When Zhou Yi'an heard Xie Yushu's rejection, her heart sank to the bottom. Her mind raced, trying to figure out how to win her back!
Sweating profusely, he finally came up with a reasonable excuse.
"Ah, it's not just about the medical consultation that I'm inviting you to dinner. Actually, I have some other things I'd like to ask you for help with."
Well, it's hard to explain in a sentence or two. I've already made reservations at the restaurant, so why don't you do me the honor of coming over for a meal?
Don't worry, I'm a decent person. If you don't want to help, that's fine too! Let's just consider ourselves friends!
Hearing this, Xie Yushu became even more hesitant to agree. If she were still just a village girl, she would have dared to eat whoever invited her, since she had nothing and wasn't afraid of others taking advantage of her. But now, she had become a first-rank princess and had a few friends she could talk to. She was really afraid that Zhou Yi'an would ask her to do something difficult.
So they went straight to the road.
"Young Master Zhou, let me be frank with you. Although I am a first-rank princess, I only care about receiving my salary. I don't concern myself with matters of the court. Don't beg me for official business; even if you do, I can't do it!"
That's really a tough one! No wonder she's the girl he's chosen, she's got personality! Zhou Yi'an thought bitterly to herself.
But should I just back down like this? Wouldn't that mean I'd have even less of a chance later? Realizing this, Zhou Yi'an brazenly asked...
"Don't worry, Doctor Xie. The matter I want to ask you doesn't involve the court. It's just that my mother's birthday is coming up, and I'm thinking of ordering her a complete set of dressing mirrors and tea sets, as well as replacing all the windows in her courtyard."
But these past few days, my servants have been queuing at your shop, but they haven't been able to get in. I'm only desperate because I'm here to beg you, to see if you could let me cut in line. I'm willing to pay more!
After saying this, fearing that Xie Yushu might not believe him, he immediately took out five hundred taels of silver notes and handed them to Nanxing.
"This is my deposit. This young lady can take a look first!"
Nanxing was caught off guard by this turn of events and looked at Xie Yushu questioningly.
Xie Yushu asked directly
"I don't know when your mother is born. If the timing is too tight, there's nothing I can do!"
Zhou Yi'an hurriedly said
"It's not too rushed, it's the sixteenth of next month, but the shop is already booked until next month, I'm afraid I won't be able to get a place. Can you spare one for me? I already promised my mother!"
Seeing that he said that, Xie Yushu agreed.
"Alright then, I'll have Tai'an Prefecture reserve one for you, and it'll be delivered next month!"
Seeing that Xie Yushu had agreed, Zhou Yi'an said happily.
"That's wonderful! You've been a huge help to me!"
You absolutely must let me treat you to a meal. I've already made a reservation at Tianxianglou Restaurant, so we can go there now and start serving the food right away!
I heard that Tianxianglou has some new dishes today, so I specially ordered them for you to try!
"Really, no need. I have things to do at the shop. You go eat by yourself!"
Xie Yushu still refused.
Zhou Yi'an unleashed her ultimate move.
"Dr. Xie, you're not trying to trick me, are you? You don't actually want to help me at all!"
"Hey! How can you talk like that? Our princess doesn't need your little bit of silver! If you don't trust us, take your silver back!"
Nanxing immediately objected.
"No, young lady, you've misunderstood. I just... I only feel at ease after you've eaten!"
"You guys go ahead, isn't this the usual procedure when asking for help?"
Xie Yushu was speechless.
"Look at you, so petty! Let's go!"
"Alright, alright, please!"
Seeing that Xie Yushu had finally agreed, Zhou Yi'an immediately led the way for Xie Yushu, and they went to Tianxiang Tower together.
Xie Yushu was only trying to put his mind at ease, and it was also mealtime. She was indeed hungry, so she didn't care about the new dishes or not. She took Nanxing there and had a big meal.
Zhou Yi'an didn't care that Nanxing, a mere maid, was sitting at the same table with her mistress. She smiled and served Xie Yushu this and that.
Xie Yushu found him troublesome and said directly
“Young Master Zhou, we don’t stand on ceremony. Just eat what you need. Don’t worry, since we’ve promised you, we’ll definitely deliver the set of glass mirrors and such to you on time.”
"Yes, yes, I certainly believe you!"
Xie Yushu and Nan Xing finished their meal in a flash, wiped their mouths, and were about to leave. Zhou Yi'an really didn't know how to persuade them to stay, so she could only reluctantly see Xie Yushu downstairs.
Xie Yushu remembered that she hadn't asked where the glass was to be delivered to him, so she asked...
"Young Master Zhou, where do you live? The glass has arrived, where should I deliver it to?"
"Send this to the Ministry of Rites, Zhou Yi'an will receive it!" I wanted to give my mother a surprise!
"Oh, okay."
Nanxing, make a note of this.
"You should go back, Young Master Zhou."
Xie Yushu exchanged a few polite words with Zhou Yi'an before leaving.
Seeing Xie Yushu leave without looking back, Zhou Yi'an felt a little disappointed, but thinking about it, it was still progress. At least they had met, and she even knew her own name. Relationships shouldn't be rushed!
After comforting herself, Zhou Yi'an returned home.
The servant sent by Madam Zhang, after following them all day, finally found out who his young master was, having disregarded his illness and gone to great lengths to dress up and meet. He then ran back to report.
Grand Tutor's Mansion
When Madam Zhang saw that the person she had sent out to follow her son had returned, she hurriedly asked...
"Can you tell which vixen has bewitched my son's heart?"
The servant shrank back and said...
"Yes, Madam, I saw it, but the young master's appointment was with Princess Jingde!"
"Princess Jingde? Is that the one who's all the rage outside, the one who made the glass?"
"Exactly!"
Moreover, she is now a first-rank princess; the lady should be careful when discussing her!
The servant wanted to remind Madam Zhang that the princess was a first-rank noblewoman, and she, a mere concubine, was being called a vixen repeatedly; he was afraid people would overhear and slap her. However, considering Madam Zhang's impulsive and arrogant nature, he didn't speak directly, offering only the most tactful possible reminder.
As expected, Madam Zhang didn't understand the servant's good intentions and frowned as she asked...
"I heard she was originally a village girl, and she had an ambiguous relationship with the man surnamed Xiao. How can such a disgraced person be worthy of being my son's legal wife!"
She must have used some kind of trick to bewitch my son!
What use is the title of princess if there is no real foundation? How could my dignified Grand Tutor's Mansion possibly become in-laws with a bunch of peasants!
If word gets out, people will laugh their heads off!
Madam Zhang spent her days in the inner quarters, unlike the principal wife, who had her own circle of friends and would occasionally get together to exchange information.
As a concubine, she not only needed to ask permission from the First Madam to leave the mansion, but she also had no social circle, since concubines in other households were also not allowed to go out. Therefore, her sources of information were very limited.
In other words, the words of ignorant maids and old women, which were heard from who-knows-where and mixed with the opinions of many people, reached her ears and became her initial impression of Xie Yushu. When she heard that her son wanted to marry such a person, she disagreed from the bottom of her heart.
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