Chapter 38: Stay Away From Him

Er frowned and shook her head: “I didn’t see it. I checked the carriage first, but I didn’t see the handkerchief fall. I looked along the way back, but I still couldn’t find it. Maybe a greedy maid secretly picked it up.”

“Even if she did, it’s not a valuable item. Since it’s gone, forget about it. Don’t worry about losing the handkerchief, there won’t be any trouble in the future.”

Er nodded: “Madam is right.”

Everything went smoothly today, this little incident was nothing to Yao, she didn’t mind.

From then on, Yao was busy with tailoring, occasionally going to the shop, and every day she would accompany Lin Shi to chat and have meals, her life was busy but fulfilling.

Occasionally, she would bump into Ling Xiao, either when he came to see Lin Shi, or when she returned to the mansion from the shop, or when she was at the teahouse, he was now busy with things, he had become more easy to talk to.

Yao felt a little unlucky whenever she encountered him.

Life was hard to come by, Yao was very content, she was already very satisfied with this kind of life with a goal.

“Madam, our shop is getting better and better, especially the pear-shaped brocade you personally designed, I heard that the palace is using it now, the Crown Princess loves it very much, so all the noble ladies in the capital are buying it now.”

Yao arrived at the shop, she first flipped through a few account books, she looked up and smiled: “It’s great, the shop’s profits have doubled, it’s all thanks to you, the silver, it’s also doubled.”

The maidservants were all surprised and speechless, they happily said: “Thank you, Madam!”

“This shop still needs you to work hard, after all, I can’t come here often, this shop makes money, we all benefit.”

“This servant will do her best!”

They were all more motivated.

Yao walked around the shop, she gave some instructions and made some arrangements, then she was ready to leave.

Qing He followed her: “Madam, Mo Gongzi came by a few days ago.”

“What?” Yao stopped.

“Mo Gongzi said that the book Madam entrusted him with has been printed and is now being sold in the bookstore, he asked Madam to come when she has time.”

Yao’s eyes lit up: “Really?”

“Mo Gongzi said he would go to the Marquis’ mansion to invite Madam, so he could only leave a message here.”

“Okay, I’ll go right away.”

Yao took Er and left the shop, she went straight to Mo’s bookstore, the bookstore wasn’t far away, it was two streets away, Yao didn’t even use a carriage, she took Er and walked over.

Er said in a low voice: “The Marquis has been misunderstanding Madam and Mo Gongzi, now if Mo Gongzi is seen by the Marquis, will he…”

“He’s been so busy lately, he’s been dealing with things everywhere, he probably doesn’t have time to care.”

Ling Xiao’s attitude towards her was good now, he didn’t criticize her for anything, he was actually quite accommodating.

This way, the misunderstanding could be cleared up, she didn’t have any enemies, so naturally, she wouldn’t pick on Mo Zichen.

They were just having a normal and innocent relationship.

“Oh, is this Madam here to buy a book?”

Yao saw a brand new book, “East Wind Ode,” on the bookshelf, she took the book and gently stroked the cover.

The shopkeeper suddenly realized something: “Madam’s surname is Jiang?”

Yao happily raised her eyes: “Yes, did Mo Gongzi tell you?”

“Yes, yes, I’ll go get him right away!” The shopkeeper hurriedly went inside.

Yao waited there, flipping through the book that had been copied word for word, her eyes were filled with warmth.

“Madam Jiang.” Mo Zichen hurried over.

Yao forced down the lump in her throat, she raised her head and smiled: “Mo Gongzi.”

Mo Zichen smiled: “I’ve been waiting for a few days, I thought you wouldn’t come.”

Yao apologized: “I’ve been busy these past few days, I haven’t had time to come to the shop, I just came today.”

“How do you like this book?”

Yao nodded repeatedly: “It’s naturally very good, I have to thank Mo Gongzi.”

“This book was just put on display, although the author is unknown, everyone who flips through it will stay for a long time, they can see the exquisite parts of this book, a good book is worth waiting for, just like good wine is afraid of deep alleys, Madam doesn’t need to thank me, I’m just a businessman.”

“Gongzi, you’re too kind.” Yao hugged the book in her arms, “If my husband were still alive, he would definitely be happy.”

Mo Zichen smiled: “This book is a gift for Madam, in the future, every time this book is sold, Madam will get a share of the profits, we’ll settle accounts every month.”

“Yes!”

Money was a trivial matter, as long as she could fulfill her husband’s wish, and prevent the manuscript from being left in a dusty corner, Yao was already very happy.

Yao flipped through the book again, she was full of joy.

Mo Zichen hesitated for a moment, then he asked hesitantly: “Madam, how have you been these past few days?”

Yao looked up and smiled: “I’ve been fine, of course.”

She noticed the worry hidden in his eyes, so she asked: “Why are you asking, Gongzi?”

Mo Zichen saw that her smile seemed fake, so he pulled the corners of his lips: “Nothing, I was just worried because the Ling Marquis brought you back, I was worried that you would be punished.”

Yao shook her head with a smile: “Gongzi, don’t worry, the Marquis didn’t punish me, you’re innocent, and you have nothing to fear, the Marquis is not a reasonable man.”

Mo Zichen pursed his lips, so Ling Xiao hadn’t done anything to her.

“What about the future?”

Yao looked at him, then said: “I’ll go back first, if Gongzi has anything else to do in the future, you can send a message to Qing He at the Ning Ge.”

Mo Zichen finally nodded: “Okay.”

“Yes.”

Yao turned to leave the bookstore.

But Mo Zichen called out: “Wait.”

“Mo Gongzi, is there anything else?” Yao turned her head.

Mo Zichen was silent for a moment, then he said: “Madam, it’s better to stay away from the Ling Marquis.”

Yao was stunned: “Why?”

Mo Zichen pursed his lips: “The Ling Marquis is powerful, he’s decisive and ruthless, he’s not easy to get along with, I’m just worried about Madam.”

Yao was speechless, he really wasn’t easy to get along with.

Yao smiled and nodded: “Okay, thank you for your concern, Gongzi.”

Yao returned to the Ning Ge, then took the carriage back to the mansion.

The carriage passed through the bustling streets, Yao was in the carriage, she suddenly remembered Mo Zichen’s last abrupt advice, she frowned slightly, she was a little confused.

Mo Zichen was a businessman, but he had a scholarly air, he was upright and honest, he wasn’t the kind of person who would gossip behind someone’s back.

Why did he suddenly mention Ling Xiao today?

The carriage slowed down, the coachman shouted: “Madam, we’re here.”

Yao bent down and got out of the carriage, she looked up, and saw a tall figure at the front gate of the mansion.

He was wearing a black robe with a silver crown, his eyebrows were clear.

Yao’s footsteps stopped, a thought suddenly popped into her head, why did she keep running into him so easily?

“Er?” she asked.

“The shop.”

Ling Xiao was holding a book in his arms, Yao told the truth: “I just went to Mo’s bookstore.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes were a little cold, he clenched his fist, then he restrained himself and loosened it, their relationship had eased a little, because of Mo Zichen, this irrelevant matter, it made her feel even more distant from him.

He was silent for two breaths, then he said calmly: “What about the bookstore?”

Seeing that he wasn’t angry, Yao also smiled, she handed him the book: “I was taking care of my husband’s manuscript, I asked Mo Gongzi to help publish it, I thought it would be difficult, but Mo Gongzi said that your husband’s articles have a special charm, so he took on this task, and the book has already started selling in the bookstore!”

Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed slightly, he took the book and flipped through it, he had been staying in his own courtyard these past few days, he was busy with things, so he didn’t know that she was taking care of her brother’s manuscripts.

“The shopkeeper of the bookstore said that although everyone who buys books knows the author, everyone who flips through it will stay for a long time, in time, your husband’s articles will definitely become famous! They won’t be left in a dusty box.”

Yao said happily, her eyes were filled with joy.

Ling Xiao looked at her happy eyes, his knuckles turned white as he held the pages of the book, he only smiled like this when he mentioned Ling Chen.

“Otherwise, he would never…”

“Marquis?” Yao saw that Ling Xiao didn’t respond, so she called out.

Ling Xiao shifted his gaze, he lowered his eyes to hide the gloominess in his eyes: “Let’s go back to the mansion.”

“The book…”

Before Yao could finish, Ling Xiao had already stepped into the mansion, he didn’t stop.

Yao could only forget about it, she would ask Er to buy a good copy from the bookstore later.

Ling Xiao went directly to his study, Jian obviously noticed that his master was in a good mood, he didn’t know why, he didn’t dare to follow him, he just stood guard at the door.

Ling Xiao sat down on the grandmaster’s chair behind the study desk, he flipped through the book in his hand.

He had read his brother’s manuscripts before, but his brother was frail, his energy was limited, and his articles were only scattered, there were many unfinished manuscripts, but he had organized these scattered manuscripts into a book, and he had even specially compiled a book.

It took a lot of effort.

He was very willing to do this for Ling Chen.

Ling Xiao’s eyes gradually darkened, a surge of restlessness surged in his chest, he reached out and pulled open the drawer of the study desk, the silk handkerchief was lying quietly inside.