With Shen Yue joining in the fun and joking, the atmosphere became even more lively.

After dinner, Su Qingyu stayed in the main room in the west courtyard and started cutting paper-cuts with several maids.

While cutting window flowers, I would look outside from time to time.

Pearl joked, "Madam must be waiting for the Third Master. Her eyes are fixed on the door."

Su Qingyu reached out and tapped her, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll find you a good family to marry after the New Year."

Pearl blushed and lowered her head and said, "I will never marry and will serve you my whole life."

Su Qingyu suddenly looked at Zhenzhu's hair bun mysteriously, "Zhenzhu, is this hairpin on your head a gift from Jiang Qi?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Feicui, Chuntao, and Qiuyue beside her all laughed.

Pearl's face flushed instantly. "What did Madam say? I...I don't understand."

Su Qingyu looked at her cunningly and joked, "Don't think I didn't notice you and Jiang Qi flirting all day. You said you wouldn't marry? Then if he comes to ask me, don't expect me to agree."

The matter between Zhenzhu and Jiang Qi was discovered by Feicui by accident.

The two of them didn't behave abnormally in front of Su Qingyu.

According to Feicui, they probably bumped into each other while walking and both of them blushed.

Occasionally, when Jiang Qi wanted to see Shen Zhixiu, he would need to notify the maid in the inner house. As long as Zhenzhu was around, Jiang Qi would never talk to anyone else, nor would he even glance at them.

To say what it was specifically, there really wasn't anything.

Today is New Year's Eve. In the evening, Jiang Qi suddenly gave Zhenzhu a red gold hairpin, which was seen by Qiuyue again.

Su Qingyu hadn't intended to bring this up. She thought Zhenzhu wasn't that old, so she'd just give it a year or two to get to know her and see how things went. If they truly hit it off, she'd make the decision. No matter who Zhenzhu married, she had to like him.

But this girl accepted someone else's hairpin today and put it on, so this matter can't be delayed any longer.

Pearl lowered her head, her face as red as the sunset in the autumn sky.

Seeing that she was shy, Su Qingyu spoke.

"Jiang Qi is a good guy. He's only in his early twenties, not too old."

"Look at him, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, he has a good-looking face."

"I heard that among his brothers, he is the most filial."

At this time, Shen Zhixiu stood at the door of the main room with his hands behind his back.

Jiang Qi, who had accompanied Shen Zhixiu back to the palace, stood behind him, a layer of cold sweat already on his back.

Especially when the Third Master narrowed his eyes and looked him up and down, Jiang Qi wanted to leave immediately.

Hearing the third lady in the room still talking, Jiang Qi suddenly raised his voice and spoke.

"Third Master, it's windy outside, be careful not to catch a cold."