Since Madam Geng remained silent, she naturally couldn't tell Lanqin what was on her mind, so she could only say, "I hope Hongli and Hongzhou are both alright!"
Lanqin thought for a moment, then said to Madam Geng, "Sister Geng, please sit down. I have something I'd like to tell you."
After the two women were seated, Lanqin had tea served to Madam Geng and then asked, "Sister, do you know if Hongzhou has been acting strangely lately?"
Geng was taken aback, not understanding what Lanqin meant, and said, "I can't see anything wrong with him. What's wrong with Hongzhou?"
Lanqin then said, "I only found out from Hongli. He told me that Hongzhou might have developed feelings for a woman."
Madam Geng was surprised that Hongzhou would have such thoughts, and that he hadn't told her, his mother, before. She asked awkwardly, "Who? Why has he never mentioned it to me?"
"I'm afraid he's just being shy, or perhaps he only has some ulterior motives and doesn't really mean it. But yesterday, Hongzhou probably went to Tantuo Temple because of her, so I had to tell you about it," Lanqin said in detail.
"Which family's woman has Hongzhou fallen for? Is it because of this woman that the two brothers didn't return home yesterday?" Geng asked in surprise.
“It is indeed the Fujin’s niece, Ulanara Xueying. They also went to Tantuo Temple yesterday. The Prince sent someone to ask the monks at the temple last night, and it was confirmed that Hongli and Hongzhou went there for Xueying,” Lanqin said.
Geng was taken aback. When she heard Lanqin say that Lanqin was the Fujin's niece, she couldn't help but tremble.
"How could this be? Does Ulanara Xueying know something?" After several changes of thought, Geng asked.
"You mean Ulanara Xueying might know something?" Lanqin naturally understood the meaning behind Geng's words.
“Since those two brothers went there for her sake, they must have done something. Why don’t we call Ulanara Xueying over and ask her? Maybe we can find out where they went,” Geng said.
Lanqin also had this intention, but after the Fujin and others returned, they did not take any action. Moreover, the monks in Tantuo Temple said that the Fujin and others did not know that Hongli and Hongzhou had also gone. Only Ulanara Xueying had seen the two brothers.
“Just calling her over rashly would arouse that person’s suspicion; we need a reason,” Lanqin said.
Madam Geng was worried about Hongzhou and didn't care about anything else. She quickly said, "If the Fujin knew that Hongli and Hongzhou hadn't returned home all night, she would probably be happy about it. She doesn't know yet, but if she did, she might have her niece deliberately keep it a secret."
Seeing that she was thinking a lot, Lanqin said, "Let's think of a reason to call this woman over and ask her."
"Master, the Xueying you mentioned just went to the Third Princess's place. I happened to see her when I went out to fetch water for breakfast," said Yuebai outside the door.
Lanqin was taken aback, and quickly said, "Yuebai, come in quickly!"
Then Yuebai came in, bowed, and recounted in detail what she had seen when she went out to fetch water to Lanqin and Gengshi.
“Perfect timing! There’s no time to lose. They probably don’t know that Hongli and Hongzhou haven’t returned all night.” Lanqin immediately stood up and said.
Geng also stood up and hurriedly said, "I'll go too!"
Lanqin then took Gengshi with her to Lanxingju in Wuxiha.
Meanwhile, Xueying was unaware that Hongli and Hongzhou, who had met her at the Marriage Pavilion the previous day, had not returned all night, nor did she know that Nan Xiaoyuan was already as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. So, early in the morning, she brought her several books to Lanxingju.
Ushiha and Bechuk were unaware that Lanqin did not want them to worry, so she did not tell them that Hongli and Hongzhou had not returned.
At that moment, Ushiha was yawning and talking to Xueying. It turned out that Ushiha hadn't even gotten out of bed when Xueying arrived. The maidservant had informed him that a guest had arrived, and only then did Ushiha reluctantly get out of bed.
"I'm so sorry to have disturbed your sleep, Sister. But I heard that Fourth Princess likes to read all sorts of books, so I couldn't resist bringing a few to share with you," Xueying said with a smile.
Upon hearing that there were good books, Ushiha immediately perked up and said, "Oh, you have good books? Let me take a look?"
Xueying immediately gestured to A'luo, who was standing nearby, to take the basic books out of the basket and hand them to Wuxiha's maid. As soon as the maid presented the books to Wuxiha, they immediately caught her attention.
Xueying picked up her teacup, took a sip, and occasionally stole glances at Wuxiha's expression. Sure enough, she immediately picked up the book and began reading with great interest.
Just then, Lanqin arrived with Gengshi. No maids announced their arrival, as no one had expected Lanqin to come at this hour so early in the morning.
"Mother!" Wuxiha looked up and saw his mother and Aunt Geng, and exclaimed in surprise.
Xueying, who was sitting to the side, also stood up and bowed to Lanqin.
Lanqin had already spotted Ulanara Xueying sitting in the guest seat. This was the first time she had met this niece of the Fujin (princess's wife), and she was somewhat stunned. Ulanara Xueying before her looked completely different from the Fujin.
"Are you Xueying from the Fujin's side?" Lanqin asked.
“It is indeed Xueying. I have long heard from my aunt that Consort Niu is gentle and virtuous, and that Sister Wuxiha is learned and talented, so I have come to pay my respects,” Xueying said.
Madam Geng disliked Xueying because of her good looks. She didn't want Hongzhou to marry such a beautiful woman as his principal wife.
"Xueying is so beautiful, please sit down," Lanqin said casually, then walked over to Wuxiha and immediately noticed the book she was reading. Geng followed and sat down opposite Xueying.
After everyone was seated again, Lanqin asked Xueying some of the questions that women of marriageable age should ask, such as whether she was educated, what books she had read, and what needlework skills she had. Xueying answered each question respectfully and without any restraint.
Lanqin secretly applauded. She had to admit that the princess's niece was well-behaved, with excellent manners, knowledge, and interpersonal skills. She was much more shrewd than Wuxiha and much more experienced than Bechuk.
Hearing this, Madam Geng couldn't help but interject, "How old is Miss Xueying? I'm afraid her family has already arranged a marriage for her?"
Xueying blushed when Geng asked her this question, and replied, "Xueying is thirteen years old this year and is not yet engaged."
Seeing that Madam Geng's question was too direct, Lanqin quickly replied, "A child as good as Xueying must have been carefully selected. I heard that the Fujin took you to Tantuo Temple yesterday?"
Xueying couldn't help but shudder, and said with a smile, "Yes, my aunt took my second cousin, his wife, and my sister with her. Xueying went along too."
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