They hadn't been standing there long when Old Madam Xu saw them: "When did you come back? And why are you hiding and refusing to see anyone?"

Li Shiyue walked in with a smile, giving Xu Yunci a reproachful look: "It was my cousin who wanted to see what interesting things Chang Shun had found to amuse you, so he dragged me along to take a look."

As she spoke, she raised her left hand and said, "Look, the clothes that were just made are already wrinkled as soon as I put them on."

The young woman's soft voice coaxed the old man, who immediately took her hand with heartache.

"Oh, it's alright. Your cousin has a salary. As the heir of the Rongguo Duke's mansion, let alone spending money to make clothes for you, I think he would be more than willing to send himself to Chengyu Pavilion."

Madam Xu smiled and teased, her eyes practically overflowing with laughter. Li Shiyue wouldn't stand for it and pretended to pull her hand back: "You're just helping my cousin tease me. Grandmother dotes on my cousin more, doesn't she?"

"Please, Grandmother, dote on Yan Yan more. Otherwise, it will be difficult to appease her when she throws a tantrum."

Xu Yunci took off his cloak, walked in, and sat on the other side of Old Madam Xu: "As for my grandson, he's a young man. As long as my cousin doesn't get angry with me, that's fine."

“Look at what you’re saying. It’ll make Grandmother think I’m bullying my cousin.”

Li Shiyue glanced at Xu Yunci, then hugged Old Madam Xu's arm in a coquettish manner: "Please tell me about him."

Madam Xu nodded repeatedly, her lips never drooping: "Alright, alright, tell me what he did, and your grandmother will definitely speak to him on his behalf."

Li Shiyue smiled and sat up: "Let my cousin tell you himself. Today at the Duke of Chengen's mansion, I almost became a laughing stock."

Seeing that Madam Xu was looking over, Xu Yunci showed no impatience, knowing that Li Shiyue was deliberately trying to please Madam Xu.

“It was my fault. I remembered that Mother and Fourth Aunt were going to the Duke of Chengen’s Mansion, and I eagerly got off work to pick them up. It made me feel embarrassed.”

Li Shiyue didn't expect him to say that, and her face instantly turned red with embarrassment. This was not a lie, but she suddenly remembered that when she left the Chengen Duke's Mansion, Song Shi and the others had said that she was very lucky, and that was what they were talking about.

Xu Yunci quickly suppressed the upward curve of his lips; if she really got angry later, he would have to coax her himself.

"I'll ask my father to go with me in the future. My father will pick up my mother, and that will be just right."

Madam Xu was stunned for a moment, and then realized what Xu Yunci had said. She pointed at Xu Yunci with her other finger and laughed incessantly.

Turning to look at Li Shiyue again, she was already blushing so much that her earlobes were burning, and she turned her head away so as not to look at Xu Yunci.

It was unexpected that Xu Yunci, with his aloof nature, could say such things. Old Madam Xu nodded in relief; perhaps fulfilling Erlang's wishes was a good thing.

There are only three days left until Lunar New Year's Eve, but when I went out this morning, a thick layer of clouds pressed down on the distant horizon, as if to suppress the clear blue sky.

As expected, after Li Shiyue stayed by Yang's side until noon, and had lunch before heading to Chengyu Pavilion, it started to snow.

"It's snowing."

Chunling looked up and saw that the dark clouds overhead hung low, showing no sign of dissipating easily.

"A timely snow promises a good harvest. It would be wonderful if a heavy snowfall could fall." Li Shiyue stretched out her hand, the warmth in her palm gradually enveloped by the cold air. The tiny snowflakes began to melt the moment they landed on her palm.

"Yes, a timely snowfall promises a good harvest, which gives us hope that the new year will be better. I heard from Chang Shun that there are many more refugees in the capital recently, and many of them are homeless due to the freezing weather."

Chunling supported her, carefully watching the stone steps under her feet, afraid of slipping.

"The summer heat and heavy rains have already caused flooding, which is estimated to have come from the south. The capital is right under the emperor's nose, and entering the capital is their last hope."

Li Shiyue, lost in thought, turned to look at Chunling: "I remember when Mother brought you back, you told me that you had also experienced fleeing famine."

Chunling was somewhat surprised and nodded: "You still remember all these years. My parents starved to death, and my younger brother had no milk after birth, so he had no way to survive."

“I was pulled out of a pile of dead bodies by my mistress. I was so hungry that I was barely alive. My mistress went to the temple to burn incense and took pity on me and gave me a bite to eat.”

"At that time, I thought to myself, this lady is so beautiful and kind-hearted. That year there was a famine, and food was the most precious thing, but the lady still shared the snacks she carried with her."

"They were afraid I was too young and wouldn't be able to compete with them, so they had someone take me out and feed me properly. They even changed my clothes. Although it's said that boys and girls should be different at seven years old, I was old enough to be considered too young for such things."

"But at that time, we couldn't even solve our hunger problem, and we were already barely clothed. It was the mistress who specially sent someone to the city to buy us a clean set of clothes. Luckily, I had the courage at that time, otherwise I would never have met you, Miss."

Li Shiyue looked at her and thought for a moment, then made a decision in her heart: "What do you think of Granny Chang?"

Chunling was puzzled, but still replied, "Granny is very kind. She treats me like her own daughter. To me, she is a very gentle and respectable elder."

“Granny Chang has served the old lady for many years and must have experienced a lot. I will learn more from her. Granny Chang said that after the young lady and the young master get married, I can also help the young lady with the affairs of the inner quarters.”

“That’s not what I meant. I think you’re all alone. Chang’an and Changshun were taken in by Granny Chang and Steward Chang. Granny Chang likes you very much. Today, my maternal grandmother asked me if you wanted to be their adopted daughter.”

"If you are willing, I will also be your maternal grandmother and aunt. Granny Chang means that she will definitely treat you like her own daughter."

Li Shiyue paused, glanced at Chunling's expression, and then said, "However, I haven't agreed yet. Firstly, I want to ask for your opinion, and I don't want to make the decision for you based on my own thoughts."

"Secondly, you are getting close to Chang Shun, and I'm afraid your relationship might change. If I were to act on my own initiative to do what's best for you, it would actually be bad for you."

"But have you thought this through? Granny Chang likes you and feels sorry for you after hearing about your background. She and Steward Chang have not had children for many years. The two brothers, Chang An and Chang Shun, are adopted sons they took in. Now they are both away with their cousin. The couple wants someone to keep them company."

"Don't feel distressed. No matter what aspect you're in, if you don't want to, no one can force you."

Chunling hadn't hesitated at first, but when she heard Li Shiyue mention Changshun, she visibly hesitated.

"Girl, I don't know."

She lowered her head dejectedly, like a child who had done something wrong.