The tea on the stove was still gurgling and bubbling. Cheng Yuanjing glanced down through the water vapor and said: “It seems that you were very preoccupied when I came in. Sit down and pour me a tea.”

Cheng Yujin’s eyebrows jumped, and she quickly instructed Du Ruo to remove the boiling tea. Cheng Yujin sat next to Cheng Yuanjing in an obedient manner, like a good little girl. She raised her head and smiled flatteringly: “Ninth Uncle, this tea has been brewed for a long time and already old. Ninth Uncle is a man of both literary and military talent, truly a peerless of your generation. I admire Ninth Uncle so much. How can I let you use inferior things? Du Ruo, change to new water.”

Lin Qingyuan suddenly mustered up his courage and said: “Eldest miss Cheng, you see…”

When Lin Qingyuan began to speak, Cheng Yujin’s eyes lit up. After so much effort, this big fish finally took the bait. Cheng Yujin couldn’t hold her excitement. Her mouth raised slightly. Her expression at this moment was totally different from the weak and broken-hearted ‘eldest miss Cheng’ just now.

Lin Qingyuan’s heart suddenly jumped wildly. Bring Cheng Yujin home?

Cheng Yujin continued: “Actually, I have no remaining feeling towards Marquis Jingyong. Anyway, he doesn’t like me. Since my sister likes him, and he also likes my sister, it is best to bless the lover with the marriage. What am I to hinder them? I am feeling happy for them. However, the later situation is too difficult for me.”

Cheng Yujin’s eyes towards Lin Qingyuan were as if looking at a piece of fat meat. She instantly realized that her gaze was too obvious, so she hurriedly lowered her head and coughed slightly: “This little girl is ignorant. I made Brother Lin see my joke.”

Lin Qingyuan heard Cheng Yujin said, “You should be more confident of yourself.” His face flushed, and he didn’t dare to look at Cheng Yujin at all. His eyes wandered towards the floor. Hearing Cheng Yujin’s last sentence, he hurriedly waved his hand and said: “No, no, it’s me who shouldn’t have said these things to you. I have been brash. Eldest miss Cheng, I apologize.”

“Ninth Uncle is going out to visit friends, but he will be back in a few days.” Cheng Yujin didn’t care about the situation outside. She smiled sweetly, luring her prey in. “If Brother Lin is in a hurry, you might as well leave a message with me. When Ninth Uncle returns, I will send someone to Lin Manor to give you a call.”

Lin Qingyuan was very grateful. “Thank you, eldest miss Cheng. Eldest miss is warmhearted and kind. You have helped me a lot, but I don’t know how to repay you.”

At this moment, all the womenfolk in the hall had noticed Huo Changyuan was coming. Even a few female cousins from Xu family also crowded in front of the windows, wanting to watch the excitement outside. They came late and didn’t see Huo Changyuan hugging his wife, but seeing Cheng Yumo wearing Huo Changyuan’s cloak was enough. Xu Nianchun and the others covered their mouths and giggled. Their face was brimming with playful excitement mixed with shyness.

Cheng Min came from behind and said with a smile: “Alright, we all know that you young couple’s relationship is very good. Now, come in quickly. Mother has long been waiting.”

Huo Changyuan watched Cheng Yuanxian making an accusation before rounding it up in an instant. Without others helping, he skillfully performed a one-person series of the complete process of being surprised, questioning, finding reasons, and finally rounding it all up.

Cheng Yuanxian clearly had done this exact process many times before.

Where is eldest girl?

Upon Cheng Yuanjing’s question, people in Shou’an Hall finally noticed that Cheng Yujin was missing.

Many people sighed. Cheng Min just remembered that she hadn’t seen Cheng Yujin’s figure for a long time. She stood up and looked around: “I remember Jin jie’er¹ was standing here just now. When had she been gone?”

Cheng Yujin didn’t want to meet Xu Zhixian, but when Cheng Min began to teach Cheng Yumo how to manage concubines and servant girls who climbed the bed of male master, she couldn’t stay and listen anymore. Cheng Yujin quickly stood up. Using an excuse of returning to her courtyard to fetch something, she took her personal servant girl and walked away.

Thanks to Zhai Yanlin’s unexpected action, Cheng Yujin was now in a big dilemma. Old Madam Cheng was very satisfied with Cai Duke Manor. Cheng Min married the second young master of Cang Duke Manor, yet she was still considered to be marrying high. Although Cheng Min was not the duke manor’s head madam, her marriage was enough to make Old Madam Cheng proud. Now, her granddaughter had the opportunity to be the head madam of the more powerful and prestigious Cai Duke Manor. How could she be unwilling?

As for Zhai Yanlin had been married once and Cheng Yujin could only become the second wife, the Old Madam didn’t care at all. Anyway, the previous Duchess Cai was dead, what could a dead person do? Even if Zhai Yanlin already had a son and heir, Old Madam Cheng didn’t take it seriously.