Jiang Suxin drank the Snow Lotus Silver Ear Soup and smiled, saying, "Third Sister, how did you make this sweet soup? It's even more fragrant than the usual Xunxiang!"

  Qiu Sanniang sat opposite her and responded with a laugh, "You have to ask Baihe, she's the biggest in the small kitchen, I don't dare say anything."

  Bai He stood by and listened to Qiu San Niang mention herself, hastily lowering her head to Jiang Su Xin, "Fourth Madam, the slave has brought some osmanthus scented powder that she made a few years ago."

  "Osmanthus fragrans powder? I've never heard of it, but this scent is really memorable." Jiang Suxin took the handkerchief handed over by Baozhu and lightly wiped her lips, "If you remember the method, I'll ask for a share too."

  "What's difficult about it?" Jiǔ Sān Niáng turned her head and instructed, "Bái Hé, send it to Fourth Madam tomorrow."

  Baihe said a word, and together with Green Chrysanthemum, they cleared the table and retreated outside.

  "Baozhu, you go down too. Let's have a good talk." Jiang Suxin sent her own maid out of the house.

  Qiu San Niang entered the house with Jiang Su Xin, and she knew that nothing would happen without entering the three treasure halls. However, she had always been someone who wouldn't take the initiative unless others did, so she instructed Bai He to prepare some soup and snacks. As they slowly ate, she observed Jiang Su Xin's expression, trying to gauge her intentions. Jiang Su Xin was a person from Zhang Shi's side, although she was usually polite to Qiu San Niang and would show her kindness, she didn't trust her enough to confide in her. People with different principles couldn't work together. Even if Qiu Si wasn't a considerate husband, Jiang Su Xin, as a woman who regarded her husband as heaven, still wholeheartedly helped him make plans.

  "It's a pity I don't know how to play chess, otherwise I could have a game with you and avoid your awkward left-hand moves. " Jiang Suxin fiddled with the white pieces on the board, her loose water sleeves hanging down, and the golden bangles on her wrist clinking softly.

  "It's okay, I'm used to it." Qiu San Niang could show off to her sister, but was extremely careful not to reveal even a hint of wealth and leisure, because she knew that Jiang Su Xin was more capable than Qiuniang in terms of managing the household. "Father loves chess, I learned some superficial skills from him, just to be filial."

  "Old Master has indeed made a good move, if it weren't for Third Daughter, I'm afraid no one in this household would be able to accompany Old Master in his chess hobby." Jiang Suxin was one of the few people who still cared about Old Master's hobbies.

  "Now he can barely even pick up a chess piece." Mentioning her father, Qiu San Niang's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

  "If I'm being honest, we should have changed the prescription a long time ago. Although it's more expensive, our family can afford it. A few days ago, my mother's brother sent over two roots of hundred-year-old ginseng, and I was thinking of using it to nourish Master's body. However, the doctor said that the ginseng is too potent and we need to wait until Master's body is stable before slicing it into pieces and adding it to his medicine. So for now, it's being stored away. I think Master seems much better these past few days, so I should ask the doctor if he can start taking it yet." Jiang Suxin's mother still held power in the inner courtyard and was extremely fond of her eldest daughter, often having people send over all sorts of good things for her.

  "Many thanks to you." Chou San-niang was truly filial and bowed her head in gratitude.

  "What's the need for thanks? We're all family." Jiang Suxin came over and grasped Qiu San Niang's hand, "Don't worry. Even if you get married off to someone else, I'll always take care of you."

  These words are enough to soften even the hardest of hearts.

  Qiu San Niang's voice was somewhat choked as she grasped Jiang Su Xin's hand, "Our Qiu family is blessed to have you marry our Zheng."

  Jiang Suxin's eyes turned red, "Looking at you like this, I think of myself. Before getting married, didn't I also worry about not being able to take care of my parents in the future and cry? But others treated me as an outsider. Ah, back then, I really wanted to stay at home for a lifetime."

  Qiu Sanniang had a skeptical nature, having seen too many businessmen's cunning and hypocrisy. Seeing Jiang Su's pain, she instead became calm.

  Then, with a swift change of expression from sorrow to laughter, she said, "Is marriage or no marriage really worth our while to grieve about?"

  "It's my fault, I couldn't comfort you and ended up feeling uncomfortable myself." Jiang Suxin's expression changed quickly, her face already calm.

  Qiu San Niang thought to herself, almost fooled by her, thinking she was genuinely considering her own interests.

  "Actually, I came today to discuss something with you." Jiang Suxin's usual tactics were effective against Zhang Shi, but not against Qiu San Niang. Because Qiu San Niang didn't ask her about the purpose of her visit, she had to speak up herself.

  "If it's a matter of the government, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you. You also know that nowadays I don't manage the household, asking me is like a blind man lighting a lamp in vain." Not only did she not ask about the purpose, but there was also an intention to dismiss the person, this is Qiu San Niang's way of advancing by retreating.

  These two are both masters of playing tricks on each other, but after all, Jiang Suxin was demanding that Qiu San Niang, so naturally Jiang Suxin lost the initiative first.

  "How could I not know? Those trivial matters at home are not worth mentioning, when you were in charge, everything was already well-organized. I just picked up where you left off, how could I bother you again?" Jiang Suxin said calmly.

  Qiu Sanniang smiled, abandoning the rules she had painstakingly established and taking Zhang's words as her command. Jiang Suxin was indeed eloquent. However, since it wasn't related to the official residence, she was still quite curious about why Jiang Suxin had come.

  "I want to ask you for a personal favor on behalf of your fourth brother." After dragging out the conversation for half a day, Jiang Suxin finally got to the point.

  Are you talking about Qiu Si? Qiu San Niang, who grew up in this chaotic mansion, almost immediately understood what was meant. But she wanted to confirm again, so she asked a question.

  "Are you saying that Zheng Ge has taken a liking to one of the maids in my house?" If so, which one would be so unlucky? It can't be...

  "I won't hide it from you. I was the first to notice that he had intentions, so I paid special attention. Coincidentally, Ailian is pregnant again, and I thought of finding someone with a good heart to replace him. Luckily, he likes the ones in the house, which is much better than those outside who are not reliable. Those few maids of yours are very clever, especially the two older ones, they really have both looks and temperament, even I like them."

  "My few maids are just barely passable." Madame Qiu San turned back halfway, casting a glance at the silhouettes of Bai He and Lu Juan outside the curtain, "I wonder which one has caught Zheng Tong's eye?" Xiao Yi was absolutely impossible. And the two lovely ones outside, Qiu Si had seen them long ago. Jiang Su Xin only came to ask for help today, so it seemed unlikely to be them. There was only that one left, who could be considered a new face.

  "I don't need to say it, you should be able to guess. Such a clever girl, not only can she talk, but also handle things with ease and has a good temperament. And as for her appearance, if she were to be held up as the mistress, who would still think that she's just a maid?" Jiang Suxin saw through the humble disguise to the beautiful face beneath.

  "I suppose that's Bai He." Qiu San Niang refused to cater to the other party's wishes, "Among the four of them, she is the most steady and reliable. She takes care of those who don't understand things, teaching them step by step. And when I entrust tasks to her, I don't have to worry at all. As for her appearance, indeed, she surpasses more than half of the maids in our household."

  "It's not white lotus, it's purple ink." Jiang Suxin said.

  Qiu San Niang burst out laughing.