Chapter 45 : Does She Like Me?

The complex emotions were not just felt by He Songning alone.

On the other side, Duke Zhao had just returned from the palace, only to find that his son was missing.

Upon asking the servants, even the steward Zhao was nowhere to be found.

He sat alone at the table, feeling increasingly unsettled.

Fortunately, the steward sent someone to report that his son had gone to the outskirts of the city with Miss Xue.

He quietly asked the messenger, “Did the steward say anything else?”

The servant thought for a moment and said, “He also said that Miss Xue is very exceptional, smart, kind-hearted, capable, and has many brilliant ideas…”

Can someone be described with so many words?

The Duke interrupted him: “Alright, I understand.”

He knew his old steward well. For him to speak so highly of Miss Xue, she must be someone truly remarkable.

Thinking back to that day in Furong Garden… Xue Qingyin remained calm and composed.

Indeed, she was someone worth paying attention to.

The Duke remained silent for a moment and then said, “Prepare for it…”

The servant looked up, confused.

“Prepare for what?”

The Duke hesitated before continuing, “Recognizing Miss Xue as Afeng’s goddaughter… that’s not enough.” He paused and added, “There must be a proper ceremony.”

The servant nodded quickly, understanding what he meant.

“However…” The Duke hesitated again. “We don’t have any female relatives here, and I’m always concerned about what outsiders might say.”

The servant responded, “Unless… the young master takes another godson? That way, Miss Xue wouldn’t be the subject of gossip.”

The Duke fell silent.

He had once thought about adopting a son for Zhao Xufeng, but the people of the same clan were all from humble backgrounds, rising only because they followed him.

None of them were reliable enough.

In the future, if he passed away, there was a risk that the adopted son might mistreat Zhao Xufeng.

So, the Duke had stopped considering the idea.

Even the closest blood relations weren’t always trustworthy.

Let alone distant relatives.

It wasn’t until today that Xue Qingyin stirred up some hope in him again.

“Go prepare,” the Duke said in a deep voice.

At the villa on the outskirts of the city, Steward Zhao was with Xue Qingyin, meeting a stableman from the Xuanwu Army.

Ma Cao, about forty years old, had calloused hands and a slightly bent back. He knelt before King Xuan without daring to raise his head.

The room was silent.

Xue Qingyin could clearly hear his heavy breathing.

Ma Cao was terrified.

He never imagined he would one day stand before King Xuan.

He knocked his head heavily and then cautiously looked up, his voice hoarse, “Your Highness, I… I don’t know what I can do?”

Xue Qingyin responded, “There is much you can do… I heard from Steward Du that you have excellent horsemanship.”

“Yes… yes,” Ma Cao was flattered. When he heard the voice of a woman, he couldn’t help but think, this must be some princess or noble lady.

“Can you teach them both?”

“Both?” Ma Cao looked up and saw two people standing behind the delicate young woman.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Then I shall trouble you.”

“No… no trouble,” Ma Cao stammered, amazed at how polite the noblewoman was.

Xue Qingyin then sent the two stablemen from the villa to learn from Ma Cao, while she personally poured tea for King Xuan. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

King Xuan moved his lips, “Mm.” Then what?

He looked at her.

Xue Qingyin asked, not how to thank him, but instead, “Your Highness, will you be staying at the villa tonight?”

The deputy general was about to answer that they would be returning to the city soon, but before he could speak, King Xuan replied, “Mm.”

“Where will you stay?” Xue Qingyin asked.

“Zhi Yu.”

“Why not stay in the main courtyard?”

King Xuan asked in return, “What do you think?”

Xue Qingyin then realized.

It was because the owner wasn’t around.

Xue Qingyin said: “Then you should live in Qiu Shuangyuan, which is bigger. Zhi Yuyuan is a little small, and it is where my eldest brother lived.”

King Xuan paused.

From her tone, it seemed she wasn’t on good terms with her brother.

However, King Xuan himself was often at odds with others, so it didn’t seem strange.

The deputy general suddenly asked, “Miss Xue, will you be staying here as well?”

Xue Qingyin nodded, “Yes, for a few days, to relax.”

“Is something bothering you?” the deputy general asked with concern.

Xue Qingyin sat down and said, “It’s not big, nor small. It’s just that I suffered some injustice…”

Both the deputy general and Steward Zhao spoke almost simultaneously: “Who did this?”

“Who dares to make Miss Xue suffer?”

Xue Qingyin frowned slightly and said softly, “It’s inconvenient to say.”

You can’t beat He Songning, can you?

It would only make He Songning retaliate!

At this thought, Xue Qingyin glanced toward King Xuan again.

This one might be more reliable.

He’s a ruthless person too.

When King Xuan saw her staring at him without speaking, a thought quickly flashed through his mind—

Does she have something to ask of me, but can’t speak it?

“Your Highness, there is something…”

King Xuan paused.

…Hmm, it seems there is nothing she is too shy to ask.

“That day on the lake, I heard the Emperor plans to select the legitimate and secondary consorts for you and King Wei. Is that true?”

The deputy general quickly replied, “Yes, it’s true!”

Xue Qingyin nodded and asked, “Did they choose anyone that day?”

The deputy general didn’t dare to answer, only looking toward King Xuan.

Xue Qingyin also looked at King Xuan.

Even Steward Zhao was curious.

Zhao Xufeng sat there in confusion, and when he saw everyone looking at King Xuan, he also glanced over. But just after a brief look, he quickly covered his eyes in fear.

King Xuan said, “No.”

The deputy general was puzzled. Weren’t there rumors about the Lu and Qiao families?

Why was it “no”?

Miss Xue seemed particularly interested in this matter. The deputy general heard her ask again, “Will there be another selection in the future?”

The hall fell silent for a moment.

What is she trying to do?

King Xuan wondered.

Does she want to participate?

“Won’t there be another selection?” Xue Qingyin asked with a hint of disappointment.

“…There will be,” King Xuan replied solemnly.

“When will it be?” Xue Qingyin asked eagerly.

The other day, when he seemed uninterested, Emperor Liang didn’t bring up the issue, so the second round of “selection” was not scheduled.

King Xuan rubbed the armrest of his chair and said, “Three days from now.”

Xue Qingyin’s lips curved, her eyes sparkling, “Great! Can I attend?”

She asked so directly!

The deputy general’s eyes widened. Could it be that Miss Xue is fond of King Xuan?

He had never seen such an honest girl… and it was quite an interesting feeling!

King Xuan… How would he respond?

King Xuan, who was oblivious to the situation…

The deputy general’s curiosity reached its peak.

“You can go,” King Xuan said.

Xue Qingyin beamed, “It would be great if everyone could go.”

The sudden twist left the deputy general stunned.

Everyone?

Miss Xue… is she not worried about too many competitors?

King Xuan also paused.

What exactly is going on in Xue Qingyin’s mind?

This added a touch of intrigue to King Xuan’s thoughts.

He asked, “Who do you mean by everyone?”

“All the eligible young ladies in the capital.”

“Sure.” King Xuan nodded slightly.

It wasn’t a difficult thing to do. If she wanted it, then so be it.

“I want to stand in a place where I can hear everything everyone says…” Xue Qingyin began to make a wish to King Xuan.

After all, he is capable.

If it’s impossible, then that’s that; but if it’s possible, it would be best!

To his surprise, King Xuan was quite accommodating. “Sure.”

Xue Qingyin clapped her hands, “Wonderful! Your Highness, you’re amazing!”

King Xuan caught the gleam of excitement in her eyes, and for a moment, he felt a strange emotion rise in his heart.

He was sure it wasn’t a dark feeling, but one filled with light.

She… likes me?

The thought passed through his mind and then disappeared.

But what was Xue Qingyin thinking at that moment?

She was thinking about finding the person who framed Xue Qinghe. That would be simple enough.

Neither she nor He Songning had the ability to gather all the eligible ladies in the capital in one place.

But the Emperor had that power to make them gather willingly!

For example, selecting consorts for the two princes was a natural opportunity!

“Your Highness! The eldest son of the Xue family has arrived outside the villa, seems like he’s here to find Miss Xue,” someone reported softly outside.

He Songning is here?

Here to find me? Shouldn’t he be staying with his main consort?

Xue Qingyin froze for a moment, feeling somewhat incredulous.