Chapter 21 Gift of Jade
Xiao Yanran sat on a small stool, munching on a candied hawthorn and looking at Xiao Jue, swinging her legs.
"Big brother, I really think Sister Xie is amazing! She can train horses, buys me delicious food, and even made me such pretty little clothes!" the girl exclaimed excitedly.
"Look, here's another pair of shoes, aren't they pretty? And this, Baozhu said it's a hairband for hair, it'll flutter in the wind, it'll look beautiful. Can I ask Sister Hongyu to put it on me tomorrow?"
Xiao Yanran showed off the items one by one. These were all brought by Xie Yanran, which showed that Xie Yanran really cared about these two children.
After a while, Xiao Jue realized that something was not right.
"Not mine?"
Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, looking at Xiao Yanran and Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu searched carefully and then found a small box, which she handed to Xiao Jue: "This should be for you."
Upon opening it, a beautifully crafted jade pendant lay quietly inside.
According to the rules of their Great Jin Dynasty, unmarried couples should exchange jade pendants.
However, their engagement is not yet finalized. Isn't it a bit too hasty to send this over now?
Xiao Jue stared at the jade pendant, thought for a moment, and then handed it to Lu Hua behind him: "Put it away."
"yes."
Lu Hua was somewhat surprised when she accepted the jade pendant. She had thought that Xiao Jue would refuse, but she never expected that he would actually accept it.
Could it be that they've tacitly agreed to the marriage?
"Your Highness, what do you mean?"
Lu Hua looked at Xiao Jue with some confusion.
"You agreed?"
Xiao Jue glanced at Lu Hua, smiled self-deprecatingly, and then said calmly, "Lu Hua, we should have understood from the beginning that whether I agreed or not, they would have made this marriage happen. Once this woman enters the family, the royal family's guilt will be over."
Such a great favor can be a great enmity, and the royal family, burdened by these debts, naturally could not tolerate it any longer.
Xiao Jue also knew that pushing too hard would not do him any good, especially given the current state of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion; they really couldn't afford to attract any more of the emperor's attention.
Thinking about all this, Xiao Jue suddenly felt that Xie Qingran's previous suggestion was also quite good.
He glanced at Xiao Yanran: "You really like this Sister Xie?"
"I like it." Xiao Yanran nodded seriously.
Xiao Yu's expression changed, and she snorted, "Aren't you afraid she'll hit you? She's so fierce, you won't even be able to cry when she hits you!"
"She won't hit me, will she?" Xiao Yanran was still young, so she looked at Xiao Yu with teary eyes and said, "Really? Big brother, will she?"
Seeing her like this, Xiao Jue rolled his eyes at Xiao Yu and then said irritably, "Shut up, you're not allowed to scare your sister!"
After saying that, he turned around and walked inside.
Upon entering the study, Xiao Jue's gloomy expression shifted: "Have you found out?"
"I have investigated carefully. There is nothing wrong with this Miss Xie. She was mistreated by the nanny at the estate. After being brought back by the Xie family, she has been looking for a husband. She had her eye on Lu Jinzhi before, but Lu Jinzhi seems to be unwilling."
"However, Miss Xie will be twenty in two months. If she can't get married within two months, it might cause a lot of trouble."
Lu Hua had carefully inquired about Xie Qingran's time at the manor for over ten years, so it was rather complicated to explain it now.
"That's exactly what she said."
"This little girl is quite extraordinary."
"I don't know whose people they are."
Xiao Jue's expression changed, and he gave a cold snort.
"Then, shall I go and investigate further?"
"Um."
The Xie family, Yingxing Pavilion.
As soon as Xie Qingran entered the room, Xie Zhaoye came over and said, "Where have you been? What kind of behavior is this, a young lady from a respectable family running around like this?"
"What's it to you?"
Xie Qingran retorted expressionlessly.
Now, I get angry whenever I see this person.
"How dare you! I am your elder brother! I ask you, why did you humiliate Hanyue today!"
"It's bad enough that you make things difficult for Yue'er at home, but to ruin her reputation outside is just too much!"
Xie Zhaoye clenched his fists and stared intently at Xie Qingran.
Xie Qingran remained expressionless: "Did she tell you that Lu Jinzhi pushed me off the building?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhaoye's eyebrows furrowed tightly, and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by anger.
He snorted coldly and said irritably, "So you're going to make things difficult for Yue'er? Don't you know we're family!"
Then there's nothing more to say.
Xie Qingran stood there, shrugging: "Are you going to hit me or yell at me?"
"I!"
Xie Zhaoye originally came to demand an explanation, but he never expected Xie Qingran's attitude to be like this.
He snorted: "Xie Qingran, you don't think I wouldn't dare!"
"Then hurry up!" Xie Qingran's expression changed, and she tilted her head back. "If you want to hit or scold me, do it quickly. I have other things to do!"
Before she could finish speaking, Xie Yankang walked in, smiling broadly, and said, "Qingran, you're finally back! Look, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion sent you some things!"
Soon, Xie Yankang noticed that something was wrong in the courtyard. He frowned and looked at Xie Zhaoye: "What are you doing here!"
Xie Zhaoye was terrified of Xie Yankang, so his expression immediately changed, and he said with a smile, "It's nothing, I just came to see my sister."
"You can go out first." Xie Yankang snorted coldly with some dissatisfaction, turned his head, and looked at Xie Qingran with a smile.
Immediately afterwards, the servants carried in more than a dozen large boxes.
Seeing this, Xie Qingran's expression changed, and she looked at Xie Yankang with some confusion: "Father? What's this?"
"These were all given to you by the young master Xiao from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion as a token of his gratitude."
"Qingran, what did you do? Why is he thanking you?"
Xie Yankang looked at his daughter with some confusion, not understanding how she had managed to do it.
Xie Qingran smiled and recounted in detail how she had delivered the gifts to the two children.
"You made a very good move. Those two children are Prince Xiao's weakness. Don't worry, your father will definitely help you!"
Xie Yankang immediately nodded in satisfaction.
Upon hearing this, Xie Qingran smiled and said, "But that's probably not enough. The young master hasn't agreed yet. Father, we should think of another way."
Xie Yankang naturally thought the same thing, and looked at Xie Qingran: "What do you think?"
"Brother and sister are both of age now, it's time they got to know each other better. It's only right that the family hosts more banquets, Father, isn't it?"
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