Under Madam Wang’s warm arrangements, Madam Lu and her companions were guided to the guest room to settle in.

Zhou Xiuer looked outside and, seeing no one around, approached Madam Lu and whispered, "Mother, isn’t it strange? Why is that Matriarch being so hospitable to us? Isn’t it said that those Madams and Matriarchs usually don’t have a good face towards mistresses?"

Madam Lu replied, "Didn’t she say that your aunt and the others haven’t been formally affiliated with the family, so they don’t count as mistresses and haven’t affected her; therefore, there’s no question of a good face or not."

"Could she have secretly resolved the matter with my aunt and the others?" Zhou Xiuer suddenly suggested.

Madam Lu was startled: "Don’t talk nonsense. If it were as you said, what does she plan on doing by leaving us here? She did mention she hopes we can say a few good words in front of your aunt and the others."

Hearing this, Zhou Xiuer felt somewhat puzzled.

"I reckon she’s trying to win us over," Madam Lu speculated after pondering.

"Win us over? Why should she? As the esteemed Matriarch, with servants at her beck and call, adorned with silver and gold, why would she bother trying to flatter us?" Zhou Xiuer rolled her eyes and said, "We don’t have anything valuable for her to scheme over."

"We may not, but what about your aunt and the others?" Madam Lu, showing rare insight, said: "If not with us, then perhaps with them."

"Aunt..." Zhou Xiuer began but closed her mouth, aware that her aunt wasn’t someone capable of doing anything extraordinary; if it’s not her, then it must be Wufu.

Thinking of this, Zhou Xiuer became intensely curious — what has Wufu done?

Ever since Wufu got knocked out by her last year, and upon waking, gradually became more capable and resourceful, she managed to earn quite a fortune; hence, Zhou Xiuer would believe if told Wufu achieved something significant.

"Stop pondering. In any case, she agreed we could go find your aunt, and once we see her, we’ll understand what’s going on," Madam Lu stated. "Besides, we haven’t learned of your aunt’s whereabouts, so we have no choice but to rely on her. Otherwise, in this vast Changan City, amidst the sea of people, where would we begin searching? We also lack silver; surely we can’t go without even a place to rest, right?"

Throughout their journey, they stayed in dilapidated temples and ate dry cakes, suffering terribly. Now, with the weather turning colder, staying outside further might lead to freezing to death.

Reflecting on these hardships, Zhou Xiuer shivered, glancing around this bright and clean room, with bedding provided, wearing soft garments — what more is there to ask?

Indeed, they really have nothing worthy of other people’s schemes or coveting. They can only wait.

"Is Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou here? Our Matriarch instructed me to serve and, by the way, our young mistress heard about Miss Zhou and wants to invite her over for a chat!" A maid cheerfully announced.

"Invite me?" Zhou Xiuer was a bit flattered.

The maid said, "If Miss doesn’t wish to, that’s alright."

"Of course, go, go, why not? She loves making new friends!" Madam Lu replied on behalf of Zhou Xiuer and then pulled Zhou Xiuer aside to quietly say, "As newcomers, we’re unfamiliar with this place. You should talk to that young mistress, and perhaps you can also inquire about your aunt and the others."

"Moreover, since we plan to settle in Changan, you ought to make some friends here!" Madam Lu advised further, "Learn their ways properly, and keep steady."

Zhou Xiuer’s eyes lit up, and she nodded, telling the maid, "Then please lead the way, sister."