Chapter 168 What Attitude

Xie Qingran was not a weak person. After deciding to marry into the family, she knew she would face all sorts of problems, so she didn't take this little incident to heart at all. Besides, with such a commotion today, His Majesty would definitely find out, as would the Empress. The Emperor and Empress would also teach the Consort a lesson because of this incident. After all, it was very inappropriate for Xiao Jue and Xie Qingran to send a woman over at this time, as they were newly married.

Seeing Xie Qingran's still indifferent attitude, Xie Zhaoye walked over with some dissatisfaction: "Xie Qingran, your mother is doing this for your own good. What kind of attitude is this?"

What's wrong with me?

Xie Qingran looked at Xie Zhaoye with some confusion.

"If I don't put my mother at ease, should I hug her and cry, asking her to make the decision for me?"

"That's the Imperial Concubine, what can you do to her?"

As Xie Qingran spoke, a hint of disdain appeared in her eyes.

Xie Zhaoye was speechless. Xiao Jue coughed and looked at Xie Zhaoye: "Young Master Xie has a good spirit, but I wonder if he has any real skills?"

"What do you mean by that, Your Highness?" Xie Zhaoye was already a bit angry, and now he was even more furious after hearing this: "Does Your Highness think I'm all show and no substance?"

"Not really. The patrol battalion is short of a deputy commander, and I have already recommended you. I just don't know if Young Master Xie is up to the task?" Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, looking at Xie Zhaoye with a half-smile.

What?

Xie Qingran never expected that Xiao Jue would actually arrange a position of real power for Xie Zhaoye.

Xie Zhaoye had prepared a lot of swear words, but faced with this arrangement, he was at a loss for words. Helpless, he could only nod and say, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will do my best."

"Well, since you've accepted my favor, then treat my wife better and don't always bully her."

Xiao Jue looked at Xie Zhaoye with some dissatisfaction.

At this moment, Xiao Yu also came over, standing protectively in front of Xie Qingran, and looked up at Xie Zhaoye: "As an older brother, you should love your younger sister. Why do you always bully your younger sister?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhaoye was dumbfounded. When had he ever bullied anyone...?

For some reason, Xie Zhaoye, who was originally very confident, now felt a little guilty and lowered his head after carefully recalling his time with Xie Qingran. He didn't dare to look at Xie Qingran anymore.

Seeing Xie Zhaoye's discomfiture, Xie Qingran felt a surge of satisfaction. She looked at Xiao Yu with some surprise, not expecting this brat to speak up for her.

"Alright, alright, everyone, please sit down."

"The kitchen has prepared a lot of delicious food. Today, everyone should have a good taste of the flavors of our Duke Zhenguo's Mansion."

Xie Qingran immediately pushed Xiao Jue to the head seat and began to toast and entertain guests.

Although many people have left, those who remain are the ones who genuinely hope for their well-being, so the atmosphere is actually much warmer than before. The first banquet has finally passed without any major incidents.

After seeing off all the guests, Xie Qingran seemed to have all her strength drained away. She slumped into a chair, casually removing all the hairpins from her hair, letting her hair fall loosely over her shoulders.

"Miss, you must be tired today. Did you not eat enough? This is a Seven Treasures Lei Cha that I made myself. Please have some." Baozhu walked over and handed the Seven Treasures Lei Cha to Xie Qingran. Then she knelt in front of her and began to massage her legs.

Seeing this, Xie Qingran squinted her eyes comfortably and said, "Our Baozhu is the most considerate. I'm exhausted. I really didn't know that organizing a banquet was so tiring. There are three beauties waiting for me in the backyard. I'll go over after I finish eating."

"The young master doesn't like them, doesn't want them, so why does he still want to go?" Baozhu looked at Xie Qingran with a puzzled expression and full of curiosity.

After Xie Qingran took a sip, her stomach felt warm, and she felt much more comfortable.

"Even if the young master doesn't want them, we should at least find them a place to stay. They are all born of fathers and raised by parents; they can't be kept confined in the stable forever, can they?"

After drinking the Seven Treasures Lei Cha, Xie Qingran immediately got up, casually rolled up her hair, and walked towards the stables in the back courtyard.

It has to be said that Sequoia is quite capable; he actually managed to tie these three women together like livestock.

Xie Qingran frowned: "Untie the rope."

Baozhu reacted quickly and stepped forward to untie the ropes binding them. The three girls, who were originally delicate young women, were now in a sorry state, slumped on the ground, crying incessantly.

"You now have two options. One is that I will find you a good family to marry into as concubines, and the other is that I will give each of you one hundred taels of silver and you can go out and live your own lives. Choose for yourselves."

Xie Qingran never thought these women were wrong. In the end, they had no way of deciding their own fate or where they were going.

However, Xie Qingran gave them the opportunity to choose. They can now choose their own future and live whatever kind of life they want.

The women thought they were doomed, but to their surprise, there were two other paths they could take.

"This servant, Ye Hua, wishes to stay by the Crown Princess's side and serve her well!"

One of the most beautiful girls was the first to react, quickly stepping forward to pledge her loyalty to Xie Qingran.

"I don't want you."

Xie Qingran refused outright.

"Tell me, which of those two paths do you choose? I'm not patient enough. If you don't tell me, I'm leaving."

Xie Qingran got up and was about to leave, clearly not joking with them.

"We're willing to take the money and leave!"

The three women exchanged glances and hurriedly spoke, as if afraid that Xie Qingran would regret it.

"Baozhu, give them the money and let them go."

Xie Qingran spoke directly, resolving the matter cleanly and efficiently.

After leaving the stable, Xie Qingran found Hongshan: "The three of them have now left the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. I don't know where they'll go next. Keep an eye on them and see who they really are."

"Yes!" Sequoia immediately understood Xie Qingran's meaning and hurriedly nodded and walked out.

When Xie Qingran returned to her room, she was completely exhausted, and she immediately collapsed onto the bed.

"Hmm!"

The moment Xie Qingran pounced on the bed, she sensed something was wrong. She quickly got up and tried to back away, but was grabbed by a pair of large hands and pulled onto the bed.

The familiar scent of red pine wafted over, and Xie Qingran finally saw clearly that the person lying on the bed was Xiao Jue.