Madam Li wanted to say it was nothing, these relatives were so distantly related that each could mind their own business.

However, the sly smile on Mrs. Xu’s face made Madam Li swallow her words.

Still, she was not convinced: A fifth-rank official’s wife, could Chunyan find a better prospect than this?

The main reason for Madam Li’s visit was to probe the Xiao family’s stance, hoping to arrange a marriage for her nephew.

Since Mrs. Xu remained silent, Madam Li wisely kept quiet too.

They chatted about some trivial matters and then Madam Li took her leave.

After seeing Madam Li off, Mrs. Xu felt quite tired.

"Mother, don’t worry," Mrs. Zhu comforted her. "Our family’s daughters are all excellent; anyone who marries into our family is lucky. A good woman is never short of suitors."

"Yes, a good woman is never short of suitors."

Mrs. Xu consoled herself, no rush, destiny is fated!

Just as she and Mrs. Qiu had said, when fate comes, it comes naturally.

"Mother, after the imperial examination, there might be some fine young men to consider."

"That might not involve our family."

Renting a son-in-law from the candidates is what official families love to do.

Even at home, they would pick a Princess Consort for a princess among them.

However, there’s no need to worry this time, mainly because the princesses are all in mourning and won’t compete with common girls.

Mrs. Xu sighed deeply.

Zhu Lingling reported that the Zhu family sent a maid to invite her back for a visit.

"Go, it’s good to see your mother."

"But there’s still a lot to do at the mansion."

"It’s not urgent at the moment, you can come back and handle it later."

Mrs. Xu was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhu.

No matter when, she’s always clear about her own identity and status.

Having endured hardships in Shu City, she returned to the mansion still generous and composed.

Therefore, choosing a daughter-in-law truly requires keen eyes.

As Mrs. Zhu returned to the mansion, Mrs. Xu specially instructed her to prepare some gifts.

Although the Xiao family wasn’t as glorious as before, neither were they as destitute as imagined.

"My child."

Mrs. Zhu hugged her daughter and cried bitterly, "You’ve really suffered all these years."

"Mother, your daughter is unfilial."

It would be a lie to say she didn’t miss her mother, but when she did, the distance was too far to do anything about it.

However, when the Xiao family was in trouble, her mother secretly sent a nanny to support her, and Zhu Lingling remembered this kindness.

She was the one who wanted to follow to Shu City initially.

"You finally came back, and it can be considered hardship coming to an end. Why didn’t you bring Yang back?"

"Yang is studying, during the New Year, my husband and I will bring him to pay respects to you."

"How is your husband doing?"

"He’s well."

It’s just that, the once elegant young man is now a weathered middle-aged man.

The harsh winds of the Northern Desert have left indelible marks on his face.

"That’s good, that’s good."

Mrs. Zhu kept wiping her tears.

"Lingling, you don’t know how much I’ve missed you over the years."

No more words of longing.

Then, Mrs. Zhu brought up a formal matter.

"Your fourth brother, although a concubine’s child, I have registered under my name and have personally guided him; he will take the exam next year."

"Zhu Haodong?"

"Yes, this child is diligent and ambitious, and very filial. I am thinking of finding him a good wife," Mrs. Zhu said. "Because three years ago, his birth mother, Aunt Zhong, passed away, and the engagement he had with the Wang family was called off. Now that the mourning period is over, and he’s older, I’ve looked at a few families, but they look down on his birth."

Mrs. Zhu was quite upset about this matter.

She felt those families lacked vision.

Even if he’s a concubine’s child, she had taught him well, and he would definitely establish a good household with a bright future.

"Mother is so kind."

Zhu Lingling thought her mother was truly a good person, treating a concubine’s child well.

"In this era, having multiple wives and concubines is normal. Aunt Zhong was a maid by my side, even after becoming a concubine, she was always very respectful to me, and your father never favored the concubine over the wife. Our Zhu family is strict with morality."

"Dong has been registered under my name since birth, and I treat him the same as Brother Kai. Brother Kai has ambitions to be a warrior and left to explore at sixteen, currently stationed at the border. Having Dong by my side doesn’t make me feel lonely."

"Yes, it is quite good this way."

The own child wasn’t reliable, so the mother relied on the concubine’s child.

"I just think, by arranging a good wife for Dong, the family can live in harmony and prosper."

"Mother, which girl have you set your eyes on?"

Even Zhu Lingling didn’t want to bring it up, her mother really dared to think big.

A concubine’s son dreaming of marrying a Xiao family daughter, what would her mother-in-law and the aunts think?

It instantly gave her a headache.

"I know the Xiao family has good family values, and their daughters are excellent too." Mrs. Zhu spoke frankly, "Previously, I wouldn’t dare suggest, but now it’s different. Dong is studying at Hanwen Academy, and even the lord said he has a promising future. That’s my reason for mentioning it."

"I understand, Mother."

Zhu Lingling nodded.

Hanwen Academy, Chun Ning is also there.

If possible, her mother-in-law might consider asking Chun Ning about it.

"Which daughter in the Xiao family appeals to Mother?"

"How about Chunyan?"

"Mother, you married the eldest son of the Xiao family, if Chunyan marries back into the Zhu family, others might think our families are exchanging daughters."

"Why not?" Mrs. Zhu said, "There are stories of sisters marrying brothers, isn’t that a beautiful tale too?"

Zhu Lingling was speechless.

Perhaps so.

Back at the Xiao family from the Zhu family, Mrs. Zhu couldn’t bring herself to tell her mother-in-law about Zhu Haodong.

During a meal, Mrs. Zhu overheard Chun Ning mentioning his time at Hanwen Academy with the elders.

"It’s not bad, no one’s given me any trouble," Chun Ning, who joined later, said. "There’s Second Young Master Zhao at the academy, a Closed-door Disciple under Master Tian, who takes good care of me, and a fellow student, Mr. Zhu. Right, Mr. Zhu is the fourth younger brother in my sister-in-law’s family, a good one."

"Zhu Haodong, Dong?" Mrs. Zhu quickly asked upon hearing: "You know him?"

"Yes, we are classmates and get along very well. He is a talented and good-natured person with a promising future."

"The fourth young master of the Zhu Mansion?" Mrs. Xu glanced at Zhu Lingling, "I recall he’s older than Chun Ning, isn’t he already married?"

"No, Mother, not yet." Seeing the right moment, Mrs. Xu quickly added, "My family brought it up today, saying Dong hasn’t married yet because he was in mourning three years ago for his mother, and the engagement was called off. Now he’s of age, so after the imperial exam, a marriage should be arranged."

"I see."

Mrs. Xu began to contemplate the situation.

If it’s truly as Chun Ning said... it’s a pity, he’s a concubine’s child.

"Dong has been registered under my mother’s name since birth, and my mother has always treated him as her own," Zhu Lingling added at the right moment. "He’s quite remarkable and hasn’t gone astray."