Granny Ruan brewed tea and served it, then silently retreated to the corner once again.

"Please speak, Madam," Zhu Yi said, taking a sip of tea and nodding like a gentleman.

Madam Qian glanced around and ordered the maids who were serving her to leave.

Granny Ruan, not wanting to get involved, also withdrew.

Seeing her demeanor, Zhu Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, picked up the teacup, and sipped the tea slowly.

Madam Qian stared at him expectantly, but seeing that he didn't even look up, she had no choice but to speak, "Now that the weather is warming up, your maternal grandparents sent a letter saying they miss Zhiqing and want her to go back to visit." She stole a glance at Zhu Yi, noticing his fingers gently sliding across the cup lid, his demeanor so steady that it made her uneasy. Madam Qian sighed inwardly, her resolve only strengthened. "Zhiqing's health isn't strong to begin with, and after such a long journey, I don't know how long it will take for her to recover," she said, her voice growing slower and slower. "Besides, she's getting on in years. If she goes back, she'll probably be looking for a husband, and when she comes back to the manor, she'll likely already be married."

Zhu Yi slowly pursed his lips, inwardly scoffing. His maternal grandparents' family was far away in Jiangnan, and the maternal grandparents that Qian Shi mentioned had absolutely no relation to him.

"If you are worried about my cousin's health, Madam, why not have someone hire a boat to travel by water? These days, large ships are very fast and safe, and we can arrive in no time."

Qian's lips gradually turned down, and the hope in her eyes faded. She had intended to provoke Zhu Yi into speaking, hoping that if he was interested, her words would not only lead to a natural conclusion but also help elevate Zhiqing's status, preventing her from appearing too eager. However, Zhu Yi directly brought up the itinerary, leaving her speechless.

Zhu Yi finished his tea without realizing it, put down the teacup, and asked politely, "Does Madam have anything else to say?"

Madam Qian shook her head, swallowing the anger rising in her throat, and said in a steady tone with all her might, "Since you understand shipping, please help me book one, so that those people won't take advantage of me because I'm a woman and child and don't know anything about shipping and just deal with me haphazardly."

Zhu Yi responded, cupped his hands in greeting, and left.

Madam Qian stared at Zhu Yi's back until he could no longer see him, then she suddenly slumped her back, looking as if she had aged several years.