Du Yutong refused to sit down with the young ladies; instead, she followed Jiang Shuyue to the courtyard behind the hall.

On one side of the stage, Hong Fu, wearing a veil, is bowing her head and playing the zither.

"Sister Jiang, where did you find this musician? This music is like heavenly music, it's so beautiful."

“Of course, it’s a musician we hired at a high price,” Jiang Shuyue said with a mysterious smile.

Hongfu's piano skills were superb. Just one night later, she played "Fisherman's Song at Dusk" so beautifully that the music lingered in the air, leaving the audience wanting more.

"Sister Jiang, did you see my older brother just now?"

"Who? Who's your older brother?"

Jiang Shuyue was taken aback by Du Yutong's question. There were many people in the restaurant today, and Hu Qing and Nangong Zeyue were in charge of receiving the male guests. How could she know Young Master Du?

Du Yutong tugged at Jiang Shuyue's sleeve and shook it, "He came in with Young Master Zhen and his group. His features are very similar to mine, didn't you see him?"

Jiang Shuyue glared at her irritably, "Young Master Zhen has so many guests to entertain today, do you think I'm going to stare at them closely? I'm not a lovesick fool."

“My brother is a handsome and talented man. Although he has been demoted, he still has a government job. Sister Jiang, why don’t you consider him?”

"I asked my brother, and he likes children. If you come into our family, we will definitely treat Sui Sui as our own son." Du Yutong got more and more excited as she spoke, her eyes shining as she looked at Jiang Shuyue.

Jiang Shuyue certainly believed Du Yutong's words, but she wouldn't accept his good intentions.

She gently stroked Du Yutong's pert nose with her finger. "What did I tell you before? Have you forgotten it all? Mutual affection is the best thing. A matchmaker forcing people together doesn't necessarily mean they won't be happy. I think it's very far-fetched."

"Don't try to sell your brother again, I'm busy right now." Jiang Shuyue said, pulling Du Yutong into the hall. When Hu Qing saw Jiang Shuyue come out, he handed her a booklet.

"Miss, please take a look. This is the list of those who came to offer their congratulations today and the ledger of their gifts."

Jiang Shuyue glanced at the list and handed it back to Hu Qing, saying, "In the future, the return gifts will be increased by 20%, and all return gifts will be sent in the name of the restaurant."

She didn't want to burden Qiuju, so she didn't arrange another steward for the household. Hu Qing was capable and thorough, so it was best to entrust him with the handling of the gifts received at the restaurant.

That noon, the restaurant was packed. Jiang Shuyue and Du Yutong had lunch in the tea room.

Thanks to the pushers for serving dishes, the food was served very quickly. The waiters, all dressed in clean-cut uniforms, served the dishes, and people would often peek out of the restaurant windows to watch, which had almost become a beautiful sight in the restaurant.

Hu Qing and Nangong Zeyue managed the restaurant with ease. After lunch, they saw off the female guests, and Jiang Shuyue and Du Yutong also left the restaurant.

After saying goodbye to Du Yutong, Jiang Shuyue returned to her residence. She hadn't been this tired in a long time. She closed the door and slipped into her spatial dimension.

After removing my clothes, I slowly stepped into the hot spring pool. The warm water slid over my skin, giving my body ultimate relaxation and sweeping away all my fatigue.

Just as she was dozing off, she heard a light knock on the door, followed by Qiuju's voice from outside.

"Miss, Steward Jiang is requesting an audience outside the mansion."

Who is Jiang in charge?!

Jiang Shuyue quickly got up, grabbed a large bath towel, wrapped it around herself, and left the space.

Seeing that there was no immediate response from inside the house, Qiuju said again, "Miss, don't worry, I'll have the gatekeeper send him away right away."

Jiang Shuyue suddenly came to her senses; it was the original owner's adoptive father who had come to her door.

"Wait a minute, lead them to the lobby and wait. I'll be there in a bit," Jiang Shuyue said as she quickly walked towards the wardrobe.

Since Jiang Zhengming has come to her door, he must still be determined. It won't work if she keeps hiding from him. She has to face this matter herself.

Fortunately, she hadn't had time to wash her hair. She quickly dressed, casually tied her hair back, and went to the front hall.

In the front hall, Qiu Ju, with a dark expression, led Jiang Zhengming in, instructed the maid to serve tea, and then turned and left without saying a word.

"Wait, Yue'er... how much longer until she gets here?" Jiang Zhengming, perhaps knowing he was in the wrong, nervously tucked his hands into his sleeves and spoke softly. Qiu Ju could clearly detect a hint of guilt in his voice.

Qiu Ju gave Jiang Zhengming, who was sitting on pins and needles, a cold look. "Lord Jiang, you shouldn't call me so intimately. My young lady has long since severed ties with you. You should just call me Miss Jiang."

In the past, Jiang Zhengming would have been furious long ago.

He came to the Jiang residence today with the intention of apologizing, and he would endure Qiuju's ridicule no matter what.

He hadn't originally planned to come, but when he went to the government office today, he heard everyone discussing the opening of Juxian Pavilion, including the imperial plaque.

One of his colleagues said, "The Emperor has never shown any affection for anyone in court. Yue Niang from Juxian Pavilion must have caught the Emperor's eye."

Another colleague sighed, "Yes! The Emperor's harem is still empty. If it weren't for the recent troubles caused by the Liang Kingdom on the border, the important officials of the court would have submitted a memorial to the Emperor requesting that he select concubines."

"The Emperor sent reinforcements, and the news that came back did not say that a war had broken out. Presumably, Liang will withdraw its troops. After things calm down, the Emperor will definitely hold a selection of candidates immediately."

"I've heard that Yue Niang from Juxian Pavilion is exceptionally beautiful. If she were to participate in the imperial concubine selection, the position of Empress would be hers for the taking."

His colleague's words struck Jiang Zhengming hard.

No one but her...

He had raised his daughter with great care, but after he abandoned her, did she really catch the emperor's eye?

Seeing the imperial plaque bestowed upon him today, he still thought that perhaps it was the emperor thanking her for her help in selecting imperial physicians, and it was just a reciprocal gesture.

When he got home after his shift, all he could think about was her wearing a phoenix coronet and empress's robes, dressed as an empress, receiving the kneeling obeisance of all the officials alongside the emperor.

Seeing that he was absent-minded, his second wife, Zheng, told him everything he had seen and heard that day.

Madam Zheng immediately said with a worried look, "I have never interfered in the affairs of the eldest young lady in the past. Now that Qingjian is growing up, if the eldest young lady is willing to return to the manor, not only will the master be able to be reinstated, but our Qingjian will also benefit. If the master agrees, I am willing to go and kowtow to the eldest young lady to admit my mistake."

Jiang Zhengming thought it over and over and realized that Zheng's words were not without reason. Although his colleagues had not mocked him to his face these days, he always felt like he was being pricked by thorns.

If he could be reinstated, his worries would be completely gone, and he could once again live a life of pride and honor.

Thinking back to how he had cruelly whipped her and how heartless he had been, Jiang Zhengming felt uncertain.

If Madam Zheng were to go, she probably wouldn't even be able to get through the gates of the Jiang residence.

Finally, he gritted his teeth and decided to go to the Jiang residence himself.

Before leaving, he went to the backyard and gave Yang, who was washing clothes, a severe scolding before heading to the Jiang residence.

How could he speak to gain her understanding? Jiang Zhengming mentally rehearsed his answer over and over again.

Just as Jiang Zhengming was feeling uneasy, he heard footsteps approaching from afar.