"Miss, we have guests at the manor today. Won't you go to the front yard to see them?"

The next day, Xiang Wan was in the Plum Garden reviewing the accounts that Ji Meiniang had just sent through Steward Liu from the manor. She hadn't read more than a few pages when she heard Zijuan's voice, which echoed throughout the entire courtyard even before she entered the house.

Zijuan was a personal maid specially chosen by Ji Meiniang for Xiang Wan. Because of this close companionship, she was quite lively in private and never beat around the bush when talking to Xiang Wan.

Because she was walking in a hurry, Zijuan didn't pay attention to where she was stepping and almost tripped over the threshold and fell flat on her face.

Xiang Wan chuckled, "No need for such a grand gesture, there's no reward."

Cui'er, the maid who was cleaning the room, saw this and her shoulders trembled as she tried to suppress her laughter. Zijuan blushed, quickly patted the dust off her clothes, and stammered, "Miss, this is a very serious matter, why are you making fun of me?"

"Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up, Miss." Xiang Wan put down the account book, picked up the still steaming tea, blew on it gently, and drank it all in one gulp.

The best tea is freshly brewed; if you let it sit for a while, it just doesn't taste the same. But Xiang Wan doesn't have that leisurely and refined taste. No matter how good the tea is, it all tastes the same to her.

"Have you taken care of everything I asked you to do?"

"Don't worry, Miss. You can rest assured when I do things."

"Hmm, go to the accounting office and collect two taels of silver as a reward for your hard work. Don't be stingy with the money you need to give as a tip."

"Oh, I understand."

After Zijuan finished speaking, she turned to leave, but then turned back, leaned close to Xiangwan, and whispered, "Miss, this time you must listen to me and go to the front yard to take a look. Please, please don't forget."

Seeing Zijuan's serious expression, Xiangwan picked up the account book beside her, casually slapped her forehead, and said, "Alright, alright, I'll definitely go, housekeeper."

"Miss!"

Zijuan walked away, turning back every few steps. Xiang Wan quickly glanced at the accounts, marked the unclear entries, then got up, changed her clothes, and went to the garden.

Xiang Wan paid a formal visit to the Cao residence, genuinely curious about what that Indian man intended to do.

After the rain, the air was filled with the earthy smell of soil and the fragrance of flowers, which was particularly pleasant. As soon as I stepped onto the cobblestone path, which had been washed white by the rain, I saw Cao Ruwan leading her maid Bi'er towards me, carrying a square box in her hands.

When they met, Xiang Wan slowed down and waited for them to come forward.

"Ruwan greets her elder sister."

Cao Ruwan led her maid to bow to Xiang Wan, the pearl hairpins on her head looking particularly eye-catching.

"Where have you been, little sister? You've lost a lot of weight in the last few days."

“Sister, you’re joking. Mother has always been very kind to Ruwan. What happened that day almost caused Father to misunderstand Mother. Ruwan felt guilty and couldn’t eat or sleep, so I specially picked some fresh fruits to apologize to Mother. I didn’t expect that guests would come to the front hall. Ruwan… Ruwan feels unworthy.” As she spoke, a slight blush appeared on Cao Ruwan’s slightly embarrassed face.

"Oh? I almost forgot. It's been almost five days. If you really care about Mother, why don't you embroider a purse as an apology? Aunt Yuan is not feeling well, so I'll have to trouble you."

"Thank you for your advice, sister. I'll go back and embroider the purse now."

Xiang Wan nodded, and Cao Ruwan led Bi'er past her slowly. Xiang Wan faintly smelled a very familiar scent.

Watching Cao Ruwan's figure disappear around the corner, Xiang Wan's eyes flickered slightly. It seemed that Yuan Xiqing had decided to take a gamble.

Upon arriving at the front hall, Cao Xinqian and Ji Meiniang sat at the head of the table, while the Indian man sat on a guest chair to the side. He had just finished his tea when a servant came and replaced it with fresh tea.

“Master Cao, Madam Cao, everything I have said is true. I hope you will consider it carefully. I will be at the Yunlai Inn in the capital for the next few days, awaiting your good news. It is getting late, so I will take my leave now.”

Standing up, the tall, handsome, and shrewd man had chosen such a casual alias. No matter how well he explained it, others would inevitably be suspicious of him. But that's hard to say; when driven by self-interest, names become irrelevant.

Cao Xinqian stood up and, with a smile on his face, ordered Xiao Liu to see the guest out. Ji Meiniang, however, did not get up and gave this Indian a cold look.

After the guest left, Cao Xinqian flicked his sleeve and said coldly, "Hmph, what a woman's view. It's rare for him to come here so sincerely seeking cooperation. Are you trying to ruin my Cao family by acting like this? I'm too lazy to argue with you. This matter is settled. If you don't agree, then don't interfere in the future."

With that, Cao Xinqian strode out, ignoring even Ah Hong's invitation to visit Yuan Xiqing at the Bamboo Garden.

Xiang Wan walked over to Ji Meiniang and, seeing her indifferent expression, couldn't help but ask, "Mother, what is that person doing here? What is our relationship with him?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Meiniang raised her head and stared intently at Xiang Wan, her gaze as if she wanted to see right through her.

"Xiang Wan, did you have any interaction with him at the Ji residence?"

Xiang Wan remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement. Ji Meiniang sighed, "Although he saved your uncle's life, we don't know his background or what he's really doing. He doesn't give me a good impression. This time he came specifically to do business with the Cao family, but I feel it's not that simple. His feelings for you seem..."

“Mother, you’re overthinking it,” Xiang Wan quickly interrupted. “A man like him has a vision and experience unlike ordinary people. Even if he has feelings for me, it’s only limited to our current situation. His purpose in involving the Cao family in his business is definitely not simple. Judging from Father’s expression just now, I’m afraid you can’t stop him.”

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