Chapter 31 : Just a Little Girl

When Concubine Wan spoke these words, both the Duke of Zhao and Princess Jinque quickly showed a trace of distaste in their eyes.

“One matter at a time,” the noblewoman uttered these five words.

Concubine Wan, understanding the meaning, fell silent and did not bring it up again.

Xue Qingyin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Everyone was eager to act as matchmakers for her, and if permitted, she could marry four men, no problem.

But isn’t this against social norms?

Then it’s better to forget it.

Each of them seemed far from easy to deal with.

The noblewoman softened her tone and asked the Duke of Zhao gently, “Xiancheng, what do you think?”

“Xiancheng” is probably the Duke’s courtesy name.

By addressing him this way, it shows a close relationship.

The Duke of Zhao lowered his head, bowing slightly, and spoke in a low voice: “This matter should have been asked of A Feng, but unfortunately he has a wooden head, and even when he’s in pain, he never speaks… It would be better to ask Miss Xue if this treatment helps settle her heart.”

At that moment, everyone turned to look at Xue Qingyin.

She licked her lips but did not dare to speak.

Fortunately, at that moment, King Xuan suddenly spoke, his tone indifferent: “She’s just a little girl, what does she know about good and bad?”

“True,” the Duke of Zhao agreed and turned away.

“Today, you came here to seek justice for A Feng, and Xiancheng has no other requests,” the Duke of Zhao bowed to the noblewoman.

The noblewoman finally smiled again. Slowly rising, she said, “Yes, it’s springtime. Why waste time here? Xiancheng, come with me, let’s enjoy the flowers, take a boat ride on the lake, and play chess while drinking wine. Wouldn’t that be delightful?”

The Duke of Zhao glanced back at Xue Qingyin and nodded in agreement, following the noblewoman.

Concubine Wan also rose and said, “Remember to send Miss Xue home safely. Be careful on the way; don’t let her bump into anything.”

Her words sounded concerned.

But Xue Qingyin found them rather sarcastic.

Once most of the people had left, the head steward of the Duke of Zhao’s residence came forward: “I’ll send Miss Xue home.”

“No need, I’ll handle it,” Princess Jinque interjected.

The steward hesitated, his face showing doubt: “This…?”

Princess Jinque sneered, “What? Do you suspect me? Didn’t we already make it clear? Miss Xue was startled at my residence, and I need to properly comfort her.”

“Of course not, Your Highness. Please,” the steward took a step back in compliance.

They weren’t enemies with the princess’s residence, so there was no need to oppose her wishes.

Xue Qingyin lowered her eyes, obediently following Princess Jinque as they walked out.

After walking some distance, Princess Jinque suddenly spoke, “You must have been scared today?”

Xue Qingyin thought for a moment: “Not really. I was initially scared, but seeing the princess and the Duke of Zhao, who is a kind person, I wasn’t too afraid.”

Princess Jinque laughed: “The Duke of Zhao is a kind person?”

She shook her head repeatedly, thinking that Xue Qingyin didn’t judge people very well. She had previously called King Xuan a noble gentleman, and now she called the Duke of Zhao a kind person.

However, she really appreciated Xue Qingyin’s comment about trusting her.

It was rare to see such trust.

“Why didn’t you mention King Xuan?” Princess Jinque asked with a smile.

Xue Qingyin responded, “Hmm. I didn’t know King Xuan was there until he spoke.”

“And then?”

Xue Qingyin muttered to herself, wondering why Princess Jinque was suddenly asking so many questions.

But she obediently answered, “Then I felt more at ease.”

Princess Jinque chuckled: “Hmm… When the young master from the Duke of Zhao’s residence rushed toward you, King Xuan knocked over his tea cup.”

“Ah?” Xue Qingyin thought back.

She seemed to have heard something break at that time.

“King Xuan probably wanted to come to your aid, but when he saw the young master call you ‘A Niang’ (Mother), he just sat back down,” Princess Jinque shifted her tone, “No wonder King Xuan came.”

Xue Qingyin looked up.

Sure enough, King Xuan was walking toward them.

“Concubine Wan must be favored by the Emperor. Today, she passed through this incident so lightly. What’s a little face lost?” Princess Jinque couldn’t help but complain as King Xuan approached.

It seemed that Princess Jinque had a longstanding grudge with Concubine Wan.

Xue Qingyin couldn’t help but worry for her. Could she really speak so directly?

The noblewoman was still nearby.

Although this remark was directed at Concubine Wan, in the noblewoman’s ears, it seemed like a complaint about his unfairness.

“Was it really so insignificant?” King Xuan stopped in his tracks.

Princess Jinque hesitated: “What does His Highness mean?”

King Xuan didn’t continue speaking.

Princess Jinque didn’t dare to press further.

Compared to the noblewoman, she seemed more afraid of King Xuan. Yet, at the same time, she found him a very reliable figure.

Xue Qingyin thought to herself: The royal family’s methods are deep; I want to go back to the countryside.

King Xuan suddenly turned his gaze to Xue Qingyin and spoke slowly, “Today, the Duke of Zhao spoke on your behalf out of kindness, but he has been in a high position for too long, forgetting that pushing you to the front is not a good thing.”

Xue Qingyin quickly responded: “I understand. When King Xuan interrupted earlier, it was actually for my benefit. If I had answered the Duke of Zhao, saying whether I was satisfied with the outcome, it would have given people something to gossip about and upset that noblewoman.”

King Xuan nodded in agreement: “Hmm.”

He didn’t speak further.

Xue Qingyin was surprised.

Did King Xuan come over just to say that?

Why?

Was he worried that she might misunderstand his earlier comment “She’s just a little girl,” and think he was looking down on her?

Princess Jinque suddenly sighed: “King Xuan is indeed thoughtful. I let my temper flare and didn’t consider Miss Xue at all.”

Xue Qingyin smiled: “But I have the box of treasures the princess gave me.”

She smiled, her eyes slightly squinting in delight.

Seeing this, Princess Jinque released the breath she had been holding and laughed: “As long as you like it, come to my residence another day and pick out what you like.”

After saying this, she led Xue Qingyin ahead.

Princess Jinque personally escorted her back, leaving everyone in the Xue family quite shocked.

Wasn’t she supposed to be taken by the Duke of Zhao’s residence?

How did the princess end up sending her back?

Princess Jinque rolled up the carriage curtain and smiled at Madam Xue: “Miss Qingyin’s temperament is just to my liking. Today, meeting Madam, I realize it’s a family trait, with your graceful and elegant heart.”

Who wouldn’t love a compliment?

Moreover, this praise came from Princess Jinque, whose reputation in the capital was notorious for being difficult to please!

Madam Xue couldn’t help but smile, despite trying to hold her composure.

Graceful and elegant…

She was blushing.

Madam Xue escorted Princess Jinque out.

Once she left, Madam Xue grabbed her daughter and urgently asked, “Is it possible they want to betroth you to the young master of the Duke of Zhao’s residence?”

Xue Qingyin shook her head: “What are you talking about?”

She began to speak nonsense: “Of course, it’s because your daughter is clever and charming, everyone likes me. They just invited me to the Lotus Garden for some tea. It’s such a small thing.”

Madam Xue: “…”

That explanation didn’t make sense.

The Duke of Zhao’s residence didn’t have any daughters, so they shouldn’t have been the ones to invite Xue Qingyin.

“Were they difficult with you? Did they make things hard for you?”

“No.”

Madam Xue, thinking hard, was startled and blurted out: “Could it be that the Duke of Zhao is interested in you?”

Xue Qingyin laughed: “Pfft.”

Meanwhile, back at the Duke of Zhao’s residence, the empty-handed He Songning had just returned.

Upon hearing Madam Xue’s words, he almost tripped and stumbled.