Chapter 35: Who Is Coming?

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“Who has come?”

Xu Guodong, looking somewhat haggard, thought he must have misheard.

“My lord, it is Prince Su. The Madam is receiving him at this moment.”

Xu Guodong sprang to his feet. “How can a mere woman—”

He broke off abruptly.

Calling Madam Qiu a mere woman was inappropriate now. She was receiving the prince as the mistress of the Qiu household, which, strictly speaking, made it acceptable.

“What has the prince come to our residence for? Prince Su… is he the prince who has been entangled with Fifth Girl?”

The Old Madam could not resist asking for more details. Knowing that a prince had come to the residence left her excited, nervous, and bewildered all at once.

“Mother! Don’t talk nonsense…”

Xu Guodong paced anxiously back and forth. Should he go and pay his respects?

“My lord, Mother is not talking nonsense this time. Fifth Girl stayed at the prince’s residence for several days, and now His Highness has personally come here. Perhaps Fifth Girl really is about to rise from a lowly station to become a phoenix…”

Concubine Qiu spoke with undisguised bitterness. She wanted to share in the glory, yet she was jealous as well.

How was her Qianying inferior to that Fifth Girl? If Qianying had remained in the capital, perhaps her opportunities would have been even better than Fifth Girl’s!

The capital was full of princes, nobles, and powerful families.

“Hmph, become a phoenix? A barnyard fowl can never become a phoenix. Perhaps His Highness is merely amused by her for the moment. What kind of woman could he not have? Could he truly take a liking to that Fifth Girl? And as for Madam Qiu… If a mere woman entertains him poorly, won’t that implicate our Dong’er? Dong’er, you must go and see what is happening. Even if you and Madam Qiu are divorced, you are still the head of this household and that Fifth Girl’s father!”

Xu Guodong found the words deeply reasonable. He had acted rashly in a fit of anger at the time. Letting Madam Qiu go was one thing, but how had he severed ties with Fifth Girl and the others as well? He had been so furious that he had forgotten all about Prince Su.

That ungrateful girl—he could not let all the years he had raised her go to waste…

“Oh, what are you standing there for? Go at once! The servants say the prince brought many gifts. If you do not go, everything will end up in Madam Qiu’s hands. You are her biological father—shouldn’t you help keep an eye on things?”

So that was what the Old Madam had been fretting over all this time…

The moment Concubine Qiu heard this, her eyes reddened with anxiety. She hurriedly urged Xu Guodong on, and he could no longer restrain himself. He hastened toward the main hall.

Madam Qiu was receiving the guests with a trace of unease.

Concubine Meng had not even dared show her face. She was anxiously pacing about, searching for Zhaojiao.

“Your Highness, unfortunately, my Fifth Girl has gone out. I did not know Your Highness would honor us with your presence. May I ask what brings you here to seek her? This humble woman can convey your message…”

Madam Qiu managed to remain composed, and her words were proper and measured.

“Madam, please sit. It was this prince who came uninvited. How long has Jiaojiao been gone?”

There was a faintly sweet note in the way he said “Jiaojiao,” leaving Madam Qiu at a loss for how to respond.

“Your Highness… she has… she has been gone for some time…” She had said she was going to see a tutor. Wait—the tutor Fifth Girl had mentioned was the one Prince Su had recommended, was he not?

Yin Sumo was dressed entirely in red that day, making him exceptionally handsome. Now, with that smile upon his face, he was even more impossible not to look at.

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“That means she should be back soon. We shall simply wait a little longer.”

“…”

Then they would wait. Madam Qiu could hardly ask him to leave. Truly, this was…

“Madam, I heard about your household’s affairs as soon as I returned to the capital. You have taken excellent care of Jiaojiao and the others. On Jiaojiao’s behalf, this prince thanks you. I came in haste and brought only a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it.”

At his signal, Lingdang stepped forward and respectfully presented a box.

“You flatter me, Your Highness. This… how could I possibly accept it?”

Something about the prince’s words seemed strange. He was thanking her, Jiaojiao’s mother, on Jiaojiao’s behalf?

Then what exactly was he to Jiaojiao?

This…

“Madam, please do not stand on ceremony. It is merely a small gesture. So long as you do not dislike it, that is enough.”

Yin Sumo was exceedingly courteous, yet Madam Qiu felt an enormous pressure. She could only accept the gift with a smile, repeatedly offering her thanks.

She could not shake the feeling that something was amiss.

“As for the rest… we shall discuss it after Jiaojiao arrives. There are still several items on the road that have yet to be delivered. Lingdang, go and check on them. Tell them to hurry.”

Madam Qiu silently looked toward the rows of boxes. She could not help counting them.

There were… three, four, five, six boxes already. And there were more?

Was this how princes gave gifts—with such extravagance?

Anyone who did not know better might think someone had come to present betrothal gifts…

Wait. Betrothal gifts?

Madam Qiu’s eyes widened as she looked at the boxes again. Could these truly be betrothal gifts? They were even tied with red satin…

“Your Highness, what is the meaning of this? How could Fifth Girl possibly accept such favor from you? This is far too much…”

Her heart was in turmoil, but she forced herself to remain calm and cautiously tested the waters.

Madam Qiu was rather clever after all.

Yin Sumo smiled gently and shook his head. “Not at all. These are the betrothal gifts I specially prepared for Jiaojiao. How could they be too much? It is merely that I was too eager and had to arrange everything rather hastily. There are still more on the road. I hope you will forgive the inconvenience, Madam.”

“Betrothal gifts?!”

This time, he had made himself perfectly clear.

Madam Qiu stood frozen in place. Before she could recover, Xu Guodong hurried over.

“Your Highness, you have honored us with your presence. This humble official failed to welcome you in time. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness!”

His voice arrived before he did.

Madam Qiu had no chance to ask anything further.

“Your Highness, this humble official has arrived late. If our household has been remiss in its hospitality, I hope Your Highness will be magnanimous.”

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Upon entering the main hall, Xu Guodong bowed repeatedly, his face wreathed in an ingratiating smile.

“Lord Xu, you are too kind. This prince came uninvited and has imposed upon you.”

The smile on Yin Sumo’s face faded noticeably. Madam Qiu observed it in silence. It seemed that the prince knew everything about their family’s affairs.

“Your Highness’s arrival brings glory to our humble home. We could never have invited you ourselves. Where is Fifth Girl? Why has she not come out to brew tea for Your Highness?”

Xu Guodong spoke in the manner of a master receiving a guest.

Yet no one answered him. The servants did not dare interrupt, while Madam Qiu simply could not be bothered.

Xu Guodong was left somewhat awkwardly standing there.

“Jiaojiao has gone out and has not yet returned. This prince is waiting for her. Lord Xu, if you have other matters to attend to, please go about them. It is of no consequence.”

Madam Qiu had been reluctant to drive him out herself, so the prince had done it for her. Xu Guodong truly was unpleasant.

Unfortunately, some people had skin so thick that they seemed incapable of understanding plain speech.

“That girl is simply outrageous. What business does a young lady have running around outside all day?” He turned to Madam Qiu. “You should discipline her properly. Look at what you have spoiled her into becoming. Send someone to find her at once. How can you let His Highness wait here?”

Madam Qiu dearly wanted to slap him, but she forced herself to endure it.

“There is no need for Lord Xu to concern himself. His Highness is not anxious, so why are you? She is my daughter. If her own mother does not indulge her, should I really expect that from people who are no longer related to us?”

Madam Qiu had shown Xu Guodong no mercy. He had brought it upon himself. Nor was she afraid that the prince would find it amusing. After all, he already knew nearly everything about their family’s disgraceful affairs.

“You…”

Xu Guodong was about to curse her when Yin Sumo spoke at just the right moment.

“Lord Xu, this prince is indeed in no hurry. I came uninvited, so how could I blame Jiaojiao? Lord Xu, I still have matters to discuss with Madam. Please attend to your own affairs and do not trouble yourself with us.”

The words were so direct that Xu Guodong finally understood. With an awkward expression, he could only take his leave.

As he departed, indignation churned in his heart.

What was so remarkable about him? He was merely a prince without any real power.

“Father… why did you not let us go in and pay our respects to His Highness?”

Xu Qianying, who had been waiting outside all this time, hurried forward and asked in a soft voice.

She had caught a few distant glimpses of the prince earlier. The man in red was truly handsome—the most refined and elegant man she had ever seen. And the bearing he possessed was something no ordinary man could compare with…

Why did it have to be Xu Jiaojiao? Why?

Xu Guodong was seething with frustration. He said nothing and strode away, chiefly because he felt humiliated.

At that moment, the goods Yin Sumo had ordered Uncle Ji and the others to purchase were being delivered to the Qiu residence cart by cart, drawing curious glances from the people in the streets.

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