"What? Miss, are you telling the truth?" Ruhua's surprised voice echoed in the room for a long time. She stared at Zhao Pei in disbelief and asked repeatedly.
Zhao Pei said seriously: "Ruhua, would I joke with you about this? It's true."
“Miss! You really like it too...!” Zhao Pei hurriedly covered her mouth halfway through her words.
Zhao Pei was a little annoyed at her recklessness: "Keep your voice down, are you afraid that no one will know? Are you going to scream?"
Ruhua blinked and shook her head, and Zhaopei let her go. Ruhua pouted and said, "Miss, I always thought you liked the Sixth Prince. I didn't expect it was him."
Zhao Pei had heard others misunderstand this more than once, and was immediately confused: "Why did you think it was Sixth Brother?"
Ruhua opened her mouth, but didn't know how to explain. Maybe it was because the young lady and the Sixth Prince were close, she thought that the Sixth Prince was so kind to the young lady, the young lady would definitely be moved. Or maybe it was because of their personalities, the young lady and the Sixth Prince were more like a pair of happy enemies. How could Ruhua dare to say that, she just changed the subject: "Young lady, are you really going to give the jade pendant to him?"
Zhao Pei nodded: "Yes."
"Miss, aren't you a little too impulsive?" Ruhua frowned and tried to dissuade her. "After all... Miss, you don't have a close relationship with him, and you don't know what he thinks. Isn't it a bit..." unladylike to be so proactive
"But he sang "Xizhou Qu" with me that day!" Zhao Pei defended herself.
Ruhua explained mercilessly: "Miss, this is not a reason. He can't embarrass you in such an occasion. He won't refuse whether you are willing or not..." Seeing Zhaopei's angry eyes, Ruhua lowered her head and stood aside silently.
After a long while, Zhao Pei said in a deep voice, "What should I do? I just want him to know my thoughts and his thoughts at the same time. Whether it works or not... I won't force it..." Ruhua had never heard such deep sadness in Zhao Pei's tone, and felt sad for a moment. She suggested, "Why don't you embroider a handkerchief for him first and see how he reacts. If it works, you can give him the jade pendant. If it doesn't..." Under Zhao Pei's burning gaze, Ruhua paused and continued, "How could it be?"
"But... with my craftsmanship..." She vaguely remembered showing her embroidered mandarin ducks to her brother once, and her brother smiled and said, "This pair of sparrows is so lifelike."
Ruhua blinked her eyes and said, "Miss, it's enough to show your kindness. People with kind hearts will not despise it. I heard that the master will hold a family banquet in the mansion next month. It's a good opportunity..."
Zhao Pei pondered and nodded, her eyes sparkling instantly.
Prince's Mansion.
The young man in royal blue clothes strode through the corridor. The slightly conceited heroic look in his brows caused the passing maid to whisper. When he turned around, he saw the girl's blushing cheeks.
Xiao Lun chuckled and walked into the prince's study without knocking.
Xiao Tong was not the only one in the study. There was also a woman in plain clothes standing by the table. She leaned slightly to help Xiao Tong grind the ink, her gestures graceful and slow. Xiao Lun looked at her, and finally couldn't help but look at her again. The woman had beautiful eyebrows and eyes, like a blooming peony, and she was 50% similar to the girl in his mind. However, the one in front of him was cool and elegant, which was completely different from the fierce girl. The woman noticed his gaze, her cheeks slightly red, and she slowly bowed but didn't say anything, lowered her eyes and continued to grind the ink.
"Liu Zhen." Xiao Tong called him with a smile. Seeing that he was staring at the plain-clothed woman beside him, he said, "Qing Lan. Please leave."
The woman nodded, bowed and left. Xiao Lun stared at her until he could no longer see her. When he came to his senses, he asked Xiao Tong: "Brother, why haven't I seen this woman before? Is she new?"
"Yeah." Xiao Tong licked the tip of the pen full of ink and replied, "I bought it a few days ago. It's pitiful that she's all alone, and seeing that she can read a few words, I took her into the mansion to be a maid."
"Just a maid?" Xiao Lun asked teasingly.
Xiao Tong raised his eyes and glared at him: "What are you thinking about? Your elder brother is that kind of person."
Xiao Lun asked, "What's her name?"
"Lan Qing. Don't set your sights on her." Xiao Tong buried his head in official documents and continued. "She is not suitable for you."
"How does Big Brother know?"
Xiao Tong laughed with a hint of sarcasm: "How can someone as talkative as Liu Zhen be a good match with someone who can't talk?"
"Hmm? That Lan Qing is a mute?" Xiao Lun looked at the door with a little regret, "What a pity for a girl." He suddenly thought of the purpose of this visit and asked, "By the way, what did you ask me to do?"
Xiao Tong raised his eyes to look at him: "I now remember this. Here, this is for you."
Xiao Lun took the document from him, glanced at it quickly, and frowned: "Does your Majesty really want to do this? Three million taels is not a small amount. The Fushan Weir was built just a few years ago, and it is really a waste of financial resources..."
Xiao Tong said: "Father is a Buddhist, so it is reasonable for him to build temples. The decree has been issued, and it is useless for us to comment on it. We just need to think about where to raise so much cash."
Xiao Lun thought for a moment and asked, "How much is left in the treasury?"
"Forget it. I'll go and see for myself tomorrow and make a decision later." Xiao Tong rubbed his brows lightly, seeming a little tired. "Father is obsessed with Buddhism. One day, something bad will happen."
"Let's worry about it later. Now, brother, there is a tricky matter." Xiao Lun whispered in his ear.
Seeing his serious face, Xiao Tong smiled faintly: "Liu Zhen is talking about the emperor's edict to my seventh brother the day before yesterday."
"Of course it is this matter. Big brother, the military power of the six counties is in his hands now. This power cannot be underestimated. Big brother, you must deploy it as soon as possible." Xiao Lun was also very surprised when he heard the news that day. He really couldn't understand the significance of his father's move. Was it to contain the power of the prince? To deter him? But what if the seventh brother was interested
Xiao Tong understood what Xiao Lun was thinking and said, "Father has his own plans. Let's not speculate too much and just do our duty. Seventh brother is not that kind of person. If he is, it won't be too late to think of a countermeasure when the time comes."
Xiao Lun was still worried: "Brother, this is hard to guarantee, so we should prepare in advance. Even if it's just to protect ourselves, we can find a reliable person to act as the hidden line."
But who is it? Xiao Tong frowned and thought carefully, but saw Xiao Lun looking at the inkstone and laughing. He was shocked and said, "No, Qinglan is still a girl who knows nothing."
"I think she is quite smart." Xiao Lun said, and smiled slyly, "Or is it that Big Brother is reluctant to give her up?"
Xiao Tong looked at him with a smile on his face, but said resolutely: "No." Everyone else is fine, except Qing Lan. (To be continued)