The cicada lazily clings to the tree, occasionally chirping, just like Qin Miao's current mood.

  Yesterday I returned from the Hou Mansion, originally it was a joyful occasion, but upon returning to the mansion, there were some unclear and inexplicable ups and downs. That's right, it was that kind of unreal feeling.

  She clutched the white horse sachet that had not been sent out yet, carefully recalling the scene at the Hou Mansion yesterday. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed there was nothing wrong. She could only let out a deep sigh towards the window, this was probably the resentment of missing her lord. This is also quite annoying!

  She despised herself, and the old lady's maid came to call her. She patted the dust off her clothes that she had just crawled out of the window and fell on, and followed the maid into the old lady's courtyard.

  "Grandma, you're looking for me!"

  Old Lady Qin was delighted to hear the soft, warm and sweet voice, so she pulled someone onto the bed. Qín Miào saw the bowl of mulberries on the table at a glance, without saying a word, scooped up a string and stuffed it into her own mouth.

  "Has Brother Lang arrived in Beijing?" After finishing speaking, Qin Miao scooped up another string.

  Zi Xuan saw that she had gotten her fingers and mouth dirty, so he hurried forward to wipe them clean for her. However, before he could even react, Qin Miao had already blocked his hand.

  "Hey, Zi Xuan sister, it's all dirty anyway, let me enjoy my meal. You can just wipe it clean again, isn't that easier? What do you think?" Holding onto Sang Ge's hand and refusing to let go, she turned around and playfully winked at Zi Xuan.

  Zi Xuan was also helpless and could only stare at the old lady. Old Lady Qin waved her hand, signaling her to rest, and slapped away the fruit in Qin Miao's hand.

  "Qin Lang didn't come, this was what he sent over, a total of two baskets, both for you. So, don't be in such a hurry to eat, Grandma has something important to talk to you about."

  Qin Lang is not a member of the Qin family, but rather the eldest grandson of the old steward. After his parents passed away early, he lived with the old steward in the Qin mansion from a young age and grew up playing with Qin Yu and Qin Miao. Later, after the old steward's death, Old Lady Qin and Master Qin took pity on him and granted him their family name, although they didn't go through formalities. However, everyone in the Qin household knew that Master Qin treated Qin Lang as a half-son. As he grew older, Qin Lang followed Qin Shu Ren and Qin Yu on their travels south and north, gaining much experience. Now, Master Qin has sent him to Sichuan on business for over a month, and these two baskets of mulberries were sent by his pen pal friend.

  "Anu, did you hear what Old Lady Xie said yesterday?" Qin old lady asked her carefully as she saw her wiping her hands with a handkerchief.

  Qin Miao put the handkerchief on the table, lowered her head and glanced at the bowl of mulberries again, and unconsciously swallowed, as if unintentionally yet seemingly intentionally making a soft "hmm" sound.

  Qin old lady silently let out a breath in her heart and asked again: "What about Ah Nuan's meaning?"

  Only saw little granddaughter's fingertips walking along the ceramic basin, as if falling into a meditation, occasionally frowning.

  Doesn't Anuan like it? If she really doesn't like it, then I can only lick my old face and apologize to Wanying. She probably won't blame me too much. It's just...what a pity...

  Everyone in the house held their breath waiting for Qin Miao's response, thinking that it would be a great marriage and hoping that the young lady wouldn't make a mistake.

  She wiped her hands, then rubbed them again. Qin Miao finally lifted up those bright and shiny eyes: "Grandmother, have someone turn the other basket of mulberries into jam later. It's so hot outside, leaving it out will spoil it easily, and that would be a waste of Lang Gege's kind intentions."

  Those serious little eyes, blinking repeatedly, spoke of a decision that had been pondered for a long time, with unwavering conviction. But Old Lady Qin was really suffocated to death, and just as she had swallowed a mouthful of tea, it couldn't stop her dry tongue from becoming parched.

  "Alright! Look, I'm talking about serious business, and she's dodging the issue. Wasted my worry for a whole night..." Old Lady Qin supported her forehead, looking like she was about to get angry, but actually feeling anxious inside. She knew her own granddaughter, especially Ah Nuan's cleverness, how could she not have understood? The problem is... it's hard to refuse...

  "Anu, don't make trouble with your grandmother. Come, tell your grandmother clearly what you're thinking in your heart." Old Lady Qin pulled the person from one end of the table to her side, tightly grasping Qin Miao's small hand, making it impossible for her to escape.

  Qin Miao's heart was clear, but even if she was straightforward, she always felt that saying out loud the thoughts in her heart made her a bit shy. But her ancestors were staring at her like this...

  Her deeply buried head suddenly lifted up, and she took out a sachet from her bosom. Old Lady Qin looked at Miao as she handed the sachet to herself, and heard her granddaughter's voice buzzing in her ear: "I wanted to give this sachet to him yesterday, but I didn't have the chance... so I had to put it away again..."

  "Hey, I've long been ready with a fragrant sachet, what's there to be shy about?"

  Madam Qin looked at her granddaughter, who was usually so confident in front of the shopkeepers, now blushing and bowing her head to express her own feelings, it's really quite interesting.

  The stone in her heart finally fell to the ground, and Qin Lao Tai also began to be dishonest. She took over the sachet, looked it up and down, and pretended to dislike it, saying: "Is this all? Hmm...the color is not very good...what's embroidered on top, a mule?" Her mouth was merciless, but her eyes were fixed on Qin Miao.

  Qin Miao wasn't very confident in her own embroidery skills, so she had asked the seamstresses from Qingfeng Shop for help.

  It can't be that difficult, can it? She lifted her drooping head to look at the old lady's face and immediately spotted the smugness in the corner of her eyes.

  Hmph! Is grandma making fun of me? Unpleasant, snatched the sachet from the old lady's hand, squeezed down the soft couch, and ran out of the yard with a red face.

  "Oh dear, oh dear, I didn't say anything..." The old lady pretended to be embarrassed and looked around, while several young maids covered their mouths and burst out laughing.

  Zi Xuan watched as the young master ran out, and quickly bowed to the old lady before chasing after him. Before he even reached the door, he saw the little ancestor's head poking back in: "Grandmother, don't forget to send the mulberries to my courtyard!"

  ----------

  Anu's mind was made up, and Old Lady Qin finally saw the dawn break after a long night. Without another word, she sent someone to deliver a message to the Weiyuan Marquis' estate.

  Old Lady Xie was overjoyed upon receiving the news, and her frail body suddenly recovered. That night, to the surprise of all the servants, she ate two bowls of rice porridge. The next day, despite attempts to dissuade her, Old Lady Xie personally rode a carriage to the Qin family's estate.

  The two old ancestors met again, and both felt a lot more relaxed in their hearts. They hurriedly gathered together to discuss the marriage between the Xie and Qin families. As soon as they started talking, they lost track of time, and it wasn't until the sun was about to set that Old Lady Xie finally left.

  Qin Miao was expecting Xie Yan to follow Old Lady Xie to the mansion today. Not wanting to be too obvious, she had a servant keep an eye out for any news. But when the servant returned with a report, saying that only Old Lady Xie had come to visit and there were no men with her, Qin Miao's anxiety became even more apparent.

  It's not that he didn't want to come, but rather he misunderstood that day at the Moonful Building and has been avoiding me ever since. But it can't be helped, I didn't reveal my identity back then, and when I went to the Hou Mansion that day, I was wearing a veil, so he probably doesn't know that we had met once before at the Moonful Building.

  But why is that?