Did Miss become a nun today?

"What nonsense are you talking about, child?" Cen Jingyan's voice rose a few decibels.

"Aunt, I know you love me, but this matter can't be kept secret today. Sooner or later it will reach the old lady's ears, and then it will cause you more trouble."

"No, absolutely not!"

"Where else can you go in the capital besides the Marquis's mansion? You grew up by my side. If you leave like this, your mother in heaven will not forgive me."

She really wanted to tell her aunt that her mother was still alive, but she was afraid that her aunt, with her impatient nature, would go looking for her once she found out.

There must be a reason why my mother doesn't return to the capital.

"Aunt, I know you're good to me, and my mother knows it too, otherwise she wouldn't have sent me back to the capital to find you."

"Why don't you tell me about my mother? I don't know anything about her life in the capital. She used to be reluctant to talk to me about it."

Cen Jingyan suddenly burst into tears, "Your mother has had a hard life..."

After crying for a while, she wiped away her tears and said, "Your mother was also from an official family, a family of scholars. It's a pity she didn't like to study. You're just like her."

"At that time, I had just returned to the capital with my father and was out of place among the noble ladies. Only your mother came out of my predicament at the flower viewing banquet, and we became friends after a while."

"Unfortunately, her family suffered a disaster and fell apart. Her betrothal family also broke off the engagement, and her childhood sweetheart fiancé married someone else. She also left the capital. At first, she would send me letters, but then she stopped."

"Later, I saw her again. At that time, she was already pregnant with you and her pregnancy was just starting to show. She said that the man treated her well, so I felt relieved."

Little did anyone know, that would be the last time they saw each other.

The next news that came was of her death.

Because the Jiang family was expelled from the capital for crimes, when Xie Yun Chu came to the capital, Cen Jing Yan only said that she was the daughter of a good friend from her hometown, without mentioning her mother's identity.

"Have you ever seen my father?"

Cen Jingyan shook her head, "No, but when I saw your mother, she was dressed well and had servants around her, so she must have come from a wealthy family."

Xie Yun Chu recalled the man she had seen when she was young. Although she couldn't quite remember his face, his overall demeanor was definitely different.

Her mother wouldn't let her go out. At that time, she only peeked through the crack in the door. The man even tried to be rude to her mother, but her mother pushed him away.

Not long after that person left, assassins came to her house. Although she and her mother survived by chance, a fire broke out less than two days later. Her mother disappeared in the fire, and she was taken to the capital by Granny Li.

The matter of leaving the manor has not yet been decided. As I left the main courtyard, I was thinking about my mother and didn't watch where I was going. I bumped into the person in front of me.

She took a few steps back and was supported by someone. "Why are you so careless when you walk? What are you thinking about?"

Upon hearing this, she looked up and saw Pei Changyu smiling at her.

She quickly steadied herself and bowed, "Big Cousin."

"Just came from your mother's?"

"Yes, my older cousin is here to see my aunt too?"

"I just finished talking with my father, and I'm taking my cousin home."

Xie Yun Chu wanted to say no, but her older cousin didn't give her a chance to refuse.

"Your purse isn't finished yet," Pei Changyu suddenly said.

She had forgotten about it. After meeting Pei Changfeng at Songhe Courtyard last time, her older cousin was rarely home, so it was delayed.

"I'll have Guanyun deliver it to you today. Give it back to me when you've finished embroidering it."

"Yes."

Back at Shifang Courtyard, Guanyun arrived shortly after, handing her the sewing basket. "Young Master said there's no rush, Miss, don't tire yourself out."

It's just a small purse; anything prettier could be made in half a day by Lan Yue.

She didn't even glance at the scriptures for the rest of the day, focusing instead on embroidering the purse. She was so distracted that she pricked herself several times.

There had been no movement from Rongxitang, which made her uneasy. She wanted to be called over for questioning and punished as soon as possible to put her mind at ease.

In the evening, the yard was locked, and there was a knock on the door.

"Miss, it's the Second Young Master."

"not see."

He told Lan Yue Qingluo to go and rest, then turned off the lights and went to bed.

The next day, the old lady sent someone to fetch her.

The visitor was fairly polite and did not speak ill of her because of what happened yesterday.

Upon entering Rongxi Hall, one could hear voices inside. All three wives were present, while Pei Changning and Pei Changying stood outside.

"Cousin is here?" Pei Changying stepped forward and took her hand, whispering, "Cousin, don't worry, I went in to check, and Grandmother isn't angry."

She smiled at Pei Changying and said, "Thank you."

Pei Changning rolled her eyes at her, "Troublemaker."

Xie Yun Chu ignored her and simply stood outside waiting to be summoned.

The sounds inside gradually subsided before the nanny allowed her to go in.

After the group bowed, the old lady did not directly reprimand them. Instead, she asked them to sit down and inquired about various things.

Xie Yun Chu was on edge, waiting for the old lady to call her name.

After waiting and waiting, the story eventually turned to Ji Lanshu.

"I'm getting old, and I like to have more children around me. Now that Lan Shu has come back, I want to keep her by my side."

"She's come of age and it's time for her to get married. You, as her aunts, should help her find a husband."

The three daughters-in-law all responded, and the third madam smiled and said, "Lan Shu is a cousin of our Marquis's family. If the old madam really can't bear to part with her, wouldn't it be better to keep her in the manor?"

Although it wasn't said explicitly, everyone understood.

The old lady didn't scold her out of consideration for her aunt, but these words also made her understand that some people are not to be coveted.

Cen Jingyan couldn't help but look at Xie Yun Chu, who was sitting at the back without saying a word, and frowned.

Inside the room, a group of people were chatting animatedly, and Ji Lanshu blushed with embarrassment.

The old lady suddenly looked at Xie Yun Chu, "Yun Chu, you grew up in this household, how do you feel?"

All eyes in the room were on her. In the past, she would have cried and said she wanted to marry her second cousin.

Today, she rose and bowed, "Reporting to Madam, Cousin Ji is intelligent and kind-hearted, and she and Second Cousin are childhood sweethearts, making them a perfect match."

After she finished speaking, there was silence in the room for a long time. Everyone except her aunt looked at her in surprise.

Cen Jingyan's expression was not good, but she did not say anything in rebuttal.

The old lady smiled with satisfaction. "You've grown up now. You've grown up by Jingyan's side since you were little, so I shouldn't interfere with your marriage. Let your aunt take a look; it's time to arrange a marriage."

"Yes, thank you, Madam."

After this topic came up, the atmosphere in the room became subtle.

Xie Yunchu tactfully got up to take her leave, but Pei Changying, worried, followed her out.

I wanted to offer some words of comfort, but I hesitated and couldn't bring myself to say them.

My mother said that this was not something she could interfere with, and it was best not to say anything.

Xie Yun Chu noticed her hesitation and took her hand. "There's no need to comfort me. What I said just now was from the bottom of my heart."

"Does my cousin really not like my second brother anymore?"

She looked into the distance; although it was summer, the sun wasn't too strong.

She shook her head, putting away all the memories of the past ten years, and smiled genuinely, "I don't like it anymore."