Yueyao worried about the second branch’s descendants, but she never thought of getting a good concubine for Tingzheng: "Tingzheng is not a child anymore; let him make his own decisions. I won’t interfere." Yueyao still rembered how her mother endured the pain of taking a concubine for her father because she hadn’t given birth to a son. The night of the concubine’s arrival, her mother held her and cried all night. If Lin Qinghan couldn’t bear children, a concubine would surely be necessary. But she was unwilling to interfere in this matter no matter what.
Xiang Wei could not understand Yueyao’s internal conflict and said: "What if the second branch you find is unreliable? Then don’t regret it later."
Yueyao didn’t want to discuss this matter with Xiang Wei anymore and turned the topic: "Tomorrow we are dining at Uncle’s house; do you want to join us?" Ma Peng frequently sent people to ask Yueyao to visit Ma’s Mansion. After so many invitations, Yueyao now often took her children over without needing Ma’s Mansion to send soone.
Xiang Wei was unwilling to go, feeling more at ease at ho, free to do as she pleased. But at Ma’s Mansion, she was still in the role of a female guard, unable to even sit at the dinner table, feeling diminished: "Speaking of which, Ma Peng is really good to you, even I envy it. Do you think he has other motives for being so good to you and the children?" Whatever needs Yueyao had, Ma Peng would proactively help upon knowing, and his extraordinary affection for the four children made the always-suspicious Xiang Wei uneasy.
Yueyao replied irritably: "I really don’t know what’s in your head! What could Cousin want from ? He treats like his own sister, and you’re here being suspicious; it’s really hurtful!"
Xiang Wei looked at Yueyao with confusion: "Are you hiding sothing from ?" She always felt there was an untellable secret between Yueyao and Ma Peng.
Yueyao didn’t want to argue with Xiang Wei anymore and asked: "If you’re not coming tomorrow, I’ll take the kids. Don’t say I left you ho alone." As Xiang Wei grew older, she feared solitude more, preferring lively environnts, often playing with the three children in the courtyard. In contrast, Yueyao liked quietness, leading to frequent conflicts between them.
Xiang Wei was unwilling to stay ho alone; the quiet felt chilly and desolate: "Tomorrow I’ll go to the shop, and return in the evening."
The next day, Yueyao took the four children to Ma’s Mansion. Since they visited often, the children from both families were already very familiar with each other.
Zhuang Ruolan couldn’t help but marvel each ti she saw Yueyao, as if ti didn’t affect Yueyao: "You’ve co again, always bringing gifts." Yueyao never ca empty-handed, but the gifts she brought for the children weren’t expensive, just thoughtful.
Kexin and Brother Sheng greeted Zhuang Ruolan with a bow: "Aunt."
Zhuang Ruolan looked at the four children and smiled: "These kids change every day; in a few years, they’ll be grown young n. Yueyao, you’ll have a busy ti then." Keyue was already betrothed to the legitimate eldest son of the Duke Mansion’s Princely Heir. Though the marriage was arranged, the date was not yet set. Now, Zhuang Ruolan was assisting Yanqi in finding a match. When the children were young, there was worry about illness or lack of progress; now that they’re older, their marriages cause concern. Truly, raising a child is a lifelong worry.
Yueyao laughed: "It’s still early!" Generally speaking, a daughter’s marriage is the most worrying. If she marries poorly, her life is ruined; a son’s situation is slightly better. As long as there are no surprises, Kexin’s marriage will likely be set with Little Bun. Yueyao hasn’t started thinking about marriage for Brother Sheng and the others.
Zhuang Ruolan sent Yanqi off with Kexin and Brother Jiejie away with Brother Sheng and the others, leaving the two won to chat.
After discussing household matters, Zhuang Ruolan couldn’t help but bring up the remarried Madam Tang: "A few days ago, Madam Tang t Brother Peipei on the road and talked with him for quite so ti. Sohow, the father-in-law found out, and if the Old Master hadn’t intervened, the father-in-law would have enforced family discipline on Brother Peipei."
Yueyao felt sorry for Brother Peipei: "eting on the road, you can’t expect Brother Peipei not to acknowledge his mother, can you? All said and done, Brother Peipei is the most pitiable."
Zhuang Ruolan agreed that Brother Peipei was indeed pitiable: "When Madam Tang married into the family, she gave birth to a son in a little over eight months. The Qu family claid the child was premature, but the father-in-law was convinced Madam Tang had an affair with Qu Chengye beforehand. Having already married her off, there was nothing he could do about Madam Tang. He loathed her and refused to let Brother Peipei be close to her."
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