The sudden interruption of correspondence, along with the strange explanations from the servants of the Vice Minister's residence, filled Wei Shuyao with unease.

She lingered outside the Du residence for a long time before Caizhu tentatively asked, "Miss, shall we go back?"

“Caizhu, I have a feeling that something is amiss about this. She told me to wait patiently, and that good things would come my way in the next few days. Could it be that Young Master Du is going to the second branch of the family?”

“But Miss clearly told Young Master Du in her letter that this matter should not be publicized, and he agreed.” Caizhu was also puzzled, but she figured that her words implied that she was going to visit him.

"Then what should we do?"

Seeing Wei Shuyao's flustered state, Caizhu thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you go and see Miss Biao? Maybe she has delayed the letter again."

Although Cai Die is now a proper young lady of the Wei family, Cai Zhu still can't change her way of addressing her and still calls her "cousin." Wei Shuyao felt that this was the only way at the moment, and reminded Cai Zhu, "When you see her later, don't mention the word 'cousin' in front of her."

"This servant understands."

Because her departure was not honorable, Wei Shuyao could not be open about returning to the second branch of the family. She hid behind a tree and waited while Caizhu wore her veil and knocked on the door.

As the gatekeeper came out, Caizhu pinched her throat and changed her tone, afraid of being recognized: "Please inform your lady Caidie that a friend from Ruyi Inn wants to see her."

Ruyi Inn was where Wei Shuyao was staying, and Cai Die would guess it was them as soon as she heard it.

The gatekeeper responded and closed the door. A moment later, he came out and said, "Young lady is having dinner with the old lady right now and is not available to receive guests. Please come another day."

Upon receiving this reply, Caizhu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly relayed the message to Wei Shuyao.

Wei Shuyao frowned. "She should know that I must have something important to ask of her when I come to her, but she's avoiding me..."

"Young lady, could it be that she thinks the benefits aren't enough?"

Wei Shuyao hesitated for a moment, then took a purple jade hairpin from her hair, wrapped it in a handkerchief, and handed it to Caizhu: "Have the gatekeeper give this to her."

Caizhu took the hairpin and knocked on the door again. Wei Shuyao watched helplessly as the hairpin entered the doorman's hand, her heart bleeding.

This was the last piece of jewelry Du Shao had given her. But if it could help her marry a good man, there was nothing she couldn't bear to part with. Thinking this, Wei Shuyao felt a little better and began to look forward to Caidie coming out to see her.

However, the doorman returned shortly afterward, handing the handkerchief containing the purple jade hairpin back to Caizhu.

Caizhu returned helplessly: "Miss, she still says she's busy."

"What if she finishes having dinner with her grandmother?"

"I already said we could wait, but the gatekeeper said that Lady Caidie is busy today and can't see any guests, so we should come back another day."

Wei Shuyao was heartbroken and walked back in a daze, not even getting into the carriage.

Meanwhile, Wei Shuwan was having dinner with everyone in the dining hall. Earlier, the gatekeeper had come repeatedly to report that someone wanted to see Caidie, but Caidie had refused each time, which made her feel a little strange. In addition, Caidie looked agitated and uneasy at the moment, which made her gossipy. She tried to provoke her by saying, "Sister, you are so heartless today, turning away your friends again and again."

Before Cai Die could speak, Wei Ping couldn't hold back any longer, "Being ruthless is the right thing to do. Our Cai Die can't be fickle these days."

The phrase "fickle and opportunistic" is hard not to make one think, causing everyone present to put down their chopsticks and look up. Sun Lurong asked, "Has Cai Die met someone she likes?"

Wei Ping pursed her lips, then suddenly smiled and said, "Since Green Rong asked, I won't hide it from you anymore. Cai Die has indeed met a nice young master, and he said he's going to visit us soon."

Everyone looked surprised, but Wei Shuwan noticed that her grandmother, who doted on Cai Die and her daughter, was surprisingly calm, though a hint of smug joy played on her lips. It was clear she had known about this all along.

However, this also explains why Cai Die has been going out a lot lately; the two of them haven't spent much time together yet.

“This is wonderful news! But I wonder which young master is he?” Sun Lurong asked again.

This time, Lady Wei finally broke her silence and said with a radiant smile, "It is the eldest son of Vice Minister Du of the Ministry of Rites, named Du Shao. He is said to be a handsome and talented man."

“Vice Minister Du of the Ministry of Rites?” Sun Lurong had never dealt with this man’s household before and knew nothing about him. She turned to her husband and asked, “Does Master recognize him?”

Wei Zheng nodded slowly: "I have met him before, and I do have some impression of him. This Vice Minister Du is a cousin of Chancellor Du."

When Du Jijiu was mentioned, Sun Lurong remembered that he was the father of the young master Du Xun, who had visited her home and caused a rift between the sisters.

“The young master of the Du family has visited our residence. I have seen him in person. He is outstanding in both appearance and talent. Since we are cousins, the young master of the Du family must be just as good.”

Although Sun Lurong's words were just New Year's greetings, they were very pleasing to Wei Wenshi and Wei Ping.

However, Wei Zheng spoke up again, stroking his thin beard and asking doubtfully, "But it is said that this Vice Minister Du's wife has only given birth to one daughter..."

Upon hearing this, Wei Ping and Wei Caidie, whose faces had been filled with smugness just moments before, suddenly seemed to have suffered a significant blow. Since the child wasn't born to the principal wife, it could only have been born to a concubine.

Lady Wei Wen understood what was going on and smoothed things over, saying, "Even if he is the son of a concubine in the Vice Minister's household, we are still doing him a disservice! Besides, he is the eldest son, so he will surely be highly regarded by his father."

Wei Wenshi understood perfectly well that Wei Ping and her daughter could not compare to the second branch of the family. Although the second branch had been stripped of their official rank after experiencing imprisonment, they still had the confidence of being the richest family in Jiangzuo. Even if Wei Shuwan could not marry the Prince of Xiaoqiaochuan, she could still marry a decent man.

But Cai Die is different. She grew up in the countryside with her mother since childhood. The Wei family of Wu County fell into decline a few years after she was recognized by the Wei family. Now, even though she has taken the Wei surname, she has no real family to support her. Being able to marry the illegitimate son of Minister Du is already the best possible match.

Hearing her mother say this, Wei Ping's initial shock dissipated, and she quickly echoed, "Mother is absolutely right! So it's the wisest thing to keep those philanderers away. How could those ordinary mortals possibly covet my Cai Die?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Caidie knew that her mother must have taken the hairpin that Wei Shuyao had sent earlier as an attempt to seduce her by some lecherous man. She couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed.

Just then, the gatekeeper, who had been dismissed not long ago, suddenly returned. Fearing that Wei Shuyao was outside the door, Cai Die quickly and preemptively lashed out: "What, is that person still not leaving? Tell him that if he doesn't leave, we'll beat him to a pulp!"

The gatekeeper paused for a moment before quickly explaining, "This time it wasn't them; it was a letter delivered by a servant from the Du family in Qiqin Lane."