Madam Hong shook her head and said, "It was I who rudely disturbed you." Madam Jiang smiled and invited her to the meeting hall beside the main room. Nanny Qiu brought in tea, and Madam Jiang said, "Please have some tea, Madam Hong."

"Thank you." Madam Hong slightly nodded, took a sip from the teacup, then placed it on the table before looking up at Madam Jiang and said, "You must be wondering why I came to your esteemed residence." Madam Jiang showed no extra expression, waiting for Madam Hong to state her purpose. Madam Hong smiled and said, "Here’s the thing, a few days ago I heard my brother-in-law mention that he intended to ask for the hand of your Fourth Miss, which made me genuinely happy for several days. I even had my brother-in-law’s courtyard repainted, thinking that if a new sister-in-law moved in, she would be more comfortable..."

Madam Jiang secretly frowned, but Madam Hong continued, "Yet we waited and waited for days, and my brother-in-law never brought up the marriage again. This puzzled me greatly. It was only this morning that I found out it was because Fourth Miss has not yet agreed to the marriage. My brother-in-law has treated me with immense grace, and his marriage is a significant matter for our entire family, so I took it upon myself to come to your house and inquire, to fight for his chance."

Having said so much, she still did not mention moving out.

The smile on Madam Jiang’s face gradually disappeared. The two families hadn’t even discussed a verbal engagement, yet she came in such a grand manner. Even though Tong Xiyan is a divorced lady, she is still of a respectable family; this unfounded affair, if spread tomorrow, all of Capital might know, making it difficult for her to maintain her reputation.

Moreover, as a widow, what purpose does she have in coming to negotiate a marriage for her brother-in-law?

Madam Jiang held her tea without responding. Madam Hong continued, "To tell you the truth, my husband was originally a Deputy Commander under my brother-in-law. Later, he was the first to fall in the rebellion of the Third Prince. My sister and brother-in-law took me in because they pitied my loneliness and childlessness. After my sister passed, I really felt for my brother-in-law and two nephews, so I didn’t avoid taking care of their meals and living arrangements. It’s been five or six years... My brother-in-law, though a bit careless, values loyalty and emotions highly..."

"Madam Hong," Madam Jiang interrupted her, "I don’t understand your meaning."

Madam Hong paused, dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, and smiled, "Actually, my intention is very simple; I just hope Fourth Miss Tong can marry over. My brother-in-law will certainly treat her well." Pausing, she added, "He is genuinely interested in Fourth Miss Tong... You have no idea, nowadays the piles of cloth in our house are as high as mountains, enough to wear for thirty years and more."

"I fear you might have misunderstood." Madam Jiang put down her tea and said directly, "I suspect this might be Lord Han’s one-sided wishful thinking, we’ve never heard of such a thing." With that, she waved dismissively and said, "However, good women have countless suitors. If Lord Han is truly interested in my fourth sister, it would be better to have a matchmaker come forward to propose... There’s no need for Madam Hong to personally bother running back and forth."

Madam Hong also stood up with Madam Jiang, smiling, "Of course, a matchmaker would need to be involved." Then she glanced toward the door, "First Young Madam, I wonder if I could meet Fourth Miss?"

Madam Jiang finally couldn’t restrain herself, her face turned solemn as she said, "Fourth Sister is not at home, Madam Hong should return." She began to walk out, coldly saying, "No need to see you out." Without looking back, she left with Nanny Qiu.

"First Young Madam..." Madam Hong looked at Madam Jiang’s departing figure, her face showing a look of grievance, and said to the maids on either side, "Never mind, let’s return as well." With that, she exited the Tong Mansion’s gate.

Xiqiu exclaimed in surprise, "She really said that?" Madam Jiang, still unable to calm her anger, responded furiously, "Didn’t she? Saying such things; the matter hasn’t even taken a form, and yet her sister-in-law barges in, listing Lord Han’s virtues... isn’t it ridiculous?"

Xiqiu was both frustrated and amused, wondering how Lord Han would react if he knew about this.

"I was initially hesitant too, but now it seems this Han Family is too complicated. Before anyone even got married, they came to show off, treating our Tong Family like what?" She took the tea Xiqiu handed her and drank it, "This really infuriates me."

Xiqiu had never seen Madam Jiang so furious; she stayed to comfort her, sitting for a while. After calming down a bit, without even eating lunch, Madam Jiang hurriedly returned home.

The matter might be kept from the outside world, but in the household, it spread rapidly. Tong Xi, in the back hall of the embroidery shop, heard Daiju speak and rose in anger, "What, she really said that?"

Daiju nodded, looking aggrieved, "I heard it clear as day, the whole mansion inside and out is discussing it, saying Fourth Miss is to marry Lord Han, speaking as if it’s true..."