Madam Ruan walked over with a smile, "Sister-in-law, don’t praise her too much; Fourth Madam has a thin skin, you’ll startle her."

Xiqiu chuckled lightly, and Madam Le nodded, "Alright, alright, I’ll hold back!" Everyone in the room laughed along, Xiqiu pursed her lips and said to Madam Ruan, "You’re truly humorous, Madam."

Madam Le sat down at the main seat and took a meeting gift from the nanny beside her, "It’s our first meeting, and I didn’t prepare well, it was a bit rushed. Give these to the two young ones to play with."

Min and Zhi accepted the gifts gracefully, which were high-quality jade tokens, obviously very valuable, not something one could play with casually as Madam Le suggested.

"Madam, was your journey smooth?" Xiqiu asked with a smile.

Madam Le nodded with a smile, "It was very hot, we stopped a lot along the way, and Yao couldn’t adjust to the water and soil, she really suffered!" Then she explained, "Yao is my youngest daughter, she insisted on coming after hearing about the visit to the Imperial Concubine!"

It was evident that Madam Le was very fond of her youngest daughter.

As the maid served the tea, she asked, "I haven’t seen Miss Le around, is she feeling better?" Madam Le nodded, "She’s still a bit weak, she’s still refusing to get out of bed, it’s quite impolite of her."

Xiqiu smiled and shook her head, "You’re too polite, Madam. She should rest well if she’s not feeling well. Once she’s recovered, Pingrong can accompany her to the Capital for a stroll, with Qixi and the Ullambana Festival coming, it will be quite lively."

"She’s eager to visit the temple fairs!" Madam Le replied with a smile, then glanced at Min and Zhi who were sitting obediently at the side, "These two children are really well-behaved and sensible."

Madam Ruan nodded, "Indeed!" She then instructed a servant woman beside her, "It’s boring for the two young ones to just sit, peel the longan the Marquis brought back yesterday for them to eat." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Zhi shifted a bit, finding it hard to sit still, Min smiled as he saluted the ladies, and secretly scratched Zhi’s palm, making Zhi sit back properly without fidgeting.

"Not really well-behaved, they just feel it’s hot outside and are hiding in here for some coolness. At home, they’d have disappeared by now," Xiqiu modestly replied, and Madam Ruan continued the conversation, then turned to ask Madam Le, "Sister-in-law, have you sent your card to the palace? If not, I can ask Steward Liu to handle it for you."

Madam Le came with the intention of visiting Le Xiu who was expecting in the palace.

"I’ll trouble you then, Madam. This is only my second visit to the Capital, and I’m really not familiar with the place." She then turned to Xiqiu and joked, "Don’t laugh at me, I had to cram the palace rules even before coming."

Xiqiu chuckled, "I wouldn’t dare laugh at you, I have to go over the rules in my head every time I enter the palace, worried I might make a mistake and become a source of ridicule."

It felt like they were trading secrets, and Madam Le felt a closer bond with Xiqiu, smiling widely. Xiqiu continued, "I haven’t seen Consort Le for a long time either. When you visit her, please also convey my regards."

Madam Le’s eyes brightened, she nodded, "Of course, certainly!" Just then, a maid came in to report, "Madam, Miss is clamoring to see you."

"This child is really becoming unruly." Madam Le furrowed her brows, but Madam Ruan said with a smile, "She’s still young and new to the place, naturally, she clings to you. You should go see her, Fourth Madam won’t mind!"

Xiqiu nodded in agreement, "Yes, you should go. We can chat more at my place some other day."

"Alright, alright, I must visit Fourth Madam someday." Madam Le stood up to apologize to Xiqiu, then was seen out by Xiqiu and Madam Ruan. Once they returned inside, Xiqiu said to Madam Ruan, "I won’t stay too long either. Since it’s rare to be out and it’s still early, I want to visit the Zhou Residence. I haven’t seen Madam Zhou for a long time, and I wonder how she’s doing."

"I need to visit too, Bohan and Fourth Miss are engaged, and I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to see her," Madam Ruan said, then paused and took Xiqiu’s hand, "How about this? Wait for me, I’ll get ready and go with you."

Xiqiu smiled and agreed, "It’s wonderful to have your company."

Madam Ruan returned to change her clothes and handle some matters at the residence, then accompanied Xiqiu to bid farewell to everyone at the mansion before heading out to the Zhou Residence in the suburbs.

On the way, Madam Ruan laughed and said, "Just now, I sent someone to Count Dongchang’s place to invite the Madam, so the three of us can go together, it’ll be livelier."

"That would certainly be lively," Xiqiu smiled and nodded, "You’re always so thoughtful."

Sure enough, when they arrived at the Zhou Residence, Madam Qian’s carriage was already waiting outside. She poked her head out and greeted them with a smile, and the carriages entered the manor together.

It was still Nanny Zhou who received them, and seeing the ladies, she couldn’t stop smiling, "The presence of you three ladies brightens the manor at once." She was evidently familiar with Madam Ruan and Madam Qian.

Madam Qian chuckled, "You’re really cheeky, joking with us," she said as they entered, asking Nanny Zhou, "We came unexpectedly, hope sister-in-law is home?"

"Yes, yes!" Nanny Zhou quickly replied, "She’s inside calculating accounts with her maid." She laughed as she spoke.

Xiqiu followed with Min and Zhi behind, and Madam Qian turned back to chat with Xiqiu, "By now, you’re also in-laws, we are practically one family."

"Indeed," Xiqiu responded with a smile, "they really are fated."

Madam Qian nodded, her expression tinged with nostalgia, recalling the earlier complications with Zhou Bohan’s previous engagement, she felt slightly awkward seeing Xiqiu then. But after all the twists and turns, they ended up together, proving how unpredictable the world is.

As they entered, Madam Zhou was already standing outside the courtyard to greet them, visibly delighted to see Zhi and Min, "Is it the first visit for these two young gentlemen!" As they entered the house, she eagerly handed over meeting gifts and suggested, "Bohan is off today, why not have him show them around the manor?"

Before Xiqiu could respond, Madam Qian laughed, "That would be great, Bohan is essentially their future uncle, he shouldn’t be a stranger."

Everyone laughed together.

Madam Zhou then instructed Nanny Zhou to take Min and Zhi to find Zhou Bohan. Min and Zhi bowed to him, and Zhi tilted his head and asked, "Are you Fourth Aunt’s husband?"

Zhou Bohan was taken aback, his face turning slightly red with embarrassment.

Min tugged on Zhi’s sleeve, and Zhi glanced at Zhou Bohan, pouting before falling silent. Zhou Bohan watched him and coughed before inviting them to sit down, then gave them meeting gifts. He asked Min, "I heard you’ve been reading the Analects?"

Min replied earnestly, "Yes." Zhou Bohan nodded, then looked at Zhi, "Have you started studying?"