Some people looked down on Xiao Chen's background, and some looked down on her manners. After Zheng Boyun and his sister were adopted, no one said anything on the surface, but in fact many people said behind her back that Xiao Chen was intolerant and petty. Because of this, families that originally wanted to marry into the Pingxi Marquis's family all backed out.

Later, Madam Chen thought that since this approach wouldn't work, she would use money to woo them. Many wealthy families were struggling financially, but if she offered a large dowry, would they still worry about finding someone to marry into her family?

Recently, Madam Chen has been asking around to find such a family for her, but she has limited funds. She wanted to ask Marquis Pingxi for money, but he ignored her. Madam Chen almost had a falling out with him. So, when she heard today that the old lady had given Xu Zhi a lot of things to take with her, Madam Chen felt as if someone had cut her flesh out with a knife. The old lady's things belonged to the mansion, which was practically her own.

Suddenly, Madam Chen stood up, gritting her teeth and saying fiercely, "Why should I keep quiet? Qingluan, tell me, why should I keep quiet? I bore him children, I managed this household for him, and now that the children are about to get married, the grandmother hides her head and does nothing, and the father doesn't care at all. These are all Zheng family children, why don't they care?"

Overwhelmed with sadness, Madam Chen headed towards the door. Granny Du quickly grabbed her waist and anxiously asked, "My lady, what are you doing?"

Madam Chen said, "Qingluan, don't stop me. I need to find out what the Marquis's plans are for his children's marriage. Other families have already arranged marriages for their children who are ten years old, but his children's marriages are still undecided. He is the children's biological father. He can't just ignore everything and leave it to me, a woman, to manage."

Du Mama naturally understood the logic, but the current Marquis was not the same Marquis as before. The current Marquis of Pingxi spent his days whiling away in his study in the front courtyard. Before, he would either go out to meet friends or spend time with his beloved wife in the back courtyard. Now, for some reason, he seemed to have become a different person. He was now indifferent to worldly desires and had nothing to worry about. When Du Mama saw her Marquis, she even felt that he had a touch of otherworldly charm.

Granny Du advised, "Madam, you should talk to the Marquis about these things properly. It'll be better to wait a while. Right now, you're in a bad mood. If you meet with the Marquis, you might end up arguing, which would just play into some people's hands."

In this backyard, there wasn't just one woman, Madam Chen. Even though the Marquis of Pingxi favored Madam Chen, he still had several concubines. Madam Chen slumped onto a stool in anger. Seeing that her expression had improved slightly, Granny Du whispered, "Madam, how can you argue with the Marquis and the Old Madam right now? We need to appease the Old Madam, especially the young master and young lady. They should go to the Old Madam's courtyard more often, talk and chat with her. Relationships are built little by little. Once the Old Madam has a good relationship with the young master and young lady, will she stand by and watch them marry poorly?"

Ms. Chen said with distress, "I know all of this, but over the years, what affection have the three of us had for that old woman? You know, ever since I married into the family, my mother-in-law has never given me a kind look. Why should I shamelessly fawn over her?"

Granny Du patiently advised, "Madam, today is different from the past. The most important thing is to have the young master and young lady go to the old lady to curry favor. For some reason, the Marquis's relationship with the old lady has been getting better day by day. Since that's the case, currying favor with the old lady will naturally lead to currying favor with the Marquis."

Madam Chen nodded repeatedly, grabbed Granny Du's hand, and said anxiously, "Qingluan, go and call Yun-ge'er and our young lady over. I need to give them a few instructions."

Granny Du agreed and hurriedly went outside.

Xu Zhi was naturally unaware of what was happening with Madam Chen. She returned to the Marquis's residence in a good mood and spent some time joking with the old lady. She heard the old lady mention the marriage of her sixth sister, Xu Gui.

For some reason, the eldest son of the Duke of Ningguo's mansion sent someone to propose marriage to his sixth daughter, Xu Gui.

The Ningguo Duke's Mansion sent the matriarch of a family that had always been close to the Yongning Marquis's Mansion. After she arrived, the old lady couldn't remember who she was talking about even after talking for a long time. It's not surprising that the old lady didn't know who she was talking about. The old lady hadn't been out and about for many years, and even the Yongning Marquis's Mansion hadn't been very active in the outside world for many years. She had seen very few teenagers or children in their twenties from other families. When the matchmaker came to mention it, the old lady didn't even know whose child it was.

The eldest son of the Duke of Ningguo's mansion is Lu Mingzhang, who is already nineteen years old. It is said that he has been in the army for many years and has made a name for himself in the army. Although he is born out of wedlock, the matchmaker told the old lady that Lu Mingzhang's aunt had passed away long ago. The Duke of Ningguo's mansion has already said that after Lu Mingzhang's wife marries into the family, she does not have to stay in the mansion. If she is willing to go to Hexi with Lu Mingzhang, she can go to Hexi with him.

Since someone had come to propose marriage, the Xu family sent someone to inquire about Lu Mingzhang. Xu Gui's aunt was the second wife of the Ningguo Duke's mansion, so there was no need to inquire about her family background. However, Lu Mingzhang had not been at home for many years, and Xu Gui's aunt did not know what he was like now.

Ever since returning home, Xu Gui had been preoccupied with this matter. Before it happened, she was both hoping and fearing that Lu Mingzhang would send someone to propose marriage, and also fearing that Lu Mingzhang would not send anyone to propose marriage. She was filled with anxiety and uncertainty. It wasn't until the matchmaker came to her door that she finally felt relieved.

Xu Zhi returned late yesterday, and none of the family members mentioned her sixth sister's marriage to her. Today, she overheard it out of the blue. After thinking for a moment, Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Grandmother, putting everything else aside, just take Brother Lu. He is a fierce general in the army."

The old lady smiled and nodded, saying, "Brother Lu has been in Yanmen Pass for so many years, relying on his own abilities to get to where he is today. He is a person with a strong character. I just don't know what he looks like."

Xu Zhi thought about it carefully for a moment, then said hesitantly, "I have seen them a few times, so I know what they are like. My brother is familiar with them. What did he say?"

Thinking of Xu Di's evaluation of Lu Mingzhang, the old lady smiled and said, "Your eldest brother tells us to marry off our daughter with peace of mind."