The old lady turned to Xiao Lao Tai and smiled wryly, "You see, if I hadn't called her over, I would have made a foolish mistake. Fortunately, the mistake hasn't been made yet. Elder sister, let's put this matter aside for now. My grandson has gone on a long trip for work, and when he returns, I'll ask him clearly and then respond to you."

  Mrs. Xiao's face was no longer just ugly, she forced a smile, stood up abruptly, wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and said: "In that case, I'll take my leave."

  "I'll see you off."

  "Wait."

  The old lady didn't return to the main hall, but instead sent someone to summon Hua Ruochu to a side hall where she usually handled affairs. The place wasn't as sunny and hot there.

  Qī Zhēn is over there checking the accounts.

  She waved away the others and turned to Hua Ruochu with a serious expression. "Tell me, what's going on."

  Hua Ru's face was as white as a sheet, her forehead beaded with sweat, and her lips pale, making one's heart ache just by looking at her.

  The old lady also felt that her tone was too harsh, so she softened her tone and said, "Is there anything wrong?"

  "Yes, yes..." After a pause, Hua Ru Chu took a deep breath and patted her chest twice before speaking out. "Grandmother, I've heard my husband mention that if the Second Prince wants to deal with the Crown Prince, he must first deal with my husband and another trusted person of the Crown Prince, Mo Wen. To deal with my husband, he would have to make the Crown Prince and our family fall out. This way, even if the Crown Prince still can't leave my husband's side, he won't trust him as much as before. Zhen Mei is my husband's own sister, and I'm guessing the Second Prince won't let this opportunity pass, he will definitely send someone to propose a marriage."

  An old man who had been waiting for news walked in from outside the door. "The Jiang family is not a supporter of the Second Prince."

  Hua Ru Chu hastily wanted to pay his respects, but Old Master waved his hand and sat down in the first seat, waiting for Hua Ru Chu's response.

  Hua Ru's face turned even paler, Qi Zhen looked worried and feared that her sister-in-law would faint, so she quickly went over to support her.

  She looked at him with gratitude, and Hua Ru said: "Husband said that the second prince must have put his heart into it, and he will come to propose a marriage. He must be someone who is close to him, but not necessarily someone who has been assigned to his faction."

  She stole a glance at the two elderly people and said, "Sun's daughter-in-law, remember that not long ago, someone from the second prince's side came to propose a marriage, but our ancestors didn't even see the person."

  The two old men exchanged a glance and understood each other's minds.

  What a smoke bomb, what a clever idea. As they thought, someone was sent to be the matchmaker, but they were rejected by those who had been prepared in advance. Naturally, the Qi family would no longer be so vigilant, and then let the Jiang family, who had always maintained a neutral face, come to propose marriage for their son. If they had even a little bit of ambition to climb up the social ladder, this marriage would definitely succeed.

  It was also the old lady who had never been moved.

  "Does Yu'er have someone she likes?"

  "It was said that he was chosen together with the crown prince."

  The old man's eyes lit up, as long as the prince has made his attitude clear.

  "In response to Old Lady Xiao's words, he said that Qi Zhen's brother had already spoken for her and arranged a marriage, and it was unreasonable for a woman to have two husbands."

  "It turns out that it was actually the second prince's people who came from the Jiang family."

  "Claiming to be neutral, how many are truly neutral? Either they're like the grass on the wall, swaying with the wind, or they've long been secretly biased, thinking they're being subtle about it."

  The old man snorted in disdain, his gaze at Hua Ruchu filled with satisfaction. It's okay if she's a bit timid; after all, she knew the pros and cons of this matter and helped to push it past.

  Knowing what is right and wrong is enough.

  The old lady's original idea was gone after understanding the situation, and she smiled kindly at Hua Ruochu, saying: "No one in my courtyard knows how to make Yangzhou dishes, so I won't keep you for dinner, go back."

  He glanced at Qi Zhen and added, "A Zhen has been busy with me for so many days without rest. Today, let her go with your sister-in-law, the two sisters-in-law can get closer."

  "Yes, thank you, Grandma."

  "The daughter-in-law asked to leave."

  The two aunts walked along the corridor to the backyard, with Qi Zhen holding his aunt's hand all the way, looking unusually close.

  Whispering to each other, a group of people walked towards them from the front, led by Qi Xin and Qi Rou, who were rarely seen together.

  As both were elder sisters of humble birth, they had always been close.

  Qī Yòu wasn't very concerned with internal affairs and didn't have many opportunities to meet with them, so it's natural that they weren't close.

  However, both of them knew that Qi You was holding up their long house, so they naturally had a bit of respect.

  But as the legitimate daughter, Qi Zhen only felt jealous and envious.

  Nothing needs to be done and everything is available, now they have also won their grandmother's favor, how can they not envy and hate?

  It is possible to hate again, but etiquette cannot be abandoned.

  The two of them slightly bowed and said "Nice to meet you, sister-in-law, nice to meet you, dear sister."

  Although the corridor shaded her from the sun, it couldn't block out the heat, and Hua Ruoyu felt like she was going to melt.

  "Excuse me, where are you two sisters headed?"

  "Returning to what you said, I heard that Sister Rong has come back and we were just about to go pay our respects."

  Qī Róng back? Looked at Qī Zhēn for a moment, she also shook her head.

  "Then I won't block sister's way anymore. It's too hot outside and my head is a bit dizzy, Zhenmei, hold me for a moment."

  "Hey? Sister-in-law, are you okay? Yunshu, quickly get someone to call the doctor."

  "It's okay, it's okay, just take a break and we'll be fine, let's go."

  "Okay, sister-in-law, lean on me a bit, don't walk so fast."

  She can't wait to fly back home now, feeling extremely uncomfortable with each step, but there are still two people watching behind her, so she has to continue pretending.

  This pretending to be ill is also a skillful job.

  Qī Xīn and Qī Róu walked for a while before continuing on, wiping the sweat from their brows as they whispered: "This older sister of ours is indeed frail, she can't even handle this kind of weather, how did she manage to get pregnant? Xīn jiě, did you see that dress she was wearing? It's really beautiful."

  "Embroidered clothes, how can they look bad? We have to be careful with every piece of cloth, but she can wear those things every day. That's just fate, accept it."

  Her mouth responded vaguely, but in her heart, Qi Rou didn't take it seriously. Resign herself to fate? Why should she resign herself to fate?

  It's better for such a generous sister-in-law to be more reserved, normally they wouldn't meet, but this time they finally met, and she also had a reason to come looking for him.

  It's better to save more things, who knows how much dowry they will have? If it's too little, later when you go to your husband's family, won't you be looked down upon?

  The elder sister-in-law has a dowry of ten li of red goods, leaking a little to her is enough for her use.

  Back in the house, after eating a big bowl of green bean soup chilled with cold water, Hua Ruyi asked, "Has that married-out Qi Rong returned? Isn't she pregnant? What's the point of rushing back on such a hot day?"

  Satisfied, he wiped his mouth and said, "Who knows? I've never been close to them. Even if I do something good for them, they can interpret it in a different way. I'm not going to take that kind of treatment."

  "Who told you to go and try to get in good with the legitimate children? She glared at her, and Hua Ruochu shook her head, continuing, "And when she came back, she didn't even come to pay her respects to me. On the day of the wedding, she made excuses to avoid it too. What's wrong with Qi Rong - is she stupid or what? What good does it do her to offend me?"

  "It's not that she's stupid, but rather she thinks she's smart. It's better if she doesn't come, to avoid any trouble. However, I just ran into Qi Xin and Qi Rou, so they'll probably tell her about running into us two. Even if she didn't want to come before, now she has to."

  "Don't force it, I don't really want to see you either." Pinched a small piece of melon and put it in her mouth, sweet and refreshing, not bad, eat another piece.

  Qī Zhēn also had a good time eating and drinking.

  She felt extremely carefree here at her sister-in-law's place, and no one would use those rules to constrain her or force her to learn anything, living a life as happy as that of an immortal.

  "Thinking of her sister-in-law's behavior in front of grandfather just now, Qi Zhen couldn't help but ask, 'Sister-in-law, you're not afraid at all, why do you act so scared in front of grandfather? You don't behave like that in front of grandmother.'"

  "Of course it's because grandfather is strict! I'm naturally afraid."

  She didn't believe it, afraid that a person like him wasn't her type, who would be scared to death at first, but then turn around and be carefree to the point of being reckless.

  But if sister-in-law says so, then it must be true.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, after finishing a plate of melon, Qi Rong was supported by someone to come and pay her respects.

  "While waiting for her to enter, Qi Zhen whispered: 'See, I knew she would come back.'"

  "If you don't want to see him, just stay inside."

  "It's better not to, she knows I'm here, avoiding her would only make her think I'm afraid of her."

  Hua Ru had already sensed it at first glance - these two people were probably not on the same wavelength in the past.

  It's understandable when you think about it. One is a spoiled legitimate daughter, the other is an illegitimate daughter who has to fight for everything herself, so it's normal that they're not on an even psychological keel.

  The six-panel screen in the living room was moved, leaving a space on the left side.

  Bamboo curtains are set up on both sides of the door. Occasionally, a breeze comes in, which also makes this house not feel stuffy.

  As soon as she entered the door, Hua Ruochu had already taken a good look at him.

  She's indeed a beauty, clearly pregnant with twins, yet doesn't look clumsy at all; if not for the bulging belly, she'd still appear to have a maiden's figure.

  Her face appears slightly plumper, making her whole person look softer, with a light makeup, it's hard to see the condition of her skin.

  "Qiu Rong greets her elder sister-in-law."

  Hua Ru Chun didn't stop her, and after respectfully receiving half a bow, she seemed to have suddenly remembered that she was pregnant, and hastily had someone support her as she sat down. She also had someone bring out melons, fruits, and pastries, saying: "You've come, so you've come; don't worry about formalities, what's the point of making a big fuss and risking harm to the child? Quickly have something to eat, the melon is very sweet, and the pastries are made in the Yangzhou style - I don't know if they suit your taste. If you like them, we'll pack some for you to take away later."

  It's all her fault, she knew it would hurt the child, why didn't she just let him off that courtesy?

  Qiu Rong was furious, but couldn't find anything wrong with her.

  The family is still pretending to be good people, busy with this and that for her, but it's hard to tell if she's intentionally making things difficult for her.

  Qī Róng didn't dare to rush to a conclusion either, and followed her intention to pick up a piece of pastry and put it in her mouth.

  It's really delicious, sweet and soft, with a slight chewiness. If she wasn't in control of her senses, she would have asked for the recipe on the spot.

  "But you like it?"

  Qiu Rong nodded slightly and said "It tastes good."

  "It's fine if you like it, Yun Shu, tell the kitchen to make a bit more and I'll take some for Auntie later."

  "Yes."

  "Sister-in-law, this...this is too polite of you, I'll just have a few pieces here."

  "It's nothing, just a few pieces of cake, you're still being polite to your sister-in-law."

  "Then, thank you, sister-in-law."

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