However, the second branch of the Lou family was unaware of these rumors. After disembarking from the boat, they were escorted back to the Lou Mansion by servants. Although the four sisters usually joked and played among themselves, they were very quiet today, speaking no words along the way. Upon entering the Lou Mansion, they were truly imposing. The large plaque at the main entrance, adorned with large, gilded characters, was truly impressive. Third Miss Lou Lingshuang peeked behind the carriage curtain and saw the cinnabar imperial seal, realizing it was a plaque bestowed by the emperor.

After entering the second gate, they were given a sedan chair. The housekeeper and her maids were already waiting there. She looked no more than her mid-thirties, with a pointed face and a perpetual smile. Her hair was adorned with pearls and jade, and she was dressed in silk. She spoke sweetly, saying, "Greetings to the Second Master and to the Second Madam. Thank you for your long journey."

She personally came over to help Second Madam Lou into the sedan chair. Second Madam Lou simply said, "Thank you, Sister Feng."

Ling Shuang guessed that this was the maid who had accompanied Third Madam Lou when she married. Now that Third Madam Lou was the housekeeper, this Feng servant had also become the housekeeper.

The other maids were obviously from the Third Madam Lou's household. She had heard that Old Madam Lou was very powerful back then; otherwise, her parents wouldn't have retreated to Jiangnan for fifteen years. But how come, after fifteen years, everyone in the Lou mansion was surnamed Feng?

As she pondered this, someone suddenly jostled her arm. It was her second sister, Lou Xianyue, who was also in the sedan chair, and she gave her a look.

She looked up and saw that the sedan chair was almost reaching the main house. The courtyard to the left was obviously occupied by the third wife. It was spacious and newly renovated, with white stubble on the rafters. A magnolia tree, already covered with deep pink buds, was gorgeous.

To the right, the side courtyard beside the main house smelled of sandalwood, and with its raised roof, it looked like a Buddhist temple.

The eldest wife of the Lou family actually had the best future. She had often heard people talk about it. They said that the master had once held a high position in the government, had been selected as the third place in the imperial examination at the age of nineteen, and had married a daughter of a prominent family. Unfortunately, he died young, leaving no heirs. Since then, the first wife has devoted herself to Buddhist worship and ignored worldly affairs.

As soon as they entered the main courtyard, Third Lady Lou, Feng Wanhua, came to greet them. She had a beautiful, oval face. Despite her age, she was well-maintained, spoke briskly, and had a graceful figure. She bowed to Second Master Lou and said, "Hello, Second Brother. It's been ages."

Without waiting for Second Master Lou's slow reply, she bowed to Second Lady Lou, reached out and took her arm, saying affectionately, "Second Sister-in-law, you've worked so hard all the way here. Three years ago, I asked Third Master Lou to write a letter urging Second Brother to bring you back, but you insisted you couldn't be transferred. I said you had a ready-made opportunity, and my uncle is now the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Why wouldn't I just ask him for help? How can you say you can't be transferred?"

"It really can't be transferred. The local people heard you were leaving and signed a petition to keep you. You have so much to do at work, you really can't leave."

Second Lady Lou, a very well-mannered woman, took her arm and said with a smile.

Xianyue, who had been holding Lingshuang's arm, nudged her with her elbow upon hearing this, a smile of profound meaning on her face. Lingshuang knew what she meant; she was a fox who could spot an old fox at a glance. His Third Madam was no pushover.

Of the four Lou sisters, the eldest, Qingyun, was gentle and kind; the second, Xianyue, was beautiful but cunning, always smiling like a fox.

The third, Lingshuang, was, in her mother's words, "born with a peculiar temper, uncontrollable even by nine oxen." The fourth, Lou Tanxue, was still young and quite clever.

This was the first time for all four girls to return to the capital. They had seen so much excitement along the way that now, at the mansion, though cautious, they were still observing things furtively.

The main courtyard was immaculately tidy. A large crabapple tree stood in the center, and many orchids lined the corridors. Standing beneath the corridor were seven or eight maids, all dressed in the same cyan dress. Leading the way was a tall, pretty maid, about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a Autumn Fragrance dress. She was tall and pretty, and smiled. Upon seeing them, she led everyone in a bow.

"The old lady seems a little unhappy."

Before entering, Third Lady Lou suddenly said this. She embodied the saying, a fire in the open, a knife in the dark. Her face was indescribably warm and cheerful, a natural warmhearted person. Her reminder made it impossible not to feel genuinely concerned for Second Lady Lou, and her manner of speaking made it even more sincere. She whispered into Second Lady Lou's ear, "The old lady was saying this earlier, 'Raising a son and not seeing him for fifteen years ow can such filial piety be shown?' She was so angry she skipped breakfast. My eldest sister-in-law spent a long time in the Buddhist temple trying to calm her down."

Second Lady Lou knew she was just putting on a show and might be slandering the old lady behind her back, so she simply smiled and said, "Our Second Master is truly a nobody. I'm held back by family matters and the children. Otherwise, he would have been taken back to the capital."

This was the very reason Second Madam was so difficult to deal with. Whenever she encountered trouble, she simply pushed the blame onto Second Master Lou. But Second Master Lou indulged her, always taking the blame obediently. He was the master, after all, and the family couldn't do anything to him. Even when Old Madam got angry, she'd just scold him. The couple worked well together.

As expected, Second Madam Lou smiled upon hearing this and said, "It's all my fault. I was even saying that on the way home. When I return, I'll kowtow and apologize to Mother."

As they spoke, they had already passed through the hallway. The large maid in the autumn-colored dress raised the curtain and announced, "Second Master, Second Madam, are back!"

From within, voices had already begun to call out, "Greetings to Second Master, Second Madam."

Many maids and servants were still inside, trying to curtsy with Old Madam Lou. They all stood and bowed upon seeing her enter. Lingshuang and her younger sister, Tanxue, were both returning to the Lou family for the first time. Qingyun and Xianyue were young when they left the capital and didn't remember much, so they each looked at each other cautiously.

Old Madam Lou, despite her age and her fondness for spaciousness, had divided the main room into three. To the east stood a warm room with a heated kang and a sun-facing glazed window. It was covered with cushions decorated with bright red peonies and bright red sunflowers, and decorated with flowers like narcissus and wintersweets, along with needlework. This was clearly Old Madam Lou's living room, leading to her bedroom in the east wing.

In the right-hand hall, a large round table and a sixteen-page kesi silk screen were placed. Although an old item with a worn pattern, it was still worth a fortune. Antiques were placed on a rosewood stand, clearly a place for entertaining guests and dining.

The central main room was clearly unused. A censer filled with fine silver charcoal and jasmine tea leaves was heated, and the warm fragrance was overwhelming upon entering.

Old Madam Lou, now nearly seventy, with hair as white as silver, was surrounded by her granddaughters and maids. She only rose slightly, and Second Master Lou and Second Mistress had already bowed down with the four sisters.

"Greetings to Mother."

"Greetings to Grandmother."

"Everyone, get up," said Old Lady Lou.

Ling Shuang stole a glance and saw that Old Lady Lou was indeed as her mother had described her. Although she was well-fed, her eyes held a seriousness, a commanding presence beneath her anger.

Fortunately, she was still happy to see her son and daughter-in-law, whom she hadn't seen in years. She was also very kind to her granddaughter. She wondered what had happened to her mother, leading her to the point where she had to leave.

Before she knew it, the maid had already brought over cushions, asking the four granddaughters to kowtow to Old Lady Lou. Old Lady Lou personally helped them up and examined each one. As expected, like all the other elders, she immediately took a liking to her gentle and quiet eldest granddaughter, Qingyun. Pulling her to sit with her, she said, "I'm afraid Qingyun doesn't recognize me. You were only this young when I left."

"How could that be?" Qingyun replied sweetly. "In Yangzhou, I hear my father say every day that he misses Grandma. It's a pity that he's so busy with work, and we sisters can't be there to honor her.

Every autumn, Grandma asks Second Uncle Li to send produce from the farm to Yangzhou. We're so unworthy of this gift, and we truly feel sorry for Grandma's kindness."

Her words were so sincere and gentle that Old Lady Lou's heart softened. Stroking her hair, she smiled and said, "I know Qingyun is the best. She puts so much thought into the birthday gifts she sends me every year."

That little jacket with the longevity flower pattern I made last year is so delicate and warm. I was wearing it just a few days ago.

"My sewing skills are really average, but since Grandma likes it, I'll make two more for her when I return to the capital," she said immediately.

Old Lady Lou smiled.

"That's great, but I'm afraid you'll be busy this spring and won't have time to make it."

She said jokingly, referring to the Flower Festival. Second Madam Lou, perceptive enough, immediately joined in the fun, and the others laughed too. Qingyun blushed, turned her head away, and remained silent.

Old Lady Lou sat with Qingyun in her arms, looking over her other three granddaughters. Lou Xianyue had always been a bit of a flirt, but she didn't dare show it in front of her elders, so she just sat there obediently. Little Tanxue was also very well behaved. Lingshuang was always indifferent. Old Lady Lou saw that her features were exactly like Second Lady Lou's, and her mouth was also sharp. Only her nose resembled her son's, so she was a little displeased.

"The younger one's name is Tanxue, right?" she asked Second Master Lou.

"Yes," Mr. Lou replied. "The third child was named Lingshuang. On the day she was born, the entire garden was covered in morning frost, sparkling and lovely. She smiled from the moment she was born, hence the name Lingshuang.

On the day the fourth child was born, Yangzhou experienced a once-in-a-century heavy snowfall, a sign of good fortune. Frost and snow are a sign of a good harvest, so we named her Lingshuang Tanxue, to evoke a good omen."

Unfortunately, Old Lady Lou was not pleased when she heard this. She said, "Every family names girls names like frost and snow. They sound cold. Qingyun is a good name. It has a good meaning and is gentle and affectionate. How wonderful."

Lingshuang knew she was dissatisfied with the lack of closeness between her and Tanxue, so she simply smiled and said nothing. Tanxue, naively, didn't understand and thought the old lady was criticizing her name, so she pouted.

"Old Madam, just let the Second Master and his wife choose their own names. Frost and Snow are so elegant.

Like our Third Master's, Yuzhu and Bizhu. The boys would be named Yuqi and Yulin. How vulgar!"

Third Grandma Lou jokingly complained. She was clearly a favorite of Old Madam Lou, shaking her arm.

Old Madam Lou immediately laughed.

"By the way, I was so busy talking that I forgot to let you sisters recognize each other."

She pointed to the two girls sitting in the rose chairs below and said, "Yuzhu and Bizhu, haven't you met your sisters yet?"

Qingyun was a polite woman, always the most generous in front of others. Knowing she was older, she immediately stood up, took her two cousins' hands, and exchanged greetings, then introduced her sisters one by one.

Ling Shuang had actually spotted the two sisters the moment she entered. Their features bore a striking resemblance to Third Lady Lou. Yuzhu had a round face and large eyes, while Bizhu, with her pointed chin and peach-shaped face, was even more beautiful, her eyes shone with a hint of arrogance. Seeing Old Lady Lou repeatedly glancing at Qingyun, praising her beauty and filial piety, she immediately lost interest, a sneer in her eyes, clearly accustomed to the idea of eauty.

Sadly, both were defeated when they met Xianyue.

Qingyun was fine. While she was also beautiful, she was gentle and reserved, like a dignified peony, lacking a certain flirtation.

Xianyue's features were already stunning, and she often wore a slightly sickly look. They were graceful and elegant. Holding hands, they met, their beauty was truly breathtaking. Yuzhu was fine, but Bizhu immediately pursed her lips, even the words "Third Sister" sounded gritted through her teeth.