Chapter 124: Xu Yaozu is given a concubine, Xu Nian, and their love affair is exposed
Luo Jinan looked at Xu Nian with red eyes in front of him, and felt very distressed in his heart. He had never thought that one day there would be someone who would make him so worried. He was afraid that she would be wronged, afraid that she would not be happy, and even more afraid that he would not exist in her world.
Luo Jinan gently hugged Xu Nian and said in a hoarse voice: "There is no need to say thank you between us. As long as Nian Nian wants something, I will do my best to do it."
"You'll spoil me by doing this." Xu Nian buried his face in Luo Jinan's chest and said sullenly.
Luo Jin'an chuckled and said nothing. He would rather his thoughts could be more unbridled.
It was still early when the two returned to the royal city, so Luo Jin'an decided to take Xu Nian to a restaurant to fill their stomachs first. Coincidentally, Xu Nian also wanted to tell Luo Jin'an about the proposal for the new workshop.
When the carriage arrived at the restaurant, Luo Jin'an came to the front of the carriage and helped Xu Nian down, but he did not let go of Xu Nian's hand. Although Xu Nian felt that it was not in accordance with etiquette, she still let Luo Jin'an lead her.
When Xu Nian was about to look up at the restaurant, he saw a figure with his mouth wide open in shock at the window on the second floor. This person was none other than Xu Yaozu who was drinking there.
Speaking of why Xu Yaozu was here, we have to start from this morning. After seeing off Xu Nian and Luo Jinan, Xu Yaozu originally planned to rest at the post station today.
Xu Yaozu didn't expect that Lord Hu, the Lieutenant General of the Cang Cao, would come to visit. Xu Yaozu was not familiar with this Lord Hu and had never even met him. He was a little confused about the purpose of Lord Hu's visit, but he was only a seventh-rank county magistrate after all, so it was not easy for him to refuse directly.
After the two of them exchanged greetings, Lord Hu said with a smile that Yuhua Tower had invited a chef from Jiangnan and wanted to invite Xu Yaozu to have a drink. No matter what Xu Yaozu thought in his heart, at least he was happy to go for the sake of face.
Yuhualou is the most prosperous restaurant Xu Yaozu has ever been to. Even though he is now a seventh-rank county magistrate, the most prosperous place he has ever been to is this royal city.
Although Lord Hu had been chatting with Xu Yaozu, he could not help but observe his expression. Seeing his surprised look, he felt a little contemptuous. But there was nothing he could do. Who let others have a good daughter? He had heard that this girl from the Xu family would definitely be a concubine of a county prince.
If she was just an ordinary prince's concubine, he would not have been so fawning. But if she was the concubine of Prince Chang, it would be a different story.
Xu Yaozu felt more and more uneasy as he listened to Lord Hu talking about this and that without getting to the point. After all, he came here to report on his duties, not to mention that he had new grain seeds in his hands. Logically, he should not have come into contact with these officials in the royal city.
When Xu Yaozu was puzzled, Lord Hu, who was sitting opposite him, took out a piece of paper from his arms and placed it in front of him with an ambiguous smile.
Xu Yaozu didn't understand what he meant. When he opened the paper, his face changed.
Lord Hu laughed and said, "Lord Xu has just arrived in the royal city, so he must not have experienced the girls in the Cangxianglou. Yuhong is a prostitute, and now I have redeemed her. Lord Xu can take her back with peace of mind."
Xu Yaozu pushed the paper back, as if it were some kind of scourge, and quickly waved his hands to refuse. It was customary in the officialdom to make friends with people by giving them money or people, and it was common for colleagues to give concubines to each other.
"What does Lord Xu mean?"
Xu Yaozu paused and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Hu. However, the rules in my family are quite strict, and I am afraid I will let you down."
However, Cang Cao's assistant general misunderstood Xu Yaozu's meaning and jokingly asked, "Could it be that Lord Xu is still afraid of the inner chamber?"
How could Xu Yaozu admit such words? If he agreed to them today, Qiao Niang would be drowned in spit tomorrow.
"Master Hu has misunderstood. I am very generous and kind, but there is a family rule: Xu family girls cannot be concubines, and Xu family boys cannot take concubines. I cannot go against the rules set by our ancestors."
Lord Hu chuckled, and no one knew whether he believed it or not, but he took the paper contract back anyway.
Although Lord Hu is only half a level higher than Xu Yaozu, he is working in the royal city after all, so Xu Yaozu still has to show his attitude.
"It is my fault for failing to live up to Lord Hu's kindness. I will punish myself by drinking three cups of wine." Xu Yaozu stood up, picked up the glass, leaned sideways and drank it all in one gulp.
Just as Xu Yaozu was about to drink his next glass, he caught a glimpse of Xu Nian and Luo Jinan downstairs. He didn't know if he was dazzled, as he saw the prince holding Nian'er's hand.
He leaned out of the window a little and met Xu Nian's gaze as she looked up.
Lord Hu saw County Magistrate Xu staring blankly outside, not even noticing that the wine in his glass had spilled, and asked in confusion, "What happened to Lord Xu?"
Xu Yaozu didn't have time to explain and hurried downstairs. His mind was blank at this moment.
Xu Nian didn't react much when she saw her father, but she still sighed slowly. Originally, she didn't want her family to know about her relationship with Luo Jinan so early.
Xu Nian glanced at Luo Jin'an who was about to lead her inside and stopped him, saying, "I think it's better for us to wait here."
Luo Jin'an didn't understand what he meant. At this moment, Xu Yaozu had already run over. Looking at the hands that he had found but was still holding, he panted and begged, "You...you guys...ah~ Come on, come on, Nian'er, hurry up and come back with me."
Xu Yaozu wanted to separate the two, but Xu Nianbi was grown up after all, and he had to avoid suspicion even as a father.
Xu Nian saw that his usually cautious father did not even greet Luo Jinan, and knew that he was confused because of anger.
She struggled to break free from Luo Jin'an's hand, "Dad, Luo Jin'an and I have something to say to you."
Xu Yaozu didn't care about these things anymore. He knew his daughter was about to fall into the tiger's mouth. He waved his hand and said, "We can talk later. Now you and I will go back to the post station. We will go back to Wansheng County now."
Luo Jin'an, who was standing aside, seemed calm but was actually very panicked. He had never thought that County Magistrate Xu's reaction would be so great.
He knew very well how much Xu Nian valued his family, so he did not show off his status, but bowed deeply.
"I hope Uncle Xu can give Jin'an some time to say a few words."
Xu Yaozu felt as if someone had grabbed his throat. He hurriedly avoided Luo Jinan's greeting, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.
"Your Highness, please come in." Xu Yaozu looked at Xu Nian who had followed him and said, "Nian'er, go wait in the carriage first. I'll come find you after I finish talking to Your Highness."
It was the first time that Xu Nian saw his father so serious. He looked at Luo Jinan worriedly, and when he saw the other party nod, he turned around and returned to the carriage.
Xu Yaozu, who was watching everything from the side, was even more angry. Humph, no wonder everyone says his daughter is extroverted. Nothing has happened yet, but she is partial to outsiders. Why doesn't she listen to me?
In a fit of rage, he turned around and went into the restaurant without waiting for Luo Jinan. Lord Hu, who was secretly spying on the second floor, was already stunned when he saw that County Magistrate Xu dared to look at the prince in such a disrespectful manner.