Chapter 14 The Prince is indeed acting strangely today…
The man in the hall remained silent. When he wasn't smiling, the indifference surrounding him deepened, and layers of pressure descended inch by inch. The Qin family members, led by Qin Peibai, tensed slightly, wondering what his intentions were.
Qin Peibai gave Qin Xiao a look, signaling him to lead Prince Su to the study for discussion.
Receiving the look, Qin Xiao subtly concealed the doubt in his eyes. His gaze passed over his mother and sister and fell on his younger sister, who was hiding behind him with her head down. The girl's face was completely hidden, so it was impossible to tell whether she resembled her mother.
However, seeing the growing thoughtfulness in Fu Huaiqing's eyes, he took two or three steps forward to block the man's deep gaze and said with a smile, "My little sister has just returned to the capital, don't scare her."
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow slightly.
He slowly surveyed his friend, occasionally glancing past his friend's figure at another branch that seemed to be hiding deeper into the woods, a slight smile unconsciously playing on his lips.
Qin Xiao found it strange. They had known each other since childhood and knew each other's temperaments. He also knew that as long as it was not related to national affairs, Fu Huaiqing would not care. Giving him a glance was already an exception. It was the first time he had shown such interest as today.
He followed Fu Huaiqing's gaze and looked back, but didn't see anything amiss. Doubts began to rise in his heart. As he slightly withdrew his gaze, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a girl peeking at him from the corner of his eye. He stiffened slightly and looked incredulously at the girl who had suddenly lowered her head after being noticed.
Biezhi hadn't expected to be caught peeping, nor had she expected that so much time had passed and the man's gaze hadn't left her. She pursed her lips, wondering if she had done something wrong that he had noticed, when suddenly the man's shoes came into view, and her heart skipped a beat.
"us- -"
The man's voice suddenly deepened, trembling slightly. Bie Zhi recognized Qin Xiao's voice, breathed a sigh of relief, and looked up at the stunned man.
The girl's eyes trembled, filled with confusion and a hint of nervousness, as if she had been frightened. Qin Xiao stopped walking, his palms clenching and unclenching at his sides, and asked, "Have we met before?"
Biezhi blinked, staring blankly at him, feigning confusion: "Hmm?"
"This is your elder brother, Qin Xiao." Madam Qin stepped aside to block the two of them, taking Biezhi's hand as she introduced him: "In the future, if there is anything in the capital that is inconvenient for us to do, you can go to him."
"Alright." Biezhi nodded to the man. "Brother."
A gentle, obedient voice reached his ears, but the word "brother" made Qin Xiao frown.
Qin Wan, who had been observing for a while, noticed her brother's inappropriate behavior and quietly tugged at his sleeve. Then she turned to Fu Huaiqing and said, "I happen to have something to discuss with Your Highness. If Your Highness has the time, would you mind moving to the study?"
With a hint of something intriguing in his eyes, Fu Huaiqing nodded and got up to walk towards the backyard.
Qin Wan breathed a sigh of relief and followed after her brother, tugging at his sleeve.
Only after the footsteps faded away did Biezhi raise her head, glance at the servants present, and nod to Master Qin.
Having spent many years navigating the complexities of officialdom, Qin Peibai quickly understood her meaning. His steps toward her became somewhat hurried, and he stopped just before reaching her.
He was so excited that his fingertips trembled slightly, and he clapped Biezhi's hands with both hands: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Biezhi hadn't expected him to act so skillfully. She blinked blankly for a moment before saying, "There are too many people around. Could we find another place to talk?"
The girl's lips did not move, yet Qin Peibai could hear her whisper. He subconsciously glanced at his wife and saw surprise in her eyes.
Madam Qin was closest to Biezhi and heard the most clearly. Coming to her senses, she suppressed her surprise and said with a smile, "Biezhi has come all the way back, she must be tired from the journey. Let's let her rest first."
"Madam is right, I didn't think it through," Qin Peibai echoed, putting his hands behind his back. "Come on, Father and Mother will take you back to the courtyard."
When returning to the courtyard, Biezhi still hadn't found the right opportunity.
Only after stepping into the attic and leaving the servants in the courtyard did Biezhi find an opportunity to turn around, bow slightly to the Qin couple, and say softly, "I will need your continued care for the next three months, sir and madam Qin."
"You're too kind, young lady." Madam Qin reached out and pressed her fist against Qin Peibai's, exchanged a glance with him, and said, "We are the ones who should thank you. We heard that you dealt with many assassins for Xiao'er while you were escorting him."
Before Qin Xiao left the capital, the Qin couple knew that his journey would be fraught with danger. Anxious to protect their son, they could only secretly ask Xianyun Tower to do this business. After returning to the capital, they heard that there were many assassins following him along the way, but Xianyun Tower's secret guards dealt with them properly, and their son was able to return to the capital safely. It was not until a few days ago when Xianyun Tower came to their door that they learned that the person who escorted Qin Xiao out of the capital was a woman.
"Madam need not worry about the matter of payment and goods being settled," Biezhi said. She hadn't helped for nothing; after all, she had received five hundred taels, and she felt a little embarrassed to give any more. However, that wasn't the important thing right now.
She paused for a moment, then asked, "May I ask, Lord Qin, is His Highness Prince Su aware of the full scope of our cooperation this time?"
Qin Peibai was taken aback by her question, amazed by her straightforwardness and decisiveness. After thinking for a moment, he did not hide anything from her: "Of course I know."
They were amazed by Xianyunlou's efficiency, and also puzzled as to why Xianyunlou would approach the Qin family instead of someone else.
The answer given by Xianyunlou was also very simple.
The Qin family is the most prominent family in the capital, and will surely attract the attention of the target of this mission.
Upon learning of Xianyunlou's purpose, Qin Peibai did not give them a definite answer immediately. Instead, he said that he needed to consider the matter further before speaking. The next morning after they left, he rushed to the Imperial Study after court and reported the matter to Prince Su, who was reviewing memorials.
"If Your Highness does not agree, I certainly cannot agree to cooperate with Xianyun Tower." Qin Peibai said truthfully. No one in the court dared to speculate about Fu Huaiqing's spies in the capital. Even though the younger generation of the Qin family had a very good relationship with him, the Qin family would never challenge his bottom line.
Seeing the worry and concern in Biezhi's expression, he reassured her, "Miss, you can rest assured. If the Prince agrees to something, he will not say anything more. He only came here today because he has important matters to discuss with Xiao'er and just stopped by to take a look."
"Should we take a look on the way?" Bie Zhi frowned slightly.
Why did she feel that it wasn't on the way?
Perhaps it was his gaze, his expression, that always seemed to carry a deeper meaning to her.
Qin Peibai nodded: "I can't guarantee anything else, but His Highness isn't one to meddle in other people's business. Since he's agreed to the Qin family's cooperation with Xianyun Tower, he won't interfere any further."
Biezhi looked at them with some skepticism, but seeing how certain they both were, her guard gradually lowered.
Thinking that Fu Huaiqing was, after all, the future son-in-law of the Qin family, and the Qin family was naturally the people who knew him best, and since the Qin couple said so, there shouldn't be any major problems.
"Please rest a while, young lady. There's still a long way to go. If anything unexpected happens, we will definitely inform you in advance." Madam Qin didn't forget what she had said in front of everyone earlier. She glanced at the servants waiting outside and called out, "Your mother and father will come to see you later."
He nodded and saw them off all the way to the gate of the courtyard.
The Qin couple stood in front of the archway, urging her to go inside and rest. They only turned back after watching the girl's figure disappear behind the door.
The two dismissed their attendants and walked unhurriedly toward the study.
“His Highness did seem a bit off today.” Madam Qin thought for a moment and agreed that Biezhi’s suspicions were not unfounded. “His attention seemed to be focused on Biezhi.”
"If it doesn't fall on another branch, why would it fall on you or me?" Qin Peibai asked helplessly. "I had guessed that the prince would come to test her, but I didn't expect him to come so quickly, catching me off guard."
Fortunately, Betsuki remained calm and showed no sign of being intimidated.
Madam Qin frowned upon hearing this: "Won't the Qin family be implicated in Xianyun Tower's mission this time?"
"It's hard to say." Qin Peibai shook his head, also having some concerns, but since Prince Su had already agreed, there was no reason for him to refuse Xianyunlou. "However, Xianyunlou always leaves room for maneuver in its dealings. Since they have already promised not to harm the Qin family, let's trust them this once."
Moreover, the mission that Xianyunlou is currently undertaking is also helpful to their plans. It seems that the prince intends to use Xianyunlou to lure the enemy out of their hole; it remains to be seen whether the fish will take the bait.
“Xu Wenche can’t make decisions for the Xu family right now, so they might not necessarily come out in full force.” Qin Xiao’s fingertips rubbed against the teacup, his brow furrowed slightly.
“Xu Wenche isn’t enough.” Fu Huaiqing glanced at him casually.
"Besides him, is there anyone else?" Qin Xiao asked, puzzled.
Fu Huaiqing said calmly, "Xianyun Tower."
"What about Xianyun Tower—" Qin Xiao stopped himself from speaking and tentatively asked, "Did you go to see them?"
Fu Huaiqing neither agreed nor disagreed.
Qin Xiao instantly understood his thoughts: "If it were just Xu Wenche's guards, they certainly wouldn't be suspicious. If Xianyun Tower makes a move, it proves that there is something greater to gain from him. Given that person's suspicious nature, he certainly won't let go easily."
"What are you two talking about?" Qin Wan, who only half understood what they were saying, looked at their strange expressions and couldn't help but ask, "What Xu Wenche, what Xianyun Tower, what are these things?"
“As long as we probe him even slightly, he will surely seize the opportunity to act.” Qin Xiao did not answer Qin Wan’s question, but was immersed in speculation. “At that time, everything will be resolved.”
Fu Huaiqing nodded, tapping the table absently with his fingertips.
Qin Xiao understood what he meant: "What does the Qin family need to do?"
“Strengthen the Qin family’s ties with him to lower his guard,” Fu Huaiqing said slowly.
“This is not easy.” Qin Xiao frowned. Because of the relationship between the Qin family and Fu Huaiqing, this person’s relationship with the Qin family was just a casual acquaintance. He used to think that he was unwilling to get involved with the Qin family and be said to have risen to power through connections. Now it seems that he had long intended to stay away from the Qin family. “His wariness of the Qin family is several times deeper than that of the Su family.”
Fu Huaiqing remained silent, his gaze slightly lifting as he looked towards the outside of the courtyard.
Qin Xiao followed his gaze and saw that there was nothing in the huge courtyard except for the branches swaying in the wind.
"Your little sister's announcement banquet," Fu Huaiqing withdrew his gaze, a hint of detachment in his expression, "is the best opportunity for the Qin family to rebuild their relationship with him."
The man's expression was cold and indifferent, his deep, dark pupils completely still. The sweltering summer breeze suddenly changed, sending a chill down one's spine.
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