Old Lady is coming to Xunyang, the General's mansion is busy inside and out, no one dares to slack off. Even Xie Zhan, who is busy with military affairs, takes a day off to welcome the arrival of the entire Xie family.

  "Anu, it's too hot outside, you'd better not go. Staying in the mansion is fine." Xie Yan stood in front of the copper mirror, letting Qin Miao help him gather his clothes and jade crown.

  "Hmm, our family's Ah Chun is still dressed in such a refined manner, it's really captivating. She helped him adjust his jade crown from behind, and a jade hairpin passed through his hair bun. He tilted his head to look at himself for a long time, confirming that everything was in place, before nodding in satisfaction at his reflection in the mirror. "Look, these delicate eyebrows, and this straight nose bridge... but I still love your cherry lips the most. They're even more beautiful than mine."

  Xie Xuan furrowed his brow in slight displeasure, and with a great force, pulled the person from behind to the front, kneading for half a day, hoarsely saying: "Mine... isn't it yours."

  "Hahaha...right, right! Mine is mine, yours is still mine! Hahaha..."

  "Greedy little devil!" He bit her nose tip fiercely and then rubbed her in his arms for half a day.

  "Oh dear, stop it. Qin Miao pushed him uncomfortably. I still have to go out with you, and if you're like this, I'll have to tidy up again, aren't you afraid of being late?"

  After finishing, a clever one struggled up from Xie Yan's leg and called in Zi Xuan, who had been guarding outside, to clean up the hair bun and clothes that Xie Yan had already messed up.

  "I have to go with you to pick up the old lady."

  Xie Yun murmured, "It's alright, you just rest here in the mansion. These past few days, because of that Zhang Youjian's despicable affair and the matters within the mansion, I've seen how busy and worn out you are. Don't worry, Grandmother cares for you deeply and won't blame you."

  "You don't understand, of course I know that Old Lady cares about me and won't let me suffer. But...I have my own reasons."

  Before long, Qin Miao quickly finished cleaning up and followed Xie Yan to the gate of the mansion.

  "How did you follow me? The carriage is ready for you over there." Xie Yan looked at Qin Miao, who had been following him to the horse, with some confusion.

  "I want to ride a horse with you, and... I want to sit in front of you." Qin Miao flicked a seemingly smiling gaze, and then went to grab the reins.

  "Are you serious?" Xie Xun glanced at the sun and pointed upwards. "It's so big... be careful not to get sunburned."

  "Oh dear, hurry up and help me get on!" Qin Miao didn't want to bother with him anymore, standing by the horse's side and stamping her foot impatiently.

  Xie Xun had no choice but to lift Qin Miao onto the horse and then quickly got on himself, holding her firmly in his arms.

  "With a loud shout, the troops of the General's mansion set off in grand style. Xie Yan and Qin Miao rode horses at the front, followed closely by maidservants and young attendants, with three horse-drawn carriages and countless porters bringing up the rear."

  Such a line of people, turning from the alley mouth, walking on the main road of Zhenjiang City, can't help but attract attention.

  "Look at him, the one on horseback, he's really something!" The pedestrians who stopped along the way whispered to each other, especially those women and girls who came out for a stroll.

  "I've never seen anyone as handsome as you, and you're a man!"

  Qin Miao lazily leaned against Xie Yan, half-closing her eyes, savoring the whispers of admiration from passersby.

  Alas, if in ordinary times, someone dared to be so presumptuous and covetous of her beauty in front of her, Qin Miao would definitely be enraged. But today, it's a completely different story. Praise was like flowers, smiles were like willows, the entire city of Xiangyang seemed to be enchanted by Xie Xuan's heavenly beauty, the whole street was in an uproar.

  "Husband, you really have a big face, everyone is praising you, listen!" Qin Miao smiled and opened her eyes, half-turning her head to look at Xie Yan's already dark handsome face.

  Xie Xun has known since he was young that he is exceptionally good-looking, but people familiar with him all know that this person most dislikes discussing or praising his own looks, except for Qin Miao. As for why he dislikes his own looks, he has never told anyone, including Qin Miao.

  As he rode through the streets, he attracted a crowd of onlookers, which only added to his displeasure. Xie Lin turned around and instructed the servants following behind him: "The lord and lady will proceed ahead, you all hurry up to the city gate as well." Having said that, he whipped his horse into a gallop and took off.

  In the largest teahouse in Yangcheng, there were guests drinking tea in twos and threes on the open-air platform.

  "Look, isn't that General Hou, Lord Xie? Without his armor, he's actually such a dashing figure!" The speaker was none other than the guard of the Jiangcheng City Patrol Camp. Normally, Xie Xuan always wore armor or military attire. He had never seen him dressed like this before, looking like a refined young nobleman.

  "Who is that woman sitting in front then? She's also incredibly beautiful and elegant." someone nearby chimed in to ask.

  The guard rubbed his chin and shook his head: "Never seen her before... but I've heard that the marquis is very fond of his wife, so she's probably the marquis' wife."

  The classmate thought for a moment about Qin Miao and Xie Yan's intimate posture on horseback earlier, and nodded in agreement.

  The teahouse was filled with common people from the streets, who spent their days wandering around and spreading rumors. At this moment, someone sharp-eyed suddenly shouted out loud: "Isn't that woman Qin Niangzi, the owner of Qingfeng shop on the street?"

  Everyone was moved by his words and nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes......"

  At this time, someone came out to share the first-hand intelligence in his hands. "You all don't know that this Qin Niangzi is actually the wife of Xie Houye. The wife of Houye is precisely this Qin Niangzi."

  "Didn't I say before that Qin Niangzi is a promiscuous woman? She seduced the prefect, and also seduced Master Hou. Maybe there are other men too."

  This rumor has been circulating for many days. Qin Niangzi is beautiful and a widow, often going out to do business. Adding to that the Haitang Chun who was loved by the courtesans of the brothel. All these signs are telling people that Qin Niangzi is not simple at all.

  Today, however, I saw the young lady being protected in the arms of Marquis Xie, swaggering through the streets, which made the previous rumors somewhat shaky.

  Rumors are used by people to gossip and pass the time, as for what is true, no one cares. This is the power of rumors. And for someone as clever as Qin Miao, what she wants is that little bit of mixed-up truth, the possibility of seeming yet not being, rather than being completely one-sided like before.

  As the sun passed noon, the gate of Xiangyang City was steaming with heat, and wisps of white vapor rose from the ground, vividly showing that this place was known as the "furnace" of Xiangyang.

  "Hey, it's so hot today, I don't know if the old lady will be uncomfortable." Qin Miao bumped into Xie Yan who was looking outside with his head held high. "Not good, I'll go back and prepare more ice blocks. The old ancestor is advanced in age..." He turned around and instructed Luo Guan to have someone go back to Beiyuan to add more ice blocks.

  Xie Xuan looked at her with a reassuring expression and smiled lightly, "Don't worry, Ah Wei said in the letter that our ancestor's body is very good. Don't worry!"

  Upon hearing this, Qin Miao's heart slightly eased up, and she quietly watched the commotion outside the city gate together with him.

  Before long, amidst the rising heat haze, a faint commotion of black dots could be seen. The black dots drew closer and closer, until within sight, it became clear that there was a group of people and horses, with several horse-drawn carriages.

  "Here, here!" Qin Miao's eyes sparkled as she happily grasped Xie Yun's arm and shook it. Xie Yun smiled and patted her head, this little girl is so excited now. Wait till the old lady arrives, she'll have a hard time then.

  Thank you, old lady, for the hard work of traveling by boat and carriage. As we arrive at the city gate, it's finally time to get off the carriage, and I let out a long sigh of relief. Xie Wei helped the old lady down from the carriage, and with one glance, she saw her own big brother and that striking crimson figure standing beside him.

  Sister-in-law! It's really sister-in-law!

  Although her elder brother had already made it clear in his letter, she and her grandmother were indeed delighted for a while. But when they really saw the person, Xie Wei still found it hard to believe.

  "Ancestors!" Qin Miao threw off Xie Yu's hand and rushed to the front of Old Lady Xie, holding her hands and coquettishly acting spoiled, just like she used to in the Hou Mansion.

  The old lady saw her like this, originally wanted to complain a few more sentences, but hearing her voice and seeing her small stature, her heart softened completely.

  "You little monkey..." The old lady also moved to hug her. Xiūjuān had already left, and Xiūjuān's son was not spared either. Now the Qin family has only a few remaining sprouts. Thinking of this, the old lady couldn't help but shed tears.

  Xie family ancestors and descendants reunited here, reluctant to part with each other. Meanwhile, people coming and going at the city gate watched this scene clearly.

  "Ah, I reckon that's the old lady from the Hou family."

  "It looks like it should be fine."

  "Hey, hey, isn't that Qin's daughter from before?"

  "Oh, isn't it? Looking... seems quite familiar with the old lady... how like one's own grandmother and grandson."

  "You're telling me! It really is!"

  "I'm telling you, I heard that Qin's wife was originally the wife of Marquis Xie. What kind of fox spirit is she..."

  "But didn't you say something about seducing or hooking up with someone earlier?"

  "Hey, take a look at that Marquis Xie, isn't he more handsome than any young lady? And he's a marquis from the capital city. Someone like him has many people who have their eyes on him. So, where did those rumors come from earlier? It's really hard to say. You know..."

  Finally, this person came out, as if he was the Emperor of Truth. With one word, he stunned everyone, and they all regained their senses, pondering, as if it were really possible that things were like this.

  Xiao Yu slipped out from the crowd with a mischievous grin, leaving behind a group of people still gossiping. She sneaked to the corner of the wall and carefully wiped off the dirt on her face. Remembering her "deception" skills earlier, she couldn't help but smile foolishly at the wall for a while.

  "Hmph, thinking of competing with our family's daughter? That's because our daughter looked down on you before and didn't take action. Just wait and see, there will be consequences for all of you who are so vicious!"