Chu Lian followed Matriarch He and the others to Qingxi Hall first.

She had a mission on this trip to the northern border. Although she had already informed the elders in the family in her letter that both He Sanlang's battle and the Snow Mountain Mist Flower had been completed, there were still many details that Matriarch He was worried about and wanted to clarify.

In Qingxi Hall, everyone sat down. Matriarch He pulled Chu Lian to sit next to her.

The matriarch looked Chu Lian up and down. It had only been half a year, but Chu Lian had grown up a lot since she left the estate.

The tenderness on her face had completely faded, leaving only the tenderness and charm of a young girl.

Her almond-shaped eyes were as clear as spring water. When she stared at someone, it was as if she could see into their heart.

Her figure was also more slender than when she left the estate. Although she was a bit thinner, her figure was more curvaceous.

Her simple and unadorned attire couldn't hide the young girl's pearl-like brilliance.

The matriarch nodded inwardly. On this trip, this young third granddaughter-in-law's brilliance was even more restrained.

When she was young, she had traveled extensively with her uncle, fought on the battlefield, and killed bandits. Only when she was older did she settle down in the inner courtyard. If it wasn't for the fact that when she was young, she had developed a vision that was different from that of ordinary madams from aristocratic families, and later settled down in Shengjing, she wouldn't have been able to fight for such a large estate for Count Jing 'an's estate.

So she felt that as a woman, she couldn't just be restricted to the small territory of the inner courtyard. Women also needed to leave the inner courtyard and see more of the outside world. It was because of this that she didn't object to San Lang's wife going to the northern border to help.

Now that she discovered Chu Lian's subtle change, she was naturally happy.

The matriarch looked at this adorable granddaughter-in-law. Her gaze unconsciously fell to Chu Lian's flat stomach. When she discovered that Chu Lian's wide belt accentuated her slender waist, a trace of disappointment flashed through her eyes.

Wearing such a tight-fitting dress meant that she was definitely not pregnant …

When the matriarch was looking at Chu Lian, Chu Lian was also smiling at the matriarch.

So she immediately caught the trace of disappointment in the matriarch's eyes. She didn't show it on her face, but she remembered it in her heart.

Compared to her growth and radiance, Matriarch He had aged too much in this period of time.

Her hair, which was originally black and white, was now completely snow-white. Her round face was also much more wrinkled than before she left the mansion. Because she was thin, the clothes on her body were a bit loose. Chu Lian couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Before Old Madam could speak, Chu Lian asked, "Grandmother, you haven't introduced Eldest Aunt to me yet!"

Only then did Matriarch He return from her thoughts. She slapped her thigh in annoyance. "Look at my brain. I'm getting older and more muddle-headed."

She took Chu Lian's small white hand, pointed to the middle-aged woman beside her, and said kindly, "Third Husband's wife, this is your aunt. She has been widowed since a few years ago. I just sent someone to pick her up from Siyang this autumn.

This is your Cousin Pan, your aunt's only daughter. Her birthday is two months younger than yours, so you are of the same age. In the future, please take good care of her in the fu. "

Chu Lian stood and formally bowed to Eldest Aunt He Ying. She then bowed to Pan Nianzhen as an equal.

If it wasn't for giving Old Madam He face, Chu Lian actually didn't have to do this. Not to mention He Chang Di's title of marquis, she was already the Marquis's wife. She had been the Jinyi Village Lord for a long time and had a title. She didn't have to bow to He Ying and her daughter.

He Ying glanced at Third Husband's wife, who was dressed plainly in front of her, and nodded arrogantly. Even though Pan Nianzhen was jealous of Chu Lian, she was timid. She still stood up and returned the bow, calling her "Third Cousin-In-Law".

Chu Lian glanced at Xiyan behind her. Xiyan hurriedly handed over two exquisite pouches.

The pouches were given to Eldest Aunt He Ying and Cousin Pan Nianzhen. She smiled and said, "These are all little trinkets that I bought in Su City. I hope Aunt and Cousin will like them."

He Ying opened the pouch on the spot and poured out the contents. It was a pair of white jade bracelets. The bracelets were smooth and glossy. It was obvious that they were made of fine white jade. Her arrogant gaze lowered a little, and her eyes showed some satisfaction.

However, she didn't even say a word of thanks. This caused the Old Madam to look at her a few times.

Chu Lian saw that the mother and daughter didn't have any other reaction. She was stunned for a moment, then calmly returned to her seat.

Chu Lian then talked about what she had seen in the north. Of course, she didn't mention that she had been kidnapped, that Jian City had been opened in the north, and that He Chang Di had been injured.

After an hour, Old Madam He's spirit was a little low. Chu Lian tactfully said that she wanted to return to Songtao Court to tidy up.

Old Madam He happily let her go and had her rest. She reminded her to come to Qingwen Hall with He Chang Di for dinner that night.

As soon as Chu Lian left, Old Madam He lectured He Ying.

"How do you do things? You've lived for decades, but you're not even as sophisticated as Third Husband's wife, who has just reached marriageable age!

You're an elder, but you don't even bring out a greeting gift when you see a junior. Instead, you want Third Husband's wife to be filial to you! "

When Old Matriarch He flared up, He Ying lowered her head, tears streaming down her cheeks as if they were free.

The Old Madam was infuriated by her sobbing. "How old are you? You only know how to cry. Where's that ferocious spirit you had back then?"

After a long time, He Ying sobbed and explained, "Mother, do you think I don't want to?

But it's not like you don't know our situation. Don't look at how I'm dressed today. Actually, everything I'm wearing on my head and on my hands, which one of them isn't yours?

Third Husband's wife is the ruler of the countryside. Every festival, the palace will have a standard set of gifts. Just look at how Third Husband's wife casually brings out things of such high quality white jade. What do I have to give her? Even if I did, she wouldn't really like it.

In any case, Sister Zhen and I are impoverished. Why do we need to protect our pride … "

Old Madam He's heart was stabbed by her daughter's words. How could she still remember her daughter's rudeness towards her granddaughter-in-law in the reception pavilion?

She sighed. "Forget it, forget it. I'm tired. Bring Sister Zhen back to the wing to rest. Come back for dinner."

He Ying stood up obediently and led Pan Nianzhen away. However, the moment they left the reception pavilion, the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl up.

After Chu Lian left Qingchi Hall, she didn't return to Songtao Court directly. Instead, she personally went to look for Miracle Doctor Miao. She carefully took out the Snow Mountain Mist Flower and handed it to him for confirmation.

Miracle Doctor Miao immediately recognized that it was Snow Mountain Mist. He sighed in relief. "Fortunately, Third Young Mistress came back in time. Otherwise, Madam's illness would be difficult to delay. Don't worry, Third Young Mistress. As long as I have this Snow Mountain Mist as a catalyst, I have a seventy percent chance of curing Madam's illness."

Chu Lian bowed to Miracle Doctor Miao. Miracle Doctor Miao didn't refuse and took the medicine to the pharmacy that Duke Jing 'an's estate had specially set up for him.

By the time they returned to their own courtyard, an hour had already passed.

Chu Lian finally had the time to change her clothes and wash off the dust from her travels. She sat on the soft mattress in her room and closed her eyes to rest.

After sleeping for half an hour, Chu Lian got up and drank a cup of honey water. Only then did she summon Senior Servant Gui and Xiyan to speak.

"Did anything happen while I was away from the mansion?"

Senior Servant Gui said, "Third Young Mistress, Ming Yan is gone."

Chu Lian was startled, but her expression didn't reveal any particular emotion. She didn't need sympathy for someone who had betrayed her. She only asked casually, "Has she been buried?"

Senior Servant Gui nodded. "I had Xiyan give some money to the footboy at the corner door to buy a coffin and bury her."

The master and servants didn't have much affection for Ming Yan, so they only exchanged a few words before changing the topic.

Xiyan handed the account book to Chu Lian and passed on the message from Princess Wei and Princess Duanjia to Chu Lian. Finally, she said, "Third Young Mistress, Guilin Restaurant is still in the public domain. It's already past February, but it still hasn't opened for business. Senior Servant Liu from the Matriarch's side has already asked a few times."

Previously, in order to prevent Guilin Restaurant from being confiscated, Xiyan had followed the instructions Chu Lian left behind and closed the doors. However, Guilin Restaurant was still a restaurant after all, and it couldn't be closed forever!

Even if they didn't mind, the usual customers would still come to the estate to cause a ruckus.

First of all, old Duke Zheng wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Chu Lian smiled. "You don't need to worry about this matter. Leave it to me."

Hearing this, Xiyan let out a sigh of relief. Now that the masters of the third branch had returned, the servants had a backbone and could stand up straight.

After handing over these important matters, Xiyan suddenly remembered that Miss Biao had come to Songtao Court to borrow clothes.

"Third Young Mistress, because Miss Biao returned to the estate in a hurry, she borrowed all the new clothes you made last year."

Chu Lian suddenly understood. No wonder she had felt that Pan Nianzhen's clothes looked familiar today. It turned out that Pan Nianzhen had personally chosen the materials to make her winter clothes.

It seemed that this Miss Biao wasn't as cowardly as she looked. She was clearly a white lotus!

Chu Lian lightly tapped the edge of the teacup with her white index finger. "Momo, find someone to investigate this Eldest Young Mistress who just entered the estate."

Momo Gui's eyes narrowed into slits. She felt that Third Young Mistress had become much more mature after this trip. In the past, she only cared about the small Songtao Court, but now, she knew how to keep an eye on everything.

"Yes, Third Young Mistress. This old servant will give the order in a moment." As she spoke, Momo Gui's eyes kept glancing at Chu Lian.

Chu Lian rolled her eyes speechlessly. "You haven't consummated your marriage yet!

Momo, don't think too much! "

Both Momo Gui and Xiyan widened their eyes, their faces full of disbelief.

Previously, only the two of them knew that she and He Changdi hadn't consummated their marriage on their wedding night. They didn't expect that after Chu Lian returned from the northern border, the couple still hadn't consummated their marriage. This …

Even Momo Gui began to worry.

In the past, when He Sanlang went to the northern border, she didn't know when he would return, so she turned a blind eye to Chu Lian's willfulness. However, things were different now. He Sanlang had been conferred the title of Marquis due to his military achievements, so their Third Young Mistress was now the Marquis's wife.

Count Jing 'an was still around. In the future, when Count Jing' an passed his title to the heir, the third branch of the Count Jing 'an Estate would definitely split up. Chu Lian's first child would be Marquis Ding Yuan's eldest legitimate son. This was a huge matter that concerned the family's reputation. They had no choice but to consummate their marriage now!

(Ahhhhh ~ Worrying about consummating their marriage ~)