Chapter 72 Don't speak, it's gossip time!
Xie Mingyi slapped Xie Huaijin's arm again, breaking his cold laugh.
She widened her phoenix eyes and looked at Xie Huaijin with a warning in her gaze.
Xie Huaijin could only wave his hand helplessly, "Fine, I won't stoop to the level of a child."
This kid must never fall into my hands in the future.
Actually, he did admire He Chuan to some extent. He was skilled, neither humble nor arrogant, and not afraid of his authority. He was just too stubborn, like a donkey.
Seeing that the young master had finally relented, He Chuan straightened up. Let him be a child; he will grow up to be a responsible man.
He Chuan wrapped up all the bamboo strips on the stall and added a few exquisite little items.
He handed it to Xie Huaijin with both hands, saying, "This is my apology, please accept it, young master."
Xie Huaijin took the package, took out a silver ingot from his pocket and tossed it to He Chuan, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "No need, take this silver to nourish your little body."
He Chuan's hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched tightly. He said with a forced smile, "Thank you for your concern, Third Young Master."
Xie Huaijin winked at Xie Mingyi, "See? I told you this kid had something going on. If there weren't other people around, He Chuan would definitely have confronted him."
Xie Mingyi waved to her third brother, telling him to take the children to play aside.
At this moment, only He Chuan and Xie Mingyi remained at the stall.
Xie Mingyi said, "Young Master He, there is something I would like to tell you."
"Miss Xie, please speak freely."
He Chuan didn't dare to look directly at the woman, only keeping his gaze on the table, though he was secretly watching her out of the corner of his eye.
So Xie Mingyi told him about the canal sluice gate construction, and didn't hide any of the important details, explaining everything clearly.
"What do you think about this? Are you willing?"
Without a second thought, He Chuan nodded and said, "Yes, yes."
How could he refuse Xie Mingyi's request? Besides, it was a great honor for a craftsman to participate in the construction of the canal gates.
"I'm afraid you can only join as a guest of the Xie family. You are young and people's opinions are a fearsome thing. I hope Young Master He can understand the hardships and bitterness you will have to face."
Xie Mingyi was afraid that He Chuan was like a clueless greenhorn who didn't understand anything, so she talked on and on, and told him that if he succeeded, the Xie family would give him a generous reward.
He Chuan bowed respectfully to Xie Mingyi and said, "I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations, Miss!"
This is an opportunity to get closer to the moon, and he will work hard. Just as Kuafu chased the sun in ancient times, He Chuan chases the moon in modern times.
A bright sparkle shone in the boy's eyes.
Xie Mingyi was confused, but she found He Chuan quite interesting, with his energetic and fearless young man appearance.
With a "pfft," Xie Mingyi covered her face and laughed.
He Chuan scratched his head helplessly. Was he being ridiculous? It didn't matter. He was willing to do anything to make her happy.
Xie Huaijin, who was not far away, watched the two people enjoying the pleasant atmosphere and released a bamboo stick into the air without saying a word, which made the child cry out in surprise again.
Tsk, isn't her poor little brother enough of her concern? What's the point of talking to that two-faced brat?
Xie Mingyi gave He Chuan a few more words of advice, and then the three of them went home.
The next day, a tea stall was set up in the open space next to the equestrian training ground in the palace. Two children were sitting under the stall.
Xie Mianmian didn't go horseback riding. She sat obediently in a chair with a small backpack sewn for her by her sister-in-law on her lap. The backpack was bulging inside, and it was unclear what was inside.
The Seventh Prince, who was not far away, propped his head up and watched the child with boredom. He could see that Xie Mianmian would occasionally look down and open her backpack to peek inside, and even secretly put pastries into it.
Xie Mianmian, are you going to pack all the pastries back? Are they really that delicious? The Seventh Prince was speechless.
He moved over expressionlessly and heard the child muttering, "Is it delicious? Are you thirsty? Mianmian will give you some water."
"Who are you talking to?" the Seventh Prince suddenly asked in the child's ear.
Xie Mianmian was startled and quickly covered her backpack with her hands. When she realized it was the Seventh Prince, she relaxed.
"Greetings, Your Highness. The little wolf cub misses its mother, so Mianmian brought it to the palace to see her."
The seventh prince peeked over and found that the wolf cub was very well cared for, chubby and sturdy.
He couldn't resist reaching out and stroking its head and back. "So soft."
The little wolf cub wasn't shy at all. It looked at the Seventh Prince with its big, watery blue eyes and sniffed him with its nose twitching.
"Yes, the wolf cub is so well-behaved. Touch its belly, it's so soft."
Xie Mianmian pulled the Seventh Prince's hand and touched the wolf cub's belly, whimpering and not daring to resist.
The two children looked at each other gently as they moved the fluffy wolf cub closer.
Just then, the voices of two palace maids came from the bushes behind the teahouse.
Xie Mianmian winked slyly at the Seventh Prince, put her chubby index finger to her lips, and silently shushed him, signaling him not to speak, it was time for gossip.
"Have you heard? The Third Princess Consort has been released."
"Yes, I heard that the voodoo doll was planted by her wet nurse, and the Third Princess is innocent," another palace maid said mysteriously.
"Who would believe that?"
"Sigh, as long as that person believes it, let's go, the nanny will be here to check soon."
After saying this, the two palace maids walked away into the distance.
After hearing what they said, Xie Mianmian looked at the Seventh Prince in surprise, "Uncle Huang actually believed her?"
The seventh prince, mimicking an adult, sighed and said, "This is the way of balancing for an emperor."
The Emperor's desire to maintain a proper balance among the Third Prince, the Lin family, and the Xie family is likely the result of careful consideration.
Xie Mianmian scratched her head, indicating that it was too profound and she didn't understand.
The Seventh Prince glanced at the bewildered child and said, "I have another piece of news about the Xie and Lin families. Would you like to know?"
The child tugged at the Seventh Prince's sleeve from side to side and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Mianmian wants to know, please tell me, Your Highness."
Seeing the child's eager and affectionate manner, the Seventh Prince felt refreshed. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm thirsty."
Xie Mianmian tactfully placed the backpack in the Seventh Prince's arms, letting him squeeze the little wolf cub. She then brought over a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Seventh Prince, please have some tea."
Seeing that the Seventh Prince's hand was occupied, Xie Mianmian lifted the lid of the cup and tremblingly brought it to his lips.
The Seventh Prince took a satisfied sip. "The Third Princess Consort made a prophecy yesterday."
Xie Mianmian stared wide-eyed in surprise, looking at the Seventh Prince with the same eagerness as a little wolf cub.
"She predicted that the Grand Canal would flood, resulting in over 10,000 deaths and injuries."
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