thoughts," Du Zhao said hesitantly, "then this isn’t a good idea!"Lady Bian's situation with Chen Jia was complicated. She seemed to be at ease around him but had never acted on her feelings.Du Zhao thought deeply: Lady Bian’s past was something she kept secret;if Chen Jia knew about it, she should have been uncomfortable with him, yet she didn’t seem so.She touched her forehead and muttered, "Let me think!"Lijuzi nodded and took leave. Lady Bian and Chen Jia?Du Zhao thought
more and felt uneasy. Chen Jia was pragmatic, had connections, and had ambitions;if Lady Bian married him, would he truly treat her well?Moreover, the Chen family was complicated. Chen Jia had inherited his position through his uncle due to a dispute that caused tension within the family.She decided against it.Lady Bian came in with a warm smile, asking Du Zhao, "I heard that Twelve Sister has come over. Where is she?"Her smile, bright like midday sun, showed no hint of
the usual nervousness.Du Zhao said, “I have something to ask you…”"Please speak," Lady Bian sat beside Du Zhao warmly.Du Zhao hesitated and whispered, "Lijuzi came here to make a match for you…"Lady Bian’s face turned red. Not the pale white she usually had when hearing about marriage proposals.Du Zhao asked quietly, “She mentioned Chen Jia…”“Please don’t listen to her,” Lady Bian suddenly recalled Lijuzi's probing question and changed color. She tightly gripped Du Zhao’s arm, turning pale again. "I have
nothing with him!I only went to ask him twice for news…" She shed tears of fear. "Cousin-in-law, please don’t trouble Chen Jia;he is a good man… I won’t see him anymore… He has tried so hard today, don't tell Brother or Sister-in-law…"Lady Bian’s emotions were intense.Du Zhao recalled what Lijuzi had said about Lady Bian and Chen Jia being together.Du Zhao hugged Lady Bian's shoulders gently. "Don’t worry;I understand. You are a good, well-mannered child. Lijuzi truly wanted to help
you," she added as reassurance.Lady Bian nodded. "Cousin-in-law, I know that you and Brother-in-law care for me. Please repay the fifty-two taels of silver to Chen Jia;if it means using my monthly allowance."Du Zhao smiled in agreement, thinking of Chen Xi’s situation. Was Chen Jia really short on those one hundred taels?Why did he accept Lady Bian's forty-eight taels?Du Zhao’s mood was mixed.She felt she knew something but didn’t dare believe her own conjecture.Du Zhao quickly arranged for the repayment
of the silver.Cuando Lady Bian salía del cuarto de Du Zhao, lloraba en silencio en el camino de regreso a la Torre de Agua Jade. Al llegar a la Torre de Agua Jade, le instruyó a Yinghong: "Ve a casa de Chen y avísale a Tío Tao que mi primo sabe sobre el préstamo. Por favor, cuídalo más a Chen Jia".She didn’t say more out of fear it might worsen Chen Jia’s situation. She believed he could figure out her