Taking her into his tent, he incurred the wrath of a powerful and mad minister, from which he could

Fu Gui hurriedly explained, "Madam, please understand! It's not that I deliberately concealed anything. It's just that I didn't know that Second Master went there for Miss Shen. I thought that Second Master had just happened to see Miss Shen and that Second Master knew Miss Shen."

"It's my fault for being so foolish and not thinking things through! I overheard people talking about how Second Master and Miss Shen pledged their love at the lotus pond a couple of days ago, and that's when I remembered what I saw that day."

"Second Master and Miss Shen have never even met, so how could there be any talk of them being engaged? I pondered this for two days and two nights before I finally concluded that Second Master mistook Miss Shen for his cousin!"

Qinghe was so shocked that she forgot to close her mouth. She had made such a big blunder!

Liu asked Fugui, "Have you mentioned this matter to anyone else?"

Fu Gui immediately shook his head: "The boy knows what's important and hasn't uttered a word to anyone else!"

Slightly relieved, Madam Liu rewarded Fugui with a gleaming silver coin, instructed him to keep his mouth shut, and then dismissed him.

The next day, Lady Liu sent someone to invite Mingyi to her courtyard.

She planned to first test Mingyi's feelings and see what she thought of the Second Master. If she was also interested, things would be much easier.

First, Liu chatted casually with Mingyi, then rubbed her temples, pretending to have a headache.

Seeing this, Ming asked with concern, "Is Grandma feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing serious," Madam Liu sighed softly, "but lately I've been plagued by troubles in the household, which have been giving me a headache."

Qinghe played along, gently massaging her temples and then launching into a conversation: "The Second Master's marriage is being arranged by the Old Madam, so why does the Eldest Madam have to go through all this trouble every day?"

Upon hearing this, Mingyi couldn't help but ask, "Isn't Second Master's marriage already settled? With that Miss Shen?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu and Qinghe both looked up at her.

Mingyi thought she had misspoke, and her voice softened slightly: "I just heard it casually from a servant."

Lady Liu sighed softly, "In the end, the falling flowers are willing, but the flowing water is heartless."

Mingyi tentatively asked, "Has the Shen family changed their minds?"

Madam Liu nodded slowly, "You guessed correctly."

"Is that really so?" Mingyi looked somewhat surprised, then said with regret, "It seems that fate has not yet brought you together. However, Second Master is in the prime of his life, full of vigor and charm, so there is no need to rush. He will surely meet a kindred spirit in the future."

Liu stared intently at Mingyi's expression, not missing a single subtle detail.

Upon learning that Zong Xian's marriage to the Shen family had fallen through, Ji Mingyi showed only normal surprise, without any hint of secret joy or delight in her eyes. Instead, she genuinely felt a sense of regret and disappointment.

Liu asked a few more questions indirectly, but Mingyi remained calm and responded appropriately, showing no sign of any unusual thoughts.

Liu couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Seeing that it was getting late, she still wouldn't give up, so she decided to test the waters by asking directly, "I've often heard people say, 'It's better to be a rich man's concubine than a poor man's wife.' What do you think of this saying?"

This was the day that Mingyi had the most conversations with Lady Liu since moving into the Zong family mansion.

Her mouth was a little dry, so she picked up her teacup, took a small sip, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly spoke:

"In my humble opinion, the most important thing in life is to have a peaceful mind and upright character. Wealth and glory are good, but they are not as secure as a clean reputation and a proper status. If one were to submit to others for wealth and status, or become a concubine, having to be subservient to others and live at their mercy, one would lose one's true freedom. Although poor families may not have fine clothes and delicacies, they can live together with a proper status and a stable life, which is more precious."

Mingyi stood tall with his back straight and his eyes were open and sincere.

These words struck Liu like a hammer blow to her heart. She showed no outward expression, but a storm raged within her.

She never expected that Mingyi, an orphan with no one to rely on, would not only not follow the trend of extravagance, but would also have a pure heart and be able to be described as rising above the mud unsullied.

Although she didn't get the answer she wanted, Liu wholeheartedly agreed with these words.

She began to take the girl in front of her seriously.

"It's getting late. I've kept you talking for so long, you must be tired. Go back and rest."

Mingyi then took his leave.

After some probing, Lady Liu had confirmed Mingyi's feelings, and now she was truly in a bind.

She closed her eyes and sighed, "The falling flowers are full of affection, but the flowing water is heartless..."

Meanwhile, on their way back, Mingyi and her maid unexpectedly encountered Zongxian!

Zong Xian had just returned from the palace, dressed in a dark purple cross-collar brocade robe with a wide hem. As he walked, the robe fluttered lightly, exuding an air of noble composure.

Beside him followed a scholar in a blue robe, with fair skin, gentle features, and the appearance of a refined gentleman; it was unclear who he was.

Mingyi didn't look at her for long, lowered her eyes slightly, and curtsied, saying, "My lord."

Today is a cloudy day with thick clouds, and it looks like it's going to rain.

A gentle breeze swept through the corridor, softly lifting the girl's pale pink skirt and hair before it slowly fell back down, making her appear delicate and graceful.

Zong Xian's heart stirred slightly.

Unexpectedly, he saw her at the mansion. After a moment's pause, he glanced at the path behind her, assuming that his sister-in-law had invited him to be a guest.

But when he came in, he didn't see the Shen family's carriage outside. So he asked, "When did you arrive?"

Mingyi paused for a moment, then replied softly, "It'll be noon soon. I'll keep Grandma company and chat to pass the time."

He happened to be out at noon and was not at home.

A hint of doubt suddenly flashed across Zong Xian's eyes. Why did she address Madam Liu as "Madam Liu"?

It was just a matter of address, and Zong Xian didn't delve into it. He glanced at the gloomy sky and said indifferently, "It's going to rain soon."

"Chang Yu, fetch an umbrella in a moment and see the young lady out."

The attendant behind him immediately responded respectfully, "Yes."

Mingyi quickly tried to decline, "No need, it's not very far, I can walk faster..."

The man's gaze then shifted to them, and he said, "Don't refuse me."

Mingyi immediately shut his mouth and dared not say another word.

Yuegui stood behind Mingyi, her eyes lowered, not looking at her master's expression, but she was thinking to herself, "Why does the way the Second Master speaks to the young lady sound a little strange?"

Zong Xian had to attend to some business, so he didn't linger and left immediately.

Chang Yu bowed slightly: "Miss Shen, please come with me."

Mingyi was looking in the direction Zongxian had left when she suddenly heard the word "Miss Shen" and immediately turned her head.

"What did you call me? My surname isn't Shen."

At the same time, Qinghe hurried over, lifting her skirt, and called out from afar, "Miss, you forgot your hairpin!"

Zong Xian stopped abruptly.

He grabbed the maid's wrist, staring intently at her, and asked, "Who are you calling 'Miss'?"

Qinghe seemed to only then realize that the person in front of her was Zong Xian. Her face paled, and she timidly raised her hand to point in the direction she meant, "Replying to Second Master, this servant is naturally calling for her..."

Boom—