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

The second wife quickly smiled and said, "Last night, Second Master hosted a banquet for Vice Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Revenue, and he just saw him off. Minister Zhou repeatedly praised our Marquis's residence for its excellent hospitality!"

Wei Jun raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone gentle yet tinged with doubt:

"My second uncle holds no real official position and merely manages clan documents. How could he be so close to a high-ranking official like Minister Zhou?"

If one has an official position that requires attending court, then there is always a reason to get acquainted with officials from all sides.

However, the Second Master Wei Zhongde was merely a clerk in the Imperial Clan Court of the Wei family, a sinecure of the ninth rank. He was only responsible for organizing the genealogy of the Wei clan and the ceremonial documents such as birthdays, weddings, and funerals of collateral descendants, and did not need to participate in court affairs.

This was a completely empty position where one could simply collect a salary without any real power.

How could someone of the lowest rank, the ninth grade, possibly have a close relationship with a high-ranking official of the third grade?

The second wife was somewhat embarrassed: "This... I was just thinking of making more connections with influential people so that I could share some of the burdens for you in court, Nian'an."

The old lady snorted, "Share the burden? How much burden can you share? If we don't entertain you properly, it will put Nian'an in a difficult position before the Emperor. Can your second branch of the family bear the responsibility?"

They were all the old lady's own flesh and blood. It wasn't that she was biased, but the second branch of the family always liked to do things that annoyed people.

Jinxiu, the maidservant beside the old lady, stepped forward and whispered a few words in her ear. The old lady's expression changed slightly, but she quickly put on a kind smile again and told Nian'an that she must be tired from her journey and should go back to her courtyard to rest.

This harmonious atmosphere within the family has now come to an end.

Hiding in the corner, Qi Yunli thought to herself that once they had mostly left, she could also slip away quietly.

Unexpectedly, she was summoned by Wenshu, another maidservant of the old lady, who said that the old lady had something to ask her.

Qi Yunli felt uneasy.

Could it be that the old lady discovered her and Wei Jun the night before last?

A year ago, her family suffered a sudden tragedy when both her parents died. Overnight, she and her younger brother, Qi Yunsi, became helpless orphans.

Other relatives in the clan coveted the Qi family's property. Seeing that the two siblings were poor and lonely, they all used the guise of helping them to actually try to divide up the family property.

Qi Yunli wasn't worried about losing her property; she was only afraid that she and her brother would fall into the hands of those heartless relatives, and they would never see the light of day again.

She needed to get married, and her younger brother needed to go to school. Her relatives only cared about money; they were all businessmen, only interested in immediate profits, and wouldn't bother with her anymore.

Qi Yunli made a tough decision, packed up her valuables, and, along with her maid Tingyue and younger brother Qi Yunsi, went to the Wei family of the Marquis of Dingyuan, where her mother's cousin, who was also her aunt, had married into a wealthy family.

Her aunt was the second wife of the Wei family.

However, after marrying into the Marquis's mansion, this second wife only had eyes for the glory and wealth, and had long forgotten the sisterly bond that had been shared through thick and thin.

Upon seeing these distant relatives who were not even remotely related, the second wife had no intention of taking them in. She simply told them to go back to where they came from, offered a few words of feigned concern, and then tried to send them away.

That day was also a coincidence.

When Qi Yunli was driven away by the Second Madam, the first snow was falling outside. She and her younger brother stood at the door, and after hesitating for a moment, they saw a carriage stop and a handsome young man alight. He was dressed in a white fur coat, his appearance was as cold and aloof as jade, and as bright as the moon. His gaze swept over them indifferently.

The sight of the two siblings hesitating and waiting in front of the mansion was so desolate that it stirred a pang of pity in this young master, who was like a bright moon hanging high in the sky.

He briefly asked his attendant Rufeng about the situation and then brought them into the mansion. The servants all called her Miss Biao. After the old lady met her, she was very fond of her because of her beautiful features and asked the second madam to take good care of the two of them and give them their own small courtyard.

Although they couldn't compare to the noble status of the Wei family's proper young lady, this title of "cousin" ensured that they had no worries about food and clothing in the mansion.

At that time, Qi Yunli realized that what seemed like an insurmountable problem to her was easily solved by Wei Jun with just a glance and a simple command, "Stay."

She often recalled the day Wei Jun took them in, and she remembered with perfect clarity the gratitude and kindness that welled up in her heart at that time.

Who would have thought that this young master, as bright as the moon hanging in the sky, would call her to the courtyard in the dead of night and entwine with her endlessly.

"Madam, Miss Biao has arrived," reported the maid, Wenshutong.

Qi Yunli pulled herself out of her thoughts, gently lifted the beaded curtain, and bowed to the old lady in the hall.

"Yun Li is here?" The old lady leaned back in the cushioned armchair, her gaze falling on Yun Li as she scrutinized her closely.

Qi Yunli's heart tightened.

The old lady picked up her teacup and invited Qi Yunli to sit down beside her to drink tea: "You've been in the household for a year, and you've always been cautious and never caused any trouble. You're a well-behaved young lady."

"Thank you for your kind words, Madam."

The word "rules" is too heavy for her to bear. If others knew that she was living under someone else's roof and had done such a scandalous thing before even getting married, they would definitely criticize her for being unruly and ill-mannered.

"It's also my fault," the old lady sighed softly, blowing away the tea foam. "There are many things to do in the household, and there are always places I can't see, so I'm being sullied by some unsavory matters."

Qi Yunli's palms were damp with sweat, and she lowered her eyes, not daring to look to the side.

The younger brother is still studying at the Wei family school, alongside the other Wei family members. Their future, perhaps, will be revealed in the old lady's next words…

Seeing her pale face, the old lady's tone became even gentler: "Drink more hot tea. The spring night is chilly, and you played the zither in the pavilion half the night. Take care of yourself."

The tea was scalding hot, and Qi Yunli took a sip as instructed. The burning sensation rolled down her throat and into her stomach, but she was completely unaware of it.

"You child, you didn't say anything even though you were wronged, which makes your older brothers and sisters seem like you don't know any better," the old lady said with heartache.

Qi Yunli suddenly looked up. The old lady's eyes gleamed with a faint amber light, and her gaze was full of affection as she looked at her.

"Your second uncle was confused last night," the old lady said, taking her hand and gently patting it. Her palm was warm and dry. "He only thought that you were good at playing the zither and couldn't bear to let your talent go to waste, so he let you show your face to Lord Zhou. Don't take it to heart."

Qi Yunli bowed: "Ah Li doesn't feel wronged at all. I'm very happy to be able to help Second Uncle."

The old lady took her hand and gently patted it: "You, you're so sensible, it breaks my heart!"

Before leaving, the old lady gave Qi Yunli a piece of mutton-fat jade and said many comforting words.

The old lady did not mention the rest, and Qi Yunli would not bring up the matter of staying overnight at Songyin Courtyard.

The old lady was probably aware of the second master's despicable thoughts.

The second master wanted to give Qi Yunli to Lord Zhou. In front of everyone, even if Lord Zhou and she didn't have an affair, her life would be ruined. If Lord Zhou didn't want to take a concubine, he could keep her in the mansion as a musician playing the zither.

The second master could use her to win over Lord Zhou for one night, and then easily gain a favor.

His intentions are despicable.

No matter how much the old lady loved her, she was still the old lady of the Wei family and would never allow anyone or any rumors to damage the reputation of the Wei family.

Qi Yunli looked down at the exquisite sandalwood box in her hand. Inside was a piece of fine mutton-fat jade, which was the hush money the old lady had given her.

She smiled.

Today, we got through it safely again.

But what about tomorrow?

She lived in constant fear and anxiety, not knowing when it would end.