In the days that followed, it was time to prepare for the Spring Festival.

Zhu Lingling had already taken over the household affairs, and this was her first time handling the arrangements for the New Year’s gifts, so she specially sought advice from her mother-in-law.

Mrs. Xu frowned at the New Year’s gifts sent to the Li Mansion.

"In the early years in the Capital, the New Year’s gifts to the Li Mansion were indeed of this caliber. Now that the old lady is gone, let’s not say that people drift apart. In any case, the first generation are relatives, the second are cousins, and by the third or fourth generation, no one recognizes each other."

Because of Madam Li’s matchmaking attempt, Mrs. Xu developed a complete aversion.

She knew that her relationship with the Li Mansion had come to an end, although they had to maintain appearances.

Just like when Madam Li visited and brought gifts, claiming the Xiao family had just returned to the Capital and had shortages, so it was necessary to provide help in times of need, but the gifts she brought were of no value at all. In the end, Mrs. Zhu gave them to the servants.

Therefore, the New Year’s gifts to the Li Mansion need not be so formal.

Mrs. Xu decided to cut out a third of the precious items.

"Just send these to the Li Mansion."

"Yes, Mother."

The New Year’s gifts for the Xu Mansion, the Xuu Mansion, and the Huang Mansion were the same.

Zhu Lingling slightly reduced the specifications of the gifts for the Zhu Mansion, mainly because it was her natal family, and she couldn’t outshine the elders. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Add the reduced gifts from the Li Mansion to the Zhu Mansion."

"Mother?"

"Add them."

"Yes, Mother."

Zhu Lingling instantly understood; her mother was honoring the Zhu Mansion.

After all, Zhu Haodong and Chun Yan already had intentions, everything was ready, just waiting for Zhu Haodong to pass the exams.

At this time, in the academy, the teacher was giving the last lecture.

"After this, you will have a break. During this time, I hope you won’t slack in your studies. After all, the exams after the Lantern Festival are happening earlier this year. You must maintain a high level of tension, never slack, or your spirit will dissipate..."

The teacher spoke earnestly, and the students were extremely respectful.

"We obey the teacher’s guidance."

They bid farewell to the teacher and returned to their respective homes to find their mothers.

"Brother Zhao, Brother Zhu, I have a humble request," Chun Ning said.

"Please, go ahead."

"For other classmates, it’s fine, but I feel that the three of us have a shared understanding and each has our strengths. If you both don’t mind, I’d like to invite you to gather at my house so that we can study and fill in knowledge gaps together. What do you think?"

"That’s a great idea, but wouldn’t it be too much trouble?" Zhao Minglang and Zhu Haodong said in unison.

"No trouble at all. My courtyard is quite peaceful," Chun Ning replied. "Of course, if it’s convenient for you both, I can also visit your homes."

"I think it would be best to go to the Xiao Mansion," Zhu Haodong blurted out, a figure appearing in his mind as he spoke, and his face flushed slightly.

He was... well, thinking too much, and just a glimpse of a certain beauty could relieve thousands of longing thoughts.

Zhao Minglang had no idea that Zhu Haodong had an ulterior motive for choosing the Xiao Mansion. Since Zhu and Xiao both agreed, he didn’t object.

"Then, tomorrow, the Xiao Mansion will graciously await both of you."

"Great, we will arrive on time just like at the academy."

"Good."

Chun Ning returned home and reported to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Zhu, that two people would be coming to the mansion for study tomorrow.

"Alright, I will have the cook prepare. But do the two gentlemen have any dietary restrictions?"

The exams are approaching, and no mistakes can be made.

After asking, Mrs. Zhu realized that although Zhu Haodong was her half-brother, she knew very little about him.

She felt quite ashamed.

"Neither gentleman has any dietary restrictions, and they are both easy to get along with. However, Brother Zhu enjoys fish, and Brother Zhao likes lamb."

Chun Ning had observed closely.

"Alright, I’ll have the kitchen prepare accordingly."

Mrs. Zhu also asked Chun Ning which tea and snacks to prepare.

"I’ll leave it to you, sister-in-law. Everything is fine."

"Okay, I understand."

Watching Chun Ning’s figure as he returned to his courtyard, Mrs. Zhu felt quite sentimental.

The Xiao family consisted of three branches. The two brothers in the main branch were not outstanding. Her husband, too, was just a minor clerk in the government office, and he lost his job after getting involved in some trouble. After returning from the Northern Desert, the Xiao family men were almost all recuperating.

They had suffered a lot in the Northern Desert, and recuperating would take at least six months to a year.

So, even though the Xiao family men had returned to the Capital, they hadn’t regained their vigor.

Chun Ning from the second branch, raised in Changzhou, now seemed promising.

The second branch also had Chun Nuan, who was quite a moneymaker.

Of course, the main branch had Chunyu, but Chunyu was the General’s wife and had to consider her position often. She wasn’t as adventurous as Chun Nuan.

Thinking of Chun Nuan, Mrs. Zhu felt a deep longing.

If it weren’t for her support, how could the ten or so women and children of the Xiao family have waited until their return to the Capital?

In Changzhou, Chun Nuan was reading a family letter from Zhao Minghua.

"Another day missing my wife..."

With a slight smile, she knew that when he wrote family letters, they would often turn cheeky.

Zhao Minghua reported on the business he was managing in the Capital. The reason for the detailed report was because, before marriage, they had an agreement that all of Zhao Minghua’s businesses included a share for Xiao Chunnuan.

"My dear, I hope you can come to the Capital soon."

Chun Nuan... who wouldn’t want to return to the Capital?

The Capital had her family, her husband, and her dear friend Qiu Yan... she missed them very much.

Mrs. Zhao, Mrs. Zhou, also received a letter from her son.

"He really knows how to be lazy, writing only one page," Mrs. Zhou said. "I bet the letter to Nuannuan is at least ten pages long."

"That’s not true, but at least it’s not fewer than five pages," the nanny joked. "The Third Young Master truly dotes on the Third Young Madam."

"It’s that boy’s good fortune. If I were a man and could marry such a wife, I would pamper her even more," Mrs. Zhou lamented. "How did my son get so lucky to marry Nuannuan?"

Thinking back to the time when they nearly had an engagement with the Xiao family’s eldest daughter from a prominent family, she shuddered.

Fortunately, the third son’s taste was better than hers.

That young lady, though the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, was inferior to Nuannuan in every way.

A true lady of a prominent family, truly talented, would never have an early reputation.

Spreading a reputation early on is just a trick used by wealthy families to find a good match.

Now she only had a second son without a wife, and her third son had mentioned in his letter that the second son also had a girl he fancied.

She just didn’t know which family she was from or what she looked like?

She just hoped his taste was as good as the third son’s, finding someone with good character.

After all, marrying a virtuous wife benefits three generations, but marrying a troublemaker brings three generations of unrest!

"Madam, the old master is here." Mrs. Zhou quickly set the letter aside to greet her father-in-law. She wondered what important business brought him here now?