Chapter Thirty-One: He Really Wanted It

In the afternoon, Yuan Qing saw Ling'er limping at the entrance of Guanlan Residence. She was skipping around with an oil paper package in her hand, as if she was about to come in.

"Water chestnut!" A surge of joy instantly welled up in Yuan Qingxiang's heart. He quickly waved to Ling'er, signaling the gatekeeper to let her in.

"Brother Yuanqing!" Seeing her skipping and hopping, Yuanqing frowned again and quickly went over to support her: "Your foot isn't healed yet, why did you run out?"

Yuan Qing helped her to the eaves, and the two sat on the steps.

Ling'er tilted her head and said, "I've been cooped up in the house for two days, it's so stuffy, I want to come out for a walk."

"Since Brother Yuanqing is my only friend in this mansion, I came to find you."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qing immediately smiled.

He had just heard Lingjiao say that he was her only friend in this mansion!

Ling'er handed over the oil paper package: "Brother Yuanqing, Miss made chestnut cakes today. I saved a few for you. Try them quickly."

Yuan Qing opened the oil paper, and a sweet aroma wafted into his nose. He took a bite and found it soft, sweet, and fragrant.

I must say, Miss Qing's cooking skills are truly excellent.

He looked at the little girl with her hair in two buns and felt comforted.

It's good that this little girl has a conscience; she still remembers him when she has something delicious to eat.

Yuan Qing was eating chestnut cake when he looked up and saw the little girl in front of him resting her chin on her hands, pouting as she stared into the distance, looking somewhat sullen.

Yuan Qing put down the chestnut cake and poked Ling'er's little tuft of hair: "Lingjiao, what's wrong? You seem a little unhappy?"

Ling'er turned her head and sighed, "Brother Yuanqing, I'm just worried about why Young Master Xiao doesn't come to see my young lady?"

Yuan Qing looked puzzled: "Why are you so worried if Young Master Xiao isn't coming to see your young lady?"

It's Qing's business whether Xiao Huaiyi seeks her out. What's Ling'er, a mere maid, worried about?

Yuan Qing thought for a moment, could it be because of that Ping An?

If Young Master Xiao doesn't come to see Miss Qing, Ping An won't be able to come, and Ling Jiao won't be able to see Ping An.

Yuan Qing's mood immediately plummeted, and the chestnut cake in his hand no longer tasted delicious.

You've only met twice, and you're already so interested?

“Because I like Young Master Xiao to be our son-in-law.” Ling’er smiled, revealing two sweet dimples.

Yuan Qing asked with some curiosity, "Why do you like Young Master Xiao to be your son-in-law?"

Ling'er thought for a moment and said, "Young Master Xiao is a very handsome man."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qing realized that there were far too many men like this.

Isn't my own father a handsome man with an extraordinary demeanor?

How many people in this capital can compare to you, Master!

Ling'er pictured Xiao Huaiyi's gentle face in her mind and continued, "Young Master Xiao is kind and gentle, and he doesn't act like a master at all. He is especially kind to us servants."

At this moment, Yuan Qing remembered his master's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot, and the monthly allowance he was frequently fined...

"Most importantly, Young Master Xiao cherishes my young lady, and he will definitely treat her well in the future." Ling'er turned around and looked at Yuan Qing with bright eyes.

Yuan Qing touched his chin and thought, "Hmm? This one might not be inferior to my master."

He had never seen his master show any interest in any girl.

I've never seen the master prepare jewelry for any girl or buy her a rabbit lantern.

Aren't they all in love with Miss Chongqing?

The master hadn't told Miss Qing any of this. But Yuan Qing couldn't let the master be outshone by that Xiao Huaiyi.

So Yuan Qing cleared his throat: "Didn't I tell you last time? That Young Master Xiao is just a spoiled brat. His gentleness is all an act."

Ling'er pouted, somewhat annoyed: "How could you say that about Young Master Xiao! Did you hear it from someone else or did you see it with your own eyes?"

"Of course I saw it with my own eyes. One day when the master asked me to go find him, he was hugging and cuddling with a woman in Taihe Tower. I couldn't bear to look."

"I also heard that Young Master Xiao spends his days drinking and singing there, enjoying himself immensely."

"Even the gatekeeper of the Xiao residence said that if you want to find him, just go to Zuifeng Tower, which shows what kind of person he is on a daily basis."

After Yuan Qing finished speaking, seeing Ling'er's incredulous expression, he added, "You should go back and tell Miss Qing that this Young Master Xiao is really not a good man."

His master is far superior to this Young Master Xiao!

However, he didn't say those words aloud, otherwise he might not have lived to see Lingjiao again.

Since the master didn't explain it clearly to Miss Qing, he couldn't reveal the master's secret either!

Ling'er stood up, patted her bottom, and said somewhat unhappily, "Brother Yuanqing, you should eat more. I'll go back first. I'm afraid Miss will worry if I stay out too long."

Yuan Qing understood that Ling'er was a little angry because she heard him say something bad about Young Master Xiao.

But that's just the kind of person Young Master Xiao is. It's better for Miss Qing to know sooner rather than later, so as not to waste her life on the wrong person.

“Alright, I’ll take you back to Qianyue Residence.” Yuan Qing glanced at Ling’er’s feet.

Ling'er waved her hand: "No need, Brother Yuanqing, I can go back by myself. You still have a duty to perform. What if the young master comes looking for you later?"

Although Yuan Qing spoke ill of Young Master Xiao, Yuan Qing was still a good person. She didn't want Yuan Qing to be punished.

After saying that, Ling'er walked away with a limp.

Yuan Qing looked at the chestnut cake in his hand, then shook his head with a smile at Ling'er's retreating figure: "Little girl, trying to get information out of your brother Yuan Qing with just two pieces of chestnut cake! In the entire Marquis's mansion, you're the only one who dares to do that!"

He was someone who grew up by the master's side, after all. He knew why Ling'er had come after just a few words from her.

These past few days, Master has been preventing Young Master Xiao and Miss Qing from meeting. Miss Qing had no choice but to send Ling'er to ask him where she could find Xiao Huaiyi.

He told Ling'er where Xiao Huaiyi was, wondering if he would be punished by the master later.

Besides, it's no use for me to stop him. Whether Xiao Huaiyi is good or bad depends on the girl's own judgment.

In the study.

The matter that Ling'er came to inquire about could not be kept from Xie Yanzhi.

"She still wants to see Xiao Huaiyi?" Xie Yanzhi paused, his hand holding the brush spreading a blot of ink on the Xuan paper.

Yuan Qing lowered his head and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Ling'er inquired about Young Master Xiao's whereabouts from me, and I think it must be Miss Qing's idea."

Xie Yanzhi placed the brush on the brush holder, stood up, walked to the window, and put his hands behind his back.

He didn't expect that Shen Qingnian would still be so persistent even after witnessing it with her own eyes.

It seems he needs to take her as his concubine as soon as possible, so as not to give her any more chances to be taken away by someone else.

Xie Yanzhi glanced at it and asked, "What's that in your arms?"

Yuan Qing looked down and saw that it was an oil paper package. He took it out from his pocket and presented it with both hands: "It is chestnut cake that Ling'er brought. It is... it was made by Miss Qing herself."

"Hmm." Xie Yanzhi looked at the oil paper package and said nothing more.

Yuan Qing tactfully placed the chestnut cake on the desk and went out.

Xie Yanzhi walked over and opened the oil paper package; the chestnut pastries inside were beautiful. Just like Shen Qingnian, an ordinary merchant's daughter, she always unconsciously attracted him.

Xie Yanzhi picked up a piece of chestnut cake, took a small bite, and found it delicious. It would have been even better if she had brought it to him personally.

As Xie Yanzhi put the last piece of chestnut cake into his mouth, he confirmed one thing: he really wanted Shen Qingnian.