Chapter 29 : The Duke of Zhao Was Greatly Surprised

The news of Xue Qingyin being invited by the Duke of Zhao’s residence reached Xue Qinghe’s courtyard.

“They said they’re here to invite Miss Xue, but they didn’t specify whether it’s the eldest or the second young lady,” Qiu Xin complained.

Although she knew that the second young lady rarely left the house and couldn’t possibly be familiar with anyone from the Duke of Zhao’s residence, she still felt it was unfair.

“Isn’t anyone going to ask about this?” she murmured.

Xue Qinghe turned a page in her book and lit some incense.

She hadn’t been able to focus on her reading for two days, and hearing Qiu Xin’s voice, she couldn’t help but say, “Do you think going to the Duke of Zhao’s house is such a good thing?”

Qiu Xin froze. “Why do you say that, Miss?”

“The Duke of Zhao has a son who is a fool, and he’s already over thirty,” Xue Qinghe replied, having heard of it herself.

Qiu Xin, realizing the implication, laughed and said, “Ha, ha, don’t tell me someone arranged a marriage for their young master, and it somehow ended up on our eldest daughter’s head?”

Xue Qinghe didn’t laugh and said, “It might not be the eldest sister.”

Qiu Xin’s face changed. “Could it be that the invitation really was for us, but the eldest lady, in her vanity, went herself?”

Xue Qinghe suspected so.

Otherwise, who would dare suggest such a marriage to the daughter of the Minister of the Household?

Qiu Xin slapped her thigh and laughed again. “Doesn’t that mean it’s just what she deserves, ha ha… The Duke of Zhao’s residence wouldn’t tolerate her refusal.”

Xue Qinghe frowned. “Qiu Xin.”

“Yes, yes, I shouldn’t have laughed so loud. I won’t say anymore. Miss, just read your book and don’t get upset. The eldest young master hasn’t been coming lately because he’s busy with the imperial exams,” Qiu Xin added.

Xue Qinghe thought for a moment. “True.”

With that, she could focus on her book again.

But after thinking it over, she still grabbed Qiu Xin’s arm. “Go tell my brother about the Duke of Zhao’s residence.”

“Why?”

“If Xue Qingyin really marries such a fool, it would be too tragic for her.”

“Miss, you’re too kind. Why worry about her? If she marries, it’s her own fault.”

Xue Qinghe lowered her eyes. “No need to argue with her. Besides, if something goes wrong, the madam will go crazy.”

Qiu Xin almost said that it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the madam to go crazy, but then she realized that if the madam went mad, it would only make their lives harder.

So, reluctantly, Qiu Xin went to see He Songning.

When He Songning saw Qiu Xin, he asked, “What happened?”

Recently, he had been neglecting Xue Qinghe.

He should send something to her room soon.

Qiu Xin explained Xue Qingyin’s situation.

He Songning thought to himself that Qinghe was truly kind-hearted.

As Qiu Xin went on, she couldn’t help but complain, “The eldest young lady isn’t careful at all. Why does she follow others in everything? Isn’t she favored enough at home? Why go after these things, only to make the second young lady and the eldest young master worry about her…”

These words were subtly hinting at something.

Normally, He Songning would have agreed with that view.

But today…

No one knew better than he did why the Duke of Zhao’s residence came calling.

The day before, Xue Qingyin had come to him crying, soaking his sleeve.

Although Xue Qingyin was willful, something so serious as almost losing her reputation was too much for a young girl. It was enough to scare her into tears.

…The real cause of the trouble was the Prince of Wei, not her greed.

He Songning stood up. “I’ll go get her. Qinghe, don’t worry about this.”

Qiu Xin was about to leave but He Songning stopped her.

“Wait,” he said.

Qiu Xin’s heart lifted. Was he going to send some gifts back to the second young lady?

“Slap yourself,” He Songning said coldly.

Qiu Xin was stunned. “What… what did you say?”

He Songning was merciless. “Twenty slaps, not one less.”

Qiu Xin stared at him, tears streaming down her face. “Young master…”

Earlier, she had thought she could rely on the young master’s concern for the second young lady to get closer to him, but now her dream was shattered.

She dared not defy him, so she lifted her hand and slapped her own face.

“It was too light,” He Songning said indifferently.

Qiu Xin bit her lip, looking at him in disbelief. Then, with a surge of grief, she slapped herself again, harder this time.

One slap, two slaps…

Qiu Xin dared not think about how people would look at her on the way home.

By the time the twenty slaps were done, both of her cheeks were numb, and she couldn’t even open her mouth.

“Don’t speak ill of your master in the future,” He Songning said before turning to leave.

Qiu Xin wiped her tears, her heart full of shock and anger.

Did that mean… he was defending Xue Qingyin?

Had the young master started protecting her?

Her hatred for Xue Qingyin surged to its peak.

She covered her face with her sleeve, stumbling as she hurried back.

When she saw Xue Qinghe, she immediately burst into tears. “I just wanted to be kind and tell you, but the young master thinks we were plotting against the eldest lady.”

She lowered her sleeve, revealing her swollen face.

Xue Qinghe was shocked. “What happened to you?”

“Everyone knows I serve the second young lady closely. I was afraid of embarrassing her on the way back, so I didn’t dare lower my sleeve,” Qiu Xin sobbed.

Xue Qinghe sat frozen, her heart turning cold.

Was her brother slapping her in the face?

She could no longer focus on her book and stood up to find He Songning.

“I’ll talk to my brother about this.”

“Miss, there’s no need. The young master told us not to interfere. He’s gone to bring the eldest young lady back,” Qiu Xin sniffed.

Those words sounded similar to what He Songning had intended.

But in this context, hearing them from Qiu Xin made it seem like He Songning was reproaching them for meddling.

Xue Qinghe slumped back down, her voice trembling. “…Alright, I understand.”

While Xue Qinghe was engulfed in sorrow, the atmosphere in the Duke of Zhao’s residence finally began to ease.

Someone from the main seat couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on here?”

The Duke of Zhao burst out from behind the screen, shouting angrily, “Afeng, that’s not your mother! Your mother passed away long ago!”

Zhao Xufeng collapsed onto the ground. “You’re lying! You’re a bad person!”

The Duke of Zhao was nearly driven mad.

He couldn’t believe this strange young girl was calling him “mother.”

Xue Qingyin spoke softly, “You can’t correct him. His longing for his mother has become more important than anything else.”

The Duke of Zhao calmed a little, his eyes red.

Xue Qingyin squatted down and softly told Zhao Xufeng, “Don’t sit on the floor.”

The Duke of Zhao couldn’t help but say, “If you speak to him like that, he won’t listen.”

Xue Qingyin continued, “Your clothes will get dirty, and they’re hard to clean.”

Zhao Xufeng suddenly shouted, “Cold hands!”

Xue Qingyin picked up on his words. “Yes, cold hands.”

Zhao Xufeng quickly stood up, frantically patting his clothes. “Not dirty, not dirty. Mother doesn’t wash, cold hands.”

The Duke of Zhao was greatly surprised. When had Ah Feng ever been this obedient?

But as he turned away, the tears he had been holding back finally flowed.

Choking up, he said to the noble person sitting in the main seat, “Zhenzhu raised Afeng alone, wandering south of the mountains, making a living by washing clothes. When we brought him back, his hands were covered in sores from the cold.”

The noble person sighed. “Xiancheng, I know your heart aches. The memory of your late wife is like an ocean, but you must take care of your health.”

After that, the noble person changed tone and spoke sternly. “Who dares to plot against the Duke’s residence? We will investigate thoroughly!”

The Duke of Zhao wiped his tears and turned to look at Xue Qingyin. His gaze softened.

Previously, Concubine Wan had accused her of being spoiled, but now, this spoiled girl, when facing his foolish son, was calm and unafraid, acting as though she were dealing with a normal person.

This made the Duke of Zhao feel a great deal more at ease.

“Miss Xue, please tell me in detail about what happened at the Princess’s residence that day,” the Duke of Zhao said warmly.

Xue Qingyin took a deep breath.

Here it comes, this is the highlight of today.