When Xu Zhi returned to the Zheng residence north of the Marquis of Pingxi, Granny Wang had already brought dinner to the main room, waiting for Xu Zhi to come back and eat.

Since returning from Yuezhou, Zheng Yuanyuan has gone out with Xu Zhi several times to attend various gatherings organized by ladies in the capital, all in the hopes of finding a suitable marriage for her at these gatherings.

Seeing Xu Zhi return, Zheng Yuanyuan hurriedly helped Xu Zhi bring her water to wash her face and handed her a handkerchief. After dinner, seeing that it was almost time, Xu Zhi, accompanied by Zheng Yuanyuan and Granny Wang, went to the small side gate connecting the Zheng residence and the Pingxi Marquis's residence.

There are usually two old women guarding this gate. When they saw Xu Zhi and the others coming, they quickly opened the gate. Xu Zhi smiled and thanked them for their hard work before walking along the passageway of the Pingxi Marquis's residence towards Old Madam Zheng's courtyard.

Several people stood in Madam Zheng's courtyard, heads bowed. When they saw Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan arrive, a maid went into the room to announce their arrival, while an elderly nanny bowed to Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan and said, "Madam and young lady have arrived. Madam has been waiting for a while."

Zheng Yuanyuan asked with a smile, "Granny, why are you and the other sisters all standing in the courtyard? Is anyone in Grandmother's room?"

The old woman replied with a smile, "After dinner, Madam and the second young lady have arrived and are currently in the old lady's room."

Zheng Yuanyuan glanced at Xu Zhi, who frowned slightly. Zheng Yuanyuan's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't show it on her face. Zheng Yuanyuan smiled and said, "Auntie has brought my little sister over. It's a good opportunity for us to have a chat."

In the other room, Madam Zheng already knew that Zheng Yuanyuan and Xu Zhi had come. The red curtain hanging in the room was lifted from the inside, and after the two entered the room, they turned around the eight-panel screen depicting the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea that was directly opposite the door. The crimson curtain embroidered with the Five Blessings and Longevity symbols hanging at the entrance of the inner room had also been lifted, and Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan went into the inner room.

Madam Zheng sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) in the ward. Several glass lampshades were placed in the corner of the room, illuminating the room brightly.

The windows in Madam Zheng's room were made of glass, and the curtains were drawn, making the room seem less spacious than it did during the day.

Madam Chen sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), while her daughter, Zheng Yunyun, the second daughter of the Zheng family of Marquis Pingxi, sat on an official's hat chair in front of the kang. When she saw Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan enter, she quickly stood up.

Xu Zhi smiled and bowed to Madam Zheng, saying, "Grandma, Yuanyuan and I have come to visit you."

Madam Zheng said with a smile, "You are all so busy these days, you don't need to come over so often. I just want to see if you've gained or lost weight these past few days."

Zheng Yuanyuan was already sitting on the edge of the kang next to Old Madam Zheng, holding Old Madam Zheng's hand with her hand, smiling sweetly, and said, "Grandma, of course we've gained weight. Let me tell you, it's the food in our capital that's so nourishing. I've only been back for a few days and I've already gained quite a bit of weight."

Xu Zhi bowed to Madam Chen and said, "Greetings, Aunt."

Ms. Chen looked somewhat uncomfortable, but she still smiled and nodded without saying anything.

After Xu Zhi entered, she first observed the expressions of the three people in the room. Old Madam Zheng's face was expressionless, revealing nothing. Little Chen looked somewhat uncomfortable, while Zheng Yunyun seemed a little embarrassed. Thinking of the people standing in the courtyard earlier, Xu Zhi concluded that the three people in this room must have been discussing something before she and Zheng Yuanyuan arrived.

While smiling and dealing with Madam Chen, Xu Zhi was pondering what could have prompted Madam Chen to bring her daughter to Old Madam Zheng's place so late at night. Madam Chen usually avoided seeing her mother-in-law, Old Madam Zheng, whenever possible. But tonight, for her to swallow her pride and come to her mother-in-law's courtyard, especially when Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan were there, Xu Zhi felt that Madam Chen's intentions were either related to her or Zheng Yuanyuan.

Thinking this through, Xu Zhi stopped her thoughts. Since it was because of her or Zheng Yuanyuan that they had ulterior motives, then the initiative was in her hands. As for what difficulties she might encounter later, she would deal with them as they came.

Having made up her mind and feeling confident, Xu Zhi's smile became even sweeter. She sat on an official's hat chair next to Zheng Yunyun, listening to Zheng Yuanyuan chattering about interesting things to Old Madam Zheng. Sometimes Xu Zhi would add a sentence or two, which amused Old Madam Zheng and made her smile even more.

Xu Zhi naturally kept a close eye on Madam Chen's expression. She noticed that Madam Chen's expression was becoming increasingly unnatural, showing some anxiety, some embarrassment, and a hint of anger. She pursed her lips and simply smiled as she looked at Old Madam Zheng and Zheng Yuanyuan.

Madam Zheng glanced at the clock on the long table by the wall. It was getting late. She said to Zheng Yuanyuan and Xu Zhi, "It's time to leave. You still have to go back, so let's stop here."

Madam Chen, disregarding her pride, quickly said, "Mother, we haven't discussed the matter with my eldest nephew's wife yet."

Madam Zheng frowned, waved her hand, and said, "I think we should just let this go. They're both still children."

Xiao Chen suddenly stood up from the edge of the kang and said to Xu Zhi, "Yuan Ge's daughter-in-law, I have to swallow my pride and tell you today that we are all members of the Zheng family. We are all from the same family. Although we have separated our families, our ancestral tablets are still in the same ancestral hall."

When Zheng Yuanyuan saw Xiao Chen stand up, she was startled and moved closer to Old Madam Zheng. After hearing what she said, she said with some surprise, "Aunt, what you said is very strange. Of course our ancestors should be in the same ancestral hall. Aren't they all ancestors of the Zheng family? Not to mention our two families, even in our old home in Jizhou, even if we are beyond the fifth degree of kinship, aren't the ancestral tablets all in the same ancestral hall?"

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