(I wish everyone a happy 520!

Also, I'm begging for flowers and red envelopes!)

Seeing Chu Lian nod in satisfaction, Granny Zhong wanted to cover her face right then and there.

After breakfast, they rested for an hour before Chu Lian went to Qingyuan Hall to pay her respects to Matriarch He.

The matriarch was getting on in years, especially during the bitter summer. She didn't sleep much and got out of bed early in the morning.

When Chu Lian arrived, the matriarch had just finished her breakfast.

She walked up to Matriarch He and bowed to her. The matriarch smiled and waved at Chu Lian, "San Lang's wife, come sit next to grandmother."

Chu Lian sat on the small stool the matriarch was sitting on and asked, "Grandmother, do you have any news of husband?"

She had only been married to He Changdi for a few days and they hadn't consummated their marriage yet. He Changdi treated her so coldly. No matter how handsome he was, Chu Lian didn't have any feelings for him.

She asked this question just to show the Old Matriarch.

Although Chu Lian didn't like He Changdi's actions, she still liked Old Matriarch He very much. From the day they offered tea at their wedding, she knew that this old lady cared for her.

Chu Lian obviously didn't want to upset someone who treated her well.

The matriarch sighed and stroked Chu Lian's silky black hair, "San Lang, that brat is really … San Lang's wife, don't worry too much about him. I've already asked Dalang to ask around. There will be news soon."

Chu Lian nodded obediently. She didn't have any special expression on her face, but it was this lack of expression that made the matriarch's heart ache.

After all, she was the one who begged the empress dowager to marry her. Now, she left her daughter alone in her room. Matriarch He felt more guilty than anyone else.

Seeing the matriarch's depressed expression, Chu Lian quickly changed the topic, "Grandmother, what did you eat for breakfast this morning?"

Chu Lian blushed with shame. What was wrong with her? Why was she talking about food?

But she couldn't take back her words. She could only force a red face and look at Matriarch He. The matriarch saw the awkwardness on Chu Lian's face and laughed.

"What, you didn't eat your fill in your own courtyard?"

Chu Lian blushed at Matriarch He's words. How could she not be full? She ate half a steamer of soup dumplings in the morning, and her stomach was still full!

Matriarch He was getting on in years, so she liked to see her youngest daughter's blushing, cute, and adorable face. The other women in Count Jing 'an's estate had long since left the family, and Count Jing' an and his wife only had three sons. Madam Zou had been married for many years and was already in her twenties. Matriarch He hadn't seen a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl like Chu Lian by her side for many years, so of course she was even rarer.

Seeing her blushing face and not knowing how to answer, the smile on her face became even wider. "In the summer, grandmother doesn't have a good appetite in the morning, so she only ate half a bowl of blood bird's nest. When you go back later, ask Liu Mama to bring half a catty for you. At your age, your body is still growing, so you should properly nourish yourself."

Although Chu Lian had never eaten blood bird's nest before, as an experienced food lover, she knew that blood bird's nest was the best of all bird's nests. Most noble families in the Great Wu Dynasty usually ate official bird's nest, which was also called white bird's nest, which was two grades lower than blood bird's nest.

The blood bird's nest that Matriarch ate couldn't be bought easily. It probably only existed in the palace. Matriarch He was on good terms with the empress dowager, so this blood bird's nest was undoubtedly bestowed by the empress dowager.

Chu Lian didn't dare to casually accept something bestowed by the empress dowager.

Chu Lian hurriedly shook her head. "Grandmother, there's no need. My body is fine!

Any more nourishment and I'll get fat. "

"You're still worried about getting fat with that small body of yours?" Matriarch couldn't stop smiling.

"Grandmother, if you insist on giving it to me, you might as well give it to Mother."

Matriarch was startled. "This child, you only know how to think of others."

Chu Lian slightly raised her head to look at Matriarch He's loving face. "Mother is my husband's biological mother, how could it be someone else?"

Matriarch He's heart warmed. She stretched out a finger and tapped the tip of Chu Lian's nose. "Third Husband's wife, you're truly a little cotton-padded jacket. Alright, I'll have someone send some to your mother later. You should bring some back too."

Since Matriarch had said so, it would be unreasonable of Chu Lian to refuse again.

Outside, the wife of the heir of Count Jing 'an came in. As soon as she entered, she coincidentally heard Matriarch He's words.

She lowered her head slightly and furrowed her brows.

Madam Zou's back was to the light. At this moment, no one noticed the expression on her face.

The servant girl opened the curtain to let Madam Zou into the inner room.

"Grandmother." Madam Zou bowed and sat on the other side of Matriarch He.

Matriarch He looked at Madam Zou with a smile. "Eldest Husband's wife, why are you here so early today?"

Madam Zou's expression didn't change at all. The corners of her mouth turned up in an elegant smile. "Grandmother, you forgot. Today is the day the stewards of the estate rest."

Every day, Madam Zou would stay in the courtyard to listen to the reports from the stewards of the various courtyards in the inner courtyard. After the reports were done, she would come to Qingwen Hall to pay her respects to the matriarch. After that, she would go to Countess Jing 'an's residence to visit.

"Oh, that's right. Today is the sixteenth. Look, Grandmother has been so busy that she's forgotten."

Madam Zou and Matriarch He exchanged a few more pleasantries. Seeing that the matriarch didn't mention the blood swallow again, she was a little disappointed.

The matriarch picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Eldest Husband's wife, the day after tomorrow is your maternal grandfather's birthday, right?"

Madam Zou nodded with a faint smile. "That's right!

It's fortunate that Grandmother still remembers.

Great-daughter-in-law thanks you on behalf of Grandfather. "

"Child, don't be so formal."

Chu Lian, who was sitting on the other side, didn't expect to talk about this as they chatted. She felt bitter in her mouth and shrunk her head, trying to reduce her presence as much as possible.

It's such a good birthday banquet. You guys should just go and attend it. Please, please don't mention her!

Good things don't happen, but bad things do.

Old Matriarch He suddenly changed the topic. "Lao San's wife is a newlywed, but she can only stay at home all by herself. When the time comes, bring her along."

Old Matriarch He was also going tomorrow, but their old furen had a social circle. How could they let young ladies join in? It would be inappropriate.

Chu Lian was a newlywed bride, and Zou shi was still young. It was most suitable for Zou shi to introduce her to the young noblewomen in Jing.

Chu Lian froze. She hadn't expected that the matriarch would suggest that she go with Zou shi.

She opened her mouth to refuse, but this really wasn't a good time to speak.

She could only silently pray in her heart that Eldest Sister-In-Law, Zou shi, would definitely not agree!

Zou shi was gentle and generous, readily agreeing. "Alright, Grandmother, don't worry. Tomorrow, San Dimei will follow behind me. I will take good care of her."

Old Matriarch He nodded in satisfaction.

He Changdi had just left home and didn't know the situation yet. She had suggested this to Zou shi in order to let Chu Lian go out to relax. It was completely out of good intentions, but it ended up causing trouble.

Chu Lian was miserable beyond words, but how could she show it?

She could only brace herself and agree.

The two sisters-in-law sat at the matriarch's for a while before saying their goodbyes and going to Countess Jing 'an's.

Countess Jing 'an's illness had worsened today. When Chu Lian went to check on her, she was still asleep. Zou shi and Chu Lian sat outside for the time it took to drink a cup of tea before saying their goodbyes and returning to their respective courtyards.

The next day, Chu Lian was going to Marquis Dingyuan's estate with her eldest sister-in-law, Zou shi.

At dawn, Senior Servant Gui and Xiyan helped Chu Lian pick out a set of clothes. She was still a bride, so the colors of her clothes were bright, matching the ruby set perfectly.

Before they left Songtao Court, Senior Servant Zhong suddenly coughed. Chu Lian turned around and looked at Senior Servant Zhong strangely. She suddenly had an idea and instructed, "Xiyan and Wenqing can go with us to Marquis Dingyuan's estate today!"

The two maidservants respectfully complied. Senior Servant Zhong gave Wenqing a meaningful look. Before they left the courtyard, Senior Servant Zhong didn't forget to whisper in Wenqing's ear, "Remember what I said last night. If you make a mistake, just wait and see how I'll deal with you when we get back."

Wenqing nodded repeatedly. Don't worry, as long as it's a man, they can forget about getting close to Third Young Madam. For the sake of delicious food in the future, she had to work hard and beat down all the shameless men who dared to steal Third Young Madam from her.

Fortunately, Senior Servant Zhong didn't know what Wenqing was thinking. Otherwise, she would have vomited blood.

Lass, I clearly didn't tell her to do that last night!

After arriving at the screen wall of the earl's estate, Chu Lian was invited by Senior Servant Liu to board Matriarch He's carriage. Eldest Granny Zou, along with her eldest daughter, Sister An, and second daughter, Sister Lin, boarded the same carriage. Meanwhile, the heir of Count Jing 'an rode a horse with his guards beside the carriage.

The group left Count Jing 'an's estate and headed towards Marquis Dingyuan's estate.

Matriarch He's carriage wasn't big, but it was very comfortable inside. Senior Servant Liu sat beside Matriarch He while Chu Lian sat across from her.

Liu nanny gently waved the round fan in her hand, fanning Old Matriarch. Today, Old Matriarch He was wearing a dark purple skirt with an emerald pattern on her forehead. In her white hair, there was a hollowed-out gold and jade hairpin. She was dressed like a noble old lady, low-key and dignified.

"Third Young Madam's wife, have you been to Marquis Dingyuan's estate before?"

Chu Lian immediately understood why she was sitting in the same carriage as Matriarch Dingyuan's estate today.

Matriarch wanted to use this opportunity to remind her of the people in Marquis Dingyuan's estate.

Although she knew some of the plot, the original text had a limited number of words. It was impossible to clearly describe every household in Shengjing. She shook her head honestly.

Matriarch He seemed to be very satisfied with her honesty and softly told her.

Marquis Dingyuan's estate was the maternal home of Madam Zou. It was a prosperous family. Madam Zou was the eldest legitimate granddaughter of the old Marquis Dingyuan. Concubine De in the palace came from Marquis Dingyuan's estate and was the daughter of the old Marquis Dingyuan.

However, Concubine De had been in the palace for many years and had only given birth to one daughter. Unfortunately, she died before she was five.

Princess Leyao looked very similar to Concubine De's daughter. Thus, among the many princes and princesses in the palace, Concubine De doted on the ten-year-old Leyao the most.

By the time they arrived at Marquis Dingyuan's estate, Chu Lian had already explained everything clearly to Matriarch Dingyuan.

She concluded that Marquis Dingyuan's estate was close to the emperor and could not be offended …

Matriarch saw Chu Lian's slightly bitter expression and smiled as she patted her hand to comfort her. "Don't worry. Grandmother is only telling you this to let you understand Marquis Dingyuan's estate. As for other things, don't worry. Just follow your sister-in-law. She will take good care of you."