Spring flowers bloomed brilliantly.

The snow wolf chased butterflies through the flower clusters.

Two children ran around and around the snow wolf.

Yun Chu sat in the sunshine reading account books, occasionally sipping tea, quietly watching the children play.

She noticed that Tingxue seemed somewhat distracted, forgetting to add water even when the tea had run dry.

“Tingxue.” Yun Chu called out, but Tingxue was still lost in thought and didn’t hear.

Tingfeng beside her heavily bumped Tingxue’s arm, reminding her: “Sister Tingxue, the Princess Consort is calling you.”

Tingxue hurried forward, only then noticing the tea was gone, and quickly added water.

Yun Chu raised her hand and waved it, and all the servants around her bowed and withdrew. The two children were led by Tingfeng and Amao to play outside the courtyard.

Only the master and servant remained in the entire courtyard.

“I noticed a month ago that you’re often distracted.” Yun Chu spoke. “We grew up together. Though master and servant, we also share sisterly affection. If you have something on your mind, you can tell me.”

Tingxue lowered her head.

Over the past month or so, she had indeed been constantly distracted. When standing behind the Princess Consort, she would inexplicably start thinking about other things.

If it were any other master, they would have dismissed her long ago.

The Princess Consort was kindhearted and came to comfort her instead.

“This servant, this servant…” Tingxue felt somewhat embarrassed to speak, but knew she must. The Princess Consort had dismissed everyone else. If she kept it bottled up, she would be failing the Princess Consort’s good intentions.

“The day before yesterday, Manager Cheng, he… he gave this servant all the silver he’d saved over the years. He said it was a betrothal gift, wanting to marry this servant…” Her head was almost buried in her chest. “This servant doesn’t know what to do…”

A gleam of interest appeared in Yun Chu’s eyes.

She had long guessed that Tingxue had someone in her heart. It turned out to be Chengxu—someone far away in the heavens yet close before her eyes.

She had heard Amao complain that Chengxu was particularly stingy. Over all these years, he had never treated anyone in the Prince’s Manor to even a single peanut.

For someone who valued money so much to take all his possessions as a betrothal gift showed how deeply he valued Tingxue in his heart.

Yun Chu leveled her voice and asked: “So Tingxue, what do you think?”

“This servant… also doesn’t know.” Tingxue’s face flushed crimson. “Please, Princess Consort, make the decision.”

“Follow your own heart.” Yun Chu grasped her hand. “If you have feelings for Chengxu in your heart, then that’s best. If you’re unwilling, I’ll refuse his proposal on your behalf.”

Tingxue stammered: “This servant… will think about it some more…”

While Tingxue struggled with her decision, Chengxu was drowning his sorrows in wine.

Two days had passed since he proposed marriage. He no longer dared go to the Princess Consort’s courtyard. He didn’t know how to face Tingxue.

The first time he saw Tingxue, he was deeply attracted. Gradually, his eyes could no longer look away from her.

He had finally mustered the courage to express his feelings, but his betrothal gift was thrown on the ground by Tingxue. That much silver was what he had painstakingly saved—monthly stipends, rewards, interest… he gave it all to Tingxue, yet she threw his sincerity on the ground.

Chengxu miserably gulped down a large pot of wine.

“You stinking brat!” Manager Cheng entered his room and slapped the back of his head. “The Prince is out handling affairs, and you hide here drinking every day. The Prince doesn’t hold it against you, yet you’re pushing your luck. Hurry up, wash your face and go find the Prince!”

“Father, I’m miserable…” Chengxu clung to Manager Cheng’s body, wiping his tears and snot on him. “I finally met someone I like, but she doesn’t like me. Wah wah wah, I’m dying of misery. Who can go on duty feeling this miserable? This is too cruel to me…”

Manager Cheng’s eyes lit up: “Come, tell Father properly what exactly happened.”

Chengxu drank wine while recounting the situation from that day in complete detail.

“What did you say?!” Manager Cheng slapped him again. “You like the girl but didn’t find a matchmaker, just directly proposed marriage—that’s disrespecting her. Of course she wouldn’t agree! You’re such a foolish boy, daring to do such things without understanding anything. You almost ruined a good match! Enough, stop drinking. Leave this matter to your father—I’ll definitely handle it for you!”

That very afternoon, Manager Cheng found a matchmaker and brought her directly to Yun Chu’s courtyard.

“This old servant greets the Princess Consort.” Manager Cheng said with a beaming smile. “This is Matchmaker Liu. Let Matchmaker Liu speak with the Princess Consort.”

Matchmaker Liu was a famous matchmaker in the capital. Waving her handkerchief, she stepped forward: “Greetings to the Princess Consort. This humble one has come to arrange a match. I’ve heard the Princess Consort has a maid as beautiful as flowers and jade named Tingxue. I wonder if she’s been promised to anyone?”

Standing behind Yun Chu, Tingxue’s face suddenly flushed red.

Yun Chu smiled and said: “We’re currently considering prospects but haven’t settled on anyone yet.”

“What perfect timing!” Matchmaker Liu laughed heartily. “The Princess Consort should know Manager Cheng’s son, named Chengxu. He’s what you’d call graceful as jade, dashing and elegant. His appearance goes without saying, but mainly he’s honest and hardworking. At such a young age, he’s already become Prince Pingxi’s first guard, a rank three official position! This humble one has come specifically to arrange a match for Manager Cheng. What does the Princess Consort think?”

Yun Chu had now witnessed a matchmaker’s eloquent tongue. She acknowledged that Chengxu was honest and hardworking, but the phrase “graceful as jade” didn’t quite match him.

She spoke: “Tingxue is my most capable maid. I’m still somewhat reluctant to part with her.”

Matchmaker Liu nudged Manager Cheng, signaling that he could speak now.

This was also Manager Cheng’s first time doing such a thing. He coughed and said: “Princess Consort, rest assured. Although Tingxue will marry into the Cheng family, she’ll still serve at the Princess Consort’s side. This old servant has already prepared a residence as their marriage home. Tingxue can serve the Princess Consort during the day, and at night let the young couple live their own lives. Nothing will be delayed.”

Tingxue’s face grew redder and redder. She wished she could find an excuse to leave.

Yun Chu smiled and said: “Very well. In three days I’ll give Manager Cheng an answer.”

Manager Cheng nodded and withdrew. Just as he reached the courtyard gate, Chengxu jumped out: “How did it go, how did it go, Father? Did it work?”

“Haste makes waste.” Manager Cheng glared at him irritably. “Everything has a process. Take it slowly.”

Chengxu scratched his head, holding back for a long while before asking: “Father, how much did hiring the matchmaker cost?”

Manager Cheng casually replied: “Twenty taels.”

“That expensive?” Chengxu was shocked. “If I’d found one myself, five taels of silver would have been enough. Father, you’re too wasteful with money…”

Manager Cheng: “…”

He had been generous and tolerant his whole life. How did he raise such a stingy son?

He turned and walked away with a wave of his hand.

Chengxu sighed.

His father had painstakingly saved some retirement money, and now twenty taels were gone just like that. His old father’s heart must be bleeding. He should return it to him later.

He was just stepping out when he encountered Nanny Er head-on. Seeing a young woman following behind Nanny Er, he smiled and said: “Nanny Er, isn’t this Ding Dong?”

He knew Ding Dong—she was Nanny Er’s daughter who had served in the Prince’s Manor since childhood. She hadn’t been around these past two years, so seeing her suddenly was quite surprising.

Nanny Er smiled and said: “Little Xu, the Prince just returned to the manor. You should hurry to the front courtyard to attend him.”

Chengxu knew he had been derelict for two days and didn’t dare neglect his duties again. He hurried off.

Nanny Er led her daughter Ding Dong into the main courtyard.