The old consort dowager was very pleased with Wang Qingyao and gave her a jade bracelet from her wrist as a见面礼.
Why did elders always like to give bracelets?
Wang Qingyao glanced at the one from Madam Huang on her own wrist. If she hadn't refused, she would have received three bracelets today, including the one from Madam Xue.
She thanked the old consort dowager, wrapped the jade bracelet in a handkerchief, and handed it to Zhizi for safekeeping. She then presented the sachet. The old consort dowager politely praised her for being skillful and clever. Madam Huang then said with a smile, "Among these young ladies, the second daughter Wang has the best embroidery skills. Look at the butterflies embroidered here; they are so lifelike, as if they are about to fly out."
Wang Qingyao honestly replied, "It wasn't me who embroidered it; it was the maid in my room. My hands are clumsy."
Madam Huang looked at Wang Qingyao with surprise.
Generally speaking, the sachets and purses that noble young ladies presented to elders were mostly made by their maids, with the young ladies themselves only adding a few stitches. No one would seriously question it, and even if it were specifically brought up, the young ladies would readily accept the credit.
Wang Qingyao, however, was so honest and didn't seek any credit.
The old consort dowager glanced at Xiao Yun and said, "I think it's fine."
Wang Qingyao: "Huh?"
She didn't understand what she meant for a moment.
The old consort dowager continued, "It's fine as long as you can embroider handkerchiefs. In the future, embroider one for me too."
Wang Qingyao immediately understood. The old consort dowager knew she had embroidered a handkerchief for Xiao Yun!
Oh dear, this old consort dowager was truly mischievous!
After chatting for a while longer, Madam Huang said with a smile, "Yuan Jie'er, take the young ladies to stroll in the garden. By the way, Xiu Hu just gave birth to a litter of kittens a few days ago. You can go and see them if you're interested. You can also adopt one if you like."
Xiu Hu was a calico lion cat raised by Madam Huang, and Fang Yuan's favorite. As soon as Fang Yuan heard that Xiu Hu had given birth, she immediately jumped up in surprise, "Xiu Hu gave birth? So soon!"
Madam Huang gazed at her dotingly, "Who told you not to be home!"
Fang Yuan smiled sheepishly.
She beckoned the young ladies to go see the lion cat. Xiao Yun moved his feet. The old consort dowager said, "A Yun, A Mo, you two go too. Let the young people get to know each other more."
Xiao Yun happily followed. Xiao Mo did not move and said indifferently, "No, it's boring."
Xiao Yun stumbled upon hearing this. What did he mean? Did he make him seem like a woman who liked to go around and watch the excitement!
He turned back and looked at Xiao Mo with a mournful gaze. Xiao Mo curved his lips slightly and pretended not to see.
However, staying here to chat with a group of middle-aged and elderly women would be even more boring for him.
Xiao Yun turned his head and resolutely headed towards the young ladies.
The lion cat was kept in a small garden next to Madam Huang's courtyard. It could be reached by passing through a side door next to the ear room, without having to go around the main gate.
When Wang Qingyao heard that Xiao Yun was also going, she slowed her pace and deliberately lagged behind to wait for him. When Xiao Yun caught up, she quietly asked, "Have there been any leads on the kidnapping case?"
Xiao Yun shook his head, "The other party is too cunning. I had someone disguise himself as a street vendor from another town and sell storybooks in the Da Xiangguo Temple. I even had them write a few storybooks using Tang San's name. As expected, someone came looking for Tang San's storybooks. After the person bought one, the hidden guards who were lurking in the dark immediately followed, but they were discovered and led on a chase around the city."
Wang Qingyao rubbed her chin and pondered, "Even your hidden guards were discovered. This person must have a significant background."
Xiao Yun nodded.
Wang Qingyao was startled, "They probably also discovered that Tang San was written by me, right? They won't come looking for me again, will they?"
Xiao Yun stopped. "There's a possibility."
Wang Qingyao's face turned pale.
Xiao Yun then bent down and leaned closer, saying, "But it's alright. I've arranged a hidden guard for you. You'll be fine."
Wang Qingyao looked around, "Where is he? I don't see him at all."
"If you can discover him, then this hidden guard can resign. Don't worry, he won't appear unless you're in danger."
"Can I ask his name?"
"Jintiao," Xiao Yun said proudly.
Wang Qingyao: "..." She reluctantly gave him a thumbs-up, "That's a powerful name."
Xiao Yun sniffed at this moment, "Why do you smell so good?"
This statement was a bit flirtatious. If they were alone, Wang Qingyao would have to blush and playfully hit him, saying, "You're annoying!"
But now they were outside, in public, with more than a dozen young ladies and maids in front of them. Xiao Yun surely knew the gravity of the situation...
So she sniffed left and right, then lifted her arm to smell herself. She did smell quite fragrant, and it wasn't her own scent.
She noticed the gold bracelet with hollowed-out dragon and phoenix spheres and brought it close to her nose to smell it intently. Indeed, the fragrance was coming from here. The bracelet had hollowed-out gold spheres in the center, which were used to hold spices; this was not uncommon.
Wang Qingyao used her clairvoyance to look. There were some white and brown spices, which she, as a modern person, didn't recognize at all.
"This was given to me by the Crown Princess," she said, taking off the bracelet.
Xiao Yun took it and looked at it. With a twist of his fingers, the gold sphere opened in the middle, and the spices fell into Xiao Yun's palm. He brought it to his nose to sniff, then examined it carefully. His brow furrowed slightly, "They are all harmless spices, and very precious. The fragrance is also self-blended, not very common."
They looked at each other, both unsure of Madam Huang's intentions.
However, one thing was certain: she would never give Wang Qingyao a bracelet containing spices for no reason. There were too many possibilities for manipulation here.
"Could it be related to the cats?" Wang Qingyao guessed. "Madam Huang suggested we go see the cats."
"I don't know." Xiao Yun tucked the bracelet into his waist. "I'll keep it for now."
Wang Qingyao nodded.
At this moment, Fang Yuan called out from the front, "What are you two whispering about? Are you going to see the cats or not?"
The other young ladies covered their mouths and giggled. Wang Qinglin glanced back at them, a barely perceptible cold glint flashing in her eyes. Wang Qingzhu, however, moved gracefully to their side, raised her small face, and asked curiously, "Your Highness, Second Sister, what are you talking about that makes you so happy?"
Wang Qingyao: "..." Which eye of yours saw us being happy.
Xiao Yun: "Nothing." He took Wang Qingyao's hand and quickly walked to the very front.
Wang Qingzhu's expression dimmed.
Wang Qinglin let out a scornful snort. "Hmph, I told you long ago that Wang Qingzhu is useless. But Madam Bai insisted on being prepared for any eventuality. Wang Qingzhu's side will proceed as planned for now."
Xiu Hu had just given birth, and there were people specifically taking care of her. Her room was specially built by Madam Huang, like a modern dog house, square at the bottom and with a triangular roof on top. Inside, there was a soft cushion cat bed, with five or six cute kittens neatly nestled, and the mother cat, Xiu Hu, lay beside the cushion, gazing at her offspring with affection.
"Wow, so cute!"
Girls have always had no resistance to cute creatures, and all the girls let out exclamations of admiration.
Xiao Yun: "..."