Back in the courtyard, Yang Hui kept looking around, and anxiously asked the maid who had run back, "Did Mother say anything?"

The maid shook her head and pursed her lips, saying, "The Duchess didn't say anything, but she didn't seem very happy. We rushed back as soon as the Xu family was still here, so it's understandable that the Duchess is unhappy."

Yang Hui sat back down, and the maid came over. After thinking for a moment, she repeated what had just happened.

"You mean, it was only after the Princess of Yichang spoke up that Mother became so kind? I doubt she was really that kind."

Seeing the suspicion on Yang Hui's face, the maid said helplessly, "My good girl, why do we have to provoke the Princess of Yichang County? She is a cousin of the Duke of Rongguo's family, personally appointed by the Emperor."

"Moreover, this servant feels that what the Princess of Yichang and Miss Fu said are different." The maid's face showed some struggle as she looked at Yang Hui.

Yang Hui didn't speak, but kept fidgeting with her fingers, frowning as she thought about something.

The maid suddenly seemed to remember something: "Oh right, the young master has returned to the manor. He was brought back by the Duke."

At this moment, in the main hall, Li Shiyue was walking out beside Yang Shi, while Song Shi on the other side was still smiling and saying polite words like "Come visit again in the future".

Before they could even step out of the main hall, a mournful wail came from the doorway: "Mother! My mother!"

The loud wail caused everyone to look up and see a young man with a worried expression running in from outside the door, as if he were being chased by a raging flood.

Upon seeing Madam Song in the main hall, her eyes lit up, and her wailing grew louder. She cried out "Mother, my mother!" several times, her voice so loud that it startled the sparrows nesting under the eaves.

Madam Song's face visibly darkened. As the young man lunged at her, she grabbed his ear and twisted it, saying, "Mother, mother, it's almost New Year's, are you going to mourn your mother?"

Before he could even see who it was, the pain in his ear made the young man turn pale, and he bent over to meet Song's strong grip.

"No, no, my mother is living to be a hundred years old. I've come to you for help, but my father is about to use family discipline again."

"Ahem, Jiulang, there are still guests here." The lady beside Song spoke up at the right time, also reminding Song. She was the mistress of the second wife, and her husband was the younger brother of the Duke of Chengen.

Madam Song snapped out of her daze, quickly released her grip, and said through gritted teeth, "Come over here and greet them. This is the Duchess of Rongguo and Madam Xu."

The young man rubbed his ears and then noticed that the Yang family members were all in the main hall, including several people he didn't recognize.

"Junior Yang Ke greets Lady Rongguo and Lady Xu."

He rubbed his ears, and his bow was not very proper.

Madam Yang didn't pay any attention, but Madam Song glared at her son, suppressing her anger. What was wrong with her two children today?

"Wait a minute, I'll deal with you."

Turning her head, Madam Song looked at the Xu family and smiled kindly: "This child isn't very bright, don't worry about him, don't worry about him."

Yang was somewhat surprised by this description.

“It’s normal for the young master to be active.” Zhou Shi’s lips twitched slightly. This young lady of the Cheng’en Duke’s mansion was so delicate and the young master was so active, which was very different from other families.

Yang Ke, who was still rubbing his ears, suddenly noticed Li Shiyue beside Yang Shi and waved happily when he saw Li Shiyue looking over.

As soon as Madam Song turned around, she saw her son grinning foolishly with his big white teeth showing. She raised her hand and slapped him: "You stupid thing, haven't you even greeted the Princess of Yichang yet?"

Yang Ke clutched his arm and howled. Seeing that Song Shi was about to raise her hand again, he quickly gave Li Shiyue a rather informal bow.

"May the magistrate of Yichang County be safe."

"Greetings, Young Master Yang." Li Shiyue curtsied slightly in return. But when she looked up and saw Yang Ke's gaze, she turned away to avoid it.

This person is a bit strange.

Yang Ke suddenly seemed to remember something and slapped her forehead: "I remember now!"

"You're going to scare me to death!" Madam Song said through gritted teeth, glancing at Madam Yang and Madam Zhou who were deliberately looking away, while giving her son a warning look.

Yang Ke shrank his neck: "I just remembered that my second brother's marriage was arranged with the Princess of Yichang County, but I didn't remember it when I saw her in person."

The "second brother" he mentioned was Xu Yunci.

"Oh right, my second brother is here too. I ran a little too fast, and it seems like he couldn't keep up." Yang Ke met Song Shi's warning gaze and unconsciously hid behind her aunts.

Song wanted to press his philtrum, but he had the nerve to say that he had abandoned his guests and ran away when they came.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Yunci, who had walked in with the Duke of Chengen, was seen walking steadily and stopping beside Madam Yang.

"Today, Duke Cheng'en and Qilang went to the Jingzhao Prefecture. I remember that Mother came to Duke Cheng'en's residence as a guest, so I came along."

Xu Yunci remained calm and did not shy away from Yang's probing gaze, standing beside Li Shiyue.

"Look at Li Ze, and then look at you, you good-for-nothing." Duke Cheng'en's goatee was practically standing on end with anger. He pointed at Yang Ke and said nothing more.

"Now that Lord Cheng'en has returned, we should also head back. We'll definitely come to your residence for a small gathering another day," Madam Yang said with a smile, not wanting to hear about other people's private affairs.

"Definitely, definitely," Madam Song replied, perhaps feeling embarrassed, and personally saw the person out.

After leaving the Chengen Duke's mansion, Xu Yunci also got into the carriage. Madam Yang glanced at him as he got in, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly: "What, why don't you ride your horse and come squeeze into our carriage?"

Seemingly oblivious to the sarcasm in Yang's words, Xu Yunci feigned ignorance: "If Mother finds it crowded, then I'll tell Father that we need to build a bigger carriage so that our family won't be so crowded when we go out."

Madam Yang chuckled, no longer teasing him about his intentions. She turned to Li Shiyue and asked, "Why did you help Yang's Eleventh Sister out of that predicament? What happened in the garden?"

Li Shiyue glanced at Xu Yunci, who was also looking over, nodded, and recounted what had happened by the lake without hiding anything. She simply omitted the "Sister Fu" from Yang Hui's words and replaced it with rumors.

The smile on Yang's face gradually faded. Li Shiyue looked up at Xu Yunci and said, "I don't know where these words came from. What is the purpose of doing this? To slander me or the Xu family?"

“You did a good job. The angrier you act, the happier those people will be.” Madam Yang was deep in thought, seemingly lost in thought. If this was just a rumor, it absolutely could not be allowed to continue.

Li Shiyue didn't speak, but raised her eyebrows slightly when she looked up at Xu Yunci.