Chapter 62: The Prince Lent Me

In the evening, Xue Qinghe was summoned to the main hall for dinner.

She bowed respectfully to Xue Chengdong, but when she looked up, she noticed that only she and her father were at the table.

Where was everyone else?

The question rose in Xue Qinghe’s throat.

But then she saw that Xue Chengdong’s hand was bandaged, as if he had smashed something in anger… Xue Qinghe swallowed her question back down.

With no stepmother or elder sister present, Xue Qinghe found the meal oppressive.

Only when Xue Chengdong put down his chopsticks did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“You will go to the tea house in the suburbs tomorrow. You always loved reading tea scriptures, didn’t you? It’s better to entrust it to you than to your sister. The accounts of Lingxiu Pavilion will also be sent to you tomorrow.”

Xue Chengdong finished in a few words and then left, without any extra warmth.

But thinking about his words, “You always loved reading tea scriptures,” Xue Qinghe felt that her father had been paying attention to her after all.

Xue Qinghe got up and returned to her courtyard.

Qiu Xin, her maid, excitedly whispered in her ear: “How the eldest miss took over the business, so will the second miss today! Lingxiu Pavilion is located in the East Market, bustling with activity. If the second miss manages it well, there will be many nobles coming and going. Will you need to be afraid of the stepmother in the future?”

Xue Qinghe felt the pressure in her heart lessen.

Maybe her elder brother would see her abilities?

“The master’s face was so ugly today. The eldest miss dared to persuade the madam to return to her maiden home. It’s a good thing for us.”

“Return to her maiden home?” Xue Qinghe thought, no wonder she wasn’t there. This was unlike her stepmother’s usual behavior. She thought her stepmother would come knocking on the door.

“Yes, she returned to her maiden home. Second miss, be ambitious, seize the power of managing the household, and when they return, they will have no place to flaunt their power.” Qiu Xin encouraged her.

Xue Qinghe helplessly said: “How can an unmarried daughter manage the household?”

On this matter, Qiu Xin seemed to have even greater ambition than her.

Qiu Xin confidently said: “Why not? Miss, you are still narrow-minded. The maid who serves Miss Lu in the Lu family has some private dealings with me. I once heard her say that in order to train their eldest daughter to manage the household, the Lu family entrusted the entire family to her.”

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe felt a mix of emotions.

She was afraid that her elder brother would blame her for driving her stepmother away when he returned.

She was also afraid that she wouldn’t be up to the task, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but want to prove herself to her brother and father.

At this moment, Qiu Xin was also thinking… she was thinking, what was the eldest miss doing now? Was she weeping in secret? Or was she throwing a tantrum?

Xue Qingyin was sitting at her desk, with one dish after another being served before her.

The Xu family, after all, were just merchants, and they didn’t care about “going too far” or “indulging in pleasure.” They had a Huaiyang chef in their household, and today they put all their effort into making a number of specialty dishes, which were all presented before Xue Qingyin alone.

The entire Xu family was sitting together.

Only Xue Madam and Xue Qingyin were considered “honored guests.”

Especially Xue Qingyin.

Who told her she had a “new” grandfather now?

The three words “Duke Zhao” were enough to make them tremble in fear.

“Qingyin, try this first.” Xu Qi eagerly picked up a dish for Xue Qingyin.

Gui Shi hurriedly asked from the side: “How is it?”

“Acceptable.” Xue Qingyin said.

These two words immediately caused the other members of the Xu family of the same generation to secretly sneer.

She was so difficult to please!

In contrast to the oppressive atmosphere in the Xue family, Xue Qingyin was being served by others. She tasted eight dishes lightly, then ate a plate of cherry cheese, the sweet and sour of the cherries and the fragrance of the cheese filling her mouth.

Then, surrounded by everyone, she got up from the table and was escorted back to her courtyard to rest.

Xue Qingyin and Xue Madam moved into the Xinyi Pavilion.

Xue Madam had lived in the Xinyi Pavilion before her marriage. At that time, the Xu family was still in Huainan Dao. After moving to the capital, they rebuilt the house they had lived in, exactly the same, in the capital.

After Xue Madam walked in, she felt both familiar and strange.

She touched Xue Qingyin’s head and told her to go to rest.

“When I was young, I always slept on that couch. Your grandmother would secretly come in and cover me with a blanket.” Xue Madam pointed to the long couch inside the room.

After Xue Qingyin went to rest.

She turned to Xu Qi and said: “I am married after all, and I won’t live here for free when I come back. I will pay eighty taels of silver to the family every month, just for food expenses. We will take care of everything else ourselves.”

Xu Qi awkwardly said: “What are you talking about? This is your own home, why pay money?”

Madam  Xue just smiled and said nothing.

She only now realized that after leaving the Xue family, there were not many places she could go. It seemed like nowhere belonged to her.

Fortunately… with her daughter by her side, any place could be home.

Over here, Xue Qingyin turned over on the couch but couldn’t sleep.

She had to get up and lean against the window to look out… Xue Madam was not there, the courtyard was very quiet.

She must be “catching up” with the Xu family.

Just as she was thinking about what she should do today, whether to go to the silk shop… a servant from the Xu family cautiously knocked on the door and said: “Miss, someone has come from the estate in the suburbs, specifically looking for you.”

Xue Qingyin immediately got up and opened the door: “Lead the way.”

She thought, they found the Xu family so quickly?

They are smart, not just waiting at the Xue family.

Xue Qingyin stepped out the door.

Only to see a carriage parked outside the Xu family’s gate.

Looking at the side of the carriage, it was a familiar face.

She exclaimed in surprise: “Why is it you?”

The young general also smiled: “We are all from the estate.”

Xue Qingyin nodded: “That’s true.” Then, she couldn’t help but look at the lowered carriage curtain.

Du Hong Xue was standing outside, and who was inside was obvious.

Xue Qingyin waved her hand, signaling the Xu family’s servants to retreat.

The Xu family’s servants took a few more glances, still not daring to leave.

“What are you afraid of? They are all family.” Xue Qingyin said to the Xu family’s servants, “I’m going to take care of things on the estate, why would you follow me?”

Only then did the Xu family’s servants retreat.

And Xue Qingyin walked forward in two steps and unceremoniously lifted the curtain.

Sitting upright inside, holding a teacup, was… the King Xuan.

“Greetings to His Highness, King Xuan.” Xue Qingyin perfunctorily bowed.

King Xuan raised his eyes: “All family?”

Xue Qingyin whispered: “I’m just fooling him.”

As she said this, she grabbed the side of the carriage and got in.

“Why did Your Highness come?” Xue Qingyin wondered, “I guessed it was Your Highness, but I didn’t dare to think.”

After all, she couldn’t figure out why King Xuan had to come today.

“Don’t you want Liu Xiuyuan anymore?” King Xuan asked lightly.

Xue Qingyin suddenly remembered: “Of course I do! I’m still counting on this gentleman to write a menu for me soon.”

Du Hong Xue leaned in and said: “I’ll take you to see Liu Xiuyuan now.”

“So you came to take me to see him? But there’s no need for Your Highness to go to such trouble. Just have General Du take me there.” Xue Qingyin was very understanding.

Du Hong Xue repeatedly said: “I’m not worthy of being called a general.” His position in the army was that of a general manager, so others often called him “General Steward Du,” which was different from the eunuch general manager in the imperial palace. The position of “Zongguan” in the army was very important.

As Du Hong Xue spoke, he couldn’t help but look at King Xuan’s expression.

He thought, why is Miss Xue suddenly so unromantic today?

“You had a dispute with Xue Shi Lang because of the Duke Zhao’s family?” King Xuan suddenly asked.

This immediately diverted Xue Qingyin’s attention, no longer wondering why he came in person.

Xue Qingyin didn’t answer, just smiled charmingly: “Your Highness knows so much.”

King Xuan brushed it aside: “With a little attention, you can know.”

Xue Qingyin still smiled charmingly: “Thank you, Your Highness, for being so concerned about me.”

Her words were actually just a formality.

Just like saying to a leader, thank you for your concern.

But it sounded different to King Xuan’s ears.

King Xuan curled his finger, his fingertip pressing against the rim of the teacup more tightly. He asked: “Not sad?”

“Sad about what? Now, under the name of the Duke, I’m enjoying myself, pretending to be powerful.” Xue Qingyin said, her eyes full of vivacity.

King Xuan couldn’t help but stare at her eyes for a moment, then said lightly: “Aren’t you afraid of borrowing the name too much and offending the Duke’s family?”

Xue Qingyin said: “What can I do if I only have this one name to borrow? If Your Highness is willing to lend me another one, and we can take turns using it, that would be fine.”

Du Hong Xue outside heard this and widened his eyes.

This logic… it was the first time he had heard it! It was both fresh and bold!

“Then take it and use it.” King Xuan said nonchalantly.

Now it was Xue Qingyin’s turn to be stunned.

Ah? You’re really lending it to me?