"What big deal could it be? It's just a rumor that an envoy from a neighboring state will be coming to Wanling soon. It has nothing to do with us, so why make a fuss?" Jiang Shuyue said, putting down the needle and thread in her hand.

She hadn't been to Jishetang for the past few days. Guo Baoxian had been secretly escorted to the capital, so she naturally didn't know what was happening outside.

The embroiderer asked her to embroider a flower on the bridal veil, just a symbolic one.

It symbolizes that married life will be as beautiful as a flower.

She was adept at handling both pens and silver needles, but it was the embroidery needles that gave her trouble.

She spent several days embroidering a tiny flower but still couldn't get it to finish.

My fingers have been pricked several times.

Mei'er took a breath and said, "It's not about the envoy from the neighboring state coming to pay homage; it's about the Governor-General of Water Transport being arrested and imprisoned."

"The Governor-General of Water Transport, are you referring to the Guo family mansion in the capital?" Jiang Shuyue remembered that the old lady of the Guo family was a formidable figure. Her second son was stationed in Jiangzhou, while she and the rest of her clan enjoyed a life of luxury in the capital.

The Guo family are frequent visitors to Juxian Pavilion.

She remembered mentioning to her son that the Governor-General of Water Transport was a very lucrative position.

A lucrative job can easily lead one astray; human nature is indeed susceptible to temptation.

Mei'er nodded hurriedly, "Yes, it's the Guo family, the entire clan. I heard from the general store owner that there are several hundred people. They arrested members of the Guo clan, and because there were so many people, they even mobilized soldiers from the Western Suburbs Camp."

As the master and servant were talking, Qiuju walked in from outside.

Jiang Shuyue had been feeling bored these past few days, so she simply tossed the bridal veil to Lan'er, saying, "Finish embroidering the remaining half of the flower. I'm going to the restaurant to check on the tomatoes, which should be ripe by now. I also need to go to Zhang Cai's place at the market to ask about them."

Lan'er had long felt sorry for her mistress's fingers, and hurriedly agreed, "Miss, please go ahead and do your work. I will finish embroidering this half flower very soon."

Spring is slowly warming up in Beijing, and the sun is still shining brightly outside.

Jiang Shuyue changed her clothes and left Xingyue Courtyard with Qiuju.

A cool breeze was blowing, refreshingly cool on her face. Jiang Shuyue raised her face to meet the breeze and said, "Qiuju, can you smell the scent of spring?"

“Miss, that’s just your imagination. Spring comes in February in the capital. The city is not like the countryside. In spring, you can smell the fragrance of flowers and plants even with your eyes closed.”

Qiuju watched as her young mistress raised her face, the soft sunlight shining on her fair skin, making her seem to glow.

She looked like a young girl experiencing her first love.

"Really, I can feel the breath of spring approaching from afar."

Seeing that Jiang Shuyue was speaking seriously, Qiuju tried closing her eyes to face the wind and quietly feeling it.

The breeze was cool, refreshing and invigorating, a welcome relief from the biting cold of winter, the piercing feeling of wheat awns against the skin.

“Miss, I can feel it. The sun is warm and the wind is cool. In about half a month, the elm tree in the courtyard will bloom. After the elm flowers have finished blooming, we can eat elm seeds.”

Speaking of elm seeds, Qiuju couldn't help but swallow hard. She hadn't eaten them for several years and missed them terribly.

When the former wife was alive, she would have the cook make elm seed dumplings every spring.

The bright green elm seed dumplings are like jade. Dipped in peanut sauce or sesame sauce, they are fresh and delicious. She can eat four at a time.

Jiang Shuyue turned her head and saw Qiuju's greedy look. She couldn't help but tease her, "Look at how greedy you are, are you pregnant?"

According to Jiang Shuyue's analysis based on medical theory, elm seeds are plants with relatively low oxalic acid content.

It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, relieving cough and resolving phlegm, and promoting diuresis and reducing edema.

It has hemostatic effects and is beneficial for iron-deficiency anemia. Pregnant women can eat a little, but not in excess.

Qiuju shook her head vigorously, "No, really no, I just wanted some elm seed rice."

After leaving the mansion, the master and servant did not go directly to the market or restaurant, but instead went to the Du residence to pick up Du Yutong before heading to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence together.

Qiuju went up and knocked on the door, saying she was looking for Zhan Shuzhen. A moment later, Zhan Shuzhen came out.

Seeing Qiuju, he said with surprise, "Sister Qiuju, does Sister Jiang have something to ask me?"

Then she complained to the gatekeeper, "Why are you so honest? You didn't even invite Sister Qiuju in when she came. You made her stand and wait. Don't do that again."

"I'm sorry, my eyes were blurry. Next time you come, I'll have someone take you directly to your courtyard." The servant bowed repeatedly to Qiuju with a smile.

Qiuju said, "He asked me to sit in the doorman's room to wait, but I chose to stand outside to wait on my own."

Qiuju pointed to the carriage not far away, "Miss and Miss Du are outside. Miss asked me to come and invite Miss Zhan to have a get-together at the restaurant."

Today, Zhan Shuzhen wore a light pink dress, the color of which made her look even more charming and lovely.

"Sister Jiang and Sister Du are here?"

Following the direction Qiuju pointed, she saw a familiar carriage and quickly lifted her skirt and ran.

"Miss Zhan, slow down." Qiu Ju watched as the impatient Miss Zhan ran all the way to the carriage and couldn't help but admire the wisdom of the old lady of the Zhan family.

When Zhan Shuzhen was born, the old lady hoped that she would have the appearance of a lady, so she put some thought into her name.

Who knew that the genes of a family of military generals were so strong? The girl, who looked delicate and pretty, lost all her ladylike demeanor when she got happy.

"Sister Jiang, Sister Du, I've missed you so much these past few days!" Zhan Shuzhen used both hands and feet to quickly climb into the carriage.

Gao Mu was holding the dismounting stool in his hand, unsure whether to put it down or not.

He realized that the horse stool was now unnecessary.

When Gao Mu saw his wife walking back unhurriedly, he quickly smiled and put the stool down again.

He reached out and carefully helped Qiuju into the car, looking just like someone protecting a pregnant woman.

Qiu Ju blushed and glared at him, secretly thinking to herself, "Why weren't you this gentle and considerate last night!"

Gao Mu knew perfectly well that his wife was cursing under her breath, so he forced a smile and said nothing.

Before Zhan Shuzhen had even settled into her seat, she eagerly asked, "Sister Jiang, has Juxian Pavilion introduced new dishes again?"

Looking at the greedy expressions on her and Du Yutong's faces, Jiang Shuyue couldn't help but tease them, "Next month it will get warmer, and we'll be wearing even thinner clothes. Aren't you afraid of gaining weight?"

They both shook their heads in unison, "We're not afraid."

"My mother always says I'm too thin, so today I'm going to a restaurant with Sister Jiang to make up for it properly," Zhan Shuzhen said, covering her mouth and laughing.

Du Yutong reached out and pinched her still slightly chubby face, teasingly saying, "You really should eat more; those two lumps of flesh are almost gone."

"Pfft!"

"Hahaha……"

Jiang Shuyue and Qiu Ju couldn't help but burst out laughing, and the group of them laughed and joked together.

As the carriage started moving, Zhan Shuzhen stopped laughing and said with a gossipy look, "Do you know that a lot of strange things have happened in the capital recently?"

"Miss Zhan, are you referring to the murder case in the brothel?" Du Yutong quickly chimed in.