Could it be that he can't even beat the old man?

"In reply to Miss Su, the Prime Minister is not at home. He has gone out for something. If you have anything to do, I can do it for you."

Su Qingli felt empty inside, as if something was missing. She waved her hand absentmindedly, signaling her subordinates to leave.

For several days in a row, Fu Xuechen did not return to the Prime Minister's Mansion. Su Qingli would ask about it every day, but that was all.

Business continued in full swing as usual, and she made an appointment with Xiaoxiang to meet in Yunshuijian.

Su Qingli came in holding the box: "Xiaoxiang, this is the money I made from selling the sachets."

Xiaoxiang opened the wooden box and was so shocked that her eyes widened and her mouth opened wide. After a moment, she came to her senses and asked, "Miss, did we make so much money from making sachets?"

"Yes, this is your half of the wages, but this time you still need to provide the capital."

Su Qingli had to pay back her debts and supplement her family expenses, so she didn't have any extra money and had to rely on Xiaoxiang to pay for the sachets.

Xiaoxiang was very happy, as she could use the money to make more sachets.

"Miss, I can pay for it. Use the money to buy new sachets. The finished products will surely be worth several times more. I'll wait and see."

Su Qingli has a longer-term plan: "Xiaoxiang, you have limited manpower to embroider so many sachets by yourself. When you make more money in the future, I will hire a few more embroiderers and invite you to train them."

Xiaoxiang was naturally very willing to do so. She had worked day and night to make the hundreds of sachets she sold last time.

Thinking about Su Qingli's sudden situation and her urgent need for money, she gritted her teeth and put all her strength into finishing the embroidery and sewing of the sachet.

Su Qingli gave Xiaoxiang the money she deserved, gave her a few instructions, and then they all went home.

For no reason, many images of Fu Xuechen appeared in her mind. He hadn't returned home for several days. He must have hated her, so he stayed away from her. She felt it was unlucky to see him.

After such dejected and self-destructive thoughts, she soon returned to the familiar Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Has the Prime Minister still not returned home?" As soon as Su Qingli said this, she suddenly realized that she had said too much and forced herself not to ask any more questions.

"Miss Su, the Prime Minister has never returned home. I think he is busy with official business and is being kept in the palace by His Majesty."

The subordinate stood at the door against the sunlight and reported.

Su Qingli's expression became increasingly calm. After some reflection, she decided to earn money to pay off her debts and quickly cut off her emotional entanglement. "That's fine. I have business matters to attend to, so you can go down."

She put her love affairs aside and devoted herself to her business.

Four or five days passed in a flash, like flowing water in the east in the blink of an eye.

A figure swayed in the quaint little window of the inn's elegant room, the flames in the room danced with the curl of incense, and the night breeze blew in gently.

"How has she been these days? Has she mentioned me again? Please tell me in detail." Fu Xuechen, who was living in seclusion here, put down the book in his hand. He has been in a restless mood recently. He couldn't concentrate on a book for a long time and couldn't help wandering in his mind.

"Master Prime Minister, Miss Su seems to be obsessed with business and no longer cares about whether you return home or not. These days, she takes Qingzhu with her, leaving early and returning late, entering and leaving the Qi Mansion every day."

The subordinate reported in general that he could not enter the Qi Mansion, and had to follow him like a thief all day long, waiting outside, which was long and boring.

The Qi Mansion is the maiden family of the current queen. Her father, Qi Yan, is the current emperor's uncle and the Minister of Revenue, one of the six ministries, in charge of the court's financial power.

Although Fu Xuechen was the chief minister, he was highly trusted and relied upon by the emperor and was able to interfere in the selection of the heads of the six ministries.

However, because the Qi family is the empress's family, the emperor and empress are of one mind, and the emperor loves the Qi family as well, the Qi family is also under the emperor's protection and trust, so he cannot move around at will.

"I will visit the Qi Mansion another day. You go back and focus on keeping an eye on the Madam. Report back immediately if there is anything." Fu Xuechen's eyes burned in the dark night. General Xie was not enough to show Su Qingli's charm. Before he knew it, Su Qingli had hooked up with the Qi Mansion!

Xie Linyuan would be fine, but Qi Yan, an old man who had lost his wife many years ago, must have promised her so much benefit that she, a poor noblewoman who was short of money, had to come forward.

Fu Xuechen couldn't believe it. Could it be that he couldn't even defeat an old man?

As far as he knew, Qi Yan loved his deceased wife deeply, but there was no guarantee that a man would not succumb to temptation and change his mind after many years, and remarry in his old age.

Back then, Su Qingli, who was famous in the capital, was coveted by all the men in the capital. General Xie also bowed to her and won her heart. At that time, many women in the capital who were in love with Xie Linyuan were disappointed.

There were constant stories about the talented man and beautiful woman, and everyone thought they were a match made in heaven, but unfortunately things did not go as planned.

Fu Xuechen, who had a crush on Su Qingli in the past, took the opportunity to play along with her and unexpectedly formed an indissoluble bond with Su Qingli.

As the night deepened, Su Qingli, who had made Fu Xuechen feel uneasy, had just stepped out of the gate of the Qi Mansion when the man inside handed her a lantern.

Su Qingli thanked him and turned to walk towards the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Miss, you are knowledgeable and very good at music. You are truly talented. I am impressed by your music." Qingzhu gave her a thumbs up and praised her. She seemed to understand the knowledge in the books, but she could tell whether the music was good or not just by listening to it.

If her daughter wasn't a girl, with her real talent and knowledge, she could have become a Dean of the Imperial College.

"Qingzhu, you must know that there are always people better than you and mountains better than you. I am very lucky that the Qi Mansion has accepted me to teach and given me a generous stipend."

She couldn't help with the embroidery of the sachets, and she didn't dare to sit idle, so she temporarily found another way to make some money. Su Qingli didn't dare to use her real identity, as Fu Xuechen's words were still fresh in her mind.

When people from the Qi Mansion asked about it, she took out the forged new name on her pass to deceive them.

Qingzhu was speechless and replied softly, "Yes."

"Madam, you're back." The servant greeted her at the door and asked, as if to pry into the conversation, "You only come home after dark every day. Is it always for business? I want to help you, Madam, and do my best to help you."

Su Qingli immediately declined, not wanting to expose her livelihood in the Qi Mansion in front of others: "This is something only a woman can do. I can just take Qingzhu with me. I appreciate your kindness."

As soon as these words were spoken, his subordinates became even more suspicious that Su Qingli was doing something dishonorable in the Qi Mansion.

The morning light shone through the window. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, got up from the bed and washed up. She still chose a plain dress. She never liked bright and ostentatious things.

The title of noble lady was just a rumor spread by the sons of powerful and wealthy people who admired her elegance in the past. She seldom appeared in public. During the years when the late emperor sat on the throne, she sometimes participated in important palace banquets, and it was her musical performance at those banquets that made her attract much attention.

"Qingzhu, let's go."

After breakfast, Su Qingli took Qingzhu Rugu and rushed to Qi Mansion.

Zhao Shi and Ri Yu taught the young master Qi calligraphy and calligraphy, while Yan Zhou taught the second young lady Qi the art of playing the zither. The day was packed.

Noon is Su Qingli's rest time. The Qi family arranged a separate room for her. After lunch, she took a nap leaning on the recliner, and Qingzhu served her beside her.

Qingzhu muttered, "Miss, the Qi Mansion is really big, not inferior to the Prime Minister's Mansion. I just heard from the maid in the Qi Mansion today that Master Qi is the uncle of the emperor and the Minister of Revenue, with a prominent position..."

Before she could finish her words, Qingzhu saw Fu Xuechen walking towards her quietly and making a gesture to keep quiet. She was so scared that she quickly covered her mouth and her body shook like a sieve.