Li Shiyue spoke seriously, without a trace of joking.

Just moments ago, Madam Yang had favored her own son, but seeing how considerate she was of others, she was almost exasperated. If she was so considerate of others, what if they didn't remember her kindness in the future? Wouldn't her kind-hearted child be bullied?

"Silly child, since you've asked, just tell us. We'll stand up for you, they won't dare disobey."

Li Shiyue was both amused and exasperated, but she really didn't have any feelings for her cousins. There was one in the west courtyard who did have feelings for her, but if she wanted him to get his way, she would rather die than suffer the same fate as in her previous life.

“Aunt, I really have no other thoughts. My cousins ​​have all treated me very well. My fifth and seventh cousins ​​treat me like their own sisters. I have everything that my sixth cousin and the others have.”

"Not to mention my cousin, the Crown Prince. He has helped me even more since the day I arrived in the capital. He treats me like family. But when it comes to marriage, I have absolutely no clue what to do."

With a hint of pleading in her voice, Li Shiyue gently tugged at Yang's sleeve, swaying as she looked at Yang with a pitiful expression.

Helpless, Madam Yang looked at Old Madam Xu, who had remained silent.

"Alright, let's choose between Wulang and Qilang. I plan to go to Zhaode Temple to offer incense in a few days. In previous years, Liuniang has accompanied me. You can come with me this year too."

After Madam Xu finished speaking, she saw joy appear in Li Shiyue's eyes and sighed in her heart: She is still a child at heart.

In truth, she secretly favored Li Shiyue. Xu Yunci would inherit the position of Duke in the future, so if it came to protecting Li Shiyue, Xu Yunci would be the first person she would consider.

However, Xu Yunci's new wife would inevitably be the matriarch of the Xu family, and the matters she would need to manage daily would extend far beyond the inner quarters. The relationships between the various households would also require her careful attention.

She couldn't bear to see Li Shiyue working so hard. Over the past few days, she had watched her go from being cautious when she first arrived to now showing signs of a young woman's temper. She would rather Li Shiyue marry an ordinary man who would treat her well.

Seeing Li Shiyue's childlike nature just now, she decided to change her mind and choose between Wulang and Qilang.

Although Wu Lang was born into the fourth branch of the family, he was of good character and had been close to Er Lang since childhood. Moreover, Qi Lang was the youngest son of the eldest branch and was Xu Yunci's half-brother. Either way, Xu Yunci would be able to take care of Li Shiyue in the future out of consideration for his brother.

Having made up her mind, Madam Xu held Li Shiyue's hand and asked persistently, "Between Wulang and Qilang, do you really not have a good feeling about either of them?"

When Li Shiyue saw the earnest look in Old Madam Xu's eyes, she swallowed back the "no" that was on the tip of her tongue. After thinking for a while, she said, "Fifth Cousin, I'll have to rely on you to speak up for me on my first day in the manor."

Hearing the first half of the sentence, Old Madam Xu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but the second half turned into a long sigh. Sure enough, her little darling wasn't moved, only had a slight liking for him.

Madam Xu did not insist, but she was thinking about how to get Li Shiyue to connect with Wulang or Qilang during her stay at Zhaode Temple.

If she were to marry Li Shiyue off, she wouldn't feel at ease knowing who she knew so well. Her youngest daughter was her only child, and she had already suffered a lot before coming to the Xu family. If she couldn't find a good husband for her in the future, she would have no face to face her youngest daughter and the old man.

Li Shiyue's gaze suddenly fell on a portrait placed on the wooden table. She reached out and pulled it out, finding the face extremely familiar.

"Isn't this Guo Shaoqing?"

Ms. Yang asked in surprise, "You know him?"

Li Shiyue shook her head: "I've seen him before, but I don't know him."

She told Yang about Guo Xun's visit to Guanqing Garden, and a hint of something changed in Yang's eyes. She took the portrait and examined it for a long time.

"This Guo Shaoqing entered the court in the same year as Erlang. Erlang was the top scholar in the imperial examination, while Guo Shaoqing was the third-ranked scholar that year. He came from a poor family and when he first met Erlang, he thought Erlang was a playboy from a wealthy family. There was a big misunderstanding back then."

"However, since he took office, he has been honest and upright, which caught the emperor's eye. Erlang also felt that this person should not be overlooked and was a talented person, so he mentioned him to the emperor. He lived up to expectations and did very well in the Ministry of Justice. Now he is also the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

"If we wait a few more years, he will probably be the youngest Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in this dynasty. I heard that he lost both his parents at a young age and was raised by his uncle and aunt. Now that he is an official, he has also brought his uncle and aunt to the capital. I have heard that his cousin is unambitious and refuses to study because he relies on his salary."

Madam Xu listened intently and looked at the portrait: "He is a handsome young man. According to you, he has not been led astray and is a promising talent."

Madam Yang handed over the portrait: "This is not something I heard from you, but what the Duke told me. After all, he was looking at the portrait for Sixth Sister, how could the Duke not be concerned?"

Li Shiyue covered her mouth and smiled faintly: "Uncle may be stern, but he really loves his cousins. The fact that he can find out so much about their future husbands shows that he has put in a lot of effort. He is afraid that his sixth cousin might not have found a good match."

When a woman marries, she becomes someone else's wife. If she suffers any injustice, it's good that her family can stand up for her. But she has to live her own life; she can't rely on her family for everything.

Li Shiyue lowered her eyes. She had a living example of this, and she didn't want her sixth cousin to marry someone like her father in the future.

Madam Yang said regretfully, "It's a pity I've never met him in person. If he truly has good character, I might as well mention it to the Duke."

Li Shiyue's eyes lit up: "We should ask my cousin about this."

She dared not take Xu Lingzi's matter lightly. Anyone whom Xu Yunci could associate with must be quite remarkable.

She was more enthusiastic about it than about her own marriage. Yang sighed helplessly, "You talk about being enthusiastic, but why do you become so listless when you talk about yourself?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Shiyue wilted and kept backing away. This made Madam Yang and Old Madam Xu burst out laughing, with Old Madam Xu even jokingly scolding, "You little rascal!"

"Oh, my sixth cousin's marriage is something we have to be serious about. She's been so good to me, I can't just watch her marry the wrong person."

"Moreover, the fact that my cousin was able to befriend Guo Shaoqing and even invite him to his private villa must mean that Guo Shaoqing has something special about him. Even if we don't trust others, my grandmother and aunt will believe my cousin's faults."

"As the eldest brother, it's only right for me to discipline my sixth cousin's wife."

Li Shiyue held onto Old Madam Xu's arm and blinked, but her suggestion did indeed resonate with Old Madam Xu and Madam Yang.

What kind of person is Xu Yunci? If he doesn't want to, who can force him? The fact that he can befriend Guo Xun suggests that Guo Xun is a decent person.