Eavesdropping is punishable!

  The ninth sister's idea didn't come out of thin air, that... she had a basis for it.

  On the day of Si's return, not only did Zou Shi come out after a long illness, but also Liu Shi, who had been ignoring everyone since her "foolishness", came to Yanshoutang.

  She didn't enter the front hall, but instead played with Qingxiang under two silver ginkgo trees in the distance, hugging Beibei and playing randomly, but her eyes kept glancing over here.

  On this side, the fourth sister was sitting on a stone bench with several of her sisters, whispering to each other. Even the eighth sister, who had been busy embroidering her trousseau and rarely came out to socialize, and Zou Zhen'er, an outsider, were there... Her sixth sister was naturally itching with curiosity.

  At that moment, feeling the eager gaze of Liu Jie's eyes, her heart was also sour, really missing the previous her.

  Such a straightforward and arrogant personality, yet also pretending to be sophisticated and calculating. Even so, she still doesn't know where her future is headed, it's really hard for her...

  Actually, at that time she hoped that Liu Jie would come over to them and open up her heart, so that she might be able to try to help her.

  But Xiao didn't come over until he pulled Si away again...

  "Is the young lady busy again?" Just then, suddenly heard the sound of green apricot outside.

  Qing Tao and Lu'e immediately stopped talking and went about their business, while Qing Xing walked in with a red lacquer tray, holding out the sugar-fried chestnuts that had just been made in the kitchen to Jiu Siao'er.

  "Girl, try some, it's said that these chestnuts were brought back by Fourth Uncle on the day he returned home, they're from the mountains of our hometown, the best variety of Jingdong chestnuts, and the mom in the kitchen roasted them with great care, definitely very delicious." Putting down the chestnut, Qing Xiang began to desperately promote it, fearing that Jiu Jie wouldn't eat.

  Jiuer had no choice but to sit down and eat the chestnuts that the little girl peeled and handed over one by one.

  The chestnut is really good, its flavor is especially fragrant and sweet compared to what she had eaten before.

  "Miss, I heard that Fourth Master brought over some baskets of persimmons and jujubes, all big and good. Also, there are many Chinese cabbages, plump and round one by one. When Kitchen's Jiang Mama saw them, she immediately had people take away the original ones to feed the pigs, only using the ones Fourth Master brought..."

  “……”

  "The fourth young lady is quite blessed, although she can't compare to the glory of being the third young lady's imperial concubine. However, it's peaceful and quiet. The fourth young master doesn't even have a concubine, and the young maids by the fourth young lady's side say that whenever she wants to eat something, she personally takes them to get it herself. There aren't a bunch of mothers-in-law and elders on the side criticizing her. Although she has to work hard and take care of everything herself, she is free! Even the young maids feel comfortable and don't have to worry about anyone's face, they are happy every day..."

  She ate while that green apricot whispered in her ear, its tone full of envy.

  The ninth sister listened and couldn't help but smile secretly.

  It's true, Liu Jie's illness is reasonable. Now everyone in the mansion is talking about the success of Si Jie's remarriage.

  What's wrong with being unpopular? Popularity is for others to see, while warmth and coolness are for oneself to know. No matter how beautiful a pair of shoes is, if it doesn't fit, it will still bring you endless trouble.

  Those three sisters haven't been back home since they got married, don't you miss them? Absolutely not, unless it's unavoidable...

  "Alright, I won't eat anymore, or my stomach will get bloated." Seeing Qing An taking two more chestnuts to peel, Jiu Siao'er hastily stopped her.

  "Girl..." Qing Xing naturally was not satisfied.

  "Go take this formula to Qingmei, let her send it to the Jiang family, they should be using it now." Jiuniang hurriedly interrupted, handing the formula of chrysanthemum ash mixed with slaked lime water to Qingxing.

  "Oh!" Qing Xing had no choice but to listen to the nagging and took the formula away.

  After Qingying left, Jiuniang sat in front of the Luo Han bed and prepared to embroider a few stitches.

  But after a few more needles, he really couldn't take it anymore and finally got up, shouting for Qingtao outside.

  "Miss, what's wrong?"

  "Want to go with me to Liu Jie's place?"

  "Oh..."

  The north wind is rustling, all things are withered, and winter is coming again? Time really flies!

  Walking in that corridor with overhanging hands, looking at the flying fallen leaves on both sides, Jiu sister couldn't help but secretly sigh in her heart.

  "Older sister..."

  Just then, a slightly childish cry came from behind, turned around and saw that Xiao Shiyi and Shi Jie'er were walking over from the opposite side.

  Both of them had red faces, and they weren't wearing cloaks. Moreover, Qingfeng, the maid behind Xi, was still holding a shuttlecock in her hand, apparently having just returned from playing in the garden.

  The house was in a bad mood and the staff were restless, but these two little girls were not only unaffected, but also very happy every day.

  Jiujier sometimes really envies these two little girls, simple and carefree.

  " Ninth sister, are you done?" Tenth sister saw her and felt somewhat embarrassed.

  Jiang knew she was messing with the pesticide, so she let Shijie come over to help her. On the one hand, she wanted to lend a helping hand, and on the other hand, Jiang's sinister thoughts were at work.

  She has secured a crucial position in the three-share partnership shop by successfully taking over those businesses from the palace, and as the founder of this technique, she is full of clever ideas, now this person who didn't contribute a single penny to the capital has become the de facto boss of the shop.

  Now she has also mastered the technology of the waxworm project that the Jiang family is about to launch, and from now on, the Jiang family will be led by her everywhere.

  Although Jiang was her stepmother, once she got married, she would eventually have to turn outward, so Jiang hoped that her own biological daughter could get some skills from her.

  Just like those new soap types that got favored by all the princesses and imperial consorts in the palace, weren't they made together with her tenth sister?

  Now even this little girl can independently make a few simple ones?

  Unfortunately, the little girl Shi Jie was good at making cosmetics, but she found this boring, so after going once in the afternoon, she made an excuse to be busy embroidering a pillowcase and never went again. Now she ran into her again while kicking a shuttlecock...

  "Don't worry, tenth sister, I've already finished the task. I've had Qing'an give the formula to Cui Mei." But she naturally wouldn't bother with this little girl.

  "Really?" Upon hearing this, Shijie was overjoyed and pulled her hand forward, "Good sister, you're really great!"

  "Alright, alright." Jiujie smiled.

  "Of course Jiu Jie is great, not only great but also very clever, she can make soap, insecticide and even plant trees." On the other side, little eleven immediately praised Jiu Jie as well.

  "Look, I'm being flattered to the skies! The two sisters are not bad either. Eleventh sister is good at chess, and tenth sister is good at calligraphy." Ninth sister hastily said modestly.

  The two little girls listened and were naturally overjoyed.

  "I want to go see Sixth Sister, do you guys want to come together?" Ninth Sister said.

  "No!" But no sooner had she spoken than two little girls immediately shook their heads.

  "Uh..."

  "I advise Ninth Sister not to go either," said Tenth Sister again.

  "Huh?"

  "It's suffocating just thinking about it." Fourth Sister continued, "Sixth Sister is still the same, no matter how you talk to her she won't respond, and Eldest Maternal Aunt only knows how to make a big fuss and then go back to her room to be ill, which made Eldest Paternal Uncle not come back for two days."

  "Yes, I just went with tenth sister to see sixth sister yesterday, we only sat for a moment and then came back, because... no energy..." Little Eleven chimed in.

  "Oh, I see..." Jiujie's eyebrows furrowed upon hearing this.

  As for Zou Shi, she naturally hoped that she would be more miserable, the old feud was one aspect, and another point was... hehe, Zou Shi had a hard time, but actually, the government was quite calm.

  But Liu Jie is such a pity, no matter what to say, Liu Jie has her own reasons for ending up like this today, she really hopes that she can have a good home.

  "I'll go take a look anyway." She said to the two of them again.

  "Jiubiao sister, you've arrived, come quick!" Zou Zhener greeted her at the door and then pulled her hand to enter the house together.

  These days, Zou Shi and the six sisters are all taken care of by Zou Zhener. Zou Shi is increasingly dependent on this niece from her mother's side, and now Zou Zhener's status in the main house is quite high.

  Perhaps because of the kindness and respect she received, Zou Zhenni gradually changed from when she first arrived at Wen's house. She no longer spoke with a mouth full of insincere pleasantries, nor did she constantly bow and apologize everywhere. As a result, this young woman surprisingly became more and more likable.

  The charm of confidence!

  "How is Sixth Sister?" asked Ninth Sister as they walked along.

  "It's no good..." Upon hearing this, Zou Zhener's face immediately fell. "Starting from yesterday, even Beibei teasing her didn't get a reaction... and she stopped drinking water too..."

  Uh...

  "Aunt just came over and insisted on forcing Zhuang's mother to open her mouth to feed her, I managed to persuade her back, but if this continues, it's unbearable..." Zou Zhenni said with a worried tone.

  "If it can't be done, then why don't you think of a way?" She interrupted Zou Zhenni's words.

  "Think of a way, who doesn't want to, but...". Before they knew it, the two had already passed through the screen and entered the inner room. Zou Zhener pointed at the bed frame, "Like this, who can think of a way now?"

  Jiujie's gaze fell on Liujie, who was lying straight on the bed. In just a few days, Liujie had become even thinner. Ever since Qijie's incident, Liujie had been gradually losing weight, and with the recent fasting, her originally round and plump face had shrunk to the size of a palm. Her bright and spirited eyes had also become dull and lifeless.

  The ninth sister couldn't help but feel a pang in her heart, what a silly girl, this kind of resistance is no different from seeking death...

  "Sixth sister..." Quickly walked to the bedside, Ninth sister squatted down and softly called out to Sixth sister.

  But Liu Jie didn't just ignore her, she didn't even give her a glance.

  She called out again, and Liu Jie immediately closed her eyes, causing Zou Zhener, who was standing quietly watching this side, to let out a helpless sigh.

  Looking at Zou Zhener's nonchalant expression, this kind of situation should be quite common by now.

  The ninth sister did not make another sound, but silently looked at the sixth sister who had closed her eyes tightly. After a long time, she suddenly turned her head to look at Zou Zhener, "Sixth sister is really pitiful, it's all because of Seventh sister... Fortunately, there is a beginning for every debt and a master for every injustice..."

  "Uh..." She said this sentence and Zou Zhener was stunned. "Did Seventh Sister find it?"

  "Yes," she turned her head to Zou Zhener, "there has been news already. I heard this yesterday at Yanshoutang, Second Uncle and the others have sent someone over, preparing to bring her back..." As she spoke, she turned her head again to look at Liu Si'er, and when she saw those tightly closed eyes with rolling eyeballs, a faint smile quickly flashed across her beautiful lips.

  "Really? How's Seventh Sister doing then? Have Second Uncle and the others found her?" Zou Zhenni continued to ask tirelessly about Seventh Sister.

  Jiujie's gaze shifted quietly, falling on the hand hanging down from Liujiu's bedside, that hand slowly clenched into a fist without making a sound, was she tense?

  She still doesn't believe that Qī Jiě (Seventh Sister) alone had the power to direct that play, Liù Jiě (Sixth Sister) may not be an accomplice, but she is absolutely an indulger.

  Later, Liu Jie was injured and rescued back, she became even more suspicious. The driver's hit was so light, but Liu Jie was beaten so heavily, it didn't make sense.

  If... if that injury was self-inflicted by Liu Jie herself, then it makes sense.

  She pretended to be ignorant, but she had known it all along. However, in order to expose her, drastic measures were necessary, so...

  "What's wrong with you?" Zou Zhener looked at her in confusion.

  "Zhen'er, go out and talk, don't disturb Liu Jie's rest." But Jiu Jie said to Zou Zhen'er.

  Her serious irrational behavior shocked Zou Zhenni even more.

  She gave her a wink and then quickly pulled her out.

  The soft, lazy sunlight of an autumn afternoon slowly crept into the room, falling on the face of a girl lying in bed. The girl's large, round eyes snapped open instantly, scanning the room before she saw that no one else was there. She then got up, not bothering to put on shoes, and tiptoed out of the room, her pale feet making barely a sound on the wooden floorboards as she walked quietly outside.

  She skirted around the screen and reached the door, stopped in her tracks, poked out her head, pressed her ear against the door, and listened intently.

  "Bang——"

  But suddenly the door was pulled open from the outside, and the girl tensed up, her body quickly falling to the ground.

  "Sixth sister, eavesdropping will be punished by heaven!" Fortunately, a hand reached out and supported her in time.

  But unexpectedly, Liu Jie didn't take it kindly and glared fiercely at Jiu Jie's smiling face with a sly expression, "Despicable!" After saying that, she pushed her away and left.

  "Sister Liu, I just wanted to help you!" Jiu hastily said.

  "Help me?" Liu Jie'er stopped and turned around, looking at her with a cold smile. "Hmph... how can I help? Go and tell my mother that nothing's wrong so I can hurry up and marry him? Unfortunately, the Wang family isn't sincere about marrying me, even if I do get married, it won't end well for me. You wouldn't... still thinking about being a concubine?"

  "What are you talking about, Sixth Sister? Are you belittling me? You don't even want to be the Empress, do you think I'm lowly enough to go and be someone's concubine?" Her last sentence made Ninth Sister instantly angry, coldly staring at her.

  Sixth sister was taken aback, facing those clear and calm eyes that were also stern, she slowly lowered her gaze.

  "Sixth sister," Jiu said with a sigh, "I really want to help you. We can think of a way to break off the engagement and find another marriage arrangement."

  Listening to her say that, Liu Jie's eyes also involuntarily lit up with hope again, but it was extinguished in an instant, "My mother will agree..."

  ……

  Digression

  Let the dog be the matchmaker, hehe......