Chapter 90: Red Plum is vulgar, not suitable for you
Xu Shujian plucked the plum blossom from her hair and lowered his eyes to look at the frosty red flower in his hand.
"In winter, all flowers wither, only the plum blossoms that stand proudly against the snow and frost bloom, elegant like snow and dazzling like fire. Although it accidentally fell on the second young lady's hair, it is like the finishing touch that makes it beautiful and brilliant."
Qiao Wanyan also looked at the plum blossom in his hand. She had always liked peonies, and the flowers she kept in the house were all peonies or precious and difficult-to-grow flowers.
As for the red plum, now that I hear what he said, I think it's not bad.
"Does it really look good on me with this red plum?"
Xu Shujian smiled, his expression calm and confident, "It's the icing on the cake."
Qiao Wanyan raised her lips, took the plum blossom and pinned it on her bun, then turned and left. Seeing that the prince had come out of the study door and was talking to his father, she walked over quickly.
"Your Highness, Daddy."
When Minister Qiao saw his daughter, he smiled with curved eyebrows and eyes, with the benevolent and doting look of a daughter slave, "Yanyan is here, bringing food to daddy again?"
Minister Qiao snorted inwardly. His precious daughter would only come to the study to bring him food when the Crown Prince came.
What can I do if I know my daughter has other intentions? I just spoil her! I just go along with her!
Create an image for your daughter that she is a well-behaved daughter who brings food to her father every day!
Qiao Wanyan smiled sweetly, but her smile was slightly bitter. She deliberately avoided He Zhiyu's sight and responded lightly to Minister Qiao.
He Zhiyu's eyes fell on her and he seemed to notice that she was deliberately avoiding his sight.
"Minister Qiao, please stay. We need to pay more attention to the taxation in Qingzhou."
Minister Qiao said repeatedly: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely handle this matter. I respectfully send Your Highness off."
Qiao Wanyan also bowed.
The steward immediately followed and escorted the prince away.
He Zhiyu took a few steps and suddenly stopped, looking back, and said in a low voice: "Hongmei is vulgar and not suitable for you."
Minister Qiao was a little slow to react to the sudden words. He glanced at his daughter. The red plum has always been a symbol of tenacity and arrogance. It looks very good on Yanyan's head. How could it not be suitable?
Not to mention this red plum, even a wild grass by the roadside is of natural beauty. What does your highness mean by this?
He Zhiyu turned and left without waiting for anyone to reply. The moment Jingyuan turned around, he saw the second young lady of the Qiao family rolling her eyes.
Jingyuan rubbed his eyes. Was he seeing things?
Even if the Second Miss Qiao is so arrogant, she wouldn't dare to tell His Highness the truth, right?
Qiao Wanyan didn't have any inner struggles at all, nor did she feel that she was really not suitable for Hongmei.
I just think that the prince has no aesthetic taste, otherwise how could he like Qiao Yihuan?
In the corridor, Xu Shujian stepped aside and bowed respectfully, with a bit of scholarly airs and a little bit of inferiority complex of a poor boy who had just arrived in the capital.
In front of the prince, who is from a noble family, he is as humble as mud.
He Zhiyu stopped and turned his head slightly to look at him, "Are you Minister Qiao's disciple?"
Xu Shujian replied, "Your Highness, I am Xu Shujian, the champion of the provincial examination in Huzhou last year. I came to Beijing to participate in this year's metropolitan examination, but I caught a cold and had a high fever on the way here. I fainted on the side of the road and was dying. Fortunately, Miss Qiao passed by and saved my life. Today, I come to thank Minister Qiao for taking me in and Miss Qiao for saving my life."
He Zhiyu frowned slightly.
Life-saving grace?
When did Wanyan save him?
Jing Yuan said: "Your Highness, it is true. On the way back from Yaoshi Valley, the second young lady rescued him. When he was at the manor outside the city, the second young lady asked someone to send him to the capital for medical treatment. I think he was sent to the Shangshu Mansion for treatment."
He Zhiyu withdrew his gaze and walked away without saying a word.
In the study
"Well, the sweet soup Yanyan sent is delicious!" Minister Qiao took a big bite and praised.
Qiao Wanyan said, "Father, who is Xu Shujian? He is just a champion in the provincial examination, but father still lets him stay in the mansion temporarily. It's really a compliment to him."
A strange look flashed in Minister Qiao's eyes, and he laughed and said, "What kind of background can he have? He is just a noble son from a poor family. His father saw his talent. His writing is really excellent. Everyone on the list of this year's imperial examination will be unlucky to meet him."
Qiao Wanyan understood. It seemed that there was nothing unusual about it. It was purely because her father was attracted by her talent and knowledge.
"Daddy has always had good taste. This Xu Shujian will definitely be in the top three. It's worth Daddy's appreciation."
Minister Qiao said, "It seems Yanyan also admires Xu Shujian."
She picked up a book and flipped through two pages. "It's not that I admire him, I just don't think he's annoying."
Although he has a scholarly air, he is very measured in what he says, making people feel comfortable and not bored.
Minister Qiao paused and said, "Yanyan, Xu Shujian is indeed a good person, but he is a stranger after all, so you should spend less time with him for the time being."
Qiao Wanyan nodded, "Got it."
This is also what is said in the storybook. At the beginning, my father did not allow me to have any contact with his favorite student Xu Shujian, but later Xu Shujian won the third place in the imperial examination, and my father asked me if I was willing to marry Xu Shujian.
Marrying Xu Shujian means that she has her father to suppress her, so she is naturally the mistress of the house. She doesn't have to care about the mess in the backyard, nor does she have to worry about Xu Shujian daring to bully her.
But how can a mistress of a household be comparable to the position of mother of the nation?
The difference is huge, and she would never settle for second best and watch Qiao Yihuan ascend to the throne.
"By the way, Yanyan, Daddy received a night-shining pearl the size of a Cuju some time ago. This time on the Emperor's birthday, you should take this night-shining pearl and present it to the Emperor as a gift."
Qiao Wanyan said: "But I have already prepared the Yuqing Pills I brought back from the Medicine Master Valley as a gift for the Wanshou Festival."
"The Jade Purity Pill can cure hundreds of poisons, right?"
Qiao Wanyan nodded, "That's what Yun Heng said."
Minister Qiao said, "Keep the Jade Purity Pill for yourself, and use the Night Pearl that Daddy prepared as a gift. Daddy will prepare everything for you, you just need to dress up beautifully."
Yuqing Dan is extremely precious. Giving it to the emperor will certainly gain his praise and make him happy.
But just making the emperor happy will not bring any real benefits.
It would be worth it if Yanyan could be given the position of Crown Princess, but according to the Emperor's recent wishes, the possibility is too small.
It would be better to leave it for Yanyan to use, in case of future trouble.
At this time, the servant knocked on the door and came in.
"Master, there is news from the princess's mansion that the princess wants the young lady to stay overnight, and she will not be back tonight."
Minister Qiao said, "Don't tell me about such trivial matters in the future. Yanyan, daddy will have someone send the night-shining pearl to you in a while, you can go back first."
Qiao Wanyan stood up and said, "Yes, Daddy."
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