Chapter 119
I don't know if she was angry or scared.
Bai Yiqing couldn't hold back any longer and slammed his teacup down in a huff: "Considering we shared a fish, I can pretend I didn't hear what you just said." Even so, his tone remained calm and unhurried, but he was clearly suppressing a bit of unspoken anger.
“Sanqing…” he called out to the outside of the curtain.
"Wait a minute," Qin Sang interrupted him in time, "I still have something to say, don't be in such a hurry to kick me out."
Bai Yiqing glared at her coldly, giving her an expression that said, "Speak your mind quickly."
"Alright," Qin Sang said solemnly, "I take back what I just said. I won't force you to marry me, but could you ask the princess to go to the emperor and say something to badmouth me, that I'm vulgar and shameless, ugly as a ghost, and that my position is illegitimate and I'm really not fit to be a royal daughter-in-law? Or, could you whisper in the ear of Prince Ning'an that there are countless beauties in the capital, why would he need me?"
"..." Young Master Bai was completely speechless, reverting to the indifferent expression he had when he first entered.
He lowered his eyes slightly and picked up another cup to make tea.
Qin Sang stared at him expectantly, only to see him calmly pour water and prepare tea. The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and for a short while, only the sound of dripping water could be heard.
After a long pause, Bai Yiqing finally spoke calmly: "I thought you came to the capital prepared this time. Princess Ning'an..." He paused, "...is the highest branch that someone of your status can reach. With this status, many things will be much easier for you. What? Are you scared? Do you want to run away at the last minute?"
Qin Sang's heart skipped a beat. Her first thought was that the other party had indeed investigated her. But if he knew her identity, he should also know that she actually wanted to overturn the case of Prince Su back then. Cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots was the right thing to do. How could he let her jump around and dig up his mother's old affairs, which would actually facilitate her marriage with Prince Ning'an... There was definitely something wrong.
She shook her head, then abruptly asked, "Do you still have a good relationship with your mother?"
Bai Yiqing's composed expression suddenly underwent a very subtle change. He seemed to be momentarily distracted, or perhaps he really wanted to look up and examine Qin Sang, but he quickly stopped himself.
But even this slight change was noticed by Qin Sang. He probably realized it himself, so after making a cup of tea, he seemed to sigh softly and placed it on the tea table without expression.
Just as he was about to speak, a slender little hand reached out and took away the tea he had just made.
Qin Sang sipped the foamy tea, savoring its delicate flavor, and slightly opened her eyes to praise, "Hmm, not bad."
Bai Yiqing: "..." He probably didn't expect anyone to be so shameless...
He casually placed his hands on the tea table, looking at Qin Sang with a helpless expression, but was interrupted by her just as he was about to speak.
"Alright, since you won't marry me or help me, then consider this trip a waste." Qin Sang finished her tea, put down her teacup, clapped her hands, and prepared to leave.
Bai Yiqing: "..."
Qin Sang had already stood up. Young Master Bai's usually pure and elegant face was unusually sullen. His usually composed and composed face clearly showed anger: "You come and go as you please? Do you think my Prince's residence is a teahouse?"
Qin Sang straightened up, her expression returning to its usual arrogance, and looked down at him: "If you refuse to help me dissolve the engagement, I will rightfully become the Princess Consort of Ning'an. Coming here to ask for a cup of tea is nothing. Besides," she glanced around, "is this really your Prince's residence? Is it really not a place where you keep your mistress? Oh, right, when I came in just now, I saw someone who looked quite familiar, but I just can't remember where I've seen him before."
Bai Yiqing watched her change of expression without showing any emotion, from her previous flattery to her current blatant threat, a seamless and superb acting performance.
He said, "What if I agree to your request?"
This time it was Qin Sang's turn to pause: "Hmm?"
"If I agree to help you break off your engagement with Prince Ning'an, do you really want to marry me?"
"..."
Time suddenly slowed down, so slow that you could hear every pulse beating. Qin Sang clearly felt her heartbeat suddenly quicken.
She heard her own faint, ethereal voice: "Yes."
Then the other person stared at him for a long time without moving, and finally lowered his head and said, "Then remember what you said. You can leave now."
"Huh?" Qin Sang's voice was a little hoarse. "What do you mean? You're really willing to help me?"
Bai Yiqing: "Sanqing, see the guests out."
Qin Sang: "..."
***
Emerging from the same corridor, the middle-aged man who had been watching the deer from the veranda was gone. Passing through the outer garden, a waiting oxcart came into view. Before getting in, Qin Sang couldn't help but look back; the servant had already respectfully nodded and closed the door.
She stared at the pitch-black gate and the dark gold brass ring, feeling a mix of emotions.
She couldn't quite describe the feeling. She had long felt that Bai Yiqing resembled someone, but that person was aloof, cold, and noble, someone that ordinary people rarely saw.
During her long years of being single, whenever someone tried to arrange a marriage for her, she would always use him as a shield. But deep down, she knew that the man didn't even know her name, this little fairy godmother.
So every time she faced the aloof Bai Yiqing, she felt the same way. She was nothing more than a nobody in his eyes; how could he possibly agree to her marriage proposal?
She brazenly spoke some rambling words, partly to openly probe the other party's intentions and find out if he was indeed acting in her mother's name as she suspected, and partly to genuinely try to glean some information from these noble young men: whether there was any room for negotiation regarding the Emperor's decree of marriage.
Now it seems that it's not impossible for the eldest princess to step in.
She turned and got into the car. To avoid any unforeseen complications, she quietly rushed back to the Xie residence before everyone was fully awake in the early morning.
Street vendors began to hawk their wares, and shop doors gradually opened. The previously empty streets began to awaken. Qin Sang lifted the curtain and glanced at the scene. People were living peacefully at their own pace, completely undisturbed by the undercurrents.
Only occasionally would a little beggar appear out of nowhere, carrying a broken bowl, disheveled and staring intently at the steamed bun shop not far away, drooling.
"Uncle Qin," Qin Sang called out, "stop for a moment."
"Girl?" Lingding pulled her aside, puzzled.
"I'll go down and buy a few steamed buns, it won't take long." She said, lifting the curtain and getting out of the car, heading towards the steaming steamed bun shop.
Upon seeing Qin Sang, the shopkeeper immediately beamed and respectfully said, "Good morning, young lady. What would you like to eat?"
"Five meat buns, please."
"Alright! Five meat buns!"
Just as I was taking out my money, a strange male voice suddenly sounded in my ear: "Excuse me..."
Qin Sang and Ling Ding turned around together and saw a young man who looked like a scholar. His clothes were patched on top of each other, and he was carrying a bamboo basket on his back. Although the clothes were simple, they were clean, and the man was handsome and spirited.
They're obviously new candidates who came to Kyoto this year.
"Excuse me, sir, how do I get to Liuyun Inn?" he asked the owner of the steamed bun shop, speaking politely and respectfully.
The shopkeeper saw that although he was poor, he knew that people who could come to the capital to take the exam had already gone through layers of examinations and could at least get some minor official positions in the local area, so his attitude was relatively mild and he politely extended his finger.
The scholar thanked them and prepared to leave. His gaze swept over the steaming meat buns, but he quickly looked away, swallowing almost imperceptibly.
"Hey, wait a minute..." the shopkeeper called out to the scholar, expertly picked up a meat bun with bamboo tongs, and handed it to him without saying a word.
The scholar, clearly unprepared for this turn of events, stared at the meat bun, puzzled. Just as he was about to refuse, the vendor waved his hand again: "Eat it, it's for good luck. Wishing you success in your exams!"
The scholar paused for a moment, but still didn't accept it. He simply bowed to the shopkeeper, thanked him respectfully, and then turned and left.
Staring at the scholar's retreating figure, Lingding couldn't help but say, "What a man of principle."
The shop owner gave a soft snort, put the bun back in the steamer, and shook his head.
Qin Sang asked with a smile, "What are you sighing about, boss?"
"Hey, these scholars from the poor countryside all think they can pass the imperial examinations, as if we need to ask them for some great favor. They're so hypocritical."
Lingding: "If you didn't want to ask for a favor, why did you give him the steamed bun?"
The boss chuckled, then deftly packed five buns into a bag: "Doing business in Kyoto, you're bound to run into some hooligans and officials. Knowing more people means more opportunities, right? It's not about asking for favors from anyone, but if you remember me well, and if you ever need any connections in the future, just ask me, and I can give you a pointer. You agree, don't you?"
"The boss is right," Qin Sang said with a smile. "That makes sense. Well then, I wish you a prosperous business and all the best."
"Thank you for your kind words!"
Qin Sang, holding the steamed buns, walked towards the little beggar she had just seen. The little beggar probably realized that he was going to get steamed buns, and stared at Qin Sang longingly.
Qin Sang walked up to him, opened the paper package, took out one, and handed it to him. The child took it, thanked her, and started eating. He ate half of it in two bites, then noticed that Qin Sang was still standing there. He puffed out his cheeks, looked up, and his bright black and white eyes were full of questions.
Qin Sang smiled and asked, "Are you a local from Kyoto, or a refugee from out of town?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the child's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in his eyes, which he held back.
He took a half step back, alert and wary, but probably because he couldn't bear to part with the remaining buns in Qin Sang's hand, he didn't turn around and run away.
Qin Sang could only try to smile gently, kindly, and harmlessly, and then took out a steamed bun, but withdrew her hand before the other person could reach out quickly.
Her eyes crinkled into a smile: "Tell me, are you from Kyoto, or are you from out of town?"
The child pouted with his mouth full of steamed buns and finally mumbled, "It's local."
Qin Sang: "Where are your parents?"
"They're all dead."
"How did he die?"
"Died of illness, beaten to death." As the child said this, tears finally streamed down his dirty cheeks, but he just pursed his lips and quickly wiped them away, pretending to be strong.
"When I grow up, I'll be able to earn money and avenge my mother," he sniffed and added.
The child looked to be no more than six or seven years old. He was thin and pale from long-term hunger and cold, but his eyes were very bright.
Qin Sang's throat tightened as she looked at him. She straightened up, sighed softly, and said as gently as possible, "Then would you be willing to work for me and come with me? You'll have steamed buns to eat every day."
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