Yi Ning was somewhat pleased to hear this. Third Brother was usually very busy. If it weren't for a holiday, he'd even be busy taking a day off. But holidays often involved social engagements, family gatherings, or ancestor worship, so he never had time to go out and see the world.

The temple fair was bustling, but she didn't go out often and had only seen it once or twice as a child. The nearby Fazhao Temple held a temple fair every winter solstice and Lantern Festival, and she really wanted to go and see it.

"Then I'll wait for you to come back." Yining said, "By the way, mother left some mutton hotpot for you. Come back to eat it tonight."

He nodded and turned back to his colleagues.

Yang Ling complained, "Luo San, you're so unkind! Your wife and I are old acquaintances. What's the big deal about just saying hello?"

"I'm mainly worried that my sister-in-law will plot against you when you return." Luo Shenyuan said slowly, his mood calming down a bit. Then he lowered his voice and said, "Let's go to the study to talk."

The group gradually disappeared.

Yining, thinking about going to the temple fair that evening, asked the maid to find two thicker cloaks to protect her from the cold. Zhenzhu patted the cloak with a duster and smiled, "It's rare to see you so happy."

Yining looked out the partition at the snow-covered courtyard, reflecting the azure sky. She hadn't felt this relaxed since the incident with Lu Jiaxue. She even asked Zhenzhu to spread out some paper and draw a picture of the snowy scene.

She could only paint when Luo Shenyuan was not around. If he was around, he would definitely give her a lot of pointers and criticisms. She painted just for fun, so why did she need so much instruction from him?

After finishing her painting, Yi Ning took one of his paintings from the old, large-bellied celadon jar next to her and compared them. Inside, a warm stove burned. His tortoise, brought in from outside, made subtle noises inside the vat. She felt it might take her ten years to reach his level. She put the painting back where it belonged and took a short nap by the fire.

She was woken by a maid calling out, "...The Sixth Miss has returned from burning incense and brought guests with her! Madam has gone to the main house, and the Master wants you to help with the reception."

The guest that Luo Yilian brought back was Mrs. Cao who had come last time. She said that she happened to meet her on her way to Luo's house.

When Yi Ning walked out of the main hall, she heard Luo Yi Lian's gentle voice: "Everything is fine. Thank you for your concern, Madam."

Aunt Qiao was a concubine and was not worthy of being in public. When Lin Hairu was not around, it was naturally Luo Yining who came out to receive her.

Yi Ning brought his people into the main hall and greeted Mrs. Cao.

Madam Cao looked at her and smiled, "I saw you last time. You seem to be the sixth young lady's third sister-in-law, right?"

Yi Ning had the maid serve her the best tea. "That's right. My mother has gone to visit my aunt and will probably be back later. Madam, please don't be offended. If you have anything to say about this marriage, just tell me."

When Luo Yilian saw her coming, a sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth.

She slowly closed her hand, nails stained with Impatiens juice, revealing a pair of bracelets on her slender, beautiful wrist. Yining recognized them at a glance as fine, full-green jadeite, priceless.

Aunt Qiao might not have anything like this on hand.

"I came to see how the Sixth Miss is doing and how preparations are going at home. The date the Governor mentioned cannot be delayed." Madam Cao smiled. "Nothing else matters. But I have to ask if anyone from the family will be there to escort the bride. The Marquis said it would be best if my sister-in-law were to accompany her, so that Miss Yi Lian wouldn't feel uncomfortable in the Lu family."

He, Lu Jiaxue, was only marrying a concubine, so who else was he going to see her off? Could it be that he really had the power to do whatever he wanted?

Besides, why would she go to see the bride off? She was still very afraid of Lu Jiaxue.

"The matter of sending the bride off still needs to be discussed at home," Yi Ning said. "I can't make a decision yet. I'm afraid we'll have to wait for Mother to come back to discuss it."

Madam Cao smiled and said leisurely, "Of course, this is up to you. I am just conveying the governor's words."

He said this simply because he was unhappy about her rejection.

At that moment, someone outside announced that Luo Chengzhang had arrived. He wouldn't have been the one to receive any other female relatives, but since Madam Cao was representing Lu Jiaxue, it was a special occasion. Luo Chengzhang gave Luo Yining a cold look upon entering. Madam Cao stood up to greet him, and Luo Chengzhang smiled and asked her to sit down. "Madam Cao, thank you for taking the trouble to come all this way. I just heard what you said outside. My daughter is honored to be favored by the governor. If the governor wants someone to escort her, it's naturally acceptable! You can just go back and report it."

Mrs. Cao's expression finally relaxed. "Thank goodness Lord Luo knows how to be polite. I'll go back and report to the governor!"

When Yi Ning heard this, she understood that Luo Chengzhang had been listening next to her.

Only after the housekeeper escorted Madam Cao out did Luo Chengzhang's face darken. His tone was not very positive. "Third daughter-in-law, Sister Lian wants to marry the governor. He said that the family would agree to it. How could you contradict Madam Cao? If I hadn't heard it from outside and came in, how would you have ended it?"

Yi Ning stood up and said, "Father, it has never been customary to marry a concubine and then send off the bride. If you want to send off the bride, then go ahead. I won't be sending off the bride anyway. You can choose either of the eldest or second sister-in-laws."

Luo Chengzhang felt that she was being ungrateful: "What's wrong with sending Sister Lian'er to get married? And sending her to the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, don't you think you'll lose your status? It's fine if you don't want to, but everyone else is vying to be sent, what else do they need?"

Luo Yining didn't argue with him about this and left with a cold look on his face.

After she left, Luo Yilian took her father's hand and said, "Third sister-in-law was really rude to you. You are her father-in-law, and logically speaking, she shouldn't say no to anything you tell her to do. You asked her to send the bride off, how dare she refuse!"

Luo Chengzhang patted her hand and said, "Your third brother defends her, and with the Duke of Ying behind him, I can't say anything harsh. But after you marry Commander Lu, she won't dare to refute you no matter what you say. Just wait and see!"

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!