman in the yellow dress pulled down her veil, completely obscuring her face.

"Miss!" The maid beside her looked at her with some concern.

Then I looked at the bustling commercial street next to me.

"There are just too many people here. I'll stay with you, Miss."

The woman in the yellow shirt shook her head.

"Just keep an eye on me from a distance. I won't go far; I'll stay right in front of the Xizi Fragrant Medicine Shop."

Duan Lang has an appointment tonight.

She went to great lengths, even asking her best friend to cover for her, before she finally got her mother's permission to go out.

All told, this was the first time Duan Lang had asked her out alone.

Previously, whenever the two met at each other's homes during holidays, they could barely exchange a few words, always feeling somewhat reserved.

But in June, they were to get married.

A young girl's heart still yearns for a lifelong, monogamous relationship.

Duan Lang had asked her to be alone with him, but she was afraid that bringing too many people would displease him.

He painstakingly sent away all the maids and servants around him, leaving them only to watch from a distance, just in case.

The moon rose in the east, and the long street was not as lively as it had been the previous two days, but it was still brightly lit.

They met at the entrance of Xizi Herbal Medicine Shop.

The area is quiet and elegant, and several plum blossom lanterns are still hanging on the old plum tree at the entrance.

The night breeze carries a faint fragrance of plum blossoms.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.

"Third Sister?"

It was Duan Lang's voice.

The woman in the yellow shirt turned her head.

She wore a veiled hat, making the person in front of her appear hazy, yet one could still discern her refined and elegant demeanor.

Who else could it be but Duan Lang?

The young man hurried forward, looking quite anxious.

"Third Sister! It's all my fault, I've kept you waiting." He said, his expression gentle and his tone affectionate.

III. My wife?

The woman in yellow hadn't misheard; he was calling her Third Sister.

The step that was about to be taken stopped again.

She remained silent.

The person opposite her did not notice anything unusual about her.

He spoke with unusual delight, staring intently at her:

"I never expected my sister to still be willing to ask me out. Ever since I saw my wife a few days ago, I've been tossing and turning at night. I want to explain things to her, but I haven't had the chance."

Believe me, it really wasn't me who broke the promise that day. I wanted to go to the Marquis of Changping's mansion to ask for your hand in marriage, but I hadn't received my parents' consent yet. Who would have thought that the news of your marriage to someone from Jincheng would spread later?

Do you know how I fell seriously ill and was heartbroken after hearing the news? Now that you've finally returned, it's a blessing from heaven. This time, I will never let you down again.

His heartfelt confession was undeniably sincere.

Upon hearing this, the person on the other side swayed.

"Third Sister? Why aren't you saying anything? I know it's all my fault. I've come here today to apologize. You can hit me or scold me, I won't fight back. Please don't ignore me, okay?"

As he spoke, the man reached out and tried to grab the woman in yellow's hand.

The woman tried to dodge, but he still managed to grab her.

Then I saw the small hand he was holding, soft and boneless.

It was icy cold, almost like it was frozen.

"Third Sister," he called out again, his eyes filled with affection.

The woman opposite finally spoke.

"Third Miss? I'd like to ask Young Master Duan if the letter was mistakenly delivered to the Second Miss?"

Her tone was cold and her voice filled with hatred.

Upon hearing this, Duan Ting felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

How could this be? Wasn't it Third Sister who invited him? How come it was Second Sister Qi who came?

The woman opposite her pulled her hand back.

Lifting the veil of the hat, a delicate face was indeed revealed.

She wasn't the third daughter-in-law, but the second daughter-in-law of the Marquis of Changping's household, his proper fiancée who was to marry him in June.

Duan Ting took a step back.

Whatever the reason, his marriage cannot go wrong.

We need to quickly smooth things over with this unexpected turn of events.

"Shulan, listen to me, it's not what you think."

"Shulan?"

Suddenly, a girl's cold laugh came from behind.

A few steps away, they saw a girl with a pretty double bun hairstyle staring at them angrily without blinking.

"Cousin, since you made plans with her, why did you also make plans with me? What, you're not even married yet, and you're already thinking of having two wives?"