His eyes resembled Xiu Niang's immensely. The facial contours that had just started to mature were very deep. They were not like the people of Central Plains... but they were not very similar to foreigners either. In short, it was an extraordinary kind of good look.

Chang Geng had just stepped into the house when he immediately saw the old maid standing on her toes and looking out. The old maid was taken aback when she first caught sight of his messy appearance: "Oh no, how did you become like this?"

"It's nothing," Chang Geng said weakly. "Someone fell into the river, I jumped in to help them and got wet."

The old maid took a small step behind him and whispered: "Madam said that we should not serve up the meals yet, I assumed she wanted to wait for the Mayor - Ah yes, Madam had also asked that young master come over to her chamber, she said there were some private matters to discuss between mother and child."

As Chang Geng stepped forward, his shoulders involuntarily tightened, and after a while, he nodded. He first returned to his room to change into dry clothes. Sulky and annoyed, he carefully folded Shen Shiliu's robe, then picked up the box of lip color and went to Xiu Niang's room.

The old maid was curious about Chang Geng and Xiu Niang's strange mother-child relationship but did not dare to inquire about it. So, she followed him, planning to eavesdrop.

Standing in front of Xiu Niang's door, Chang Geng fixed his attire, which was formal, as if he was meeting with a guest. It was only after he looked proper and tidy enough that he lowered his head and knocked:

"Mother."

There was a cold and clear voice of a woman coming from inside: "Come in."

Chang Geng reached out and pushed the door open. After entering, he looked back and saw the old maid peeking at them. She was startled upon meeting his gaze and looked away. When she looked back again after a moment, the doors had been closed, and nothing could be seen anymore.

Xiu Niang's room was very dark. The window on the side of the room that faced the sun had been covered.

It was as if she did not want to see any light; she was sitting alone in a dark corner, facing a mirror.

Chang Geng looked at her figure from behind and frowned slightly.

He did not know what had gone to Xiu Niang's head. She wore a pale yellow dress and her hair was up in the style of an unmarried woman. The years had treated her well, and coupled with the darkness of the room that easily covered the wrinkles around her eyes, she appeared as if she was a woman in her twenties.