Under a large tree behind the teahouse, Wei Mingzhou's servants, Aji and Caiyan, were talking in hushed tones.
Caiyan held a round fan and shook it, then frowned and said, "Aji, if your young master had married the girl sooner, we wouldn't have to wait outside in this sweltering heat."
Aji chuckled, "Sister Caiyan, you can see it too, my young master is like that when he doesn't see your young lady for a day, he's like... you know?"
"It feels like three autumns have passed."
"Yes, yes, Sister Caiyan is truly knowledgeable. It feels like only yesterday, and the young master still dreams of your young lady's name."
Caiyan smiled faintly, her lips pursed.
Every time Miss returned home after a date with Young Master Wei, her chest would be covered in plum blossom patterns, and her lips would often be slightly swollen.
Caiyan even took lipstick with her when she went out, so that her mistress could touch up her makeup before returning home, just in case her mistress would be noticed by others when she got back.
When she helped her mistress change her clothes, she made a point of checking that the mistress's virginity mark was still there, and she knew that Young Master Wei must have kissed and touched her, but had not crossed that red line.
When the two were in the boudoir, Jiang Jiaojiao told her privately that men are like gluttonous cats, and that letting the Third Young Master Wei have a taste would be enough, so that he would miss her even more.
In just a few days, Young Master Wei frequently asked to meet her, making no attempt to hide his enthusiasm for her.
He also frankly told her about the engagement his stepmother had arranged for him, and that he would find a way to break off the engagement and then propose marriage again at the Minister's residence.
Jiang Jiaojiao was unhappy, but the sword was already drawn, and there was no way to retreat.
She herself had already fallen deeply in love with Wei Mingzhou.
Having once been an illegitimate daughter herself, she understood Wei Mingzhou's helplessness.
"Don't worry, Sister Caiyan. My young master said that he will personally persuade the Du family to cancel the marriage proposal. Aunt Chen has also spoken to the master in his ear. It will be before the New Year that your young lady will be married into the family in a grand and glorious manner."
Wei Mingzhou said this to Aji, and Aji took it seriously.
Caiyan said calmly, "My mistress is unaware of Miss's feelings yet. Recently, matchmakers have been coming to the Minister's residence to propose marriage. I don't know if my mistress has taken a fancy to any young master."
Caiyan glanced at Aji secretly and then said, "Aji, you're a really nice person. I'd be quite disappointed if your young master and my young lady were destined to be apart."
Caiyan subtly whispered in Wei San Gongzi's ear, knowing that Aji, Wei San Gongzi's personal servant, would relay these words to him.
Little did Aji know that Caiyan was deliberately creating a smokescreen. He lifted his droopy eyelids and said, "Really, I also think that Sister Caiyan is beautiful and has a sweet tongue, unlike those maids in the Prime Minister's mansion's First Madam's courtyard, who look down on everyone."
Then he said with certainty, "My young master and your young lady are destined to be together, they will definitely be together."
As Aji spoke, he secretly glanced at Caiyan. Caiyan had delicate features, and a few strands of her hair rose and fell with the breeze from the fan, exuding a quiet elegance.
The moment Caiyan looked up, Aji's ears turned slightly red, and he quickly looked away, gazing at the distant eaves.
In the distance, a maid stood on the veranda with her eyes lowered, occasionally glancing up as if waiting for someone to arrive.
At the Du residence, a servant hurriedly rushed to the east courtyard.
The maid under the corridor gate had never seen a servant rush so recklessly into the backyard, and she quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Don't stop me! It's important! I need to see Madam and Miss!" The servant's voice rose several decibels in his anxiety.
Du Yutong was talking in her mother's room when she heard the servant's anxious shouts. Overjoyed, Du Yutong exclaimed, "Mother, hurry to the Prime Minister's residence! You must get Madam Wei out of the mansion no matter what!"
"Come in and talk to me."
Madam Du, deeply loving her daughter and eager to find fault with Wei Mingzhou, shouted loudly outside.
The servant rushed in, panting, and reported, "Madam, Young Master Wei and a woman entered a teahouse in Pear Blossom Lane one after the other."
Madam Du reached out to adjust the pearl hairpin in her hair and strode out, saying, "Quickly, prepare the carriage, we're going to the Prime Minister's residence."
The servant bowed and said, "Please come in, Madam. The carriage is just outside the gate."
Madam Du took a few steps and then went back to Du Yutong, saying, "Proceed according to the plan, and don't lose your composure."
"Mother, you go ahead, I'll be waiting for you outside Pear Blossom Lane soon."
Du Yutong slightly adjusted her skirt, waved her hand, and her two maids followed her out.
In the garden, the birds chirped in the afternoon. On ordinary days, their chirping would have sounded quite noisy, but Du Yutong found it very pleasant to hear today. Even the hoarse chirping of cicadas on the branches sounded exceptionally melodious.
The men they sent out had been tracking them for three days. Du Yutong and her mother dressed neatly and sat at home every day waiting for news. Today, they could finally close the net.
Madam Du boarded the carriage, and the servant drove it swiftly toward the Prime Minister's residence.
Du Yutong and her maid boarded another carriage without the Du family's insignia and sped towards Pear Blossom Lane.
When Madam Du arrived at the Prime Minister's residence, the steward assumed she had come to discuss the marriage between the Du and Wei families and led her directly to the First Madam's courtyard.
Upon meeting Madam Wei, Madam Du greeted her but did not take a seat.
"Judging from the First Madam's good complexion, Her Majesty the Empress's health must have improved. Would you do me the honor of coming out to the teahouse for a short while?"
"Thank you for your concern, Madam Du. Her Majesty the Empress is much better than she was a few days ago." Madam Wei said with a hint of relief on her face. All those tonics she sent to the palace had finally paid off.
"You've come at the perfect time. Let's discuss the marriage arrangements between Sanlang and the Second Miss. The Du and Wei families are now closely related, so we must make sure it's done properly. In this sweltering heat, discussing it at home is much more comfortable than in a teahouse."
Madam Wei made no mention of the Du family's eldest daughter marrying down, as the Wei family should have been perfectly respectful of the proper etiquette.
When Madam Du arrived, she assumed that the Du family was anxious to get their daughter married, since Du Yutong was already eighteen years old.
"Let's go to the teahouse. I've already asked Yutong to reserve a private room there. Although it's an arranged marriage, I still want her to make her own decisions about some things."
Madam Wei also knew that the Du family had raised their daughter with great care.
Take the sister-in-law of the second branch of the Wei family, for example. She had been married for many years but had no children. She adopted a concubine's son and raised him by her side. If it weren't for her family supporting her, she would have been divorced long ago.
Hearing that Du Yutong had already booked a teahouse and was waiting, Madam Wei could no longer refuse.
She asked her maid to help her change her clothes, but Madam Du stepped forward, smiled, and said, "Madam, this crimson dress suits your skin tone best; there's no need to change."
Madam Wei had exquisite features, but her skin was not as good as Aunt Chen's.
After being praised by Madam Du, he then thought of holding a happy event in the mansion. The happy event of the Wei family was also the happy event of the Empress. There is a saying among the people that happy events can drive away bad luck.
Madam Wei readily took a stewardess with her and followed Madam Du out of the Prime Minister's residence.
...
"Miss! Wake up! Cangyun saw the Du family members catching them in the act of adultery."
Inside the clinic, Jiang Shuyue was taking a nap in the backyard when she heard Qiuju's report and immediately got up.
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