Noble Lady

Then Qi Niang burst into tears of joy and walked out with tears in her eyes.

"Young lady is truly a good master that is hard to find even in a million miles." Watching Qiniang leave, Yuzhu sighed from the bottom of her heart.

"Stop talking nonsense and get ready to call Meimei over. I won't be seeing any guests for the next few days."

The day of the flower viewing banquet was getting closer, and she really didn't want to embarrass herself at the banquet, so she could only drag the master of painting to catch up on her studies.

Yuzhu: “Yes, young lady.

……

Due to the tight time schedule and heavy workload, Xue Chenyu closed the door to visitors and devoted herself to studying painting.

Apart from the food and soup brought in by the servants every day, no one else was allowed to enter or leave the room at will to disturb her study progress.

It was hard for Prince Cheng, who tried every possible way to send food and drinks to her room, and bought all the cakes and pastries in Shengjing City.

He also wrote her a small note every day to advise her, "Just do your best and don't make things too hard on yourself. No matter how you perform at the flower viewing banquet, I will make sure you become my Crown Prince's Consort."

Xue Chenyu initially wrote back, telling him not to worry, as she had her own plans.

After many times, he just asked the servant to reply and tell him not to write notes anymore.

In the end, she got so angry that she simply threw the note out, or threw out the person who sent the food along with the food.

"I've advised you, Prince, but you just won't listen." Xue Huai spread his hands helplessly.

I used to think that Prince Cheng was His Majesty's most beloved nephew, that he was of noble status and a descendant of the royal family, so I was extra careful when speaking to him.

After spending a long time together, I found that this future brother-in-law is just like other men.

When pursuing a girl, I always do things that make her upset.

"I just want to let her know that she doesn't have to work so hard." Prince Cheng also looked distressed.

Xue Huai shook his head and said, "The prince still has a misunderstanding about my sister. She works so hard, not because of the selection of a prince's consort for the flower viewing banquet."

"But she is going there to represent herself and the reputation of the Marquisate."

"Those who can attend the flower viewing banquet hosted by the royal family are basically the ladies of aristocratic families. If my sister doesn't even have any skills in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, she will not only be ridiculed, but the entire Marquisate will also be ridiculed."

"My sister is not only a picky and stubborn person, but she also cares about her reputation. Even if she doesn't want to be chosen as the Crown Prince's Consort, she will still fight for her reputation."

"She could clearly earn respect through her own efforts, but the prince kept telling her not to take it to heart and stop learning. Isn't this the same as telling my sister, 'It doesn't matter, it's embarrassing.'"

Xue Huai lowered his voice and leaned close to his ear, saying, "To be frank, if you continue to persuade me, be careful that my sister will be completely annoyed with you."

"You absolutely can't get completely angry with me!" Situ Zhen said firmly.

He thought seriously about what Xue Huai said, and then he suddenly understood.

"What you mean is that she wants to win respect on her own, rather than simply choosing the title of Crown Prince's Consort." Situ Zhen said, looking at the closed door.

"I was mistaken. If it was just for the position of the Crown Prince's Consort, then she wouldn't need to attend the flower viewing banquet. I wouldn't marry anyone else except her."

But since she was going there, she wanted to let those noble ladies see that although the Wu'an Marquis Mansion was not as well-established as their noble families, the girls raised there were definitely not bad either.

"Xiao Huai, I have something else to do, so I won't bother your sister anymore. I'll have someone bring the nourishing soup over later, so I'll be leaving first."

"Farewell, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Xue Huai saluted half-jokingly.

Wait until he is far away.

Xue Huaicai poked his head towards Xue Chenyu's room and said, "Sister, the prince has finished his work and can come out now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the tightly closed door creaked open a crack.

Then a head with two braids popped out.

It feels a bit sneaky.

"Sister..." Xue Huai showed a helpless yet doting smile, "Did you hear what the prince said just now? Are you satisfied with what he said?"

"I heard it..." I'm quite satisfied. But I can't tell you, lest you get too proud.

Xue Chenyu paused, then said seriously, "Thank you, Xiao Huai. It's really hard for you. Now you can talk about big principles with others. And you talk pretty well."

Xue Huai didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Sister, you don't sound like you're praising me."

Seeing that Prince Cheng had indeed walked far away and did not come back, Xue Chenyu walked out boldly with confidence.

"Xue Xiaohuai, you've grown up now and become a sensible child. There are some things I don't want to hide from you anymore."

Xue Chenyu patted his upper arm solemnly and said earnestly, "Little Douding is related to the fate of our entire mansion. I'm leaving him in your care. You must take good care of him for my sister."

"If he says anything strange or incomprehensible to you, be sure to tell me immediately."

Xue Huai: ? ? Didn’t you say you had something to tell him? What does this have to do with Xiao Douding?

However, Xue Chenyu didn't intend to continue explaining the problem to him. She just laughed a few times and went back to her room to continue practicing hard.

Xue Huai: "..." It seemed like he asked something, but it also seemed like he didn't ask anything.

big head.

He rubbed his face, gave a helpless smile to Xue Chenyu's closed door, then turned around and left with his hands behind his back.

Look at the way he walks leisurely in the garden, he already has the demeanor of a great scholar.

As soon as he returned to the academy, the little boy Zhang Songqing pulled him aside and said mysteriously, "Something big is about to happen. It's a very big thing, and it will affect..."

He paused abruptly, and looked Xue Huai up and down for a moment before continuing, "Your family might be in danger of collapse."

Xue Huai's heart skipped a beat.

Although he subconsciously felt that these words were nonsense and alarmist, he still couldn't help but feel secretly shocked.

"Master Zhang, are you kidding me?"

"How can you laugh about this kind of thing?" Zhang Songqing said with a serious face.

Xue Huai thought of his sister's instructions and felt a chill in his heart. "Then, could Master Zhang Xiao explain it in more detail?"

The little kid pouted and flipped through the book in his hand. He flipped through several pages before finding a page.

"Hey, what wall is causing the trouble?"

Xue Huai leaned over to take a look, "The trouble started... internal strife?"

Troubles arise from within the family, doesn't that mean the disaster of the Marquis's Mansion arises from within the Marquis's own family?

"Right, right, right. The other day, Master was talking about the Ji clan's plan to attack Zhuanyu. Confucius said, '...I fear that Ji Sun's worries are not in Zhuanyu, but within the walls of the palace.' That's the phrase he was referring to: 'Misfortune arises within the palace.'"

Xiao Douding scratched his head again after saying this, "I don't have any brothers or relatives. Why do some people who have brothers and relatives not cherish them?"

"What do you mean by brothers and relatives?" Xue Huai wanted to ask more clearly, but the little kid refused to say anything more.

He could only give up.

Father and mother only have three children, and their elder sister will not harm him and Luoluo, let alone the Marquis' Mansion, so she is not talking about the three siblings.

So, the trouble comes from within the family, and the brothers and relatives who are not cherished should be referring to my father's brother, that is, the second uncle who left Beijing early?

Xue Huai did not dare to delay, so he called his long-time attendant to accompany the little kid, and then he got up and went to Furongju.

Xue Chenyu was still surprised that he came back, but after hearing what he said, her expression immediately became serious.

"Xiao Huai, Taoist Priest Zhang is a real talent, and he won't just talk nonsense."

Xue Huai nodded, "What do you think, sister?"

"This matter must be dealt with seriously. Otherwise, if we are not careful, it is possible that, as Master Zhang Xiao said, disaster will arise from within the family, and the family will be destroyed."

"Go see A'niang and tell her everything that Taoist Zhang Xiao said. I will also send someone to find out the news immediately."

"I understand."

Xue Huai left quickly. Xue Chenyu also quickly ordered Qiu Hua to find Su Ying, "Sun Ping'an is still in the Jingzhao Prefecture's prison. Ask Su Ying to take you to see Fan Wenxuan, and she will take you to see Sun Ping'an."

"Remember, you must get the information out of Sun Ping'an."

"Don't worry, young lady. Other servants are not good at this. It's just a few questions. I have plenty of ways to deal with it."

Xue Chenyu asked her to come closer to his ear and gave him a few careful instructions before letting Qiuhua leave.

She had suspected before that when Sun Ping'an came to Beijing, he would not put all his hopes on He Minzhi alone.

It’s not that she wants to praise Sun Ping’an, but a selfish person like Sun Ping’an will definitely find a way to leave a way out for himself instead of putting all his eggs in one basket.

"It's really a turbulent time." Xue Chenyu looked at the door that closed again, and then looked at the painting on the table. She no longer had the previous concentration.

"Miss, don't worry. Why don't you let me pass a message to Junior Master-Uncle about this matter? He might have a good solution," Weng Xuemei suggested.

Xue Chenyu subconsciously wanted to refuse her, but then she thought about how she had been busy practicing painting and had been angry with him recently, and had hardly met Prince Cheng.

"Send him a message and tell him I'll see him later."

"Great!" Weng Xuemei was overjoyed.

Before, Junior Master said that she, the undercover agent beside the girl, was useless. Now she has finally played a role, right?

When he comes, I'll have to bargain with him.

At this moment, Xue Chenyu had completely lost the desire to cram her painting skills.

……