Chapter 55 Chapter 55 This person is not Xie Yun.
"Does my lady like this pearl hairpin?"
Cai Xiang said in a somewhat slick tone that the pearl hairpin was a gift from his servants and that it was most suitable for a woman's hair. He praised it, saying, "It shines brightly, like the moon."
Zhang Jingxian listened silently to the ambiguous words coming out of his mouth, and quickly walked aside under his extremely confident gaze.
"Lord Cai, please forgive my impoliteness, but I cannot accept this gift."
Her voice was flat, and she just glanced at the pearl hairpin from beginning to end, showing no interest at all.
When she first arrived at the Cai family manor, she smiled and saluted at the Cai brothers and sisters who were spying on her in order to make it clear that she was just a guest of Envoy Xie.
Now that there is no need for this, her attitude towards Cai Xiang has changed.
But Cai Xiang didn't care about it.
He felt that Zhang Jingxian was pretending to be reserved. She said she didn't accept it, but in fact she was madly thinking about him. He had seen too many women like this.
"I thought you were being mean to me yesterday... but I was mistaken. Please don't blame me, my lady. This hairpin is worth very little. It's my apology for offending you just now. Please accept it. Otherwise, if my father finds out, I will definitely be punished."
The next moment, he looked apologetic and changed his words, insisting that Zhang Jingxian accept the pearl hairpin.
"No merit, no reward. Mr. Cai did not offend me just now. Please take this thing back. Mr. Cai's father, Mr. Cai, is a sensible man. How could he blame Mr. Cai for such a small matter? I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave first."
Zhang Jingxian nodded politely, and without waiting for Cai Xiang to speak again, she took two steps and walked away.
Cai Xiang stood behind her, holding the pearl hairpin that had not been given away in his hand, his expression still full of disbelief.
When he confirmed that Zhang Jingxian had really rejected him, he angrily cursed, "She's just a commoner of low birth, what can she do?"
"Brother, how can you say that about Madam Zhang? Have you forgotten what father said? She is Envoy Xie's savior, and we must respect her."
Zhang Jingxian's figure walked away, and Cai Xiang's sister Cai Shu came over from behind a big tree behind the manor. She heard her brother cursing angrily and spoke in a gentle voice to stop him.
"Just now, wasn't I respecting her? If it were in the past, a commoner would have dared to reject me so ignorantly, I would have had her arrested long ago."
Cai Xiang scoffed at his sister's words. He didn't believe that his always proud sister would look down on a commoner.
"Brother! If you continue like this, I will tell father. Don't forget what you said in front of father and me before." Cai Shu was a little angry when she heard it. She wanted to climb up for the Cai family, but he deliberately sabotaged her.
"Okay, Shu'er, I'll try another way." Cai Xiang interrupted his sister impatiently. He thought that a peasant girl was easy to get. He could give her some money and treasures and promise her wealth and glory. Isn't that the case?
Cai Shu glared at her brother. She said that he was Envoy Xie’s savior, so how could she be short of a pearl hairpin?
"At noon, when I have lunch with her, I will find out her preferences. Brother, you can start with what Madam Zhang likes."
"Catering to his preferences? That's one way."
Cai Xiang looked at her beautiful sister, and she and her father could only think of this method which would not be of much benefit.
Only when people move forward, taking steps that are thrilling and dangerous, can they truly stand at the heights that everyone looks up to!
-
Zhang Jingxian returned to the room, lifted the curtain, and found Huang Ying still curled up on the bed with a sincere smile on her face.
After thinking about it, she went out of the room again and came to Yi Yu.
"Yu, do me a favor." Her eyes lit up and she took out a small piece of gold from her body.
"What does Madam Zhang want me to help you with?" Yi Yu asked cautiously, seeing that she seemed to have just returned from the envoy's courtyard.
"It's very simple. When you ask someone to go shopping in Wuling City, please buy me some millet, wheat, and grapes."
In fact, these should be easy to find in the Cai family's manor, but after all, it is not in her own home, and Zhang Jingxian is embarrassed to trouble others.
Might as well buy some myself.
Hearing this, Yi Yu's brows relaxed slightly. This was indeed a trivial favor. He didn't even ask Zhang Jingxian why she bought these, and agreed casually.
"A few coins will do. No need for gold."
"By the way, please help me exchange the gold for some coins." The woman's eyes were sincere. "Yu, thank you for helping me."
"……Um."
Yi Yu took the small piece of gold and placed it on himself.
"If you can help me buy a few more volumes of Prime Minister Xie's collected works... Yu, I will brew some grape drink and treat you to it when it's ready."
Yi Yu's hand trembled slightly. Thank you for Prime Minister's collection of essays? He was silent for a moment, not saying no.
Prime Minister Xie is the envoy's uncle. If the envoy knew that Madam Zhang was interested in reading Prime Minister Xie's collection of essays, he would not blame her.
However, despite thinking this, he still reported the matter to Xie Yun, carrying the hot piece of gold. Xie had warned him several times, and Yi Yu was always extra cautious about everything related to Madam Zhang.
"Do as she says." After listening to the report from the guard, Xie Yun's eyebrows moved slightly. He knew that she bought millet and wheat to feed the noisy oriole.
As for the grapes? He remembered the two grape vines growing in the fenced yard and said nothing.
It was easier to guess for whom she bought her uncle's collection of essays. Xie Yun's heart suddenly calmed down, and she suddenly felt that it would be okay to take her to Jiankang City to meet her uncle in the future.
Yi Yu retreated and Gong Chengyue came in.
He glanced at Xie Yun with a strange expression on his face.
"Why does Qilang look like this? Could it be that he's been pricked by silver needles too many times and is possessed by an evil spirit?"
Gongcheng Yue had just sent Mr. Ziji away and was exhausted. He turned around and saw a gentle smile on his friend's lips. He deeply suspected that Xie Shijun was possessed by a ghost.
Xie Yun glanced at him coldly and asked if he had sent anyone to keep an eye on Xu Ziji. "If you have nothing to do, you can go live at the Xu family and learn the art of conversation from Mr. Ziji."
"No, no, no, I'm so busy, I don't have the leisure time." Gong Chengyue smiled and waved his feather fan to refuse. "It's better to teach people to read and write than to learn to talk with them."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Yun's eyes suddenly fixed on the feather fan in his hand.
"Gong Chengyue, you really have too much free time."
He spoke word by word with a cold expression.
"Qi Lang, you still can't take a joke. Never mind. I'm broad-minded and won't bother with you." Gong Chengyue put down his feather fan, and the playful look on his face disappeared without a trace. "Xiao Yu has already appeared."
First they fished in small trials, and then came the big fish they really wanted to catch.
"You arrived in Wuyang County with such fanfare, and Wei led a hundred men here several days in advance, setting the hooks long ago. If he doesn't act now, he'll be ungrateful."
Xie Yun spoke in a sarcastic tone, with no expression on his face. He had expected the result.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Cai Xiang."
Gong Chengyue answered with two words and looked through the window at the Baicao Garden beside him. Just a while ago, he explained to a woman why the Cai family was trying to curry favor with the aristocratic family.
However, he had a vague idea: he and Qilang were from aristocratic families, but that didn't mean they were aristocratic families. The Cai family might not be trying to please Envoy Xie.
"He and the other two people from the Cai family have already set their sights on Madam Zhang. Qilang, what do you think of Madam Zhang's luck?"
Gongcheng Yue sighed and felt a little sympathy for the peasant girl. She had bad luck. First, she offended the vindictive Envoy Xie, and then she was the first to be targeted by the evil-minded Cai family.
"Gong Chengyue, what happens to her is none of your business."
Xie Yun raised his eyelids and looked at his sighing friend, feeling a chill all over his body.
He is the only one who has the final say on whether her fortune is good or bad.
Although the outside world is wonderful, it is also full of dangers. If she wants to be a useful guest by his side, it is impossible for her to just say a few words.
Either take risks for him, or give up and hide under his wings.
Xie Yun would not be soft-hearted towards anyone, including her. He had to make her understand that her choice was wrong. If she had not followed him firmly from the beginning, she would have suffered a lot.
"She said it would never happen, and I want her to regret it forever."
That may not be the case, Gong Chengyue thought to himself.
-
At noon, Zhang Jingxian followed Xiao Chan to a courtyard surrounded by flowers and trees as promised.
This is Cai Shu's residence, which looks quite exquisite.
She praised the girl who came out to greet her a few times, and her sincere tone confirmed what she had said to Xiao Chan.
She was a peasant girl from the mountains who had hardly ever left home and had never been interested in wealth and prosperity.
"Mrs. Zhang, please sit down quickly. My humble home is shabby and how can I deserve your praise." Cai Shu behaved intimately and invited her to sit down.
Zhang Jingxian didn't take her words to heart. She sat quietly in the seat opposite Cai Shu, her eyes first looking at the dazzling array of food on display.
Since she was invited to have lunch together, what she cared about most was of course the food in front of her.
"Madam Zhang, please try this dish of fresh crucian carp and shredded pork. I heard that Envoy Xie also likes it very much." Cai Shu not only plays the piano beautifully, but also speaks in a soft voice, which arouses a tingling sensation in people's ears.
She was unaware of it, and when she mentioned Envoy Xie, her tone became more gentle.
Zhang Jingxian thought of the yellow warbler that flew back to visit her, and as soon as she swallowed a mouthful of food, she began to praise it simply.
"It tastes delicious. Madam Cai's cook is amazing."
It is indeed delicious. No wonder Xie Yun is so picky but can still say that she likes it.
She ate several mouthfuls in succession, her eyes narrowed into crescents. Several servants of the Cai family who were standing quietly by saw this and couldn't help laughing out loud.
It's just a dish. Even if you like it, you shouldn't eat it in such big mouthfuls. It's neither polite nor elegant.
Look at her wife, with her slender neck lowered slightly, long fingers slightly raised, her face covered and swallowing, that is what is called decent and beautiful.
Zhang Jingxian pretended not to hear the Cai family's teasing. She chewed every bite of her food carefully and did not stop until her stomach was full.
"Mrs. Cai, thank you so much for your hospitality. I haven't eaten such delicious food in a long time." She thanked Cai Shu, and the light in her eyes did not seem fake.
Seeing this, Cai Shu was stunned for a moment, and directly said the temptation that she had originally planned to raise after a while.
"Madam Zhang, there's no need to thank Shu'er. To be honest, I have...something I want to ask Madam Zhang."
"I know everything, and I will tell you everything." Zhang Jingxian was waiting for her to ask herself.
"Thank you, envoy. I wonder what type of girl he likes? I was rejected at the banquet and was really heartbroken." Cai Shu said with a mist in her eyes.
"I dare not speculate on the Envoy's affairs." Zhang Jingxian lowered her eyes, the expression in her eyes unclear, and said in a normal tone, "However, the Envoy once praised his elder sister, saying that she was quite talented and learned."
"Well, noble status, rich talent, good character and appearance, that's probably it."
"Madam Cai, you are already quite capable. Perhaps it was just that you spent too little time with the envoy, which led to the situation at the banquet."
Every word she said came from the heart and was stated calmly. Cai Shu was very outstanding, and Xie Yun was indeed very picky.
"What Madam Zhang said makes a lot of sense." Cai Shu listened to her words and immediately became more charming. She added, "Fortunately, Envoy Xie wants to stay in my house for a while. I still have a chance."
Zhang Jingxian nodded and said, yes, there is still plenty of time.
"What about Madam Zhang? What kind of man do you like?" Cai Shu turned the subject to her and asked with a smile.
"He's kind and gentle, he'll laugh and cry with me. It would be even better if he could catch a wild goose for me when I'm lonely and want to start a family."
"The feathers of wild geese should be rich and beautiful, and they can fly far and high with one flap of their wings."
Zhang Jingxian looked straight into Cai Shu's eyes and spoke slowly.
This person is not Xie Yun.
There is no need to test her.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Muah, here I come~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
