So Chen Xiao and Xu Ruyu went to the gossip spot together, and unexpectedly overheard Xu Ruyan's words.
She quickly glanced at the situation on the field: Xixi was hanging on a woman, and that woman should be Zhao Siyuan, but she didn't know that Xixi knew Zhao Siyuan.
Then she discovered 'two Xu Qians'. She paused for a moment, and considering Xu Ruyan's way of addressing him, the elder brother was called "bo" and the younger brother was called "shu". Was the one with his hand on Zhao Siyuan's back Xu Qian's brother?
And he and Zhao Siyuan looked very intimate, could he be Zhao Siyuan's husband?
Chen Xiao was unusually bewildered. Didn't the records say that Zhao Siyuan liked Xu Qian? She didn't seem like it. And her husband was Xu Qian's brother. Judging from Zhao Siyuan's character, she definitely wouldn't do anything like "a woman who resembles Xu Qian".
It was only later that she realized the gossip Xixi had invited her over was actually about Xu Ruyu's family. She hadn't even realized the truth and had brought Xu Ruyu along, looking quite eager...
You stinky Xixi, you're so mean!
Chen Xiao secretly glanced at Xu Ruyu and found that Xu Ruyu was looking at her, and was even teasing her with a leisurely air, "What's wrong? Is His Majesty going to be embarrassed again?"
Seeing this, Chen Xiao calmed down and even had the mind to tease her. It seemed that he already knew about this and didn't mind her eagerness to gossip. He thought to himself: Xu Ruyu is such a kind-hearted and handsome guy!
The group naturally noticed the arrival of Chen Xiao and Xu Ruyu, albeit after being alerted by the Prime Minister's steward.
As the head steward, although he didn't know why these adults wouldn't come inside the mansion to talk, as a professional steward, he still expressed his full understanding.
He stood at a distance away, ensuring that he could not hear their conversation but could still perceive the movements around him.
Sure enough, as soon as Chen Xiao and Xu Ruyu appeared, he noticed them and went up to them, saying, "Your Majesty, Young Master."
He had been a butler for decades, and his voice remained extremely loud, so everyone present could hear it.
Fortunately, the area around the Prime Minister's residence was sparsely populated and very quiet; otherwise, if Chen Xiao had any reasonable suspicions, the entire street would have heard it.
As Chen Xiao and Xu Ruyu approached them, they heard the follow-up to this gossip: Xu Qin paused for a moment before replying to Xu Ruyan, "Yes, nephew."
No one else knew about Xu Qin and Xu Qian's past. Only Zhao Siyuan, Xu Qian, and Xi Xi were somewhat surprised when they heard it, not expecting Xu Qin to answer Xu Ruyan.
Xu Qian pursed his lips, and upon seeing Chen Xiao and Xu Ruyu, he first greeted Chen Xiao before looking at Xu Ruyu and saying, "This is your...uncle, say hello."
Wow, what a surprise! Xu Qian, that stubborn guy, would actually do this? Zhao Siyuan was taken aback.
Xu Ruyu naturally and obediently bowed to Xu Qin and greeted him, "Uncle, hello." She then did the same to Zhao Siyuan, "Aunt, hello."
Xu Qian: "......"
He could tell from the boy's expression that he was definitely not that obedient. Sure enough, he figured out how to use this trick to his advantage.
You should know that this is exactly what Zhao Siyuan was looking forward to, being called "Auntie" by Xu Qian's child.
Zhao Siyuan replied to Xu Ruyu with a beaming smile, "Hey, my nephew is really handsome!" She was overjoyed, and her tone was no longer official.
Xu Qin responded with a somewhat awkward "hmm," then, fearing he might seem too cold, added, "Ruyu, you and Xiao'er are a perfect match."
When Chen Xiao first heard his name, he was still somewhat incredulous and checked several times, asking Xi Xi in his mind, "Hey! You never told me I knew Zhao Siyuan's husband!"
Xi Xi glanced at her host guiltily, then slowly added, "You didn't even ask! You only asked me about you and Zhao Siyuan, so all I knew to answer was that..."
She spoke softer and softer, which almost made Chen Xiao laugh in exasperation.
But to others, Chen Xiao's smile appeared as follows: after hearing Xu Ruyu's uncle praise her for being a good match for Xu Ruyu, she couldn't help but smile, clearly pleased with the compliment.
Upon seeing this, Yuan Yin was completely engrossed, while Xu Ruyan's focus remained on: Why does my uncle know my brother's name but not mine?
The others, however, had smiles in their eyes.
Zhao Siyuan was so engrossed in admiring the beautiful love between the young people that she completely forgot that her son might be, perhaps, possibly one of Chen Xiao's concubines.
Xu Ruyu knew, of course, that Chen Xiao was not what they thought, but she still couldn't help but smile, her eyes crinkling slightly, her face full of joy.
Xu Ruyu smiled and replied to Xu Qin, "Thank you for your recognition, Uncle. I think so too."
Chen Xiao was speechless. She had only noticed that Xu Qian's brother knew her, and hadn't paid any attention to what he was saying.
But after seeing the teasing or mocking looks from the crowd, she belatedly realized what was happening. Just as she was about to explain, she heard Xu Ruyu say this.
Now it's too late for them to defend themselves.
Zhao Siyuan immediately showcased her literary talent: "They are truly a perfect match, a match made in heaven! Xiao'er and Ruyu are like twin lotus blossoms, inseparable and enviable!"
Chen Xiao was shocked by her words and inwardly questioned Xi Xi, "...Are you sure Zhao Siyuan is just the Minister of Works? Are you sure she's not some kind of scholar or literary figure?"
Xi Xi watched the show comfortably in the embrace. Upon hearing her host's words, she lazily replied, "You'll get used to it. She can be not only a scholar but also a modern rapper."
To receive such praise from Xi Xi, it seems Zhao Siyuan has a 'weapon' that Xi Xi is unaware of!
After teasing him, Zhao Siyuan remembered that her son was still in the palace. She coughed, stopped the conversation, walked up to Chen Xiao, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Seeing this, Xu Qin followed suit.
Chen Xiao quickly told the two to dispense with formalities, and then said to them, "Minister and Lord Zhao, there's no need for such formalities."
The two chuckled. Back when Chen Xiao was still the Crown Prince, they had only ever heard Chu Yanxi address Zhao Siyuan as Minister Zhao and Xu Qin as Minister Zhao in public.
On other occasions, Chu Yanxi also addressed other ministers' husbands as "Qingfu" in the same way.
The way Chen Xiao was addressed was quite surprising to them. Perhaps it was because of their relationship with Chen Xiao; she had always treated them as elders in private, so she addressed them in this way after ascending the throne.
It has to be said that Xu Qin quite likes this title.
Whether it's Zhao Qingfu or Zhao Jun, both names are prefixed with the wife's surname, making it clear to others that he belongs to Zhao Siyuan.
Over the years, he had heard many titles, such as "Young Master Xu" and "Young Master Xu" when he was young, and "Master Xu" and "Madam Xu" later, but none of them sounded as pleasant as this title.
Xu Qin smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with endless tenderness and joy as he looked at Zhao Siyuan.
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