Perfect Match – CH 056

Chapter 56

In the Yangxiu Workshop, Bai Mansion.

Deng Ruyun almost did not recognize Bai Chunfu when she saw him again. He stood there in a brocade robe and jade crown, looking like a refined young gentleman who had just stepped out of a book. His entire demeanor was different from before, and Deng Ruyun did not dare to approach for a moment.”

Seeing her frozen in place, Bai Chunfu slightly furrowed his brow and looked down at her. “Not only have you forgotten me, but you do not even recognize me?”

He could not help but call out to her, “Yunniang… I am still me.”

Deng Ruyun then came to her senses and looked up at him, not daring to look any longer, only saying, “I’ve come to give you your consultation fee.”

She seemed a little reserved. Bai Chunfu was about to lead her into the flower hall, but turned around. “Let’s go to the study; it’s too cold in the flower hall.”

Deng Ruyun assumed he was just feeling cold and did not say anything. However, when they arrived at the study, several bookshelves were filled with medical books, and the room was filled with the mingled scents of ink and medicine. Deng Ruyun saw him call Zhu Huang to pour tea, and Zhu Huang winked at her, which finally made her feel a little more relaxed.

Bai Chunfu breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside her, asking how she had been lately.

Deng Ruyun did not have anything else to say and told him about Yuyun Hall’s business. Yuyun Hall’s business was booming; they could not even keep up with their own production, and other small pharmacies were waiting to order from them.

“…Back in Jinzhou, while small pharmacies did not have as comprehensive a selection as large pharmacies, they still sold some decent over-the-counter medicines and made a living. I never imagined the situation would be so different in Xi’an Prefecture. Large pharmacies have everything, while small pharmacies cannot even afford the better medicines, and the prices at large pharmacies are much higher than usual.”

She asked Bai Chunfu, “Is it like this in the capital too?”

Perhaps it was because there were more wealthy people who preferred to buy medicine from large pharmacies, leaving the poor without the opportunity to choose quality medicine, which led to this situation.

However, when she asked this, Bai Chunfu shook his head.

“No, it’s not like that in the capital. I’ve been to Jinan, Baoding, Kaifeng, and other places, but only Xi’an is like this.”

Deng Ruyun was surprised. Bai Chunfu said, “I’ve actually been paying attention to what you are saying. I’ve been practicing medicine in the streets without showing my face, and I’ve been trying to investigate carefully.”

He said that he came from the capital this time for two reasons: first, to find good medicines, and second, to investigate the Shaanxi pharmaceutical industry. “Previously, some imperial physicians noticed that medicines in Shaanxi, especially in Xi’an, were more expensive than elsewhere. High-ranking officials do not care, but ordinary people have a hard time getting medical care.”

He told Deng Ruyun, “Yuyun Hall was able to establish itself in just a few months precisely because its prices are low and its medicines are effective. This combination of both was almost unheard of in the Xi’an pharmaceutical market before Yuyun Hall.”

He paused here, and the faint sound of someone delivering a visiting card drifted over on the wind.

Deng Ruyun said to him, “There are many people outside who want to recommend their family’s secret formulas and precious medicines to you.”

Bai Chunfu chuckled upon hearing this. “They’ve been here for many days. Actually, I’ve met quite a few people. Some do have several good medicines, but if you are asking where the best medicines are, to be honest, it’s Yanchun Hall.”

He said Yanchun Hall was wealthy and powerful: “They hold the best medicinal herbs in Xi’an and employ the best pharmacists in all of Shaanxi. If any pharmacy can be on good terms with Yanchun Hall, they can get a small share, like that Old Wanhe. But if you do not get along with Yanchun Hall, forget about getting a share; you will be silenced in no time.”

Deng Ruyun immediately thought of what had happened with Yuyun Hall.

“Could it be that Yanchun Hall wants to dominate the Xi’an medicine market?” she asked, her eyes widening.

Bai Chunfu hesitated for a moment. “It’s not impossible. After all, if the price of medicine were to rise significantly, the profits would be exceptionally high. Others might find it difficult to achieve, but Yanchun Hall is a property of the Prince of Qin’s Mansion, backed by the strongest tree in Xi’an Prefecture.”

Deng Ruyun remained silent, and Bai Chunfu sighed softly.

“Originally, they might have continued as before, but now that I’ve shown my face, they’ve all backed down.”

Seeing Deng Ruyun’s silence, he added, “There’s no rush. Whatever their intentions, they will reveal them sooner or later. I am not in a hurry. As for Yuyun Hall, just continue doing what you want to do.”

He would always be there for her.

Although he did not say the last part aloud, Deng Ruyun knew perfectly well that Yuyun Hall’s smooth operation was due to his support.

She hesitated, feeling embarrassed to pull the consultation fee from her sleeve.

“I should have given you more gifts, all thanks to Sixth Young Master Bai.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Chunfu looked at her and smiled, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Do I still want your gifts? What do you take me for…”

The atmosphere subtly shifted at these words, and both of them laughed, resuming their conversation as before.

When the conversation flowed smoothly, time slipped away unnoticed.

When Deng Ruyun looked up, she realized it was getting late.

Thinking of the many people waiting for him at the door, she stood up.

“It’s getting late; you must be busy. I will be going now.”

As she was about to leave, Bai Chunfu quickly stood up as well. “It’s still early; there are always this many people at my door. There’s really nothing to be busy with.”

But Deng Ruyun could not linger any longer; she still wanted to leave, but just as she took a step, he stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

Deng Ruyun nearly bumped into him, looking up at him in surprise.

Seeing the man looking down into her eyes, he said, “Would it not be acceptable if you stayed for a meal?”

His voice was soft, but his speech was much faster than usual, much more relaxed.

Deng Ruyun felt uncomfortable being so close to him, taking a half-step back and shaking her head.

“I told Shopkeeper Qin I’d be going to Yuyun Hall today.”

She smiled at him as she spoke.

“I appreciate Physician Bai’s kindness, but I will bring Shopkeeper Qin and some generous gifts another day, and we can have a meal with you then.”

Given her words, Bai Chunfu could not say anything more.

The man’s long eyebrows lowered, and he could only see her off.

Even after she had left, he stood at the door, silently watching for a long time.

Someone called out to Zhu Huang, “Little Huangzi, whose young lady is that?”

Only one person would call Zhu Huang by that name—Eunuch Cao, who accompanied the Grand Princess out of the palace.

Zhu Huang felt a chill run down his spine; he feared that Eunuch Cao might one day use that name too often and send him into the palace.

He quickly and honestly answered,

“Reporting to Eunuch Cao, that’s not anyone’s young lady; she’s the owner of Yuyun Hall.”

But Eunuch Cao glanced at him. “Do you think I cannot tell that she’s a girl dressed as a man?”

He asked, “Whose young lady is she that the Sixth Young Master is so concerned about her?” He added thoughtfully, “If her social standing is too low, Her Highness the Grand Princess probably will not agree.”

Zhu Huang coughed upon hearing this. “I am afraid it’s not a matter of social standing. The mistress is actually General Teng’s wife…”

Before he could finish speaking, Eunuch Cao nearly choked.

“Ah?!”

He only saw Bai Chunfu still standing at the gate. Although he no longer looked in the direction the people had left, he silently lowered his long eyebrows, the beauty mark under his eye like the setting sun, silently hanging on the edge of the western mountains.

… …

At the gate of the Bai Mansion.

When Deng Ruyun, this distinguished guest, reappeared, the way everyone looked at her was completely different. Some even bowed and scraped, wanting to get to know Sixth Young Master Bai’s distinguished guest and the owner of Yuyun Hall.

But Deng Ruyun did not have such leisure for the moment and quickly left.

The carriage parked nearby, and upon seeing that there was a guest at the Bai Mansion, they first went to browse the surrounding silver and cloth shops. When they returned and heard that the distinguished guest had not left yet, they waited for another quarter of an hour before seeing the bustling scene at the gate, and the distinguished guest emerged from the Bai family’s gate.

Her daughter stood anxiously by while Madam Yang was filled with curiosity. What kind of distinguished guest could make the Bai family so welcoming, for Bai Chunfu to have waited so long to arrive?

“It must be some high-ranking nobleman from the capital,” she thought.

Looking out the window at the Bai family’s gate, she saw a short, simply dressed young man emerge from the crowd. Some called him the owner of Yuyun Hall.

The owner of Yuyun Hall? She did not know, but Madam Yang stared intently at the man’s face, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Just then, the man did not say much to the people at the gate and walked towards the road where the carriage was parked.

As he drew closer, reaching the carriage, Madam Yang suddenly saw him look up in her direction. In that instant, their eyes met, and Madam Yang instantly recognized the Bai family’s distinguished guest.

“Is this not Teng Yue’s young betrothed wife? How could the Bai family’s distinguished guest be her? Was she seeing things?!”

Deng Ruyun had not expected to see Madam Yang here and could not help but raise an eyebrow.

Yang Youling, inside the carriage, urged her mother to hurry to the Bai family. “What are you looking at, Mother? Sixth Brother is waiting for us!”

Madam Yang, pulled by her gaze, had no choice but to look away.

Deng Ruyun, having no intention of speaking further, left with Xiuniang.

Madam Yang and her daughter presented their invitations and generous gifts to the Grand Princess and indeed met Bai Chunfu.

However, this Sixth Young Master Bai seemed inexplicably forlorn, lost in thought, and seemingly unwilling to speak. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had the mother and daughter escorted out.

Yang Youling was overjoyed to see Sixth Brother Bai.

But Madam Yang’s heart was in turmoil.

She noticed that the mother and daughter had only spent the time it took to drink a cup of tea, but the Grand Princess’s legitimate son’s previous meeting with Teng Yue’s contract wife had taken over an hour.

She was filled with doubt and surprise, while her daughter only asked her questions.

“Mother, we’ve sent out the invitations for the flower banquet. Do you think Sixth Young Master Bai will come?”

Madam Yang did not know either. She just felt that her encounter with that poor girl surnamed Deng at the Bai family was too mysterious. Could it be that her girl was so upset that she was dreaming about it and had misjudged her?

Thinking this, she sent her daughter to the silk shop to look at fabrics and had tea while she called a coachman.

“To the Teng family, no, to that Yuyun Hall.”

The coachman did not know where Yuyun Hall was. After inquiring, he found out and drove Madam Yang there.

Unexpectedly, before they even reached the entrance of Yuyun Hall, they saw Deng Ruyun.

She was still wearing the clothes she had worn when she left the Bai family’s Mansion. This time, Madam Yang was certain she had not mistaken her. She got out of the carriage and called out to Deng Ruyun.

“Is it really you, girl?!”

Deng Ruyun, surprised that she had followed her, raised an eyebrow.

“What? Were you not going to visit Master Bai? You are out so soon?”

Her words struck Madam Yang’s sore spot precisely, and Madam Yang’s face changed.

She saw Deng Ruyun’s arrogant fawning over the Bai family and retorted angrily.

“How dare you say that? You sneak around visiting other men. How did Teng Yue manage to marry you?”

Upon hearing this, Deng Ruyun laughed.

“Did Madam Yang not say I was not the General’s wife? If I am not, why can I not associate with others?”

These words left Madam Yang speechless, and Xiuniang chimed in from the side.

“I’ve never seen anyone so persistent and annoying.”

Madam Yang, considering herself a noblewoman of Xi’an Prefecture, even related to the Prince of Qin’s family by marriage, and with her daughter possibly destined to be a princess, had never been spoken to like this before.

But this girl surnamed Deng had repeatedly infuriated her.

“The Bai family has seen you, and you really think you are worthy of their attention? I advise you to behave yourself and stop running around in Xi’an. The high-ranking families of Xi’an Prefecture are not places you can easily navigate; you will only be wasting your time,” she said angrily.

Xiuniang was about to jump up and argue with her, but Deng Ruyun pulled her back. Seeing Madam Yang’s anger, Deng Ruyun showed no resentment whatsoever, instead smiling and saying, “I have all kinds of medicine. How about I give you some? I think you are quite ill.”

Madam Yang was taken aback by this unexpected remark.

“What illness do I have?”

Deng Ruyun tilted her head to look at her. “You have an eye ailment, do you not know?”

“An eye ailment? What eye ailment could I have?”

Madam Yang was surprised and suspicious. Hearing Deng Ruyun looking into her eyes, she spoke slowly.

“Do you not know? You are a snob.”

Upon hearing this, Xiuniang burst out laughing.

Madam Yang, on the other hand, froze, her face turning pale.

“Who are you calling a snob? You yourself come from a lowly background, have no manners, and yet you blame others for looking down on you!”

She absolutely refused to admit that she was a snob, only saying, “That’s just how the world is. Everyone looks up to those above them. The so-called ‘discretion is the better part of valor.’ Only by associating with influential people can you find a way out. If influential people help you, others will respect you. You just do not understand!”

Seeing that she stubbornly refused to admit it, Deng Ruyun’s face turned pale with anger, and she laughed even harder.

“Alright, then I will call you Junjie^{(outstanding talent)} from now on?”

She then remembered something. “Oh, right, Junjie, you lost our bet last time. You have not called me ‘Ancestor’ yet. I will remember that for you, Junjie.”

Her words were so witty that not only was Xiuniang laughing so hard she could barely breathe, but even the coachman for Madam Yang had to cover his mouth tightly to keep from laughing out loud.

Madam Yang had intended to reprimand Deng Ruyun, but she found herself no match for Deng Ruyun’s sharp tongue.

If she continued, she would only be making things worse, and Madam Yang’s chest ached with anger.

But she still insisted that she was not a snob: “It’s just how the world is; I am just going with the flow!”

After saying this, she hurriedly got into the carriage and told the coachman to stop laughing, “If you laugh again, I will break your legs! Let’s go!”

The carriage rumbled and quickly disappeared into the alley.

Deng Ruyun watched the carriage drive away, thinking of how Madam Yang had stubbornly refused to admit her snobbishness, and inexplicably shook her head and sighed for her.

*

The Yang family’s flower banquet was held when the spring flowers were in full bloom.

The Teng family had received invitations well in advance. Since Teng Yue had not returned yet, Old Madam Lin called her daughter, Teng Xiao, to go with her.

“Since you stopped going to the Zheng Family’s School, you stay in the courtyard every day, never leaving or seeing anyone. What good can that do? You will come with me this time.”

Teng Xiao naturally did not want to go, but she was afraid of angering her mother and sending her back to the Zheng Family’s School.

But before agreeing, she asked, “Is my sister-in-law coming with us too?”

This question made Old Madam Lin pause slightly.

This flower banquet was being held by Old Madam Yang for her granddaughter, Fourth Young Lady Zhang, and this was a good opportunity for her to see the child. What would it look like if she brought Deng Ruyun along?

Although people knew of her existence as a contract wife, making it public was another matter entirely.

Old Madam Lin shook her head, saying Deng Ruyun would not go. “She has her own things to do. You go with your mother.”

But Teng Xiao refused. “Since Mother is not bringing my sister-in-law, why should I? My sister-in-law is the face of our family from now on. If you do not bring her, I will not go either.”

Old Madam Lin could not reason with her and was understandably angry. She was also afraid that Teng Xiao would mention Deng Ruyun at the Yang family’s banquet.

She greatly favored her “sister-in-law” and often mentioned Deng Ruyun’s niece. If she brought this up at the Yang family, it would surely upset the Zhang family’s young lady.

After all, that was her proper sister-in-law.

Thinking of this, Old Madam Lin simply decided not to bring Teng Xiao and went alone.

… …

At Yang Mansion.

Guests in brocade robes strolled among the gradually blooming flowers, bathed in the warm spring breeze under the bright sun.

But when Old Madam Lin arrived at the mansion, she did not see the person she wanted to see. Instead, she saw her often clueless cousin talking to her eldest daughter, Yang Youyun.

“…You are dressed like this again, without a trace of joy. How can your husband like you? How can he come to your room? The concubine will say you cannot have children, set rules for you, and cause you trouble. She’s always being sarcastic and arrogant in front of me. I cannot even lift my head. What good does that do? Neither you nor your sister gives me any peace of mind.”

But as she spoke anxiously, Yang Youyun, standing to the side, seemed not to hear anything, her eyes blankly fixed on the distant flowers.

Madam Yang, in a fit of anger, slapped her hand. “Can you not be more assertive and get pregnant with the son-in-law’s child soon so you can secure your position in the Prince’s Mansion?”

But despite all this, Yang Youyun did not respond. Instead, she suddenly covered her mouth and gagged.

Madam Yang was startled at first, then her eyes lit up with joy.

“You…you are pregnant?!”

She was overjoyed, but Yang Youyun’s face turned pale.

“No, no, not at all,” she stammered, covering her mouth and quickly walking away.

Madam Yang wanted to chase after her, but Old Madam Lin called out to her.

“Do not push the child too hard.”

Madam Yang turned around and saw it was her cousin, then stopped. She heard her cousin ask her softly.

“Where’s Fourth Young Lady?”

Madam Yang naturally knew she had come to see her niece from the Marquis’s Mansion, but she still asked.

“That child is still in mourning; it’s not appropriate for her to walk around in crowded places. She’s talking to some of her friends in the back. You can wait a bit before you see her.”

Old Madam Lin was not in a hurry, of course.

When Madam Yang saw her, she remembered being “humiliated” by Deng Ruyun a few days ago and could not help but want to complain, but for some reason, she could not bring herself to say it.

If she told others, would even her cousin think she was a snob?

But how could her actions be considered snobbish? She was clearly being pragmatic!

She did not dare bring it up again, only saying to Old Madam Lin, “Hurry up and marry Hui’er, and send that irrelevant brat away.”

Old Madam Lin, not knowing what her cousin was up to again, could only nod in agreement and walk into the garden.

… …

Beside a clump of forsythia, someone paused briefly, and like bees and butterflies attracted by flowers, the number of young ladies on this path suddenly increased.

Bai Chunfu had previously seen the Zheng sisters, the fifth young lady of the Huang family, and several others whose surnames he could not even recall, all passing by.

Before he approached, he noticed that the area next to the forsythia bush was clearly sparsely populated, but now, he could faintly hear voices drifting over from a distance.

“Did you see? The Yang family has invited even the Sixth Young Master Bai from the Grand Princess’s family…”

Bai Chunfu remained silent, pursing his lips, but he could not leave yet; he was waiting for Zhu Huang to return with the information.

Fortunately, Zhu Huang was nimble and returned shortly.

“Sixth Young Master, the Teng family has indeed arrived, and they are here.”

He had not originally planned to attend the Yang family’s flower banquet, but he had heard that the Yang family’s second wife was a cousin of the Teng family.

He thought for a moment and accepted the invitation.

Now, hearing Zhu Huang’s words and seeing that no one was around, he asked in a low voice.

“Did she and Teng Yue come too?”

Zhu Huang immediately replied, “General Teng did not come.”

Bai Chunfu took a slight breath. “Where is she?”

Unexpectedly, Zhu Huang said, “Madam did not come either. Only the Old Madam from the Teng family came.”

The wind rustled through the forsythia bushes, making a subtle sound that accentuated the tranquility that seemed to seep from the ground.

“Why did she not come?”

Zhu Huang did not know. He glanced at Sixth Young Master.

“I inquired a bit, and they said Madam rarely attends banquets outside. When I asked about Madam Teng, many people racked their brains for a long time before remembering her, but could not recall her at all. Some did not even know General Teng had married.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Huang saw Sixth Young Master’s face darken as if it had plummeted.

What did this mean?

Could it be that she’s hidden herself among the high-ranking families of Xi’an Prefecture?

Bai Chunfu’s heart skipped a beat, then he heard Zhu Huang say, “Anyway, nobody here knows Madam.”

After Zhu Huang finished speaking, Bai Chunfu looked at the scattered groups of noble ladies at the Yang family’s lavish banquet and could not help but chuckle softly.

“In that case, let’s go back.”

He said, turning to leave.

However, he had not gone far when someone hurriedly came up from behind.

“Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother, why are you leaving?”

This person blocked his path; it was none other than Yang Youling, the Second Young Lady of the Yang family.

Bai Chunfu had no recollection of this girl he’d met a few times in his childhood. When she visited the Bai family a couple of days ago and mentioned this past event, he had not remembered her at all.

But seeing Yang Youling stop him, he had to make an excuse, saying he had just remembered something else.

“The Yang family’s flower banquet is wonderful, but I have other matters to attend to, so I will not disturb you any longer.”

Yang Youling had not even finished speaking to him.

She saw him turn to leave after saying this, and suddenly she became anxious, grabbing Bai Chunfu’s sleeve.

Her sudden pull startled not only Bai Chunfu but even Zhu Huang.

Bai Chunfu noticed her unusual expression and demeanor and did not move immediately. Yang Youling, however, pulled him tighter, her voice becoming slightly shrill.

“Sixth Brother, do not go! I will have someone take care of whatever you need. You must stay until the banquet is over!”

She refused to let go of Bai Chunfu, and the struggle attracted the attention of some people in the distance.

Bai Chunfu frowned. Just then, a faint scent of bamboo wafted over, and someone pulled Yang Youling’s hand from the other side.

“Cousin, what are you doing here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

The speaker was a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, with an oval face, delicate eyebrows, and eyes that seemed to hold a misty glow. Her voice was soft and melodious, like flowing autumn water.

Her voice brought Yang Youling back to her senses.

Bai Chunfu turned to look at the girl, but she glanced at him briefly before quickly looking away.

She wore a moon-white dress, her attire simple and elegant. She curtsied slightly to him.

“Sixth Young Master Bai, I once visited you at the Grand Princess’s Mansion while accompanying my uncle.”

“And your uncle is?”

The woman smiled slightly. “My uncle is the Marquis of Yongchang.”

“So you are Young Lady Zhang.” Bai Chunfu had heard a little about the Zhang family.

He saw Young Lady Zhang nod gently to him, a soft, polite smile on her lips.

Seeing Yang Youling still clutching Bai Chunfu’s clothes, she first tried to persuade her cousin, but seeing that she would not listen, she could only say apologetically.

“Sixth Young Master Bai, please do not be offended. I’ve heard that my cousin has not been feeling well lately. She was not like this before; since she fell ill, she’s become somewhat lacking in manners.”

Bai Chunfu had already noticed this; she seemed to be in a state of hysteria.

He nodded, wanting to say something, but then he heard Young Lady Zhang look at him anxiously.

“I feel so bad that my cousin is being so persistent, but if Sixth Young Master leaves now, I am afraid she will… Sixth Young Master, why not stay a little longer? I will accompany you and my cousin for a walk in the garden, chat a bit, and let my cousin calm down.”

Yang Youling nodded vigorously at her suggestion. “Sixth Brother, the banquet will start soon.”

Her delaying tactic was indeed a good idea.

After speaking, Young Lady Zhang looked at Bai Chunfu.

Unexpectedly, she saw that this Sixth Young Master of the Bai family still shook his head.

“Young Lady Yang’s condition is most aggravated by crowds and noise. The most important thing right now is to take her to a secluded courtyard to have some tea and calm her down. As a man, it’s inconvenient for me to go to such a place.”

As he spoke, taking advantage of Yang Youling’s inattention, he gently pulled his sleeve from her hand.

“I do have something to attend to; I will be leaving now.”

After saying this, he turned and called Zhu Huang, then quickly left. Yang Youling was about to call him again when Second Madam Yang arrived and quickly had her maid stop her.

Zhang Zhenhui glanced in the direction Bai Chunfu had left, then saw her second aunt arrive before turning away and letting out a long sigh.

“Aunt, you’ve finally arrived! If you had come any later, I do not know what I would have done.”

She said, wiping her forehead and nose with a handkerchief.

Second Madam Yang thanked her: “Good child, thank you for looking after your sister. You do not need to worry now; I will take her away.”

Zhang Zhenhui agreed, “Let my cousin rest well.”

Second Madam Yang then remembered something else and whispered in her ear.

“Oh, right, someone wants to see you…”

*

In a quiet courtyard in the Yang family compound.

Old Madam Lin had someone buy some well-known Beijing-style pastries from Xi’an Prefecture in advance. Seeing the young lady at the table taking a small bite with a handkerchief, she could not help but ask.

“Fourth Young Lady, is it alright? How does it compare to those in the capital?”

After she finished speaking, the young lady lowered her head and smiled, “To be honest, I rarely have the chance to go out in the capital, so I have not had many opportunities to eat such good fruit.”

This prompted Old Madam Lin to push the entire plate towards her.

“This is nothing. If you like, I can have someone buy it for you every day.”

The young lady shook her head repeatedly, but the wet nurse standing beside her spoke up.

“The Old Madam has been very kind to our young lady. She even sent her some things before, and the young lady is extremely grateful. Please do not spend any more money.”

The wet nurse said this, and her young lady nodded in agreement.

Old Madam Lin was relieved to see that the gifts she had sent last year had indeed arrived and touched people’s hearts.

However, this time, she heard the wet nurse from the Zhang family say something else.

“I heard that your general distinguished himself again last year and was transferred back to Xi’an. Why did he not accompany you to the Yang family’s banquet today?”

The wet nurse sighed softly, “I did not even get to see the General to offer my congratulations.”

After she finished speaking, Old Madam Lin noticed that Young Lady Zhang lowered her head slightly, a hint of shyness on her face.

Seeing this, the wet nurse added, “It’s just that I was thinking of the General. After all, he’s the one who protects the country and leads troops into battle; how could one not miss him?”

Although she said this, Old Madam Lin understood the implication.

It seemed that Young Lady Zhang wanted to see Teng Yue.

She thought for a moment and nodded knowingly.

It was only right that the young lady wanted to meet Teng Yue.