Chapter 321 Is it an old friend?
As soon as Xie Yao stretched out her hand, it was stopped in mid-air.
A hoarse voice sounded, "Madam, you have crossed the line."
This sound...
Xie Yao's hand paused in mid-air, and she looked at the person in front of her with a hint of inquiry in her eyes, "Xie Yujiao, I know it's you."
As she said this, her eyes were fixed on the eyes of the person in front of her.
Even if it was just a slight change in expression, Xie Yao was sure that she could see it clearly.
But no.
There was only confusion in those familiar eyes, "Madam, you have the wrong person."
"I'm not who you're talking about."
The hoarse voice certainly didn't sound familiar at all.
But Xie Yao just looked at those eyes and still couldn't believe it completely, "I'm sorry, could you take off the mask and let me see?"
The man in black lowered his eyes slightly, "It's inconvenient."
She refused bluntly, with a somewhat stiff look in her eyes.
Xie Yao took back her hand and did not force it. "Sorry, I was abrupt. Since it is inconvenient for you, let it go."
After Xie Yao finished speaking, she was about to turn around and leave.
The man in black suddenly spoke up, "Madam."
"Is the person you are looking for important to you?"
Xie Yao was slightly startled and said, "She is an old friend of mine." Xie Yujiao was not a very important person to her.
"I see." The man in black nodded. "If she knew what Madam did today, she would be very moved."
Moved?
Xie Yao pursed her lips and did not answer the man in black.
Xie Yao walked up to Zhu Qing, and with just one look, Zhu Qing understood what her Crown Princess meant.
Zhu Qing nodded almost imperceptibly, confirming that he would do as Xie Yao had thought and arrange for someone to quietly follow the man in black.
After Xie Yao left, the man in black did not leave immediately, but stared at Xie Yao's back for a while before turning around and leaving, quickly disappearing into the crowd.
"Crown Princess." Zhu Qing told Xie Yao about another matter, "Just now our people saw someone going to look for Miss Zhao."
"I took a look and that person looks like... Second Miss Xuan."
Xie Yao frowned slightly and stepped into Zhao Ying's shop, but she did not rush to disturb him. Instead, she found a private room in the restaurant and sat down.
…
Zhao Ying didn't expect that she had just told Xuan Yue, the eldest daughter of the Xuan family, that she would not care about the past as long as Xuan Shu didn't cause trouble in front of her again.
At this moment, Xuan Shu, the second lady of the Xuan family, came to her.
Xuan Shu came alone.
As soon as she saw Zhao Ying, she looked her up and down, her face and eyes full of criticism.
Zhao Ying's expression didn't change much. She had seen this kind of look many times. In comparison, Xuan Shu's look was impolite but not aggressive.
"Second Miss Xuan." Zhao Ying took control of the rhythm and spoke first, "Please take a seat."
Xuan Shu was slightly stunned.
She never expected that a businesswoman could ignore the look in her eyes and remain calm, and even hold the right to speak firmly in her hands.
In her imagination, Zhao Ying should be very uneasy at this moment, feeling ashamed in front of her, and wishing she could find a hole to crawl into...
But none of them did.
Xuan Shu was stunned for a moment, then sat down.
But she didn't seem to follow Zhao Ying's lead. She raised her chin slightly and said, "Miss Zhao, you should know why I came to see you today, right?"
Zhao Ying: "Miss Xuan, aren't you curious about how I know you?"
Xuanshu's face stiffened slightly, and he glanced at Zhao Ying with some resentment.
So...is Zhao Ying warning and humiliating her?
She is indeed a business woman who is not presentable!
Zhao Ying ignored Xuan Shu's thoughts and said, "I just met Miss Xuan in the palace today."
Xuan Shu's expression stiffened slightly, a hint of uneasiness flashed across his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
Zhao Ying wants to threaten her with her sister?
She won't be fooled!
She is not afraid either!
"Stop talking about that." Xuan Shu said, "Zhao Ying, you come from a merchant family with a humble status. It's already a great honor to be granted marriage to the Marquis!"
"You were kidnapped last time, and your innocence and reputation were completely lost. If you knew what was good for you, you should have taken the initiative to cancel the engagement!"
"With your status, you think you can marry the Marquis?!"
"You really are overestimating your own abilities!"
Xuanshu spoke one sentence after another, and every word was piercing, without any politeness at all.
Zhao Ying's face gradually darkened, and all the patience in her eyes disappeared.
Just tell her these words.
If it were another woman, she would probably commit suicide!
"Second Miss Xuan is so arrogant that she even points fingers right in front of me." What kind of monsters and demons has Zhao Ying not seen in the business world?
Those shrewd businessmen had to bow down to her, not to mention that Xuan Shu was just a girl from a poor family.
There is some aura, but not much.
"Second Miss Xuan, whether I am worthy of Pei Chen or not is not your decision! Even the eldest princess didn't say these words to me, so who are you to Pei Chen? Come on, speak nonsense in front of me!"
"As far as I know, you spread rumors in the capital when I disappeared. This matter was suppressed not because I was giving you face, nor because of your father's face."
"You are her sister. She took the blame to protect you. I was moved by her love and care, so I let you go."
"Xuan Yue is still in the palace taking your punishment, and you come to me and say this... You are really Xuan Yue's good sister!"
Xuan Shu's expression froze on his face.
She...she...
It wasn't like she asked her sister to do it for her, and besides...
"I'm talking about you now..." Xuan Shu's voice was no longer as confident as before.
"My business has nothing to do with you." Zhao Ying interrupted Xuan Yue, "Does Pei Chen know that you came to me to say these things?"
If Xuan Shu wasn't really a little ungrateful, Zhao Ying wouldn't want to mention Pei Chen.
This is heartbreaking.
But she had already mentioned Xuan Yue, and Xuan Shu still hadn't changed at all, so Zhao Ying understood.
People like Xuanshu must be punished.
"If Pei Chen knew that you came to me and said these words... Second Miss Xuan, I can tell you for sure."
"He will hate you." Zhao Ying spoke word by word.
She clearly saw Xuan Shu's already ugly face turn pale inch by inch, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "It doesn't matter even if the Marquis hates me."
"I just want to protect the reputation of the Marquis..."
Zhao Ying laughed angrily.
This person is really stubborn.
She was self-righteous and did things that she thought were good for others, but what was the truth? If Pei Chen knew that she had been wronged like this, he would only hug her and admit his fault and beg for mercy, and try every means to make her happy.
"It seems that Miss Xuan didn't remember the lesson from last time." Zhao Ying said in a cold voice, "Come in."
The next moment, the door was pushed open and two female generals walked in, "Miss Zhao."
Zhao Ying said, "Send Miss Xuan back to the Xuan family, and tell Xuan Yue what Miss Xuan just said."
Xuan Shu's face changed drastically, "No, no, you——"
"No problem." Zhao Ying looked at Xuan Shu and said in the same words she had just used: "Xuan Yue is as frank and unrestrained as a gentleman. Having a sister like you is really a stain on her."
"Send him away."
Xuan Shu was completely stunned. He didn't expect Zhao Ying to say this, and he didn't expect to feel this way after hearing such words.
By the time she reacted, she had already been taken out of the restaurant.
Zhu Qing had just whispered this in Xie Yao's ear when the door of the private room was pushed open.
Zhao Ying walked in, "Yaoyao, are you worried about me?"
"Don't worry, I won't be bullied."
A mere Xuan Shu wants to bully her?
Xie Yao pursed her lips and smiled, pushing a cup of tea in Zhao Ying's direction, "Sister Ying is right, I was worrying too much."
If it was for other reasons, she would not worry about Zhao Ying being bullied, but when it came to Pei Chen...
She was worried that Sister Ying was blinded by love.
"How could that be." Zhao Ying pursed her lips and smiled, holding Xie Yao's hand, "Yaoyao cares about me, I understand."
Xie Yao talked to Zhao Ying for a few more words before leaving the teahouse.
As soon as she got on the carriage, Zhu Qing sent a message, "Crown Princess, the person has been lost."
"After that person left, he disappeared on the road..."
Xie Yao narrowed her eyes slightly, "It doesn't matter, if it's really her... she will appear in front of me next time."
After she turned and left just now, she clearly felt the man's gaze on her.
Zhu Qing hesitated for a moment, but still asked, "Crown Princess, who do you suspect that person is?"
"Her eyes are the same as Xie Yujiao's." Xie Yao said in a deep voice.
Ever since the Zhao family was forced to leave Beijing, she returned to the Xie family from the Zhao family and has been living her life looking into Xie Yujiao's eyes.
Xie Yujiao's joys, sorrows, anger and happiness determine how she lives in the Xie family.
Those eyes…she could never be mistaken.
"Then... could it be her?" Zhu Qing asked cautiously, after all, Xie Yujiao was a person who had died a long time ago.
Of course, when Xie Yujiao died, her servants who were unaware of the situation sent her directly to a mass grave.
When Zhu Qing followed the instructions and went to look for Xie Yujiao's body, it was gone.
Although the disappearance of bodies in mass graves was quite common, Xie Yao still had doubts in her heart.
Now it seems...
Xie Yao did not answer Zhu Qing's question, but turned to look out the carriage window.
She wasn't sure, but she had a hunch.
As soon as Xie Yao returned to the Prince's Mansion, she learned the follow-up of Xuan Shu's visit to Zhao Ying today.
"When the princess learned about this, she didn't say anything. She just let Miss Xuan Yue handle it herself."
Zhu Qing narrated the story, "Miss Xuan Yue immediately asked the princess for leave, returned to the Xuan family, and personally punished Miss Xuan Er."
"I heard that he beat her with ten boards. Miss Xuan Yue cried as she was beaten. Miss Xuan Er refused to admit her fault and almost fainted."
After a pause, Zhu Qing continued, "In addition, Miss Xuan Yue also said that she was not good at teaching her younger sister, but she still had to serve the princess, so she whipped herself ten times."
"Miss Xuan was being watched the entire time, and only then did she cry out and admit her mistake, saying she would never do that again..."
After Zhu Qing finished speaking, he sighed softly and said, "Ms. Xuan Yue has really done her utmost to treat this sister well."
"If Miss Xuan Er really knows she is wrong and won't do it again, then Miss Xuan Yue's efforts won't be in vain."
Xie Yao knew very well that she did not ask anyone to inquire, but the news still reached Zhu Qing's ears in detail, which could only prove one thing: this was Xuan Yue's statement.
Xuan Yue really put a lot of effort into this younger sister.
But Xie Yao still shook her head, "I don't think so."
Xuan Yue took the blame for Xuan Shu last time and served the princess. Although this time he punished Xuan Shu severely regardless of his weak body due to premature birth, I am afraid that Xuan Shu may not really appreciate it.
She remembered that last time Xuan Shu also cried and asked Xuan Yue not to atone for her sins.
But it’s only been a few days?
Not to mention Xuan Yue's current situation, Tutor Xuan is still in the Third Prince's residence, and Madam Xuan is said to be bedridden.
Xuanshu committed the crime again.
This person is...so selfish.
Zhu Qing heard this and sighed softly, "It's really great that Miss Xuan Yue has such a sister..."
She hesitated to speak, not wanting to be too direct.
Xie Yao glanced at her and said, "We don't need to worry about this matter. If she makes trouble again, someone will take care of her."
Bullying Sister Ying like this, do you really think Sister Ying is a vegetarian?
What's more, there are Pei Chen and the eldest princess.
In the next two days, Xie Yao was busy preparing for Zhao Ying's trip to Northern Frontier and had no time to care about Xuan Shu.
She even put the man in black that day behind her for the time being.
Two days later.
Xie Yao, Xiao Ji and others saw Zhao Ying off from Beijing.
Xiao Ji issued an order that Zhao Ying and Gui Xia escort military supplies to the northern border.
"Yaoyao." Zhao Ying, wearing a neat military uniform, smiled at Xie Yao and said, "Don't worry about me. You should take good care of yourself in Beijing."
"I won't be polite with you. I'm not in the capital, and you still need to take care of the things at home." It's not that she was worried about Zhao Hao, but she simply didn't treat Xie Yao as an outsider.
She also said the same thing to Zhao Hao.
To Zhao Ying, Zhao Hao is his younger brother and Xie Yao is his younger sister, they are both the same.
Xie Yao felt less worried and nodded affirmatively to Zhao Ying, "Don't worry, Sister Ying, I'll take care of everything."
Even if Sister Ying didn't say anything, she wouldn't just ignore it.
"Let's go!" Zhao Ying was not a talkative person. He smiled at Xie Yao, turned around and got on the horse easily.
Gui Xia and others nodded slightly to Xie Yao, and also turned around and mounted their horses.
Zhao Ying said loudly: "Let's go!"
At the command.
Zhao Ying led Gui Xia and other female generals out of the capital and headed north.
Xie Yao turned around and climbed onto the city wall, watching the long team gradually disappear from her sight. She had a smile on her face and her eyes were full of blessings.
Sister Ying...please come back safely.
At this moment, Xie Yao suddenly noticed that some eyes were fixed on her.
She turned around and looked in the direction of that gaze.
Meet a pair of familiar eyes.
It was the man in black whom I saw that day.
The man met Xie Yao's eyes, nodded slightly, and turned and left the next moment, quickly disappearing into the crowd.
"Crown Princess..."
After a while, Zhu Qing came back with an embarrassed expression.
When she followed the Crown Princess's gaze and saw the man in black, she immediately asked someone to follow him.
And now the person she arranged came back to report the news.
Didn't keep up.
"It's okay." Xie Yao had expected this.
If there were some other possibilities when they met last time, then now... she could almost be sure of that person's identity.
But this man in black deliberately appeared in front of her again and again...what was his meaning?
She didn't think this would be a surprise.
Xie Yao said with certainty: "She will appear again."
…
Xuan family.
Xuan Yue is here today on the orders of the eldest princess to send Zhao Ying, Gui Xia and others off on behalf of the princess.
After Zhao Ying and others left Beijing, Xuan Yue returned to the Xuan family.
Three days no see.
In the past few days, Xuan Yue received letters from Xuan Shu admitting his mistakes every day. The words were sincere and he said that he would never do such a thing again.
Because Xuan Shu was born prematurely and had a weak body, Xuan Yue had always been particularly caring and loving towards this younger sister since she was a child.
Xuan Shu sent letters for several days in a row, and Xuan Yue no longer felt angry, but only felt distressed for her sister.
She came back suddenly today and did not inform Xuanshu in advance.
Originally I wanted to give Xuanshu a surprise.
But when Xuan Yue arrived outside Xuan Shu's yard and saw the sudden change in the expression of Xuan Shu's personal maid, Xuan Yue's heart sank.
She gave the people around her a look.
Her personal maid immediately pulled Xuanshu's personal maid away.
As soon as Xuan Yue walked into the yard, she heard Xuan Shu's voice, "Die, die, die, Zhao Ying, die!"
"Go to hell, die..."
“…”
Xuan Yue froze outside, his face filled with shock and disbelief.
She never thought that Xuan Shu was locked in the yard, not only did he not reflect on himself, but he was also... insulting and cursing Zhao Ying.
This attitude is completely different from the well-behaved attitude in the letter written to her.
Xuan Yue couldn't believe it. How could her always well-behaved sister just... become like this?
Her sister seemed to have been rotten in an instant.
Xuan Yue stood there in a daze for a moment, completely unable to come back to his senses. For a long time, the sound from inside continued.
“That’s enough!”
Xuan Yue finally reacted and pushed open the door.
"Get lost!" Xuan Shu had just cursed once when he saw who came in, and his expression changed immediately.
The arrogant expression on her face froze immediately. She was stunned for a long time before she finally said, "Sister, sister..."
But her tone at this moment seemed to be strangely distorted.
Xuan Yue ignored her voice, and then saw that Xuan Shu was holding a doll in his hand, which was full of silver needles!
Xuan Yue immediately stepped forward and snatched the doll away. She saw two words written on the doll: Zhao Ying.
Xuan Shu reacted immediately and tried to take the doll back, but his hand was empty. "Sister, let me explain..."
"Is this what you mean by knowing you were wrong?" Xuan Yue's voice was trembling slightly. At this moment, she was filled with anger, disappointment... and even guilt towards Zhao Ying.
Xuanshu's lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word. His lips opened and closed again.
At this moment, it seemed like nothing she said would help.
"Xuan Shu." Xuan Yue sneered, "You disappoint me so much!"
Xuan Shu's face turned pale instantly.
Her expression changed again and again, and finally, perhaps she had given up struggling, and said, "Sister, since you've seen it, I won't pretend anymore."
"I just hate her, I just hate her!"
Xuan Shu gritted her teeth and said viciously that she was ready to be beaten by Xuan Yue.
It’s not like I haven’t been beaten before.
Even if I beat her, she will tell me!
But no.
This time, Xuan Yue not only didn't hit her, he also didn't say anything. He just looked at her deeply and turned away.
But this made Xuanshu even more panicked.
Xuan Shu immediately reached out to pull Xuan Yue, "Sister..."
"Let go." Xuan Yue said calmly. Even though Xuan Shu kept shaking his head, she firmly pried open the fingers that were pulling her sleeve.
"Sister..."
Before Xuanshu could say anything else, Xuanyue had already left Xuanshu's yard, holding the doll in her hand.
Xuan Yue handed the doll with silver needles in her hand to the maid beside her and said, "Take it and burn it."
Because Xuan Shu was under house arrest, she could not leave her yard and could only watch Xuan Yue leave.
This time, Xuan Yue didn't hit her, scold her, or teach her a lesson... and he never looked back from beginning to end.
Xuanshu understood it very well.
This time, sister was really angry and disappointed in her. She didn't want to discipline her anymore... It was all Zhao Ying's fault!
If it weren’t for Zhao Ying, how could my sister be like this?
Xuan Shu cursed in his heart again, and after Xuan Yue left, he smashed the house in anger.
Then he scolded the maid, "What's wrong with you? Why didn't you tell me that my sister was here?!"
The personal maid knelt on the ground obediently, not even daring to raise her head, and described the scene when Xuan Yue barged in, "Miss, please understand."
Xuan Shu: “…”
She took a deep breath and asked again: "Sister, you were staying in the palace, why did you suddenly come back today!"
It has not even been a month since my sister entered the palace.
She also knew that the eldest princess loved her elder sister very much and would definitely not make things difficult for her.
So Xuan Shu wasn't too worried about Xuan Yue's situation. She was now worried about Xuan Yue's opinion of her...
The maid immediately told the news that Zhao Ying was leaving the capital today and heading to the northern border.
Although Xuanshu was under house arrest, her maid was not. This news was known after a little inquiry.
When Xuan Shu heard this, his expression changed again.
She said viciously: "It really is haunting us!" She was naturally referring to Zhao Ying.
She even shamelessly followed him to the North. Did she think the Marquis was in the North just for fun?
But soon, Xuan Shu's expression changed slightly and his eyes flickered.
Isn't it just going to the North?
Zhao Ying can go...she can go too!
Xuan Yue naturally didn't know what Xuan Shu was thinking. After she ordered the maid to burn the doll with Zhao Ying's name on it, she felt extremely complicated.
"Miss, the second young lady..." The maid beside Xuan Yue spoke tentatively.
Xuan Yue continued: "She's been spoiled."
"During these days, no one is allowed to visit her, not even her mother. Keep her locked up for a few days."
The main thing is that she really doesn't know how to face Xuan Shu now...
After a pause, she instructed, "Don't tell anyone about what happened today for now."
She was the one who felt sorry for Zhao Ying, but she still had to protect Xuan Shu and must not let this matter spread.
"Yes." The maid agreed, and then thought of another thing, "Does the apology letter still need to be sent to the prince's mansion?"
Originally, during these three days, Xuan Yue would have ordered someone to deliver the apology letter prepared by Xuan Shu to the Zhao family and Xie Yao in the Prince's Mansion.
Now that Zhao Ying is not in the capital, it naturally has to be delivered by Xie Yao.
When mentioning the Crown Princess, Xuan Yue's expression froze for a long time before he finally said, "Maybe... not necessary."
She didn't notice it before, but now she looks at the process again with the answer in mind. She's afraid that the Crown Princess has already seen through Xuan Shu's true face and even reminded her.
She was stupid and never took this matter to heart, let alone doubted Xuanshu.
In this way, she seemed like a fool for sending apology letters to Xuan Shu every day.
Thinking of this, Xuan Yue smiled self-deprecatingly, "I really have a good sister."
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