In the past twenty years or so, Xue Zhi considered himself to be a reserved and prudent person.
Then, he met Zheng Xiu.
In front of Zheng Xiu, Xue Zhi could be not the young and promising second master of the Duke of Qing’s Mansion, but simply a husband. In front of her, Xue Zhi would occasionally show his childish side.
Then, he became a father. Although he always treated Xue Shao as his own son, sons and daughters are different after all. Zheng Xiu gave him a lovely daughter.
Socializing is inevitable in the officialdom. Xue Zhi didn’t like those before. He often went home directly after a shift before his colleagues invited him. Now that he has Baoer, he is even more eager to go home. As soon as it’s time to get off work, he rides his horse and rushes home.
Xue Baoer was able to speak before she was one year old, and the first person she called was not Zheng Xiu or Xue Zhi, but Princess Guihe.
When Xue Baoer, who combined the best of both worlds, with delicate eyebrows and deep features, opened her arms to Princess Guihe and called out "Aunt, hug me", even Princess Guihe, who was used to such scenes, had no power to resist.
No one had expected that Princess Guihe, who used to be the most dignified and serious, would now hug Xue Baoer with a smile on her face all day long.
Every day when Zheng Xiu woke up and didn't see her daughter in the room, she knew that she must be in front of Princess Guihe in Changfengyuan.
But it's no wonder that the whole family dotes on her like that. Xue Bao'er looks good at a young age, and the older she gets, the more lovely she becomes. When she can run, jump, and speak, she will rub against people and say sweet and coquettish things, making everyone in the mansion love her so much.
Princess Guihe has teased Zheng Xiu more than once, saying that she didn't know how many lifetimes of blessings she had accumulated to give birth to a daughter as clever, smart, and lovely as Bao'er. Zheng Xiu
thought that the family would live happily and happily for the rest of their lives, but three years later, a big event happened in the Duke of Qing's Mansion.
The wandering Prince of Dongping came back. He is the current uncle of the emperor, and except for the queen mother, he has the highest score among his peers.
However, Prince Dongping is not very old, and now he is no more than 40 years old. When he was still the second prince, the crown prince died suddenly, and the court was in chaos. At that time, the power of the Queen Mother and the Xiao family was many times stronger than it is now. If it weren't for Prince Dongping's help, he would not have been so smoothly enlisted as emperor.
Prince Dongping is ambitious and has been traveling around for ten years. The last time he came back was more than ten years ago. He asked the emperor for a big ship and traveled overseas. Even now, there has been no news of him since then. When the news of his return to Beijing came out, the royal family became lively. Many people in the impoverished royal family thought about hitting the wooden bell. But this has nothing to do with the Duke of Qing's Mansion. As Princess Guihe, she naturally doesn't need to join in the excitement.
However, unexpectedly, after returning to Beijing, Prince Dongping did not immediately go to the palace to meet the emperor, but came to the mansion of Duke Qing first.
Princess Guihe and this uncle of the emperor were rarely together and did not have much friendship, so she was confused for a while. But the other party was an elder after all, and he had done a favor to the current emperor before, so Princess Guihe still received him according to etiquette.
Prince Dongping came in a hurry, and Zheng Xiu and Baoer happened to be in Changfeng Garden. It would seem deliberate to avoid them at this time. After all, everyone is considered a relative, and the Prince of Dongping who came is an elder, so there is no need to deliberately avoid anything.
Zheng Xiu heard Minghui say a few days ago that there was a rumor in the capital that this reclusive prince was coming back, and she was very curious about this prince who was born in an imperial family but whose heart was among the mountains and rivers.
The Prince of Dongping was in his forties, but he had a very good appearance, gentle and elegant, and graceful. The years did not leave too many marks on his face, but only added a different kind of charm and demeanor. The Prince of
Dongping was dressed in casual clothes and brought an attendant with him. After several people greeted each other, he casually waved his hand and exempted everyone from the formalities.
Princess Guihe welcomed him to sit on the seat of honor, ordered someone to serve tea, and asked with a smile: "Uncle Huang rarely returns to the capital, I should have visited you, why did you come here in person?"
The Prince of Dongping also smiled and said: "I came to see you, of course I have something to do." Then he turned his head and looked at Zheng Xiu.
Zheng Xiu was also dressed in her daily clothes, wearing a sky-blue snowflake jacket, two jade pearls on her hair, and a Japanese bun. Bao'er was lying on her knees, staring at the Prince of Dongping with her big black eyes.
After meeting Bao'er's eyes, the Prince of Dongping smiled more and asked Princess Guihe, "Is this the second wife in your house?" Princess Guihe
nodded and said, "It is our Ah Zhi's wife." The Prince
of Dongping also nodded and said, "Guihe, I won't beat around the bush with you. I came to you for something serious this time. Do you think it's..."
Princess Guihe dismissed the others, and Zheng Xiu stood up and said goodbye.
But the Prince of Dongping waved his hand at her and said, "Stay, what I want to say is also related to you."
Related to herself? Zheng Xiu was confused for a moment. She had always been in contact with people from the Duke of Qing's mansion, and had occasional social interactions with them, but rarely with members of the royal family. She had nothing to do with the mysterious Prince of Dongping who had been away from the capital for many years.
After the servants left, Prince Dongping thought for a moment and asked Princess Guihe directly, "About ten years ago, did your mansion take in a child?"
This question was really unreasonable. Although the Duke Qing's Mansion had been adding staff over the years, they were all maids and old women. Where did the child come from? This is not a charity bureau that adopts orphans.
Princess Guihe frowned and thought about it. She was about to answer no, but she caught a glimpse of Zheng Xiu, who also had a suspicious look on her face.
Her heart skipped a beat. More than ten years ago, and it was related to the second house, so it must be...
Seeing that Princess Guihe had guessed it, Prince Dongping looked directly into her eyes and continued, "That's my child."
This sentence was undoubtedly a thunderbolt.
Princess Guihe couldn't help but exclaimed: "How could it be? Isn't that Xue Qin..."
Zheng Xiu was not stupid either, and she quickly realized who the Prince of Dongping was talking about. Similarly, she was also shocked and speechless.
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