Madam Wen naturally wouldn't take it seriously; after all, anyone would be polite after hearing such words, and Madam Lin was no exception.

She knew her son's thoughts and her husband's loyalty to the Emperor. The Emperor had deep feelings for the ninth young lady of the Shen family. If the Wen family could also get involved with the Shen family, and if the ninth young lady of the Shen family could enter the palace in the future, then the Wen family's status in front of the Emperor would be self-evident.

He immediately lowered his voice and inquired, "I wonder if the seventh young lady of your household is engaged?"

Generally speaking, saying this clearly indicates an intention to arrange a marriage. Upon hearing this, Lin's mind began to change.

She has only one son and one daughter. Her son, Shen Anzhang, is sixteen years old this year and has reached the age of marriage. However, the families she has chosen are too high-class and they look down on her because of her humble birth. They are unwilling to associate with her. She also looks down on families of lower social status. As a result, her son's marriage has been put on hold without any progress.

In this way, she would have to carefully consider the marriages of these concubine daughters. It would be best if they could marry into a better family, which would benefit her own family and also be helpful to Shen Anzhang.

Shen Mingxi's birth mother was someone she had personally helped rise to power, and she had previously been her personal maid. Therefore, she had complete and thorough control over Shen Mingxi and did not need to worry that Shen Mingxi would turn against her after marrying into a higher social class.

Of all the concubine's daughters around him, the only one he could actually use was Shen Mingxi.

Shen Ming'e was born to Consort Lin, who was favored by her husband and naturally wouldn't be of one mind with her. How could her daughter possibly be of any use to her? It's likely that after her marriage to a higher social class, her first priority would be to help Consort Lin consolidate her position in the Shen family, rather than to thank her for helping her marry into a prestigious family.

In this way, she will carefully select a marriage for Shen Mingxi, and preferably one that will be of the greatest benefit to Shen Anzhang.

The Wen family is quite good. Lord Wen is currently enjoying great favor with the emperor. If Shen Mingxi can marry into the family, their family will have someone to speak up for them in front of the emperor.

However, after comparing several options, even though the Wen family was already quite good, she still felt that she should wait a little longer, in case there was an even better family.

Having made up her mind, Madam Lin smiled and said vaguely, "Our Seventh Miss has grown up under my care since childhood, just like my Ming Shu. My husband is very concerned about her marriage, so he instructed me to carefully select a match. Even if a suitable family is found, we must discuss it after he returns."

The implication was quite ambiguous.

Not yet engaged, and unable to make her own decisions, Madam Wen felt a pang of anxiety, her smile froze, and she pondered what Lin was really up to.

Not wanting to dwell on the topic any longer, Madam Lin smiled and changed the subject, saying, "I heard that today's flower-adorned banquet was prepared by the imperial chefs. I wonder what kind of dishes they have."

"The one who came was Cui Qiaoshou from the Empress Dowager's palace. I heard that no matter what kind of dough it is, once it passes through her hands, it can immediately be transformed into all kinds of rare delicacies and pastries that cannot be bought outside."

Madam Wen's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and the girls around Madam Lin could hear it. Shen Ming'e couldn't help but ask Shen Mingzhuang, "Have you ever eaten the palace pastries? The pastries at the Empress Dowager's place are different from those at His Majesty's place!"

Seeing that her daughters were all quietly inquiring about what was happening here, Madam Lin whispered a few words to Granny Jiang beside her, and Granny Jiang nodded.

While enjoying tea and snacks, Shen Mingzhuang listened to Shen Mingxi talk about the imperial desserts she had eaten, and at the same time, he looked at what flowers the ladies and young ladies in the garden were wearing in their hair. It seemed that none of the young ladies were wearing forsythia flowers in their hair!