He sent someone to Heling to inquire, and learned about the ruthless methods she used to reorganize the embroidery workshop, including her previous act of standing up for Lingyan... All these things made Qiu Zhuqing feel uneasy.
After the group returned to the Qiu residence, they originally planned to go back to their respective courtyards, but were stopped by a maid who had been waiting in front of the gate.
The maidservant curtsied to her masters and said, "Master has returned. Madam has sent me to invite the young ladies and gentlemen to the hall for a chat."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Lingyan was overjoyed and pulled Zhu Jiayu toward the hall. On the way, they met Bo Yan and Ming Yan from the third branch of the family. Bo Yan originally wanted to greet her, but Ming Yan quietly tugged at her sleeve.
Qiu Lingyan originally wanted to pretend that nothing had happened, but seeing Mingyan's behavior, she couldn't be magnanimous anymore: doing this in front of her, did she think that she couldn't see it?
She snorted coldly, took Zhu Jiayu's hand, and walked straight past the two sisters.
Zhu Jiayu could tell that there must have been some friction between them, but since it was a matter between sisters, she didn't ask any more questions and just silently let her be led to the hall.
Seated in the main seat in the hall was a man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. He was dressed in a long robe and had a refined demeanor. He was chatting and laughing with someone at the moment.
Below him sat the Third Master and several wives, who were always elusive and rarely seen. As soon as Zhu Jiayu entered the hall, the man in the hall stopped and carefully examined Zhu Jiayu's face, a hint of nostalgia showing in his eyes.
When Zhu Jiayu saw him looking at her, she hesitated for a moment, then curtsied and said, "Uncle."
"Yes!" The man nodded emphatically. "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back..."
Zhu Jiayu nodded obediently, then quietly sat down, not wanting to disturb their harmonious family reunion at this time.
She held her teacup, gazing at the wisps of green tea smoke rising above it, while also listening attentively to their conversation.
"When you returned this time, did the higher-ups mention any arrangements for you?"
—This is the First Madam.
She suddenly remembered that she had come to Heling to visit her sick grandmother, and that her eldest uncle had returned to take care of her.
She had been in Heling for some time now, but had yet to see the old lady. Although the old lady was in better spirits and would naturally summon her, who knew when her spirits would truly return to normal?
As she was thinking, she heard her eldest uncle say, "I came back to take care of the sick. What arrangements could there be? It's not like there's a change in my official position." He shook his head, sighed, and said, "I'm afraid that when I return to office, there will be no hope of promotion."
The implication was clear to everyone, and at that moment, no one offered him any words of comfort.
They all knew it was useless; it was just how things were meant to be. What is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you cannot force.
Finally, the First Madam spoke up: "Don't worry too much. Zhu Qing will be taking the exam this year, as will Song Dao. Once the two brothers return with their official titles, they will naturally be able to protect our Qiu family."
Outside the door, Qiu Songdao heard this and his face immediately fell. He thought that at his age, he had spent his days playing with cats and dogs and raising birds in cages, and his family must already know his character. He never expected that his aunt would still have a glimmer of hope for him.
Even though I know she probably doesn't really think that way, it's still quite frightening to hear her say it.
He rubbed his temples, took a step back, and pushed his second brother forward: "It's your father who's coming back, not my father. Second brother, you go first."
Qiu Zhu entered the hall with a light and clear voice.
When the master saw him, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and his lips straightened. He asked him, "There are still six months before you take the exam. How is your preparation? Has your writing improved?"
Qiu Zhu lowered her head slightly: "I dare not slack off."
"Alright, you've just gotten back and you're already treating your son like this. Anyone who didn't know better would think you dislike him. If you want to test his homework and essays, you can do it anytime. Why do you have to say these things now? It's just spoiling the mood for no reason," the First Madam scolded.
The old man twitched his beard in anger: "How can this be considered a downer? And what do you mean I don't like him? It's precisely because I care about him that I have to constantly remind him that diligence leads to mastery, while idleness leads to ruin. Forget it, I won't argue with you!"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Zhuqing pursed her lips, bowed, and said, "I only heard that Father had returned and wanted to come and visit him. Now that I have seen Father, I should return to my study to continue my studies."
The old man's expression finally softened a bit, and he waved his hand: "Go ahead, if there's anything you don't understand, just come and find me."
Not long after Qiu Zhuqing left, Zhu Jiayu also quietly got up and slipped out through the main gate.
She first went to the kitchen to get a plate of snacks, then chatted with Aunt Wang, who was helping in the kitchen, for about fifteen minutes before leaving with the snacks.
Unexpectedly, under the willow tree by the pond, she met her second cousin, who claimed he was going back to his study to read.
She walked over with the snacks: "Is Second Cousin in a bad mood?"
Qiu Zhuqing wanted to deny it, but then she remembered what had happened in the hall earlier, which she had seen, and felt there was no need to deny it.
He gave a wry smile: "I'm sorry you had to see this."
Zhu Jiayu said, "My eldest uncle is indeed a bit too strict with my cousin, but I think his intentions are good."
"Of course I know that, but..." Qiu Zhuqing shook her head as she said this.
He was just having a temporary moment of despair.
From the time he was old enough to understand, he was always required to work hard to revitalize the Qiu family. For this, he sacrificed his playtime and forced himself to be less selfish and less greedy. But for some reason, his father never seemed to be satisfied with him.
Even today is no exception.
Every time my second uncle came back, he would pat my fourth brother on the shoulder and say that he had lost weight again. But my fourth brother was living a carefree life, so how could he have lost weight? My second uncle's words were just out of a loving father's heart.
But his father, no matter how long it had been since they last met, would only ever ask him one thing: his homework and essays.
Zhu Jiayu didn't know how to persuade him.
She simply handed him the snacks: "Cousin, hold these for me for a bit. I'll go get some samples and be right back."
Qiu Zhuqing took the snacks and was about to speak when Zhu Jiayu turned and ran away, disappearing in an instant.
He smiled and looked down at the pastry in his hand.
Before long, Zhu Jiayu came running back. He couldn't help but think, "She's really fast."
Beads of sweat glistened on the girl's porcelain-white forehead, her eyes were clear and bright. She clutched her chest and panted for a while before finally taking out the manuscript in her hand: "Since you have nothing to do and don't want to go back to reading, why don't you give me some pointers? I happened to be reading your articles a few days ago and there were some parts that I couldn't understand."
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