Xiao Yun gifted Wang Qingyao a pair of exquisite embroidered shoes. As he was about to escort her back to the Wang family residence, he remembered he had something else for her, but it was at the Ding'an Prince's manor.
"What is it?" Wang Qingyao asked curiously.
"On the day of the Ten Thousand Surnames Market at Da Xiangguo Temple, I saw you looking at the animals for sale outside the temple several times, so I bought you a puppy. I intended to train it at the manor for a few days, but the person taking care of it was careless and it ran away."
Wang Qingyao blinked her eyes. "Then you want me to go back to the manor with you..."
Was it to give her dog fur?
"I just suddenly remembered today. If you need to find me, you have no messenger. I happened to run into you today, and it's nothing urgent. But if it were something important in the future, it would take too much time like this."
Wang Qingyao nodded in agreement.
"I have eagles in my courtyard that I've raised for several years. They are very intelligent. You can take one back. If you need me for anything, just write a letter and let it deliver it. It's convenient and fast."
An eagle? Wang Qingyao's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly. "Good, good, good."
She had raised cats and dogs, but never an eagle!
Was this considered a communication tool provided by the boss?
The carriage moved at a steady pace. Wang Qingyao, immersed in excitement, suddenly remembered something. "Um... should I buy a gift the first time I visit your home? Last time you came to my house, I saw you bought a lot of things."
A faint smile curved Xiao Yun's lips. "No need. This isn't a formal visit. Besides, you're a young lady, and it's not the same as me. If it's a formal visit next time, just bring a few embroidered items you made yourself."
Embroidery again...
Wang Qingyao put her hand to her forehead.
Xiao Yun: "Ah, sorry, I forgot you can't..."
Wang Qingyao waved her hand, not taking it to heart. She remembered reading ancient novels where young ladies visiting elders would present embroidered sachets, handkerchiefs, or headbands.
What should she give in the future?
It was a headache...
The carriage did not stop at the entrance of the Ding'an Prince's manor. It proceeded through a side gate all the way to the main gate before Xiao Yun signaled Wang Qingyao to alight. A matron stepped forward to greet them. Xiao Yun responded and led Wang Qingyao towards the inner courtyard.
Xiao Yun was the Ding'an Prince, and his residence was clearly the largest and most spacious in the manor, almost the size of a small park. The interior was decorated in a style reminiscent of Jiangnan water towns, with many flowers, trees, and a small bridge over a flowing stream, creating a particularly picturesque scene.
Wang Qingyao admired the surroundings with a satisfied expression. She turned to Xiao Yun and asked with anticipation, "I like this place. Will we still live here after we get married?"
"Cough, cough, cough." Xiao Yun suddenly coughed, Wang Qingyao's directness catching him off guard.
"Why are you coughing?" Wang Qingyao quickly helped him to sit on a stone bench in the courtyard. He was perfectly fine, but when he tried to stand up to explain, she pressed him down.
Yuan Bao, playing her part, fetched a pot of tea from inside. Wang Qingyao personally poured it for Xiao Yun and asked with concern, "Are you feeling better?"
"I just choked on some saliva. You don't need to be so nervous."
"Better safe than sorry. Some people have even choked to death on saliva!" She displayed the patience and sincerity of serving a VIP client. "Your health and safety are my greatest happiness!"
The young maids sweeping the courtyard peeked out, thinking: The future Princess Consort seems to really like the Prince!
Yuan Bao, accustomed to such displays, remained unfazed.
Xiao Yun turned his face away shyly, enjoying the moment for a bit before turning back with a serious expression. He brought his index finger and thumb to his lips and blew hard.
Under the long, sharp whistle, a gray shadow circled and landed on his outstretched arm.
Wang Qingyao looked and saw that this was hardly the majestic eagle she had imagined. It was clearly a large sparrow!
She was greatly disappointed.
Xiao Yun chuckled. "This is a sparrowhawk. It's smaller than a regular eagle. Don't underestimate it because of its size; it's very fast and can catch small animals like rabbits and snakes."
The sparrowhawk, flattered by the praise, proudly raised its head and chirped a few times.
Wang Qingyao exclaimed, "It's so smart!"
"Lightning, go!"
At Xiao Yun's command, Lightning flew to Wang Qingyao's shoulder. Wang Qingyao glanced at it, a little worried. "Will it listen to me?"
"Yes, I've spoken to it."
Wang Qingyao: "..."
Xiao Yun instructed someone to retrieve a jade whistle from inside and give it to her. "Lightning is free-range, so you don't need to worry too much about it. Just prepare some dried fish and meat for it as snacks. It will find its own places to sleep and play. If you want to find it, just blow this jade whistle, and it will come to you."
Wang Qingyao hung the jade whistle around her neck and blew it gently. It produced a long, sharp sound, very similar to Xiao Yun's whistle with his fingers.
Lightning turned its large eyes to look at Wang Qingyao, its expression seemingly saying, "Is this person silly? I'm standing on her shoulder, and she's still blowing a whistle."
Wang Qingyao: "..."
Having received Lightning, Wang Qingyao felt no need to linger at the Ding'an Prince's manor. She was particularly afraid that someone might suddenly appear and tell her the Dowager Princess wanted to see her, or the Old Dowager Princess wanted to see her.
So, as soon as Xiao Yun mentioned taking her home, she bolted like a rabbit.
Unfortunately, despite their haste, they encountered Xiao Yun's family on their way out.
It was a handsome man, about 1.8 meters tall.
He wore a dark brocade robe, his hair tied with a jade crown. His posture was upright, and as he walked, one hand was behind his back, the other hanging by his side, his expression stern.
Upon seeing Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun, his expression didn't change much. He paused his steps and his gaze fell on Xiao Yun's face.
"Is the money enough?"
Xiao Yun: "Yes."
The man then gave a "hm," gave a slight nod to Wang Qingyao, and continued on his way.
After training during this period, Wang Qingyao's clairvoyance had become adept. She could consciously refrain from looking at inappropriate places, leaving people with at least their underwear. Even so, this gentleman's broad chest and abdominal muscles still made her nose bleed.
"You're bleeding from your nose again." Xiao Yun was used to it.
Wang Qingyao wiped the blood from her nose with a handkerchief and asked, "Who is that? Your brother?"
"My younger brother."
"Ah?"
Xiao Mo was an adopted son of the Xiao family, only two days younger than Xiao Yun.
He was reportedly adopted from a collateral branch of the Xiao family. He had been raised like a legitimate young master alongside Xiao Yun, in case Xiao Yun were to pass away and the manor needed a man to support it.
"He looks more like your older brother," Wang Qingyao said with a smile.
Xiao Yun's lips curved upwards. "Everyone says so."
...
Lengxiang Courtyard.
"I'm back! Look what good things I brought!"
Wang Qingyao walked into Lengxiang Courtyard with light steps, intending to show off Lightning to Yin Zhu and Zhi Zi. However, she saw Yin Zhu rushing to meet her.
"Miss, something bad has happened. Dong Mei is in trouble. The Old Madam wants to see you in the First Madam's courtyard as soon as you return."
The Old Madam was wary of Wang Qingyao. Even though she was now a county princess and about to become a princess consort, she did not allow her to step into her Rongtang Courtyard.
"What happened to Dong Mei?" Wang Qingyao asked as she extended her arm. Lightning flapped its wings and flew to a parasol tree in the courtyard.
Yin Zhu was startled and froze for a moment. "What is this, Miss?"
"It's a sparrowhawk, a gift from the Ding'an Prince. Continue, what happened to Dong Mei?"
"Not long after you left, Dong Mei also quietly went out... We followed your instructions and didn't stop Qiu Ju or Dong Mei from doing anything, just watched them secretly. As a result, she went to the Eldest Young Master's courtyard..."
Wang Qingyao frowned. "Why did she go to the Eldest Young Master's courtyard?"
Yin Zhu's face flushed, and she stammered, finding it difficult to speak.
Zhi Zi spoke coldly from the side, "To climb into his bed." Her voice was like that of an emotionless machine.
Wang Qingyao gasped in surprise. She had thought Qiu Ju or Dong Mei would try to get close to Wang Da, but she hadn't expected them to prefer younger men over older ones and set their sights on the Xiao family's Eldest Young Master!
Nian Mama stepped forward and pulled Wang Qingyao aside, whispering, "The Eldest Young Master is different from the Master. The Old Madam is willing to indulge the Master in taking seven or eight concubines, but the Eldest Young Master cannot have even one. When you get there, do not be confrontational, and do not protect Dong Mei. Let the Old Madam punish her as she sees fit. Do not be soft-hearted."
Wang Qingyao nodded. "I understand."