The dark clouds had not yet dissipated, and instead, a storm seemed imminent. Before Li Shiyue, holding an umbrella, even entered the Zen temple, she saw Granny Chang carrying two garments resembling those of a young man, hurrying towards her.

"Miss Cousin."

Granny Chang spotted her immediately. Without trying to avoid her, she knelt down and greeted her while holding the clothes in her hands.

Li Shiyue was slightly surprised. She reached out to support her and said politely, "Isn't Granny inside with Grandmother? I was so engrossed in watching the peach blossoms bloom in the back."

She appeared calm, and her makeup was as light and pretty as ever, typical of a young lady. Seeing that the makeup on her eyebrows and lips was intact, Granny Chang noticed it without making a sound and began to ponder.

"Chang'an came with the young master, and he's all wet. Right now, the young master is talking to the old lady. The seventh young master and the young master are about the same size. Since the fifth young master isn't here, I found two sets of clothes from the seventh young master. The young master and Chang'an will change into them in a bit."

"It's easy to catch a cold in this weather, especially when you're wearing wet clothes."

Li Shiyue looked surprised, then delighted: "Cousin is here? Does cousin know? Why did you suddenly come over in this weather? Could it be that something happened to aunt?"

The worry on her face seemed genuine. Xu Yunci, whom she knew, was always calm and composed. With this kind of weather suddenly changing, who would believe that there wasn't something urgent going on?

Granny Chang saw this and smiled, "This servant doesn't know. Why don't you go in and ask the young master, Miss? It just so happens that the old lady also has something she wants to ask you."

Li Shiyue looked at Granny Chang with a puzzled expression. The latter smiled and said, "Although the old lady is getting on in years, she is still curious about beautiful scenery. After chanting the sutra, she did not see the two young ladies and heard that the young lady was admiring the flowers in the back mountain and did not want to disturb her."

She didn't finish her sentence, and Granny Chang didn't seem inclined to continue.

It was clearly a veiled reminder that Old Madam Xu already knew that Li Shiyue and Xu Yunyao were enjoying the peach blossoms together in the back mountain, and that she was deliberately waiting for Li Shiyue to return.

"Thank you, Granny, I understand."

Granny Chang sighed, looked around, and followed Li Shiyue to her side. In an older tone, she spoke earnestly and softly, "Miss, please forgive this old servant for being nosy, but since you entered the manor, it's obvious to everyone that the old lady favors you."

"The reason why she is so anxious about the girl's marriage is because she is worried that after she passes away, she will not be able to find a confidant who loves her as much as she does."

"This world is peaceful in some ways, but when something really happens, a young lady still needs a powerful backer. The half-brothers of the young ladies in the Yunyang Marquis's mansion are still just babies, and their future is uncertain."

"Even if Madam Shu is willing and truly remembers the kindness of the former Madam, and if young Master Li becomes somewhat successful and can become the young lady's support, it will still take more than ten years. The old lady is getting old and dares not gamble. She is truly afraid that one day she will pass away, leaving the young lady alone in the Xu family."

"This old servant has served the old lady for many years, and her heart is completely devoted to the young lady's marriage. She doesn't ask for great wealth or status, she only asks to protect the young lady, and that is enough. A sincere heart is all she needs."

Knowing she had said too much, and without looking at Li Shiyue's reaction, she took a small step back, clutching her clothes, and followed Li Shiyue into the Zen temple.

Walking down the corridor, Granny Chang didn't rush in. She separated the clothes in her hands, looked at Xu Yunxu's clothes, and then looked at Li Shiyue: "Please trouble Miss to take these clothes in. I'll go check on that boy Chang An."

The two brothers, Chang'an and Changshun, were taken in by Granny Chang and her husband. Later, the elderly couple had no children of their own, so they simply named the two brothers after their own surname and kept them in the Duke's Mansion.

Li Shiyue had heard about this friendship, which had developed halfway through life and was now between grandparents and grandchildren, from Old Madam Xu. Old Madam Xu was naturally pleased that Granny Chang and her husband had found these two good people for Xu Yunci.

He took the clothes from her hands; they were light-colored, round-necked robes with gold crane patterns embroidered on the left side of her chest.

It is the finest brocade, smooth and cool to the touch, a material most favored by gentlemen in the height of summer.

Lian Chun was guarding the door. She noticed that Lian Chun was holding her husband's clothes and guessed that the conversation inside had stopped by now. She unconsciously quickened her pace, making a slight sound as she stepped on the floor.

Lian Chun didn't go any further inside. She stopped at the doorway and raised her voice a few decibels: "Miss Lian is back. Please come in."

The sounds inside gradually subsided. Li Shiyue looked at her approvingly, and Lian Chun, with a respectful expression, curtsied and smiled as she watched her go inside before turning back to her post in the corridor.

Li Shiyue walked in carrying clothes and immediately saw Xu Yunci sitting on the edge of the bed next to Old Madam Xu.

There was no cool breeze inside, and water droplets were still dripping from the ends of his hair. The color of his robe was darker than that of ordinary fabric, and the hem of his robe hanging by his feet was no longer dripping water, but the water stains around his feet were still very obvious.

Madam Xu immediately noticed the clothes in her arms, her eyes filled with meaning: "How is the peach grove on the back mountain? You can go through the rain without catching a cold. Don't come crying to me if you don't want to take your medicine later."

Li Shiyue seemed oblivious to the reproach in Old Madam Xu's voice, and with a smile, she leaned over and handed the clothes in her hands to Old Madam Xu.

“I ran into my fifth cousin and we talked for a while, which delayed my grandmother from seeing me. It was my fault.”

Madam Xu's smile deepened. She glanced at Xu Yunci as if intentionally, then looked away and took her hand: "Where did you find these clothes? You're quite well-informed. You knew that Erlang had come in the rain and his clothes were wet, so you specially brought them over."

She seemed to be deliberately watching a show, stirring up the topic without caring what others thought.

Li Shiyue looked up and subconsciously glanced at Xu Yunci, only to meet his gaze, which held emotions she couldn't decipher.

It surged and churned violently, the scorching heat feeling as if it would overflow at any moment, engulfing her and making it hard to breathe. She didn't like this inexplicable feeling.

It made her feel extremely uneasy. Li Shiyue withdrew her gaze, handed the clothes to Madam Xu, and put them down, seemingly unaware of the teasing in Madam Xu's words.

“I ran into Granny Chang outside the temple. She said that my cousin had brought Chang’an here in the rain without any change of clothes, so he went to my seventh cousin’s place to get two sets. Since I was there, she asked me to bring them in for my cousin, and Granny Chang gave Chang’an some clothes.”

"After all, he is serving his cousin. If he recovers from his illness, I'm afraid you'll feel sorry for your grandson."