Chapter 20 Doubts

Jiang Qingning was deeply worried and sighed as he looked at the sun outside.

"Zi Su, have the people we sent brought back the food? Everyone is busy, we can't let them go hungry."

Jiang Qingning glanced at Qin Xiu who was resting in the front hall, then turned to look at the yamen runners sitting in the corridor drinking tea, feeling anxious.

"Don't worry, miss. I sent someone out early and they should be on their way back." Zi Su comforted her softly.

Jiang Qingning was already grateful to so many people for working so hard for her for so long, but she also felt a lot more guilty.

Now there is Qin Xiu...

He is not only the eldest son of the Duke of Qin's Mansion, but also the younger brother of the imperial concubine who is the only favorite in the harem, the emperor's brother-in-law, and a third-rank official of the court.

Unfortunately, being a woman already had many inconveniences, so how could she dare to talk too much with Prince Qin who was looking for a wife? She could only let Nanny Zhang wait attentively by her side.

"Don't forget to ask someone to buy more food and tables, chairs and benches later so that we can treat you all to a good feast tonight." Jiang Qingning frowned and advised.

"Miss Jiang, there's no need to be so troublesome."

A cold male voice sounded, startling Jiang Qingning.

She quickly turned around and saw that Qin Xiu had stood beside her without her noticing and was listening to everything she said.

Jiang Qingning tightened his fingers and bowed apologetically: "Your Highness, I am already very grateful for the help from His Highness the Crown Prince and his fellow yamen runners. If you don't treat us with courtesy, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight."

"In that case, thank you for your hard work, Miss Jiang." Qin Xiu nodded and looked at her deeply.

"Your Highness, you don't have to be polite. This is what I should do." Jiang Qingning took two steps back and saluted respectfully.

The father and brother as well as the incompetent second and third uncles were all banished and targeted because they offended nobles. The Jiang family was almost wiped out twice.

When facing Qin Xiu, Jiang Qingning was respectful, cautious and grateful.

Several servants ran back to the yard happily: "We've bought it! The food is here! Let's eat!"

Jiang Qingning was delighted and quickly walked down the stairs towards the crowd.

She thanked the yamen runners who were queuing up for food and said, "I would like to thank you all for your help today, but since it's too sunny now, I won't prepare any drinks. We can enjoy them to our heart's content during dinner tonight."

Yamen runner Zhang said hurriedly, "Miss Jiang prepared this meal for us roughnecks. It's already a blessing for us. How dare we eat your dinner again?"

Wang Yashi agreed: "Brother Zhang is right. Miss Jiang, there is no need to be polite. This is just the task assigned to us by the Lord.

There's a reward for returning to the government office, and since you gave each of us two taels of silver, even if we have to eat the dry food we brought with us, we'll still enjoy it!"

As soon as the two of them said this, the yamen runners who were carrying food around came forward to express their gratitude, and echoed them one by one.

"That's right! With one day's work, you can earn a month's salary, and you can also eat at the signature restaurant of Fu Man Lou. I want to be your security guard!"

Jiang Qingning couldn't help laughing as she listened to everyone's agreement. She turned around and ordered tea to be prepared so that everyone could take a break after dinner.

Now all that’s left is the renovation of the house and the final cleaning, which I think can be done in one afternoon.

The rest can be repaired by the servants in the mansion every day. I am afraid that within half a month, the entire Ning Pavilion will be like a new house.

Jiang Qingning turned around and saw that Nanny Zhang was already preparing meal for Qin Xiu.

Qin Xiu turned around and looked at her. Jiang Qingning's heart tightened and she quickly saluted from a distance.

"Let's eat in the backyard."

Jiang Qingning quickly withdrew his gaze and left quickly with Zi Su.

Zi Su was puzzled: "Miss, you are the head of the family now, and Prince Qin is an honored guest. Isn't it impolite to let only Aunt Zhang entertain him?"

Jiang Qingning paused. She was confused. After all, Qin Xiu was the future Duke of Qin and a trusted minister of the current emperor.

She seemed to be distancing herself from him too deliberately in order to avoid suspicion.

"Forget it, let's go back." Jiang Qingning sighed and turned around.

She walked back to the front hall, took a deep breath, turned the corner and walked in. When Aunt Zhang saw her coming, she set the table for the two of them.

Jiang Qingning stepped forward and bowed: "I'll excuse you by having some food from outside. If it's convenient for you in the evening, you can stay for dinner. Qingning will cook for you personally to express my gratitude."

"Convenient." Qin Xiu answered immediately.

He felt the person in front of him stiffen slightly, and said helplessly: "Miss Jiang, please don't be polite to me anymore. Cheng Yan's friends are my friends. Please sit down and eat. I'm hungry too."

Jiang Qingning smiled and nodded. After hearing this, she stopped being restrained and immediately sat down opposite Qin Xiu to eat quietly.

Qin Xiu glanced at the person who was about to bury his head in his rice bowl, and said indifferently, "Miss Jiang, are you afraid of me?"

"How could that be? It's just that I just got divorced yesterday, and my reputation isn't very good right now. I'm really worried that contacting you will tarnish your innocence."

Jiang Qingning raised his eyes to argue and answered sincerely.

How did Qin Xiu find out?

She was really a little afraid of him.

Jiang Qingning has been afraid of people with cold faces since he was a child, and he was even more disgusted when he saw Xun Chen.

But since she was a child, she was told more than once that she was Xun Chen's future bride, and she had to respect him, love him, and put Xun Chen first in everything.

Gradually, she subconsciously forgot that she seemed to have disliked this kind of people from the beginning to the end.

Compared to Xun Chen, whom Jiang Qingning had known for eight years and whom he had come to know better than anyone else, Jiang Qingning was indeed more concerned about the noble Qin Xiu. She was worried that she would follow in the footsteps of her father and brother before she had any family.

Qin Xiu's eyes flashed.

He changed the subject and said casually, "I wonder what name Miss Jiang is going to give her new home. Is she going to follow the Jiang family and name it Jiang Mansion?"

"Ning Pavilion, the Ning of peace."

Jiang Qingning's eyes sparkled as she answered without hesitation, "Your Highness must have heard that I am a woman disliked by the Jiang family. How could I dare to use the Jiang surname to build a new residence? I'm afraid if I hang it up today, the Jiang family will come knocking on my door tomorrow."

She naturally didn't care about her past, and rather than saying on the surface that she didn't dare to use it, it would be better to say that she disdained to use the current name Jiang.

"Why is it named Ning Pavilion? What's the origin of it?" Qin Xiu curled his lips slightly and changed the subject curiously.

Jiang Qingning couldn't help but relax when he thought of this. He chuckled and said, "I named this house Ningge. I wish my country and family peace, my parents and siblings safety and happiness, and myself, my family, and my servants longevity and peace, waiting for the day when I can meet my family again."

Qin Xiu's heart moved slightly. He raised his eyes to comfort Jiang Qingning: "It's a very good name. I believe Miss Jiang will get what she wants soon."

"Besides, Lord Jiang and Little Lord Jiang are loyal ministers. The case itself was suspicious.

But the Lingnan training is exile on the surface, but it is not. Miss Jiang, there is no need to worry so much. You will come back naturally when it is time."

"case?"

Jiang Qingning was surprised and asked hurriedly, "Didn't my father and brother... offend the powerful?"

Qin Xiu explained in a low voice: "Except for the royal family, no one in the capital has the right to arbitrarily appoint or dismiss officials."

"Back then, Miss Jiang's father and brother were involved in a case, and Earl Anping also participated in the investigation, which is why the case was closed so quickly. Could it be that Miss Jiang didn't know about this?"

"What do you mean by that?"