“Minister Qin! Kaiyu!”

Liang Zhe cupped his hands in greeting, and both Qin Yongtao and Qin Kaiyu returned the gesture with their own bows.

Dong Shi approached Qin Shuying with a beaming smile, “Seventh Sister, it’s only been three days, yet it feels like I’ve been waiting ages.”

Qin Shuying also smiled warmly as she exchanged pleasantries.

Ziteng and Lu Ye directed the Qin manor’s stewards and servants to move the gifts, creating a lively and festive scene at the main gate.

Just as everyone was exchanging courtesies and preparing to head inside, suddenly a man’s shouting voice rang out: “Father-in-law, please wait! Father-in-law, please wait…”

As he spoke, the person came into view.

Everyone turned toward the sound and were startled to see it was Lu Changxuan, supported by Lu Changsong and Lu Changju, arriving breathlessly.

Qin Yongtao’s brow furrowed. He wanted to turn and leave in a huff, but with Liang Zhe right there, he feared it would be disheartening for him to witness. Yet if he were to exchange a few words with Lu Changxuan, he found it extremely distasteful.

He simply couldn’t understand how Lu Changxuan, who was supposed to be a sensible man, could have done such foolish things!

His breach of etiquette before the emperor, with snot and saliva flowing freely – Lu Changxuan was probably the first person in the Great Zhou Dynasty to do such a thing.

Because of Lu Changxuan’s incident, Emperor Delong had begun to look unfavorably upon Qin Yongtao as well, and his colleagues frequently mocked him.

“Uncle, I’m fine.”

Seeing Qin Yongtao’s inner conflict, Liang Zhe offered comfort.

Qin Yongtao forced a smile and directed his gaze toward Lu Changxuan, “Changxuan, instead of recuperating at home, what brings you here?”

A flash of inspiration crossed Dong Shi’s mind, and she remained alert, glancing at Qin Shuying, but saw that her expression remained calm and her gaze serene.

Lu Changxuan, supported by others, stopped in front of the carriage – he truly couldn’t take another step. This was because Lu Changju, who was supporting him on one side, was completely unreliable.

No wonder Lu Changxuan felt this way, for at this very moment Lu Changju was staring fixedly at Liang Zhe, her eyes unblinking and her feet unable to move. How could she possibly know that her brother needed her support to stand steady?

There was actually such a handsome man in this world!

Not only was he tall and upright, but he also possessed a spirited bearing, and his attire exuded an overwhelming air of nobility.

Who could this be?

Lu Changju stared intently at Liang Zhe, her mouth agape, almost unable to close it.

“Show some manners!”

In front of the carriage, a man scolded Lu Changju.

Startled by Liang Yanjun’s rebuke, Lu Changju snapped back to her senses. She surveyed the carriage and immediately recalled that today they had come here to intercept Qin Shuying’s return visit.

This carriage should belong to the Marquis of Pingxi’s manor, which meant that the noble and handsome man at the gate should be Qin Shuying’s husband, the eldest legitimate son of the Marquis of Pingxi, Liang Zhe.

Yes, it was Liang Zhe.

With both Qin Yongtao and Qin Kaiyu personally receiving him, who else could it be but Liang Zhe?

After catching his breath for a moment, Lu Changxuan also noticed his sister’s breach of etiquette. He tugged at her clothing, then said breathlessly to Qin Yongtao: “Father… father-in-law, your son-in-law knows that father-in-law is busy. Today I have only one matter to request, please father-in-law…”

If he was already struggling so much just to speak, how much longer could he live?

Many thoughts flashed through Qin Yongtao’s mind instantly. Then he said to Lu Changxuan: “You go with Steward Qin. I’ll come over after I accompany my son-in-law.”

Lu Changxuan nodded, leaning on Lu Changsong, and took a few steps forward to stand at the bottom of the steps. “Father-in-law, please attend to your business first.”

Qin Yongtao turned around and warmly faced Liang Zhe, making a gesture of invitation: “Ziyu, please come in.”

Liang Zhe nodded and looked toward Qin Shuying, who was still at the bottom of the steps. “Shuying, let’s go in.”

Qin Shuying smiled faintly, “Very well.”

Dong Shi became more attentive and whispered softly in Qin Shuying’s ear: “Seventh Sister, from what I can see, they knew you were returning home today and deliberately came to intercept you.”

Qin Shuying’s eyes remained calm as she seemingly casually asked back: “Really?”

“Absolutely. Look at the way Second… oh no, Third Brother-in-law is looking at you…”

At this moment, Lu Changxuan was indeed staring blankly at Qin Shuying.

Why did he find Qin Shuying’s figure so familiar?

Her graceful and slender form, light and delicate, resembled Qin Yaoyao from years past.

Qin Yaoyao when she had just married him – she must have been like this too, around that time, right?

His lips even moved slightly: “Yaoyao…”

Although these two words were spoken too softly, and with the servants still busily moving the endless stream of gifts amid the noisy commotion, no one could hear his voice.

However, Qin Shuying could tell from the shape of his lips.

Yaoyao?

Qin Shuying detected the probing intent in Dong Shi’s words. After all, Qin Fangfang’s remarks had still made Dong Shi suspicious.

But so what?

Qin Shuying smiled gracefully, “Elder Sister-in-law must have seen wrong. Third Brother-in-law is looking at you, wondering what delicious food Elder Sister-in-law will prepare for them later.”

With that said, regardless of what Dong Shi might think, she walked up the steps and extended her hand to Liang Zhe, who had his hand outstretched.

Liang Zhe grasped Qin Shuying’s hand, and as if no one else existed, they walked hand-in-hand through the main gate.

Both Lu Changxuan and Lu Changju stared at the pair’s retreating figures, standing there dumbfounded with their mouths agape.

Dong Shi also opened her mouth slightly.

Liang Zhe truly was good to Seventh Sister.

The servants throughout the Qin manor also gaped in amazement.

Soon, news of how much Seventh Young Master treasured Seventh Miss spread like wildfire throughout the inner quarters of the Qin manor.

When Seventh Miss was getting out of the carriage, Seventh Young Master was so afraid she might stumble that he insisted on holding her hand as she alighted.

Even just going up the steps and entering the gate, Seventh Young Master had to hold Seventh Miss’s hand.

How precious he must consider Seventh Miss!

When this reached Old Madam’s ears, she beamed with joy and said to Nanny Gu: “This child Ziyu puts my mind at ease.”

Nanny Gu’s eyes and brows were full of smiles: “Old Madam, just wait. When they come in shortly, you’ll see for yourself.”

Old Madam laughed heartily, and Xiangqin, who had rushed over to report the news, also smiled happily as she painted an even more vivid picture of the scene at the main gate, though she tactfully made no mention of Lu Changxuan.

Just then, Xiangchun came in and announced: “Old Madam, Seventh Miss and Seventh Young Master have arrived.”

As Liang Zhe walked in, the maids and servants all rubbed their eyes repeatedly. They had thought Sixth Prince and Liu Junqing were already supremely handsome, but they hadn’t expected Seventh Young Master to be even more striking.

His handsomeness differed from that of Sixth Prince and Liu Junqing. His good looks carried more of a man’s spirited vigor and an additional sense of steady determination.

With a hearty smile, as soon as he entered he knelt down with Qin Shuying and kowtowed three times to Old Madam with resounding “thud thud thud” sounds, calling out loudly: “Great Ancestor, Ziyu (Shuying) pays respects to you.”

This call of “Great Ancestor” brought tears to Old Madam’s eyes. She wiped the corners of her eyes, saying: “Good, good, good! Dear child, quickly get up!”

Qin Shuying rose and sat by the couch, taking hold of one of Old Madam’s hands.

“Great Ancestor, look, touch and see – Shuying is perfectly well.”

Old Madam gripped her hand tightly, only able to repeat: “Good, good…”

Liang Zhe sat to one side, smiling as he watched the grandmother and granddaughter.

Qin Yongtao, Dong Shi, and the others followed them in, all smiling as well, filling the entire room with joy and celebration.