An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

"I have to send a letter to Dalang immediately to see what he thinks about the girl from the Feng family. He must know who he is going to marry." The old general's rough fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of the teacup, his brows furrowed, as if he had already prepared the content of the letter in his mind.

His battle-hardened eyes were now flashing with anxiety, and the wrinkles on his bronze face were deeper with thought.

Xu Zize agreed with Jing Chunxi on the time to enter the palace tomorrow, and then left.

As soon as the figure outside disappeared, the old general stood up, left a few words, and walked out in a hurry.

When he stood up, he brought a gust of wind, and his heavy boots made a dull sound as they stepped on the bluestone slabs. Although his tall and straight back was old, he still carried the fortitude of a soldier.

"Grandfather, remember to tell Brother Dalang that Miss Feng is the lady we met in Jiangmen Town." Jing Chunxi greeted him hurriedly, fearing that Brother Dalang had forgotten her, and there was a hint of anxiety in his voice.

"Also tell that boy what Xier and I mean, and ask him to write back in time." The old lady added.

As she spoke, her silver hair swayed slightly, the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes stretched out, and her tone was intimate yet light.

The eldest lady shifted her body, wanting to stand up. She moved her mouth, as if to speak, but stopped herself. In the end, she didn't speak, nor did she stand up. She just pursed her lips and swallowed the words that were not yet spoken.

"Got it! You're not going to teach me." He snorted, feigning anger before he was out of sight. His voice, resonant as a bell, echoed through the hall. Before he finished speaking, he had already strode across the threshold, leaving only the swaying door curtain and the sound of receding footsteps.

"Hi!" The old lady turned around and smiled at a few people. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes stretched out like blooming chrysanthemums. "Do you really think he is still a general on the battlefield, still acting the same way?" She shook her head, and the silver hairpin in her hair swayed gently with her movements. There was helplessness and a bit of pride in her tone.

"Mother," the eldest lady showed a happy expression, her hands unconsciously adjusting her clothes, and asked tentatively, "Why don't we call Mingyue over and ask her too?" Her eyes lit up and her voice was full of anticipation.

"Of course, of course! Call them over! I think Xi'er and Jin'er are missing their sisters, so call Mingzhu over too!" The old lady smiled and nodded, her silver hair gleaming softly in the sunlight. At the eldest lady's call, Nanny Wang beside her swiftly left, her embroidered shoes making almost no sound on the floor.

The old lady turned around and took Jin Jie'er, who was leaning on her, in her arms. Then she looked at Jing Chunxi and said apologetically, "Your Erlang and Silang brothers are both studying hard at the academy and won't be back until they have a day off. But you were considerate enough to bring Pu Ge'er and the other three boys from the clan back to show them to Grandmother a few times."

As she spoke, she gently stroked Jin Jie'er's hair, and her wrinkled hands moved with unusual gentleness.

"Brother Erlang is working very hard. He has been very persistent in the past few years and wants to pass the exam directly. But Silang..." The eldest lady spoke excitedly at the beginning, but she sighed in the second half of the sentence.

Her fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of the teacup, her eyes drifting into the distance, as if she saw her disappointing son.

"A dragon gives birth to nine sons, each with a different destiny. Do you want to give birth to a few top scholars? Be content! You." The old lady smiled as she spoke, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes relaxed, and she gently patted Jin Jie'er's hand, as if the person in front of her was a newborn baby.

Her palms were broad and warm, and every pat was filled with the kindness that only an elder could have.

"I don't dare to think about it as a daughter-in-law, but at least she can pass the exam and become a scholar, right?" The eldest lady lowered her voice, frowned slightly, and twisted her handkerchief with her fingers, revealing a mother's earnest expectations for her son.

"Hehe, thanks to the experience of these years of exile, Brother Silang won't hang out with those playboys in the capital. You should be thankful for that, aunt!" Jing Chunxi chuckled and comforted, his eyes curved into crescents, and the dimples at the corners of his mouth were faintly visible.

She had known for a long time that Silang was not a good student, but he had a good temper. At most, he could study for a few more years and get a minor official position with the help of his family.

Seeing the chagrined expression on his aunt's face, Jing Chunxi and Jin Jie'er both laughed. Jin Jie'er's shoulders trembled slightly with laughter, and her cheeks flushed, while Jing Chunxi covered his mouth with his hands, a cunning glint in his eyes.

The eldest lady hesitated, "That's true, but I just feel..." She shook her head, the pearl hairpin in her hair swaying gently, her tone full of a mother's helplessness.

"Now that you're back, you should also pay attention and socialize among the aristocratic families. Next, the marriages of Erlang and Sanlang have to be discussed. There are also several people in the clan who need to be married. The other day, my second aunt-in-law and Yongqiang's family came over and talked to me. They both wanted us to help find one." As the old lady spoke, her fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.

The old lady thought about it and said, "The two brothers of the Changda family must have the same idea." Her eyes became far-reaching, as if she was already calculating the children of marriageable age in each family in her mind.

"I've got it all in mind! It's just that Dalang and Mingyue's marriage hasn't been settled yet, so I haven't had time to think about it. Theirs is easier, and the requirements for family background aren't as high. I'll review it another day and bring it back to mother for review."

The eldest lady answered respectfully, her fingers gently rubbing circles on her knees.

The eldest lady had barely finished her reply when the door curtain was lifted, revealing Mingzhu and Mingyue. A gentle breeze blew as the curtain was lifted, and the two girls walked in, one in front and one behind, their skirts swaying and their jewelry rings jingling.

Mingzhu's eyes lit up when she saw Jing Chunxi, but she ignored Jin Jie'er.

"Greetings, Grandmother! Greetings, Madam! Greetings, sisters."

Their voices were as clear as bells, and they saluted with their backs straight and their postures graceful.

Mingzhu didn't rush forward immediately as she had done when she was little. Instead, she followed her elder sister and bowed respectfully. The sunlight shone through the window lattice onto her, gilding her and making her look even more radiant and charming.

The little girl back then is now almost eight years old and has grown up to be the best among her sisters in the family.

Her originally round face had become pointed and she was much taller. Her delicate high nose bridge, small mouth, big eyes, and long eyelashes made her look a bit naive. She was not as timid and petty as other concubines' daughters. Instead, she had the elegance, neatness, and naturalness of a legitimate daughter from a wealthy family.

She stood there like a flower in bud, not yet fully bloomed but already revealing her amazing beauty.

Jing Chunxi sighed inwardly, "Girls really change a lot when they grow up." He wondered what his second uncle would think when he came back and saw this daughter he had never met.

She looked at Mingzhu, complex emotions flashing in her eyes. She was happy for her cousin's growth, but she couldn't help but think of the subtle relationship between legitimate and illegitimate children in a large family.