Chapter 29 Irony

“Zhaoye is getting old, you should restrain him a bit. He can’t be so clingy to his sister.”

Xie Yankang frowned as he looked at Wang Shi, his expression suggestive.

Wang Shi is not going to listen to any of this now.

She frowned and said directly, "What do you mean by that, sir? These two children have been very close since they were little, and Zhaoye dotes on his younger sister. Is that wrong?"

"Could it be that someone said something filthy to the master?" Madam Wang was an experienced woman, so she naturally knew what Xie Yankang meant.

But she knows her own children well; they certainly wouldn't do such a despicable thing. There must be someone gossiping behind her back.

Xie Yankang looked at Wang Shi with some helplessness: "You saw Xiao Shizi's attitude today. It was very clear that he was protecting Qingran. In other words, the marriage between our two families is almost certain to go through. So you must not cause any trouble, understand? This kind of thing absolutely cannot happen again. Do you understand what I mean?"

Of course, Wang knew that today's incident was definitely related to Xie Hanyue, but she still subconsciously defended Xie Hanyue.

"Yue'er is just like a child, don't worry, I'll talk to her slowly."

"As for Qingran's marriage, I'm afraid it's beyond our control. This Young Master Xiao seems to treat Qingran quite well, but when will he come to propose marriage?"

Wang is also somewhat worried now.

"Qingran will be twenty in two months. We can't put all our eggs in one basket, can we?"

Xie Yankang knew, of course, that time was tight, but he also knew that this marriage was of utmost importance to the Xie family!

"I will go and plead with the Emperor as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, His Majesty is just as anxious as we are."

Having served in the court for many years, Xie Yankang could still discern even the slightest shift in political winds.

The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

"Brother, Sister Xie was so pitiful today. It seems like none of the Xie family members really like her!"

Xiao Yanran leaned against Xiao Jue, looking at him pitifully.

Xiao Jue pinched Xiao Yanran's cheek and said with a smile, "Why have you been bringing up this Sister Xie so often lately?"

"Because Sister Xie is so good to me! She gives me food, toys, and even pretty clothes and jewelry!"

"Look how pretty this velvet flower is! She made it for me by hand!"

Xiao Yanran took out a pretty velvet flower and looked at Xiao Jue with a smile.

Xiao Jue took the velvet flower, played with it in his hand for a moment, and then said, "The craftsmanship is excellent, it is indeed beautiful!"

“A-Jue”.

At that moment, a woman's voice came from outside, and then a woman in a pure white dress walked in. The woman's eyes were filled with spring, but she also revealed a faint sadness.

She walked in, stood in front of Xiao Jue, looked at him pitifully, and said softly, "I heard you're getting married?"

"Yes, it's a marriage arranged by the Emperor."

Xiao Jue responded indifferently and glanced at his sister-in-law, Qin Shi.

Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment and calculation flashed in Qin's eyes. She then asked in a low voice, "Your wife is the future mistress of our Duke Zhenguo's mansion. Have you ever met her?"

"It's Miss Xie, she just returned from the estate not long ago."

"She's a nice girl. If you're interested, sister-in-law, just go and have a look at her at the next banquet."

Xiao Jue didn't hide anything; he simply stated the facts calmly.

For a moment, Qin Shi couldn't tell whether Xiao Jue liked or disliked the eldest daughter of the Xie family.

She thought for a moment and then said in a low voice, "I suppose the eldest daughter of the Xie family must be beautiful and exceptionally talented in literature?"

"Hmm, she does have some tricks up her sleeve." Xiao Jue thought about it carefully. Xie Qingran was indeed exceptionally beautiful, and even her aloof temperament was unique in the capital.

As for his literary talent, he didn't see any, but he certainly had a lot of cunning.

“A-Jue, you’re getting old, you should have a wife.”

"If this marriage is really settled, we should prepare betrothal gifts and such. Although our Zhenguo Duke's Mansion is now almost deserted, we still need to observe proper etiquette and not wrong the young lady."

Qin spoke with a straight face, but in fact she was testing Xiao Jue, wanting to know his attitude towards his future wife.

But Xiao Jue remained expressionless, making it impossible to discern his true thoughts.

"The Emperor will naturally arrange these things, so you don't need to worry, sister-in-law," Xiao Jue replied calmly, then looked outside and said, "Sister-in-law, it's getting late, I'll go to rest now."

As Qin watched Xiao Jue turn and leave, listening to the sound of his wheelchair wheels rolling on the floor, she felt an indescribable sense of oppression.

If Xiao Jue had remained a bachelor his entire life, then Qin Shi would naturally have been in charge of the entire Zhenguo Duke's Mansion. But now that he's getting married, it's uncertain who will be in charge of the mansion in the future.

Seeing that the power in her hands was about to disappear, she simply couldn't turn a blind eye.

Back in her Lotus Courtyard, Madam Qin summoned her maid, Bai Ling.

"Go and investigate what kind of scheme the eldest daughter of the Xie family has!"

Bai Ling stepped forward, handed Qin a cup of water, and then said, "Madam, why bother with this woman? Even if she came to my Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, what could she do? Now that the Heir Apparent is infertile, she can't have children, so her position is definitely unstable!"

Hearing this, Madam Qin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but still said, "We still need to investigate thoroughly. We must find out what kind of person she is. We also need to attend the next banquet. I want to see for myself what kind of person this little girl is."

"Yes." Bai Ling had no choice but to nod and turn to go out to investigate.

Soon, Sequoia received the news and told Xiao Jue about it.

"Your Highness, what exactly does the First Madam mean?"

Hongshan looked at Xiao Jue with some concern.

"Is she planning to do something to Miss Xie?"

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, looking at Hong Shan with a half-smile: "You seem to be favoring Xie Qingran?"

No, not exactly.

Sequoia blushed slightly, lowered her head, and murmured a reply.

"Oh? Then tell me more about it."

Xiao Jue became interested and raised an eyebrow at Hong Shan.

Hongshan glanced at Xiao Jue, and only after confirming that he was truly not angry did he speak, "This subordinate simply feels that the eldest daughter of the Xie family is clever and resourceful. If she could be of one mind with the young master, she would be a considerable asset!"

"What if we're not of one mind?" Xiao Jue chuckled, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.