Madam Jiang had Nanny Qiu take Kun inside, and the hand Tong Xiyan was holding of Xiqiu slightly tightened.

Xiqiu could feel the pain from the grip on her fingertips; she withdrew her gaze to look at Tong Xiyan, and with a slight smile, she gently said, "It’s all in the past, just strangers now."

"Sixth Sister..." Tong Xiyan’s fingertips felt icy, and her body trembled slightly. Xiqiu released her hand and instead linked arms with her, a shallow smile warmed with determination on her face as she looked at Tong Xiyan, blinking at her. Tong Xiyan understood her meaning, still tense but more composed.

Xiqiu understood that despite her well-crafted facade and despite thinking she had forgotten and was indifferent, when the moment of meeting arrived, the old pain in her heart would still throb. She smiled faintly, linking arms with Tong Xiyan, and turned to look at First Young Madam Ma, who had already exchanged greetings with Mrs., and then greeted Xiqiu with a smile, saying: "...I heard the Grand Dowager is having a birthday, and mother-in-law said that in the early years the Grand Dowager gave much care, so we must come to celebrate her birthday."

"You’re too kind." Xiqiu smiled and returned the greeting, "Is the Grand Dowager’s health well?"

First Young Madam Ma nodded, replying, "The weather is warming, and her health has improved considerably." Then she glanced at Mrs. and introduced Madam Jiang: "Forgot to introduce, this is my sister-in-law, Madam Jiang, wife of the Ministry of Personnel’s Vice Minister. Just returned from her family home yesterday, so she joined me."

Madam Jiang approached to greet Mrs., then looked at Xiqiu with surprise in her eyes, bowed, smiled, and said, "I often hear about the Marquis Mansion and Fourth Madam, but never had the opportunity to meet." With another bow, she said, "Greetings."

Xiqiu subtly raised an eyebrow and, with Mrs., returned the semi-greeting. Mrs. casually said, "Madam Jiang, you’re too kind." Xiqiu smiled slightly without speaking.

Madam Jiang’s gaze fell on Tong Xiyan, quickly shifted with a slight smile, and then greeted Madam Jiang. Meanwhile, Tong Xiyu bowed and greeted her.

After mutual exchanges of greetings, Xiqiu smiled and said, "Let’s not stand outside any longer, the ladies are all inside, please come in and sit." Saying this, she stepped aside to invite First Young Madam Ma and Madam Jiang inside.

First Young Madam Ma thanked her with a smile and walked alongside Mrs. towards the interior, while Madam Jiang fell back half a step from Xiqiu, smiling and talking with Xiqiu: "Why don’t I see the young masters? I heard the little master is walking now?"

Tong Xiyan discreetly withdrew her hand, stepping back, as Madam Jiang’s gaze shifted to Tong Xiyu, who obediently went up to hold Tong Xiyan’s arm, smiling: "Fourth Sister, the weather is really nice today; shall we later take Kun and Zhi to the backyard for boat rowing? Let Sixth Sister prepare the boats for us."

"Sure." Tong Xiyan did not speak, but Xiqiu walking ahead smiled and replied, "I’ll have Nanny Cen find Housekeeper Hu to prepare boats for you later, you must bring more people with you."

Tong Xiyu smiled back, "Thank you, Sixth Sister." Then she pulled Tong Xiyan’s hand, "Fourth Sister, how about it?"

Tong Xiyan laughed, tapping Tong Xiyu on the forehead, "Just thinking about playing!" Pausing for a moment, she added, "If Third Brother and Seventh Brother were here, we wouldn’t need to find others to accompany us; they’d be enough!"

Tong Xiyu covered her face with a smile, "Then let’s send someone to invite them." Looking at Tong Xiyan, she added, "We can follow along and enjoy the fun."

Xiqiu watched Tong Xiyu and nodded subtly, smiling lightly as Madam Jiang walked alongside, "Later let Nanny Qiu go and fetch them, lest Third Brother sneaks away somewhere for drinks."

The sisters and Madam Jiang laughed together, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Madam Jiang and First Young Madam Ma couldn’t help but look at them: Madam Jiang was dignified and steady, Tong Xiyan pure and elegant, Xiqiu graceful and charming, Tong Xiyu youthful and radiant... Madam Jiang’s gaze paused, and she wondered inwardly how unexpected it was that the sisters of the Tong Family had such a good bond, even the newly-married sister-in-law was as close as siblings... Wasn’t it said that the Tong Family outwardly seemed harmonious, but the several collateral daughters were filled with hidden schemes? How did today’s scene appear so contrary to rumors?

She looked again at Tong Xiyan, finding her more beautiful than expected. She had thought a woman returned home from a divorce, even without drawing great attention, should not be cheerful considering her current reputation and endless future loneliness, yet the scene was lively and spirited?

Her curiosity increased towards Tong Xiyan; was she really as simply kind as Nanny Li said, or was it pure naivety? Otherwise, given her current status, how could she still feel comfortable walking among her sisters, appearing like a maiden preparing for marriage?

Thinking of this, she recalled that night, Jiang Shilin left the mansion lost in thought, yet stumbled back to the Tong Mansion gate before returning dazedly. He avoided her room for several days, and it was only after she cried pleadingly, promising all sorts, that he barely forgave her... Was Tong Xiyan’s relationship with him the same before in the mansion? No matter how much she pleaded or coaxed when he was angry, it made no difference?

Did he also think she should be like Tong Xiyan, unconditionally sacrificing everything to support an idle family to be considered virtuous? She coldly sneered inwardly, thinking why her dowry should be used to support unrelated people, even about mother-in-law, sometimes wishing to peer into her mind to see how she comprehended things. How could she have lasted till today?

Shaking her head quietly, they ascended the steps, the corner of her eye caught Tong Xiyan walking behind with graceful steps, her lip curled slightly, revealing mockery. How could a mother-in-law with such a mind push her out of the Jiang Family, and it seemed she wasn’t as clever as her appearance suggests. Her sisters probably put up fronts, otherwise, with Fourth Madam and the Grand Commander’s influence, how did things escalate to divorce? Likely, the close sisterly behavior was mostly show for outsiders.

Unimpressed, she turned to speak with Xiqiu, "I heard Fourth Madam moved to the Governor Mansion. Do you still visit often?"

Xiqiu maintained a serene smile, replying, "I come back to pay respects to Mother on the first and fifteenth." Pausing, she looked at Ziwei coming from inside, "Go tell Mother, say Marquis Huaining’s First Young Madam Ma and Madam Jiang have arrived."

Ziwei glanced at First Young Madam Ma and Madam Jiang, lowering her gaze slightly, nodded and walked indoors. Then Xiqiu’s group stepped into Grand Dowager’s sitting room, where ten or so ladies were already seated. Seeing Xiqiu enter, First Young Madam Tang warmly approached, "Perfect timing, Fourth Madam; we were just talking about you." She didn’t go greet her own aunt but instead linked arms with Xiqiu.

Xiqiu glanced at Mrs., who showed no indication, having already entered with First Young Madam Ma, and Xiqiu smiled replying to First Young Madam Tang, "Surely someone is saying bad things about me."