Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Second Branch of the Xu Family Arrives in Beijing, Intending to Do Evil.
After picking up Xu Chumian, Xiao Qingyan and Xu Chumian went to a nearby restaurant for a meal.
They went to the same place that Xu Chumian and Mo Zhen went to last time.
Unexpectedly, not long after the two arrived, Mo Zhen and Gu Xianzhou also arrived, followed by Qin Zhitong.
Xu Chumian looked surprised and delighted: "Sister Mo."
Mo Zhen came upon hearing the sound, and upon seeing the man beside Xu Chumian, he smiled knowingly.
"Chumian, I went to look for you at the quiz site just now, but you weren't there. I guess you must have finished the quiz early and left."
Xu Chumian smiled faintly and hummed in agreement.
Mo Zhen's teasing gaze swept over the two of them.
Gu Xianzhu was still dressed in red, with red lips and white teeth and a smile on his face. When he saw Xu Chumian, he only nodded slightly.
Xu Chumian smiled faintly: "Young Master Qin."
Xiao Qingyan and Qin Zhitong exchanged a glance; they had both met at the Duke's mansion before.
Qin Zhitong looked away thoughtfully and called out, "Miss Xu."
Xiao Qingyan spoke up: "How about we have lunch together?"
Mo Zhen agreed and took Xu Chumian's arm as they entered the private room.
Qin Zhitong, standing behind Xiao Qingyan, suddenly heard a low voice from ahead: "How did Young Master Qin meet Chu Mian?"
Qin Zhitong: "It's quite a coincidence that we met while buying spices."
Xiao Qingyan smiled and said, "It's nothing."
Zhao Yu probably wouldn't be ashamed to let others know about the despicable things he did.
Inside the private room, the three men were all talkative.
Mo Zhen and Xu Chumian sat together, whispering to each other.
"Chu Mian, from now on we can have lunch together every day at noon."
Xu Chumian: "Okay, I hope Sister Mo will give me more guidance in the future."
...
Seeing this, Xiao Qingyan's eyes were full of doting smiles.
Qin Zhitong observed silently, drinking alone with a smile.
After the meal, the two girls wanted to stroll around the neighborhood, with Gu Xianzhou following behind, carrying his sword.
Xiao Qingyan had other matters to attend to at the yamen, and Qin Zhitong also needed to return to the Duke's mansion, so the two left together on the way.
The two men each rode a horse, walking side by side.
Qin Zhitong asked, "Young Master Xiao intends to marry her?"
Xiao Qingyan raised an eyebrow and smiled, his possessiveness only growing stronger.
"Of course, Chu Mian and I are in love, and I will marry her with great pomp and circumstance."
Qin Zhitong's wrist tightened around the reins. "...Then I wish Young Master Xiao all his wishes will come true soon."
Xiao Qingyan smiled and said, "When you returned to the Duke's mansion, you ran into He'an. Please urge him to settle down and start a family soon."
Qin Zhitong had vaguely heard about the fight between the two brothers a few days ago.
Unaware of the specific reason, Qin Zhitong cautiously remained silent.
In terms of kinship, Zhao Yu was his elder brother.
When they reached the crossroads, the two parted ways.
Suddenly, Xiao Qingyan pulled on the reins. He looked back and saw that Qin Zhitong's figure had already disappeared into the distance.
Xiao Qingyan gazed into the distance, his eyes landing on the magnificent mansion in the distance.
He'an, don't let me down.
...
Qin Zhitong returned to the Duke's mansion. The courtyard where he and Qin Ruoyu lived was on the east side. The courtyard was spacious and had a good view, enough for the two siblings to live in.
In the past, the brother and sister would go to greet the Duke and Madam Zhang in the morning, and then Qin Zhitong would go back to the courtyard to study. Qin Ruoyu would mostly stay in her room to read, occasionally go to find Zhao Lingyao to play, and when she went out of the mansion, she would usually be with Shen Lingyin.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he suddenly heard soft sobbing coming from Qin Ruoyu's room.
Qin Zhitong turned and arrived at his sister's room.
In winter, thick curtains were hung at the door to block the wind, so the people inside naturally didn't hear Qin Zhitong's movements.
Qin Ruoyu's personal maid advised, "Miss, I've heard that the young master prefers quiet. There are only two or three maids sweeping and cleaning in Songchi Courtyard. It's best not to go there rashly next time."
Qin Ruoyu's voice choked with emotion: "I only picked a few plum blossoms last night, did my brother have to be so mean to me? He didn't even come to help me up when I fell."
Last night, Qin Ruoyu walked back via a less-traveled path, afraid of being seen and ridiculed. She thought about it all night, and still felt extremely wronged.
Qin Ruoyu moved her lips: "Can't I even fight for myself...?"
The outer curtain was suddenly yanked open.
Qin Ruoyu shuddered.
Qin Zhitong stood at the door with a dark face, his eyes fixed on Qin Ruoyu, and spoke in a low voice:
"Qin Ruoyu, get your head clean. The Duke kindly allowed my brother and me to live in his mansion, not so you could use it as an opportunity to climb the social ladder."
Qin Ruoyu's face turned pale. "Brother, I was just saying it casually, don't be angry..."
Qin's father passed away early, and Qin's mother was weak and indecisive. Most of the Qin family's affairs were decided by Qin Zhitong. In the past few years, Qin Zhitong has acted as both an older brother and a father to Qin Ruoyu. He doesn't need to think; he knows what Qin Ruoyu is thinking.
Qin Zhitong pressed closer, "What kind of person is your elder brother? Do you think she doesn't know what you're thinking? Once your elder brother passes the imperial examination, he will find you a marriage."
Qin Ruoyu burst into tears, "Brother, but I just love Big Brother..."
"Then endure it. Of all things in this world, living is the most important."
"Remember my words. If you dare to have any other thoughts, I will take you away."
After saying that, Qin Zhitong left.
Qin Ruoyu cried even harder.
The maid comforted her, "Miss, the young master is right. Let's find someone else to like."
Qin Ruoyu clenched her handkerchief and looked at the woman in the dressing mirror.
No, she was not willing to accept it.
-
Meanwhile, Xu Chumian and Mo Zhen strolled around the restaurant area.
That nearby street is full of places to eat, drink, and have fun.
Two young girls were coming out of a jewelry shop. Gu Xianzhou followed behind them, and suddenly his gaze fixed on them.
Across the street, several people were staring at this spot.
When Gu Xianzhou looked over, one of the young men in brocade robes smiled at him.
Gu Xianzhu frowned and looked away. He was face-blind and could never remember the faces of people he didn't know well.
The man in brocade robes scoffed coldly.
The man in brocade robes was Qian Zhuo, the eldest son of the Vice Minister of Rites.
Xu Zhiyuan followed Qian Zhuo's gaze, paused slightly, and immediately met the eyes of a couple beside him.
Is it Xu Chumian?
Although it had been several years since they last met, Xu Chumian's face was still incredibly beautiful, otherwise the second wife would not have sent her to be a concubine back then.
Xu Zhiyuan asked in a gentle voice, "Young Master Qian, have you taken a fancy to that woman?"
Qian Zhuo raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Does Young Master Xu perhaps have a way to get it for me?"
The imperial examinations will be held in two or three months.
Xu Zhiyuan was the son of the second wife, and was three or four years older than Xu Chumian. He came to the capital to take the imperial examination, and the Xu family's second wife and son-in-law accompanied him.
Xu Songbai smiled knowingly and stroked his beard. "If Young Master Qian wants it, then this old man will offer it to you with both hands, no matter what."
Qian Zhuo smiled and said, "If I'm happy, I'll naturally put in a good word for Zhiyuan in front of my father."
The second branch of the Xu family smiled repeatedly.
Xu Zhiyuan's grades were achieved through a combination of exams and bribery.
The imperial examination questions were set by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Last year, Qian Zhuo came to Jiangnan for sightseeing and took a fancy to a courtesan. It was Xu Zhiyuan who bought her for him, and the two became acquainted because of this.
After arriving in Beijing, the first thing the second branch of the Xu family did was to seek out Qian Zhuo.
In just three days after arriving in the capital, he gave Qian Zhuo five or six thousand taels of silver.
After watching Qian Zhuo leave, the three members of the Xu family exchanged knowing smiles.
Xu Chumian is capable of running away for so many years.
Now, they've found it, and it really came to them without any effort at all.
Xu Songbai immediately ordered his guards to follow the woman in front.
Almost that afternoon, the second branch of the Xu family found out about Xu Chuming's current situation. The tricky part was that Xiao Qingyan was with her.
Xu Zhiyuan: "Father, don't rush, lest you alert the enemy. Let's proceed slowly and methodically."
Most importantly, Xiao Qingyan is a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If I act impulsively and Xiao Qingyan discovers that I have cheated, then it will be a great loss.
Xu Yanran nodded: "Brother is right. Now that we know where Xu Chumian lives, are we afraid she will run away again?"
The entire second branch of the Xu family came to Beijing this time. Xu Yanran is only one year younger than Xu Chumian.
A wicked smile was plastered all over her beautiful face.
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