Chapter 43 : Miss Xue is Truly Remarkable!

Xue Qingyin stared at the golden pouch held by Zhao Xufeng, momentarily stunned.

It wasn’t because it looked unpleasantly sticky.

She simply remembered an old public service advertisement she had once seen on TV.

The advertisement showed an elderly person with Alzheimer’s disease—also known as senile dementia—who no longer recognized his own son but always remembered to take dumplings from the dinner table and put them in his pocket. Because he always remembered that his son loved them.

It was just like the message of that advertisement.

The young master of the Zhao family couldn’t remember that his mother had passed away many years ago.

But he always remembered to bring food for her.

Xue Qingyin cherished the love she received from Mrs. Xue, who had treated her with care and kindness, a love that was not easily found.

After thinking for a moment, Xue Qingyin quietly said, “You haven’t washed your hands yet.”

Zhao’s steward, hearing this, breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself, this excuse works perfectly! It saved the face of the Zhao family and spared Xue Qingyin from embarrassment.

This Xue girl was truly sharp-witted!

Zhao Xufeng didn’t fully understand Xue Qingyin’s meaning. His expression showed disappointment, and his shoulders drooped.

He looked like a dog with its tail between its legs.

At that moment, Xue Qingyin instructed her maid to fetch a clean handkerchief from the carriage.

She placed the handkerchief under the golden pouch, took a piece of delicate flower-shaped pastry, and took a bite.

“It’s a bit cold,” she said. “Next time, use a box to store them, they’d taste better.” Then, she pointed to the jade dew ball and said, “I like this one too, but it’s mostly melted. It needs to be paired with ice, right?”

Zhao Xufeng’s eyes brightened.

He stared at Xue Qingyin, not understanding exactly what she was saying, but listening with great interest and joy.

The steward of the Zhao family was even more stunned. He stared at Xue Qingyin and couldn’t help but laugh.

The Xue family’s young lady was not just sharp-witted; she could also be called a paragon of refinement!

He murmured, “Next time, we’ll definitely use ice.”

Those around them could clearly see the close relationship between the Xue family and the Zhao family.

But this was the first time they had heard of it…

They couldn’t help but feel curious.

In fact, the events surrounding the princess’s residence and the subsequent confrontation at Furong Garden had been kept secret from the public.

No one knew the hidden details behind these events.

So they had no idea when exactly the Xue family had become involved with the Zhao family.

Xue Qingyin finished the flower-shaped pastry.

Zhao Xufeng grew quiet, his eyes fixed on the handkerchief in her hand, as if hoping she would eat more.

Zhao’s steward couldn’t hold back his amusement. He began to look around.

Soon, he realized this wasn’t the ideal place for tea.

As the chief steward of the Zhao family, it was clear he wasn’t a fool.

His thoughts shifted, and he began to understand what was going on. Without waiting for Xue Qingyin to speak, he spoke first, “Was there a fire here? Is it related to the Xue family’s business?”

Xue Qingyin nodded.

The steward immediately turned to the right Inspector(right patrol officer) and the soldiers of the Jingzhao Prefecture, and quietly said, “In broad daylight, someone set a fire without reason—this must be thoroughly investigated!”

This message naturally represented the Zhao family’s stance.

The right Inspector and others felt a chill in their hearts and immediately agreed, “Of course!”

They didn’t dare to be negligent in handling anything related to the Xue family’s esteemed position, but with the Zhao family’s backing, they no longer had to worry about any repercussions.

However, the manager of the silk shop appeared uncomfortable.

He thought to himself: Isn’t it people from the Zhao family who started the fire?

This situation felt like someone was using a flood to wash away the dragon king’s temple.

The manager hastily spoke, “Coincidentally, there are still some people from the Zhao family here.”

The steward of the Zhao family immediately caught on and turned to ask, “Where?”

The manager pointed to a few young men.

At that moment, the young man had a frown so deep it seemed like he could squash a mosquito with it. His subordinates behind him were visibly terrified, glancing nervously at Xue Qingyin.

The silk shop’s workers who had been subdued earlier finally had a chance to stand up and, pointing at the young man and his group, angrily shouted, “It’s them, Miss! You must stand up for us!”

The situation had reversed.

The steward of the Zhao family muttered a curse under his breath.

Now he understood what had happened.

It was these people who had clashed with the Xue family… And if they were also the ones who started the fire… The steward’s face darkened.

“People from the Zhao family? I’ve never seen you before,” the steward asked coldly.

Despite being older, the steward had been with the Zhao family for a long time and had developed an aura that made his cold gaze incredibly intimidating.

The young men quickly kneeled one by one.

The young man bowed his head and replied, “I am Kong Qun. Two years ago, I visited the steward’s residence with my uncle…”

The steward’s memory clicked into place.

He recognized Kong Qun’s uncle, Kong Zhen, a smart man who had managed part of the Zhao family’s business. Kong Zhen had spoken highly of his nephew, who was ambitious and talented…

The steward’s scalp tingled with anger.

This was his great ambition? This was his talent?

The steward immediately stepped forward and slapped Kong Qun across the face with a tremendous force.

The sound of the slap echoed clearly, and Kong Qun’s face quickly swelled, with a cut at the corner of his mouth.

“Get down!” the steward ordered.

The manager of the silk shop was reminded of Xue Qingyin’s words: “When they see me later, they’ll have to kneel and bow.”

And now, they had indeed knelt.

The manager felt a sense of satisfaction, standing taller than before in front of Kong Qun.

Kong Qun’s subordinates all knelt, but Kong Qun himself gritted his teeth, refusing to kneel.

The steward was not in a hurry, however. He coldly said, “You refuse to kneel? Then I’ll call your uncle here. Anyone who deserves punishment today will receive it, and no one will escape.”

“No! Please, esteemed steward, spare me… I’ll take responsibility for my actions. There’s no need to involve my uncle,” Kong Qun pleaded, finally dropping to his knees.

The sound of his bones hitting the floor was sharp and painful.

Xue Qingyin, seeing this, spoke up, “Wait.”

At that moment, only Zhao Xufeng had the authority to speak, and Xue Qingyin could stop him.

The steward froze and turned to her.

Kong Qun and the others also looked up at her, surprised.

But Kong Qun’s gaze was filled with more complexity.

“The people from the Zhao family here are arrogant, which displeases me. They should be punished. However, if they truly haven’t committed the crime, they deserve a chance to explain themselves, so we don’t mistakenly release the real culprits,” Xue Qingyin spoke slowly.

She thought to herself that it was terrifying when people who wanted revenge on the Xue family were not caught.

There was no need to torture people just because they were unpleasant.

Xue Qingyin considered how, after today, people would likely call her “Grandmother” when they saw her again.

The steward tossed the wooden stick aside. “Don’t you thank Miss Xue?”

Kong Qun’s complicated expression froze.

He kowtowed firmly on the ground. “Thank you, Miss Xue.”

The manager of the silk shop felt a sense of triumph.

If only the young lady knew what kind of person Kong Qun was—a petty, vindictive person.

Today, no matter who had caused the trouble, they had to make sure to restore the Xue family’s dignity and eliminate any future trouble. The one who set the fire—whether one person or several—would be up to the young lady to decide.

Xue Qingyin threw the handkerchief she had used to cushion the pastry at Kong Qun’s head. “Here, wipe off the blood.”

Then, she turned and said, “Let’s go find a place to have some tea.”

The steward chuckled. “…Alright!”

Xue Qingyin was truly a remarkable person.

Kong Qun grabbed the handkerchief, lowering his head to wipe his face.

The handkerchief still held the faint fragrance of the pastries and a soft, feminine scent, mixed with a slight medicinal smell.

Kong Qun lowered his head even further.