Mr. Lu said this, and Mrs. Han felt it was difficult to speak. She glanced at her son, County Magistrate Liu, and both felt a bit nervous.

Tong Huaqiong listened intently.

If Mr. Lu wanted Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao to marry immediately, then so be it.

Mr. Lu called Tong Huaqiong his in-law and said, "It was your Taohua and our Zhaozhao who bet on doing business."

Tong Huaqiong was puzzled, wondering why Taohua got involved.

She glanced at Huang Yuanwai, who was grinning ear to ear. She hoped the Huang Family wouldn’t know that Mr. Lu once wanted Gu Taohua to be paired with Lu Zhaoyang.

Mr. Lu paused and said, "I thought it was just bickering between little girls, but I didn’t expect she took it seriously. First, she pestered me to give her a Rouge Shop. I thought she’d lose interest in a few days, but she turned out to have a great business acumen. The shop thrived, and now she’s taken over the entire cosmetics business of the family."

Tong Huaqiong listened quietly, unable to grasp Mr. Lu’s intentions.

Could it be that he wanted to show her Lu Zhaozhao’s business sense and propose letting her take over Tong Huaqiong’s business after marriage?

But that didn’t seem likely either, as Tong Huaqiong’s current business wasn’t significant enough for the Imperial Merchant Lu Family.

Sure enough, Mr. Lu continued, "You know my Zhaoyang is pursuing an official career and can’t take over the family business. I used to think of adopting a nephew from the same family to train him to take over, but now seeing Zhaozhao’s success, I’ve changed my mind. Instead of giving my hard work to others, it’s better to let Zhaozhao take over as the head. So I’m discussing with you, in-law, I’d like to keep Zhaozhao for a few more years to familiarize her with all the family businesses."

Tong Huaqiong and Mrs. Han exchanged a glance, seeing joy in each other’s eyes.

They didn’t need to say a word as Mr. Lu wanted to keep Lu Zhaozhao for a few more years.

Tong Huaqiong pretended to understand and said, "Since you say so, how can I disagree? My Jingzhe hasn’t achieved any titles yet, so it’s indeed an injustice to Zhaozhao. Let’s settle the engagement first, and once Jingzhe, like Zhaoyang, passes the provincial examination, we can have a grand wedding for Zhaozhao."

Mr. Lu laughed and said, "I said Manager Tong is open-minded, and indeed you are."

Mr. Lu turned to Mrs. Han and said, "What were you about to tell me?"

Mr. Lu was afraid Mrs. Han would immediately suggest setting a date, so he interrupted earlier.

Now that his request was stated and understood by Tong Huaqiong, he asked Mrs. Han what she wanted to say.

Mrs. Han said, somewhat exasperated, "I was reminding uncle, since my son secured the major match for Zhaozhao, shouldn’t we have a big carp to eat."

Mr. Lu laughed heartily and said, "Of course, of course."

Mr. Lu only felt a sense of comfort and quickly ordered people to prepare food and drinks to entertain Tong Huaqiong and the others.

While Tong Huaqiong and others were discussing the marriage inside, Gu Taohua accompanied Gu Jingzhe to the backyard to see Lu Zhaozhao.

A few days back, when Lu Zhaozhao returned from the shop and learned that her cousin, serving as County Magistrate in Pingchuan County, was here to arrange a marriage for her, her heart leaped.

Upon hearing it was about Gu Jingzhe, her heart pounded like a drum. She dared not show it in front of Mr. Lu and only said she’d follow her grandfather’s arrangements.

Lu Zhaozhao had already exchanged feelings with Gu Jingzhe, but on the day of the formal engagement, she inexplicably felt anxious and thus hid in the backyard.

Turning past a cluster of roses, Gu Jingzhe saw a beautiful figure standing under a rose trellis in the corner of the wall.

He knew it was Lu Zhaozhao and stopped in his tracks.

The two gazed at each other through the flowers.

Gu Taohua lifted her skirt and ran towards Lu Zhaozhao, calling out, "Zhaozhao."

Lu Zhaozhao extended her hand to pull Gu Taohua along, and Gu Taohua said, "It’s nearly summer, why are your hands so cold."

Lu Zhaozhao shook her head.

Gu Taohua had expected to meet a delighted Lu Zhaozhao, but the current Lu Zhaozhao looked worried.

Gu Taohua asked directly, "You are about to become my sister-in-law, why do you look unhappy? Don’t you like my third brother very much?"

Saying this, she pulled Lu Zhaozhao towards Gu Jingzhe and said, "See, my third brother is right there."

Lu Zhaozhao released Gu Taohua’s hand and stopped, standing under a flower tree.

Gu Jingzhe walked a few steps forward, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, his heart still racing despite having met her many times.

"Taohua, you go over there first," Gu Jingzhe said to Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua glanced at Gu Jingzhe, understanding he wanted to speak with Lu Zhaozhao, obediently moved to a slightly distant cherry tree.

Gu Jingzhe asked Lu Zhaozhao, "Are you regretting getting engaged to me?"

Lu Zhaozhao shook her head and said, "I don’t know why I’ve been feeling anxious these past few days. I had a dream that we got married, you became a top scholar, and then married a noblewoman from Shengjing..."

Lu Zhaozhao didn’t believe that dream, for the Aunt Tong in the dream was entirely different from the current Aunt Tong.

She didn’t believe it, but it was too vivid, making her anxious every time she thought of it in recent days.

Especially since today’s the engagement day with the Gu Family, her anxiety was even more intense.

Gu Jingzhe softly said, "I don’t know how awful the me in your dream was, but dreams are just dreams."

Lu Zhaozhao gazed at Gu Jingzhe in a daze, suddenly feeling a bit reassured.

Gu Jingzhe said, "Rest assured. I swear, if I ever betray you, may I be struck by lightning."

Lu Zhaozhao smiled faintly and said, "If you betray me, I’ll take matters into my own hands."

Lu Zhaozhao thought if it were Aunt Tong, that’s exactly what she’d do.

Being struck by lightning was nothing; she’d rather be that lightning herself.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao’s anxiety dissipated, and she smiled sweetly at Gu Jingzhe, playfully saying, "What do I have to worry about?"

After all, she’s not as weak as her dream self.

Since she and Gu Jingzhe are now mutually affectionate, let nature take its course, and the future can take care of itself.

No one can guarantee unwavering love for a lifetime; maybe she’ll be the one changing her mind first.

Tong Huaqiong, Mrs. Han, and Old Mrs. Huang walked hand in hand from the front hall to the back garden.

Pushing through the veranda and rockery, they saw not far away, Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao standing amid the roses.

The two were talking about something, smiling all along.

In early summer, the roses were in full bloom, and an occasional breeze brought whiffs of floral fragrance.

Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao’s clothes fluttered in the wind.

The two were like a painting, with the roses as their backdrop.

Tong Huaqiong could see the fine fuzz on Lu Zhaozhao’s beautiful face.

Tong Dajiao’s memory slipped by in Tong Huaqiong’s mind, the past life’s misfortune, hoping this life would have a good ending.

If Gu Jingzhe dared to betray Lu Zhaozhao, Tong Huaqiong’s threat to turn Jingzhe into a pig-like boar was no mere threat.

Mrs. Han sighed, "What a perfect couple, this engagement is truly a match made."

Old Mrs. Huang happily said to Tong Huaqiong, "When Zhaozhao marries into your family, you mustn’t make things difficult for her."

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "Naturally."