Asking for Trouble

"That's right." Lena said with a gentle smile. "General Evan Xiao has been so kind to us—I truly don't know how I could ever repay him!"

"Now that's odd," Aunt Leah said, furrowing her brows. "The General has no connection to my sister-in-law and they've never met. Why would he give her such precious spirit medicine?"

"Well..." Lena glanced at Evan Xiao, but couldn't come up with a good explanation.

Evan Xiao could sense people's emotions.

At this moment, he could feel the lady questioning him was brimming with malice and jealousy.

His expression turned cold as he looked at Aunt Leah and said lightly, "What exactly are you questioning?"

Evan Xiao's tone was calm.

But Aunt Leah suddenly felt nervous, stammering, "I—I... General, I didn't mean anything by it, I just thought it was strange!"

"I heard that the Prime Minister's wife suffers from a cold illness, so I gave her the Fire Demon Pill," Evan Xiao said. "Medicine is meant to heal and save people. I gave it to someone who needed it—is that so strange? Or do you think I've become so poor that I need to trade pills for money?"

"N-no... that's not it..." Aunt Leah's face flushed bright red, and she couldn't get another word out.

"Second son's wife, I'm bound to drink a bit today. Go make me some hangover soup!" Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu suddenly spoke up, her face stern.

"Huh? Mom, you want me to do it?" Aunt Leah was stunned.

Normally, the servants would handle this sort of thing. Why was she being asked?

"You're my daughter-in-law, aren't you? What, you can't make it for me?" Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu asked.

"No, no! I'll get right on it." Aunt Leah could only leave, awkward and embarrassed.

Honestly, Aunt Leah brought this on herself.

Evan Xiao was a benefactor to the Zhu family.

Both Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu and Zhu Minghan already treated him as their most honored guest.

Yet Aunt Leah just had to make things difficult for him right off the bat... No wonder Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu didn't like her.

......

In the Blue Moon Kingdom, there are many customs at birthday banquets ending in a zero.

One of these traditions is bestowing blessings upon the younger generation.

A number of lucky pouches are prepared, and the birthday celebrant, or someone with high status and good fortune, personally hands them to their children and grandchildren, symbolizing blessings and protection.

This time, it's Prime Minister Zhu's fortieth birthday, so of course lucky pouches were prepared.

The men's lucky pouches are made of brocade, embroidered with pomegranate flowers.

Brocade symbolizes a bright future.

Pomegranates, with their many seeds, represent the hope for many descendants.

The women's lucky pouches are a bit more complicated.

Married women get plain brocade pouches, embroidered with longans.

Plain brocade symbolizes diligence and thrift, while longans represent giving birth to noble sons.

Unmarried girls get red brocade pouches, embroidered with peonies.

The red brocade matches the color of a bride's veil, and peonies symbolize wealth and honor.

So, a red brocade pouch with peonies means you might marry into a rich and noble family.

That's why unmarried girls' pouches are also called 'matchmaking pouches.'

With so many people in the Zhu residence, there were three types of lucky pouches, each packed into a large chest and carried in by the servants.

Maybe Evan Xiao's aura was just too strong, because as one servant carrying a chest passed by him, he suddenly tripped over his own feet and fell.

The chest in his hands tipped over, and its contents spilled toward Evan Xiao.

Evan Xiao reached out and steadied the chest with one hand.

Only one lucky pouch fell out, landing right in Evan Xiao's arms.

The fallen servant was so scared he collapsed, kneeling on the floor and begging for forgiveness.

Evan Xiao waved his hand and said, "It's fine, go on!"

As he spoke, he tossed the pouch that had landed in his arms back into the chest.

"General!" Minister Zhuo suddenly called out. "That pouch fell right into your hands—it's fate! Why not let you bestow the first lucky pouch? That way, the girls in our household can share in your good fortune!"