A few days later, Ziteng came in carrying a birdcage. “Miss, this is from Young Master Liang to keep you entertained.”

Qin Shuying bent down to look at the green parrot in the cage, but saw it had its eyes closed as if taking a nap.

Ziteng said, “Liang Yanjun said it can talk, but I didn’t hear it say anything all the way here. I even tried to tease it, but it didn’t make a sound. Did Liang Yanjun lie to me?”

As she spoke, Ziteng gently tapped the cage with her finger. “Talk, talk.”

The parrot indeed remained motionless with its eyes closed, looking completely at ease.

“Miss, look at its lazy appearance. I should go tell Liang Yanjun off for daring to deceive me.”

Qin Shuying shook her head, signaling her not to leave. She walked around the cage twice and cleared her throat lightly. “Parrot!”

Suddenly—

The parrot opened its eyes, and its listless body immediately became spirited. “Madam! Madam!”

Qin Shuying and Ziteng were startled by its sharp voice. Ziteng nearly dropped the cage. “You dead bird, you scared me to death!”

The parrot squawked strangely, “Who’s a dead bird? Who’s a dead bird?”

Actually daring to question her back, Ziteng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The parrot turned around, saw Qin Shuying, and immediately called out enthusiastically, “Madam, madam! Madam, come here and let your husband take a look at you!”

Qin Shuying and Ziteng stared at each other, then Ziteng burst into “hahaha” laughter.

The parrot cage swayed in her hands, and the parrot became indignant. “Put me down, put me down, let your husband look at madam!”

Ziteng couldn’t hold back any longer. She set the birdcage on the ground and collapsed into a nearby chair, laughing breathlessly.

The parrot hopped once, facing Qin Shuying, and tilted its head. “Madam, your husband missed you.”

Qin Shuying immediately blushed all over. “What nonsense are you saying!”

The parrot thought for a moment and said, “Madam is so beautiful!”

Qin Shuying didn’t know what to say. “Who taught you to say all this nonsense!”

The parrot said, “Your husband thought of it all himself! I, Liang somebody, miss madam!”

Qin Shuying’s face turned completely red.

Ziteng pointed at the parrot. “Miss, let me help you return this scoundrel to Young Master Liang…”

The parrot shook its head. “Madam, don’t send me away. I won’t talk nonsense anymore.”

Qin Shuying was also amused by it and couldn’t maintain her composure. Pretending to be calm, she said, “You’re not allowed to say ‘your husband’ anymore. Do you understand?”

The parrot thought for a moment and said, “Fine, I’ll listen to madam in everything.”

“You’re also not allowed to call me madam.”

The parrot looked troubled. “Then what should I call you?”

“Call me miss!”

The parrot pondered thoughtfully, “Madam, miss, madam, miss…”

Ziteng glared at it irritably and said in a low voice, “Miss, this Young Master Liang seemed very improper at first glance, then later seemed so cold, but now it appears the first impression was correct—he’s just very improper.”

Qin Shuying thought of Liang Zhe in the forest and by the river, smiled slightly, and became somewhat absent-minded.

At the征西 General’s Residence.

Songtao Residence.

Liang Yanjun said to Liang Zhe, “Master, young master, I’ve delivered that bird.”

Liang Zhe sat at his desk holding a book. “That’s good.”

Liang Yanjun thought of the words he had taught that stupid bird and couldn’t help but chuckle secretly. Hearing those words, he wondered what Seventh Miss Qin would think?

She should find it amusing, right?

Seventh Miss Qin wasn’t some proper young lady from a noble family—she could kill people and scheme against them. She definitely wouldn’t mind a dead parrot’s nonsense.

Just as the master said, in Seventh Miss Qin’s eyes, everything was just fleeting clouds.

“What are you laughing about?”

Oh no, the young master noticed.

Liang Yanjun immediately put on a serious expression. “Nothing.”

“If it’s nothing, why are you laughing?”

“No, master, can’t I even laugh anymore?”

“You’ve been laughing for several days.”

Liang Yanjun felt wronged. “Master, can’t you stand to see me happy?”

Liang Zhe suddenly leaned closer. “Tell me, have you taken a fancy to that girl Ziteng?”

Liang Yanjun jumped three feet away. “Young master, what nonsense are you saying!”

“Then why are you laughing?”

Liang Yanjun was very angry. “Master, I helped you deal with those chattering people asking this and that so you could spend a whole day alone with Seventh Miss Qin. I think I’m pretty capable, so I smiled. Can’t I smile?”

Liang Zhe didn’t believe it. “You must be hiding some scheme!”

Liang Yanjun spread his hands. “How wronged I am!”

“However, I’ll allow you to redeem yourself through merit. What other good ideas do you have? Let me hear them.”

Liang Yanjun was stunned, then moved closer. “Master, aren’t you afraid this dog-headed military advisor will sell you out?”

“It doesn’t matter. Sell me out if you want.”

Liang Yanjun’s eyes widened. “Master, when did you become so shameless?”

Liang Zhe coughed. “Look, I’m already twenty. Shouldn’t I take a wife?”

“Master, master, master… stop, stop. I’m also twenty. Why don’t you think about me?”

“Same thing, same thing!”

Liang Yanjun excitedly sat on the couch. “Master, master, master, really really?”

“You’re no longer my household servant. You can decide this matter yourself—you don’t need to ask me at all.”

“Master, master, master, you can’t trick me like this! You just agreed, how can you go back on your word so quickly?”

“Then you still say you haven’t taken a fancy to Ziteng!”

Liang Yanjun covered his face. “Master, I’m very shy. Stop teasing me…”

Liang Zhe laughed heartily. “Stubborn as a dead duck! Don’t worry, as long as you serve me well, once madam enters the household, I’ll help you ask for a favor.”

Liang Yanjun immediately perked up. “Young master, I’ll find a way for you to meet Seventh Miss Qin soon. Wouldn’t it be better to tell her earlier? What if she betroths Ziteng to some servant in the Qin residence? Ziteng is already fifteen, and by the time madam enters the household, she’ll be sixteen or seventeen…”

“Who said we have to wait two more years? Can’t you handle even this small matter?”

Liang Yanjun blinked. “Madam is only fourteen this year. Don’t we need to wait a year or two?”

Liang Zhe smiled without speaking.

Liang Yanjun suddenly stood up. “Young master, I’m a person with principles! Madam is still young—I can’t help you ruin her!”

Liang Zhe wanted to cover his mouth in frustration. “I really want to kill you!”

“Master, master, master, young master, let’s talk nicely, let’s talk nicely.”

“Go. Isn’t tomorrow Shuying’s day to inspect the shops? I want to meet with her.”

Liang Yanjun immediately agreed. “I’ll go arrange it right away.”

Liang Yanjun had just left when he returned, his expression no longer showing any trace of playfulness but very calm, even carrying some coldness. “Young master, Nanny Luo from the old madam’s side has come.”

Liang Zhe’s demeanor also returned to coldness.

Without waiting for Liang Zhe to speak, Nanny Luo had already entered. “First Young Master, the old madam requests your presence.”

Liang Zhe said coldly, “Please go back and tell the old madam that this grandson hasn’t learned proper etiquette yet and doesn’t dare embarrass himself in her presence, so I won’t go today. When I’ve learned proper etiquette, I’ll naturally go pay my respects to her.”