Chapter 40

Jian Xinyi lowered her head, not daring to act rashly.

This is someone's family affair.

I saw Mu Zhubu and her uncle starting a verbal battle like scholars rehashing old scores, and Jian Xinyi, who had escaped the net of ancient education, couldn't understand anything they were saying.

I could only pretend to nod to indicate that I was still online.

In the end, the two fought to the end, and finally said something that she could understand.

The general meaning is that Qi Sijian wanted Mu Zhubu to work as a counselor in the Imperial College, but she did not go and instead went to the Dali Temple.

Seeing that the two had stopped fighting, Jian Xinyi quickly ran to Mu Zhubu and asked, "Are you okay?"

"fine."

Mu Zhubu snorted coldly and turned his head away.

"Why don't we go ask someone else first and come back later."

"Okay."

The two of them walked around the mansion together and asked the maids and servants around, but they didn't get any particularly useful information.

When he was at a loss, he saw a woman walking out from the side of a deep corridor, gently waving a round fan and laughing.

"Cousin, if you keep questioning me like this, won't it be my turn?"

The woman spoke in a soft voice and walked with an elegant pace. There seemed to be bursts of fragrance wafting through her movements. Her every gesture was full of the grace of a lady, something Jian Xinyi had never seen before.

"Cousin, I am also following orders."

Mu Zhubu bowed slightly without changing his expression.

The woman stood aside and said, "Indeed, you are now the chief clerk, and you are different from when you were a child."

They were speechless for a moment.

Only then did Jian Xinyi have time to steal a few glances at the woman, but she felt it was too frivolous, so she only glanced at her quickly.

He is truly noble everywhere.

"Let's go in and talk."

As the woman spoke, several people followed her into the yard. The wall outside the house was filled with various kinds of Phalaenopsis orchids, and inside the house were also various kinds of spider plants and weeping grasses. Although the furnishings were old, they were still full of vitality.

The woman casually took the cup of tea, took a sip, and then asked, "Is this the new female official beside you? Does she look familiar?"

"Have you seen him?" Mu Zhubu was very surprised. "Zhuiyu has been helping us for a few days and has only just arrived."

Jian Xinyi was also surprised when she heard this, but she didn't dare to say it directly, "Maybe I've seen it somewhere else."

She shook her head, staring at Jian Xinyi for a long time before she slowly said, "You may not remember, but I saw you on the street that day when the Sixth Prince personally brought you back to the mansion."

The pair of round eyes that should have been innocent and harmless suddenly became fierce, scaring Jian Xinyi so much that her hair stood on end.

It's bad, what can she say?

Mu Zhubu also widened his eyes and asked, "Zhuiyu, is this true?"

Jian Xinyi had no choice but to make up a set of words to pretend to be her savior and get away with it first.

"His Highness saw me being kidnapped by that murderer and stepped forward to rescue me. I was unconscious at the time, and His Highness didn't know where my home was, so he had no choice but to send me back to his house. I returned when I woke up."

Seeing how flawless this rhetoric was, Jian Xinyi grew more and more confident as she spoke. "Yes, that's right."

"Oh, that's it." The woman nodded thoughtfully and looked at Mu Zhubu again. "You are from the Dali Temple. Do you think she is lying to me?"

"Cousin, you think too much."

Mu Zhubu looked a little anxious and looked outside the yard.

"It's getting late. I'll go find my uncle and ask him about the situation."

When Jian Xinyi heard this, she quickly packed up and wanted to leave.

Just as she took a step forward, the woman grabbed her arm and said, "Miss Lin, I have something else to ask you."

She could only watch as Mu Zhubu walked further and further away, but she was pulled back to the stool.

"Girl, please ask me anything."

She doesn't care whether she wants a man or money.

Anyway, there is not one.

"Can you show me your notebook?"

"book?"

Jian Xinyi was a little surprised, but she still handed it over. "Just look at this testimony. The first one is..."

Before she could finish her words, the woman's eyes lit up and she shouted, "It's you!"

After saying that, he ran to the bedroom to look for something.

Jian Xinyi really couldn't understand this person for a moment. Were the mental pressures of ancient ladies so great?

"I knew it as soon as I saw your handwriting." She took out a small book with the words "Nujie" written on the cover, but when she opened it, it was the "Sinan Biography" that she had illustrated.

"Did you draw this one?"

"Yes...I drew it."

This time it was Jian Xinyi's turn to be stunned.

"Oh my God, it's really you."

Miss Qi excitedly held her hand and jumped up and down, which made Jian Xinyi look calm and quiet, like a lady.

"Hahaha, I didn't expect that either."

It turns out she really has fans.

"But why haven't you been drawing on this little piece of paper recently?" She opened the drawer of her bedroom, and inside were ten copies of "The Commandments for Women". Each copy was her sketchbook, and inside them were the little cards she had drawn at that time.

This kid is really...

I love studying so much.

"I bought so many books, but I didn't get him."

Miss Qi said with a sad face, "Look, look at Leng Yan, he is so handsome, even more handsome and gentle than the Sixth Prince, but I didn't buy his painting."

"Did you buy all of these?"

This was the first time that Jian Xinyi had seen such a wealthy female player in person, and the impact was much greater than before when she saw her online.

"Well, I bought everything, but I didn't see him." Miss Qi changed her cold and arrogant look, took Jian Xinyi's sleeve, and started to act coquettishly, "I really like him, and I also want a small portrait of him."

Jian Xinyi had a plan in mind, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, "I can help you draw, but you have to promise me one thing."

"If I can help, I will try my best."

Jian Xinyi moved closer and whispered, "I'll give you a few more books and help me promote my work among the ladies. I'll also draw this portrait for you for free."

"Really? Is that okay?"

Miss Qi took out a piece of rice paper from the table and looked at her expectantly.

"Of course, I'll draw it for you now."

Jian Xinyi waved her hand, picked up the brush on the table and drew a new small card for Miss Qi.

In the snowy scene, a man was holding an umbrella, and his broad back showed endless loneliness. He looked back and saw that the ground was already clean.

"Is this okay?"

Jian Xinyi picked up the small card and blew on it out of habit. She tilted her head and saw Miss Qi next to her staring at the small card and muttering to herself, "So beautiful."

"Next time I come, I'll bring you more books, but I won't have this one this time." Jian Xinyi put the used pen and paper back where they belonged and patiently explained to her, "Last time, I was trying to avoid plagiarism from the bookstore next door. This time, I've finished the illustrations, so I'll just sell the whole book."

After saying that, he turned around and found that the other person was not listening at all.

"Miss Qi?"

Jian Xinyi gently poked her right shoulder, "Do you know?"

"I understand." Miss Qi carefully put the small card away and returned to her appearance when they first met. "But you can't tell anyone about this, not even to Cousin Mu Qing."

"Is it because of your father?"

When Jian Xinyi recalled the scene between Mu Zhubu and Qi Sijian in the front hall just now, she still felt a pang of fear.

Miss Qi nodded. "You saw it too. My father was so angry just because my cousin refused the position at the Imperial College. If this gets out, he will definitely be furious."

"I see."

Jian Xinyi sighed silently and went straight to the front to meet up with Mu Zhubu.

The mahogany and lacquer-carved corridors were so winding that she couldn't tell the direction for a moment.

"Jade-embellished?"

Seeing her wandering around here alone, Mu Zhubu was puzzled and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"It's okay, I'm just a little... lost."

Jian Xinyi looked back and found that she had been wandering in the corridor.

Man-made corridors can trap people.

Seeing her like this, Mu Zhubu became even more worried, "My cousin didn't scare you, did she?"

"No."

"She's just like that. When she first met the Sixth Prince, she was already deeply in love with him and insisted on marrying him. Even though the matchmaker had nearly broken down the door, she still refused to change her mind."

Mu Zhubu explained everything to Jian Xinyi again, fearing that she would be frightened.

However, this explanation has already been refuted.

Jian Xinyi couldn't help laughing when she recalled how she mentioned the cold man.

As for this rumor, she probably spread it herself.

"Miss Qi is very nice to me."

Mu Zhubu lowered his eyes and said softly, "My cousin is really not a bad person, but my uncle may be a little strict with her."

The two of them just walked out of the gate of Qi Mansion and looked at each other.

The Qi Mansion was very big, so big that Jian Xinyi felt a little tired after walking.

But in the capital, it seems insignificant.

"It's Master Mu and Miss Qi who don't despise me." Jian Xinyi turned around and handed her the notebook. "This is today's testimony. If everything is fine, I'll go back first."

"Thank you for your hard work during this period."

Seeing that she didn't say anything more, Mu Zhubu took the notebook and let Jian Xinyi go back.

But I'm still vaguely worried.

If Miss Lin really has something going on with the Sixth Prince, what will Sun Liqing do?

Jian Xinyi naturally had no idea of Mu Zhubu's little thoughts. She originally wanted to go straight home, but was stopped by the dessert shop.

The aroma of tangerine peel and red bean paste was so fragrant that it made her stomach growl again.

She had some money with her and ordered a bowl to eat while sitting on the street.

I had just taken three bites when I heard a commotion in the street.

"Catch the thief, catch the thief."

Just as Jian Xinyi looked towards the source of the sound, she was bumped into by someone coming towards her, causing the table to overturn and red bean paste to scatter everywhere.

"Where did you come from? You're so blind." She grabbed the man tightly and refused to let go. "Give me back my red bean paste!"

Before the man could say anything, a woman caught up with him and said, "Bah, you despicable thief! You stole my purse without even asking who my son is! He's a member of the Jinwu Guard."

After that, he rummaged around in the man's arms and finally pulled out a white purse.

The woman turned to look at Jian Xinyi who had bravely stepped forward to help, and quickly thanked her, "Thank you so much, young lady."

"No trouble, haha, it's just...convenient." Jian Xinyi stood up from the ground in a hurry. The Jinwu Guards in the distance arrived late and captured the man.

"The girl's clothes are all dirty. Let's go to my house and change her into clean clothes."