"Why... why?" Qi Xiuran didn't understand and tried hard to calm the anxiety in his chest. He did so much just to make Qu Moying give in, but he hadn't opened his mouth yet, so why did Qu Moying refuse again
"Prince Qi, no matter what you need my help with, you shouldn't do this." Qu Moying said slowly.
"Why not... I just want to apologize to Miss Qu Si." Qi Xiuran really didn't understand.
"How did Prince Qi know I was here? How was Prince Qi watching me? Did he let other people in the mansion know? Prince Qi specially asked someone to prepare these tea and cakes for me. If all this fell into the eyes of someone with ulterior motives, what would the result be? Prince Qi would understand, right?"
Qu Moying said calmly.
Qi Xiu Ran narrowed his eyes. He was just too anxious, not really stupid. Some things no one could tell him. For a moment, he was only thinking about his own interests. He was a natural person and didn't think too much.
"Does Fourth Miss Qu suspect that someone is playing tricks on you?" Qi Xiuran's face darkened. He pondered for a moment and smiled bitterly, "Everyone in the mansion knows that Grandmother invited Fourth Miss Qu. I just asked someone to inquire about it. As for wanting Fourth Miss Qu's help, I deliberately asked someone to keep an eye on her and prepared tea and snacks early. I wanted Fourth Miss Qu to help me."
"What help do you need?" After hearing him repeat himself, Qu Moying finally asked.
"I heard that Fourth Miss Qu has a piano score, which originally belonged to my grandfather and was given to her now. I never knew that my grandfather had such a rare book. If I had known it earlier, I would not have disturbed Fourth Miss Qu at this time." Qi Xiuran smiled bitterly. If it weren't for the piano score, he wouldn't have gone to so much trouble.
This music score was given to him by his grandfather. Although he was only borrowing it now, he somehow felt that he owed Qu Moying something. He was trying to find some way to make amends. On the one hand, it showed his sincerity, and on the other hand, it was to express his guilt. However, he liked this rare music score too much. Even though he knew it was impolite, he still couldn't help wanting to borrow it to have a look.
"Prince, how did you know about this?" Qu Moying looked at Qi Xiuran calmly with her watery eyes.
"Everyone in the mansion knows." Qi Xiuran said hesitantly.
"But that is not a music score. Why do people in the mansion say it is a music score? It's just a book of miscellaneous stories." Qu Moying asked back.
The music score is only on the last few pages, so people who haven't seen it won't be able to know it.
"It's not a musical score, it's... it's a book of miscellaneous stories?" Qi Xiuran was shocked and said in a lost voice, "How... how is this possible?"
"Yes, how is this possible? It's obviously just an ordinary storybook, how can it be a rare piano score? Didn't your family say that this piano score has been passed down for a long time, but now it has been lost. It's not easy to get a copy like this one, so it must be the only copy in the world?"
Qu Moying asked seriously.
Qi Xiu Ran felt very embarrassed by this question, but actually this was what he had heard. Now after hearing Qu Moying's questions, he also began to feel confused.
"Don't you think this is strange, my lord? It's just a book of miscellaneous stories placed in the Madam's room. I flipped through it casually after lunch. The old Duke thought I liked this kind of miscellaneous book, so he gave it to me. There were a few people in the room at the time, all of whom were the Madam's and the old Duke's people. Would these people go outside and tell everyone in the mansion everything about their master?"
Qu Moying asked back.
Qi Xiuran
The fact that several "Manchus" knew about it already meant that there was something wrong.
Qi Xiuran was shocked, his expression gradually turned ugly, and finally he stood up and bowed deeply to Qu Moying: "Fourth Miss Qu, it seems that I was really rude."
"Your Highness, why don't you go see the Madam Dowager and explain everything to her clearly," Qu Moying reminded.
"It should be so." Qi Xiuran nodded seriously, turned around and strode away with the servant.
At the bottom of the stairs, the maid sent by the Madam Dowager looked at Qi Xiuran coming down from the pavilion with surprise. She never expected that her own young master was also upstairs at this time.
When did he go up there? Was it just when the maid came to ask him something
This... What should I do? Why did the prince appear here? I originally wanted to avoid him, but I didn't expect to see him here. The old woman was scared. How angry would the lady be when she knew about this
"Come here." Qi Xiuran nodded to her.
The old woman hurried forward: "Sir."
"Is there anyone else at grandma's place?" Qi Xiuran asked calmly.
"The county lady happened to come to see the lady and is now at her place." The old woman said, not daring to hide it.
"You just continue to stay here and take care of Miss Qu Si." After Qi Xiu Ran looked at her deeply, he said nothing more and went to the lady's courtyard with the servants and maids.
The old woman behind him looked at him eagerly, but ultimately did not dare to make any move.
"Grandma, Miss Qu might have big ambitions. She might not be interested in a small Yongning Marquis Mansion." Liu Jingyu poured a cup of tea, brought it to Madam Qi, and said softly.
"If she doesn't like the Yongning Marquis' Mansion, which other family does she want to take a fancy to?" Madam Qi asked anxiously, picking up the tea brought by her granddaughter, took a sip, and put it down heavily.
"Grandma, although you are anxious, it is just a guess and can't be taken seriously. Grandfather values Fourth Miss Qu very much and is willing to help her with everything. If you are unhappy about something, grandpa will definitely be displeased." Liu Jingyu advised in a low voice.
These words not only failed to persuade Madam Qi, but also aroused her anger. She looked unhappy and said, "If you like Fourth Miss Qu again, she is also a lady of the Qu family. Can she be regarded as his granddaughter?"
There were some things that Madam Qi was reluctant to tell her granddaughter. She just felt that the Fourth Miss Qu was ungrateful. Even if the old Duke liked her, she was just the daughter of a minister's mansion. In her current situation, could she really get a particularly good marriage
Although the Prince of Yongning was not a good match, he was already her best choice.
If she could marry well into the Yongning Marquis's Mansion, with the support of her own Qiguo Mansion, she could also ask her granddaughter to help her in the future, and she would surely be a secure wife of the Yongning Marquis's son.
But now, she doesn't want to be the wife of the Yongning Marquis's son. Which family did she choose? Could it be that she really chose her own family? Thinking of the words that had been spread in the mansion before, Madam Qi felt very uncomfortable. She was not afraid that Qu Moying would not like the Yongning Marquis's son, but she was afraid that Qu Moying would like her own family.
The granddaughter's words seemed to pierce his heart. The old Duke was determined to make up for what happened in the past and was willing to do anything. If Qu Moying really expressed her desire to marry his grandson, the old Duke would definitely agree.
But she didn't agree!
Not to mention that Qu Moying was not worthy of her grandson in any way, Qu Moying's identity alone made the lady shy away from him. Who knew when
When the time comes, Xiao Yue's background will be discovered. At this time, the farther away from Qu Moying the better, and it would be best if he has nothing to do with his family.
Although she also felt pity for Xiao Yue and the fourth young lady of the Qu family, it was just pity. Madam Qi felt that her old Duke had done his utmost to be kind.
Being able to save Xiao Yue's life at the beginning was considered a life-saving favor to Qu Moying. How could she repay kindness with enmity now and deliberately seduce her own grandson
What a good piano score! Don’t you know what your grandson likes
"Grandma, don't worry." Seeing that Madam Qi had been silent, Liu Jingyu gently advised, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."
"Of course nothing will happen! Ran'er..." Mrs. Qi realized that something was wrong when she said this, and she quickly shut up. It would be better not to tell her granddaughter about such things.
Her grandson actually ordered people to prepare tea and snacks for the fourth young lady of the Qu family. The lady knew about these things very early on.
And the more I thought about it, the more panicked I became, and the more annoyed I became.
My own grandson is not sensible. How can I mess with someone like the fourth young lady of the Qu family
Just now, she had repeatedly used the marriage to test Qu Moying's attitude. Hearing Qu Moying's repeated rejections, she became increasingly furious. She felt that the person Qu Moying had fallen in love with was her grandson, and that her grandson had fallen into someone else's trap early on and actually fell in love with such a blind woman.
No, she would never let Qu Moying enter her house.
"Jingyu, you think so too. She has a big plan, right?" Madam Qi grabbed her granddaughter's sleeve and said anxiously.
She thought so, but she couldn't discuss it with the old Duke. Her granddaughter happened to come over, so she asked her to hide inside and eavesdrop, allowing her granddaughter to figure out what was going on.
"Grandma, this... may be true, but I can't say for sure. If you don't have the idea of marrying someone higher up, under normal circumstances, the Yongning Marquis's son is indeed the best choice. Besides, the Yongning Marquis's Mansion has taken the initiative to come to your house and is very humble. If you are not stupid, you will definitely choose the Yongning Marquis's Mansion again."
Liu Jingyu analyzed softly, while comforting Madam Qi: "Grandma, don't worry, this matter has little to do with our family. You and Grandfather just want to do good things with good intentions. If it doesn't work, it can't be blamed on you."
"No, we must make sure she gives up the idea of entering our house." Madam Qi said coldly. She was afraid that the old Duke would find out about this. By then, the old Duke would force his grandson to marry Qu Moying even if he had to force himself.
How could this be possible? She must make Qu Moying give up such a terrible idea.
"Jingyu, go back first and let me think about it." Madam Qi shook her hand. She couldn't tell her granddaughter these things in detail and could only be vague.
"Grandmother, if you really have any difficulties, please tell me. Don't worry yourself. If Fourth Miss Qu really has feelings for others, I'm afraid it won't be so easy to get rid of them. I think Fourth Miss Qu is also a scheming person. She must have planned it long ago. You can see that she is left alone in the backyard of the Qu Mansion."
While Liu Jingyu was trying to persuade her, she also reminded the lady in a low voice.
Madam Qi became more and more uneasy, and even felt a little resentful. There were many ungrateful people in this world, but she had never seen a woman so ungrateful. She had to get rid of this trouble as soon as possible...
She listened to the old Duke's words and wanted to help out of kindness, but she had no intention of bringing this trouble upon herself...