Even if Qi Yunxiao was slow to notice, he could sense the spark between Shen Qingyu and Hu Jinxiu, and immediately prepared to refuse.
"No, we..."
Shen Qingyu, however, had no intention of running away.
She grabbed Qi Yunxiao's arm: "Great! Where does Miss Hu plan to take us for dinner?"
She actually agreed?
Why?
Hu Jinxiu looked over suspiciously, only to see that Shen Qingyu's eyes were full of smiles.
Despite her turbulent thoughts, Hu Jinxiu said, "I know a family who cooks excellent food. Why don't we go there?"
Shen Qingyu didn't back down at all: "Okay!"
Qi Yunxiao helplessly reached out and patted the top of her head: "You..."
The doting tone was undisguised.
Hu Jinxiu's eyes dimmed for a moment, but then she smiled and said, "Let's go."
Hu Jinxiu went first, and the steward behind her followed silently.
Before long, they arrived at a house and knocked on the door.
“Coming…” a woman inside answered.
Then came the sound of light, quick footsteps.
As the door opened, a woman in her early twenties looked at the group of people outside with a surprised expression.
A smug glint flashed in Hu Jinxiu's eyes: "This girl is called Jiao Niang. I rescued her by chance. She used to be Brother Xiao's personal maid."
Qi Yunxiao's expression darkened.
Shen Qingyu was still a little confused: According to him, he had once had two personal maids.
One was arranged by his stepmother when he was a child, and the other was arranged by his stepmother when he traveled to different places...
Later, because of their loyalty to their stepmother, they were all driven away by Qi Yunxiao.
This person is...
Shen Qingyu looked at Qi Yunxiao, but Qi Yunxiao's expression was cold: "Jiaoniang, I didn't expect to see you again."
When the beautiful woman saw Qi Yunxiao's cold face, her expression changed drastically, and she knelt down with a thud!
"Your Highness! I was wrong! I was wrong! Please give me a chance!"
Hu Jinxiu was extremely shocked.
"!!!"
What did she call Brother Xiao?
Young Master?
This Brother Xiao is actually the Crown Prince?
Those who could be called heirs were all the eldest sons of dukes and marquises.
Could it be that Brother Xiao's true identity is... from a high-ranking family in the capital?
Shen Qingyu silently closed the door, shutting out all the passersby who were watching the commotion.
It doesn't matter whether others are afraid of losing face; Qi Yunxiao and he himself still have to save face.
"Are you now a member of the Hu family?" Qi Yunxiao asked Jiao Niang.
The young lady kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Your Highness, spare me! I didn't! I didn't..."
After Jiao Niang's explanation, everyone present finally understood.
When Jiao Niang was driven away from Qi Yunxiao, she didn't dare to return to the capital. On the way, she was kidnapped and sold into a brothel.
It was Hu Jinxiu who saved her.
Hu Jinxiu subtly inquired about Qi Yunxiao's background and family history. Jiao Niang felt ashamed and dared not tell the truth. Instead, she said that she had been misunderstood and wronged, which was why she was driven away.
After imagining a tragic love story between a maidservant and a young master, Hu Jinxiu settled Jiao Niang here.
She planned to give the beautiful woman to Qi Yunxiao as a surprise.
Incidentally, this also sows discord between Shen Qingyu and Qi Yunxiao.
But to everyone's surprise, the beautiful woman cried out for mercy.
Clearly, things were not as Hu Jinxiu had imagined.
Looking at Shen Qingyu again, she showed no surprise when the beautiful woman called out "Young Master".
It is clear that Qi Yunxiao did not hide anything from her.
Do we even need to compare which one is closer or more trusted?
Once Hu Jinxiu understood this, half of her heart sank.
Qi Yunxiao remained silent until Jiao Niang finished speaking, sobbing, before he said, "You are a servant born into the Marquis's household, so you must have been in contact with your parents to know that I have now been granted the title of Heir Apparent."
The young woman's face paled, and without hesitation, she kowtowed again.
"I was wrong! I will never do it again."
If she had known that Qi Yunxiao would achieve what he has today, she would not have betrayed him or informed Lady Qingping.
According to my parents, the Qingping Marquis's mansion has declined significantly in recent years, and they rely entirely on the young master's business ventures to support them.
Recently, because the young master cut off the supplies to the manor, they have had to rely on selling their estates to make a living.
When Qi Yunxiao saw Jiao Niang, he couldn't help but recall the past.
He drove them away after learning that both Jiao Niang and her personal servant were his stepmother's people.
But then he was tricked and married Shen Qingyu...
It really is a cycle of karma.
"That's enough, it's all in the past. It's your business if you want to contact your parents, it has nothing to do with me. Wife, let's go."
Since they couldn't eat here, Qi Yunxiao pulled Shen Qingyu away.
Hu Jinxiu looked bewildered: They're gone already?
She stamped her foot and chased after him: "Brother Xiao... I was unaware of the situation before and was misled, which is why I saved her..."
"Since this place doesn't work out, shall we eat somewhere else?"
Qi Yunxiao lost interest: "No need, my wife and I will go eat. Hu Dongjia, please go about your business."
Hu Jinxiu could sense the distance in Qi Yunxiao's tone, and she was filled with regret: she had tried to flatter him but ended up hurting him!
That won't do!
Guiyunlou purchases bowls and plates from Jialefang every year, and the amount purchased each year is not small.
If we offend Qi Yunxiao, we'll lose this old customer...
Hu Jinxiu disregarded her pride and chased after the two.
There was a restaurant called Linjianglou around the corner. It looked quite crowded, so Qi Yunxiao led Shen Qingyu inside.
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