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Once the items were delivered, Yingbao didn’t linger and promptly returned home.

That day, they were celebrating Mr. Wu’s housewarming. Yingbao prepared a gift, and together with her mother and younger brother, went to deliver it.

Mr. Wu’s house was not far from the Jiang Family, only separated by three houses.

At the moment, there was a lively scene at the entrance of Mr. Wu’s house, with carriages and horses continuously arriving, all carrying officials who came to congratulate him.

Mr. Wu now holds the fifth-grade official position of Sacrificial Wine at the Imperial College, a position high enough to grant him audiences with the Emperor.

For this housewarming, all his subordinates were present, and even the Wen Family and Xiao Family came to congratulate.

Mr. Wu had not anticipated so many guests and was a little overwhelmed.

Fortunately, his daughter Wu Jiang and son-in-law came to help. Added with his son Wu Shi’s effort to entertain his colleagues, they managed to keep the situation under control.

Upon stepping into Mr. Wu’s house, Yingbao and her mother saw that it was designed similarly to their own, divided into two sections.

However, the Wu Family’s house did not have a pond, water pavilion, or arcade. Aside from the large canopy newly erected to entertain the guests, the yard was bare.

No surprise there. Even though the Wu Family was a scholarly household, it was in decline. After Mr. Wu suffered two bereavements, he did not resume his civil service career, thus resulting in financial difficulties.

Although Mr. Wu’s old home had some farmland, the yield was poor. Consequently, he gave up managing the farmland and transferred it to his clansmen.

In the past two years, after becoming an officer, his financial situation improved a bit. But there were still numerous reciprocal exchanges between colleagues.

After saving up for a while, he bought this house. The remaining silver was intended by Mr. Wu for arranging a good marriage for his son.

“Please, come this way.” The steward of the Wu Family led the three of them towards the pavilion where the female guests were being entertained.

Halfway there, Yingbao suddenly felt someone watching her. Raising her gaze, she saw several individuals standing at a short distance. Among them were Xiao Chengjun and others.

He stood tall and handsome. By his side was Chen Tiantian, her face obscured by a veil.

From afar, their matching attire made for a harmonious picture.

Yingbao’s gaze swept over Xiao Chengjun and locked with Chen Tiantian’s.

The other woman’s eyes were filled with gloom, as if she was about to transform into a beast the next second and consume Yingbao whole.

Yingbao decided not to bother with her for now, choosing to continue along with her mother and brother towards the inner part of the house.

Upon seeing the Jiang Family arrive, Luo Zhao hurriedly went to greet them, “Aunt Jiang, Sister Yingbao, Brother Ajie.”

Jiang Jie greeted her in return, “Sister Zhao.”

Luo Zhao returned the greeting, her eyes glistening with joy, “I’ve been waiting for you guys for a long time. Come, let’s go inside and talk.”

Jiang Jie said, “I won’t be joining. There are a few colleagues over there I should greet. Please take good care of my mother and sister.”

“Sure, Brother Ajie. You go ahead. I’ll take good care of Aunt Jiang and Sister Yingbao.” With that, Luo Zhao took Yingbao by one hand and Spring Lady with the other, leading them to her grandmother.

Spring Lady and Yingbao paid their respects to Mrs. Wu, greeted a few other older ladies, and then took a seat.

“Is this the mother of Officer Jiang?” A lady, who appeared to be in her forties, asked with a smile.

Spring Lady promptly responded, “Yes.”

The lady then turned her attention to Yingbao, sitting next to Spring Lady, “And you must be the female disciple famously taken in by the Emperor during his hidden dragon period?”

Yingbao smiled and nodded, “Yes. Since I was a child, my martial brothers and I have followed our master on his travels, experiencing life-and-death situations together.”

The lady chuckled, picked up her teacup lid with her delicate index finger, stirred the floating foam on top lightly before dismissively remarking, “No wonder.”

Old Lady Luo said, “Yingbao, you may not recognize her. This lady is the mother of the Noble Consort, Lady Yao.”

Yingbao got up to give a quick curtsey, “So, it’s Lady Yao. My apologies for the oversight.”

Lady Yao hummed softly, “I’ve heard about you from the Noble Consort. Seeing you today, the praise wasn’t false. You truly are a fine beauty.”

Yingbao continued to smile, “Thank you for the undeserved praise, Lady Yao.”

Lady Yao put down her teacup and gently asked, “I see that you are no longer a young girl, have you been married yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Ah, what a coincidence, I have a nephew in my natal house, who is about your age and has good looks.” Lady Yao smiled, “I will call him over later, you can get to know each other.”

The room fell silent, and everyone looked at Yingbao and Chunniang.

Chunniang had never seen such a situation before, but she knew that Lady Yao was overstepping her bounds.

Who was she to straightly propose a match without discussing with the girl’s parents first? It was utterly disrespectful.

Chunniang spoke up, “Madam, although my daughter comes from a peasant family, she has parents and siblings. It’s not appropriate for her to meet with a man without their approval.”

The room fell silent once again.

Lady Wu was also angered by Lady Yao’s impertinence, but she didn’t show it. She addressed Lady Yao, “Lady Yao, we cannot make decisions about Yingbao’s marriage. Her master will handle it.” The underlying message was: stop daydreaming.

Seeing the tension, Lady Luo lightened the mood with a smile, “Ah, it is so boring if we sit here doing nothing. Why don’t we play some mahjong?”

Luo Zhao immediately said, “I’ll get a set of mahjong right away! Jin Chan, lay out the table quickly to let the ladies take their seats.”

The rest of the ladies agreed in unison, “Yes, yes, it’s a good idea. I have even brought my own stakes, let’s play a round.”

Lady Yao originally wanted to vent her anger, but she was pulled by several ladies to sit down at the round table, and had to hold back for the time being.

Meanwhile, Luo Zhao took Chunniang to another room.

This room was very warm, and there was a large kang bed. Luo Zhao welcomed Chunniang and Yingbao to sit and rest on it.

“Auntie Jiang, Sister Yingbao, please rest here for a while. I’ll come to keep you company once I am back.”

Luo Zhao ordered the maid to bring out two sets of ivory mah-jongg, personally delivering them to the ladies. Afterwards, she returned, climbed onto the kang bed, took a book, and handed it to Yingbao, “Sister Yingbao, it’s still early for the banquet to start, let’s read a book to pass the time.”

Yingbao nodded, took the book Luo Zhao handed over, and flipped through it casually.

At this time, two children ran in, both chubby.

One was about thirteen or fourteen years old, and the other was under ten.

The two stood by the kang bed, curiously looking at Yingbao.

The boy in his early teens asked, “You’re Yingbao, right?”

Yingbao nodded, “Xiao Chengyu, what’s the matter?”

Xiao Chengyu laughed, “Yingbao, do you still remember me?”

Yingbao was speechless, “Why wouldn’t I?” She hadn’t known many chubby kids in her two lives, and he was one of them.

Xiao Chengyu scratched his head and asked, “Yingbao, do you know where my elder brother Wei Zhan is?”

Yingbao shook her head, “I don’t know.”

Xiao Chengyu was a bit disappointed, but quickly grinned, “Yingbao, can I go to your house to play?”

“No.” Yingbao refused without hesitation.

Xiao Chengyu pouted, “Why not?”

“Because my brother has gone to work, and there’s no one at home to play with you.” Even if Jiang Jie were home, their family didn’t want to get involved with the Xiao family.

“I don’t need anyone to accompany me, I can just play with the child.” Xiao Chengyu looked serious.

Yingbao rolled her eyes and replied irritably, “If you want to play with him, why do you need to come to my house?”

Xiao Chengyu scratched his head, sneaked a glance at Yingbao, and said, “Because… because I want to drink your homemade fruit juice.”

Yingbao was speechless.

However, in consideration of Wei Zhan, she eventually nodded, “Fine, you can come tomorrow.”

Xiao Chengyu let out a cheer, his eyes smiling into small crescents.

The toddler at the side pleaded, “Sister, I also want to go to your house to play.”