The northern courtyard of the General's Mansion, where an old lady was surrounded by a group of young children, happily drinking the freshly prepared sour plum soup from the mansion.

  "Ancestor, is it hot now? Do you want to add some more ice?" Qin Miao was a southerner and knew that the summer in the south was sweltering and unbearable, unlike the north where the summer was short and dry. She was afraid that the old lady would not be able to adapt to the harsh weather of the south after traveling for so long.

  "It's alright, it's alright. I also grew up in Hangzhou when I was young, although I've been living in Pingyang for decades now. But this body of mine still has some memories of the water and soil from down south. Don't worry, don't worry!" The old lady patted Qin Miao's hand with her backhand, signaling her not to be too tense.

  Qin Miao furrowed her brow and thought for a moment, "Alright then..." However, she soon became uneasy again, and gestured to Zi Xuan beside her, instructing in a low voice, "Summon the imperial physician from the mansion."

  Zi Xuan obtained the order and calmly went out to call for someone. Before long, an old man was brought in from outside the door.

  "Ancestor, I'm still a bit worried. Let's have someone take a pulse for peace of mind."

  Everyone was stunned, even Xie Xu had never thought of asking a doctor to take his pulse, but Qin Miao noticed this detail.

  Xie Yun also persuaded the old lady: "Grandma is tired all the way, let's have a doctor take a look, and we can rest assured."

  The old lady couldn't win against the young, so she let the doctor take her pulse. There's no major problem, just some fatigue and a bit of emptiness in the body. Resting for a few days will be fine, and pay attention to eating light and cooling foods to dispel the summer heat.

  The Xie family is happily gathered together, while the Zhang family is somewhat gloomy.

  "Something's happening at the Xie residence, sir." Liu Shifu bowed and reported to Zhang Fu, who was sitting behind his desk in the study.

  Zhang Futai happened to be reading a secret letter from Pingyang and raised his head, furrowing the brow of his sword-like eyebrows. "What?"

  "There are a few things. You didn't let us keep an eye on the Xie Mansion, did you? A few days ago, our people saw a long-lost person at the entrance of the Xie Mansion." Liu Shifu looked around, and since there were no one in the study room anyway, he felt a sense of emptiness in his heart. He glanced around subconsciously to make sure it was safe, then continued in a low voice: "The young lady from the Zhang family, accompanied by a small child, presumably her son."

  Zhang's wife and his own family? Who is this?

  In those days, the young lady of the Zhang family was so captivating that Mr. Zhang couldn't take his eyes off her, even if it meant risking his own life. He would have rather died than let someone else have her, and he would have gladly stained himself with blood to keep her under his control. But after all these years, she can't even remember who this person is. It's truly astonishing.

  Liu Shiyeye saw that he seemed to be somewhat unhappy, and his heart was also sweating profusely. He thought it strange that this elegant gentleman would behave like this. He then added in a low voice: "It's about Zhang Jia, the tofu seller, her husband is a scholar."

  Director Zhang finally managed to dig up a blurry shadow from the depths of his mind, which seemed quite elegant and refined. "What's wrong? I remember that person disfiguring themselves."

  Ah, yes, back then she was directly in the midst of her own affairs when he couldn't get it up, and directly used a hairpin to ruin his face on the spot. He vaguely remembered that the jade-like skin that should have been as tender as tofu was covered in bloodstains, quite terrifying, which made him completely lose interest and had to stop his actions. It was that woman...

  "What did she go to Xie's house for?"

  Liu Shiyeye shook his head: "Although I have not yet investigated the true situation, I am still somewhat uneasy." That woman was so fierce that even if she had left Xunyang under pressure in the end, Liu Shiyeye remembered her vividly. So when this woman who had disappeared for a long time appeared at the Xie Mansion, he couldn't help but pay more attention.

  "What you said is right, this woman is strange. Send someone to keep an eye on her, don't let her stir up any trouble." Zhang Da-ren also recalled the events of that year and thought of Xie Yan and Qin Miao, and suddenly felt a sense of unease in his heart. There are no coincidences in the world, only human actions can lead to consequences.

  "There's another thing." Liu Shifu thought for a moment. "The Xie family has come with their whole household."

  "Zhang Daren snorted, 'I've heard that you're causing a commotion in the city early this morning. I'm afraid everyone knows that your family's old lady has arrived. This isn't anything new.'"

  Liu Shiyeye, however, did not think so: "Master, it's not just Old Master Hou's wife, but also the second and third concubines who came together."

  If it were just the old lady who wanted to think about her grandson and came to live in Jiangdu City for a short period of time, as long as the elderly can afford it, others would not have much to say, nor would they make a big fuss. But why did she bring the whole family?

  To be honest, this time Xie Xun and Qin Miao were indeed too careless and didn't think deeply. But our Zhang official, who has been thinking of overthrowing Duke Xie with all his heart, heard the news and his eyes lit up instantly.

  "This means the whole family is going to move south...” Zhang's good-looking eyes narrowed, his pupils gleaming with a cold light. "Immediately order someone to send a message to the capital. Also...the entire Xie family must be kept under close surveillance by me, and as soon as there is any movement, report back immediately."

  Liu Shiyeye obeyed and left the study, seeing from afar that Wu Niang came swaying with a gentle smile.

  "Isn't this Liu Shiyue? Long time no see." Qinxiao's eyebrows and eyes were full of spring, it was not an exaggeration to say that she was charming. Those eyes, that gentle tone, moistened our Liu Shiyue's heart, making him tremble for a moment, suddenly feeling regretful, regretting that when he first discovered Qinxiao, he only catered to his master's wishes, if he had taken her in himself, the taste...

  In a daze of wild daydreaming, Xiang had already slipped into the study with a lithe, sinuous movement.

  After nightfall, the cicadas' cries at the end of summer were still somewhat annoying. Xie Lin was half-reclining on the main bed under the corridor, while Qin Miao was lying on top of him drawing circles.

  "What's wrong... You seem particularly tired today." Xie Yan gently stroked Qin Miao's somewhat frail back.

  "Hmm, a little." Qin Miao muttered, casually picking up a nearby fruit. "Want some?"

  Before Xie Yan could respond, the bright red fruit had already been brought to his lips, leaving him no room for refusal. Mmm... sour and sweet, very delicious, and that slender finger, he absent-mindedly licked it a few times with the tip of his tongue.

  "Ah, you're a dog!" Qin Miao exclaimed with mixed joy and anger, hastily withdrawing her pointing hand. Upon closer inspection, she found that Xie Yun's saliva was still glistening on her finger. She looked at him with disgust and wiped her finger on his thin shirt, then continued eating fruit by herself.

  "Alas..." Qin Miao sighed, holding a fruit in one hand and playing with the handsome face in front of her. "Do you think our ancestors have forgiven me today?"

  Although it was said that year that she left without hesitation because of Xie Yan, after all, she did not bid farewell to Old Lady Xie. Qin Miao felt guilty in her heart towards the old lady. This elderly woman was just like her own grandmother, worthy of respect and love. Today, seeing her again, she couldn't help but think of her own grandmother, with the same warmth. Therefore, she cared about the elder's consideration.

  Xie Xuan's beautiful eyebrows furrowed as she glared at her, complaining in a huff: "Now you know to be afraid? How come you left so confidently back then, with such a ruthless heart." As she spoke, she pretended to scold and pinched Qin Miao's waist, making her beg for mercy repeatedly.

  She bit into a fruit and freed her hands to pound Xie Yun's chest: "It's all because you're not opening up, I'm angry! Hmph!"

  Xie Yan probably wouldn't have expected that from then on, for the rest of their lives, whenever the couple had disagreements or quarrels, Qin Miao would inevitably bring up past events and force him to admit his mistakes. What's this called? Self-inflicted suffering...

  "Alright, alright, it's all my fault, I'm blind. Stop hitting me, if you hit me again, your husband won't be able to serve you tonight."

  Qin Miao listened to him and again a string of dirty words, again a burst of good fight: "Shameless!"

  "What is this face, how did I not know there was such a thing." Xie Yan took advantage of the situation to hold the person in his arms tightly, pressing her firmly into his own embrace. Ah... it smells so good, the sweet fragrance of jasmine flowers...

  "Xie Xie! Ah... ah... be gentle... ah, don't do it outside..."

  "You... you... pervert..."

  Wafting clouds and mist like immortals, the full moonlight intoxicates with dreams. The autumn cicadas on the trees still chirp with trembling spring calls, lingering and turning.

  At the end of summer and beginning of autumn, the small courtyard was as hot as a fierce flame in midsummer, scorching people into a daze.