After autumn, the winter with heavy snow arrived. The ground was covered with thick snow, and icicles hung from the eaves of buildings, trees in the courtyard, and everywhere else. Jiang Wanru and Ji Yan stood in the courtyard filled with deep snow. Ji Yan looked at the piles of snow on both sides that were higher than a person and said to Jiang Wanru, who was holding a shovel and clearing the middle path: "Miss, it's better for us two to slowly clear the snow from the courtyard. The snow is piled too high; if it collapses, it will bury us."

  Jiang Wanru gazed at the snow in the courtyard, not listening to herself answering, and single-mindedly opened the gate of the courtyard, shoveling out the snow. She thought about following her footsteps, shoveling out the snowflakes, and still heard her say: "Miss, although there are only two of us in this courtyard, as long as we shovel snow every day without stopping, this courtyard will definitely be clean and free of snow piles." Jiang Wanru smiled upon hearing this. This little girl had become much bolder in front of her since she had grasped her own thoughts.

  "Wow, such a big snowfall, showing off to whom? Even if Brother Jiang comes today to attend the Winter Snow Festival, he won't come to see us looking pitiful. Besides, if Brother Jiang comes, thinking of who will accompany him in conversation, that person should have some sense. Don't be foolish, and even more so, don't be stupid." A string of words was suddenly flung over, and Jiang Wanmu and Ji Yan turned around to see Jiang Wanyan, dressed in a brocade robe, holding a small stove with both hands, followed by two little maidservants. She had an aloof expression on her face as she looked at the somewhat disheveled hair of Jiang Wanmu and Ji Yan.

  Jiang Wanxiu had a scornful smile on her lips, and the woman in front of her, who was clearly just a humble servant from the Jiang family, couldn't possibly have caught the eye of the dashing young master Lian Si. Yet, here he was, coming over to take a look at her every now and then. Jiang Wanxiu walked over, circled around Jiang Wanyao twice, and saw that she had lowered her head again to start shoveling snow with a wooden board. She let out a snort of laughter and said: "If you're really stupid, that's good too. Today at the Winter Snow Festival, Brother Lian invited Big Sister to go together, which was permitted by Mother. Usually when he comes over, I see him treating Big Sister with a different kind of affection than he shows you."

  "Second Brother's engagement is settled, and Eldest Sister's engagement will be settled during the New Year. Foolish child, I'm kind enough to remind you of this, and even your brother treats you with extra kindness because he thinks you're a pitiful kid. That so-called engagement of yours was arranged by his stepmother, but I heard his father has never been satisfied with it. My sister is doing well, and she still came over on a snowy day to tell you about this great news. Haha, foolish child, will you have a good engagement?" Jiang Wanxin smiled as she walked away with the people beside her, leaving behind Jiang Wanyu and Ji Yan who were lost in thought in the snowy field.

  Ji Yan looked at Jiang Wan with a worried face, and after seeing Jiang Wanyin walk away, she whispered to comfort her: "Miss, Lian Shao treats you well." Lian Zimo came to see Jiang Wan every ten days or so. Each time he came, he would coincidentally run into Jiang Wanyi, and they would all chat together. Jiang Wan had observed how Lian Zimo and Jiang Wanyi interacted with each other. On the surface, the two of them were very proper, but from time to time, they would exchange sly glances, and when they reached a particularly interesting topic, their eyes would be filled with deep amusement.

  Jiang Wanru was the necessary background when they were together, while Jiang Wanyan was often automatically brought up as a background, and this background had a strong personality, often attracting the attention of the two main characters in another context. Jiang Wanru might have some slight resentment, but as long as she thought about the stationery that Lian Zimo brought, which was more and more thoughtful each time, her unhappiness with Master Lian's fondness for her own elder sister was not a big deal to her.

  After Lian Zimo passed the second test, his handsome appearance and youth caused a stir in the capital. Jiang Wanyu had secretly gone out once before and happened to overhear some scholars discussing him in a bookstore. They were laughing and asking each other about his marital status. Someone joked that most of the people who ranked higher than Lian Zimo in the second test were older, but it was rare to find someone younger, and yet his looks were unbearable. "A man like Lian Zimo, with his wit and humor, will surely have a virtuous wife and beautiful concubines, and it's only natural that he'll have a romantic life."

  Another person chuckled and said, "I heard he's deeply in love with the young lady from the Jiang family." "Shh, don't spread this rumor carelessly. A prestigious family like theirs values their reputation above all else. Neither Lian Sheng nor Miss Jiang has mentioned anything about an engagement. If they do end up together, that would be a great thing, and we can talk about it later. But if they're just acquaintances on the surface, we've already said too much, and that wouldn't be very gentlemanly of us." "Hehe, Ming brother, we understand what you're saying. You're worried that our careless chatter might unintentionally offend the Lian family."

  Jiang Wanru initially listened to the scholars' discussions without thinking that this matter had anything to do with herself, until she heard the mention of "Miss Jiang" later on, and only then did she realize her true identity. It turned out that some things couldn't be hidden from the eyes of those close by, nor could they be hidden from the prying eyes of the public. At the same time, Jiang Wanru also came to know that her own engagement with Lian Zimo was likely a secret affair as well.

  Jiang Wanru thus paid attention to the movements of the Jiang family, and gradually came to know that the wind direction had changed. Lian Zimo came to visit Jiang Wanru, and when he looked at her with his head down, perhaps it was more because he thought of his dissatisfaction at home, so he could be so close to her. Last time, as soon as Lian Zimo stepped into Jiang Wanru's courtyard, Jiang Wanyi followed closely behind him. Even the usual excuse for visiting his sister had not been brought up. Instead, he smiled and said to Lian Zimo: "Brother Zimo, my brother has found the ancient book you wanted, I was just about to find someone to inform you."

  Lian Zi Mo excitedly smiled and followed him out, not looking back again. Jiang Wan Mu looked at Ji Yan with concern, thinking for a moment before asking in a soft voice: "Ji Yan, do you know who gets along well with Yu Niang's maid, Qiu Chun? And doesn't attract attention?" Ji Yan glanced around, indicating for Jiang Wan Mu to enter the courtyard. After they entered the courtyard, she said in a soft voice: "Miss, the women in the large kitchen all have something to say to Qiu Chun sister. Qiu Chun sister knows how to cook and is willing to teach them."

  Jiang Wanmu remained silent for a long time after hearing this, and Ji Yan worriedly pulled her, saying in a soft voice: "Miss, Second Miss is jealous of you, what she just said was nonsense. How could Madam allow Eldest Miss to accompany Young Master Lian outside? You and Young Master Lian are engaged, aren't you?" Jiang Wanmu remembered that Lian Zimo had mentioned before that the Winter Snow Gathering usually invited men only. If Jiang Wanyi went together with her, it was likely that Lian Zimo had personally invited her to accompany him.

  Jiang Wanxi may be talking nonsense, but in this matter, she must have said something that can hurt Jiang Wanyu and save her face. There must be other agreements between the Jiang and Lian families in private. No matter how much Mother Yu calculated, it's likely to end in vain. Jiang Wanyu thought about what Shuxi overheard, the friendship between Jiang Yiyu and Lian Zimo was on the surface, but the elders of both families must have had their own plans, they were just waiting for good news.

  Jiang Wanting thought of Yu Niang, who had been ill for a long time and whom she hadn't seen in a while. She said to Jiyuan, "Jiyuan, tell your mother what the third young lady just said. It's best if you accompany your mother back to the main kitchen and tell her about it quietly." Jiyuan looked at her in surprise and said, "Miss, if we ask Qinchun to tell Yu Niang about this, something will go wrong." Jiang Wanting smiled wryly and looked at her, saying, "Qinchun won't tell Yu Niang. Just go ahead and say it, I have a plan." Jiyuan nodded in confusion, saying, "I'll listen to you, Miss."