Chapter 32 : You Are Very Smart

Xue Qingyin put in a great deal of effort to reassure Madam Xue that she was not about to marry the elderly Duke Zhao of the State of Zhao, who was around sixty years old.

Madam Xue bit her lip and, with unease, said, “You used to go out less, but now you’re out more, and you’re attracting attention. I think it’s better if we find a suitable match for you early and settle your marriage. Otherwise, all kinds of people will start paying attention to you.”

This remark from Madam Xue sounded a bit self-praising, as if she was blinded by family affection.

If it had been the old He Songning listening, he would have definitely scoffed at it.

But at this moment, he said nothing.

Had he previously been too quick to judge, refusing to look at Xue Qingyin more closely, failing to see her excellence?

He Songning’s gaze flickered.

The King of Wei admired her for her appearance.

Princess Jinque and she bonded because of their personalities.

And today, she had returned unharmed from Duke Zhao’s “feast,” so what was the reason for it?

Now, when people mentioned others who liked her, He Songning found it no longer surprising.

“I’ve had quite a few matchmakers, and today someone even mentioned the eldest son of the Xu family,” Xue Qingyin said, pouting.

“The Xu family?” Madam Xue asked in confusion. “Is it the Xu family of the Taishi Bureau, the Xu family of the Xu family?” She exclaimed, “Not that I’m being vain, but their family only has a seventh-rank official—how dare they bring up marriage for you? It’s too degrading for my daughter!”

He Songning frowned and interjected, “Do you mean Xu Sikong’s family, the family of Concubine Wan?”

Madam Xue froze for a moment.

Then, she became suspicious. “How could it be that Xu family?”

There were many officials with the surname Xu in the capital.

But only Concubine Wan’s family could be considered the main branch; the rest were distant relatives with little to no connection.

Something must have changed.

He Songning was eager to have Madam Xue leave so he could sit down and ask Xue Qingyin more carefully.

“The Xu family is not someone we can compare to. With Concubine Wan and the King of Wei behind them, not to mention the legacy left by Old Master Xu, if they want to marry their eldest son to you…” Madam Xue paused, then said, “It’s not that I think poorly of you, but it’s somewhat mismatched.”

The Minister of the Household is not a small official.

But there’s still the Minister of the Household above them.

Not to mention that the Xue family’s scandals have been known to the public. Everyone still remembers the time when the concubine in the Xue family poisoned the madam, causing the legitimate daughter to become weak…

Since then, to make up for it, the family had spoiled Xue Qingyin, raising her into a spoiled and willful character, which was no secret either.

A family like the Xu family, who valued their reputation above all else, would never choose someone like Xue Qingyin.

“If this marriage can be arranged, it would be good… after all, there’s no better choice than the Xu family,” Madam Xue hesitated.

He Songning couldn’t stand it and coldly interrupted, “Absolutely not.”

Madam Xue was stunned by his rare cold tone.

He Songning realized he had overreacted and softened his voice. “The stricter the family, the stricter their rules. If Qingyin were to marry there, she would not be happy.”

Madam Xue thought for a moment. “That’s true.”

Xue Qingyin couldn’t help but interrupt them, “This hasn’t even happened yet, why are you worrying?”

He Songning’s eyes were cold.

Worrying about Concubine Wan.

Concubine Wan was a woman with a wicked heart, who wanted to drain others dry and use them to her advantage.

She didn’t like her son being swayed by beauty, and now that her plans were thwarted, she was trying to marry Xue Qingyin to her nephew, bringing the Ministry of Household under her control.

He Songning sneered inwardly.

What Concubine Wan didn’t realize was that the Xue family had already chosen their side ever since he was adopted by Xue Chengdong.

Madam Xue sighed and asked Xue Qingyin what kind of man she liked.

Xue Qingyin replied, “Someone good-looking.”

Madam Xue laughed in exasperation. “What’s the use of a good-looking face?”

Xue Qingyin retorted, “A handsome face makes meals easier to swallow.”

Madam Xue couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re still a child, thinking about such things.”

He Songning’s expression softened.

Xue Qingyin was indeed quite childish; what she spoke of as love and romance were not to be taken seriously.

Madam Xue glanced at He Songning and then remembered to ask him, “Where did you rush off to today?”

“To pick up Qingyin,” He Songning sat down and took a sip of tea. “I heard she was taken by the people from Duke Zhao’s household, and I was worried about her.”

Madam Xue laughed sincerely, “You really care about your sister. Too bad, she went to Furong Garden, so you wasted your trip. You must be tired from running around.”

Madam Xue called for some pastries to be brought and instructed the servants to make some snow fungus soup.

“It’s both refreshing and filling, you should have some. You two siblings must have something to talk about, so I won’t stay here.”

After she left, He Songning glanced at her back before sitting next to Xue Qingyin.

He hadn’t realized it before, but from this perspective, he felt that Madam Xue was indeed a very considerate person.

When the pastries were brought, He Songning picked one up and handed it to Xue Qingyin. He asked gently, “Were you scared today?”

Xue Qingyin didn’t take the pastry and asked instead, “Big brother, have you washed your hands?”

He Songning: “…”

Was she rejecting it now?

In the past, she would cling to his arm, demanding pastries.

The maid soon brought water for He Songning to wash his hands.

However, He Songning had lost his appetite. He heard Xue Qingyin softly say, “I was scared, of course.”

She then told him roughly what had happened today, though she omitted some details, like how King Xuan broke the cup, or how Zhao Xufeng called her “mother.”

He Songning’s gaze flickered.

That strange feeling returned.

She spoke with exaggerated tone, but there was an underlying calmness in her voice, as if she wasn’t really afraid at the time.

Moreover… she didn’t grab his sleeve and cry this time.

“Do you know who that noble person was?” He Songning suddenly asked.

“Is it His Majesty, the Emperor?” Xue Qingyin guessed.

He Songning: “…You’re very smart.”

Xue Qingyin looked at his somber expression and quickly defended herself, “If even I couldn’t tell, what kind of fool would I be?”

She said defiantly, “Of course I’m smart! I’m the smartest!”

At those words, the suspicion in He Songning’s eyes instantly vanished.

He was even amused, thinking she looked like an angry cat with its fur fluffed up.

He asked, “Were you scared when you met His Majesty?”

Saying “His Majesty” made He Songning feel a momentary dizziness in his heart.

He had seen the Emperor a few times when he was young, but as he grew older, the Emperor never came to see him again.

How ridiculous.

That was his biological father.

Xue Qingyin answered, “I was a little scared.”

“A little?”

Xue Qingyin thought pretending not to care wasn’t the solution, so she decided to let He Songning slowly accept the changes in her.

She nodded and said, “I’ve met the King of Wei, the King of Xuan, and Princess Jinque… all of them are more powerful than our family. After meeting them, what’s there to be afraid of? Although His Majesty is the most powerful of them all, think about it, he’s also a father. Meeting him is just like meeting our dad.”

A complicated expression flickered across He Songning’s face. “You think very clearly.”

Xue Qingyin pulled herself back into her persona.

She looked up at He Songning and said softly, “But there are still things I’m afraid of…”

He Songning became a little interested. “Hmm? Are you more afraid of that than meeting His Majesty?”

“Yes, I’m afraid of you being angry.”

He Songning felt as if he had been struck hard in the chest.

Looking down at her, he found her expression both pitiful and adorable.

Xue Qingyin kept on, “I’m also afraid of Mother being sad, and I’m afraid no one will love me. If only I didn’t have to marry, I’d want to stay with Mother and Big Brother forever.”

He Songning froze.

He felt something soft deep inside him, as if it had been gently pressed.

Finally, he said faintly, “I’ll make sure you have a good life. …Tomorrow, the King of Wei will send some gifts to the house, and the grievances you’ve suffered with Concubine Wan will be repaid.”

Xue Qingyin:

Looks like your plans aren’t swaying at all!