After settling in at her natal home, the old lady chose a sunny day to take her daughter to the town’s tailor shop to have some clothes made.

The town was only so big, so mother and daughter didn’t take a sedan chair but walked hand in hand.

Who would have known that halfway there, rain suddenly began falling again.

Mother and daughter hadn’t brought umbrellas and could only take shelter under someone’s eaves.

At this moment, a person rushed through the rain. That person wore a gray long robe, already half-soaked by the rain.

He stamped his feet and brushed the rain from his body while glancing toward the mother and daughter.

Meeting that gaze, the old lady saw the young man first freeze, then break into a smile, his eyes bright and shining with light.

“Miss Yan.”

The old lady sighed slightly: “When fate comes, it truly cannot be stopped. Besides saying it was the Moon Elder pulling the strings, what else can you say?”

Yan Sanhe’s lips curved slightly: “You could also say… Zheng Huantang was determined.”

“The young lady guessed correctly.”

The old lady: “After seeing my daughter on the boat, Huantang’s heart was set on her. Originally he should have returned to the capital with his elder brother that very day, but to find my daughter, he pestered his brother relentlessly to stay a few more days.”

So the Moon Elder pulling strings wasn’t enough—one of the two people also had to be persistent.

No wonder later Zheng Huantang would disregard his parents’ opposition and act willfully to marry Zhao Qingyun. Someone who captured his heart at first sight would be difficult to let go.

“What about Zhao Qingyun? Did she also take a liking to him at first sight?” she asked.

At this question, Pei Xiao’s eyes suddenly widened considerably.

The spirit medium was strange today.

Why was she asking things that had little to do with the case? Wasn’t this wasting time?

“Young ladies are always shy, but I could tell she was willing in her heart, just too embarrassed to show it.”

When you like someone, your eyes cannot hide it.

Her daughter’s face showed smiles, she was willing to eat again, and she secretly started dressing up. Suddenly she had spirit and energy, as if life had something to look forward to.

Hearing this, Yan Sanhe smiled gently.

So they were actually love at first sight!

Among the heart demons she had resolved, not many ended in happy unions. For both to capture each other’s hearts at first sight was too rare.

The spirit medium actually smiled?

Pei Xiao really couldn’t restrain himself. He nudged Xie Zhifei with his foot: What’s going on today? When she asks questions, doesn’t she usually keep a stern face?

Xie Zhifei gave him a withering look: Mind your own business.

Pei Xiao returned a withering look: Brother, this isn’t normal.

Xie Zhifei kicked him: You’re the one with so much internal drama!

I have too much internal drama?

Pei Xiao was left speechless and could only cough loudly twice, urging Yan Sanhe to continue asking questions.

But Yan Sanhe remained unhurried: “What was Zhao Qingyun’s reaction after learning Zheng Huantang’s identity?”

“Miss!”

The old lady couldn’t remember her surname again: “What other reaction could she have? She was as anxious and worried as we were.”

Zheng Huantang’s identity was something the couple had secretly investigated.

When they learned he was the youngest son of General Zheng Yu, they were both delighted and deeply worried.

If their daughter could marry into the Zheng family, their son could live out his life in comfort without worry about food or clothing.

But compared to the Zhao family, the Zheng family’s status was more than a little higher. Their daughter also had a reputation for bringing misfortune to husbands. Would the general agree to this match?

Yan Sanhe: “So this marriage came from Zheng Huantang’s kneeling petition?”

Old Lady Zhao: “Huantang is a good child. Don’t look at his good temper—when he sets his mind on something, ten oxen couldn’t pull him back.”

Yan Sanhe: “General Zheng Yu was a man of his word who meant what he said—did he agree just because of his son’s kneeling petition?”

Old Lady Zhao: “Miss doesn’t know—he concealed it from Huantang and came to Tianjin Wei, came to our Zhao family.”

Yan Sanhe’s elegant brows lifted slightly: “To do what?”

Old Lady Zhao: “To inquire about my daughter, to meet us as parents.”

Yan Sanhe: “Did he say anything to you?”

Old Lady Zhao: “He had a drinking session with my late husband. Didn’t say much—after drinking, he headed back. After returning, he nodded in agreement.”

Yan Sanhe: “What do you think was the real reason he nodded in agreement?”

At this point, a trace of pride appeared on Old Lady Zhao’s face: “In all things the lowest rank, only study is supreme. Our Zhao family’s status may not be prominent, but we are a scholarly family.”

“Scholarly family and bringing misfortune to husbands…”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes suddenly sharpened: “If I asked you to choose, Old Madam, what would you choose?”

Old Lady Zhao was stumped by the question.

“This only proves one thing—the old general doted on his youngest son Zheng Huantang extremely, which is why he took the risk of agreeing to this match.”

Yan Sanhe: “I believe after Zhao Qingyun married into the Zheng family, the initial days should have been good.”

Old Lady Zhao was startled by these words: “Miss, how, how did you guess this too?”

That’s right.

Although the Zheng family was dissatisfied with this marriage, the three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts were all proper—everything was done according to the rules, giving the Zhao family full face. The neighbors were quite envious.

Their two sons escorted her to the capital for the wedding. The Zheng family treated the two brothers well too, without the slightest look of disdain.

“Eldest son.”

The old lady sighed: “Go get that small box from the trunk.”

Zhao Dongrong hurried off and hurried back.

He placed the small box beside Yan Sanhe: “Inside are letters my sister wrote home after marrying. Miss Yan can take a look.”

Opening the small box, there were only three letters inside.

Yan Sanhe didn’t look at them but handed the small box to Xie Zhifei.

After Xie Zhifei finished reading all three letters, he bit his back molars: “Summing up, there are three matters.”

Yan Sanhe: “First, Zheng Huantang treated her very well.”

Xie Zhifei nodded.

Yan Sanhe: “Second, everyone in the Zheng family treated her well too, without any difficulties.”

Xie Zhifei continued nodding.

Yan Sanhe: “Third, if Mother and Father and brothers have time to visit the capital, they as a couple would also often return home.”

Xie Zhifei nodded again.

Yan Sanhe’s gaze lifted toward Zhao Dongrong: “Did you brothers ever go to the capital?”

Zhao Dongrong: “We did.”

Yan Sanhe: “When?”

Zhao Dongrong: “When Qingyun became pregnant, Mother was worried and had us go to the capital to check on her.”

Yan Sanhe: “On this trip, what did you see? Don’t mention things like marital harmony—just talk about the Zheng family.”

Zhao Dongrong: “When we went, Qingyun was just five months pregnant, her belly larger than normal. The imperial physician diagnosed twins. The Zheng family had long since prepared midwives and wet nurses, just waiting for the birth.”

Yan Sanhe: “When approximately was the due date?”

Zhao Dongrong couldn’t remember and looked questioningly at his younger brother.

Zhao Fanglin thought for quite a while: “Around the middle of the seventh month.”

Yan Sanhe: “The seventh month is the ghost month. Did you consider that these twins being born might not be very auspicious?”

“Miss, it’s not like there aren’t people born in the seventh month.”

Old Lady Zhao pointed at her eldest son: “He was born in the seventh month, and no one said it was inauspicious.”

Yan Sanhe: “Unluckily, these twins were born on the fourteenth of the seventh month—ghost fetuses that bring misfortune to the Zheng family.”

“Bullshit!”

The old lady even cursed: “I specifically investigated—ghost fetuses don’t bring misfortune to people.”