In the East Flower Hall, a tea party was in full swing. The incense burner was emitting curls of green smoke, which intertwined with the elegant fragrance of Biluochun. The eight-immortal table was filled with exquisite pastries shipped from Suzhou, including rose cakes, tuckahoe cakes, and crystal dumplings. Each one was exquisite and charming.

Second concubine Chen's fingers tightened slightly as she held the silk handkerchief. Just now, the maid came to report that Young Marshal Xie and Zheng Wanqing had asked for leave and would not come. This news made her chest feel tight. Many people came to the tea party today just for Young Marshal Xie's face. The girl Wanqing was the same. She didn't care about her brother's lifelong affairs. She had been raised for nothing for all these years.

She suppressed her unhappiness, put on a smile and turned to Madam Xu: "Madam Xu's crimson cheongsam is really elegant today, and it makes you look even more beautiful." She held Madam Xu's hand affectionately, "Miss Shiyao is even more beautiful, just like a beauty walked out of a painting."

Madam Chen smiled knowingly, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothed out. "Mrs. Chen is too kind." She turned to Ye Qiulan who was sitting at the main seat. "Speaking of which, I have to thank Master Zheng. My son was ill a while ago, and it was thanks to my nephew Yuheng's miraculous healing that he was able to bring him back to health."

Ye Qiulan responded in a gentle voice: "Madam, you are too polite. Since Yuheng is a doctor, it is his duty to save the dying and the wounded."

Seeing that the topic was being diverted, Chen quickly interrupted, "Ms. Shiyao is so outstanding, I'm afraid there must be many people who want to marry her." She kept glancing at her son Zheng Yuming, "Our Yuming has also been..."

Shiyao leaned to the side of the man, frowning slightly. Those deliberately polite words made her feel uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but look around the crowd, just to find that familiar figure. Suddenly, she saw a white suit flashing in the corridor.

The man had a tall and straight figure and gentle eyes. It was Zheng Yuheng.

䛈䀴At this moment, he was having a pleasant conversation with a young lady who was wearing a light blue jacket and skirt with a slanted collar.

Zheng Yuheng reached out and plucked a branch of red plum for the young lady. When the young lady took the branch, two red clouds flew up her cheeks and her eyes were full of tenderness. When Shiyao saw this scene, she suddenly felt a little bitter.

Ye Qiulan also took in the entire scene, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but raise an arc of relief.

Bai Xiao was Wanqing's classmate at the Women's Normal School. Whenever Zheng Wanqing mentioned this senior, she always praised her as "gentle and polite, with a forest-like demeanor." This girl had known Yuheng for more than three years, and she saw that they were in love.

But Yuheng was a blockhead, buried in medical books all day, which delayed the girl for so long. It seems that it is time to discuss the marriage with Baijia, she thought secretly.

"Shiyao, do you want to appreciate the plum blossoms?" Chen keenly noticed Shiyao's absent-mindedness and quickly pushed her son beside her, "I'm just asking Yuming to take you over to have a look." She winked as she spoke.

Madam Nodded in understanding: "Young people don't have to accompany us old people all the time, Shiyao."

Zheng Yuming reluctantly adjusted his wrinkled bow tie.

It was rumored that this daughter of a wealthy family was spoiled and willful. If he married her, she would be strictly controlled. He felt annoyed when he thought that he could no longer go to Paramount to find dancers he liked, or gamble as he pleased.

But on second thought, ever since my father found out that I neglected my work to gamble, the status of my Zheng family has plummeted. Now the gambling debts are piling up, and I am increasingly short of money.

If I can climb up this big tree, with the help of Yueyang Customs Supervisor, I might be able to get a share of Tianjin Port's cargo...

"Miss, please come this way." He forced out a smile that he thought was graceful and made an exaggerated invitation gesture.

Along the way, Zheng Yuming tried to start a conversation several times, but he saw that Shiyao was always distracted.

She responded perfunctorily, but her eyes passed over the figures and followed the white figure that was getting farther and farther away.

Zheng Yuheng followed her gaze, thinking that she wanted to appreciate the plum blossoms.

"Miss, do you also like plum blossoms?" Zheng Yuming asked dryly.

"Hmm..." Shiyao responded nonchalantly, and suddenly quickened her pace and walked forward.

Before Zheng Yuming could react, she had already blocked Zheng Yuheng and Bai Xiao.

"Brother Yuheng." She bowed, her voice a little clearer than before.

Zheng Yuheng was slightly surprised, then nodded gently: "Sister Shiyao is here today too. Did Brother Changqing come with you?"