Yun Jingshu was left feeling unsettled by her words. When she heard her ask this way, she immediately became flustered and said randomly, “Of course… this is of course…”

Caixia, however, muttered under her breath: “What ceremony to observe? Scholar Liu and our miss are the perfect match made in heaven. Hmph!”

Caixia’s words fell upon Yun Jingshu’s ears, causing ripples to stir in her heart.

Lan Chou hadn’t heard Caixia’s words and still appeared very happy, her smile radiant. “Our master passed away early, and now finally there’s a good destination. If master and madam knew from the underworld, they would surely be comforted. First Miss Yun, don’t you think so?”

Caixia pursed her lips, interrupting Lan Chou’s high spirits, saying: “Sister Lan Chou, weren’t you going to take us to see Scholar Liu? Why are you still chattering here?”

Lan Chou smiled apologetically, saying: “This servant was too happy for our miss and talked a bit too much. First Miss Yun, please don’t mind.”

Caixia snorted and said in a low voice: “What’s there to be happy about? We still don’t know who Scholar Liu will ultimately marry! Our miss and Scholar Liu are the real pair. Look at your shallow-minded appearance!”

Hearing the words of Lan Chou and Caixia, Yun Jingshu became even more restless, with two voices fighting back and forth in her mind.

One voice said: “Liu Junqing is the one Princess Fu’an has taken a fancy to. You must not have any improper thoughts!”

The other voice said: “Liu Junqing treats Qin Shuying so well. If you don’t make a move now, will you regret it for the rest of your life?”

In this dazed state, she went upstairs and, led by Lan Chou, walked into the corridor. She happened to see Qin Shuying coming out of a private room, her powdered face containing a smile. As she passed by, she didn’t even notice her at all.

Lan Chou called out: “Miss!”

Qin Shuying didn’t hear Lan Chou’s call either, but instead had a smile at the corners of her lips, obviously bashful yet delighted, and went straight away.

Yun Jingshu was immediately stunned!

Lan Chou stuck out her tongue and pointed to the private room ahead, saying: “Our miss must have gone to find First Miss Liu. Scholar Liu is inside. First Miss Yun, please go in and sit while waiting for our miss.”

Yun Jingshu walked in as if possessed by a ghost, and the plan in her mind had already been decided.

What happened afterward, she felt as if she was floating on clouds. Although somewhat confused, her heart was perfectly clear.

Especially seeing Liu Junqing’s extraordinarily handsome face and his pure, self-disciplined demeanor, she became even more infatuated. Until she pretended to faint, her heart was leaping with joy throughout.

Liu Junqing, she could finally enter the Liu family!

Liu Junqing, with his immortal-like appearance and demeanor, a seventeen-year-old top scholar, a top scholar that appears once every fifty years in the Great Zhou dynasty!

…

Now thinking back, it was all her own bewitchment!

She could indeed enter the Liu family, but she had thoroughly offended Princess Fu’an!

Clutching her handkerchief, Yun Jingshu was both afraid and happy, not knowing what to do.

Lady Yun looked at her, sighed, and said: “The matter has come to this point. Even if we explain to Princess Fu’an now, it would be useless. You don’t need to worry about it. Your father will always have a way…”

Speaking to this point, Lady Yun paused.

Yun Jingshu looked up and asked: “Mother, what way does father have?”

Lady Yun seemed to have touched upon some topic that couldn’t be discussed, saying: “Nothing. You are his daughter. If you’ve been wronged, he will naturally think of a way.”

A trace of doubt flashed through Yun Jingshu’s mind, but it was only a momentary flash and she didn’t think deeply about it.

“You’ve now gone to the Qin residence and done what needed to be done. What remains is just to wait. Does the Liu family think we don’t know? They simply don’t want to marry Qin Shuying, which is why they made such a scene at the Red Mansion. He thinks that by sending an official matchmaker to the Qin residence, he can force Qin Shuying to declare her intentions and make us panic. How arrogant!”

Yun Jingshu was somewhat worried again: “Mother, Lady Liu is that kind of person. I… I’m a bit afraid…”

Lady Yun looked at her: “The letter hasn’t been sent out yet. If you’ve changed your mind, mother would never force you to go to the Liu family.”

Yun Jingshu hesitated. No, she liked Liu Junqing.

How could Lady Yun not know her thoughts?

Yun Jingshu had begged her, begged and begged. She had only one son and one daughter. Her son was already married, and only Yun Jingshu hadn’t yet been betrothed. Seeing Yun Jingshu willing to live or die for this, how could she bear to be heartless?

Therefore, even knowing that Lady Liu was not someone easy to get along with, she endured the heartache and agreed to Yun Jingshu’s request.

Lady Yun sighed and said: “Fortunately, Liu Junqing has great prospects. If you can win his heart in the future, it’s not without hope. Now, civilian officials govern the world. Look at the current four Grand Secretaries – their positions are high and powerful. When the women of their families go out, that dignity and honor need not be mentioned.”

Yun Jingshu said bashfully: “It’s all mother planning for me.”

Lady Yun waved her hand: “Go on, send the letter to your father.”

Only then did Yun Jingshu turn from worry to joy and walked out extremely bashfully.

Nanny Hu, who had been standing silently beside Lady Yun, spoke up: “Madam, the first miss has been by madam’s side for so many years and is still so shallow-minded. She’s truly rotten to the core. No matter how much effort is spent, she can’t be raised well.”

Lady Yun’s eyes grew cold after Yun Jingshu left, saying: “Master said I was vicious and killed his beloved. He forced me to hold her close and raise her, and if anything happened to her, it would be my fault. Now, she will become the top scholar’s concubine. When master knows, I wonder if he’ll be happy or not?”

What would Yun Luoyuan think?

Nanny Hu could figure it out with her heel, but while she could comment on Yun Jingshu, she didn’t dare evaluate Master Yun.

Lady Yun knew she didn’t dare say anything and hadn’t expected to hear anything from her either: “That Liu Junqing, although full of talent, actually lets Lady Liu have her way with the inner residence affairs. Such a person, no matter how much governing talent he has, marrying him won’t bring happiness. Qin Shuying is not stupid. I’m afraid this matter… still has more to be said.”

Nanny Hu nodded repeatedly.

Lady Yun stood up, supporting herself on Nanny Hu’s hand, saying: “People each have their own aspirations; how can they be forced? Having raised her for over ten years, no matter how much I detest that lowly woman, the child is innocent after all. Even raising a cat or dog would develop some feelings. Yesterday, I said everything that should be said and did everything that should be done. Even a birth mother could do no more than this. From now on, it depends on her own fortune.”

Nanny Hu quickly said: “Madam, even a birth mother could only do this much. Whether in high-ranking families or humble households, how many birth mothers sell their daughters for glory!”

Lady Yun smiled coldly: “Why need to look at other families? Our own family is a ready example.”

Nanny Hu knew whom she was referring to and didn’t dare respond, only smiling awkwardly.

The madam was talking about the master.

She also didn’t know what the master was thinking, actually instructing Yun Jingshu to run around Princess Fu’an, and instructing Yun Jingshu to approach Qin Shuying in every way possible. It was truly puzzling.