Zhang Xiao listened to Zhang Qis words and glanced at the handkerchief in her hands, a faint smile playing on her lips.

  A spinster, no distinction between herself and a maid, how dare she pretend to know the rules? Humph, such an ignorant person, still claiming to be clever? Far inferior to my familys Ah Jin.

  She waved her hand and frowned: "Withdraw it."

  Zhang Jin also chuckled on one side: "Youd better keep it to sell for two copper coins! My mother is not someone who would bother to accept a handkerchief from you."

  Zhang Xuan sat on the side, watching things develop in an unknown direction, wanting to exaggerate a few words, but worried that it would have the opposite effect, so he didnt say anything.

  Zhang Xiaos eyes didnt even flicker, Zhang Qi lowered her head and slowly put away the handkerchief.

  She is now, after all, on good terms with the Zhang family. Even if one day Zhang Xuan or Xiao Mo mentions the embroidery incident and is questioned by Madam Zhang, she will have something to say for herself.

  "Get out."

  "Yes."

  Zhang Qi slowly backed out.

  At this moment, several maidservants respectfully called out: "The servants have seen the young master."

  Is Zhang Shierlang coming?

  It had been a long time since Zhang Qi saw him after that day. Hearing the footsteps, she lowered her head even more.

  Zhang Xiao and Zhang Jin were both here, she didnt dare acknowledge this father.

  Zhang Shi-er Lang entered the door and saw his legitimate wife and children. He stared at Zhang Xuan, who was paying respects, and asked in a warm voice: "Have you written any poems these past two days?"

  Zhang Xuan respectfully said to his father, "The other day, my sons eyes were swollen and red. After using a thin mint liquid, he recovered. For this matter, I wrote an article called Eye Bright Pouch Fu, and I was just about to ask you for your guidance."

  When Zhang Erlang heard that his son had written a poem for such a small thing, he not only didnt get angry but nodded and said, "Not bad, go fetch it and let your father take a look."

  This era, as well as the character of this era, are delicate and trivial, just like the women and scholars of the south, who naturally lack a kind of firmness and grandeur. The north is exactly the opposite.

  Zhang Xuan responded with a sound and turned around to walk out.

  As he passed Zhang Qi, he gave her a look, indicating for her to withdraw.

  Zhang Qi lowered her head and backed away.

  Until she left the room, Zhang Shierlang didnt see her. After walking a few steps, Zhang Qi heard a loud laughter coming from inside and couldnt help but stop in his tracks, staring blankly ahead.

  She turned back after just one glance.

  Zhang Xuans footsteps paused slightly as he passed through the courtyard, and since there were only a few people around, he said in a low, apologetic tone: "I didnt think this through for my brother."

  Zhang Qi shook her head and said in a low and weak voice, "Elder brother spoke for me in front of mother, Im really grateful."

  She lowered her head, timid and weak, with a delicate figure that seemed to be unable to withstand the spring breeze. Zhang Xuan looked at her and thought to himself: My younger sister has a slender build and a tender heart, and because of her own life experiences, she must have shed countless tears. When I think about her leaning against the pavilion, the reflection in the water reveals a waist that is incredibly thin. Recently, Ive been feeling sentimental, so I wrote a poem for her too. Although it doesnt explicitly mention who she is, I think my poem also captures the essence of "having an extraordinary personality and being remarkably talented". One day, Ill have to take it out and let everyone appreciate it; it must be comparable to Xiao Mos "Ode to a Beauty" at the very least.

  After thinking for a while, Zhang Xuan suddenly remembered something and called out: "A Gui?"

  Zhang Qi looked back.

  Looking at her misty eyes, Zhang Xuan secretly praised Zhang Qis beauty in his heart and pondered that he had forgotten to write about her eyes in the poem.

  Zhang Qi hadnt seen him for half a day and couldnt help but call out: "Jiu Xiong?"

  Zhang Xuan came to and took a step forward, saying in a low voice to Zhang Qi: "Chen Ou still wants to see you."

  In Zhang Qis big, puzzled eyes, he said softly: "I told him your thoughts. Ah Yu said that you dont know him, and if you get in touch with him, you will definitely be happy with her. Although his family is not very rich, he can still make ends meet. If Ah Qi enters a wealthy family, the mistress is often a lady from a big family, and whether she can tolerate you or not is still a problem. He himself looks good, and truly values you, willing to spend money to propose, and in the future when the mistress comes in, he will definitely not let her bully you. He wants you to think deeply about it."

  Zhang Xuan said: "Ah Gui, Chen Ous words are reasonable, you should consider it."

  Zhang Qi lowered her eyes and shook her head.

  Seeing her like this, Zhang Xuan let out a silent sigh, but in his heart he was thinking: If theres an opportunity, I must get Ah Gui and Chen Ou to meet each other, maybe shell change her mind then.

  The Chen family, although of imperial descent, was actually a poor and humble one. Chen Yi, as a member of the imperial clan, was not particularly proud of his status. Therefore, Zhang Guis illegitimate daughter, despite her lowly birth, could rely on being a Zhang to become Chen Yis concubine, even if she couldnt marry him as his wife. Later, when Chen Yis legitimate wife entered the household, she didnt dare bully Zhang Gui too much, considering Zhangs reputation and the fact that her own brother-in-law was backing her up from behind the scenes.

  After saying goodbye to her brother and sister, Zhang Qi returned to her room.

  She sat in her room and began to embroider intently. Her heart was a bit disordered, and she wanted to calm herself down by keeping busy.

  In her memory, she was a wife of a noble family. But now, every step feels difficult for her.

  Thinking of this, Zhang Gui looked towards the corner where he hid his gold and soon calmed down.

  At such a young age, she already has so much gold. Since the King of Guangling is gone, she wont be drifting in a foreign land anymore, why not find an opportunity to ask Ninth Brother to buy some more land for herself? One hundred and fifty taels of gold, apart from buying a small house, who knows how many good fields it can buy?

  However, ones own appearance is most likely to cause trouble, and even staying in the courtyard will not be peaceful, so its necessary to think carefully.

  As Zhang Qi was drowsy from grinding, a sound of footsteps came.

  Then, Ah Lus slightly panicked footsteps came. With a creak, she hastily flashed into the room.

  Aluo rushed in front of Zhang Qi with wide eyes and said in a low voice, "Aqi, the emperor has sent someone."

  The Emperor sent someone?

  Zhang Qi blinked her big eyes at A Lu, gesturing for her to continue.

  A Lu took a deep breath and continued: "I heard those people say that the envoys from various countries are about to leave Jiankang, and Your Majesty wants to bestow some beautiful concubines on them. But I dont know which envoy spoke up and said that they have many concubines already, and if Your Majesty is willing, why not give them some daughters of high-ranking families from the southern regions instead? Your Majesty was initially displeased, but another person said something about how the women of the southern regions are gentle and charming, and those aristocratic families who have been passed down for thousands of years are even more coveted by those northerners. If they could get a noble-born daughter from a prestigious family as a concubine, it would be a great honor for their northern husbands. After hearing this, Your Majesty became pleased. He has already sent people to issue an edict to each of the aristocratic families, ordering them to offer two daughters to come forward. They said they didnt dare ask for the eldest daughter or the most prominent lady, as long as it was someone from their familys bloodline."

  At this point, Ah Lu was so anxious that her eyes turned red. "Ah Gui, the eunuch has already announced the imperial edict. At that time, someone mentioned Gu Zi. What can be done about it?"

  Among Ah Lus anxious inquiries, Zhang Qi stood up.