Chapter Eight: Your Highness, this servant is here to help you rest.
The next day, Xiao Qingyan came to pick up Xu Chumian early in the morning.
The shop we booked was near the Xu family's house.
However, when it came time to sign the contract, the broker reneged.
"Miss Xu, I'm so sorry, this shop was bought by someone else at the last minute. I'll refund you double your deposit now."
The broker stuffed the purse into Xu Chumian's arms.
Xu Chumian frowned, her slender body tensing up.
"We already agreed on this yesterday, why are you going back on your word?"
The old woman in charge of the brokerage said, "Well... people are going to buy it. The owner originally intended to sell the shop, but it had been listed for a long time without being sold, so he decided to rent it out."
Xu Chumian looked at several shops before finally deciding on one.
Disappointment was inevitable, but there was nothing that could be done.
Xiao Qingyan gave him a reassuring look and asked, "Are there any other shops nearby?"
The matchmaker beamed with delight: "Yes, yes, yes, there just happened to be a vacant shop on the main street of Ming'anfang. It's perfect for Miss Xu who wants to start a spice business."
Ming'anfang?
Xu Chumian immediately refused, her bright red lips turning white from being bitten.
The matchmaker was surprised by Xu Chuming's strong reaction. After thinking for a moment, she said, "If Miss Xu is worried about the rent, I can reduce it for you. It will only be one tael of silver more per month than this place. How about that?"
Xiao Qingyan quickly understood and answered for Xu Chumian: "Ming'anfang is too far away, we won't consider it."
Xu Chumian clenched her fists, a look of worry on her brow.
Ming'anfang was close to the Zhao family, and she decided to stay away from Zhao Yu and never meet him again.
Moreover, the third branch of the Zhao family is still keeping an eye on her.
It was no coincidence that this shop was occupied.
Seeing Xu Chumian's uneasy expression, Xiao Qingyan subconsciously raised his hand and gently touched the woman's hair with his large, calloused hand.
Xu Chumian looked up and met the man's gentle, smiling eyes.
"Come with me."
Xu Chumian was taken away by Xiao Qingyan.
The matchmaker could only stomp her feet and watch the two figures leave, filled with impotent rage.
Xiao Qingyan led Xu Chumian to the entrance of another shop.
This place is closer and bigger than the original one, and there's a small courtyard in the back.
Xiao Qingyan smiled, "I originally wanted to tell you yesterday, but since you've already chosen a shop, I was afraid it would be presumptuous to bring it up."
"Since it's just sitting there anyway, I might as well consider it an investment for Manager Xu. Just don't forget me in the future, Manager Xu."
Xu Chumian was touched. "What about the rent?"
Xiao Qingyan: "Same as the previous one."
Xu Chumian instinctively wanted to refuse.
"That won't do—"
Xiao Qingyan raised an eyebrow and interrupted her: "If Miss Xu thinks it's too cheap, then the extra money can be used for dinner?"
Xiao Qingyan lowered his eyes, "The food my family cooks makes is hard to swallow."
Xiao Qingyan looked unusually aggrieved, which made Xu Chumian unable to suppress a smile.
With her hands behind her back, she looked around the courtyard again, then turned and said, "Then thank you very much, Lord Xiao, for your generosity!"
Xiao Qingyan smiled broadly: "Then I'll trouble Manager Xu to prepare dinner."
Having looked at the shops to their heart's content, the two locked the door and left.
"I heard a new pastry shop opened on the street. Shall we go buy some for Mumu to try?"
Xu Chumian responded with a soft "hmm".
Xiao Qingyan was handsome and had an extraordinary air about him. Just by standing there, every woman on the street would look at him.
Xu Chumian walked towards him.
Suddenly, her gaze faltered as she spotted another lingering face on the street corner.
It's Zhao Chenyu.
Xu Chumian frowned again.
Xiao Qingyan was equally alert, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
His tall figure almost completely obscured the woman's slender body.
Xu Chumian's unease lessened somewhat.
Xiao Qingyan stayed by Xu Chumian's side until they returned to the Xu family.
They didn't let Zhao Chenyu get close at all.
That afternoon, Xiao Qingyan was going to attend the Minister of Justice's 60th birthday celebration. He asked Liu Da and Liu Er to keep an eye on the courtyard and taught them a few more self-defense techniques before leaving.
Zhao Yu would also be going that day, and he and Chen Feng watched as Xiao Qingyan came from the direction of the door.
Xiao Qingyan's superior was Chen Feng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who was also the eldest son of the Minister of Justice.
Having not seen Xiao Qingyan for several days, Zhao Yu immediately noticed the changes in him.
Chen Feng clicked his tongue twice, "He's like a gentle breeze, his eyes are sparkling, I think he's fallen in love."
Seeing the two staring at him, Xiao Qingyan coughed lightly: "What are you looking at?"
Chen Feng scoffed, "Hmph, something's not right with you. Let me think. Was the book you bought in Maoxian a gift for that person? You usually hate pretentious, effeminate people."
Xiao Qingyan said helplessly, "Lord Chen, this is still far from certain, so be careful what you say. Also, be mindful of your manners."
Zhao Yu paused slightly, then asked, "What happened?"
Facing his close friend, Xiao Qingyan felt unusually uncomfortable.
The birthday banquet hadn't started yet, and he didn't want to attend any social events.
Xiao Qingyan then took out a jade stone and a blade from his sleeve.
He planned to carve a "ghost craft ball" for Xu Chumian by hand. That kind of thing would be extremely demanding on one's skills, so he planned to practice on jade first.
Xiao Qingyan made two cuts and then stopped what he was doing.
"Why are you still standing here? Just say what you have to say."
Chen Feng was genuinely curious: "Which young lady has caught the eye of our Lord Xiao?"
Xiao Qingyan has extremely high standards; he didn't even think much of the princess.
Xiao Qingyan: "Although she has an ordinary background, she is the best woman in the world."
Xiao Qingyan was a prodigy, and such praise from him greatly piqued Chen Feng's interest.
Zhao Yu smiled, for the best woman in the world was his Chu Mian.
Thinking of Xu Chumian, Zhao Yu's expression relaxed, and he casually asked a question.
"You're going to marry her?"
Xiao Qingyan's ears turned red: "If she's willing."
If you say that, it means you've truly fallen for them.
Seeing Xiao Qingyan like this for the first time, Chen Feng laughed so hard his shoulders shook.
The banquet begins.
The boys all went to the front yard.
Xiao Qingyan called out to Zhao Yu.
"He'an, besides being good to a woman, what else is needed to pursue her?"
Many images flashed before Zhao Yu's eyes.
"Give her pampering, give her inexhaustible wealth and luxury, give her the dignity she deserves, give her something to rely on, and care about what she cares about..."
Zhao Yu believed he had accomplished the first four.
For Xu Chumian, Mu Mu was the most important person.
It became the greatest wound between him and Chu Mian in his previous life.
Xiao Qingyan couldn't help but laugh: "I never expected that Lord Zhao, who is not interested in women, could still answer questions so reasonably and convincingly."
Zhao Yu curled his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes.
He looked at Xiao Qingyan and said, "Now that you have found a woman you like, stay in the capital and don't go back to the north."
Xiao Qingyan hummed in agreement, and a smile involuntarily crept into his eyes as he thought of Xu Chumian.
"Of course, she doesn't know who I am yet, so as not to frighten her."
The banquet ended.
Back at the Zhao family home, Zhao Yu asked, "How is Mu Mu's old ailment?"
Guan Yan quickly replied, "I will go and ask tomorrow."
Zhao Yu pursed his lips: "Doctor Chen, use only the best medicinal herbs, and get them from my private treasury. If you need anything, just tell me, and this matter will be kept confidential."
Guan Yan: "Yes."
Guan Yan left the room, hoping that Miss Xu would reconcile with the young master soon.
He still wants to see next spring.
Night had fallen, and the bathroom was filled with steam.
Zhao Yu was shirtless, with broad shoulders and arms, and smooth muscle lines that flowed downwards. The wound on his right shoulder from being bitten by Xu Chumian had not yet healed.
The man leaned against the edge of the wooden barrel, lost in thought, his expression unreadable.
A light rain began to fall outside the window.
Zhao Yu suddenly spoke up: "Chumian, the medicine is in the box under the antique shelf."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Yu pursed his lips.
When Xu Chumian escaped from the Xu family, she injured her legs and feet, which would ache whenever it was rainy. Doctor Chen would bring her medicine every few days.
Only silence answered him; that slender, graceful figure would never appear there again.
Zhao Yu sneered, got out of the water, and grabbed a towel from the side to wrap around himself.
He strode out of the restroom.
Just then, a figure dressed only in a middle garment appeared at the table.
The woman was fair-skinned and slender, and said timidly, "Young Master, this servant has come to help you rest."
Zhao Yu's face hardened with rage. He said in a deep voice, "Get out."
The woman stood motionless, biting her lip, her eyes shrewd, unwilling to leave.
"Your Highness, it was Madam who sent me..."
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp sword light flashed past.
Zhao Yu's murderous intent gradually became apparent.
The woman suddenly screamed and scrambled through the door, rushing into the rain.
Thunder rumbled.
It reflected Zhao Yu's imposing face.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com