◎A pair of eyes like an eagle’s, penetrating directly through the crowd and landing on her face.◎

Before she married, Mother had also said these words to her.

Looking at it this way, her temperament could indeed be called unchangeable—a leopard cannot change its spots.

Lan Shanjun sighed with emotion but wasn’t troubled by it. She thought that stubbornness had its advantages, and refusing to bow one’s head also had its wonderful uses—otherwise, during her time in Huailing, she would have taken her own life within a month.

Since she was so unwilling to apologize, Zhu Shi had no choice but to have someone send her back first. Lan Shanjun had prepared words to respond to Mother, to prevent her from confining her and forbidding her from attending the birthday celebration at Marquis Boyuan’s residence. But Mother said nothing and still had people prepare her clothes for going to Marquis Boyuan’s residence as usual, only sighing repeatedly at her.

Lan Shanjun understood her expression.

This was her struggling with how to guide her.

She had often seen it on Mother’s face before.

But as long as she could go out, that was enough. These past days, while studying family genealogies, she would secretly compare them with ten years later, discovering the impermanence of worldly affairs, the ups and downs. Those who would find favor with His Majesty ten years later were currently still rather unremarkable, while those whose families would be raided and exterminated in the future were now still flourishing like brocade flowers.

Her mind became active.

She needed to find some helpers. Especially helpers who would be at odds with the Song family in the future.

Finding the truth behind everything might not be difficult, but if she wanted to kill Song Zhiwei and kill his accomplices, relying on herself alone wouldn’t work—she needed to use others’ strength against them.

Having this notion, she invited the Third Young Madam to discuss the current affairs of various families—too many years had passed, and she’d forgotten many things and people.

She had originally wanted to invite Mother, but these past few days, Mother couldn’t bring herself to face her and had been avoiding her.

This was somewhat similar to her previous life.

However, perhaps because in this life she hadn’t cursed Grandmother as a troublemaking dead old woman, Lan Hui and the Third Young Madam actually stood on her side. Lan Hui was even bolder in speaking, telling Zhu Shi directly, “Sixth Sister just doesn’t know how to be flexible, but she’s not wrong.”

She was slightly dissatisfied. “This time, Grandmother was in the wrong. Even if we must devoutly believe, she can’t make a monk’s perpetual lamp be lit at a Daoist temple, can she?”

Zhu Shi replied, “That is wrong, but she should have agreed temporarily and discussed it later, at least waited until I returned to discuss it.”

Huihui countered, “That’s the method Mother taught me—Sixth Sister hasn’t received Mother’s guidance. Being straightforward and direct was probably taught by that abbot. Mother, this can’t be helped. Who told Sixth Sister to be raised by him?”

Zhu Shi said, “But this is her nature deep in her bones. Even if she covers it with a veneer, she’ll still suffer for it in the future.”

She sighed. “She felt satisfied, but I still have to go console your grandmother. This child—she hasn’t been a mother herself yet, so she doesn’t know the pain of a mother losing her children.”

As she spoke, her voice choked with emotion. “When she ‘died’ in Shuzhou back then, I also hated the Shuzhou people terribly. I can understand your grandmother.”

On this matter, she had shared the same hatred with her mother-in-law for over a decade. Suddenly, her daughter had returned, but her mother-in-law’s sons could never return. She felt a sense of sympathy for her mother-in-law.

Huihui said nothing more. Grandmother treated her very well, Mother also seemed not to be wrong, but Sixth Sister was even less wrong.

She didn’t know what to do.

So she went to Grandmother’s place to act cute and please her, performing cheerful entertainments, while also visiting Sixth Sister’s place frequently.

Then she discovered that the four words “suitable in motion and stillness” best described Sixth Sister.

She liked to sit quietly by the window reading family genealogies, writing down many people’s names stroke by stroke. Her expression was calm, her eyes focused—it was very beautiful to watch.

But her movements were also beautiful. When she practiced with her blade, she was especially vibrant, even carrying a hint of killing intent, far surpassing Third Brother’s flowery technique.

She really liked Sixth Sister so much!

But Sixth Sister wasn’t very close to her, and instead got along better with Third Sister-in-law. The two often discussed matters outside, and she went over to listen a few times. Returning to console Mother, she said, “Sixth Sister works very hard to learn about Luoyang’s aristocratic families. I reckon that now, no matter which family name is mentioned, she knows their ancestral origins.”

This showed she wanted to quickly adapt to her new identity.

Hearing this, Zhu Shi softened and went to visit Lan Shanjun. She found her acting as if no dispute had ever occurred, speaking gently and courteously, calling “Mother” repeatedly. This made her feel somewhat uncomfortable again.

She told Huihui, “Shanjun’s nature is direct and stubborn, yet she’s quite deep in calculation. Moreover, I always feel… it’s as if she’s hiding something in her heart, unlike an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl.”

She said worriedly, “I fear trouble will arise.”

Lan Hui pouted. “Mother is overthinking. Sixth Sister had a dispute with Grandmother, so she simply doesn’t go to Grandmother’s place—she doesn’t even maintain surface appearances. She likes Mother, so even though Mother didn’t help her, she still calls you Mother sweetly. How is this being deeply calculating? This is clearly being single-minded.”

Zhu Shi sighed, thinking she was still young and didn’t understand these things. She stroked her head. “No matter what, tomorrow at Marquis Boyuan’s birthday banquet, you must stay by your Sixth Sister’s side. Don’t let her be alone.”

She said, “No matter how well she’s memorized the family genealogies or how much she knows about each family, she ultimately hasn’t experienced such occasions. What if she says something wrong? Right now, I’m most afraid of her getting into disputes with people.”

And afraid of people learning about her past.

Duke Zhenguo’s residence had already declined—they couldn’t give people more topics to gossip about and be laughed at.

Lan Hui understood Mother’s concern. Ever since their family declined, Mother always wanted them to appear respectable outside. She nodded. “Mother, rest assured. I understand.”

On the other side, the Third Young Master also returned to the residence. Upon returning, he immediately asked his wife about Lan Shanjun. “She didn’t cause any trouble today, did she?”

The Third Young Madam was reading beside him. Hearing this, she set down her book and went to help him remove his outer robe. “What trouble could she cause? This matter wasn’t really her fault to begin with.”

The two were newlyweds, in their honeymoon period, so she dared say certain things before her husband. “Grandmother was indeed… how can she force someone?”

She said quietly, “Grandmother was actually bullying the fact that Sixth Sister just arrived home and isn’t familiar yet, so she wouldn’t dare refuse.”

Everyone understood this little scheme in their hearts.

Who knew she would encounter a troublemaker. Yet Sixth Sister was reasonable and articulate, hitting the mark precisely. These past few days, Grandmother refused to see Sixth Sister, only feeling she’d lost face.

She sighed. “They’ll have to get along for a long time in the future. I’m afraid there will be more trouble. Someone has to lower their head first.”

That person definitely wouldn’t be Grandmother—it would certainly be Sixth Sister. They’d just have to see how Mother mediated.

She herself was unwilling to be the villain.

The Third Young Master made no sound in response, but didn’t speak up either. Seeing him like this, the Third Young Madam changed the subject. “How was the academy today?”

The Third Young Master then said quietly, “I’ll tell you something, but you absolutely mustn’t tell anyone.”

The Third Young Madam laughed. “What is it?”

Though her husband sometimes spoke inappropriately, he actually had a childlike nature.

She quite liked this temperament—simple and genuine.

So she also lowered her voice and promised with a smile, “I definitely won’t tell anyone.”

The Third Young Master said, “I told you about Yu Qingwu last time. You remember, right?”

The Third Young Madam nodded. “I remember.”

The Third Young Master curled his lip. “He came to the academy looking for someone today.”

The Third Young Madam asked, “Looking for someone? Looking for whom?”

The Third Young Master replied, “I don’t know. I only know it’s someone surnamed Su—I forgot the given name. I heard he’s been missing for several days.”

The Third Young Madam said, “Then he should report it to the authorities.”

The Third Young Master replied, “Who knows!”

The Third Young Madam was puzzled. “If he’s looking for someone, he’s looking for someone. What about this can’t be told to others?”

The Third Young Master fell silent. When Yu Qingwu had asked the hall director to find someone for questioning, he had happened to run into them, and his mouth got the better of him—he’d made a few snide remarks.

This time, nothing good came of it. Yu Qingwu’s face turned cold, and the hall director, fearing Elder Wu, said before everyone that his abilities were mediocre while his arrogance was abundant.

At that moment, he truly wanted to find a hole to crawl into. The hall director held his evaluation, which related to his filling a vacancy next year, so he couldn’t make a big fuss. He could only leave in anger.

Having suffered this setback and fearing his fourth uncle would learn of it and scold him, he could only keep it hidden. But with his loose tongue, he couldn’t keep things to himself. When his wife asked, he wanted to talk, so he complained, “Anyway, what kind of decent person could someone like him be looking for? Certainly someone of the same ilk.”

The Third Young Madam had been pouring tea for him. Hearing this, her hand paused, and she said tactfully, “Missing for several days without a trace, and he’s a disciple of Elder Wu—after reporting to the authorities, people would certainly scramble to help search. If they still can’t find him, I’m afraid the outcome is dire.”

In such circumstances, it really wasn’t good to gossip about others behind their backs.

But the Third Young Master didn’t grasp the meaning of her words and angrily echoed, “A dire outcome would be good.”

The Third Young Madam fell silent.

Getting no response, the Third Young Master took a sip of tea and asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

The Third Young Madam took a deep breath.

It’s fine—this is just his being direct. It’s just displaced anger because he doesn’t like Yu Qingwu.

She put on a perfectly appropriate smile. “Nothing. I was just thinking that human life is precious, and it would be better if nothing happened.”

The Third Young Master nodded. “As long as he doesn’t die.”

Having said this, he couldn’t help but bring up Lan Shanjun again. “She hasn’t gone to pay her respects to Grandmother these past few days?”

The Third Young Madam replied, “That’s right. Grandmother also doesn’t want to see her.”

The Third Young Master said, “I told you there would be trouble when she returned home.”

With this know-it-all expression of his, the Third Young Madam lost her desire to speak again.

This was the first time since their marriage that she’d been annoyed with her husband.

Why did he seem not very intelligent?

She liked intelligent people.

By the next day, when everyone began heading to Marquis Boyuan’s residence, her anger still hadn’t dissipated.

Lan Shanjun shared a carriage with her. Smiling, she said, “Sister-in-law didn’t sleep well last night?”

The Third Young Madam made an affirming sound but didn’t discuss her own matters. She only intimately held her hand and said, “Today my mother is also bringing my thirteenth sister. When we arrive at Marquis Boyuan’s residence, I’ll introduce you to Thirteenth Lady. She’s the same age as you, and though she’s getting married next year, she’s marrying in the capital, so you can still visit each other afterward.”

Having lost Sixth Sister for sixteen years before she returned, Mother would certainly be reluctant to marry her off far away—she would definitely be kept in the capital too.

The Third Young Madam even had plans to act as matchmaker for her. Her natal family still had brothers who weren’t yet betrothed. These past days, seeing Sixth Sister’s intelligence and fine appearance, she wanted to discuss it with Mother today. If possible, they could strengthen family ties through marriage.

Lan Shanjun didn’t know her plans and was thinking about Tang Thirteenth Lady in her mind.

The Third Young Madam’s natal family was surnamed Tang.

But she couldn’t remember anything—presumably in her previous life, they’d had no interaction. She smiled and said, “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

The carriage proceeded slowly forward. Because of the crowds, it occasionally had to stop and wait.

The clamor of voices from outside reached their ears.

Lan Shanjun couldn’t help but lift the curtain to look—it had been too long since she’d seen such a lively scene. The streets and alleys, wine shops and street vendors, were actually not much different from ten years later. She also saw some familiar shops, some she used to like patronizing. She rather wanted to taste their food again—she could have Nanny Zhao go buy some in advance later.

She watched outside the window as if glimpsing flowers from horseback. Just as she was about to lower the curtain, she caught sight of Yu Qingwu at a glance.

He stumbled through the crowded throng, looking hurried, his entire person appearing lost and bewildered.

What had happened?

She couldn’t help but roll the curtain up a bit more, leaning out to get a better look. Then she saw him also look over.

A pair of eyes like an eagle’s, penetrating directly through the crowd and landing on her face.