Xu Zhi initially didn't believe it, but later she learned that the story her mother told was true, that it happened in the capital, and that she knew the protagonist of the story—the mother of Chief Minister Feng. However, not many people in the capital knew about it.

Later, during meals, family members would often tell stories about a young couple who fell in love at first sight at the lantern festival and secretly pledged their lives to each other, but ultimately had no happy ending. This was because in this world, if you were betrothed, you became a wife; if you ran away, you became a concubine.

Although the original intention of holding the lantern festival was for young men and women to play together and perhaps meet their destined one, very few people actually experience such a romantic event.

Xu Zhi thought for a moment and said, "We're new here and don't know anyone. What if we run into a lecherous person?"

Zheng Yuanyuan said, "That young master looks upright, not like a lecherous man."

Xu Zhi said, "Sister, you don't know, some swindlers specifically seek out men who look respectable, raise them from childhood according to the rules of noble families, and spare no expense in procuring their attire, all so that they can deceive girls from wealthy families. Once they've lured the girls here, some families have to pay a lot of money to shut them up in order to cover up their shame. What's most hateful is that these swindlers are only interested in deceiving people. Good girls are tricked away, and who knows where they'll end up in the future."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanyuan's face turned pale and then red. She sat leaning against Granny Wang in fright. Xu Zhi waved her hand and said, "There are so many of us here. Even if we encounter a swindler, we are not afraid."

Granny Lu said, "I've heard about what you're saying before. I remember it happened in the south, in a county town. There was a very wealthy man who only had one daughter. He wanted to find a husband for his daughter. One year during the Lantern Festival, the girl was bumped into and rescued by a young man from out of town. He even took the girl, who had been separated from her maid, back home."

Hearing Granny Lu tell a story, everyone put down what they were holding, and even Zheng Yuanyuan leaned against Granny Wang, listening attentively.

Granny Lu said, "Jufu saw that the young man was handsome and talented, and the two servants with him also seemed to be capable. So he kept the young man at home. A few days later, he found out that the young man's home was in a very far place. Because his stepmother was unkind, he had come out to travel on his own. Although he was already of age, he was not married. Jufu then decided to find a son-in-law for him."

Hearing this, not only Zheng Yuanyuan listened intently without blinking, but even Honglian listened very attentively.

Granny Lu said, "That young master is a charming and romantic man. The daughter of a wealthy family couldn't forget him after seeing him once. So the young master bribed the maidservant who served the girl to inform him, and managed to get his daughter to secretly pledge her life to him. The wealthy family didn't realize that his daughter was pregnant."

Granny Lu sighed and said, "Ju Fu was actually thinking of sending someone to the place the young master mentioned to inquire. If there was indeed such a person, and if their family was willing, the two families would get married. It's just a pity that the girl didn't wait for her father to tell her about this last night, and she got married to the young master. Ju Fu had no choice but to arrange the marriage for the two of them first."

Granny Lu said, "After the marriage was arranged, the girl stayed in the backyard to rest and prepare for her pregnancy, while the young master showed great business acumen in front of the wealthy man. The wealthy man took pity on the young master, and since he was already his son-in-law, he simply took the young master under his wing and carefully cultivated him."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanyuan asked, "And then what happened?"

Granny Lu said, "Later, the young master was doing very well, but little did he know that the people around him had slipped up. Ju Fu was a cautious man and kept sending people to inquire about the young master. However, he didn't do it openly. Ju Fu secretly sent his capable men to the hometown the young master mentioned to inquire."

Granny Lu said, "They're all swindlers. Of course, you won't find out anything. The rich man endured for many days and finally detained the young master and his two attendants. He managed to extract the truth from them. These people are not just a few, but many. They work together and have already swindled many people over the years. They were after the rich man's family fortune."