Chapter 11
◎Xie Lang then curled her up in his arms like a kitten.◎
Chapter Eleven
Liu Qingqing: "..."
What's going on?
Her memory was still from when she was at the Liu residence. She vaguely remembered that she seemed to have been tricked and he carried her into the carriage. When she woke up again, she was back in the main courtyard. She fell asleep again soon after.
They weren't very familiar with each other when they woke up yesterday morning, so how did things suddenly become like this?
Just as she was racking her brains trying to figure it out, Xie Lang pulled her into his arms like a kitten.
With her cheek pressed against his bulging chest, Liu Qingqing slowly widened her eyes, her face flushing red and then pink, trying to soothe herself by using herself as a rolling pin. Perhaps it was the warmth of Xie Lang's embrace, or perhaps the medicine she had taken the night before was taking a toll on her body, but as she listened to his vigorous heartbeat and gradually drifted off to sleep, Liu Qingqing actually fell asleep again.
When I woke up again, I felt quite comfortable, as if I had lost track of time.
She turned around and was startled to find Xie Lang was no longer beside her. The bed was a little cold; he must have been gone for a while.
But Granny Li was standing not far away, her face full of uncontrollable joy, her eyes wide as copper bells.
Seeing that she had woken up, Granny Li, whose heart was itching like a cat, finally didn't have to wait any longer. She rushed forward and opened her mouth like a machine gun.
"Miss, you're finally awake! I knew you wouldn't act unless you were truly exceptional. Look at how you subdued the young master in the very first encounter. Everyone in the capital calls the young master the Iron-Faced Gentleman, but they didn't see how carefully he took care of you yesterday!"
"This old servant didn't let you see those storybooks before, but now it seems I was short-sighted. How could I not let you see them? They're really good stuff. I'll personally find them for you when I go out in the future!"
"Yesterday, the young master stood up for you! He scared those wicked servants so badly they ran away with their tails between their legs! The young master said that Miss is in charge of Jialan Garden, and in the future, Miss will also be in charge of the Marquis's mansion!"
This gave Granny Li a wonderful feeling!
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing quickly interrupted Granny Li and gestured for her to help her sit up. She was surrounded by Xie Lang's moon-like fragrance, as if she were still nestled in his arms, and Liu Qingqing's heart began to beat a little faster.
With business at hand, Liu Qingqing stopped her wandering thoughts and asked, "Granny, please tell me what happened yesterday."
Only then did Granny Li suppress her joy and begin to explain in detail.
Liu Qingqing remained silent after listening. This was carelessness; she had fallen into Xiao Ying's trap again.
Perhaps she fainted.
It sounded so dangerous. If Xie Lang hadn't arrived in time, who knows what would have happened to him if he had fallen into the hands of Xiao Ying.
Completely unaware that she had been drugged, Li Mama was also deliberately kept in the dark by Xie Lang.
After washing up and having breakfast, Liu Qingqing and Granny Li moved to the main courtyard.
Before leaving, Granny Li told the young lady to put on airs and let her play the villain. As soon as she stepped out, she summoned the servant Xie Lang had temporarily assigned and had him bring everyone over. She then had a gold-embroidered wooden chair carried to the corridor and carefully helped the young lady to sit down.
The slave traders summoned this morning were already waiting outside the door. Granny Li arrogantly ordered them to come in.
"Please forgive me, madam. I was blinded by that lard. I will never do it again."
"We'll never do it again, please spare us."
"We were ungrateful. How could we have such a kind master like you? Going out like this would kill us."
Granny Li spat, "Shortchanging our young lady, she really thinks she's something special! Now she knows how to kneel and beg, but let me tell you! It's useless!"
Granny Li found these people an eyesore, so she selected a few timid but harmless young maids to keep, while sending away the rest of the cunning old foxes. Regardless of what others said, she went ahead with this show of making an example of them!
Neither side should get the young lady's hands dirty.
So Liu Qingqing just sat in the back without saying a word, leaving all the villainy to be played by Granny Li.
Having been together for many years, she and Granny Li had developed a tacit understanding. She knew that Granny Li was doing this to establish her authority and to make her appear domineering and fierce. In the future, if anyone wanted to make things difficult for her, seeing Granny Li standing in front of her, knowing her vengeful nature, they would always think twice.
Granny Li was using herself as a firewall to protect herself.
Liu Qingqing appreciated the kindness of Granny Li.
After a series of wails, the people were finally led away by the slave traders, and the cries faded into the distance.
A moment later, the slave trader trotted back to the archway, caught his breath, and then bowed and entered, respectfully saying, "Madam, the nanny ordered me to carefully select some clever and capable maids. I'll bring them in for you to see now."
Liu Qingqing's surprise lasted only a moment, so fast that it was impossible to catch her expression. Was Xie Lang asking her to cultivate her own confidants?
At this moment, no one knew what Xie Lang was thinking. She nodded slightly, "Alright, let them in."
She didn't want too many people in the yard; too many people would be distracting.
Now that the new dynasty is in dire need of rebuilding, there is no particular concern about such matters. She heard that at the recent flower-adorning banquet, the Lady of Xuanping Marquis attended alone, not caring about any useless formalities.
It would be good if the two of them could help Granny Li with some of the burden.
The old lady only had three nannies and four head maids to serve her, so she absolutely could not bypass the old lady.
With Qingju added, four people would be enough for her. As for the other maids and servants, Li Mama could handle them.
Besides the "fierce and domineering" Granny Li, she also needed to find a shrewd and resourceful master, and a kind and loyal one.
Before long, the slave trader had brought along a whole group of people.
Having made up his mind, Liu Qingqing then took a closer look at the young human trafficker. He looked to be no more than twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a dark face and a more robust build than the average person. His gait suggested he had some skill, and he was probably a trained martial artist; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to do this job well in this chaotic world.
The five women brought by the slave trader stood still. Compared to the servants who had just been dragged away crying, they looked disheveled. Even though they had been cleaned up, their slightly dark skin, cracked lips, and thin figures showed that they had suffered a lot.
The group stood quietly under the eaves with their heads down. Some of the timid ones had their legs trembling, while others had their hands tightly clasped together.
As Liu Qingqing was carefully examining each person, she suddenly made eye contact with one of them.
Although this person was disheveled, one could tell that he was originally pretty. His eyes darted around, and his face was fairer than others. He still looked like a delicate flower.
Being a servant woman at this age is probably not suitable; she could be a maidservant, though.
Liu Qingqing: "What's your name?"
The woman was indeed very perceptive. She quickly stepped forward, performed a rough bow, and said, "Greetings, Madam. My name is Zhao Pansheng. I am sixteen years old and from Longxi. I fled famine with my family and luckily made it to the capital. A few days ago, I sold myself into slavery to beg for food. I know many chores, such as fetching water, starting a fire, cooking, and washing clothes. Please have pity on me, Madam."
She was the one who had nervously twisted her hands until they were red, and she's still twisting them now, but you can't tell a thing from her face; her eyes are dark and bright.
Liu Qingqing's eyes trembled slightly: "A person from Longxi? Longxi is a big place, what kind of language do you speak there?"
Knowing that his wife was visiting him, Zhao Pansheng quickly said, "I speak the Qinlong dialect; we have Qinqiang opera over there."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing responded with an "oh," then suddenly rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head, and scrutinized her. Only when the girl's legs began to tremble did she speak, "I'm afraid you're still hiding the most important thing, aren't you?"
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
The gentle candlelight illuminated his handsome and alluring features, and Liu Qingqing couldn't help but stare at him.
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