"Brother Duan Qi, actually, I—" Qiao Zhiyi bit her lip, wanting to explain her thoughts, but was interrupted by Duan Qi.

"I know you're uneasy and scared. Don't worry, I will definitely handle everything. Just trust me."

Qiao Zhiyi swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. Some things cannot be changed simply by believing.

**

For two days in a row, Duan Qi came to see Qiao Zhiyi and always ran into the gatekeeper. Each time, he looked flustered and as if he had been caught doing something.

Duan Qi asked Qiao Zhiyi if anything valuable was missing, and Qiao Zhiyi said no, so Duan Qi didn't think much of it.

She visits Qiao Zhiyi at a set time every day, and Madam Duan, who is always keeping an eye on Duan Qi's movements, is naturally aware of her timing.

That's why we were able to make such a careful decision about the timing.

Duan Qi's days were always packed with activities. Besides his regular duties, he would practice martial arts after returning to his residence, and finally squeeze out time to see Qiao Zhiyi.

A very simple daily routine is easy for others to figure out.

As Duan Qi's mother, Zhang was naturally very familiar with her son's schedule.

Qiao Zhiyi's health has gradually improved, and she is now able to get out of bed. Sitting in a chair, she absentmindedly strokes the wooden box in front of her.

This wooden box was filled with all the things and letters that Duan Qi had given her. She never took it out of her sight, and always cherished it.

This time, I can't take it with me.

These things no longer belong to her.

What was once considered a treasure now belongs to someone else.

Yang Shi knew that Qiao Zhiyi had been acting strangely these past two days. Sitting next to her, Yang Shi was sewing shoe soles. She frowned as she looked at Qiao Zhiyi, who was staring blankly at the wooden box.

"What's been going on with you these past few days? How's it going with Duan Qi? Has he said when he's going to marry that girl from his side?"

He naturally didn't want that guy to marry someone else's daughter, but if his own daughter wanted to be with him, he had to let that guy marry someone else's daughter first.

Only in this way can her daughter be allowed to enter the family.

Only when she saw her daughter with this boy could she go back with peace of mind.

Qiao Zhiyi lowered her eyes, her voice somewhat hoarse, "Mother, go and call my little cousin over to stay with me for a while."

Yang didn't think twice. The child must be bored staying in the room alone for so many days. It would be good to have Lewazi keep her company.

"Okay, I'll go to the inn and call Lewa over."

On the way here, Anle bought a bunch of food. Yang kept pulling her back, telling her not to waste money. Seeing Anle spend so much money on so many things, even though it cost her a lot, Yang felt a pang of heartache.

"Aunt, look how thin Cousin Zhiyi is! She needs to eat something good to nourish her body."

“You know your cousin is just like that, she won’t gain weight no matter how much she eats, so don’t waste your money.”

Anle passed by a jewelry shop with its doors open, and could see the items inside at a glance. Anle picked up two more pieces of jewelry and put them in Yang's hair.

“It looks quite nice on my aunt, so she should wear it.”

Yang was overjoyed and touched the gold hairpin in her hair, laughing so hard she was shaking.

"Oh, really?"

Anle nodded in agreement, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Yeah yeah."

When Yang saw the two pieces of silver that Anle handed to the shopkeeper, her expression changed. She then remembered that she had been nagging Anle just now, and hurriedly took off the hairpin from her hair and handed it to the shopkeeper.

"No, no, we don't want it anymore."

"What do you mean no? It looks so good on you. Wear it! I think this hairpin suits my aunt perfectly. It instantly elevates her style. She's no less elegant than the matriarchs of wealthy and powerful families."

Anle's sweet words instantly flattered Yang Shi, making her feel incredibly important. She then tucked the hairpin back into her hair, and Yang Shi was completely dazed and swayed the whole way.

She didn't even notice when a silver bracelet appeared on her wrist.

Upon entering, Qiao Zhiyi, with her sharp eyes, noticed the large, gleaming silver bracelet on Yang's wrist and asked her a question, which brought Yang back to her senses.

"This was bought by Lewa. Lewa is even more filial than my own daughter. If I had a daughter like Lewa, I would be laughing in my dreams."

"Le Wa, you stay here and chat with Zhiyi. I'll go get you some pastries." With that, she gave Qiao Zhiyi, who was always causing her trouble, a fierce glare, opened the door, and went out.

Qiao Zhiyi gave a helpless wry smile, "Little cousin, I've made you spend money again."

Anle waved her hand with a smile, "What are you saying? We're all family, Cousin Zhiyi, why are you being so polite?" She did this with a purpose.

She's trying to make empty promises to her aunt.

She had also figured out what was going on with her cousin Zhiyi; she figured it wouldn't work out. It was obvious that becoming a concubine would end badly.

But if they just let her cousin Zhiyi leave with her like that, her aunt would definitely not agree.

So she had to paint a rosy picture for her aunt to convince her of what she was about to say.

That way, we can easily take my cousin Zhiyi away.

She's been here for several days, and she hasn't been able to bring up the matter of embroidering clothes yet. She's getting anxious about it.

Only if a bigger pie falls into the aunt's lap will the Duan family's small pie be disregarded by her.

Choosing the watermelon over the sesame seeds is a choice anyone would make.

Therefore, she needs to offer a bigger alternative to the Duan family in front of her aunt in order to bring her cousin Zhiyi back and persuade her aunt to give up the marriage proposal.

It wasn't a good match to begin with, so let it go if it's ruined.

Which is more important, a bad marriage or her embroidery work? It's obvious!

Without a second thought, Anle decided to sabotage the whole thing.

If this doesn't fall through, her embroidery project will also fall through.

Anle, with her own thoughts in mind, picked up the teapot on the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and her gaze fell on a wooden box on the table. She paused for a moment, noticing that it looked somewhat familiar.

Ah, I remember now—

"Cousin Zhiyi, isn't this your jewelry box?"

Qiao Zhiyi glanced at the wooden box, her eyes dimming. "Well, little cousin, I want to go back with you."

She called her younger cousin over to set a date for their return trip.

The Duan family has no connection with her.

Upon hearing Qiao Zhiyi's words, An Le paused in her teacup-picking motion. "Eh? What did you say, Zhiyi?" She hadn't even stirred things up yet, and Zhiyi had already figured it out herself?

Anyway, this suits her perfectly. She was just thinking about getting rid of him. Her wish has come true. Alright, let's go!

She didn't need to rack her brains or exhaust herself figuring out how to get rid of the person.