Xiqiu knew she was referring to the business in the embroidery shop, and couldn’t help but smile, "It’s good to be busy. After all, it means the embroidery shop’s business is thriving."

"You don’t understand." Tong Xiyan waved his hand dismissively; "That’s not business at all." Xiqiu was stunned and saw Tong Xiyan lean forward and sigh, "I don’t know who it was, but someone bought out all the ready-made clothes and fabrics in both my shops in one day..."

"Ah?" Xiqiu was full of surprise, "One person... bought it all out?"

Tong Xiyan nodded, "I can’t understand, what would he do with so much fabric and clothes? Even a family can’t wear this much in a lifetime." Besides, this was no small amount of money!

Such strange things happen, Xiqiu shook her head with a smile, "It seems an immortal is secretly helping you, otherwise who would buy so much fabric for no reason?" Tong Xiyan propped his chin with a bitterly puzzled expression, clearly still unable to comprehend.

"What about elder sister-in-law? Have the people from the Qian Family arrived?" Tong Xiyan finally remembered to ask Madam Jiang, Xiqiu checked the hour, "They should have arrived by now."

Tong Xiyan nodded slightly, pulling Xiqiu closer, "Last night it was unusually quiet over at Madam Mei’s place, there’s still no activity. I can’t understand, they were causing such a ruckus with the First Master a few days ago, but today, when it’s formally a marriage proposal, she’s subdued and saying nothing? It’s very odd indeed."

"The marriage is almost settled, what’s the point in discussing this now?" Xiqiu glanced at Tong Xiyan, "You’d better think about your own matters, in the past few days, the First Young Madam has been busy with Eighth Miss’s affairs. Once the marriage is settled, it’ll be your turn."

Tong Xiyan thought of Han Cheng and blushed immediately, "Don’t talk nonsense, I have nothing going on." Xiqiu listened but didn’t say anything further.

The two chatted idly in the room, and as Madam Jiang hadn’t returned yet, Tong Xiyan called for Daiju, "Go to the front and take a look." Daiju agreed and hurriedly returned after a while, her forehead covered in sweat, "Fourth Miss, Sixth Lady... something seems off in the front."

Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan exchanged a glance, asking, "What’s off?"

Daiju replied, "In the main hall, only Nanny Qiu, Madam Liu, and the people from the Qian Family are there, the First Master, the Eldest Master, and the First Young Madam are all absent!"

"Absent?" Tong Xiyan was full of curiosity, turned around to look at Xiqiu, "Could something have happened?"

Xiqiu felt a bad premonition emerge from within, pulling Tong Xiyan along, "Let’s go to the study and have a look!" Tong Xiyan nodded immediately upon hearing this, and Xiqiu also instructed Chunliu and a few others to watch over Zhi, while she and Tong Xiyan ran across the small garden to the study outside the East Cross Courtyard.

Before they even entered, they heard the First Master’s furious voice, "Beast! How dare you do such disgraceful things." After a pause, "Bring the family law, today she must be beaten to death!"

Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan stopped in their tracks, it was rarely seen that the First Master got this angry, why on such a joyful day would he be so inexplicably furious, they pondered as they heard the highs and lows of female cries from inside, "Master!" "Father!"

"Eighth Sister?" Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan were full of shock, what could the usually obedient and docile Tong Xiyu have done to provoke such rage in the First Master.

Tong Xiyan, curious as ever, dragged Xiqiu, entering the courtyard...

Sure enough, they saw in the main hall of the study, Tong Xiyu kneeling with her back bent in front of the First Master, Madam Mei knelt beside her, both mother and daughter were crying their hearts out, but what was strange was that to Tong Shenzhi’s right hand side in the hall, sat a man dressed in a plain moon-white gown, Xiqiu was taken aback and blurted out, "Second Master Lou?"

"You know him?" Tong Xiyan paused, turned to ask Xiqiu, "Which Second Master Lou, how is he here in Father’s study?" Father was even scolding Eighth Sister in front of him.

Xiqiu quickly explained Second Master Lou’s background to Tong Xiyan, suddenly recalling the events at Puji Temple, Tong Xiyu was at Puji Temple, Second Master Lou was also at Puji Temple... could something have happened that day?

Her expression changed subtly!

Because there was an outside man present, it became inconvenient for them to enter, they had to detour to the adjacent room, once inside Xiqiu was startled, "Elder Sister-in-law?" Madam Jiang turned around, gesturing for them to be quiet, "Don’t say anything." and pointed next door. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

It turned out Madam Jiang was also hiding here eavesdropping.

Daiju quietly poured tea for the three of them, Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan sat down opposite Madam Jiang, each person harboring doubts, so all three silently refrained from speaking.

Just then, a strange man’s voice came from next door, "Lord Tong, please do not blame Eighth Miss any further, it’s entirely my own fault!"

"Second Master Lou!" The First Master’s voice was polite yet cold, "This is Tong Mansion’s family affair, if Second Master has no pressing matter, kindly excuse my lack of hospitality." After a pause, "Wenxian, see the guest out!"

"Lord Tong." Second Master Lou interjected, "Please listen to my explanation, Eighth Miss and I truly share mutual affection, had I not learned you were to arrange a marriage for her today, I would not have been so abrupt in coming, I ask you to pardon me, I earnestly implore to marry her, please grant me this union." Each word was clear, with a humble demeanor.

Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan were too shocked to speak, both turning their gaze to Madam Jiang, whose face remained calm, but the hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, clearly she was also quite angry. She managed the central household affairs, overseeing all matters large and small, yet right under her nose, Tong Xiyu engaged in such a dishonorable act with a man, how could she not be furious!

Xiqiu could almost hear the First Master’s angry breathing, after a long silence, he spoke no more. Tong Shen Zhi, however, from his mouth came a voice, still courteous yet detached, "Second Master Lou, as my father stated, this is a family matter, please do not interfere." It was rather impolite, "Yishan, escort Second Master to the adjacent room for tea!"

Second Master Lou paused, let out a long sigh, "I take my leave!" Then the sound of the door opening and footsteps, followed by the low sobbing of Tong Xiyu filling the room.

"Master!" Madam Mei pleaded through tears, "I beg you to fulfill Eighth Miss’s wish, Master!" Her forehead knocked repeatedly on the ground as she wept and implored.

The First Master squinted his eyes, looking at the mother and daughter kneeling on the ground, narrowed his eyes and said, "... I thought I treated you not poorly, and you... you dared do such a thing!" After a pause, he added, "Meeting a man secretly, have you no sense of propriety or shame?"

"Father!" Tong Xiyu also knocked her head, "Daughter knows she was wrong, daughter didn’t know things would turn out this way, Father..." she cried, choking up, "I truly love the Second Master, I only ask for Father’s approval, if Father cannot fulfill my wish, I can only cut my hair with scissors and become a nun."