Chapter 7 : Why Don’t You Two Just Fight It Out?

On the way back to the Xue residence, He Songning asked her where she had been earlier.

Xue Qingyin brushed him off casually.

He didn’t press further and simply asked, “Did the fresh air help ease your chest tightness and dizziness?”

Xue Qingyin nodded.

This outing was more pleasant than she had imagined.

After finishing her drawing, she even played cards with the maid for a while.

Next time, she’d do it again!

He added, “If there’s another gathering, shall I take you with me again?”

“Let’s talk about it then,” Xue Qingyin replied, not giving a definitive answer.

He Songning paused. “You don’t want to go with me?”

Xue Qingyin looked at him and said, aggrieved, “I do, but I just want to be alone with you. Why bring so many people? At the poetry gathering today, I barely got to say a few words to you.”

He Songning felt relieved.

For some reason, he felt that the Xue Qingyin before him had changed significantly compared to before.

But when he tried to pinpoint it, he couldn’t quite figure it out.

Perhaps it was Madam Xue who had taught her something privately…

“Well, just stay close to me next time,” He Songning said.

Feeling she had played her part well, Xue Qingyin murmured an “Alright,” and then fell silent.

Back at the mansion, Madam Xue was in high spirits, bringing soup she had made herself. With a face full of affection, she said, “Seeing you siblings getting along so well puts my heart at ease.”

Meanwhile, He Songning went to see Xue Qinghe.

As soon as he entered the room, Xue Qinghe spoke, “I heard you took my sister out today.”

“…Yes.”

“It’s good that you’re close. Best not to visit me again in the future; it’ll upset my stepmother.”

He Songning frowned deeply. “What are you saying?”

Xue Qinghe pulled up the covers, refusing to say more.

He couldn’t explain anything to her.

He didn’t want someone as pure as her to be tainted by the filth… which was why he couldn’t tell her about his plans to deal with Xue Qingyin.

He left the small courtyard.

The rest of the day, his mood remained sour.

Xue Qingyin, however, was in high spirits.

She drank soup, ate snacks, and played cards with her maid until she lost track of time.

When night fell, she went to bed contentedly.

At the King Xuan Mansion, the study’s lights were still on.

An aide came to report, pushing the door open after receiving permission.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Speak.” The prince’s voice was cold.

The aide had grown accustomed to it.

As he raised his head slightly, he noticed something unusual. On the prince’s desk was… a flower?

It was vibrant and colorful, standing out starkly against the austere black-and-white decor of the study.

“Is it from the Huainan province?” the prince asked.

The aide snapped out of it. “Yes, Your Highness. As expected, it’s from Huainan…” He quickly presented the documents.

After a while, the aide left the courtyard.

He muttered to himself, Is the prince preparing for a joyous occasion? That can’t be right!

The next morning, Xue Qingyin was dragged out of bed by her maid.

“The master is back,” the maid said urgently. “You must attend breakfast together. Second Miss has already gone ahead. We can’t be late.”

“What does her enthusiasm have to do with me?” Xue Qingyin replied lazily.

She took her time freshening up and dressing, much to the frustration of the servants.

“Let’s go,” she said.

“But, Miss, you haven’t done your hair yet!”

“You were rushing earlier. Now you want to delay for hair?”

Blinking innocently, Xue Qingyin added, “No need. Let’s just go like this.”

“That won’t do! Meeting the master requires proper grooming…”

“Am I meeting my father or the King of Hell?” Xue Qingyin asked sincerely.

The maid was speechless.

“It’s just my father. Why all the fuss over appearances?” Yawning, she said, “Let’s go.”

As the maid predicted, Xue Qinghe had arrived early, along with several others.

When Xue Qingyin entered, she found everyone waiting for her.

How flattering.

She had never been treated like this in her life.

As she entered, Madam Xue winked at her, signaling her to apologize and behave like a good daughter.

Instead, Xue Qingyin turned to her father, Xue Chengdong, who sat at the head of the table.

“I want to sit next to Father,” she said.

“Nonsense,” Xue Chengdong said calmly.

To his left was Madam Xue, and to his right was He Songning.

Xue Qingyin unceremoniously shoved He Songning aside.

“How could you scold me right after arriving? I’ve been unwell, and you didn’t even care,” she said.

Xue Chengdong frowned slightly but softened his tone. “Unwell?”

“Yes,” she said, holding out her hand. “Did you bring me a gift?”

“Gift?”

“Of course. If you knew, shouldn’t you have brought something to cheer me up? Even Big Brother brings me gifts when he returns.”

Xue Chengdong glanced at He Songning, and after a brief exchange of looks, he relented.

“Didn’t you want that inkstone of mine? I’ll have it sent to your room later.”

“I don’t want it anymore,” she said. “I want the screen in your study.”

Her father, surprisingly indulgent, agreed.

Halfway through breakfast, Xue Chengdong suddenly said, “Qingyin is already seventeen. Other girls would have been engaged by thirteen or fourteen. It can’t be delayed any longer.”

Are you rushing to marry me off like meeting a deadline?

Before she could reply, Madam Xue smiled and added, “Yes, it’s long overdue. But Qingyin keeps saying she can’t bear to leave home. You should persuade her.”

Xue Chengdong’s tone was firm. “Marriage is the decision of parents. How can a daughter decide for herself?”

Even He Songning wants to control me. Why don’t you two just fight it out?