Xu Zhi knew that it was Zheng Boyuan, but how could he be here, and as the young master of that general merchandise store?

As the largest general merchandise store in Hexi County, and one that Xu Zhi frequented, she had already learned about the store's situation. The owner of the store was not from the capital, but from Yuhang. She heard that he had some old acquaintances with the Zhang family, and sometimes their caravan would help the Zhang family bring some things to the Xu family.

Xu Zhi felt that she should ask Granny Lu about this matter. Putting aside the merchant guild, Granny Lu, who had been in the palace and the capital for so many years, would surely know something about the Pingxi Marquis's residence.

Granny Lu was making cotton clothes for Xu Zhi and Xu Bai in her room. The two children were growing fast, and the cotton clothes made last year were too small for them this year. Other children's cotton clothes were either made much larger, or a piece of cotton-padded cloth was added to the sleeves and trouser legs so that their ankles and wrists wouldn't be exposed.

Granny Lu didn't want her children to be dressed so shabbily, so she made cotton-padded clothes for them almost every year. When she saw Xu Zhi bringing her a bowl of red date and ginger tea, she quickly put down her needlework and said, "Weren't you going to the market with Brother Bai to buy things? Did you get him back so quickly?"

Xu Zhi said with a smile, "Brother Bai is eager to drink bone broth. He will come back to stew the soup as soon as he has bought everything."

Granny Lu took the bowl of red date and ginger tea and said, "I thought you were going to wander around outside for a while. The sun is really nice today."

Xu Zhi watched as Granny Lu took a few sips of tea and said, "Granny, when I went to the store to buy things, I met someone."

Upon hearing Xu Zhi's opening remarks, Granny Lu quickly put down her teacup and asked with great interest, "Oh? You met someone? What kind of person was it?"

Xu Zhi organized her thoughts and said, "A boy of twelve or thirteen, he's the young master of that North-South Trading Company, but he looks like someone from the Marquis of Pingxi's mansion."

After listening, Granny Lu pondered for a moment and said, "I know the person you're talking about."

When Xu Zhi heard Granny Lu say that she knew who she was talking about, her bright eyes were fixed on Granny Lu. Seeing Xu Zhi's expression, Granny Lu smiled and asked, "Ninth Miss, what's wrong? Are you in such a hurry to hear?"

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Granny, I think that young man really seems extraordinary."

After hearing Xu Zhi's words, Granny Lu sighed and said, "What good is it if you're extraordinary? It's always very, very difficult for a child without a mother to make a name for themselves."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi asked in surprise, "Granny, doesn't he have a mother?"

Granny Lu said, "To be honest, I actually experienced this. The Pingxi Marquis's mansion was very prestigious during the reign of the late emperor. At that time, the Jingbei Marquis had not yet risen to power, and the border was guarded by the Pingxi Marquis. The Pingxi Marquis even led his troops all the way to the royal court of the Northern Di. It's just a pity that the Pingxi Marquis had no successor, which is why we have come to this state today."

Granny Lu said, "When the late Emperor was in power, the old Marquis of Pingxi arranged a marriage for the current Marquis of Pingxi with the eldest granddaughter of the Chen family, who was then the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. Logically speaking, the two families were not a good match, but few people knew that the Zheng family of the Marquis of Pingxi and the Chen family had a good relationship since their ancestors, and the two families had a marriage agreement. It was not fulfilled a few years ago due to the war, and it had been several generations. It just so happened that the current Marquis of Pingxi and the eldest granddaughter of the Chen family were a good match, so the marriage agreement was made."

Xu Zhi clicked her tongue and said, "It's so troublesome. The most troublesome thing is that the two families have an engagement early on. Who knows if the two people are suitable? If they are not suitable, they have to live together. How sad is that? Also, what if one of them has someone they love? Can the two people still live a good life together?"

Granny Lu chuckled and said, "What Ninth Miss said is quite right. Isn't that exactly the point? Granny Lu also thinks that such a marriage arrangement is quite a trap. After Chen Shi entered the family, she gave birth to a son. Two years later, when she was about to give birth to a daughter, she had a difficult childbirth. She endured the pain and gave birth to the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Pingxi's family before passing away. The Marquis of Pingxi then went to his wife's family to beg them to let one of Chen Shi's half-sisters marry into the family, saying that she would take care of the two children."

Xu Zhi looked at him with an "I see" expression and said, "Granny, I understand now. I don't believe there's nothing hidden here. I just don't believe that with so many maids and servants, the Marquis of Pingxi couldn't take good care of two children. If all else fails, why not just hire a couple more wet nurses? He married the lady's half-sister, supposedly to take care of the two children, but this half-sister has never had children. How would she know how to take care of children?"

Granny Lu didn't think Xu Zhi could think like this at such a young age. Girls already have it hard enough, and after marriage they face many things. Who knows what unexpected things might happen? There are all sorts of shady things in a large family that you can't even imagine. It's always a good thing to be more careful.

Granny Lu smiled and said, "It's good that Ninth Miss thinks this way. How would a young lady who has never been married know how to take care of a child? But the Marquis of Pingxi asked his father-in-law's family for help. In addition, Lord Chen had already retired at that time, and the gap in status between the Chen family and the Marquis of Pingxi's family was getting bigger and bigger. The head of the Chen family felt that it was a good thing to be able to continue the marriage with the Marquis of Pingxi's family, so he agreed to the Marquis of Pingxi's family's request."

Xu Zhi rested her chin on her hand and sighed when she heard Granny Lu say this. She said, "With a stepmother comes a stepfather, not to mention that the person you marry into is your own mother's half-sister."

Many sisters, whether legitimate or illegitimate, appear to have a deep bond, but what truly exists behind the scenes is known only to the individuals involved. Although the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was not so clear-cut in the Great Liang Dynasty, there were very few truly harmonious relationships. Didn't you see that the old lady wrote in the family precepts that a son born to an illegitimate child could only be allowed to be born if the man had no children by the age of forty?

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