"The fourth branch hasn't come over for a few days. The last time they came was after the imperial edict was read out."

The rain showed no signs of letting up, dripping down the eaves with a pattering sound. The gray steps underfoot remained dry, while the ground not covered by the eaves was already soaked by the rain.

Granny Chang had been with Old Madam Xu for a long time and had seen a lot, so she wouldn't say something like that for no reason.

Seeing Li Shiyue looking over, she simply smiled slightly, leaving the rest for Li Shiyue to figure out on her own.

The rain seemed to be lessening late at night, but soon a more intense storm struck, pounding against the windowpanes.

Li Shiyue remembered what Granny Chang had said during the day; it was so abrupt, and she couldn't sleep until she understood it.

The fourth branch of the family is currently busy with Xu Yunyao's marriage to Zhang Shi, and Zhou Shi is too busy to come over.

However, Xu Lingqing had been coming over frequently in the past few days, always staying at Shousong Hall for half a day before returning home.

Yes, Xu Lingqing.

Li Shiyue suddenly sat up. Wei Yujie's unusual behavior later occurred during the two days Xu Lingqing visited. If you want to know, just try it and you'll find out.

Chun Jin Xuan was closer to the third family's courtyard, but Wei Yu Jie was still quite surprised when she learned that Li Shi Yue was coming.

She hurried out, and Li Shiyue and Chunling had just entered the courtyard when Wei Yujie immediately noticed the wooden box in Chunling's hand.

It was closed, and I didn't know what was inside. The red lacquered wooden box had exquisite and clear patterns, and it didn't look like an ordinary item.

"The rain just stopped. If there was anything, you could have just asked me to run errands for you. Why did you come all the way here in person?"

Wei Yujie's smile deepened as she lifted her skirt and walked down the steps, as if nothing had happened.

“This morning I asked Lian Dong to organize the things in the storeroom. Some of the jewelry was pieces I had never worn before. I thought they would suit you, so I thought I’d get them for you.”

Wei Yujie's eyes lit up with joy: "That's such a coincidence! I just made a few new velvet flowers and was thinking of sending them to my cousin Yan Yan."

The two went inside, and after a while, Li Shiyue came out smiling. Chunling's wooden box had been replaced with a velvet flower made by Wei Yujie.

"Don't bother seeing me off, I'm heading back now."

Wei Yujie nodded, her mind filled with delight as she thought about the jewelry: "Take care, cousin."

Li Shiyue returned to Chengyu Pavilion with Chunling, and soon after, Liandong returned with Qiufan. After that day, Wei Yujie had two new maids, and even the house maids were sent back to the Wei family by Wei Shi's orders.

"As you predicted, the maid named Sheng'er, who was with me, secretly went to Eighth Miss's place."

Qiu Fan was a little out of breath when she spoke. She had returned later than Lian Dong and had to drink a large gulp of water to catch her breath. She repeated what she had heard: "This servant heard Sheng'er and the elder sister beside the Eighth Miss say that the young lady went to Chun Jin Xuan and stayed there for a long time before coming out. She got along very well with Miss Wei, but I don't know what they talked about."

"What are you doing? Aren't you and Eighth Miss very close?" Chunling frowned, looking at Liandong with confusion.

The latter glanced at Li Shiyue's ambiguous smile and shook her head almost imperceptibly. She gestured for Qiu Fan to go outside and stand guard, lest their conversation be overheard.

"I'd like to know why too."

Li Shiyue put down her teacup, showing no intention of drinking. Ever since her birthday, Xu Lingqing's behavior had become very unusual.

Xu Lingqing was the only legitimate daughter of the fourth branch of the family. If she disliked illegitimate children, then it would be understandable that Zhou Shi tacitly approved of Xu Yunyao's actions regarding her concubine.

At most, people might feel surprised and taken a second look at Xu Lingqing, but her actions—having people keep an eye on Chengyu Pavilion and Chunjin Pavilion, and instigating Wei Yujie to go to Xu Yunci—almost ruined Xu Yunci's reputation.

If an imperial censor were to submit a memorial to the emperor, and Xu Yunci were to be reprimanded, the Xu family would not benefit either. Li Shiyue could not understand what her purpose was in doing this.

If Xu Lingwan could dislike her in the past, it was true that she and Xu Lingwan had a bad relationship before.

But Xu Lingqing was different. When she entered the mansion, Xu Lingqing acted gently and approachably, and never said anything offensive.

"What does the young lady want to do next?" Lian Dong and Chun Ling exchanged a glance. She didn't think Li Shiyue would stop there.

Li Shiyue remained silent, resting her chin on her hands, seemingly lost in thought. Finally, she sighed and said softly, "Keep an eye on things for now, but don't alert them. The Duke's mansion must still have spies from the fourth branch, but we don't know if they were left behind by Xu Lingqing or Fourth Aunt."

She paused, looked up at the sky outside, where there were still some dark clouds, but the blue gaps between them were gradually widening.

"Chunling, go find Changshun. I want to see my cousin later."

Chunling pursed her lips: "Yes, but these past few days, the young master and the duke have been so busy with the heavy rain that they haven't had a moment to spare. If the young master is at the manor, he will definitely see you, Miss."

Li Shiyue felt somewhat conflicted. After hearing Chunling's words, she flicked her sleeves in slight annoyance.

"Miss, are you troubled by this matter and want to talk to the young master about it?" As Lian Dong finished speaking, she met Li Shiyue's gaze, and Li Shiyue nodded in agreement.

“My cousin and she are siblings with the same surname. They have known each other for more than ten years, so naturally, they have known each other for much longer than I have. If I tell him these things, will he think that I am not good to my younger sister at home?”

Li Shiyue slumped back, with no one else around, letting herself lean against the cushions. She looked up at the window, lost in thought, and stared at the thick, lingering dark clouds, feeling even more annoyed.

"Probably not, the young master dotes on you very much." Chunling fidgeted with her fingers, though she wasn't entirely sure herself, since she didn't really know Xu Yunci.

She herself felt uneasy saying those words, let alone Li Shiyue who was listening.

“Chunling’s words make sense. If the young master doesn’t care about you, the marriage is already arranged, so there’s no need to ask for an imperial decree. Your concerns are both right and wrong. You are the one who will be with the young master for the long term. You two are the ones who will spend the next few decades together.”

“The young lady’s concerns are reasonable. Although the young master seems aloof, he actually cares a lot about the young men and women in the household and dotes on them. But if they make mistakes, the young master will not show any leniency.”

Lian Dong tugged at Chun Ling's sleeve and spoke first; she had learned these words from Old Madam Xu.

It's not that Chunling shouldn't speak, it's just that she doesn't get to the point and annoys Li Shiyue. If it causes a rift between Li Shiyue and Xu Yunci, the girl herself will be the one who suffers.

“The young lady wants to be honest with the young master so that they can face it together. It’s better not to let the young master find out in the future and let a small matter become a barrier between the young lady and the young master.”

"However, the young master has been so busy with the floods these past few days that we can hardly see him. Why not wait a few more days and see what else the eighth young lady wants to do, and then tell the young master together? Wouldn't that be better?"