Chapter 34 There was someone standing at the head of the bed...

Because of what Xiaoman said during the day, Yangqing was quite worried for a while after the lights were turned off, fearing that Li Shangxuan would come looking for her.

Fortunately, I didn't see a trace of him until I fell asleep, and I slept very soundly tonight.

After waking up, Yang Qing became even more arrogant, thinking that Li Shangxuan was nothing, he was no longer the emperor, so what was there to be afraid of?

After thinking it through, he chose his clothes and went to meet Xu Pianran.

Upon meeting, Xu Pianran immediately launched into a tirade: "You, Chi Yangqing, you ran off without a word for so long!"

Yang Qing smiled apologetically and said, "I left in a hurry and didn't have time to tell you."

Xu Pianran snorted, "I think you're so happy you don't miss me. Is Xuzhou fun?"

Yang Qing said, "It's definitely not as fun as the capital, but the scenery is beautiful, and most importantly, it's not too hot, making it a great place to escape the summer heat."

Xu Pianran longed for it: "It sounds great. I hate the heat the most. I wish I could go somewhere cool. You have no idea how hot it is in Beijing this year. I stayed indoors without moving, with several ice basins next to me, and I still couldn't stop sweating."

Yang Qing said, "We can go together sometime in the future."

Xu Pianran raised her head and said, "Stop talking to me with such empty words. No, you have to make it up to me right now."

Yang Qing laughed and said, "Alright, alright, it's all my fault, of course I have to apologize. You can choose any restaurant in the capital, let's eat out for lunch."

Xu Pianran's eyes lit up: "That's exactly what I was thinking."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Let's add one more person. My second uncle has moved back to the capital to take up an official post, and his older sister is currently living in the mansion. She's shy, and my parents instructed me to take her along to play."

Yang Qing readily agreed.

Xu Pianran's cousin is named Xu Yanran, but she doesn't match her name at all.

This is certainly not to say that she is not beautiful.

With a gentle smile, she sounds like a bright, lively, and lovely girl, but Xu Yanran is not like that at all.

She was very slender with a thin waist. When she had no expression, the corners of her mouth always drooped down, giving her an inexplicable look of bitterness. Even when she smiled, her beautiful face was always shrouded in gloom. Because she was too thin, she looked unhealthy, which was the complete opposite of the passionate and flamboyant Xu Pianran.

The three girls were in a carriage. Yang Qing and Xu Pianran were afraid of neglecting their new friend, so they tried their best to talk to her. However, Xu Yanran was not ignoring them, but every word she said was very awkward, as if she were being interrogated at the Dali Temple, dry and timid.

Xu Pianran whispered to Yang Qing, "That's just how my cousin is. She'll get used to it once you get to know her. She even stuttered when she first came here."

Xu Pianran chose a restaurant in the East Market, but unfortunately it was a last-minute decision and she didn't ask anyone to make a reservation in advance. All the private rooms were already taken, so they could only sit in the main hall.

Xu Pianran ordered a few dishes and then asked Yang Qing to order: "Take a look and see what you want to eat? This place has a new chef who has developed several new dishes. They taste very good, and more importantly, they are novel. You can't find them anywhere else."

Yang Qing also ordered grilled shrimp and roasted quail.

Pianran said, "Why don't you try their new dishes? When the Snow Baby dish comes out later, you must try it, it's delicious."

Xu Yanran hadn't said a word since she sat down. When Yang Qing asked her to order, Xu Pianran said, "I know what Sister Yanran likes to eat. I've already ordered. You can order now."

Yang Qing said, "There are only three of us, and these seven or eight dishes are enough for us. Although I'm treating today, I won't accept it if you can't finish them."

Xu Pianran snorted, "You underestimate me too much. These few dishes are nothing to me."

While waiting, Yang Qing asked, "What was that 'Snow Baby' you mentioned earlier?"

Xu Pianran said mysteriously, "Guess?"

Yang Qing thought for a while and then said, "It's probably a kind of pastry similar to Jade Dew Dumplings and Crispy Mountain."

Xu Pianran laughed loudly and said, "Wrong, terribly wrong."

Yang Qing pretended to be angry and said, "Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me quickly."

Xu Pianran then said, "Let me tell you something to broaden your horizons. It's frog meat."

Yang Qing was taken aback for a moment: "It's just a chicken, what's so special about it?"

Xu Pianran said, "Are you stupid? It's a frog, not the chicken or duck we usually eat."

Yang Qing recalled the ugly appearance of the frogs in the pond and couldn't believe they would taste good. She looked disgusted and said, "Can you really eat that kind of thing? I don't want to. It doesn't even sound appetizing."

Xu Pianran: "Hmph, you'll change your mind once you've tasted it."

The first dish served was not the "Snow Baby" that Xu Pianran had praised so highly, but rather the shortbread that Yang Qing had ordered. This was, after all, a folk restaurant, and there was no particular order to serving dishes; whatever was ready was served first.

Before the second dish was served, a frivolous male voice came from behind, "Oh my, aren't these the two young ladies from the Xu family? What a coincidence, to run into them here."

Yang Qing turned around and saw the face of a man with ill intentions.

She recognized him; he was Zhou Minghao, the eldest grandson of the Duke of Ying. But her recognition was limited to knowing who he was; she knew nothing else about him.

Yang Qing glanced at the two Xu sisters. Xu Pianran's face clearly showed disgust, while Xu Yanran's expression was much more complicated, and it was difficult to discern her true feelings for a moment.

Xu Pianran said irritably, "What, does this restaurant belong to your family? Can't we even come here?"

Yang Qing didn't know what grudges or entanglements they had, but she was definitely going to stand unconditionally on Xu Pianran's side, so she put on a serious face and put on a cold and indifferent expression.

Zhou Minghao chuckled, but there was a hint of malice in his narrow eyes. "Second Miss, you still have such a temper. We're all family now, why are you speaking so rudely?"

Xu Pianran retorted without holding back: "Who's family with you? It's not even close to happening yet. Stop trying to make yourself look good."

Zhou Minghao said, "The parents' command is one stroke, and the matchmaker's words are the other stroke. Isn't that enough to complete the eight characters?"

He arrived uninvited and tried to sit down, his eyes constantly glancing at Yang Qing, as if he considered himself a handsome young man. "Who is this young lady? She looks quite unfamiliar."

Xu Pianran said urgently, "Who told you to sit here? If you leave now, I can let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, I'll report you to the Prefect of the Capital."

Zhou Minghao said confidently, "Second Miss is joking. Given our relationship, it's normal for us to have a meal together."

Xu Pianran was furious. During their argument, Yang Qing heard Huo Lu's voice from behind, "Brother Zhou, what a coincidence, I actually ran into you here."

Upon seeing him, Zhou Minghao composed himself, his frivolous expression vanishing, and returned the greeting, saying, "General, aren't you on duty today?"

He currently holds positions in the Imperial Guard and the Ministry of Personnel. Huo Lu is not his direct superior, but he is still a favorite of the Crown Prince. Although he looks down on Huo Lu's humble origins, he still has to maintain a proper facade.

Huo Lu glanced at Yang Qing, seemingly intending to help them out of the predicament, "There's no time like the present. There are a few brothers over there, Brother Zhou, why don't you come over and have a few drinks with us?"

Zhou Minghao was very unhappy. Although they both served in the Jinwu Guard, Huo Lu's official rank was much higher than his. However, the distinction between the sons of noble families and people like Huo Lu had always been clear.

If I were to actually go drinking with him today, wouldn't it be beneath my dignity if word got out?

Besides, it was quite a rare opportunity to run into Xu Yanran here today.

Although their marriage was practically a done deal and Xu Yanran would be his sooner or later, he still couldn't help but speak up when he saw the beauty, not to mention that Xu Pianran and a pretty girl he didn't know were sitting next to him. Zhou Minghao loved to hang out with women.

He immediately declined, saying, "I'm really sorry, I might have to disappoint the General. I have acquaintances here..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Pianran interrupted him, yelling, "Who is your acquaintance? Go drink your wine, or I'll make you pay if you keep lounging around here."

Huo Lu firmly grasped Zhou Minghao's wrist. "Brother Zhou, did you hear that? The girl has already told us to leave. Don't refuse anymore, or it will be a loss of face for us brothers."

After saying that, regardless of whether Zhou Minghao agreed or not, he half-dragged and pulled the person away.

After they left, Yang Qing dared to straighten her back. Of course, she wasn't afraid of Zhou Minghao, but rather that Li Shangxuan would be with Huo Lu.

Huo Lu was better at interpersonal relationships than noblemen like Yang Jiarong, and was Li Shangxuan's favorite lackey.

Because of the trip to southern Sichuan, Huo Lu's impression of her changed. He was well-behaved throughout the journey and was not as lecherous and impatient as Yang Jiayin had described. On the contrary, he was cheerful and eloquent, which was a little better than Li Shangxuan, who only knew how to make people angry.

But there's only one thing: they're all birds of a feather.

Xu Yanran stared at the departing figures of the two men and asked, "I wonder which family's young master this is?"

Xu Pianran was still angry. After thinking for a long time after hearing her question, she had no recollection of it. "I've never met him either. He seems like a nice person."

They would never sit at the same table as Zhou Minghao; things would definitely turn ugly in the end.

If it were just her and Yanran, it would be fine, but Yangqing is also here. Isn't she just dragging others down for no reason?

Fortunately, the man was perceptive and pulled Zhou Minghao away.

Yang Qing said, "His name is Huo Lu. He's not a young master from any family. It's normal that you don't know him."

Xu Pianran said, "Is he not a young master from some family? He's really capable. At such a young age, he's already a fourth-rank official without relying on his family. My father is so old, and he's only a fourth-rank official."

Yang Qing didn't say anything.

Xu Pianran asked curiously, "How do you know him?"

Yang Qing pouted and said, "How else could we know him? He was the one who came to question me about the matter with the Prince of Ning's heir."

This isn't exactly a lie, even though Yang Qing had known him for a much longer period.

Xu Pianran naturally knew about the matter of the Prince of Ning's heir, and a disdainful look rose on her face. "This Zhou Minghao, although he is not as good as that Prince of Ning's heir, has also inherited his true skills. The two are equally annoying."

After giving a cold snort, her tone became indifferent. "But Ah Xun, I really envy your parents for being so understanding, unlike our family. Just because Zhou Minghao's father is Second Uncle's superior, our family is now determined to form a marriage alliance with the Zhou family and betroth Sister Yanran to him. It's so annoying. Every time I see his lecherous face, I wish I could slash his face with a knife."

Yang Qing also realized that Zhou Minghao was definitely not a good man.

If Xu Yanran really marries him, then Xu Pianran will be his sister-in-law. How can he have such a frivolous attitude towards his sister-in-law?

Not to mention a stranger like myself.

Next, Xu Pianran vented her dissatisfaction with Zhou Minghao, and also dragged in several of her elders, practically accusing them of selling their daughter for personal gain.

Yang Qing tried to tell her to stop talking, afraid of hurting Xu Yanran's feelings, but Xu Pianran's mouth was like it was being pulled by eight horses; once it started running, it couldn't be stopped.

Fortunately, Xu Yanran didn't seem to care much, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

Yang Qing was a little confused. What was she so happy about?

When it came time to pay the bill, the waiter said that someone had already paid, a young master surnamed Huo.

Yang Qing was not happy. It wasn't like she couldn't afford a meal; she was determined to find a chance to pay him back.

Xu Pianran was busy cursing, while Xu Yanran was laughing foolishly. Yang Qing didn't want to join Xu Pianran in criticizing the Xu family, so she could only bury her head in her food and eat. Most of the food ended up in her stomach, and she couldn't even eat dinner.

As night fell, she washed up and lay down, intending to read a book in bed for a while before going to sleep. When she wanted to drink tea, she called Liu Ye'er several times but no one answered. Turning around to get out of bed, she saw someone standing at the head of the bed.