"Miss, you’re finally back! This servant is almost going mad! Really afraid that there will be a mess!" Shulan had been waiting at the door for a long time, finally seeing Xin He return, hurriedly greeted her.
Xin He smiled: "Why are you so anxious? I just went to take a sneak peek, it’s okay."
"Did Lord Marquis not find out? If Lord Marquis finds out, we servants will be scolded." Shulan breathed a sigh of relief: "This servant has already asked the kitchen to prepare a stewed rock sugar pear soup. The weather is getting hotter now, and Miss likes to eat cold food, so we have specially chilled it before bringing it over. Would you like to have it now, Miss?"
"Yes, please bring it over." Xin He looked relaxed, seemingly unbothered.
Jinxiu in the room looked at her cautiously: "Miss seems very happy today. It seems that you are quite satisfied with this marriage to Mu Xiang."
Xin He laughed: "There’s nothing to be dissatisfied with."
Jinxiu looked at her as usual, feeling a little more at ease, but still couldn’t help worrying, and laughed: "Then Miss is going to marry the ideal husband, isn’t it a great thing?"
Xin He casually walked into the inner room, smiling: "It’s still early. With the three matchmakers and six betrothal rites, going through the process step by step, we’ll probably have to wait until autumn."
As she spoke, she seemed to be in a good mood, tidying up her dresser casually, picking up a small box from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, opened it, and put her two favorite golden hairpins inside.
Jinxiu looked at the small box and her face turned slightly pale, but she still forced herself to calm down and asked: "Miss, didn’t you say yesterday that this box contains evidence about the Black Bear Incident?"
As Jinxiu asked this question, her heart was filled with fear, worried that it was a trap...
Xin He raised an eyebrow, indifferent: "I changed the hiding place last night. I find this box very beautiful, so I decided to keep it for my jewelry."
Jinxiu finally forced a smile: "So that’s what happened."
If she had known, there was no need to take such a big risk to peek inside. Now, Jinxiu could only curse herself for being stupid.
Xin He kept her composure, playing with the vermilion hairpin in her hand, but sneering in her heart. I will keep you, just because you are still useful.
Not long after, Le Yuanhou sent someone to invite Xin He over.
It was naturally about the marriage matter.
Xin He had nothing special to say, as she was to marry Mu Houchu. Given that they had almost gotten married last time, they were already familiar. She had no requirements and simply asked that everything be arranged casually.
Le Yuanhou, of course, wanted to prioritize her in everything, specifically instructing Lady Sun to prepare a generous dowry for her: "The betrothal gifts sent by Mu Xiang’s side are a full two hundred loads, and as our marquis mansion’s legitimate eldest daughter, she naturally cannot be inferior. You have to do this properly."
"Naturally, I won’t be careless with Xin He’s wedding." Lady Sun laughed: "I’ll go and have the accounting room tally the private property of Hou Mansion for Xin He’s dowry right away. Just now, the old lady also told me to give Xin He the best, even planning on giving her three estates. Lord Marquis, you can rest assured that Xin He’s dowry won’t be short."
It was only then that Le Yuanhou felt relieved and nodded: "I’ve always been most relieved when you handle things."
Xin He also gave a curtsy: "Thank you, mother."
Le Yuanhou then asked her solemnly: "Xin He, have you really thought this through?"
Actually, deep down, he didn’t agree with this marriage. Mu Houchu’s means and schemes were too deep. Such a ruthless and fierce man would only be adored by those brainless young girls in the capital who only looked at appearances. Who, after having witnessed his means, wouldn’t be terrified? His hands were stained with so much blood.
Such a man, how could he, as a father, be at peace with Xin He marrying him? Even if Mu Houchu came to propose the marriage himself to show sincerity and even lowered his posture, who would know what the future would be like?
But if Xin He, whom he had raised since she was little, wanted to marry him, he couldn’t stop her from insisting on doing so. However, she had been wandering outside for sixteen years after all, and he knew that he was not a qualified father, having no right to make demands on her and letting her follow her own path.
The more guilty he felt, the more indulgent he was. Even though he disagreed with it ten thousand times, he had no choice but to compromise.
Xin He nodded: "I’ve thought it through. Thank you, Father, for making it happen."
She knew of Le Yuanhou’s worries, but she also knew that no one in the world understood this man better than her.
Le Yuanhou finally sighed softly: "All right, then, let’s settle it like this."
"Thank you, Father."
"Xin He, remember, even after you’re married, Le Yuanhou’s Mansion is always your backup. Your father may not have any other abilities, but he can protect you." Le Yuanhou said seriously.
His heart ached for his daughter, who had just been found, and he was unwilling to see her wronged.
Xin He was moved and smiled: "Mm."
After speaking with Le Yuanhou and Lady Hou, Xin He finally came out.
Shulan had already been anxiously waiting outside Ming Hui Hall: "Miss, you’re finally out."
Xin He looked at Shulan’s anxious face and had a bad feeling: "What’s going on?"
"It’s Fuquan who came. He couldn’t enter the inner courtyard, so he asked this servant to inform the young lady. He said that something has happened at the Qinghe small shop and asked Miss to hurry over there."
Xin He’s face changed: "I’m on my way."
—— 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
At the door of Qinghe small shop, business was unusually cold and quiet.
Xin He frowned as she entered: "What’s going on?"
Fuquan hurriedly came forward: "Miss is finally here. A Hu Ren from the Western Regions has recently opened a winery in the capital that sells grape wine. As you know, grape wine was originally supplied to the court from the Western Regions. So, everyone naturally wants to try this Hu Ren’s authentic grape wine."
Xin He’s face turned cold: "So in their eyes, his grape wine is authentic, and mine isn’t?"
"After all, those who can afford grape wine are either rich or noble. And since this clientele are prone to comparing, and grape wine was originally brought over from that side, the guests naturally prefer to believe that the grape wine produced in their winery is authentic. In just two or three days, half of our business has been taken away. What can we do about it?" Fuquan was also very anxious.
"Where did this Hu Ren come from to compete with us? As far as I know, there aren’t many people in the Western Regions who can make grape wine, and they all serve the Royal family and supply their wine exclusively to the Royal family. How did this man get here?" Xin He was full of doubts. She had only been in the capital for two months, and the Qinghe small shop had been open for just over a month. With the foundation not yet stable, it was easy for problems to arise.
But this person happened to open his winery at this time to snatch business; was it just a coincidence?
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