The fact that Manbao and Bai Shan are engaged isn't a secret at all. Among the people in the capital who know them, nine out of ten know it; the remaining one is probably just too young to understand.
Although the Old Madam asking the question wasn't from the capital, she knew it too. She only asked in order to smoothly lead into her next question.
Once Manbao made it clear that she was already betrothed, all the Old Madams turned their eyes to Zhou Liru, smiling with squinted eyes as they said, "This is Lord Zhou's niece on his wife's side? She's truly pretty. How old is she this year? Is she engaged yet?"
Zhou Liru glanced at her aunt, held in a breath until her face flushed red, then lowered her head.
Seeing this, Manbao quickly said, "She's still young, there's no rush."
"She looks about the same age as Lord Zhou. She can marry a couple of years later, but the engagement can be settled now."
