Chapter 123 : Are You Two on a Blind Date?

The old man stood there in a daze, not sure how to react, even wondering if he had heard it wrong.

Xue Qingyin calmly said, “I hate people who deceive others. No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes. But if something goes wrong under your management, not only should you report it immediately, but you should also try to cover it up. That’s more terrifying than the mistake itself.”

She said this for the others in the manor to hear.

Xue Qingyin didn’t mention that the horse’s injury had nothing to do with the old man because that wouldn’t comfort him.

She simply told him, “Someone like you, who knows how to correct things promptly, is already doing very well.”

Xue Qingyin handed him two silver coins.

The old man didn’t dare to take them.

Xue Qingyin said, “Take them. You must continue to work diligently in the future. Even if you don’t dare to accept them, think about your family.”

The old man wiped his face and cautiously reached out to accept them, his joy unable to be hidden from his eyes: “Thank you, master! Thank you, master! This is enough to feed my family for half a year!”

The royal guards nearby frowned. They thought this might upset the others.

Looking around, it seemed they were right. The other servants were starting to feel envious.

At this moment, Xue Qingyin spoke again, “It’s not that you can receive silver just for making a mistake. What I just said was to encourage you to be honest and quick-witted. If you do something beneficial for the manor, you should know how to take credit and report it honestly.”

Xue Qingyin’s tone changed: “For example, those two who caught the thieves today, where are they?”

The two men looked delighted and immediately stepped forward: “We are here!”

Xue Qingyin said, “You two protected the madam in time today and captured the thieves. You deserve a reward. We don’t bully anyone, but if someone dares to make trouble, even if it’s the king, we cannot back down.”

The two men exchanged looks, their happiness even more evident, and they responded loudly: “Yes!”

Xue Qingyin immediately rewarded them, giving them more than the old man received.

Looking around at the other servants, most of them were now more envious than jealous.

After all, Xue Qingyin was showing them that if they made mistakes, they shouldn’t be afraid. Timely reporting and proper corrections would lead to rewards. And if they did something good, there would be even greater rewards!

The royal guards exchanged glances, silently impressed.

They had overthought things; the side concubine was handling the manor quite smoothly!

Xue Qingyin murmured, “I’ll have to go to the palace tomorrow again.”

The nearby servants showed worried expressions and asked, “Is it that Princess Wei who is trying to harm us?”

Xue Qingyin shook her head, “No, I’m going to report to them.”

The servants froze: “Huh?”

“You all need to stay vigilant these days. If anyone tries to meddle again… catch them! The more, the better.” Xue Qingyin clicked her tongue, “I just hope they don’t send anyone.”

More is better.

It’s better to have more, so we can cry and complain!

“Alright, nothing to worry about. Just keep an eye out. Our horses are precious and can’t die. A proper horse doctor might arrive in a few days,” Xue Qingyin said lightly.

Her ease naturally influenced the others. They all secretly sighed in relief, and even when they helped Xue Qingyin down the mountain, their steps seemed lighter.

Back at the manor, Xue Qingyin heard Madam Xue’s laughter from afar.

Madam Xue often got angry, but she always seemed to argue with Xue Qingyin.

Today was rare.

Xue Qingyin smiled and said, “Did you win at cards, Mother?”

Madam Xue beamed and waved her hand, “Come and see, aren’t I amazing?”

Xue Qingyin looked over.

It really was.

In just a short time, a pile of silver coins had appeared in front of Madam Xue.

Xue Qingyin smiled, “When we return to the city, you’ll have to buy me some food.”

Madam Xue waved her hand grandly, “Buy! Buy it all! What else do you want? Rouge and powder?”

Xue Qingyin shook her head, “I don’t need those anymore.” She then looked at Master Lin and the others.

Master Lin was definitely trying to please her mother. Was Mr. Ning and Mr. Liu Xiu Yuan’s card skills really that poor?

It wasn’t that Xue Qingyin looked down on her mother’s card skills.

It was just that when she first taught Madam Xue, her mother was really terrible at cards.

Xue Qingyin said, “Cards are just for fun, but don’t go overboard. Once the stakes get high, it turns into gambling.”

Master Lin smiled, “You’re exaggerating. We’re not lacking in silver.”

Xue Qingyin glanced at Mr. Ning.

Was Mr. Ning really not lacking money?

Well, he probably wasn’t. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have casually given away a Tai Shan stone as a gift.

“This card game is really fun!” Master Lin said repeatedly.

Xue Qingyin tilted her head and smiled, “Next time, we can set up a place on the manor just for playing. How does that sound?”

“A special place?”

“Yes, let’s call it a card room.”

“I like it!” Master Lin said, “I’ll definitely come often.”

Mr. Ning casually added, “I’ll come too.”

Master Lin thought that was strange, but couldn’t quite figure out what was odd.

Anyway, according to Mr. Ning’s personality, he shouldn’t have said such a thing…

Seeing that it was getting late and Xue Qingyin had to enter the palace tomorrow, she prepared to leave.

Naturally, Madam Xue was going with her.

Everyone left together.

Master Lin bowed to bid farewell, walked to the carriage, and said to Ning Que: “Please, Mr. Ning.”

Ning Que paused for a moment but suddenly turned around and walked up to Xue Qingyin. He lowered his voice and said, “Tomorrow… will the young lady and Madam be coming to the estate again?”

Xue Qingyin was puzzled. “Does Mr. Ning want to visit again tomorrow?”

Ning Que replied, “I will send someone to bring a Tai Mountain stone over tomorrow. I’m afraid the servants might not recognize its value, and it would be a shame if it gets damaged. It would be best if someone from the family is there.”

This is too enthusiastic… Xue Qingyin thought to herself in surprise.

Madam Xue thought for a moment and said, “I will come.”

Ning Que cupped his hands and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”

Madam Xue muttered to herself, “What trouble? It’s not like I’m the one delivering the stone.”

At this point, she suddenly had a sharp realization.

She thought: “The older the ginger, the spicier it is! She’s still much more perceptive than my daughter!”

This Ning person must have ulterior motives!

Madam Xue pretended to be casual and asked, “Does Mr. Ning have any sons or nephews?”

Could it be that he wants to arrange a marriage for my daughter?

Ning Que was slightly taken aback.

Now she’s asking about his family…

Ning Que replied respectfully, “I have a few nephews. One is an official in the court, and the others are still young and studying.”

Madam Xue asked again, “Have they all been married?”

Ning Que replied, “The family arranged their marriages early.”

Madam Xue thought, “Oh, so I misunderstood? But then what does he want?”

It can’t be that he himself…

Madam Xue asked, “Then Mr. Ning must have a virtuous wife, right? Why don’t you bring her next time to the estate? You can talk together.”

Ning Que quickly replied, “No! No! I… I am not yet married.”

Madam Xue responded, “Oh.”

So he definitely has ulterior motives!

In the Great Liang Dynasty, most people started looking at potential marriage partners when they were eleven or twelve, and by thirteen or fourteen, they were married.

This was because people at that time valued getting married before establishing a career.

Of course, the more important reason was that the average lifespan was short and infant mortality was high. If one didn’t marry early, they might die before having a successful heir.

That would mean their family line would be cut off!

For the people of the time, it would be more painful than death.

Someone like this, who still hasn’t married at his age…

Madam Xue thought: “Could it be that he has some kind of issue?”

Ning Que seemed to have noticed her thoughts and quickly added, “I grew up in a Taoist temple…”

Later, when the Xu family needed him, he entered the court as an official. Otherwise, he would still be a Taoist priest.

Madam Xue suddenly understood.

Since he was still a Taoist priest, of course, he couldn’t marry.

No wonder he’s dressed as a Taoist!

She had thought too much.

Being a Taoist priest, what kind of ulterior motive could he have?

Madam Xue smiled and said, “You should have said so earlier. I was thinking of having you sit down and do some divination for us.”

Madam Xue had already planned to visit the Taoist temple and ask for a talisman for Xue Qingyin.

Xue Qingyin had already made it a point to go with her to the Taoist temple.

Madam Xue saw that Ning Que really had a kind of ethereal, transcendent aura, with an outstanding temperament. Though he was a bit talkative, his character seemed impeccable.

Now, he was even offering to send them the Tai Mountain stone.

If they got along well, perhaps they could donate some incense money to his Taoist temple in the future.

Thinking this, Madam Xue asked again, “Mr. Ning, how is your Taoist practice? Is it profound? Can you draw talismans?”

Ning Que hesitated and said, “…I can, I suppose.”

He hadn’t practiced Taoist arts in many years. Would it be too late to pick it up again now?

Xue Qingyin glanced at Ning Que, then at Madam Xue.

What were they talking about?

It felt like they were arranging a marriage meeting.