Madam Shang spotted Shang Thirteen and blinked her eyes.

“Madam Song, it’s been a while.”

“Aunt Shang.”

Ming Xiang spoke sweetly, her face blooming with warmth when she saw Madam Shang.

Her grandmother was very fond of the Shang Family daughters, and she herself had some acquaintance with several young ladies from the Shang residence. However, since their husbands’ families were now all away from the capital, they had lost contact over the years.

Seeing Madam Shang today, she was quite pleased.

After the two exchanged a few pleasantries, Madam Shang turned her attention to Song Ni and Song Nian.

Both young ladies were exceptionally beautiful with rather similar temperaments. She didn’t know which one was Song Ni, but seeing both gently lower their heads with docile and composed demeanors, she felt very satisfied.

“Xiang’er.”

“Great Aunt.”

The wife of Duke Yingguo was also accompanied by a young man, none other than Ming Seventeen.

Though Ming Seventeen wasn’t from the legitimate line of Duke Yingguo’s household, because the Duke’s wife missed Ming Xiang, she found a pretext to bring him along.

The two young men stood facing each other, exchanged a glance, then simultaneously turned their heads away.

Ming Xiang looked between Madam Shang and her own aunt, then suddenly smiled.

“I need to speak with you about something. Let’s go to that shaded area to talk and leave these youngsters to bask in the sun and stretch their limbs.”

Madam Shang spoke with a smile, sending Ming Xiang and the wife of Duke Yingguo away.

This left only Song Ni, Song Nian, Shang Thirteen, and Ming Seventeen present.

What was peculiar was that ordinarily in such situations it would be the women who were shy, but when the two young men looked up at the beauties before them, the two young ladies were both even more aloof than the other.

“Today I brought two boxes of celadon beads. They’re from the imperial kilns that I collected with my father at court some time ago. Though not precious, they’re pleasant to hold and play with.”

“If strung into chains, they can even cool one down and dispel heat in summer.”

Ming Seventeen handed the small box in his hand to Song Nian, his tone gentle and forthright.

Truth be told, though his engagement to Song Nian had been arranged long ago, this was the first time they were meeting face to face.

Although they had previously exchanged letters and seasonal gifts through their families, he ultimately didn’t know whether she was round or flat. Getting to meet her today, Ming Seventeen finally felt at ease.

He wasn’t one to be captivated by beauty, but seeing Song Nian’s delicate and lovely appearance, his heart filled with three parts more tender affection.

“Thank you. I didn’t bring a return gift today, but I’ll prepare one separately for you after I return to the residence.”

Song Nian curtsied slightly toward Ming Seventeen. Though her expression remained light, her pretty face inevitably took on a thin layer of pink when she spoke.

She had always known of his good character, but receiving his constant consideration inevitably touched her heart and stirred tender feelings.

“Between you and me, why be so formal?”

Ming Seventeen’s tone was gentle, though the possessive meaning in his words was not small.

Shang Thirteen listened and smiled faintly, delighted in his heart.

He glanced at the other party, then raised his head to look at Song Ni behind Song Nian, opening his mouth with a smile: “I was abrupt with Miss Song earlier. Let me apologize.”

Shang Thirteen moved to stand before Song Ni. Seeing her maintain the same aloof expression as before, he couldn’t help but rub his nose.

He didn’t quite know why, but he felt the young lady didn’t really care for him.

However, the sons of the Shang Family had always dared to act boldly. Having some favorable feelings toward Song Ni in his heart, he didn’t twist about coyly and asked directly.

“The Shang and Song families intend to form a marriage alliance. What are your thoughts on this match?”

“I am very interested in you. Are you willing? If you are, after the Spring Viewing Banquet, I’ll come to your residence to formally propose.”

The young man’s tone was firm and spirited, his eyes full of forthright magnanimity.

Ming Seventeen and Song Nian were startled by his direct words. Song Nian’s face reddened upon hearing them, while Ming Seventeen looked at Shang Thirteen with secret admiration.

A man’s bold and frank honesty was truly admirable.

Though Song Nian had developed a somewhat cool temperament from not receiving her parents’ affection since childhood, she was ultimately still a young lady who had only recently come of age. Hearing such ardent words from a youth, she inevitably found it somewhat daring.

For a moment she worried for Song Ni and couldn’t help but raise her head to look at her.

Ming Seventeen thought Song Ni would flee in embarrassment, while Shang Thirteen expected her to at most say something about the marriage being decided by the family and be done with it.

Just as they were waiting for the young lady’s vague response, Song Ni unexpectedly stated directly: “I’m willing. If both families agree, you may come to propose.”

Shang Thirteen looked up in surprise. He saw Song Ni’s eyes clear as water, showing neither a daughter’s shyness nor any twisted reluctance to discuss feelings.

Though the elders of both families had first arranged for them to meet, and elders were present nearby, Song Ni’s frank and straightforward manner also made Shang Thirteen somewhat…

Shy.

The young man stared at the young lady’s eyes. Her even more frank and straightforward manner than his, a grown man, truly fascinated him.

He fidgeted with the jade belt at his waist, and Shang Thirteen pursed his lips in a slight smile.

No wonder he felt his heart stir with just one glance at Song Ni—this young lady’s temperament truly suited his taste.

The youth raised his hand and scratched casually behind his head as if to disguise his shyness, then suddenly said softly: “Then the day after tomorrow I’ll go to your residence to propose. What do you like? If there’s something you fancy, I’ll find it and give it to you together.”

“What about those celadon beads? Do you like them?”

Ming Seventeen’s brow twitched slightly at these words, and Song Nian’s hands clenched around the box with force, quite embarrassed.

“No need. Whatever is proper will do.”

Shang Thirteen smiled brilliantly: “Alright.”

Ming Xiang and Madam Shang watched from the shaded area, clearly seeing Shang Thirteen’s dazzling smile from afar.

The wife of Duke Yingguo said to Madam Shang upon seeing this: “Congratulations, congratulations. From the looks of it, a happy event should be near for your household.”

“Shared joy, shared joy. When the time comes, you must honor me with your presence and come to our residence for a celebratory drink.”

After Madam Shang finished speaking, she covered her lips and laughed again: “Though I might need to go to your residence first to ask for a celebratory drink.”

The marriage between these two families was thus settled. By the end of the Spring Viewing Banquet, everyone was in high spirits, their faces full of joy.

When Heng Zhi recounted the day’s events to Song Wan, Song Wan covered her lips and laughed, her eyes crinkling with mirth.

“I never imagined that Ni’er would develop such a decisive temperament.”

When she married out, her sisters at home were young and they didn’t interact much ordinarily. Song Wan had never imagined that Ni’er, usually so cool and detached, would be so resolute when handling her life’s major event.

“It seems Third Young Lady and Ni-jiejie from the second branch will both have their marriages approaching soon.”

Song Wan nodded, genuinely happy for her younger sisters.

“What about Zhao’er? Did Third Aunt and Madam Qi make any moves today?”

Before Heng Zhi could answer, Heng Wu spoke up first: “Your Ladyship doesn’t know—Third Madam chatted very warmly with the Qi household’s matron today. The young eunuchs from the palace said the two of them were as close as blood sisters, getting along extremely well.”

“I wonder if it’s because no one at the banquet dared approach them. This servant heard from the cleaning eunuchs that when the Spring Viewing Banquet ended, the two were still reluctant to part, unwilling to separate.”

“It seems Third Aunt has truly taken a fancy to the Qi Family and is determined to have Zhao’er marry into them.”

Heng Zhi said: “This servant remembers Your Ladyship once said the Qi household wouldn’t do.”

“Who won’t do?”

Just as the words fell, Shen Qianyu walked in from outside.

Heng Zhi, Heng Wu, and the others waiting on the side immediately withdrew tactfully as they usually did, leaving the room’s peace and quiet to Song Wan and the couple.

“We were discussing Zhao’er’s marriage with the Qi household.”

Shen Qianyu had no interest in this matter. Seeing no one else in the room, he moved forward and gathered Song Wan into his embrace: “The sky has darkened. Does Wan’er still remember what you promised me during the day?”