Chapter 28 The master can't find a wife, nor can he see...
"Do we still need to discuss it with the master?" Biezhi's eyebrows, which had barely risen half an inch, suddenly furrowed. She couldn't understand what needed to be discussed. "If the master doesn't agree, does that mean I can't get married?"
Ling Feng: "That's not quite right."
Biezhi breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought that the old man couldn't find a wife himself and couldn't stand seeing others being affectionate. She pondered for a moment and said, "If Master doesn't agree, then he doesn't agree."
"Not planning to get married again?" Ling Feng frowned, put down his teacup, and adopted the air of a master, saying sternly, "If you really have feelings for Ji Ran, it's no problem for your master to arrange your marriage. You can't give up so easily just because of other people's criticisms."
He seemed to remember something, his voice froze, and after a long pause, he said, "You'll regret this someday."
Biezhi: "..."
She blinked. "I didn't say I wouldn't marry Ji Ran."
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng realized that his thoughts had been led astray by her, and he had misunderstood her meaning.
He took a sip of tea and remained silent.
“If he doesn’t agree, I’ll wait until—” Biezhi suddenly remembered that she hadn’t mentioned leaving Xianyun Tower to her master yet, so she stopped herself from saying the words she was about to say and changed the subject: “My status is not suitable for a grand celebration. It’s enough as long as my master and senior brothers and sisters are there.”
"I'll try to get it for you again." Ling Feng didn't quite agree with her. Among his many disciples, Biezhi was only six years old when she came to his side. While other girls were running around in the fields at the most romantic age, she was wandering around just to survive.
Biezhi is like his own child, whom he has raised step by step to this point. In his heart, he has long regarded her as his own daughter.
However, Ling Feng never intended to say such things to her. Now that she had a man she liked, she wanted to have what other girls had.
He took a sip of tea and said, "You don't need to worry about it. I'll discuss it with the master."
Upon hearing this, Biezhi's lips parted slightly. Seeing the unyielding look in her master's expression, she nodded slightly in agreement.
She still had a mission to complete and couldn't stay too long. Seeing that her master was deep in thought again, she pondered for a moment, then bid farewell to Ling Feng and returned to the Qin family.
The large mansion was quiet. Apart from the cleaning maids, there was no one else in the courtyard. Hua Chao was still in the storeroom checking the congratulatory gifts with the old woman.
Biezhi didn't rush to find Xu Wenche.
After last night's events, Xu Wenche's retinue must have increased, and there might even be hidden servants following him. If we rashly go and get entangled with them now, unexpected things might happen in the future.
The fact that Qingshan arranged for her to be the second daughter of the Qin family proves that this identity must have its uses. She was on a mission to approach Xu Wenche, and Xu Wenche was also eager to get involved with the Qin family. Compared to the rest of the Qin family, the second daughter of the Qin family, who had just returned to the capital, was his best choice.
After a moment, Biezhi's gaze lingered on the quietly blooming flower buds in the courtyard, then she sent someone to the storeroom to retrieve the flowers and bring them back to the courtyard.
When Hua Chao returned to the courtyard, she saw her young mistress sitting at the dressing table and was surprised for a moment: "Is the young mistress going out?"
"Arrange a carriage for me." Biezhi pulled open the drawer on the side of the dressing table, took out a long box inside, which contained a peach blossom-shaped tassel hairpin. She held it up in her hand and was very satisfied. "Help me do my makeup and dress up. Accompany me to Qing Shi Zhai later."
If I heard correctly last night, Xu Wenche had his servants reserve a private room at Qing Shi Zhai before Zhang Yan arrived.
When we left the mansion, it was already close to evening.
The Qing Shi Zhai was brightly lit and bustling with people; the seats were already full.
"Miss Qin, I'm so sorry." The waiter at Qing Shi Zhai looked at the girl under the eaves with a slightly uneasy expression. After the incident with the young master of the Li family, they had long remembered the appearance of the second young lady of the Qin family. They had been instructed to treat her well when she came again in the future. They never expected her to come so suddenly. He rubbed his palms together and said, "The private rooms are all full."
“It’s alright, I can wait.” Biezhi knew she had come at the wrong time, but that was exactly what she wanted. “I came alone, so there’s no rush.”
The waiter paused for a moment, glanced back at the innkeeper who was being pestered by customers, hesitated for a second, and then tentatively asked, "Would you mind waiting under the eaves for a moment, young lady?"
Biezhi nodded: "Okay."
The waiter breathed a sigh of relief, not expecting her to be so easy to talk to. He quickly ran inside to bring a chair, which he carefully placed under the blue cloth umbrella on the side of the stone steps of Qing Shi Zhai. He then brought tea and pastries.
As night falls, the number of people on Yongle Avenue only increases.
People passing by Qing Shi Zhai couldn't help but glance at the girl whispering to her maid under the green stone umbrella. They wondered what she was talking about, but her clear, bright almond-shaped eyes were full of smiles, and her dimples would appear and disappear from time to time, making the person who saw her feel a little happier.
Biezhi slightly raised her eyes and glanced at the rising moon.
Xu Wenche should be here by now.
Her gaze seemed to fall on Yongle Avenue, sweeping over the constant stream of people. In an instant, she spotted a handsome man standing out from the crowd. He wore a dark, gold-embroidered robe, and his folding fan in his hand resembled a sharp sword. He was elegant and composed.
Only upon closer inspection can one discern the coldness beneath his gentle eyes.
Bie Zhi calmly withdrew her gaze and turned to Hua Chao, saying, "Go and ask again if there are any private rooms available right now."
Hua Chao nodded and jogged up the steps.
Bie Zhi rested her chin on one hand, waiting listlessly for Xu Wenche to approach.
The man's steps carried a lightness unique to youth, unlike Prince Su or Qin Xiao. She lowered her eyelids slightly and slowly counted his footsteps.
As the tall, dark figure obscured the light and shadow before her, Biezhi raised an eyebrow slightly, pretending to think it was Huachao returning, and asked without looking up, "What did they say? Are there any private rooms available?"
There was a commotion all around, but her words went unanswered.
After a long silence, Biezhi looked up and her eyes met the man's, which held a slight smile. Her lips parted slightly for a moment, and a hint of joy flickered in the depths of her pupils. She stood up excitedly and exclaimed, "How did you get here?!"
The girl's familiar voice slowly entered his ears, as if they had been friends for many years and had met unexpectedly after a long time apart. Xu Wenche's eyes were fixed on her. The lamplight under the eaves of the Qing Shi Zhai occasionally swept by, and the dappled light and shadow fell on the girl's raised face, making her every smile and frown even more charming.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Biezhi glanced at Huachao, who was still negotiating with the waiter, and asked, "Is Young Master Xu also here at Qing Shi Zhai?"
"Hmm." Xu Wenche nodded slowly. "Is it the young lady as well?"
“But they’re all booked, so I’ll have to wait here.” Bie Zhi looked a little dejected. She pouted and said, “If Young Master Xu hadn’t booked a private room in advance, he might have had to wait here with me for a while.”
“I had someone reserve it yesterday.” Xu Wenche’s gaze fell thoughtfully on the Qing Shi Zhai, where the downstairs seats were all full. “I happen to be here alone today. If you don’t mind, you can share a private room with me.”
"Is it alright?" Biezhi suddenly raised her eyes.
The girl's eyes blinked, like a sky full of stars, as she looked over. Xu Wenche's gaze lingered for a moment before he slightly turned his eyes away: "Of course."
"Hua Chao." Bie Zhi immediately called out. When Hua Chao turned around, she waved and said, "No need to ask anymore. We will share a private room with Young Master Xu."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Xu Wenche.
Xu Wenche, whose gaze had not wavered for even an inch, suddenly met the girl's bright and cheerful eyes. He paused for a moment, his eyelids drooping slightly. When he looked up again, he was no different from usual. He slightly stepped aside and said, "Please follow me, young lady."
Biezhi gestured for him to go first, and followed him step by step inside.
It was easier than she had imagined to strike up a conversation with Xu Wenche. Her words would have sounded strange to others, but he clearly didn't care and didn't seem to think about the flaws in her words.
This further confirms the existence of the branch.
The Xu family needs the Qin family's connections, even if it's just getting involved with the Qin family's second daughter.
"The ministers have agreed to overturn the case of the massacre of the Suzhou family and investigate it together with the case of Hezhou. Logically speaking, you should still be at the Dali Temple at this time. Why did you suddenly rush to send someone to find me here?"
Su Ci held her teacup, looking curiously at Qin Xiao sitting by the window, then glanced suspiciously at Fu Huaiqing who was reviewing memorials, wondering what the two of them were up to.
“Zhang Yan has arranged to meet Song Jingchen here,” Fu Huaiqing said calmly.
The message was delivered to the Prince's residence an hour ago.
Upon hearing this, Su Ci raised an eyebrow slightly.
Song Jingchen is currently serving as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He previously served as the Prefect of Suzhou. The matter of overturning the case of the massacre of the Suzhou family was mentioned at the morning court. On that day, Zhang Yan invited Song Jingchen to a small gathering, and deliberately chose a place with many people and eyes, so that he would have a reason to deal with it if others asked about it in the future.
“Song Jingchen and he have always had a good relationship.” Su Ci held the teacup, slowly stroking the cloud pattern on it with her fingertips, and said thoughtfully, “Now it seems that he had already set up the plan a long time ago.”
Qin Xiao slightly pushed open the window and glanced through the half-finger-sized gap at the bustling first floor: "He seemed too anxious, which made him seem a bit deliberate."
Knowing that the Suzhou case had been overturned was enough to prove that someone had already set their sights on this long-dormant case, and it was very likely that they were targeting him personally. At this point, others would probably be trying to avoid the matter as much as possible, but Zhang Yan was acting very strangely.
"He's deliberately trying to get my attention," Qin Xiao said.
Su Ci frowned, her eyes darkening. She couldn't figure out what Zhang Yan was planning to do, but if Qin Xiao's deduction was correct, "He wants to use you to stir up the dust that has been buried in the Suzhou family massacre case?"
Qin Xiao nodded and hummed in agreement.
The private room fell silent for a moment.
Su Ci looked at the silent Fu Huaiqing, his thoughts becoming increasingly focused. Compared to Zhang Yan, he was more interested in knowing what their Prince Su was planning to do.
From the moment Qin Xiao was arranged to personally go to Hezhou, it seemed as if everything was within his plan. Xu Wenche, Zhang Yan, and even the indecisive court officials were all pieces on his chessboard. Some pieces had already been placed, while others were still in the chess box beside him.
Fu Huaiqing put down his pen and looked up at him.
Su Ci: "You—"
“Biezhi?” Qin Xiao’s deep voice interrupted Su Ci’s words. When he saw Xu Wenche pause and turn his head to whisper to the petite girl, his gaze froze for a moment. He said to Wei Feng, who was standing on the side of the screen in the private room, “Find out why the second young lady is traveling with Xu Wenche.”
Before he could finish speaking and before Wei Feng could even respond, the window he was pressing against was suddenly pushed open slightly by a force.
Fu Huaiqing had somehow walked up to his side.
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