Chapter Forty-Eight: Miss Shen, you...
Shen Qingnian looked at the sandalwood comb that Xiao Huaiyi handed her with some surprise.
She originally thought Xie Yanzhi had just taken it, but she never expected that he would return the comb to Xiao Huaiyi in private!
This led Xiao Huaiyi to mistakenly believe that she had rejected his feelings.
What right did Xie Yanzhi have to do that?!
Shen Qingnian frowned slightly, her fingers clenching the handkerchief tightly, her gaze fixed on the comb, without uttering a single word.
Faced with Xiao Huaiyi's sincerity, Shen Qingnian really wanted to tell him that the comb was not returned to her.
But how could she explain why the comb was in Xie Yanzhi's hands?
She didn't dare to reveal Xie Yanzhi's entanglements at all.
No man in this world would be indifferent to such a thing.
Moreover, she did have some doubts. Thinking of this, she did not take the comb, but instead said calmly:
"Young Master Xiao, our assessment of each other is nothing more than a bet."
"Since Young Master Xiao is so frank, why not tell me what the stakes are? I can help you win."
Xiao Huaiyi understood; no wonder Miss Shen looked somewhat displeased earlier.
It turned out that he had been putting on an act all along, fooling her.
It must be because the young master and Miss Shen have a deep sibling bond, and he was afraid that Miss Shen would be deceived and entrust her to the wrong person, so he revealed the bet.
The prince may seem cold and aloof, but he shows such care and affection to his cousin.
Xiao Huaiyi couldn't help but feel admiration for Xie Yanzhi.
“Miss Shen, when I made the appointment with Brother Yan to meet him, I did make a bet with him.”
"When faced with beautiful women, one should naturally have the intention to flirt with them; that's what a playboy should be like."
Xiao Huaiyi put down the comb and said again:
“But since I met you at Taihu Lake, I have never lied to you.”
"But Brother Yan was with me at the time, so I couldn't reveal these details."
Xiao Huaiyi glanced at Shen Qingnian and saw that she was just listening intently to him, her fair face expressionless.
I couldn't help but feel a little nervous, and my palms were already sweating.
Shen Qingnian only realized now that Xiao Huaiyi had hidden himself very well, and even Xie Yanzhi didn't know what the real Xiao Huaiyi was like.
It's laughable that he compared himself to a piece of unpolished jade, while comparing Young Master Xiao to a worthless rock.
At this moment, Xiao Huaiyi spoke again:
“Miss Chen, I, Xiao, am truly in love with you.”
"I brought you to my mother's courtyard so that she could see the woman I admire."
"Isn't the woman you admire the Butterfly Dance Girl?"
After Shen Qingnian finished speaking, she looked into Xiao Huaiyi's eyes, not missing a single expression on his face.
"Butterfly Dance Girl? She's managing Yi Cui Courtyard for me and playing the role of a playboy."
"Take over Yicui Courtyard?" Shen Qingnian was clearly not expecting Xiao Huaiyi to answer like that.
So, Butterfly Dance Girl also knew what the real Xiao Huaiyi was like, but she had been keeping it a secret from everyone.
"Yes. Two years ago, I bought Yi Cui Courtyard to provide a shelter for women as pitiful as my mother."
Seeing that Shen Qingnian had reacted, Xiao Huaiyi said, "I wonder if Miss Shen still has any questions?"
"Did you know that the Butterfly Dance girl said that Yi Cui Courtyard is going to go out of business soon?"
Xiao Huaiyi said, "I left the capital in a hurry that day and didn't have time to make arrangements. I thought I would be back in a day or two, but I didn't expect it to take so long."
"I must thank Miss Chen for her help."
Shen Qingnian smiled, then recalled seeing Xiao Huaiyi draw a portrait of Diewu that day, and asked:
"Young Master Xiao is so skilled in poetry, I wonder if he is also adept at painting?"
Xiao Huaiyi's ears turned slightly red as he said, "I am not good at painting, but I did paint a portrait of Miss Shen and asked Diewu to help me refine it. So I did not paint Miss Shen ugly."
So Xiao Huaiyi was painting herself? Shen Qingnian felt a slight stirring in her heart, and all her unease about that matter vanished.
Seeing that Shen Qingnian didn't speak, Xiao Huai felt a little anxious, fearing her rejection.
He pointed to a corner of the yard, "Miss Chen, I originally thought you could plant your favorite flowers and plants here, and you could also build a grape trellis over there."
"You can also make a swing."
"I also want to raise a few koi in this small pond."
Shen Qingnian's sudden voice surprised and flattered Xiao Huaiyi.
“Miss Chen, you…” Xiao Huaiyi laughed.
"I also want to open a shop to sell the incense beads that my mother taught me to make," Shen Qingnian said calmly.
“Then I’ll be your assistant,” Xiao Huaiyi said without hesitation.
"I also want to write some storybooks."
"Then why don't I go to Taihe Tower and become a storyteller, and tell your stories!"
The two looked into each other's eyes, filled with joy.
With a loud bang, the door to the villa was kicked open from the outside.
A pair of gold-threaded black boots stepped in...
"Who?" Shen Qingnian was startled by the commotion.
She noticed the shoes; they looked somewhat like the ones Xie Yanzhi usually wore.
I couldn't help but feel nervous.
If Xie Yanzhi discovers that she has been secretly meeting with Xiao Huaiyi, Shen Qingnian doesn't know how crazy he will go.
If he were to confess to her face that he had seen her body and kissed her lips, how could she possibly show her face in front of Xiao Huaiyi?
As the person was about to enter the courtyard, Shen Qingnian's face turned pale.
My hands started trembling involuntarily.
"Second Master, please allow me to inform him first." Ping An reached out and blocked the person outside the door.
"Second Master?" Shen Qingnian didn't know which Second Master it was.
“My second brother, Xiao Jingyi,” Xiao Huaiyi explained.
Hearing Xiao Huaiyi say that, Shen Qingnian felt somewhat relieved, thankfully it wasn't Xie Yanzhi.
But then she tensed up again. If outsiders saw her and Xiao Huaiyi alone together, her reputation would be ruined.
She clutched the handkerchief and bit her lip.
Seeing Shen Qingnian's concerns, Xiao Huaiyi offered, "Miss Shen, you may go inside and rest for a while. I'll go and send him away now."
After saying that, Xiao Huaiyi got up and went to the door to block Xiao Jingyi, while Shen Qingnian took the opportunity to enter the house.
"Xiao Huaiyi, how dare you stop me?" Xiao Jingyi was somewhat exasperated.
"What brings you here, Second Brother?"
Xiao Huaiyi couldn't help but wonder, how did Xiao Jingyi discover that he had returned to the capital in secret?
“Xiao Huaiyi, at this critical juncture, you actually ran away and came back. Fortunately, I received the news, and Father ordered me to bring you back.”
"Second brother, I have important business to attend to. I will return when I am done."
"You don't care about your elder brother's life or death, and you don't listen to your father either?" Xiao Jingyi raised an eyebrow.
Xiao Hongyi went to Lingnan for a trip and somehow got involved with the bandits. He is now imprisoned.
Master Xiao's intention was to use Xiao Huaiyi to exchange for Xiao Hongyi.
Xiao Huaiyi laughed, but his eyes were icy cold: "Since you're so worried about our eldest brother, why don't you go and take his place?"
"I'm just burning some paper money for my mother in advance, so that we can take care of each other when we get there, right? Second brother, is it convenient for you?"
Xiao Jingyi saw that although Xiao Huaiyi was smiling, there was a cold glint in his eyes, and he felt a little scared.
"Leaving Beijing tomorrow night!"
After saying this, Xiao Jingyi flicked his sleeves and left.
Before long, he arrived at a carriage and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.
“Your Highness, there is indeed a girl in that room, wearing a pale yellow dress.”
Xiao Huaiyi stood to the side, and he could only make out the dress.
Xie Yanzhi clenched his fist.
"Thank you for informing me of my third brother's whereabouts, Your Highness. We will be leaving the capital tomorrow."
After Xiao Jingyi finished speaking, he got into his carriage and left.
"Will Young Master Xiao be in danger on this trip?" Shen Qingnian had overheard their conversation and couldn't help but feel worried.
"No," Xiao Huaiyi replied, his eyes cold.
They want him to be a scapegoat, so he'll make sure Xiao Hongyi never comes back.
Xiao Huaiyi concealed the coldness in her eyes and said to Shen Qingnian:
"Miss Chen, let me take you home first."
After picking up Ling'er, Xiao Huaiyi took Shen Qingnian and her servant back to the Marquis's residence.
As they approached the corner of the Marquis's residence, Shen Qingnian asked Xiao Huaiyi to stop the car.
She didn't want Xiao Huaiyi to be seen by Xie Yanzhi.
She also didn't want others to see her getting off the man's carriage.
“Miss Shen, I will be leaving the capital tomorrow night. I will wait for you for dinner at Zuifeng Tower as a farewell dinner.”
As Xiao Huaiyi spoke, he handed over the sandalwood comb.
Shen Qingnian took the comb and turned to walk towards the Marquis's residence.
For some reason, she suddenly turned around and saw Xiao Huaiyi still holding up the curtain, looking at her.
Shen Qingnian lifted her skirt and ran quickly to Xiao Huaiyi's carriage: "Young Master Xiao, if you are truly in love with me, could you please come and propose marriage as soon as possible?"
After Shen Qingnian finished speaking, her face suddenly turned red.
It is indeed inappropriate for a woman to make such a request to a man.
But she was afraid Xie Yanzhi wouldn't give her much time.
Xiao Huaiyi was surprised that Shen Qingnian would come over and even asked him to come and propose marriage as soon as possible.
He felt an overwhelming joy that overwhelmed him, leaving him speechless and frozen in place.
"If Young Master Xiao finds this difficult..." Shen Qingnian held the handkerchief, her eyes lowered, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“Miss Chen, I will come to propose marriage as soon as my three-year mourning period is over.”
Hearing this, Shen Qingnian looked up and met Xiao Huaiyi's affectionate eyes, which were full of doting affection for her.
On the wall of the Marquis's residence, Xie Yanzhi stared at the two men with a grim face...
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