When Xie Zhen got home, the more she thought about it, the more she realized something was wrong.
Not only was something wrong with the Crown Princessâs banquet, but also with Li Yu.
She didnât know what the Crown Princessâs purpose was, so she couldnât guess. Just to be safe, she didnât even embroider her name onto the handkerchief.
She hoped nothing will happen.
As for Li Yu, how did he know that she had lost a handkerchief?
On the one hand, Xie Zhen was worried. On the other hand, she wanted to know the whereabouts of Auntie Song, so she told Xie Rong about it and asked him to help investigate Li Yu.
Xie Rong did not know that this person was in the capital. He asked casually, âWhen did you meet him?â
Xie Zhen pursed her lips, dipped her head, and scratched her fingernails. âI met him by chance at the Mingqiu Lakeside.â
These words were half true, half false. Actually, it was not by chance. She didnât know how long Li Yu had been hiding there before he suddenly caught her.
This small detail wasnât too bad. Xie Rong looked at her and called her by her nickname, âWhy do you only speak now?â
She looked up, unable to find a suitable excuse, so only pretended to be good, âLast time there were so many people, I couldnât find a chance to speak. After I returned home, I forgot about it. I didnât remember it until today!â
Xie Rong didnât say anything. He clearly didnât believe that she would really forget.
She also knew that the reason was not good. She leaned out from the square table, took a cup of tea and looked at him, âBig brother, can you help me ask around?â
Xie Rong didnât answer. Calmly, he asked, âWhy do you want to know where he is?â
She choked, wondering was there any other reason.
It was just that she wanted to know!
If she told Xie Rong this, he probably wouldnât agree. Thus, she racked her brains for a moment before an idea struck her. âI donât want to know where he is, I want to know where Auntie Song is.â
âAuntie Song used to be so nice to us. I want to know how sheâs doing. â
Xie Rong was barely able to accept this reason. If it was for Li Yu, he wouldnât agree to Xie Zhen.
He had never liked that kid since he was young, and he wondered if he was still the same as before when he grew up.
Noticing that he was loosening up, Xie Zhen struck the iron while it was hot, lifted the tea-cover and sent the tea forward, her face beaming with a bright smile. âBig brother, will you drink it?â
âAfter this cup of tea, you would do what I asked. â
Xie Rong smiled helplessly as he took a sip from the teacup.
Delighted, she hopped around the room, then came up to him, took a sip of hot tea from his hand, and pursed her pink lips. Her eyes were like crescent moons.
She probably didnât know why she was so happy. It was probably because she was about to meet Auntie Song.
She definitely wouldnât admit that it was because of Li Yu. After all, they had only had an argument during the day. He was so fierce, so she didnât want to get along with him.
Finding people in the capital wasnât a difficult matter. Every person who went in and out of the capital had to show up for a public trial, and every day there was a record of it.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Xie Rong used his connections and coincidentally, he knew Zhao Jin, the youngest son of capital mayor, very well. So, he asked Zhao Jin to help him find out if there was a business owner named Li Xiqing in the capital, and his wife, Madame Song, and they had a son named Li Yu.
However, a few days later, Zhao Jin told him that there was no such family and asked him if he remembered the wrong person.
capital were many people called Li Xiqing in the capital, but none of them were the same as what he described.
Xie Rong thought for a moment, then asked him to investigate Li Yu see if there was anyone like Li Yu.
Zhao Jin told him, âYes, there are, but there are a total of twenty-seven people. May I know which one you are referring to?â
âOr shall I take them here one by one for you to check? â
In the end, Xie Rong didnât actually ask him to bring them over. Instead, he followed him to look at them one by one.
The names were all the same, but they all had different appearances, none of them were Li Yu, whom Xie Rong knew.
After seeing the last person, he went home with Zhao Jin, and told Xie Zhen about it.
Xie Zhen was disappointed. How come he couldnât find it?
They had met each other several times!
What was he doing in the capital?
Why not tell her?
Half a month had passed without her realizing it. Nothing had happened to the crown princeâs residence, and she had never seen Li Yu again.
The days were calmer than she had imagined. She gradually calmed down. It seemed that she had been thinking too much last time. Perhaps the Crown Princess had only wanted them to compete in embroidery?
Xie Liqing had been at home for a month.
Initially, he would still be worried, but now he gradually calmed down.
Since His Majesty wasnât going to give him an official position, there was no point in him panicking. He might as well wait calmly at home. There would be news sooner or later.
Madam Leng said he threw the handle after the blade, but he did not think so, and explained: âI canât change anything even if I am anxious, I might as well reflect at home and reflect on the wrong things that I have done in the past few years. It will be clear to me in the future.â
âThere wonât be a day like this in the future.â
Madam Leng put a plate of pastries on the table and poured him another glass of Blue Spring. âDonât you want to think of a way out?â
He smiled. âIâve thought of everything I should think of. The time has come. What should come will eventually come.â
Contrary to his optimism, Madam Leng had no choice but to consider more. âWhat if we have to wait for another seven or eight years?â
âAll three children are growing up, so you have to pay for everything they eat and wear. You donât have a salary, so we canât just sit around and eat.â
Xie Liqing stopped drinking tea and placed the teacup back on the table, âWhereâs the silver we brought back from Qing Zhou?â
âIs it not enough?â
âThatâs enough, but not much.â
Madam Leng said, after returning to capital, they spent more money on all sorts of things than in Qingzhou. In addition, they didnât earn much, so the money they saved up was quickly used up.
Now that it was summer, they were going to buy summer clothes and other things, and doing something even more important. âRongâer has grown up. He has reached the age of marriage.â
âEven proposing a marriage contract requires money. We should think of ways to prevent this from delaying our childâs marriage.â
Xie Liqing finally realized that the situation was serious. He stood up and walked around, discussing countermeasures with Madam Leng.
A little girl in a pinkish white dress sat on the veranda outside, her hands on her cheeks, looking at the roses in the yard with a wistful expression.
Xie Zhen was here to get Madam Leng. Hearing her conversation with Xie Liqing, she couldnât help but be curious and stood outside to listen for a while.
She didnât expect it to be such a heavy topic. She let out a sigh, and for the first time, she experienced what it was like to have no money.
In the past, they were very wealthy in Qing Zhou. They got whatever they wanted. Who knew that after arriving in the capital, they would even worry about money.