Qin Zhuo searched inside and outside but didn't see Needlework Sister, on the way back she met Zhou Xuan in the hallway and asked him. Zhou Xuan said: "She should still be in her own room, I saw her come out for a bit when I went in to change clothes just now."

  Qin Que said "oh" and looked at Zhou Xuan's T-shirt, asking: "Zhou, you still like wearing clothes from your Australia? Let Nian Zhen sister help you sew a few more sets in this style."

  Zhou Xuan wasn't interested in men's clothes, but it was better to follow local customs. The clothes of Tang Dynasty women really needed improvement - the plain long skirt was too monotonous and wasted their good figures. Just now, wearing Lan Ya's jeans was very tempting, but for now, she could only wear them at home. If she went out on the street, even if Tang Dynasty was open-minded and emphasized tolerance, she would still be accused of being seductive.

  "What's wrong? It seems like there's a little something." Zhou Xuan thought of his flirtation with the seamstress earlier and couldn't help but feel a bit guilty in front of his wife, who had clear eyes. He stammered: "I don't care, whatever you wear is fine... by the way, did the seamstress finish making that outfit I designed for you last time?"

  Qin Que said with a blush: "It's already been sewn."

  "That's great, go and put it on for me to see."

  Qin Que's face turned even redder: "No way, my mother is looking for me with something." Hurriedly entered the inner courtyard.

  In Qin Que's heart, Zhou Xuan had already become the husband she would rely on for the rest of her life. That Feng Ah monitor in the public hall said in front of so many people that she was not a virgin, and Zhou Xuan's sworn brother even said "the deed is done", whenever she thought about it, Qin Que's face would flush with shame, she simply had no face to see anyone.

  Qin Que calmed her nerves and walked to the spinning room, just calling out: "Spinning sister——", Spinning came out, as if she had been waiting for her call.

  "Sister Needle, mother wants to talk to you."

  Xiu-needle was originally nervous, and now her heart is racing even more, knowing that her stepmother wants to talk to her about Zhou Xuan. What will she say? If she doesn't let her marry Zhou Xuan, what should she do? This is a parental order after all.

  The needle was nervous and uneasy, pulling Qin Que's hand and saying: "Que'er sister, let's go see mother together."

  Qin Que hastily shook his head and said: "I'm not going, Mother has already spoken with me about it."

  "What was said?" asked the spinning needle.

  Qin Que was speechless with fear, which made Zhinu very worried and hesitant to enter Qin's wife's door.

  "Big sister, don't worry, everything will be as you wish."

  Her face turned bright red as she looked at Qin Que, and Qin Que's face turned even redder, before he hastily retreated to his own room.

  Xue Zhen walked into Madame Qin's room and respectfully called out: "Mother."

  Madam Qin murmured a response, her expression somewhat indifferent. She didn't invite Xian Zhen to sit down, so Xian Zhen had no choice but to stand there, and the anxiety she had just calmed down rose up again.

  Madam Qin was jealous for her own daughter and thought: "Since both Zuo'er and Zhener are going to marry Zhou Xuan, then let them get married. However, there must be a distinction between my own daughter and the adopted one, I cannot let Zhener steal Zuo'er's favor." Tuo Yin said with a sly tone: "Zhener, do you still remember what Zuo'er told you last time?"

  The needle naturally knew what the adoptive mother referred to, although shy, still responded in a low voice: "Yes."

  Madam Qin was slightly displeased again. The needle is braver than the sparrow, the sparrow asked for half a day without saying a word, and asked: "Then what do you think?"

  Her face turned red and her ears were burning, but she didn't dare not to answer. It was a matter of great importance for the rest of her life, and she couldn't let her mother misunderstand that she wasn't willing to marry because of shyness. She forced herself to say: "I'll listen to Mother's decision."

  Madam Qin fell silent for a moment, then let Xue Zhen sit down and said: "Xue Zhen, you also know that your younger sister's marriage to Zhou Xuan is now known throughout the city. It's no longer possible to have you take her place..." She stopped here on purpose, watching Xue Zhen's reaction.

  The needlework needle tightened suddenly, tense to the point where her knees trembled slightly, and her face turned white with fear.

  Madam Qin's heart softened, after all, the needlework was also her daughter's. She smiled lightly and said: "Your sister Yuer says she is willing to serve one husband with you, Ernuo, do you agree?"

  The needle and thread suddenly loosened, tears gushed out, and she choked with sobs, unable to speak.

  Madam Qin smiled and didn't ask again - what's there to ask?!

  She wiped away her tears with a needle and called out in a low voice: "Mother."

  Madam Qin asked: "Zhen'er, when did your old father pass away last year?"

  "The needle replied: 'It was on October 19th of last year.'"

  Madam Qin nodded and said, "We in the Tang Dynasty haven't really followed the ancient ritual of 'not marrying for three years after a parent's death', but we still need to observe it for at least one year. So your marriage with Zhou Xuan can take place at the earliest two and a half months from now. During this period, you must be careful and follow the teachings for women, don't do anything that would bring shame to our family."

  The needle on her head made a "hum" sound, did her adoptive mother know what had happened in Zhou Xuan's room?

  Xuemei didn't even know how she got out of her stepmother's room, feeling lost and humiliated. The intense shame made her want to cry. She wasn't angry with Zhou Xuan, but blamed herself for going to Zhou Xuan's room wearing those jeans, it was too embarrassing!

  And so, Zhīzhēn secretly harbored a knot in her heart, thinking that being intimate with Zhou Xuan was a sin.

  **********************

  They drank until half past two in the afternoon, when Zhou Xuan finally got drunk. Dr. Qin also got drunk. Dr. Qin's capacity for liquor was quite strange - he easily got drunk on sweet rice wine but could drink a lot of hard liquor without getting drunk.

  Jia Ding came to Fu, seemingly the leader of the Jia family servants, directing the newly arrived servants Tian Dazhuang and Ding Desheng to first help Old Master Qin rest in his room, then coming to assist Zhou Xuan.

  Zhou Xuan said: "I don't need help, I can walk by myself. I'm going to enter the bridal chamber now, it's great!" He stumbled and staggered towards the inner courtyard, still humming "Lift up your veil, let me see your eyebrows..." All the way back to his bedroom, he fell onto the bed as soon as he entered, without even taking off his shoes. By the time Xiao Huixiang rushed over to help him take off his shoes, he had already fallen asleep.

  Zhou Xuan has been worried for the past few days, but now everything is fine. His father-in-law is out of prison, his cousin has run away, his aunt's affair has ended, and the insect store has a bright future ahead. He feels very relieved, sleeps soundly, and wakes up in the middle of the night to find Xiao Huixiang dozing off at his feet.

  Zhou Xuan suddenly sat up and woke up Xiao Huixiang, asking: "Xiao Huixiang, who came to see me while I was sleeping?"

  "Old lady and miss have all come to see you."

  "Which miss? Have both misses come?"

  Xiao Huixiang said: "It's our Que'er Miss, Zhēnzhēn Miss hasn't come yet! Brother-in-law, our Que'er Miss is very good to you, right? Before going to bed, she even personally made a hangover soup for Master and Uncle. Xiao Huixiang will go deliver it to Brother-in-law."

  Xu Zhen was originally gentle in nature, and naturally she tried to get along with everyone when living under someone else's roof. She got along well with Xiao Huixiang too, but in Xiao Huixiang's heart, Xu Zhen was a rival for Qin Que's affections, so whenever she had the chance, she would wildly praise Qin Que.

  Xiao Huixiang went to serve the hangover soup, while Zhou Xuan sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly, sighing and regretting. Drinking really messed things up! Zhēn Niáng must have come to see him secretly, saw that he was drunk, and had no choice but to leave. The romantic and passionate good times were thus delayed by wine.

  Zhou Xuan didn't know where she was, and the needle hadn't arrived yet. Her heart knot was hard to untie, and she cried for half a night.