Chapter 29
◎Prince Wei, why is it you?◎
Wei Ming had always looked down on Wei Che, who had accomplished nothing. When he noticed his straightforward and undisguised gaze directed at Xu Qinghe, he felt even more dissatisfied.
He only murmured "hmm" in response, paused, and then said, "The Zhao family's carriage is ahead, so please hurry over."
Wei Che raised his eyebrows.
Everyone in the capital was saying that he was discussing marriage with a girl from the Zhao family, and the rumor was very detailed. However, in fact, apart from expressing their intention verbally, the two families had not agreed on anything.
He looked at Xu Qinghe. The girl was standing behind Wei Ming, standing together with the girl from the Wei family. The three of them stood side by side, and they looked like a really close family.
She didn't react at all when Wei Ming mentioned his marriage.
Wei Che raised his lips, said nothing more, said "goodbye", and drove his horse forward.
When they reached a crowded area ahead and couldn't pass through, they had to dismount again.
Xu Qinghe thought of his condescending attitude at the beginning, and found it a little funny that he had to get off the horse now.
Most of the Wei family's guests had arrived at this time. After entering the West Garden, Wei Ming was about to separate from them.
"Don't worry, big brother. I will take good care of the princess." Realizing that he seemed to want to say some words of advice, the second Miss Wei spoke first.
Xu Qinghe pursed her lips and said nothing for the time being.
Most of the female members of the family were having tea in the flower hall, so she followed Miss Wei Er over there.
Just when they entered the house, the guests had already handed the birthday gifts to the housekeeper of Wei's house. Now they just had to kill time here. After another hour, the birthday banquet would start and everyone would have a meal.
Princess Jing'an should have come to such a grand banquet, but Xu Qinghe waited and waited but still didn't see her.
Because she had lived in the deep palace for a long time, she really didn't have anyone she knew in this flower hall. Only Miss Wei Er stayed by her side because she had just kept the promise she made to her brother.
Xu Qinghe asked her, "Second Miss, do you know what Princess Jing'an has been busy with these days? I haven't seen her for a long time since Shangsi."
Miss Wei Er thought for a moment and said, "I heard that the princess caught a cold a few days ago and is recuperating in the mansion these days."
This was already the answer Xu Qinghe wanted, but Miss Wei looked at Xu Qinghe and for some reason added, "The Prince Consort, apart from being on duty, accompanies the princess all day. I heard he even went to the best medical clinic in the capital to get some medicine himself."
Yes, Jing'an has been very afraid of cold since he fell into the water when he was young, and he was indeed prone to catching a cold during the late spring cold snap a few days ago.
The second Miss Wei deliberately mentioned the Sixth Prince Consort, in fact, she was laying the groundwork for her own brother. She thought that when the princess would praise the Prince Consort for his deep love and care for Princess Jing'an, she would be able to say "In fact, my eldest brother treats the princess the same way."
Who would have thought that the princess had no reaction after hearing this, so she had to continue: "The prince consort cherishes the princess and takes good care of her."
Jing'an actually seldom mentioned her husband to Xu Qinghe. At first, Xu Qinghe thought it was because they had never met before and their married life was not happy, so he never talked to her much.
But later, when she saw Jing'an becoming more and more energetic, she knew that she must be living a happy life with a loving couple, which must be much better than in the palace.
As for why she never mentioned her happiness to herself, she guessed it was because she was afraid that if she told him about it, it would remind her of the good old days, which would make her sad compared to being trapped in the palace now.
"Although the princess and her husband's marriage was granted, the husband is highly valued by His Majesty and will likely treat Jing'an with respect. I just don't know how serious her illness is."
It would be great if I could see it with my own eyes.
"That's exactly what the princess said," Miss Wei said with a smile. "The prince consort is highly valued, and my eldest brother has also passed the imperial examination. He will surely have a bright future. The princess was raised by my great-aunt, and we already have a close relationship from a young age. When the princess and my eldest brother marry, he will cherish her."
From their words, it seemed as if they were certain that they would get married.
Xu Qinghe did not respond to her words. Instead, he picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and praised it, saying, "The tea soup is fresh and rich, with a long-lasting aftertaste."
Miss Wei frowned and finally realized that the princess didn't seem to love her brother that much.
She was stunned for a moment, thinking secretly, and found that the princess really did not seem to have any special concern for her brother. Unlike her elder brother, he always thought about the princess and wanted to save a portion of any good things he came across for the princess.
She also took a sip of tea, but thought to herself, what's the harm?
Her elder brother was a prominent figure in the capital, and many noble ladies were vying to marry him. For a princess with no power or influence, it was a great honor for her to marry into his family.
Even if she didn't want to, with her great-aunt around, why wouldn't she marry?
At that moment, he felt that the princess was a little ungrateful, and his attitude became a little colder. Xu Qinghe noticed this and felt even more at ease.
After a while, a maidservant whispered something in Miss Wei's ear. She nodded and said, "Tell my brother. I understand."
After saying that, he went to get some tea, then flipped his wrist and splashed the tea and the tea foam onto Xu Qinghe's dress.
Xu Qinghe reached out to shake her skirt, and Nanzhi quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her. The tea was scalding hot, and Chunshan was thin, so they tried not to burn the princess.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Princess. My hand just slipped. How's it going? Did you get burned?"
"It's okay, but I'd like to trouble Miss Wei to send someone to guide me and find a place for me to change clothes." Xu Qinghe's face was calm and he was not shocked at all.
The maid who just came to deliver a message to Miss Wei Er should have been sent by Wei Ming.
Sure enough, Miss Wei sent someone to take her around to a bamboo forest, where Wei Ming was.
Wei Ming asked the maid to leave, and she also asked Nanzhi to leave when she saw this.
This time, Xu Qinghe, who had already considered his retreat plan, decided to strike first.
"Master Wei, do you still remember what I said to you on the Shangsi Festival?"
Wei Ming thought of that day, pursed his lips, and nodded in agreement.
Xu Qinghe continued, "The young master was about to take the exam, and I was afraid that saying these words would affect his study, so I put it off until now."
She looked at Wei Ming. There was some resistance on his face. He must have known what she was going to say.
In fact, from beginning to end, Wei Ming never hurt her, but took good care of her. However, it is undeniable that his love did bring him some difficulties.
For example, the restraint from Queen Mother Wei, and the occasional punishment.
Xu Qinghe took a deep breath, calmed himself, and said simply, "From the beginning to the end, I have never had any romantic feelings towards Master Wei."
Even though he was prepared, Wei Ming still felt a pang of pain in his heart, and even his voice trembled, "Then... why didn't you tell me before?"
"Master Wei asked me why I didn't say anything. Have you never thought about why I asked for my opinion?"
"I... I asked my great aunt, and she said... she said you like me..."
"But Master Wei," Xu Qinghe sighed, "Shouldn't you ask the person concerned about matters of love before you know?"
She felt sad.
Just because Queen Mother Wei thought her nephew was the best man in the world, he fabricated his love for him without her knowledge?
Ultimately, it was because she thought they never took her seriously. She was so small and insignificant in all their decisions.
Wei Ming was stunned, trying to defend himself: "This...this is really hard to talk about. I was afraid that you would be shy, and I was even more afraid of offending you, so...so I never opened my mouth to ask."
"You thought it was rude to ask about my feelings, so you asked the Queen Mother instead. And so you just assumed I was the future consort of the Wei family?" Xu Qinghe said, "Even now, the entire capital thinks so. But, Master Wei, I truly have no feelings for you. You should find a better woman who can treat you wholeheartedly."
Thinking of the grievances he had suffered over the years, Xu Qinghe's tone couldn't help but become a little anxious. Later, he thought that all the sufferings Wei Ming had brought to him were only indirectly brought to him by Wei Ming, and he knew nothing about it at all.
Therefore, when he spoke later, his tone became softer.
Wei Ming was struck by lightning.
He never, never thought that Xu Qinghe had no interest in him.
"We grew up together, how could you not have any feelings for me?" He didn't understand. Hadn't the affection between them permeated every bit of their lives in the past?
He was talking about himself, but it made Xu Qinghe think of someone else.
The person she really grew up with was not Wei Ming.
She bit her lip, suppressed some inappropriate memories in her mind, and said simply:
"People don't develop feelings for each other simply by growing up together. They can also be friends or family. I know that Master Wei has taken good care of me since I was a child, but in my heart, I only regard you as my most respected brother, nothing more.
"Therefore, please do not cling to your past obsessions any longer. You should look further afield in the capital. After you are admitted to the Imperial Academy, wait for the Empress Dowager to choose a woman who truly interests you."
Finally, she bowed to Wei Ming and said, "Young Master, you are a prominent figure in the capital. There are many women who are interested in you. Qinghe wishes you success in your endeavors. Bye."
Wei Ming did not return the greeting, but just looked up blankly, watching the slender figure gradually disappear into the distance.
How could he not like him?
There are so many noble ladies in the capital who are interested in her, but why is she not interested?
**
The maid who led the way just now received the master's instructions. She led Xu Qinghe to the bamboo forest and then left.
Nanzhi was the only one outside. When she saw the princess coming out, she hurried to greet her.
"What did the princess say to Master Wei? Why does he look so unhappy?"
Xu Qinghe shook his head, unwilling to say anything more. He quickened his pace and asked her, "How are your preparations going?"
Their main task when they came to the Wei family today was to find the secret letter.
When she went to the banquet with Nanzhi, she had asked Lin Xiao to secretly find clothes for the maid in the Wei family's residence. Even Xu Qinghe's hair bun today was done by Nanzhi according to her memory, which was very similar to the one in the Wei family's maid's style.
Nanzhi replied, "When the princess was talking to Master Wei just now, I was the only one outside. Lin Xiao secretly came to report that the clothes were ready and were in the room at the end of the corridor."
The two of them quickly entered the house, and Lin Xiao stepped out to keep watch.
In just a moment, Xu Qinghe came out neatly dressed and walked alone to the East Courtyard opposite the West Garden according to the route map he had memorized in his mind.
One person has a smaller target, and now most of the Wei family's servants are serving guests in the West Garden, so the road is very deserted.
But she also walked with trepidation.
She is a princess, but she deliberately disguised herself as a maid and sneaked into the residence of the Minister of Justice. If she was discovered, how would she explain it?
But since he was here today, Xu Qinghe had no time to think about it and just hurried towards his destination.
But who knows what you fear will come to pass. When I crossed the moon gate and reached the east courtyard, I bumped into a servant.
Xu Qinghe's heart was in his throat, and he quickly thought of a countermeasure. However, when he saw the other person's face clearly, his heart suddenly calmed down.
"Prince Wei? Why is it you?"
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