Sold immediately after wearing it? I took my family and fled the famine.

Jiang Xing followed her gaze. Madam Pei was much fuller than when he last saw her, her belly was happily protruding, her complexion was rosy, her eyes were bright, and her whole person exuded a calm glow from the inside out.

She recalled how listless Madam Pei had seemed when she last met her; she couldn't eat, barely spoke, and appeared as if something was weighing her down. Now, she was a completely different person.

"Auntie looks much more energetic this time," Jiang Xing said, his tone filled with genuine joy.

Madam Pei smiled and said, "As the pregnancy progresses, it's actually getting easier. In the first few months, I would throw up whatever I ate, but now my appetite has returned, and I'm sleeping soundly. You know, this baby in my belly is quite fussy, but as its mother, I feel at ease knowing that it's strong."

As she spoke, as if remembering something, she stood up, took Jiang Xing's hand, and led him into the inner room: "Come here, I want to show you something."

Jiang Xing was led into the inner room by her. He turned back to Xiao Niu and said, "You wait here. If you get hungry, ask the maid to bring you some snacks." Xiao Niu responded and obediently sat down and opened his book to read.

Madam Pei took out a bamboo basket from the cabinet, inside which were several small clothes and two small hats neatly folded. She took them out one by one and spread them on the couch, as if displaying some extraordinary treasure.

"I learned this last month, the stitches are still a bit rough, don't laugh at your aunt." Madam Pei said, picking up a small shirt and handing it to Jiang Xing: "Feel it, is it soft?"

Jiang Xing took it. It was a very small garment, made of light blue fine cotton. The collar and cuffs were carefully hemmed, and although the stitches weren't particularly exquisite, they were very neat, showing that it had been made with care.

She picked up the little hat again, with a tiny five-petaled flower embroidered on the brim, crooked and somewhat adorable.

"Your aunt embroidered this?" Jiang Xing was somewhat surprised.

Madam Pei pursed her lips shyly: "I've been learning from the embroiderer for half a month, and I've taken apart this flower three times. The embroiderer couldn't bear to watch anymore, because if she kept taking apart it the fabric would fall apart, so I reluctantly stopped."

Jiang Xing couldn't help but laugh, turning the hat over and over to examine it several times: "I think it's pretty good. It's the first time you've been able to embroider something like this. It's much better than mine."

"You're destined for great things, why would you need to learn this?" Madam Pei folded the clothes back one by one and put them back in the basket. "I'm idle at home all day, and this is the only thing I can do to pass the time. When the child is born, he can wear clothes made by his mother, which will be a way for me, as his mother, to do my part."

Jiang Xing watched her folding clothes with such earnestness and satisfaction, and felt happy for her.

As the two were talking, a series of light footsteps suddenly came from outside, followed by a maid's voice announcing from outside the door: "Madam, Miss Chu has arrived."

Madam Pei paused for a moment while folding clothes.

The smile still lingered on her lips, but the smile in her eyes slowly faded, and her originally relaxed brows furrowed a little.

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"Have her go to the backyard and take a seat." Madam Pei put the last piece of clothing back into the basket, her voice indifferent, revealing no emotion. "Just tell her I'll be there shortly."

The maid acknowledged and withdrew.

Madam Pei closed the basket and put it back in the cabinet, her movements unhurried. Jiang Xing stood beside her for a while, and seeing that she didn't speak, he didn't rush to speak either.

After a moment, Madam Pei straightened up, turned around and smiled at Jiang Xing. The smile was fainter than before, carrying a hint of forced reluctance.

"The one who just arrived," she said casually, as if she were saying something she already knew, "is Jing Shi's betrothed. The second young lady of the Chu family, Chu Zhihe."

Jiang Xing was slightly taken aback.

"This time she insisted on coming to the Southwest with Jing Shi, and Jing Shi couldn't refuse, so he had to bring her along." Madam Pei said, taking two steps outside, then stopping and turning to look at Jiang Xing: "Last time Jing Shi returned to the capital, it was to get engaged to the Chu family. To be honest, the Chu family was pressuring him for this marriage. Jing Shi was unwilling, but there were some reasons at home, so he had to agree."

She paused here, as if considering whether she should continue.

Finally, he added, "My nephew has always made his own decisions since he was a child. But this is the only thing that someone found a pretext to force him to back down."

Jiang Xing listened quietly without responding.

Many thoughts raced through her mind, but she simply nodded and said, "I see."

Madam Pei glanced at her, as if trying to discern something from her expression, but Jiang Xing's expression remained calm, revealing no emotion.

"Let's go," Madam Pei said. "Since they've come, we can't keep them waiting." She started to walk out, but after a couple of steps, she turned back and reached out to Jiang Xing: "You go with your aunt."

Jiang Xing did not refuse, took two steps forward, and walked beside her.

The two walked side by side through the covered walkway toward the backyard. Madam Pei's steps were unhurried, one hand gently resting on her lower abdomen, the other hanging naturally at her side.

Jiang Xing walked beside her, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the corners of her mouth were slightly pursed.

That wasn't a "happy" expression.

Jiang Xing didn't ask any questions, but simply followed her quietly.

Pei Jingshi is engaged to Chu Yu's half-sister?

The maid lifted the curtain at the back door, revealing a person already sitting inside.

Hearing the noise, the man stood up and turned to look at the doorway.

She wore a light purple dress made of the finest fabric, which shimmered with a soft sheen in the light.

She was slender with a waist so small it could be encircled by one hand. Her features were delicate, not stunning, but her appearance was upright and clean, the kind of girl who clearly came from a good family and had been well-cared for.

She bowed slightly to Madam Pei, her voice soft: "Auntie."

Madam Pei hummed in agreement, finally managing a slight smile, not cold, but merely polite: "Zhihe is here, please sit down, no need for formalities."

Chu Zhihe sat down as instructed, her gaze immediately falling on Jiang Xing. Her eyes lingered on Jiang Xing's face for a moment, scrutinizing him subtly, before she curved her lips into a slight smile and nodded gently to him as a greeting.

Jiang Xing nodded to her without saying anything more and sat down next to Madam Pei.

A maid brought in tea, and the three of them sat around a low table. Spring sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the table and illuminating the rising steam from the three cups of hot tea.

Madam Pei picked up her teacup and took a sip, then casually asked, "Zhihe, have you settled in well on your journey? The southwest is more humid than the capital. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell the servants."

"Thank you for your concern, Auntie." Chu Zhihe's voice was soft yet steady. "The journey was fine, and Brother Jingshi took good care of me along the way. I didn't have any trouble adjusting."

A faint smile lingered on her lips, her gaze seemingly casually falling on Jiang Xing beside her, secretly observing him.

Jiang Xing lowered her head to drink her tea, naturally feeling the scrutinizing gaze upon her, but she remained silent.