Wu Niang blushed as she heard this: "You only know how to play!"

Qi Niang giggled.

While chatting and laughing, Eleventh Lady had already altered her skirt.

"Try it."

Qi Niang jumped up, and her personal maid Mu Fu hurried forward to help her put on the clothes.

"Very good, very good!" She looked at the hem of her skirt with a smile, "It really looks much better with this hem."

Eleventh Lady's skirt was a little long for her, so she simply cut it off four inches and found a piece of cloth of the same color as Seventh Lady's jacket to make a hem to trim on the skirt.

"I've been on the road for three days, and I've changed all the clothes I brought with me." She got back on the kang, "Take a bath, change into clean clothes, it's so comfortable!"

Seeing that she was satisfied, Eleventh Lady smiled and put away her needlework.

A little maid came in and asked, "Where should Miss Seven's food be placed?"

Qi Niang smiled and said, "Just put it here!"

Dongqing and the others went forward to clear the table on the kang, and the maids brought up the food.

After dinner, the three sisters sat around the kang table and drank tea.

Qinnan described the scene when she went to the temple fair: "...she puffed out a breath on the ground, and the torch in her hand lit up...she could even put the torch in her mouth..." Her tone was so amazed.

Wu Niang and Shiyi Niang listened to her talk for a long time. The Second Wife wanted to go back and sent someone to call Qi Niang. However, Qi Niang wanted to stay and spend the night with Shiyi Niang: "…It's a good time to see Wu Jie off."

After hearing this, the second wife came to see for herself.

Seeing that Shiyi Niang's place was decorated cleanly and elegantly, and the maids were all very careful and appeared to be well-behaved, he left his personal servant Yu Mama to take care of Qi Niang, and then returned to Laojuntang Hutong with his son, son-in-law, wife and daughter.

Qinnan was extremely happy, like a horse with its reins released.

Just as the grandmother came back, Qi Niang started clamoring to ask her how to make the bed.

Seeing that she was full of energy, Eleventh Lady smiled and accompanied her to see the grandmother.

When they went out and passed the main courtyard, they happened to see the eldest grandmother going to the eldest wife to report this matter, so Qi Niang pulled Shiyi Niang to go and listen.

"…My mother-in-law and father-in-law didn't come. They said they were busy with spring planting and couldn't come. An uncle came with a cousin. They were both dressed decently, but their movements were a little stiff. It was obvious that they were not used to the world. There was also an aunt who was very eloquent but had a small hand."

The first wife nodded slightly: "That's good, so that she won't be unable to control herself after marrying into the family."

Mother Hang, who was accompanying the grandmother to make the bed, said with a smile, "Didn't you see? When the aunt saw the dowry we sent, her eyes went wide. I specifically told the mother who was watching the night to be careful and make sure nothing was missing."

"Well!" The eldest wife was very satisfied and said to Mother Hang, "Go down and have a rest!"

Mother Hang left immediately.

Seeing that Qi Niang was listening intently, the grandmother covered her sleeves and smiled: "Seventh sister, what else do you want to know?"

This made Qi Niang blush, and she pulled Shiyi Niang and ran away.

The grandmother smiled and said, "Seventh sister is really lively."

The eldest wife smiled and said, "My second uncle and my second brother and his wife regard her as a lucky star, so they can't help but spoil her."

* * * * * *

Qi Niang dragged Shiyi Niang to the backyard and stopped. Shiyi Niang panted, "As expected, you are a thief with a guilty conscience, so you have to run!"

"What do you mean?" Qi Niang listened and said coquettishly, her cheeks flushed, very playful and cute.

Eleventh Lady covered her sleeves and smiled.

"Forget it, I won't tell you anymore." Qi Niang said evasively, "Let's go see Tenth Sister! I haven't seen her all day. Last time I heard from mother that she had an asthma attack, and she didn't reply to my letter. I didn't intend to pay attention to her, but now that I'm here, I might as well go see her!"

That happened during the Chinese New Year last year. The eldest wife asked her to accompany her to the temple to burn incense for Yuanniang. She looked at the eldest wife coldly in front of everyone in the room and said, "I have asthma."

The first wife said nothing and sent someone to ask a doctor to see her.

When the eldest master heard that she was ill, he hurriedly called a doctor to ask about her. The doctor said arrogantly: "...where did your family invite this quack from? This young lady was obviously fine, how come she contracted asthma three years ago?" The eldest master was so angry that he was shaking. If it weren't for the eldest mistress's persuasion, the eldest master would have thrown Shi Niang into the temple and left her to fend for herself.

At that time, Shiyi Niang couldn't help but think that maybe if Shi Niang was thrown into the temple, she would still have a chance to survive...

"She was not feeling well at that time, and looked unhappy. I'm afraid she didn't pay attention." Eleventh Lady smiled and explained for Tenth Lady.

Qi Niang smiled and pinched Shiyi Niang's cheek: "You, just whitewash it for her!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and accompanied Seventh Lady to Tenth Lady's place.

Yinping stopped them outside the inner room and said, "Miss, please rest!" But there was a pleading look on her face.

Qi Niang sighed and said with a smile: "Then tell Tenth Sister that we have visited her."

Yinping's face was full of gratitude: "I will definitely tell our young lady." Then she personally saw the two of them out.

Qi Niang looked back at the gate and asked Shiyi Niang quietly, "Is there something wrong with her?"

Eleventh Lady smiled bitterly.

To be honest, she felt that Shi Niang was like a blind person who was dying. Knowing that she didn't have much time left, she would usually do things that she wanted to do the most but never had the courage or opportunity to do. So she was more arbitrary and unscrupulous than when she was in Yuhang. With the courage to burn her boats, or rather, willfulness, she wanted to challenge the patience of the first wife and let her feel the unhappiness she had experienced in the past few years!

Little did she know that in the eyes of others, she was just a moth that flew into the fire...

She couldn't help but think of Fourth Aunt.

Does Shi Niang know that her biological mother has passed away?

It’s been almost a year, and there’s still no news from the eldest and second aunts.

It was like a riddle was placed before everyone, and no one could guess the answer. The one who knew the answer was right in front of them, but no one asked, and ignored it and took a detour... This made the whole thing weird!

As she was thinking, someone said with a smile: "Miss Seven just came back? Our Miss Five invited you two to have tea!"

She looked up and saw Ziwei standing on the steps with a smile on her face.

Qi Niang then asked Shiyi Niang in a low voice: "Who else will marry with her?"

"All the servants will follow." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "and two more maids will be added."

Qi Niang nodded and went to Wu Niang with Shiyi Niang.

Wu Niang brought the best West Lake Longjing tea to treat them.

Qi Niang joked, "You want to know what Grandma said, right?"

Wu Niang tried to remain calm: "What's there to ask?"

"That's right!" Qi Niang said with a smile, "You'll know everything when you get married tomorrow!"

"You mischievous fellow," Wu Niang said angrily, "you know so much!"

Qi Niang laughed and told Wu Niang what the grandmother had said.

Wu Niang listened thoughtfully.

Qi Niang took the opportunity to say goodbye: "Fifth sister has to get up early tomorrow morning to comb her hair."

Wu Niang asked Ziwei to see them out.

The two returned to the house, and the maid hurriedly fetched water to help them wash and dress.

Qi Niang wants to wash feet with Shiyi Niang.

"Everyone wash their own." Eleventh Lady refused directly.

"Together!" Qiniang was very persistent.

Shiyi Niang slammed the door of the clean room, and Qi Niang stamped her feet in anger. Shiyi Niang laughed through the door.

After taking a bath, Qi Niang wanted to sleep with Shiyi Niang.

Although Eleventh Lady felt uncomfortable, she thought the bed was big enough and asked someone to add an extra quilt.

Qi Niang refused again: "Why are you like this? I'm always so nice to you!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "You just want to talk to me, I'm listening!" Then she lay down first.

"You just bully the weak and fear the strong!" Qinnan muttered as she went to bed.

Eleventh Lady laughed.

Qi Niang sent the servants away.

Dongqing didn't care. When Shiyi Niang went to bed, she just put a tea bucket with warm tea by the bed. She didn't care if there was anyone on duty. But Mu Fu was different. When the Second Mistress left, she repeatedly told her that if anything happened, she couldn't bear the burden. She couldn't help but beg bitterly.

Thinking that she had to get up early tomorrow, Eleventh Lady compromised and said, "How about you lie down on the big kang next to the window?"

Mu Fu was still hesitating, but Qi Niang said, "Either you sleep on the big kang next to the window, or you can squeeze in with Dong Qing."

The answer is self-evident.

Qiniang really had something to say to her.

She said a lot of useless things and whispered, "...I went to the temple fair...and met someone..."

The opening remarks made Eleventh Lady shudder with fear.

"Later, he came to ask for marriage..."

Eleventh Lady took great effort to suppress the shock in her heart: "Is there such a thing?" She pretended to be surprised.

"So I want you to know..." Joy overflowed from Qi Niang's eyes and eyebrows, "I didn't even tell my mother!"

Then why tell me!

Keeping secrets is also very tiring!

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but mutter to herself, worrying that there was something fishy going on.

She asked Qi Niang in a low voice: "Did Second Aunt agree?"

Qi Niang is different from her. Second Wife will definitely be very cautious about Qi Niang's marriage.

"Yes!" Qinnan nodded. "I heard from Mother Yu that she will make a decision when she gets back." She smiled shyly.

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

"His name is Zhu Anping, from Gaoqing County, Shandong Province. He is 22 years old this year. His father died early, so he inherited the position of deputy commander of the guards at the age of 15. I heard that some people jokingly call him Xueyi Jun..." As she said this, she giggled, "In the past, Mengchang Jun's fiefdom was in Xueyi. Could it be that he has the style of Mengchang Jun? He is really an interesting person..."

"How do you know that some people jokingly call Zhu Anping 'Xue Yijun'?" Eleventh Lady tried to make her voice sound softer.

"I heard it at the temple fair!" Qi Niang leaned her head on Shiyi Niang's shoulder. "Someone shouted, 'It turned out to be Mr. Xue Yijun from Gaoqing.' I was very curious at the time and took a look... Who knew that not long after, someone came to our house to propose marriage. He said he was from Gaoqing and was generous. He was nicknamed 'Mr. Xue Yijun'. Shiyi sister, do you think this is fate?" Her voice was soft and full of infinite longing. "It's my first time to go to a temple fair..."

Eleventh Lady was very surprised.

If it's true, then it's fate...

As the thought flashed through her mind, she suddenly felt a little ashamed of her rigid and self-contained way of thinking.

Is it simply because I no longer have the passion of my youth that I look at everything with suspicion?

She couldn't help but hold Qinnan's hand: "Seventh sister, this is a rare fate!" Her voice was very sincere.

Qi Niang laughed softly: "I knew you wouldn't laugh at me!"

Happy laughter is contagious.

Eleventh Lady also laughed.

"Hey, if you just met someone, you wouldn't be like this, right?" For some reason, she felt like joking, "Isn't he still tall and handsome, with a good-looking appearance..."

"No, no," Qi Niang sat up suddenly and shook her hands repeatedly, "There is no such thing!"

"Really not!" Eleventh Lady smiled slyly, "Do you want me to ask Mu Fu?"

"Oh my!" Qi Niang refused, "When did you become so good at teasing people?"

Eleventh Lady laughed softly.

Qi Niang also smiled, with a hint of pride in her eyes. Finally, she couldn't help but said, "Yes, he is quite handsome..."

Eleventh Lady laughed.

When you see people around you happy, you will feel happy too, right?