When Shou’an Jun woke from her nap, she heard from Nanny Liu that the four young ones had gone to hunt in the mountains.

With both Huo Jue and Wei Rao, who knew martial arts, present, Shou’an Jun wasn’t worried about anything.

Sure enough, before long, the four children returned with a full load.

“Did you go deep into the mountains?” Seeing that wild boar, Shou’an Jun’s expression changed slightly as she looked disapprovingly at Wei Rao, who was most likely to have instigated the siblings. Wild boars liked to live deep in the mountains, and with snow covering the mountain at this time, Wei Rao had run inside—her courage was too great. Shou’an Jun’s indulgence of the younger generation was conditional and required ensuring safety.

Wei Rao quickly explained, “We didn’t go deep. We just wandered around near the foot of the mountain. This wild boar was chased down by Second Master Qi and the others—I just picked up a bargain.”

Huo Jue and the others hadn’t seen Lu Zhuo, so Wei Rao omitted Lu Zhuo’s name.

Duke Ying’s mansion was too prominent. If she mentioned Lu Zhuo, her aunt Wang Shi and cousin Zhou Huizhen would start having wild fantasies, and Wei Rao was too lazy to listen.

“Second Master Qi—that’s the dashing imperial guard who accompanied His Majesty here last year, right?”

Wang Shi’s gaze shifted as she stared at Wei Rao and inquired.

Wei Rao nodded. Fearing her aunt would ask more, Wei Rao smiled at Shou’an Jun, “Grandmother, I’ll go change clothes first!”

After speaking, Wei Rao led Bitao back to her small courtyard.

Wang Shi’s heart burned with excitement as she looked toward distant Cloud Mist Mountain. When the snow melted, the wild flowers in the mountains—apricot blossoms, cherry blossoms, and others—would bloom enthusiastically. The noble young masters from the capital would come to Cloud Mist Mountain for spring outings and hunting. When that time came, she would take her daughter into the mountains to stroll. If they could encounter distinguished young nobles like Second Master Qi, they might pick up a good marriage.

Though the reputation of Zhou family women had been tarnished by Xiao Zhou Shi, her eldest daughter, Huizhen, was as beautiful as a flower and moon, not much inferior to Wei Rao. She would surely capture men’s hearts.

Wang Shi’s scheming was written all over her face. Shou’an Jun could see it with just one glance. Looking again at her granddaughter Zhou Huizhen, who wore the same expression, Shou’an Jun suddenly felt her scalp tighten.

Tonight’s dinner was roasted wild boar. Around the campfire in the snow, three generations of the family gathered together, talking and laughing, eating very contentedly.

The younger generation rarely met and had much to chat about, so Shou’an Jun retired to her room early.

Nanny Liu served her as she settled down for rest.

When Shou’an Jun was still in the palace, Nanny Liu had been a little palace maid by her side. Now she was also over forty years old.

“Sigh, with old age comes powerlessness in everything. Help me think—what kind of son-in-law should I choose for Huizhen?” Shou’an Jun called Nanny Liu to sit by the bed and spoke heart-to-heart.

Zhou Huizhen was sixteen years old. She had reached marriageable age two years ago. As a child, Nanny Liu had personally watched it grow up, and she had naturally considered this matter secretly.

“The eldest miss is exceptionally beautiful. Marrying her to some powerless village family would be completely unsuitable. Those prestigious noble families have eyes that reach to the sky and probably wouldn’t think much of the eldest miss either. In this old servant’s opinion, it would be best to choose from sixth or seventh-rank capital officials—a young master who can make decisions and likes the eldest miss. Ideally, his family would have no mother-in-law or sisters-in-law, so the eldest miss wouldn’t have to listen to gossip after marrying.”

Shou’an Jun lay on her side, contemplating for a moment. No matter what kind of person her granddaughter married, she felt uneasy.

While she was alive and had Emperor Yuanjia’s imperial favor, those people in the capital still didn’t dare openly trample on Zhou family women. But she was already sixty years old—how much longer could she live, and how long could she protect the younger generation?

The candidate, Nanny Liu, was more suitable for her younger granddaughter, Zhou Huizhu. Huizhu was intelligent and pure-hearted, with beautiful and dignified looks that didn’t easily attract trouble, and she wasn’t ambitious. Eldest granddaughter Zhou Huizhen was completely different—proud of her beauty and only wanting to marry into high noble families. Even if elders chose a young master from a minor official’s family for her, Zhou Huizhen would be unwilling and would have difficulty living harmoniously with her husband after marriage.

Among the several children in the family, Shou’an Jun worried most about Zhou Huizhen.

She was also puzzled—the two granddaughters had been taught the same way, so why did Zhou Huizhen completely follow Wang Shi’s approach?

A grandson-in-law who was both from a prestigious family and would treat her well—where was an old lady like her supposed to find such a person?

“Old Madam, Miss Rao has also reached marriageable age. Do you have any thoughts?” Nanny Liu asked curiously.

Thinking of Wei Rao, Shou’an Jun’s worry turned to smiles: “That girl is like me—she loves silver more and doesn’t value romantic love. As long as she has money in her hands, she doesn’t care whether she has a husband or whether her husband treats her well. Besides, she has Old Madam Wei above her, and Old Madam Wei would never shortchange her in marriage matters.”

Wei Rao, Zhou Huizhu, and Huo Lin didn’t require much worry from her. Only Zhou Huizhen was like a hot potato—too high for low positions, too low for high ones.

Da Zhou Shi and her husband, Huo Jingchang, were leaving after staying two nights at the leisure estate.

The family business of Jin territory’s richest merchant couldn’t be easily accumulated and maintained. The couple often traveled north and south. Da Zhou Shi joked that only when Huo Jue married and had sons who could take charge would she be able to truly relax. Then she would also build herself a grand garden and enjoy good fortune like Shou’an Jun.

“Leave early, and don’t just focus on making money—take care of yourselves,” Shou’an Jun instructed her eldest daughter and son-in-law separately.

Da Zhou Shi got into the carriage with a smile.

Huo Jingchang bowed to Shou’an Jun, gave a few more instructions to Huo Jue and Huo Lin, then also got into the carriage.

“With sister and brother-in-law leaving, who knows when we’ll meet again,” Wang Shi stood beside her mother-in-law and shed two crocodile tears.

Shou’an Jun got goosebumps from her daughter-in-law’s crying.

“Grandmother, Father wants to open a branch store in the capital and has ordered me to oversee this matter. I’ll go to the capital first for a few days to take a look, and I’ll come back to chat with you when I’m free,” Huo Jue had already had someone prepare his horse and was also leaving the leisure estate today.

Shou’an Jun smiled warmly: “Go ahead. We’re all at ease with your handling of things.”

Wang Shi’s eyes rolled as she leaned over to ask Wei Rao: “Rao Rao, do you want to travel back with your cousin? You’d have company to talk with on the road.”

The weather was warm, and the snow on the ground would melt completely in at most two more days. Wang Shi worried that Wei Rao would stay at the leisure estate for over a month like in previous springs. With that face of Wei Rao’s, she would become the most eye-catching wherever she went. Wang Shi was counting on bringing her eldest daughter to the mountains during this spring tourism season to seek a good husband. If Wei Rao were there, she would overshadow her eldest daughter.

Before Wei Rao could speak, Shou’an Jun glared at her daughter-in-law: “Rao Rao has only stayed two nights, and you’re already hoping she’ll leave? Hmph, you may be willing to part with her, but I’m not. If Rao Rao doesn’t stay a full month, even if she wants to return herself, I won’t let her go.”

Shou’an Jun usually didn’t argue with Wang Shi, but when Wang Shi went too far, Shou’an Jun wouldn’t give her face either.

Leaving Wang Shi with a flushed red face, Shou’an Jun called her two granddaughters and two great-granddaughters to her side to tour the garden together.

Wang Shi clutched her handkerchief, her face so red it nearly dripped blood.

Huo Jue could only pretend not to see this. He mounted his fine horse and rode toward the official road with two young servants.

Besides managing his branch store, he also had to help his cousin find a suitable shop location for opening a restaurant.

The sunlight was bright and the spring breeze gentle. The accumulated snow quietly melted, leaving the ground moist for a day before quickly becoming dry.

Common people were busy with spring plowing, while leisured and wealthy young masters and misses, wives and madams all went out for spring outings to appreciate the season. Cloud Mist Mountain became the best destination.

Standing at the entrance of the leisure estate, Wang Shi could see the endless stream of convoys on the official road. Young ladies rode in carriages while young gentlemen preferred horseback riding. Wang Shi had good eyesight—even from two li away, she could spot several handsome and imposing young gentlemen.

Wang Shi couldn’t sit still. She went to discuss with her mother-in-law about taking the girls up the mountain to appreciate flowers.

Shou’an Jun sat in the pavilion by the lotus pond, an excellent spot for garden viewing. There were flowers everywhere—spring welcoming flowers by the pool, and peach, apricot, and plum trees in the distance. The four girls Wei Rao, Zhou Huizhu, Zhou Huizhen, and Huo Lin were flying kites. Red and green kites flew high under the blue sky, making Shou’an Jun feel several years younger and in particularly good spirits.

“We have so many flowers at home—why bother going to the mountains?” she asked her daughter-in-law absent-mindedly.

Wang Shi said awkwardly: “No matter how good the garden is, looking at it every day becomes tiresome. Besides, this is Linlin’s first time coming to the capital since growing up. As her aunt, I want to take her to see more of the local mountain scenery.”

She was determined to go.

Shou’an Jun gave Nanny Liu a meaningful look.

Nanny Liu called the two little maids serving tea and left the pavilion together.

Wang Shi looked at her mother-in-law in confusion.

Shou’an Jun pointed to the stone stool beside her, telling her daughter-in-law to sit.

The stone stool was covered with a beautifully embroidered silk cushion. Wang Shi felt uneasy, sensing that her mother-in-law was about to lecture her.

Wang Shi was quite afraid of this mother-in-law. She lowered her head, anxiously clutching her handkerchief with both hands.

Seeing her daughter-in-law’s appearance, Shou’an Jun couldn’t bring herself to speak too harshly. She just couldn’t understand—when her daughter-in-law had first married in, she had been a contented, naive, and lovable young girl. The first time she tasted lychees bestowed by the palace, the light in her daughter-in-law’s eyes was something Shou’an Jun still remembered. How was it that after living comfortably in wealth for so long, her daughter-in-law had become dissatisfied?

“I understand your meaning. You plan to pick a young master from a high noble family as Huizhen’s husband, right?” Shou’an Jun said straight to the point.

Wang Shi glanced at her mother-in-law, whose mood was hard to read, and tacitly agreed.

Shou’an Jun asked her, “Do you still remember when you first married? One moment you worried that we, mother and daughters, would look down on your family’s poverty, the next you feared making mistakes in propriety and etiquette that would cause embarrassment. The Zhou family was to you then what the capital’s noble families are to Huizhen now, and the gap in social status would only be greater. If Huizhen marries into such a family, aren’t you afraid she’ll be constantly criticized?”

Wang Shi mumbled: “Huizhen’s etiquette was all learned from Nanny Liu and is better than that of ordinary official families’ daughters. As long as she follows proper conduct and doesn’t leave any handles for criticism, what could others find fault with?”

Shou’an Jun: “Then how do you determine that Huizhen can marry into such a family? Even if the young gentlemen like her beauty, their mothers won’t choose daughters-in-law based only on looks.”

Wang Shi clenched her hands and argued with conviction: “If the man’s side sincerely wants to marry Huizhen, they’ll surely find a way to win over the family elders. Mother, we must take the first step and try to know whether it will work. Huizhen is so beautiful—marrying into an ordinary family would waste her beauty too much. As her mother, my heart aches. You’re her grandmother—doesn’t your heart ache?”

Da Zhou Shi had remarried the richest merchant in Jin territory, and Xiao Zhou Shi had remarried into the palace to become Emperor Yuanjia’s consort. With the same beauty, her Huizhen was a first marriage—why should she have to settle for marrying beneath her station?

Wang Shi simply wasn’t resigned to it.

Shou’an Jun hadn’t reached the point of heartache yet. Right now, she only feels a headache.

“Fine, if you want to go, then go. If you encounter the kind of young master you mentioned and fulfill yours and Huizhen’s wishes, that’s your good fortune. Even if married life isn’t good, at worst, she can divorce and return home, and I’ll arrange another suitable match for her.” Shou’an Jun suddenly became enlightened and decided to let Wang Shi do as she pleased. If one marriage wasn’t successful, then a second marriage or even no marriage at all—the Zhou family had no rule about remaining faithful to one husband anyway.

Hearing this, Wang Shi nearly threw daggers at her mother-in-law with her eyes!

Dear grandmother, couldn’t she say something auspicious?