Besides, the couple Jin Dairui and his wife are both decent, if this can be arranged, it would indeed be a good thing.

"Well, you should go and ask Chunliu about her intentions, if you find it difficult to ask her, you can also ask Chunyan to come back and find out." Xiqiu paused and then added, "As for Yiquan’s side, you can ask Nanny Jin about her tomorrow..."

Nanny Cen had a big smile on her face and nodded, saying, "Yes, whenever I get the chance, I’ll sound out Chunliu’s thoughts."

Xiqiu nodded slightly. As Nanny Cen stood up, lifted the curtain, and was about to leave, she saw the figure of Ruan Jingliu in the courtyard. She smiled and said, "Madam, Nurse Zhang has arrived."

Xiqiu stood up and went to the door to look. Indeed, she saw Ruan Jingliu entering with Wan’er.

"I heard from Tianyi that the business on the pharmacy side is going well. Hasn’t the cost been recovered already?" Xiqiu asked Ruan Jingliu with a smile.

Ruan Jingliu nodded and said, "It was your great idea. We opened a branch store, and not only we aren’t as busy as before, but the business is actually much better than before!"

Xiqiu chuckled lightly, noticing Ruan Jingliu’s doubtful expression: "I heard that a few days ago, you caused a scene at Tongxuan Hall?" Ruan Jingliu raised her eyebrows, revealing a look of realization: "I knew you would ask about this."

"Then tell me, what happened exactly? How did you end up at odds with Tongxuan Hall?"

Ruan Jingliu set down the teacup in her hand, her face turning somber, and replied with displeasure, "How did I end up at odds with them? It’s their business ethics that are too lacking. Who sends someone on the brink of death elsewhere? This is deliberately trying to tarnish my reputation!" Although Ruan Jingliu was aloof, she was indeed kind-hearted. In Xiqiu’s eyes, she was someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. As long as you understood her character, she was easy to get along with, and she seldom held grudges because she never engaged in conflicts of interest with others, so she had always been curious about her issues with Tongxuan Hall.

"Why would they do that?" Xiqiu furrowed her brow. "Did you get a reasonable explanation when you went over?"

Ruan Jingliu snorted coldly, filled with indignation, "How could there be an explanation? It was obviously intentional!"

He? Who’s he?

Xiqiu was secretly puzzled, tilting her head to look at Ruan Jingliu. Seeing Xiqiu staring at her, Ruan Jingliu raised her eyebrows in irritation: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I recall you mentioned the Second Young Master of Tongxuan Hall. Is this ’he’ the Second Young Master Qin?"

Ruan Jingliu glared at Xiqiu: "What Second Young Master! He’s nothing but a good-for-nothing wastrel!" She clearly didn’t want to talk more about it, and Xiqiu couldn’t help but smile, finding Ruan Jingliu adorable like this.

"Stop laughing." Ruan Jingliu couldn’t help but smile too: "I have something I want to talk to you about."

Xiqiu restrained her laughter, earnestly looking at her, as Ruan Jingliu continued: "I’d like to entrust you with something." She paused, then added: "Wan’er is already seventeen this year. Help her find someone suitable in the manor, it doesn’t have to be someone with great conditions. With the dowry I provide, the two of them can live off of it and do a small business to support themselves."

Why is it that lately she’s been surrounded by talks of marriage, with talks about Tong Xiyan’s marriage, Tong Xiyu’s marriage, thinking about Chunliu’s marriage today, and now Wan’er’s matter has also come to her.

Xiqiu smiled and shared her thoughts with Ruan Jingliu, who was surprised and said, "Lord Han is proposing to Fourth Miss?" Xiqiu nodded: "It’s not settled yet, we’ll see what Fourth Sister thinks first."

Ruan Jingliu raised her eyebrows and said: "I don’t think the two are a good match. Fourth Miss is well-read and quite talented, but Lord Han..." She paused: "I’m afraid he can’t even recognize all the characters, what common topics could they have!"

"Haha!" Xiqiu laughed: "How come Lord Han becomes so unbearable when you talk about him, then in your view, isn’t Fourth Master also illiterate?"

Ruan Jingliu rolled her eyes and replied: "Are you saying he’s a scholar full of knowledge?" Xiqiu couldn’t hold back her laughter, collapsing onto the bed, while Ruan Jingliu also began to smile...

Though her words were somewhat exaggerated, one point was indeed accurate. Lord Han used to lead the Yulin Guards, and although it can’t be said he lacks talent, he surely has read books. However, Tong Xiyan is well-versed in poetry and literature. These two together, one being more scholarly the other more martial... it’s hard to say.

"Forget it." Xiqiu waved her hand, smiling: "The eight characters haven’t even begun; I won’t discuss this with you anymore." Pausing, she added, "I will keep Wan’er’s matter in mind, and when there’s someone suitable, I’ll call you to have a look!"

Ruan Jingliu nodded, while Bihuai peeked through the door: "Madam, Fourth Master has returned."

Xiqiu nodded, and Ruan Jingliu stood up: "I’ll head back now, will visit you again when I have time." Xiqiu nodded and saw her out, as Ruan Jingliu left with Wan’er. Xiqiu then went to the bedroom.

Fourth Master Xiao was lowering his head, fastening the button on his clothes, and upon seeing Xiqiu enter, he glanced at her and asked, "Nurse Zhang came?"

"Hmm." Xiqiu walked over to help him unfasten it, and Fourth Master Xiao let her take over, asking, "Was there something going on?"

Xiqiu nodded, recounting Ruan Jingliu’s visit to him, and Fourth Master Xiao nodded, saying, "In the outer courtyard, find someone randomly, that would do." In a somewhat casual manner, Xiqiu laughed: "If it were truly as simple as Fourth Master says, we wouldn’t need matchmakers in the future; we could just pair anyone up randomly."

Fourth Master Xiao tweaked her nose playfully, turned, and sat by the table, pouring himself a cup of tea. He looked up, watching Xiqiu hanging clothes, a thought seemingly occurring to him: "I returned with Han Cheng."

Upon hearing this, Xiqiu was momentarily stunned, turning her head to look at him: "Hmm?"

Fourth Master Xiao took a sip of his tea and nonchalantly said: "He asked me to tell you that he’s already mentioned this matter to his concubine at home. If Fourth Miss really minds, he would buy her a separate house to live in."

The way it’s said, it sounds a bit begrudging.

However, it seems they’re in agreement, so Xiqiu sat down beside him and explained Tong Xiyan’s thoughts: "...we should still wait for Fourth Sister’s opinion. We might settle things here only for her to disagree..."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded compliantly: "Hmm." Then Xiqiu added: "I’ve expressed our intentions to Father, and it seems he wants to marry Eighth Miss to Qian Xiaolian."

"It’s better to settle it early; I find this Qian Xiaolian to be quite decent." Fourth Master Xiao didn’t show much concern, nodding before asking Xiqiu: "Isn’t the fifteenth the day after tomorrow? Are you visiting your mother’s place then?"

"Yes!" Xiqiu replied: "Does Fourth Master have time the day after tomorrow?"

Fourth Master Xiao paused, then shook his head: "No, I’m going to West Mountain with Elder General Chen tomorrow!" Xiqiu complied.

That evening, the family had dinner together, and Xiqiu instructed Nanny Rong to tidy up the courtyard in front of Min. Then she said to Min: "Go to the storeroom yourself, whatever you like, have someone move it to your room."

Min nodded, went to the storeroom, and casually selected a few items.

Early the next morning, Xiqiu, along with Zhi and Min, was in the room studying characters when Madam Jiang hurriedly arrived...

"Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?" Xiqiu ushered Madam Jiang inside, frowning slightly as she noticed Madam Jiang’s somewhat unusual expression, asking: "Sister-in-law, what’s the matter?"

Madam Jiang held her tea and sighed, a mix of emotions on her face, as she looked at Xiqiu and said: "Regarding the Han family’s marriage proposal, Fourth Sister went to see Father yesterday. She said she agrees, and there’s no need for further discussion; they just need to set a date."

"Ah?" Tong Xiyan had said yesterday she hadn’t made up her mind, how come she agreed all of a sudden, "What happened yesterday? How come Fourth Sister’s attitude changed suddenly?"

Madam Jiang was full of resignation, replying, "Guess who visited our manor yesterday afternoon?" Startled, Xiqiu saw a half-amused expression on Madam Jiang’s face: "It was Lord Han!"

"Ah?" Xiqiu looked at Madam Jiang in surprise, and Madam Jiang continued: "I was surprised too, but I heard Lord Han came back with Father and sat in the study for a long time... It must have been about the marriage proposal."

Han Cheng is really straightforward, Xiqiu thought, pondering it for a moment before asking: "Then why did Fourth Sister agree so suddenly?" Could it be she’s taken a liking to Han Cheng too?

"Fourth Sister agreed because of Madam Mei..." Madam Jiang spoke with a bitter tone: "Last night there was a whole uproar, saying that the marriage proposal from the Han family was meant for Eighth Miss, but it ended up being snatched away by Fourth Miss. Being both misses of the Tong Family, why should there be such a treatment disparity... Well, it’s just the distinction between the legitimate and the concubine-born..."

Xiqiu was speechless. This situation was anticipated, yet hearing Madam Jiang say it still left her surprised. The meek Madam Mei, being fierce for once when it came to her daughter’s marriage.

"Fourth Miss, hearing this, got so upset that she slapped the table, saying she was initially going to refuse the proposal, but with Madam Mei making such a fuss, she felt compelled to accept it!" Madam Jiang shook her head and couldn’t help but chuckle: "... Madam Mei was so infuriated that she fainted from anger."

That sounded like something Tong Xiyan would do.