Since that day, Madam Wei has not been as close to her niece from her maternal family as before. Especially after Xu Yunxu returned to the mansion for half a month, Madam Wei cleaned up the courtyard inside and out after hearing the news.
Yang's attitude was also very clear: she wanted to prioritize Xu Yunxu's wishes. Since Wei ignored her, the only solution she could think of was to work on Xu Yunxu.
Pinxianglou is a newly opened restaurant, and in a short time, it has already attracted many distinguished guests.
On this day of rest, Xu Yunci sought permission from Old Madam Xu and Madam Yang to go to Chengyu Pavilion again, and brought Li Shiyue out with him, thinking that he could take advantage of the day off to accompany his little cousin to relax.
Unexpectedly, at the gate of the Duke's mansion, Xu Yunxu refused to go back and insisted on following them out, bringing Guo Xun and Xu Lingzi with him.
"So, you've made something of yourself, even having romantic entanglements." Xu Lingzi was wearing a bright red jacket with dark patterns today, her hair was styled in a full bun, and a begonia-shaped gold and jade hairpin was tied up in her hair.
She draped a layer of brocade over her shoulders, covered her lips and chuckled as she looked at Xu Yunxu's face, which was etched with bitterness. She then took the teacup that Guo Xun pushed towards her as if it were second nature.
Xu Yunxu rested his chin on his hands, looking at Xu Lingzi's barely suppressed mockery. He covered his face and said, "My dear sister, please help your good brother."
"You're at the age to get married anyway, so you might as well agree to marry that girl." Xu Lingzi hadn't met the Wei family's cousin yet, so she continued to tease Xu Yunxu. Seeing his frustrated and aggrieved look, Xu Lingzi couldn't help but smile.
"Don't scare Sixth Cousin. Ever since Grandmother intervened, the Third Branch has been too ashamed to talk to Aunt, so they go to Sixth Cousin every day, especially Chun Jinxuan."
“Otherwise, why did you insist on coming out today? Are you hiding from someone?” Li Shiyue glanced at Xu Yunxu, her eyes filled with helplessness. Although she wanted to laugh, she held it back.
Xu Lingzi looked at Li Shiyue with doubt in her eyes: "No way, since Mother doesn't agree and Liu Lang's attitude is very clear, why are you still going to keep arguing?"
Xu Yunxu sighed softly: "Grandmother wants to find a marriage partner. If the Wei family agrees, the Duke's Mansion will add some money as a dowry out of respect for Third Aunt. If they don't agree, they will send the person back the way they came."
"So I'll let you hide for a while longer. I've already moved back to the main courtyard. Otherwise, the people from Chun Jin Xuan would come over every day to deliver personal items, and they even made shoes and socks. How could I dare to accept them?"
Looking up, Li Shiyue saw Xu Yunci thoughtfully picking up one of the tea snacks, and now there was a little white rabbit-shaped pastry on the plate in front of her.
Liu Liu is heartbroken. Her brother has a sister-in-law, her sister has a brother-in-law, and only he, with his wounded world, has achieved his goal.
Hearing this, Xu Lingzi frowned. She had thought that the Wei family's daughter would be like Li Shiyue, but it didn't sound like that.
Xu Yunci put down his chopsticks and suddenly spoke up: "She also sent things to Songyuan before, which caused bad rumors to spread throughout the mansion. Moreover, she took a liking to Liulang because the current master of the Wei family does not want to let go of the marriage alliance with the Duke of Rongguo's mansion."
Looking at Xu Lingzi's gaze, Li Shiyue could only nod: "But you'll only know her once you get to know her. Just from us talking about her, you might find it unbelievable."
"Tomorrow, at the banquet at the Grand Tutor's Mansion, my maternal grandmother will have Miss Wei and my third maternal aunt go together. She just wants her to take a look for herself. If there is anyone suitable, the Rongguo Duke's Mansion can also help out."
The worst-case scenario is that the Wei family disagrees. If things really come to that, Yang Shi is unlikely to compromise for the sake of the Wei family and would actually hitch up the carriage and forcibly send the guests away.
“Yes, of course I have to go since I received the invitation.” Xu Lingzi said thoughtfully, genuinely curious about the Wei family’s daughter.
Li Shiyue rubbed her fingertips against the water glass, saying casually, "However, it seems that Eighth Sister has a good relationship with Cousin Wei. I heard from the old women in the manor a few days ago that Eighth Sister's people are always going to Chun Jin Xuan."
Her cold a few days ago wasn't too severe, so she recovered faster. Xu Lingqing seemed to realize that Li Shiyue didn't want to see her, so she simply found another way, going to Chun Jinxuan several times to make sure Li Shiyue didn't know anything, and then gave up.
I wouldn't say I'm completely devoted to her, but I'm just not used to it. The thought that her serene appearance is all an act, and that she might stab me in the back at any moment, makes me feel uneasy.
"Now that you mention it, I think I've seen them before, but I couldn't hear what they were saying, so I left quickly."
Xu Yunxu shrank his neck and tilted his head back: "How much longer do I have to hide?"
The other four suppressed their laughter and had no choice but to stay outside with Xu Yunxu for a whole day, only returning home in the evening.
There were quite a few officials' wives at the banquet held at the Grand Tutor's residence. Li Shiyue and Yang got off the carriage, and Wei Shi, who was in the carriage behind them, also came over with Wei Yujie.
Wei Yujie followed behind Wei Shi. Compared to her simple and elegant attire at the Duke's mansion, she was dressed in her finest clothes today, with bright colors and brand-new jewelry.
Yang immediately recognized that some of the hairpins and ornaments in Wei Yujie's hair had appeared on Li Shiyue's dowry list.
When the Grand Tutor's wife saw Madam Yang, she quickly got up, and the two of them walked inside hand in hand: "You've come a little early. Yan Yan, go find A Yin to play."
Li Shiyue curtsied and was about to leave when she glanced at Wei Yujie beside Wei Shi. Wei Yujie looked at her expectantly, as if she wanted to go with Li Shiyue.
She looked at Madam Yang, who nodded and then turned to the Grand Tutor's wife, saying, "This is the Wei family girl who came to the capital a few days ago. She is my sister-in-law's niece. She is a year younger than Yan Yan, so she came along today to meet us."
The Grand Tutor's wife looked at Wei Yujie, subtly surveying her, her smile unchanged: "Yan Yan hasn't been to the Grand Tutor's residence yet. I'll have someone send you to A Yin's place, so the little girl can play together."
Disappointment flashed in Wei Yujie's eyes. She had worn all the presentable jewelry and clothes she could today, but no one had praised her since she left the house.
Li Shiyue acted as if she hadn't seen her, walking alongside her and following the maid beside the Grand Tutor's wife towards the inner courtyard.
The Grand Tutor was a first-rank official, and his residence was even more spacious than that of the Duke of Rongguo's mansion. Grand Tutor Qin was a scholar who revered Confucianism, and the Grand Tutor's mansion was elegantly decorated, exuding nobility in every aspect.
This understated elegance was even more captivating. Before long, Wei Yujie's eyes were glued to the view, and she almost couldn't keep up with her pace.
The residence is named "Green Bamboo Residence." Upon entering the courtyard, one is greeted by a lush green bamboo grove. A stone path runs through the middle, and the sounds of women chatting and laughing can be faintly heard from the depths. After about three turns, the inner courtyard finally comes into view.
Surrounded by people, Qin Wanyin's eyes lit up when she saw Li Shiyue, and she ran over to greet her: "Yan Yan, you've finally arrived."
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