The banquet of the Lunar New Year’s Eve ended hastily because Empress Dowager Jiang was suddenly indisposed.

All returned to their mansions nearly two hours earlier than in previous years. But no one was able to sleep on this night.

“Ever since my third uncle submitted to our fourth aunt, there isn’t a lot of mole in the Imperial Guard these days.” In the midnight, Jiang Yashuang and his wife, who were sleeping in bed nets, tossed and turned, whispering about the affair. “Especially, since Yan Linxue was arranged as the commander for the banquet of Lunar New Year’s Eve. At least, our fourth aunt did not suspect him. But I didn’t expect such a person would cause such a big incident… Whether he was directed by the first branch or not, I’m afraid that our fourth aunt won’t be able to sleep peacefully the next few days!”

“It’s Empress who is most pitiful! With such a big scene this time, even if our fourth aunt loves her, there’s no way she can get away easily!” Qiu Yelan sighed, “I’m wondering how much profits the Noble Consort can get out of this?”

“Our fourth aunt knows that. She won’t let the Noble Consort have her way.” Jiang Yashuang said indifferently, “Have you forgotten Maid Lin? When our fourth aunt was still Empress and had no time to take care of the palace, Maid Lin was the one in charge. Even if Empress is going to be out of the power of managing the palace, it’s not necessary to give it to the Noble Consort. Especially Emperor now only has one Empress and one Noble Consort. It doesn’t need to worry much about so-called taking care of the palace!”

Qiu Yelan thought for a while and said, “Before leaving the palace, our fourth sister-in-law said that although Huiyan and Huili didn’t mean to do it, they had caused such a big incident tonight. So, she wanted to take them back to Kui County to make atonement by guarding the eldest great grand uncle’s tomb!”

“The matter has not yet been dealt with. If our fourth sister-in-law brings her two daughters back to Kui County, there will be a lot of people talking about it!” Jiang Yashuang rubbed his brow, “You should find a chance to persuade her tomorrow. At this juncture, their departure from Jing City will not help but will add fuel to the fire! Moreover, who will take care of our fourth brother and Jingmu after they leave?”

He added, “As for Empress… You can explain to her for them. If there is a chance, take them to apologize in person! Empress is always sensible and should know that Huiyan and Huili were most likely set up this time. Otherwise, how could the leopard cat happen to pass by there? And how could the two innocent juniors who had entered the palace for the first time see the leopard cat?”

“I’ll talk to Empress the next time I am in the palace.”

“Well, sleep… We’ll be busy tomorrow.”

After an awkward Lunar New Year’s Eve, it was a busy first day of Lunar New Year.

After the first day of the Lunar New Year, it was the second day of the Lunar New Year when the married daughters returned to their maiden families. Marquess Qin’s eldest daughter, the third aunt Jiang Tianjuan, had died early. The fourth aunt was Empress Dowager. The youngest trueborn daughter of the third branch, Jiang Qisheng, married into Beijiang, far away from here. And the girls from the eighth branch were still young. So, Only the fourth branch needed to receive married daughters and sons-in-law on this day.

On this day, Chu Yitong also went back to Mansion of Duke of Huainan to spend time with her father and brothers. So, Qiu Yelan became the main host of her husband’s married sisters.

In the early morning, she called Jiang Huizhu over and instructed, “If your great grandmother asks you to lead your sisters of your ninth aunt around the mansion, lead them towards the plum woods… However, don’t let them see that you do this deliberately. You just get there by accident. Understand?”

Jiang Huizhu nodded tamely and said in a thin voice, “My nineteenth aunt, please rest assured! Mistress Gu has instructed me.”

“Good girl!” Qiu Yelan stroked her head and asked Mujin to bring up a pair of emerald earrings, “It’s Lunar New Year. I’d like to send you something for dressing up.”

After sending Jiang Huizhu down, it was still a little while before Jiang Qilai and Jiang Qizheng arrived at the door. So, Qiu Yelan asked someone to summon Lu He to come again. For today’s match, before Lunar New Year’s Eve, Jiang Yashuang had called Lu He to stay in the guest room of the front yard on the pretext that he was afraid Lu He would neglect his study during Lunar New Year. As such, it would not seem too deliberate to call him from outside the mansion today.

Now it was convenient to call him over.

“Who picked this outfit for you? It suits you.” Qiu Yelan looked at Lu He’s attire with satisfaction. The young man was wearing a long chartreuse full-body garment with a cloud pattern, whose hem was decorated by a yellow cloudscape pattern, with a black belt. And a jade was fastened on his belt. Besides, over his garment, he put on a crane-white gown with a pattern of the character “le”. On his feet, he wore a pair of black boots, on his head he used a jade ring to tame his hair. He was dashingly good-looking.

Lu He said respectfully, “It was picked by my uncle.”

“This is a very good outfit. What colour and texture is the fur coat?” Qiu Yelan thought to herself. Mu Zixuan seemed to be a big strapping guy. She didn’t expect that he would be so thoughtful. Chartreuse, a light yellow-green color, was extremely delicate. And pine green outside was almost dark green. This match not only remained the vigor of Lu He’s age but also added a bit of solemn and calm temperament. He really made Lu He look good. “Bring it over here and let me see!”

A few moments later, the fur coat that Lu He had taken off when he entered the room was brought up. It was a coat made of red fox fur, which was not low in its value. After all, Lu He’s father died for saving Jiang Tianchi’s life. According to who Jiang Tianchi was, he would not treat him badly. Besides, when Lu He entered Jing City, he had been given a lot of help by Jiang Yashuang even though he was living with his uncle. He had some savings.

But Qiu Yelan took one look and shook her head, “Mumian, go open the chest by the west window in the inner room. And take Yashuang’s white fox fur out from it!”

“Red fox fur is eye-catching in snowy weather. But you have dressed in the robe embroidered with chartreuse and pine green. It’s already enough to attract attention in the plum woods. You needn’t have worn red fox fur!” Qiu Yelan said so as she noticed that Lu He did not dare to accept Jiang Yashuang’s clothes, “It is not as elegant as the white fox fur… Yashuang has more white fox fur. He doesn’t use this one often. Don’t worry!”

And then she gave some advice for Lu He’s mannerisms when he was painting. After that, when Qiu Yelan saw that he seemed very nervous, she could not help but smile and said comfortingly, “Today you are just going to have a face-to-face with that girl. Don’t worry too much.” She lowered her voice, “Not only she is going to observe you but you are going to have a look at her as well. If you don’t like her, even if she likes you, Yashuang won’t agree to this.”

Lu He said, looking embarrassed, “I am so lucky to be where I am today. I am afraid that I am not good enough to be liked by Miss Yi. How can I be qualified to dislike her?”

“If it is the fate, that will be the best.” Qiu Yelan smiled. She thought to herself that Lu He’s attitude was good. But according to what Jiang Yashuang said, he didn’t like Jiang Qilai’s daughter much. He just wanted to let it be. As such, Qiu Yelan thought she had better let Lu He know that. Otherwise, if he didn’t dare to say something different and Miss Yi had no objection, then it would be settled. And finally, if the two didn’t get along with each other, they would fail to live up to Jiang Yashuang’s expectations. The family name of Jiang Qilai’s husband was Yi.

“Yashuang thinks you’re only old enough to marry. It’s not very urgent. You should find someone that you two can attract each other.” Qiu Yelan told him gently, “After all, a couple is meant to live their whole life, right?”

Understanding the meaning of the words, Lu He really showed a relaxed look and said respectfully, “Young madame, thank you for your guidance!”

At that moment, Mulian came up to report, “The ninth young lady’s family and Her Highness Princess Chunfu’s family have both arrived at the door!”

Because of Jiang Qilai’s embarrassing origin and the fact that she had not returned to her maiden family for many years, Qiu Yelan was afraid that she would be awkward when she returned this year. So, after consulting with Madame Tao, Qiu Yelan sent someone to communicate with Jiang Qizheng, asking her to invite Jiang Qilai to join her in her homecoming. In doing so, there wouldn’t be an awkward scene because Jiang Qilai, whom people here were not familiar with, would not be too quiet when she returned to her maiden family.

When Qiu Yelan arrived at the second door, she greeted Jiang Qilai and her daughters warmly. The two daughters and one son Jiang Qilai had brought over today were fine. But she herself only smiled and did not say anything. If it had not been for Jiang Qizheng who tried to mediate, it would have been difficult to make this scene lively.

It was only when they were in front of Madame Tao and Madame Tao talked first that Jiang Qilai began to speak more, “My grandmother, thank you for missing me. All these years the Yi Family was always involved in one thing or another. I couldn’t get away! I didn’t come back to see you and the elders for several years in a row. That was on me!”

“As you know you shouldn’t do that. You should visit me more!” Madame Tao pretended to be annoyed, smiling, “Do not make me look forward to your coming every year while I can never see you!”

Jiang Qizheng suggested, “My ninth sister, later in the lunch, you have to drink three shots to make amendments to our grandmother!”

“Don’t listen to Qizheng!” Before Jiang Qilai answered, Madame Tao said with a smile, “Your ninth sister is the same as Yashuang. They are not good at drinking. If you had her drink three shots, she might fall asleep at once. How can I talk with her?”

“My grandmother, in this case, as my ninth sister can’t talk with you, I can hog you!” Jiang Qizheng said her fine idea, smiling.

“You are so mean!” Madame Tao pretended to beat her, “You are just using your sister’s nice personality!”

After laughing for a while, Madame Tao looked at the great grandchildren standing behind her granddaughter and granddaughter-in-law and nodded, “We are having fun here. But I’m afraid the children will be bored by our talking. Why don’t we let them go out and have some fun?”

Qiu Yelan understood and said, “My grandmother, you are right. It’s the right time to let the cousins get close to each other!”

“Jingheng is not well and did not come out. Let Huizhu take the lead and entertain your aunt’s children!” Madame Tao glanced at Jiang Huizhu. She immediately curtsied and bowed, “Yes, my great grandmother!”

After the youngest generation had been sent out, during the small talk, all were distracted by the speculation about how the day would go and what the outcome would be.

“I really don’t know which of the two girls is the one who intends to be introduced to Lu He?” Qiu Yelan thought silently.

Because she was afraid of making the girl lose face if things didn’t work out, she couldn’t ask Jiang Qilai this question. She could only guess for herself, “The girl in pink top and saffron dress, who looks more decent, shall be the elder sister. The girl in a blue top and moonlight dress shall be younger. She looks more active… The two girls are somewhat pretty. And their manners are of the noble family. But how can they be related to Lu He?”

From Madame Tao to Jiang Qilai, all of them were not in the mood for conversations. They were tacitly waiting for news from the plum woods.

When it was finally time for the luncheon, Madame Tao sent someone to get all the great grandchildren, who had previously been sent out, back for the feast. Her granddaughters and granddaughters-in-law also logically retired to change their clothes before the luncheon. And naturally, they took the opportunity to get the information.

“The two cousins spoke to Lu He after they met him in the plum woods.” Jiang Huizhu reported all about it, “But what they talked was all about painting and something related. I was too dull to understand. But looking at the two cousins, they were very appreciative of Lu He’s painting skills.”

Qiu Yelan knew that Lu He was a good painter. Otherwise, she would not have arranged for Lu He to go to the plum woods to draw plum blossoms. On hearing this, she asked, “Do you know which of them is more interested in Lu He?”

Jiang Huizhu hesitantly said, “I am too foolish…”

“It’s fine. I’ll ask your ninth aunt later. It’s the same.” Qiu Yelan smiled at this and waved her hand to tell her not to worry. And she gave her a couple of words of comfort and a bracelet as a reward before letting her go.

After the luncheon began, Qiu Yelan watched Jiang Qilai and her daughters, but she saw that they looked at ease and could not tell how they felt about Lu He. Until they said goodbye this day, Qiu Yelan did not find the right time to ask about that.

“Perhaps they are afraid that if they take a stand and Lu He refuses, they will not be able to step down. So, they’re waiting for Lu He to give them the go-ahead before they’re willing to say their answers.” Madame Tao said, “You have been busy for most of the day. Go back to your room and rest. By the way, ask what Lu He thinks. After that, we can know what to do next.”

Qiu Yelan thanked Madame Tao for her thoughtfulness and returned to the yard. Before she could ask to summon Lu He, Jiang Yashuang, who had gone to accompany Marquess Qin early in the morning, returned in a hurry, “There’s news from the palace about the thing that happened on Lunar New Year’s Eve!”