Chapter 47 Another chance?
Xie Yanzhi frowned and asked, "What's wrong with her?"
Yuan Qing scratched his head, feeling a little guilty, and said, "The bill at the teahouse hasn't been settled yet, I'm afraid Miss Qing doesn't have enough money on her."
Xie Yanzhi looked coldly at Yuan Qing, his eyes sharp, and he immediately saw through Yuan Qing's little scheme.
Yuan Qing quickly shut up. He could withstand his master's glare, but he couldn't bear being fined a month's wages.
He simply wanted to remind Xie Yanzhi not to abandon Miss Qing like that.
He clearly likes her, but doing this will only push Qing away further.
At the teahouse, Shen Qingnian was more than happy to be spared from having to stay with Xie Yanzhi.
She asked the shopkeeper to help her call a carriage back to the Marquis's residence.
As she passed by the garden, she saw Ling'er and two other sturdy figures.
Shen Qingnian recognized them as gold and silver beads.
The three of them huddled together, squatting on the ground, looking at something.
Shen Qingnian walked over quietly and took a look; it turned out to be a small gray dog.
With its small, dark face, it's quite adorable.
As soon as Yinzhu reached out her hand, the dog barked and barked at her.
Seeing this, Ling'er reached out and stroked its head: "Yinzhu, you have to stroke its fur in the same direction so it won't bare its teeth."
"Look, like this, it's comfortable now, so it won't bite."
"Give it a try." Shen Qingnian's voice came from behind.
Ling'er turned around and saw her young mistress's outstretched hand, so she handed the dog to her.
Shen Qingnian imitated Ling'er, gently stroking the dog. Sure enough, the dog obediently nestled in her arms, squinting its eyes, yawning, and almost falling asleep.
As Shen Qingnian looked at that small, dark face, another person's large, dark face came to mind.
That big, dark-faced guy loves to bare his teeth and throw tantrums, doesn't he?
If she goes along with his lead, will her life be easier?
She acted impulsively today, and she wondered what kind of trouble Xie Yanzhi would come up with to cause her this time.
She was determined to appease him and give herself time to get rid of this trouble.
Soon the day she had agreed to meet Diewu arrived, and Shen Qingnian hurriedly came to the teahouse with the poem she had written.
Butterfly Dance was already waiting for her in the private room upstairs.
"Miss Chen, please come in." Butterfly Dance, holding a round fan, swayed her hips as she came over to greet her.
"Butterfly Dancer, I have brought three poems with me today. Please take a look and see if they are suitable."
As Shen Qingnian spoke, she took out the three poems from her sleeve and handed them over.
Butterfly Dance took it, and what came into view was a beautiful hand of small regular script with flowers in the shape of hairpins.
The style of the lyrics is not as grand and majestic as Xiao Huaiyi's, nor is it as vulgar and petty as those lyrics.
On the contrary, it is fresh and bright, elegant and noble.
After careful reading, Butterfly Dance discovered that the three poems, when put together, actually tell a complete and poignant story between a man and a woman.
She was secretly amazed, never expecting that Miss Shen would have such a novel method.
"It seems that Yicui Courtyard can be saved."
"I'll take the lyrics back now and have the musicians compose the music first."
Butterfly Dance was a little impatient. She could feel that when these three poems were set to music, they would definitely be met with thunderous applause.
"Miss Chen, I'll head back now. Wait for my news."
"Miss Butterfly Dance, hurry up and go." Shen Qingnian smiled as she looked at Butterfly Dance's anxious appearance, which was completely different from her usual aloof and cold singing girl.
As she spoke, Diewu took the lyrics and went out, her back view showing a cheerful air, radiating an undisguised joy.
Shen Qingnian sat at the table, her slender fingers holding a teacup, waiting for Ling'er to return with the silk thread.
Hearing a creak, the door opened, indicating that Ling'er had returned. Shen Qingnian didn't turn around: "Why did you take so long?"
"Miss Chen, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
A familiar voice came out, as refreshing as a spring breeze.
Shen Qingnian turned around abruptly and saw Xiao Huaiyi standing in front of the door.
Dressed in a brocade robe, adorned with gold jewelry, and holding a fan to his chest, he was a refined and elegant gentleman!
His clear eyes were filled with warmth and the joy of a long-awaited reunion.
"It's been a long time, Miss Shen." Xiao Huaiyi walked up to Shen Qingnian in a few steps, their eyes met, and Xiao Huaiyi's eyes were like crescent moons, unable to hide his excitement.
Shen Qingnian looked at him, her eyes gradually reddening, her throat tightening, and all her words condensed into one sentence:
"Xiao Huaiyi".
In her soft tone, there seemed to be a hint of reproach, a touch of grievance, and a hint of longing.
Xiao Huaiyi saw that Shen Qingnian's eyes were red, and her gaze towards him seemed to be full of grievances.
He stopped laughing and said somewhat anxiously, "It's my fault, I made you cry."
Shen Qingnian suddenly remembered the bet Xie Yanzhi had mentioned.
She wasn't sure how Xiao Huaiyi viewed their relationship. What if, as Xie Yanzhi said, she was just a bettor?
What is she doing looking like that?
Shen Qingnian quickly adjusted her emotions and made herself appear as usual.
"It's alright, Young Master Xiao. When did you return?"
Seeing Shen Qingnian call him Young Master Xiao again, Xiao Huaiyi felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
He wished she would call his name like she had just done.
"I just arrived today, and I originally wanted to sneak away to see you."
“I came here after hearing from Butterfly Dance that I was coming to see you.”
"Secretly?" Shen Qingnian was a little confused as to why he wanted to see her secretly.
"Last time we parted in haste, and there were some things I hadn't explained to you, so I secretly came back to see you."
Xiao Huaiyi had been worried these past few days that Shen Qingnian might be arranged to meet other men since she hadn't heard from him.
It will take him quite some time to get things done, so he must come back to her in person to express his feelings.
“Miss Chen, if you still believe me, I would like to take you somewhere.”
"But Ling'er hasn't come back yet." Shen Qingnian was a little worried. If Ling'er came back and couldn't find her, she would definitely be anxious.
"Don't worry, Miss Chen. After Miss Ling'er returns, she can have a cup of tea here. We'll come to pick her up in a little while."
Looking into Xiao Huaiyi's clear eyes, Shen Qingnian nodded with a smile.
Shen Qingnian also left a note for Ling'er, telling her not to worry.
Half an hour later, the carriage stopped.
"Miss Chen, this is the place."
Shen Qingnian lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a secluded courtyard.
She followed Xiao Huaiyi inside. The room wasn't very big, but it was quite exquisite.
With its clear tiles and white walls, the courtyard is paved with bluestone slabs and planted with a small cluster of flowering trees. There is also a small pond under the courtyard wall, reminiscent of the beauty of a Jiangnan courtyard.
Perhaps because someone cleans it regularly, the courtyard is spotless and very cozy.
"This is the courtyard where my mother used to live, and I grew up here when I was young."
Shen Qingnian was somewhat surprised, as this was the first time she had heard Xiao Huaiyi mention his mother.
What was he doing bringing her to his mother's yard?
Xiao Huaiyi led Shen Qingnian to sit at the stone table in the courtyard and poured her a cup of tea.
“Miss Chen, I have never told anyone about my background. In fact, I am the illegitimate son of the eldest son of the Xiao family, and my mother was just a concubine.”
Shen Qingnian never expected that Xiao Huaiyi's background was like this.
"After the First Madam discovered my mother, she sent people to imprison her here, and then pretended to take me back."
"Although her son Xiao Hongyi was the legitimate son, he was of mediocre talent and her father did not like him. But I was intelligent from a young age and my father loved me very much."
"The First Madam threatened me with my mother, demanding that I ruin my image by spending my days chasing after women, engaging in cockfighting and dog racing, which eventually made my father disgusted and caused him to devote all his energy to Xiao Hongyi."
As Xiao Huaiyi spoke, his brows furrowed and his hands clenched into fists.
So this is what Xiao Huaiyi used to live. Shen Qingnian couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Two years ago, my mother passed away, and that's when I started to break free from the First Madam's control."
After taking a small sip of tea, Xiao Huaiyi looked at Shen Qingnian and asked, "Would you mind my background, young lady?"
Shen Qingnian looked at Xiao Huaiyi, her eyes firm yet gentle: "I don't mind."
Xiao Huaiyi's face lit up with joy when he heard Shen Qingnian say that.
He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the sandalwood comb, handing it to Shen Qingnian.
With gentle eyes and a sincere tone:
"Would the young lady be willing to give me another chance?"
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