Feng Shou wanted to marry Jiang Yanyi and understood that life was difficult for women in this world.

Without a strong family backing, they could easily be looked down upon.

The Chu family had capable members, and he was willing to give them opportunities to help Jiang Yiyi build a strong family background.

However, if the family consisted only of mediocre individuals, he wouldn’t gamble the lives of his soldiers on such a venture.

Feng Shuo asked, “Is it your uncle who said the Turkic prince has connections with the capital?”

Jiang Yiyi hadn’t expected to strike a nerve, but since Feng Shuo asked, it likely involved confidential information.

She hesitated for a moment and replied, “I overheard my uncle mention it to his subordinate when I was delivering soup to the Chu family.”

Feng Shuo said nothing further in Jiang Yanyi’s presence but decided he would need to caution Chu Changping when he returned.

If Jiang Yanyi could accidentally overhear such sensitive information, others with ill intentions could certainly eavesdrop as well.

Jiang Yanyi was concerned that her explanation might backfire, so she glanced at Feng Shuo, anxiety and fear evident on her face.

Feeling a twinge of sympathy for her, he said, “The south is in chaos. If the north erupts into war again, that’s not what the court wants to see.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Shuo suddenly paused.

While the court wished to avoid war in the north, the rebel forces being besieged certainly hoped for it.

If the north fell into turmoil, it would disperse the court’s military strength, allowing the rebels in the south to catch their breath.

The Fan family had previously contacted the Turkic prince; it wouldn’t be impossible for them to collaborate again.

Feng Shuo called out to the coachman, “Stop!”

The coachman, accustomed to Feng Shuo’s orders, halted the carriage immediately.

Their carriage stopped abruptly behind another, and Chu Yangui, seated in front, did not notice anything amiss.

Jiang Yanyi was still trying to process everything when Feng Shuo’s large hand rubbed her face several times.

His tone was a mix of amusement and seriousness. “I’ll go handle my business first; you’ll be rewarded later.”

By the time Feng Shuo pulled back the carriage curtain and left, Jiang Yanyi was still in a daze.

Just a moment ago, he had denied her words, and now he seemed to have recalled something.

The warmth of his fingers lingered on her skin, and she felt self-conscious as she touched her face.

Thankfully, she hadn’t worn any rouge, or she would have looked like a painted clown after being rubbed so vigorously.

---

The carriage stopped in front of the Chu residence, and Chu Zhong carried Chu Yangui inside as the steward came out to greet them.

Jiang Yanyi asked, “How are Grandmother and Grandfather feeling these days?”

Perhaps Chu Changping had briefed him beforehand, but the steward’s attitude toward the two siblings was noticeably more respectful than before. “Replying to the Second Miss, the old master is in good health, but the old lady has had a poor appetite lately and can hardly eat.”

Both Jiang Yanyi and Chu Yanguo were now listed in the Chu family genealogy, so their rank among the sisters had changed as well.

Chu Shubao was the eldest, Jiang Yanyi was second, the second branch’s Chu Jiabao was third, and Chu Huibao was the youngest.

As they spoke, they reached the courtyard where Old Lady Chu lived.

The matron waiting at the door lifted the heavy windproof curtain, allowing Chu Zhong to carry Chu Yangui inside, with Jiang Yiyi following closely behind.

The room had a charcoal brazier burning, giving off warmth.

Old Lady Chu was half-sitting on a heated bed, propped up by several sapphire-patterned soft pillows.

The recent loss of Jiang’s Mother had taken a significant toll on her; her hair, which had only been graying, was now mostly white.

She wore a headband inlaid with emeralds and was watching the three Chu sisters doing embroidery, though her spirit seemed quite low.

When she saw Jiang Yanyi and Chu Yanguo, a smile finally broke across her face. “I was just chatting with the third one yesterday, complaining that you two have gone out and not returned to visit your old grandmother. And here you are today!”

She patted the soft cushion beside her and said to Jiang Yanyi, “Come sit by your grandmother.”

The three Chu sisters were also looking at Jiang Yanyi and her brother.

Chu Jiabao, due to her mother’s divorce, only glanced at them before turning her gaze away, clearly unhappy.

Chu Huibao, still young, was naive and oblivious.

Chu Shubao was a few years older and more perceptive.

Seeing that Jiang Yanyi had just come in, her cloak still steaming from the heat, she smiled at Old Lady Chu and said, “Grandmother, let Yanyi sister warm up first. It’s freezing outside, and I’m sure her hands and feet are icy cold.”

Old Lady Chu laughed and said, “You’re so thoughtful. Let the girl warm up her hands.”

Aside from answering a few questions from Old Lady Chu, Chu Yanguo remained silent, his dark eyelashes casting shadows over his porcelain-like pale skin.

Chu Jiabao shot them a glare, but as soon as Chu Yangui lifted his head, his cold gaze locked onto hers, filled with an unsettling intensity.

Chu Jiabao was startled and hurriedly averted her gaze.

Jiang Yanyi was talking to the old matriarch Chu nearby and didn’t notice this scene.

Since Chu Yangui had difficulty with his legs, he couldn’t sit close to the brazier, so Jiang Yanyi brought him a hot water bottle.

Old Lady Chu chattered on: “I don’t know what the third one is busy with. He’s rarely home for meals these days. When I asked him when Maoguo and Baigou would arrive in Xizhou, he only said they were on the way. I dreamed last night that Maoguo and Baigou had encountered trouble, and I’ve been uneasy ever since.”

Jiang Yanyi felt uneasy too but still comforted Old Lady Chu: “Grandmother, don’t worry too much. Cousin Chengmao has been training in martial arts with Uncle since childhood; he won’t come to any harm.”

Old Lady Chu nodded, tapping her forehead: “You’re still calling him cousin; he’s your brother now.”

Jiang Yanyi smiled awkwardly.

It was a title she couldn’t change so easily.

After chatting for a while, they noticed it was time to prepare dinner.

Jiang Yanyi thought about how Old Lady Chu had a poor appetite and said, “Grandmother, I’ve been learning new recipes from the master at the antique soup shop recently. I’d like to make one for you to try.”

As soon as she mentioned cooking, Chu Huibao immediately perked up, saying eagerly, “There’s fish in the kitchen.”

The last time Jiang Yanyi made sauerkraut fish, it had been delicious, and the little girl had been thinking about it for a long time.

Unfortunately, the cooks in the mansion could never replicate that taste.

Jiang Yanyi smiled, “What a coincidence! I brought a fish with me too.”

She also brought the iron tray and the grill for making baked fish.

It was not easy to catch fish in winter; her shop didn’t have a stable supply, so she only occasionally bought fish to treat her family.

To make baked fish, Jiang Yanyi even had the blacksmith forge a special iron tray for it.

As she headed to the kitchen, Chu Huibao was eager to follow her but was called back by Chu Shubao.

Instead, Chu Shubao went to the kitchen with Jiang Yanyi under the pretense of helping.

Old Lady Chu felt a bit tired and decided to take a short nap, allowing her granddaughters the freedom to leave the room.

Since Chu Huibao wasn’t allowed to go to the kitchen, her little mouth pouted, and she looked unhappy.

As soon as they stepped outside, Chu Jiabao shot at her, “You silly girl who only knows how to eat, don’t you remember how your mother was punished?”

Chu Huibao glared at Chu Jiabao with her striking black and white eyes: “Sister said it was mother who did something wrong.”

Chu Jiabao sneered: “What a shame your aunt worked so hard for you two sisters. Chu Shubao is heartless and only knows how to turn her elbow outwards. As for you, you’re just foolish; your brain must have been eaten by a dog!”

Chu Huibao’s eyes turned red from her scolding, and tears started to fall: “Third sister, you’re going too far! The eldest sister said you lost your mother, so I should let things go with you.”

Chu Jiabao laughed coldly: “Who caused me to lose my mother?”