You and I are pure and innocent, so why should we fear the worldly gaze?

At this point, Fu Xuechen could only continue to lie. "Something has happened to the family business. My grandparents are old and worried about not being able to keep the family business. My health is getting better, so I want to share more of the burden with my two elders."

"Mr. Tan and I are truly destined to be together. As luck would have it, before I remarried, I also had the ambition to run a business and support my family. Unfortunately, someone disrupted my business and I never recovered."

Su Qingli felt a headache whenever she thought of those two playboys, but she was powerless and her words carried no weight, as she was the daughter of a criminal who was hated by everyone.

Fu Xuechen's words revealed sympathy and compassion. "Doing business is hard, and it's not easy for women to do business."

"I don't dare to think about it for now. With my current status, doing business would bring disgrace to my husband's family, so I gave up the idea."

Su Qingli sighed softly, unconsciously revealing the longing buried deep in her heart. It was a regret for her that the sachet business failed.

"From what I've heard from Miss Su, I'd like to try my hand at business. When I'm healthy and the family business is stable, Miss Su might join me in running a small business. I have connections."

Fu Xuechen wanted to help Su Qingli. She was restricted in the Qi Mansion and had to consider too much for the Qi Mansion. It would be better for her to be able to act freely in the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Tan. Let's talk about this later."

Su Qingli only hopes that Qi Jinqian can meet his future wife as soon as possible, and that she can end this transaction as soon as possible, escape from the Qi Mansion, and live a free and open life from then on.

Fu Xuechen nodded, turned around and went inside, sitting behind the screen.

"Miss Su, if you are ready, please help me play the piano to soothe my heartache!"

As soon as the words fell, the melodious sound of the piano came out from between Su Qingli's fingers, like a cheerfully rushing stream, the bamboo bushes growing beside the stones along the bank were lush and green, the sparrows on the branches chirped and sang loudly, and the layers of green leaves rustled.

Fu Xuechen enjoyed a good sleep, as if he was there, close to all things in nature.

Time passed quickly and inadvertently. Su Qingli stopped and the folk tunes came to an abrupt end.

It's just an ordinary piece of music, but in her hands she can make it full of different meanings and interests.

"Miss Su has extraordinary accomplishments. My heart disease has been relieved a little. With Miss Su's help, I will be able to recover in time." Fu Xuechen praised.

Su Qingli said politely as usual, "I've heard a lot of compliments from Mr. Tan. If you need me urgently in the future, you can send someone to the Qi Mansion to find me. I'm the Sixth Madam of the Qi Mansion. Send someone to announce my name and say that you're my friend. I will come as promised."

"I am honored that Miss Su truly treats me as a friend and opens her heart to me. It is human nature for friends to help each other." Fu Xuechen's lips curled up, and he felt happy in his heart.

"If Young Master Tan were a woman, I wouldn't have to be so cautious and could simply invite you to the Qi Mansion as a guest."

Su Qingli regretted that the person she was talking to was a man, otherwise she wouldn't have to go around in circles and talk to everyone in the Qi Mansion to come and play the piano for him to heal him.

Fu Xuechen was stunned for a moment. "Miss Su, you're joking. Gender doesn't matter to friends. The strict distinction between men and women is aimed at those with bad intentions. You and I are pure and honest, with open hearts. Why should we fear worldly opinions?"

"That being said, I am a woman after all." Su Qingli has her own judgment and long-term considerations. The tall and graceful man opposite her will never understand the difficulties of being a woman.

Fu Xuechen said nothing more. The situation in the palace was only becoming more and more urgent. The two said goodbye to each other and drove off in different directions in their carriages.

The eldest princess caused a disturbance in the court yesterday, so the people of the Qi family need to be more careful about the eldest princess.

"Jin Qian, what do you think of the relationship between the Princess and the Prime Minister? The Princess has always been a gentle and virtuous woman, but strange things have been happening lately. What happened in the court yesterday must have been instigated by the Prime Minister. Do you think the Prime Minister is plotting to usurp the throne?"

Su Qingli carefully pushed open the side door of the Qi Mansion and walked slowly through the courtyard of the east wing. She heard the resentful and suspicious words of Qi Shangshu in a viewing pavilion.

Fu Xuechen's words about plotting to usurp the throne were deeply imprinted in Su Qingli's mind. She paused, hid in the shade of a melon trellis covered with overgrown weeds, and listened quietly to the conversation between the two.

Qi Jinqian tried to stop him, saying, "Father, don't say that. If the Prime Minister's people hear it, you'll be in big trouble. Our Qi Mansion doesn't have the ability to resist. We need to join forces with the General's Mansion."

Minister Qi's cloudy old eyes seemed to see a ray of light, "You want to ask Concubine Xie to act as a matchmaker?"

"That's indeed my intention." Qi Jinqian nodded calmly.

"You are the pillar of our Qi family. No matter what ideas you come up with, your eldest sister and I will support you." Minister Qi trusts Qi Jinqian almost unconditionally. The entire Qi family has reached its current position thanks to Qi Jinqian's wisdom.

It was Qi Jinqian who arranged for Queen Qi to marry the emperor, who was just a prince. At that time, the Qi family was just a small family, and Minister Qi was just a minor official who could not enter the court and was not worth mentioning.

Later, it was Qi Jinqian's credit that he was able to restrain Concubine Xie.

"Thank you, father and elder sister, for your kindness and trust. I am a member of the Qi family, and I must put the Qi family first." Qi Jinqian's eyes were deep. He had shouldered the burden of bringing glory to the Qi family since he was young. For so many years, he had been loyal to the Qi family.

Minister Qi smiled with satisfaction and nodded. His sixth son, Qi Jinqian, was the person he relied on the most, and the hope of strengthening the Qi family rested on him.

Su Qingli did not move. It had been a long time since the two of them left the viewing pavilion. She had just walked out, looking around, and returned home stiffly along a stone path.

Sitting absent-mindedly in the small room where she lived, Su Qingli poured tea with trembling hands to moisten her dry lips. It was a hot summer day and she was sweating all over after being frightened.

The tea overflowed from the cup, soaking the wooden table. She lifted the cup to her lips and heard Qi Jinqian's voice, "A-Li, I heard from the servants that you weren't at the mansion. Where did you go? Why didn't you call Fengxian?"

"Jinqian, when did you return to the mansion? I've been inside the mansion the entire time. I found a vacant lot, loosened the soil, sowed the seeds I bought last time, and have been busy watering and fertilizing them ever since."

Su Qingli was so frightened that the teacup in her hand almost fell to the ground. She quickly calmed herself down and smiled slightly.

Qi Jinqian immediately noticed the puddle of water on the table. He walked over with concern and grabbed Su Qingli's hand to examine it carefully. "Why is there tea on the table? Is your hand injured?"

Su Qingli pretended to be calm, slowly pulled her hand away, and shook her head with a smile, "My hand is not injured, it's just that my arm is a little weak from working for a long time, and I just spilled the tea."

Qi Jinqian looked at her clothes that were soaked on her back and her hair around her forehead and ears that was soaked with sweat. Everything was traceable, so he didn't realize that she was lying.