Chu Lian nodded obediently. Matriarch He couldn't help but want to pinch her cheeks.

She had to admit that San Lang's wife was very beautiful. Even in Shengjing, where people spent their money, San Lang's wife's looks were top-notch.

She had coldly observed Chu Lian for the past few days and found that Chu Lian had a pure and kind personality. She didn't have the arrogance or scheming of a daughter from a large family, so she doted on her even more. She couldn't help but want to give her a few pointers, afraid that this little granddaughter-in-law would suffer in some way.

She had originally just wanted to take advantage of the reputation of a daughter from the British duke's estate and hadn't expected to actually marry a treasure.

It was precisely because she knew so clearly that Matriarch He was even more curious as to why He Changdi had suddenly left home to join the army in the north.

How could San Lang bear to abandon such a beautiful daughter-in-law with a good temperament?

Chu Lian was currently worried and didn't notice Matriarch He's momentary absent-mindedness.

After thinking it over, Chu Lian decided to keep a low profile for the rest of the day. She definitely couldn't go to the Ding Bo Pavilion in Marquis Dingyuan's estate!

She got off the carriage with the help of a servant. Eldest sister-in-law Zou and her two nieces were already waiting by the carriage.

The heir of Count Jing 'an escorted them to the rear courtyard and followed the manservant to the reception pavilion in the front courtyard where male guests were received.

Zou madam handed Sister An and Sister Lin to their wet nurses and ordered, "Take the young ladies to play with our cousins."

Zou madam clearly returned to the estate often. Sister An and Sister Lin often played with the children of Marquis Dingyuan's estate. After Zou madam gave this order, the two wet nurses and several senior servant girls left with the two girls.

Zou madam watched her daughter's figure disappear into the garden before turning to smile at Chu Lian. "Third sister-in-law, come with me. Don't be nervous. Maybe you'll run into your maiden sisters in the rear courtyard today!"

Chu Lian was indeed a little nervous. No one would be able to relax in such an unfamiliar environment, especially Chu Lian, who had just arrived.

Eldest sister-in-law, Zou shi, led Chu Lian for a quarter of an hour, occasionally introducing her to the strange sights of Marquis Ding Yuan's fu. When they arrived at a large lotus pond, Zou shi stopped and pointed a slender jade finger at the opposite shore, "Third sister-in-law, look, over there is the Plum Pavilion that receives young noble ladies and young ladies."

Chu Lian looked in the direction that Zou shi was pointing and saw four or five women dressed like noblewomen sitting on beauty chairs in the corridor, laughing and chatting. In the reception hall that faced the water, there were maids and older women quietly going in and out. It was very lively.

At first glance, Chu Lian didn't recognize a single one of them.

Zou madam's eyes were sharp. She pointed at a married woman, "Third dimei, look, isn't that your maiden family's eldest sister-in-law?"

Chu Lian's eyes widened. Sure enough, Sister-in-law Rong was walking out of the reception pavilion with a middle-aged woman. They were chatting and laughing.

"Yes, it's sister-in-law," Chu Lian answered.

Zou shi pulled Chu Lian along, "Come, let's go over too."

Since they were already here, how could Chu Lian hide? She could only bite the bullet and follow behind Zou shi. Her heart was beating like a drum, and she secretly decided that she would find a place with fewer people to reduce her presence.

From afar, several noblewomen saw the heir's wife, Zou shi, and greeted her one by one.

Zou shi smiled in response, "Alright, alright, you don't need to be so courteous with me. Today is grandfather's birthday, and I still have to thank you all for coming!"

The group of women smiled coquettishly, "It's nothing, it's nothing."

Zou shi took a step back and gave way to Chu Lian. "You don't know yet, right? This is my third sister-in-law, originally the sixth miss of the British duke's household."

Chu Lian bowed in greeting.

The madams returned the greeting. Chu Lian's gaze swept over them, but she could more or less see contempt and disdain in their eyes.

Her expression stiffened, and she instantly understood why these people looked down on her.

However, she wasn't the original Chu Lian. Her personality was much more casual and cheerful. Although she felt a moment of discomfort, she quickly got over it.

She wasn't relying on these madams to live, so why would she care about what they thought of her? As long as she lived happily and without regrets, it was fine.

Thinking of this, the tension on her face instantly disappeared and was replaced by a bright and cheerful expression.

Chu Lian was at the time when a girl's complexion was good, and her appearance was outstanding. Xiyan had specially dressed her up today, so the newly married and bright young lady had a relaxed expression that instantly brightened her eyes.

Chu Lian generously bowed to the noble madams in front of her. This time, it was the noble madams who felt uncomfortable.

However, in front of Zou shi, they couldn't show it, so they could only reluctantly agree.

Zou shi brought Chu Lian to greet the wife of Marquis Ding Yuan's heir.

Although Zou shi was the eldest legal granddaughter of Marquis Ding Yuan, she wasn't from the first branch, but the second branch's di daughter.

The wife of Marquis Ding Yuan was Zou shi's eldest aunt.

After greeting the wife of Marquis Ding Yuan, Zou shi brought Chu Lian to her side and introduced her to some of the noble madams in the capital.

Although she said she knew them, it was just showing her face in front of these noble madams and bowing. This wasn't difficult for Chu Lian. Every time she bowed, she just needed to quietly stand behind her sister-in-law Zou shi and act like a flower vase.

A servant girl suddenly rushed in from outside the Plum Pavilion. When she reached the reception hall, she quickly walked towards Zou shi.

When she reached Zou shi's side, she stood on her tiptoes and whispered in Zou shi's ear, "Eldest Aunt, Second Madam is looking for you and wants you to go immediately."

Zou shi's expression turned serious and she nodded at the servant girl. The servant girl was wearing a blue dress and was the head servant girl of Zou shi's mother.

Zou shi turned to look at Chu Lian behind her. She saw that Chu Lian's face was filled with confusion and worry. Coincidentally, she saw a plump young madam wearing a light purple dress walking over.

"Ah Zi, why have you only come now?" Zou shi happily walked forward to greet her.

Chu Lian raised her head and glanced at the young madam that Zou shi called "Ah Zi". She was slightly shocked. This woman was one of the supporting female characters in the original novel, Wei Fengzi, the youngest sister of Noble Consort Wei and the wife of the assistant minister of the Ministry of Appointments.

In the original novel, she only appeared halfway through the plot. Chu Lian hadn't thought that Chu Lian would see her at the old Marquis Ding Yuan's birthday.

"Yuanjing."

Wei Fengzi had a faint smile on her face. Her light yellow dress made her look several years younger than her actual age.

Yuanjing was Zou shi's maiden name. Looking at the two, it was clear that they were good friends.

"Ah Zi, this is my newly married third sister-in-law. Help me take care of her. Right now, I have an important matter to attend to at Mother's."

"Okay, don't worry and go!"

Wei Fengzi gave Zou shi a reassuring look. Chu Lian saw Zou shi and the servant girl quickly disappear around the corner of the Plum Pavilion.

Chu Lian, who was left behind, was miserable beyond words.

The original Chu Lian had become Wei Fengzi's sworn enemy!

Wei Fengzi looked Chu Lian up and down. When she saw that Chu Lian had her head lowered, she frowned.

"Younger Sister Chu, please sit here."

Chu Lian raised her head and quickly glanced at Wei Fengzi. She saw that not far away, there was already a young upper-class madam greeting her. The corner of Chu Lian's mouth twitched, and she hurriedly said, "If Madam has any matters to attend to, you don't have to worry about me. I'll just sit over there."

Wei Fengzi didn't know why, but she didn't like this third madam of Duke Jing 'an's estate. If it weren't for Zou shi's request, she wouldn't even look at Chu Lian. Now that Chu Lian had rejected her invitation, she naturally didn't have the patience to care about Chu Lian any longer.

"Alright, then I'll head over first. If there's anything, send a servant girl over there to look for me."

Chu Lian nodded obediently. She even lifted her head and smiled at Wei Fengzi.

After Wei Fengzi left, Chu Lian let out a soft sigh of relief. She looked around and found a quiet corner outside the corridor. She walked over there.

It wasn't that she didn't hear the discussions around her, but no matter how angry she was, it was useless. Mouths belonged to others, not her.

Chu Lian pursed her lips and turned a deaf ear to all of it.

She leaned against the sofa. There were a few plates of pastries on the small table next to her. Chu Lian casually picked one up and took a small bite. Then, she furrowed her brows. Ptui!

What was this made of? It wasn't sweet, it wasn't sour, it wasn't your average kind of disgusting.

After tasting the pastries that Marquis Dingyuan's estate used to entertain their esteemed guests, Chu Lian finally understood just how delicious the food made by Kitchen Maiden Zhou in Duke Jing 'an's estate was.

In the Clear Breeze Pavilion, across from the lotus pond, a man dressed in a navy blue brocade robe stood in the corridor. He held a fan in one hand and stood tall and straight. His long and narrow eyes pierced through the lotus pond and landed on the Plum Pavilion that faced the water.

In the corner of the Plum Pavilion's corridor, a young madam was leaning against the wall. She stretched out her slender fingers and picked up a pastry. After taking a bite, she furrowed her brows and put the pastry back on the table. She even stuck out her pink tongue at him.

Xiao Bojian's gaze on Chu Lian became deeper and deeper. His eyes were as dark as ink. He couldn't help but think, 'Lian' er is still the same as before. She likes sweet pastries. The pastries from Marquis Dingyuan's estate are a little sour. No wonder she's disgusted! '

"Senior Xiao!

What are you standing there looking at? "

Xiao Bojian turned around and saw Heir Zheng, who was wearing a round neck brocade robe, striding towards him.

"Heir."

Heir Zheng followed Xiao Bojian's line of sight and looked over. After a while, he said, "It looks like all the madams from noble families are over there. My mother is there too. What's wrong, Senior Xiao? Do you know anyone there?"

Xiao Bojian restrained the emotions in his eyes and said indifferently, "I'm just looking around. Let's go in!"

Heir Zheng was just about to turn around when he saw a young woman who had been leaning against the beauty chair turn around. Heir Zheng was stunned and his eyes lit up.

"Senior Xiao, Senior Xiao, don't go. Look in that direction."

Xiao Bojian turned around and looked in the direction that Heir Zheng was pointing at. Coincidentally, he saw Chu Lian, who had turned around to look at the lotus pond. His already feminine and beautiful face instantly darkened.

Chu Lian was bored to death. She broke off a small piece of the pastry that she had only taken a bite of earlier and threw it into the pond to feed the koi fish inside.

"Oh? Isn't this Duke Jing 'an Estate's third madam, Sixth Miss Chu?" A voice suddenly rang out.

Chu Lian turned around and was a little surprised. Soon, she heard the voices of the people around her discussing.

"Why are Princess An Min, Princess Leyao, and Princess Duanjia all here?"