Seeing that Qiao Jiaojiao was speechless, Shen Qiyue kindly stepped forward to help her out of the predicament.
"Sister Qiao, I know you're worried about your mother. But good medicine tastes bitter, and my sister-in-law means well. You should persuade Granny Li to listen to my sister-in-law for now. Once she's better, she can eat whatever she wants, right?"
Qiao Jiaojiao was about to explode with anger, but she had no choice but to suppress her temper and smile.
"Little July is right. I was just worried and confused. Please don't blame me, Madam."
Shen Qiyue waved her hand dismissively, "Don't worry, Sister Qiao, my sister-in-law is a magnanimous person and won't hold it against you."
Yan Xiao realized that with Shen Qiyue around, she had no room to maneuver at all. She wondered if the little girl was doing it on purpose, but she seemed a bit sly and mischievous.
I don't know who she learned it from.
She chuckled softly and nodded, replying in agreement with Shen Qiyue's words:
"What you said in July was just out of filial piety, how could I care? Aren't you going out? It's getting late, you should go and come back soon."
"Okay, sister-in-law, I'll be back as soon as possible."
Shen Qiyue really wanted to go out and see the world. Yesterday she saw many interesting things on the street, but she didn't have time to see them clearly. She was itching to go out.
After saying goodbye to Yan Xiao, she led the somewhat dazed Qiao Jiaojiao out the door.
Qiao Jiaojiao regarded Yan Xiao as a rival in love from the bottom of her heart. She originally thought that Yan Xiao must be hostile to them because she had disrespected her mother like that yesterday.
Unexpectedly, Yan Xiao did not stop her from getting close to Shen Qiyue, and her attitude was so kind and friendly, which was completely beyond her expectations.
Even after she and Shen Qiyue had left the General's Mansion, she still couldn't figure out the ins and outs of it all.
'Could it be that she wasn't intentionally targeting my mother? Was that coarse grain porridge really a way to treat headaches?'
Or perhaps she didn't understand my and my mother's identities yesterday, and acted arrogantly as the General's wife, and now that she knows my brother is General Shen's savior, she's trying to curry favor?
Qiao Jiaojiao can't think of any other reasons besides these.
Later on, she lost all interest in thinking about anything else.
Because, before she had even walked half the street, her wallet was already almost empty.
Shen Qiyue finds everything fascinating and wants everything she sees; she's a complete country bumpkin who's never seen the world.
But she had no mood to laugh at Shen Qiyue, because Shen Qiyue didn't bring a single penny with her. When she saw something she liked, she would look at her longingly and call her "Sister Qiao" in a coquettish manner. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and take out her money.
That's not the most infuriating thing. What's most infuriating is that Shen Qiyue always bought two portions. At first, she thought they were for her, so she told Shen Qiyue that she didn't need them.
As a result, Shen Qiyue said:
“I know Sister Qiao doesn’t care about these things anymore. This is something I brought for my sister-in-law.”
As he spoke, he winked innocently at her, then added with a puzzled look:
"Didn't Sister Qiao say I should bring some back for my sister-in-law?"
Qiao Jiaojiao was so taken aback by Shen Qiyue's innocent and naive tone that she almost couldn't catch her breath, but the fact was that she really had said those words herself.
Even when they were at the manor, in order to coax Shen Qiyue out, when Shen Qiyue said that her brother hadn't given her her monthly allowance yet, she herself patted her chest and said that she had it, so that Shen Qiyue didn't have to worry about money.
But she never expected that Shen Qiyue would be so willing to ask for it!
Wouldn't a young girl from an ordinary family feel embarrassed to spend someone else's money? Wouldn't she usually just buy one or two things as a token of appreciation after being persuaded by the person spending the money?
Why doesn't this work for Shen Qiyue?
She now strongly suspects that the two women, the sister-in-law and the other woman, are deliberately conspiring to make fun of her, but she can't find any evidence.
Because she herself had eagerly approached him, and it was she who had coaxed Chen Qiyue into going out.
Seeing her monthly savings of more than half a year slowly dwindling, she was helpless and could only grit her teeth and force a smile to continue buying things for Chen Qiyue.
After seeing Shen Qiyue off with a smile, Yan Xiao led Qianqiu Wandai towards her Yuanyi Hall.
Qianqiu and Wandai walked behind Shen Qiyue, exchanging glances as if they both wanted to say something but dared not.
Yan Xiao noticed their unusual behavior and, without turning her head, said as she walked:
"You are my personal maids now, so speak your mind directly. I don't like people who are hesitant and indecisive."
The two were surprised by Yan Xiao's keen perception, as if she had eyes in the back of her head, but they quickly realized what was happening.
Qianqiu was slightly bolder; without much hesitation, she quickly took two steps to Yanxiao's side and whispered in reply:
“Madam, this Miss Qiao seems to be a little too attentive to Miss. I’m worried that she may have ulterior motives. You should be more careful.”
"Is that so?" Yan Xiao's lips curled into a faint smile as she asked in return.
"Do you know something?"
"This servant dares not speak recklessly."
Qianqiu was a little unsure of what Yanxiao really meant, but she still honestly told him what she knew.
"In the past, whenever the general returned to the manor, Miss Qiao would try her best to create chance encounters, and Granny Li would also help her. Everyone in the manor said that Miss Qiao probably wanted to enter the general's harem."
"She's being so ingratiating to you now, Miss. I'm worried she's trying to use you to get closer to the General."
This answer was similar to what Yan Xiao had thought. It wasn't surprising that a mother and daughter would do such a thing, but she didn't care.
If Shen Qiyue could be bought off by such a paltry sum, then she was blind to have misjudged her. It's better to cut her losses in time and only talk about interests from now on.
As for Shen Muzhi, if he were to take a liking to Qiao Jiaojiao, then he would be considered to have finally seen the light. Not only would she not be angry, but she would also celebrate.
She waved her hand dismissively and replied:
"As long as they don't get in my way, I'll let them be."
After saying that, she felt it didn't quite fit her public image, so she quickly added:
“A man as outstanding as the General will naturally attract women, but I trust the General and he will certainly not treat me poorly.”
"That's what you're saying, Madam!"
Although Qianqiu was still worried, she couldn't persuade her anymore since the lady had said so.
As they were talking, the group arrived at Yuanyi Hall.
The place had undergone a complete transformation since Yanxiao saw it yesterday.
A small door, just big enough for one person to pass through, was installed between the two rooms, connecting them.
The windows that originally led to the general's mansion were all bricked up, and one of the two doors was also bricked up. The remaining door was now being guarded by two guards.
The room was furnished like a typical clinic, with the outside area for consultations and dispensing medicine, and the inside area for rest.
The larger room was the consultation room, which now had a large door and a window.
The gate and windows lead directly to the outside of the courtyard wall. Stepping out, you'll find yourself on the street where the General's Mansion is located. Looking up, you can see the words "Yuanyitang" written on the top of the gate.
By this time, many passersby had already noticed the gate that opened out of the general's mansion's courtyard wall and were now standing not far away, watching and talking.
The topics of conversation naturally included what happened on the streets yesterday.
"Who exactly is that woman? How could she be so capable?"
"I don't know. Who would dare to inquire about or speak carelessly about matters concerning the General's Mansion?"
"Yuanyi Hall? Could it be that they're really going to open a clinic in the General's Mansion?"
"The doors and windows were opened overnight, and the signboard was hung up. With such speed, how could it be fake?"
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