The young lady is delicate and soft, yet she criticizes the powerful minister for bowing and scrapin

The once grand Songyin Courtyard was now deserted as the Second Master stormed off, and the servants scattered like birds and beasts, all following him to fetch Lord Zhou.

There wasn't even a servant left guarding the gate in front of the pavilion; no one cared why Qi Yunli had appeared there the night before.

Qi Yunli looked at the empty, deserted pavilion, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips.

At least no one knows about the events of last night.

She never asked for much in the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion. She didn't seek merit but only to avoid mistakes. She only wished to stay and protect her younger brother peacefully.

She walked gracefully towards her own courtyard, the lingering scent of his ink still clinging to her.

Before even reaching the courtyard gate, one could hear the suppressed excited chatter of maids along the way.

Like birds chirping in spring, they swept and chatted under the cherry blossom trees.

The eldest son is back! I heard he escorted three million taels of military pay, a journey that should have taken four months, but he accomplished it in two months, and even wiped out bandits along the way!

"More than that! With such good looks and being the eldest son, countless noble ladies in the capital are eyeing him with envy. His future wife will surely be a lady from a very prestigious family."

The maids were talking animatedly when they caught sight of Qi Yunli approaching. Instead of lowering their voices, their tone became tinged with a barely perceptible disdain. They gave a perfunctory curtsy, then glanced over at her, continuing with their own daydreams.

The maids of high-ranking families are masters at judging people by their appearance. In their eyes, this gentle and helpless young lady was no different from the exquisite furnishings in the mansion, and perhaps even less valuable.

The young lady was timid and gentle, and even if she heard gossip, she didn't care much, so she treated Qi Yunli as if she were invisible.

The Wei family had rendered meritorious service in supporting the rise of the dynasty and was the head of the aristocratic families.

As the only eldest son, Wei Jun was the uncrowned moon, the only one who could inherit all the glory.

She was well aware of her precarious situation within the mansion.

Qi Yunli did not stop, and returned to the courtyard, lifting her skirt.

"Miss, why didn't you come back last night? What did the Second Master want with you that kept you up all night?" The maid, Tingyue, asked anxiously.

Qi Yunli said calmly, "It's nothing. Last night, the servants accidentally locked the door to Songyin Courtyard, which is why I couldn't come back."

Tingyue didn't dwell on it; there were more pressing matters at hand: "It's good that you're alright, Miss. I was worried sick all night. There's something very important right now—the eldest young master has returned!"

"Hmm." Qi Yunli responded lightly, sat down and took a sip of water first.

Tingyue lowered her voice and spoke very quickly: "Just now, someone from the front courtyard came to say that the eldest young master had done a good job escorting military supplies and had also quelled bandits along the way, which made the Emperor very happy. Now that he has returned, all the masters of the mansion have gone to the main hall. The old lady, the second madam, the third madam, and several masters from the collateral branches have all gone."

She pulled Qi Yunli's hand and led her into the house: "Miss, you should quickly change your clothes and freshen up. We should at least show our faces and greet them."

Wei Jun's return is a great joy for the Wei family. All the masters are gathered here, and she definitely needs to be there to avoid giving others cause for gossip.

After quickly washing up, changing her clothes, and smoothing out her skirt, she hurried to the front hall.

After passing through several hanging flower gates, one could already hear the lively laughter and greetings coming from the main hall.

In the center of the courtyard, Wei Jun's cloak was still on, covered in dust from his journey, yet it did not diminish his elegance in the slightest.

He stood there, handsome and dashing, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

Qi Yunli hurriedly bypassed the other masters and hid in a corner, trying to blend into the warm and harmonious family atmosphere.

The old lady hadn't seen her grandson for two whole months, and her eyes reddened with longing: "You've gotten thinner, even thinner. You must not have taken good care of yourself while you were out there. If this continues, I'll definitely have to give Rufeng a good talking-to and see how he's been doing his job, letting you get thinner and thinner the more he takes care of you!"

Wei Jun gently comforted her, "Grandson is fine. Being a little thinner just shows his maturity. Grandmother, please don't worry."

Upon hearing this, the old lady's reddened eyes curved into a smile, and she smiled too.

The second madam laughed and said, "Nian'an must miss the old lady so much. She originally planned a four-month trip, but she managed to return in just two months. She's truly eager to go home!"

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!" The old lady looked at her grandson with increasing relief, and couldn't help but bring up the most worrying matter: his marriage.

Marriages in large families are never taken lightly, as they involve the interests of all parties. A marriage that brings honor to this vast family would be considered a perfect ending.

The old lady said, "Nian'an, you have now come of age, and it's time to put your marriage on the agenda. With your great achievements this time, the Emperor will surely inquire about your marriage."

These words made the atmosphere in the courtyard even more lively. The wives from the collateral branches echoed each other, secretly planning how to find good marriages for their own children.

The third wife smiled and chimed in, "What the old lady said is absolutely right. Among the noble ladies in the capital, I find the daughter of the Minister of Rites to be gentle and virtuous, and the young lady of the Duke of Zheng's mansion to be proficient in all the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, to be a perfect match for Nian'an."

Wei Jun simply nodded slightly, showing neither enthusiasm nor opposition to the marriage: "Everything is up to Grandmother's arrangements. I have just returned home and my mind is still on my duties."

The old lady smiled and nodded, then looked at her granddaughters from the collateral branches: "It's not just Nian'an, you girls should also pay attention."

The third master's daughter, Wei Ruowei, was lively and cheerful. Her cheeks flushed, and she stamped her foot, saying, "We're all anxious about our eldest brother's marriage! If you ask me, if our eldest brother doesn't know how to choose, why don't we sisters help him find a match? Women understand women best!"

The third wife pinched her ear and gently pulled it back: "You're quite clever, aren't you? You want a sister-in-law who's just as talkative as you, don't you?"

As Qi Yunli watched the mother and daughter playing, a faint smile appeared on her lips, but it vanished without a trace before reaching her eyes.

They were the golden branches and jade leaves of the Wei family, and their marriage was the icing on the cake. As for herself... it was time for her to consider marriage as well.

Lost in thought, the old lady's kind voice called out to her: "Yun Li is here too. When your sisters are being matched, take a good look at her as well."

Qi Yunli's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward to bow, saying, "Grandmother."

She should have been addressed as "Old Madam," but when she entered the mansion, the Old Madam took a great liking to her and made her call her Grandmother as well.

Qi Yunli, dressed in a simple blue dress, rose from the corner. Her features were delicate, and her makeup was light. She could easily have blended in among the brightly colored young ladies of the Wei family, but her calm and composed demeanor made her hard to ignore after a second glance.

"When we're looking for suitable husbands for these ladies, take a good look at them too. If you find one you like, don't hesitate to tell the Second Madam," the old lady said kindly.

A complex emotion flashed across the second wife's face. She paused almost imperceptibly, then nodded in agreement.

She was just a cousin with no blood relation. If Nian'an hadn't taken her in, she wouldn't know where she would be living, let alone dream of a good marriage.

The glimmer of light that had appeared in Qi Yunli's eyes because of the old lady's words vanished when she met that gaze again.

Others simply assumed it was the typical shyness of an unmarried young woman.

"Thank you, Grandmother."

The laughter and chatter that had filled the hall over the wedding subsided slightly. Wei Jun accepted the tea served by the maid, and then, as if casually mentioning it, asked in a gentle voice:

"Grandmother, is Second Uncle not at home today?"