But apart from the prefect, where are the high-ranking officials in the border cities of Qi?
Thinking of this, she spoke cautiously.
"May I ask who you are, young lady...?"
The girl was taken aback, then realized she hadn't revealed her identity yet. She smiled, and the maid Xiaolian beside her immediately raised her head, looking at her with the same arrogance.
"Hmph, my young lady is the only daughter of Grand Tutor Liu, a first-rank official of the current dynasty! Liu Piaorou!"
After saying that, he stared intently at Qin Qing, imagining how shocked and terrified she would be the next second!
However, Qin Qing only showed surprise, as if she had just realized it, without any of the fear, panic, apprehension, flattery, or even joy that she had imagined!
Xiao Lian froze for a second, about to say something, but Qin Qing shut her down with a single sentence.
"No wonder, Miss. With a monthly salary of one hundred and fifty taels, you must be no ordinary daughter of a wealthy family. However, I have important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer. If fate allows, I believe we will meet again in the future, and I will certainly make another cake for you!"
After saying that, she glanced apologetically at the girl Liu Piaorou, looking helpless, but couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Piaorou? What a nice name! Her gaze couldn't help but fall on the girl's long, beautiful hair.
The girl was taken aback by her words, then looked at her with some curiosity, after all, she had never had many people refuse her so decisively in her life! Noticing that she was staring at her hair with a smile, she asked in confusion.
"But is something wrong? Why does the old lady look like that?"
Seeing this, Qin Qing shook his head repeatedly and said with a smile.
"Oh, I just think your hair is really nice!"
Liu Piaorou blinked, no longer dwelling on the issue, and instead said...
"Alright then! I'm going back tomorrow anyway. If you ever go to the capital of Qi, you can come to the Grand Tutor's residence to find me!"
Qin Qing smiled and nodded, perhaps that day really would come.
Then, Xiaolian found a maid to escort her out through the back door, while she followed Liu Piaopiao to the inner courtyard.
Qin Qing quietly followed the maid away. After thinking for a while, she decided to go find the prefect and ask for any clues, as long as she knew the identity of that rebellious son Mu Tian!
As dusk settled, she followed her maid silently forward, when suddenly she caught sight of a familiar profile. She froze, her eyes widening in shock…
The old woman was scolding a disheveled maid, her brows furrowed and her face full of anger.
That face was undoubtedly Aunt Ying's!
In an instant, Qin Qing felt a surge of secret joy. It had come so easily! He immediately connected everything in his mind. He didn't know when that rebellious son had managed to get close to someone like the Grand Tutor, which was why he had left his hometown to recognize him as his father!
If he hadn't traveled thousands of miles to this place in search of his family, he might never have found his beloved youngest son in his entire life.
Perhaps because there had been no footsteps behind them for a long time, the maid in front turned her head and asked in confusion.
"Auntie, have you left something behind?"
Qin Qing snapped out of her daze, an idea instantly forming in her mind. She quickly grabbed the maid and pretended to regret it.
"Oh dear, the old lady suddenly remembered something. I'm afraid I need to go to the capital to find my relatives. The war has just ended, and the world is not very peaceful. I should have accepted Miss Liu's invitation!"
As she spoke, she begged the maid to escort her back and inform her that she had decided to return to the capital with Miss Liu.
Upon hearing this, the maid hesitated for a moment before sending Qin Qing back to the small kitchen.
"Wait here, I'll go find the young lady right away."
On the other side, Liu Piaorou, dressed in a pale yellow dress, excitedly carried a box towards the inner courtyard and soon arrived at the door of a house.
"Mom, I brought you some delicious food!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the door to the house slowly opened, and a beautiful woman dressed simply appeared before them. Her face, which bore some resemblance to Liu Piaorou, exuded a more mature charm. Upon seeing her beloved daughter, the woman couldn't help but smile.
"How delicious is it? You're just a glutton, be careful you don't gain weight!"
Liu Piaorou chuckled, picked up the cake, and walked in, talking as she went.
"Last time when Mother went to worship Buddha, she didn't get to eat any, and Rou'er felt it was a pity. Luckily, we ran into that old lady who makes cakes today, so she made some fresh!"
After saying that, she opened the box, and a sweet and tempting aroma wafted out. The woman couldn't help but look down at it with surprise and delight. The cake had a unique shape and a beautiful color combination, and the black object looked even more unusual.
Liu Piaorou cut off a slice and handed it to the woman. Under the watchful eyes of four people, the woman showed a rare look of joy, her eyes fixed intently on the cake…
"It's so tender and fragrant when you bite into it, sweet but not greasy at all. Anyone who tries it will definitely want to have a second bite. Where did Rou'er find such a delicacy? It's simply the most delicious food ever!"
Unlike the warm atmosphere here, Qin Qing took advantage of the maid's departure and quickly went to the spot where she had first seen Aunt Ying. There she found that the woman was still angrily cursing the maid, and there were more than a dozen servants and maids standing around her.
"You little slut! How dare you seduce the young master? I'll teach you a lesson for being shameless!"
"Slap!" A crisp slap!
"I told you to take off your clothes and come into the young master's room!"
A tearing sound rang out, and the maid's outer garment was instantly ripped. Aunt Ying, however, remained furious and continued to whip her relentlessly.
The maid's face was flushed, her eyes filled with shame and indignation, tears streaming down her face as she frantically shook her head.
"No, no, mwah, I didn't, it was Young Master... Young Master he..."
"Smack!"
Before she could finish speaking, another slap landed hard on her face, knocking the maid to the ground, demonstrating the force of the blow!
Aunt Ying stared at her with a sharp and threatening look in her eyes.
"You little slut, you'd better think carefully about what you're saying. Do you know the consequences of slandering your master?"
The maid's face turned pale instantly, her body trembled and she shrank back, not daring to continue speaking, and she began to cry in grievance.
Seeing this, Qin Qing felt even more furious. Who else could Aunt Ying protect so fiercely besides that rebellious son?!
Originally, she was just angry but didn't want to let the danger spread, so she believed that she should pull that unfilial son down to avoid him stabbing her in the back. She didn't expect that the unfilial son to be so shameless and even bully women. This Aunt Ying is no good either!
When Qin Qing heard her speak that day, he thought she was a good person, just forced into it. He never expected her to be so ruthless. How could she have any reputation left after treating a woman like that in public?
Just then, a casual shout came from afar.
"Aunt Ying, don't be angry. Send that wretched maid Cui'er to the country estate!"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Ying respectfully turned around, bowed, and said yes, but gave the maid a fierce glare.
The maid also heard this, and her face immediately turned pale. She looked at the room in disbelief and blurted out in horror.
"Young Master! No, Cui'er doesn't want any title anymore, please don't send Cui'er away!"
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