Madam Jiang saw Xiqiu and asked, "Is it about the servants?" Xiqiu nodded, saying, "I haven’t been back for a few years, and during that time, I didn’t really pay attention to their issues. Now that I’m back, I thought I’d check in on them together!" Madam Jiang nodded slightly and took Xiqiu’s hand, somewhat embarrassedly saying, "There’s something I’d like to trouble Sixth Lady with."

"Sister-in-law, please go ahead," Xiqiu replied, looking at Madam Jiang.

Madam Jiang hesitated a moment before saying, "It’s still about Eighth Sister. Once the Lady’s mourning ceremony is over, we really need to expedite her marriage arrangements; she’s already sixteen this year, and waiting any longer might cause resentment."

Xiqiu understood Madam Jiang’s concerns and nodded, "I am keeping it in mind; if there’s a suitable match, I will definitely remember to act on it." Madam Jiang finally felt relieved and shook her head helplessly, "Once Eighth Sister’s marriage is settled, Madam Mei can settle down, and I’ll finally have some peace."

Xiqiu couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Madam Mei’s tearful demeanor.

When Xiqiu returned from there, she met Su Quansheng. The other day, she only glanced at him briefly, but upon further observation today, Su Quansheng indeed seemed quite handsome. His square face resembled Su Dazhuang’s, and he had a solid, strong build. After asking him a few questions, Xiqiu felt he wasn’t dull and was secretly satisfied, so she had Tiancheng show him around the outer courtyard to see where he might fit in, and made preliminary arrangements.

The next day, while Xiqiu was teaching Zhi to read in the room, Chunliu entered with a grin, "Madam, guess who’s here?" Xiqiu sat up, looked at Chunliu, and Chunliu said with a smile, "Master is here."

Xiqiu smiled and hurriedly got off the kang to greet him, only to see Tong Shen Zhi, whom she hadn’t seen for three years, stride into the courtyard in plain mourning clothes. The sight of him brought tears to Xiqiu’s eyes, "Big Brother!" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Sixth Sister!" Tong Shen Zhi paused and looked at her, nodding slightly as his eyes roamed over her, without saying much more. Xiqiu said with a smile, "Big Brother, please come in."

Tong Shen Zhi entered, and Xiqiu had tea served. Zhi sat on the kang, watching the unfamiliar man with a stern face sitting opposite him. Xiqiu said with a smile, "Zhi, quickly call him Uncle!"

"Uncle?" Zhi tilted his head, trying to connect him with Tong Minzhi. Tong Shen Zhi looked at Zhi, his gaze softening as he nodded, "I haven’t seen you in years; you’ve grown so much."

"Indeed!" Xiqiu replied, "Children grow up fast. Did you see Kun?"

Tong Shen Zhi nodded, "I did." Remembering his son sitting on the kang reading, he couldn’t help but frown slightly and then looked at Zhi, who grinned at him, sweetly calling out, "Uncle." Finally, he figured out the relationship between Tong Shen Zhi and Tong Minzhi.

Tong Shen Zhi showed a trace of a smile and asked, "Has his education begun?" Xiqiu handed the tea brewed by Biwu to Tong Shen Zhi, shaking her head, "I plan to wait another year and start in the spring."

Tong Shen Zhi took the tea, sipped it, and nodded, "Delaying has its benefits too." Xiqiu was about to speak when someone outside called out, "Fourth Master is back."

Xiqiu nodded at Tong Shen Zhi and went to greet Fourth Master Xiao, who strode in, and Xiqiu said with a smile, "Big Brother is back."

Fourth Master Xiao raised his brows slightly, looking at Tong Shen Zhi. The two nodded at each other, and Fourth Master Xiao sat by the edge of the kang, taking the flying Zhi into his arms, looking at Tong Shen Zhi, and asked, "Was your journey smooth?"

"Quite smooth, as the weather warmed up, we didn’t have many delays," Tong Shen Zhi replied mildly, his gaze falling on Zhi, who was clinging closely to Fourth Master Xiao. Seeing the affectionate bond between father and son, he then looked at Xiqiu, standing by with a pampering smile, and felt somewhat relieved.

"Let’s go to the study to talk; I have something to discuss with you." Fourth Master Xiao patted Zhi on the backside, "Stay with your mother; I’ll talk with your uncle for a while."

Zhi nodded and said to Tong Shen Zhi, "Uncle, take your time!"

Tong Shen Zhi smiled and nodded, "Okay!" He also greeted Xiqiu, "This time, Aunt has also returned!" giving Xiqiu a prior notice.

Xiqiu nodded and agreed, "It’s good that you’re back, we can send the trousseau for Eleventh Sister all at once." Xiqiu replied with a smile, seeing off Tong Shen Zhi and Fourth Master Xiao.

Once Tong Shen Zhi left, Zhi asked Xiqiu with a puzzled expression, "Mother, is Uncle Big Cousin’s father?"

"Yes!" Xiqiu replied, hugging Zhi with a smile, "Uncle hasn’t been in the Capital, and just came back today, so you didn’t recognize him, did you?"

Zhi nodded and then asked, "Mother, when can we play with Big Cousin?" Xiqiu chuckled and said, "Tomorrow, we’ll go back tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay!" Zhi jumped up, "I also want to see Grandmother and Twelfth Aunt!" Xiqiu hugged him and nodded, "Alright!"

Soon after, Fourth Master Xiao returned from the outer courtyard, and Xiqiu asked, "Did Big Brother leave?" Fourth Master Xiao confirmed, "Yes, he went back."

"Was Fourth Master discussing official duties with Big Brother?" Xiqiu sat down beside Fourth Master Xiao, who nodded while looking at her, and replied, "Not just official duties; the Hanlin Academy has changed a lot over the past two years. Zhou Bohan was promoted to Hanlin Academy Lecturer, and Lord Yang has also advanced to Assistant Reader... He’s returning, and I fear he may find it unsettling, so I wanted to discuss it with him first."

Perhaps he’s worried that Tong Shen Zhi might feel disappointed. After three years of mourning, those who were ranked lower have now been promoted, while he must return to his original position, almost like starting anew!

"There’s another matter," Fourth Master Xiao held Xiqiu’s hand, "Don’t be surprised when I tell you!"

Xiqiu was startled and saw his serious expression, which made her furrow her brows and ask, "What is it, do tell?"

Fourth Master Xiao hesitated, looked at Xiqiu, and slowly said, "Han Cheng asked me for a favor today." Xiqiu’s heart skipped a beat, and she heard Fourth Master Xiao say, "He asked me to be a matchmaker and wants to marry Fourth Aunt as his wife."

"Lord Han, seeking marriage?"