Qingyun's reputation spread among the ladies in Beijing. The Third House was furious, her eyes red with hatred. Second Madam Lou, however, still felt a pang of resentment. She endured until the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, when she finally couldn't help but speak.

"Why hasn't the Zhao family come yet? It's already the fourth day of the Lunar New Year."

On the evening of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, during dinner, Second Madam Lou couldn't help but sigh.

At the time, the Second House's family was dining alone, with only their family members at the table.

Everyone who heard this couldn't help but burst out in laughter, and Qingyun blushed with embarrassment. Ling Shuang said, "Mother, the first day of the New Year is for our family to celebrate. On the second and third days, we have to visit my parents' family. On the fourth and fifth days, we entertain our own family. Even if they want to visit us, they have to wait until after the fifth day."

Xian Yue also smiled and said, "Besides, the Zhao family is a marquisate, so we should go to them first if we want to pay our respects."

Besides, I've inquired. In previous years, when the Zhao family and our Lou family communicated, they would have the housekeeper deliver a letter, and that would have to wait until after the tenth day."

"I understand that.

But in previous years, the Lu and Wang families were also late. Didn't they all come in person this year? Second Madam Lou was also quite arrogant. "Since the Zhao family is so determined, who cares if they're a marquisate or not? A daughter of one family is sought after by hundreds. Show your sincerity! Don't think the Zhao family is the city's favorite peach blossom. Our Qingyun is also a hot commodity."

"Hot commodity, hot peach blossom! Mother waits for the Zhao family every day! If they don't come on the fourth, come on the fifth. Apricot blossoms will be sold in the alley tomorrow morning!"

Tanxue was clever and eccentric. She immediately imitated Lingshuang's sarcasm and made up a jingle to tease Second Madam Lou.

Second Madam Lou raised her eyebrows and tried to catch her, but Tanxue had already slipped away. She had no choice but to scold her husband: "It's all your fault. No matter what Tanxue becomes in the future, she needs to be taught a lesson now. Look at her, she doesn't even look like a girl anymore."

"Being a match for Qi is not a good match. The Zhao family's high status isn't necessarily a good thing. Everything depends on fate."

Second Master Lou's mind was elsewhere. He thought she was still talking about the Zhao family, so he said calmly while reading the book.

"What's the point of Qi Da Fei Ou? Among all the princes and nobles in the city.

Zhao Jing of the Zhao family is the most outstanding. Besides our Qing Yun, who else could possibly be worthy of him? Yuzhu and Bizhu are not to be mentioned, and Princess Xun is only..."

"That's not necessarily true. Although Zhao Jing is outstanding, he's not the only one." Xianyue suddenly said calmly.

She only said this. Second Madam Lou wanted to ask about other outstanding princes, but she felt it would be beneath her dignity.

But Xianyue has always been a bit cunning. Even her own mother sometimes outsmarts her.

Those ladies in the capital may seem affectionate with her, but in reality, they all have their own agendas. Those with daughters are wary of others, while those with sons are concerned about their own families. They focus on eating, drinking, and playing cards, but when it comes to serious matters, they never tell the truth.

Second Madam Lou has been around for so long, and some of her information might not be as accurate as Xianyue's. If only she could find a reason to ask her.

As she was pondering, she looked up and saw Ling Shuang, holding a bowl and smiling meaningfully at her. The girl had a strange pair of eyes, clear as water and black as chess pieces, which seemed to see through her. She couldn't help but blush a little and scolded, "Just eat your meal, why are you laughing?

You don't have to go out to pay New Year's greetings tomorrow. Rest at home and wait for the guests."

By the fifth day of the New Year, Second Madam Lou had forgotten all about it. There was no other reasonhe eldest wife of the Zhao family had come in person to pay New Year's greetings. Ostensibly to pay New Year's greetings to the old lady, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that her real motive was something else: the Lou family's daughter. And it couldn't be Yuzhu or Bizhu, otherwise she would have come two years earlier. It could only be for Lou Qingyun.

Old Madam Lou was obviously aware of this. The Zhao family was a highly sought-after family in the capital. Both of her father's brothers were now powerful, holding titles of marquis and successful careers. Their family was also well-off. Their estate outside the capital alone was several times larger than the Lou family's, and they also had many other properties in other places.

While it's common sense that high-ranking families marry daughters and low-ranking families marry wives, for the Lou family, marrying up was simply too much.

Not to mention Zhao Jing, the future young marquis, even Zhao Xiu, from the second branch of the Zhao family, was a wonderful marriage they were overjoyed to have.

So, although she didn't show it on her face, the smile in her eyes was undeniable.

Madam Zhao was the wife of the marquis, and Old Lady Lou personally entertained her. She only drank a cup of tea, sat for a while, and chatted for a while. She pulled Qingyun aside to look at her for a moment, then praised Xianyue Lingshuang and jokingly said, "Qingyun has lost weight after the New Year."

Second Madam Lou naturally smiled and greeted her. Next to her, Third Madam Lou forced a smile, but her hands in her sleeves were probably pierced. Otherwise, she wouldn't have sat there for a while without a single joke.

After seeing off the distinguished guest, Old Lady Lou changed into her proper attire. Both daughters-in-law came up to serve. Second Lady Lou came to take her warm hat. She said to Second Lady Lou, "Apart from anything else, Qingyun has truly been raised so well over the past decade. Thank you for all your hard work."

Second Lady Lou's eyes welled up, her voice hoarse as she said, "Not at all. It's my duty."

Over a decade of resentment between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, like a huge rock, finally showed signs of softening because of Qingyun.

Third Lady Lou didn't say anything at the time. But during lunch, Old Lady Wang joked, "Third Lady has been incredibly busy these past few days. I heard several families have come to propose marriage."

She was trying to smooth things over, knowing the Second House was in the spotlight, and she wanted to help balance things out for the Third House. But Third Lady Lou didn't appreciate it. Instead, she sneered and said, "It's nothing. Nothing in the world is that simple. Forget about gathering information. Even a marriage proposal can be fraught with uncertainty."

Taking things too seriously can only lead to people looking down on you. Old Lady, as you know, the rules of Beijing are set. Marriages are arranged after the Lantern Festival, when the girls are exorcised from all ills. The young men in the capital are quite frivolous and unwilling to enter into blind marriages. They all secretly look at each other during the Lantern Festival, as if they are not satisfied, even if the elders in the family like the girls, it will be difficult to settle down. It's too early to celebrate now, and I'm afraid the girls will suffer.

The so-called "exorcising from all ills" is also a custom in the capital. The women of wealthy families rarely meet outsiders. Only on the Lantern Festival do they go out to enjoy the lanterns, carrying lanterns from their homes to the South City Gate and then back, praying for their families' health for the year. This is called "exorcising from all ills."

Thus, the princes and sons of the royal family in the capital also use this time to look at the girls, otherwise they would not have the opportunity to see their appearance before the engagement.

Everyone knew what Grandma Lou San meant: Zhao Jing was too picky and would not be interested in Qing Yun during the Lantern Festival, so the marriage would not be possible.

They were dining at Old Lady Lou's, and the table was filled with female relatives. When it came to marriage proposals, young women weren't allowed to interrupt, so Qingyun ate with a slightly blushing face. Xianyue also hesitated to speak. But Lingshuang never cared about these rules.

"The Lantern Festival isn't a one-sided affair. The man can choose the woman, and the woman can choose the man. Isn't that a mutual choice? Why are you worried about Sister Yuzhu and the others being at a disadvantage, Third Aunt?" Ling Shuang said, before Old Lady Lou could reprimand her. "Besides, it's not impolite. The custom of seeing each other during the Lantern Festival has existed since ancient times. Mr. Jiaxuan wrote it so beautifully in his poem "Qingyu'an": 'I searched for him among the crowds a thousand times, but when I turned, I found him standing in the dim light.' It's clear that this is also an old custom. There's no such thing as being frivolous or not. Third Aunt is being too cautious and misinterpreting a good thing."

Third Aunt Lou didn't want to be at a disadvantage and wanted to retort, but she didn't know much about poetry. Moreover, Old Lady Lou coughed lightly and said, "Today's mutton is quite good."

Clearly meant to stop her, she had no choice but to change the subject and talk about cooking.

Second Madam Lou returned from dinner and, for once, refrained from calling Ling Shuang audacious. Instead, she snorted, "Feng Wanhua is so shallow! She's already showing so many things just because Madam Zhao came to visit. What will happen if she actually proposes marriage?"

"She's not just showing her true colors; she might even resort to shady tactics. I think we should be wary of the Third House and find out what they've been up to lately," Xianyue lazily said, leaning against the incense burner.

"Let's first think about what we'll wear for the Lantern Festival. Those embroidered dresses with broken branches need some alterations. I think scarlet is a bit too conspicuous. How about something more elegant and subdued..." Second Madam Lou hesitated.

Xianyue smiled, then looked at Ling Shuang. Ling Shuang understood what she meant ianyue looked good in bright colors, while Qingyun suited herself to softer, more subtle colors. Her mother was afraid she'd steal Qingyun's limelight.

Just as she was about to speak, her maid Ruyi hurried in.

"Madam, Third Miss." She was a little breathless from running.

"What are you panicking about?" Second Madam Lou scolded.

Ruyi's face flushed.

"Someone's from the Cheng family! Madam Cheng is here to wish the old lady a happy new year." Her face flushed, but she finally managed to say, "Young Master Cheng Jun is here too."

Everyone burst into laughter, even the usually dignified Qingyun couldn't help but smile. Xianyue even pulled Lingshuang aside and said, "You need to dress up, Lingshuang! You and Cheng Jun haven't seen each other in five or six years, and we've only communicated through writing. I wonder what 'Master Zhuzhong' looks like now. He was quite handsome back then.

I heard the two sisters from the third house are targeting Cheng Jun as well. Uncle Cheng must have gotten a promotion recently, right?"