Zhou Ruyu was talking vigorously, but was suddenly asked to leave by s.h.i.+ Qingxue so rudely, so she also got angry, “s.h.i.+ Qingxue, what do you mean? I put down my pride to sue for peace, just in order to make you do me a small favor and praise our Baojin a little in front of Mo Junyang. Still, you are not willing to help us. But you also show me your bad att.i.tude. It seems that you really know nothing about etiquette!”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue had no expression on her face, and spent her last patience waiting for Zhou Ruyu to finish her speech. Then she turned to Xia Mang, “Send her out.”

Zhou Ruyu, “…”

Zhou Ruyu didn't expect s.h.i.+ Qingxue to be so ruthless. She glared at her, raised her hand and pointed at her for a long but couldn't say a word.

Xia Mang also didn't expect that s.h.i.+ Qingxue really drove her away without hesitation, but when she went back to her consciousness, she executed her master's order immediately.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue drove her away, but was still full of anger, and it couldn't vanish. She was so mad that she wanted to beat someone!

“What are you mad at?”

Mo Junyang's cold voice sounded from behind, startling s.h.i.+ Qingxue.

She turned around, staring at the man in astonishment, who suddenly appeared in her boudoir, she asked him in a cold voice, “When did you get here?”

Mo Junyang didn't answer, but asked again, “What are you mad at?”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was almost speechless about Mo Junyang's ability to skew the question, but when confronting the man's persistence, she could only answer honestly, “I don't like it when she describes our relations.h.i.+p in that way, as if you were my subordinate or something more degrading. You are not!”

Mo Junyang raised the corners of his mouth and smiled slowly, “Then what am I? What is it between us?”

It was the first time that they had faced the huge problem in front of them.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was speechless.

The time and place were not right. She shouldn't discuss this topic with Mo Junyang here.

She wanted to escape again, but Mo Junyang pushed her to the front, so she could not avoid it any more.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue lowered her head, took a deep breath, and seemed to be making a big decision.

A few minutes later, she raised her head again. Her look became peaceful again, and then she said in a calm but firm tone, “Mo Junyang, we are not suitable.”

Those were just simple words, but nothing could be more straightforward than them or make him more aware of s.h.i.+ Qingxue's meaning.

Mo Junyang looked at s.h.i.+ Qingxue quietly. He knew that she had tried her best to give him an answer that wouldn't make him misunderstand, even though he didn't like it.

He didn't speak. He had nothing to say at this time.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue unilaterally denied their possibility, but he did not accept it.

The two were once again in a stalemate. Even though both of them felt embarra.s.sed, they had nothing to say.

Until…

“Sixth Lady, Second Lady is here and asks to see you.” Xia Mang lightly knocked on the door and said in a low voice at the door, as if she were afraid to disturb the conversation between the two in the room.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was hoping that someone could disturb them, so she couldn't wait to reply, “I see. I will go to the living room right away.”

After that, she looked at Mo Junyang with embarra.s.sment. He suddenly appeared in her boudoir. How should she explain it to s.h.i.+ Baojing?

Mo Junyang seemed to have guessed the concern in her heart and immediately said, “I came in after telling the subordinate.”

In other words, the appearance of Mo Junyang was reasonable and aboveboard.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was relieved. She bit her lips, and hesitantly asked, “Are you going back?”

Mo Junyang shook his head, and said, “I am going with you. Speaking of it, I haven't seen Baojing for a long time.”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was stunned. Until s.h.i.+ Baojing and Mo Junyang chatted for a while, she suddenly remembered some things in her previous life…

Mo Junyang might have some different feelings for s.h.i.+ Qingxue, but when he was dealing with his political enemies, he was not sympathetic at all, including the s.h.i.+ Family. After Mo Junyang ascended the throne, he almost killed the whole s.h.i.+ Family, including s.h.i.+ Baochun, who had been married and never opposed him.

But it was almost.

Mo Junyang left s.h.i.+ Baojing alive, without any reasons. Like a lunatic, he did whatever he wanted.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue also regarded Mo Junyang as a lunatic at first, but a lunatic wouldn't have such precise strategies.

In other words, even if Mo Junyang was totally a lunatic, he did things for a reason. The problem was whether others could find out that reason or not.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue had a feeling at this moment that she seemed to have known a secret. She watched s.h.i.+ Baojing and Mo Junyang talking with her eyes twinkling.

Their identifications and status were quite different, but s.h.i.+ Baojing was calm and Mo Junyang was gentle, which made the conversation between them easy and warm.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue felt a little surprised. Could two people, who had never met each other before, really talk happily in such a short time?

She didn't believe this was a kind of coincidence. She looked at s.h.i.+ Baojing but didn't see the difference. She glanced at Mo Junyang, but failed to find a clue.

But she clearly knew that the person who caused this situation was Mo Junyang.

There was no evidence. She didn't need the evidence.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue calmly watched the two talking, and felt confused in her heart, until s.h.i.+ Baoning turned her eyes to her and asked softly, “Qingxue, is that okay?”

“What?” s.h.i.+ Qingxue realized that she was distracted and didn't even hear what they had just talked about.

s.h.i.+ Baojing didn't mind it, and repeated it again, “It is my grandfather's birthday two days later. My father has agreed that my mother and I can return home and visit our families. Do you want to come with us?”

After that, she smiled with embarra.s.sment, “Although the house of my family is a little rough, it has beautiful scenery and it is suitable for relaxation.”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue raised her eyebrows in surprise. To be honest, she never thought that s.h.i.+ Baojing would invite her to return to her house and visit her families. It was not because s.h.i.+ Baojing's maternal family was poor, but because she just had a general relations.h.i.+p with s.h.i.+ Baojing. She was obviously trying to help her avoid the recent bad things in the s.h.i.+ Family by inviting her at this time.

It was out of good will. But for what?

s.h.i.+ Qingxue didn't think that it was necessary for s.h.i.+ Baojing to do these things for her. But in the face of s.h.i.+ Baojing's sincere gaze, she couldn't say anything to refuse.

She knew that s.h.i.+ Baojing really wanted to help her.

“Baojing, you kindly invite me, if I refuse, I will be ingrate. Besides, I am quite interested in your maternal family!” s.h.i.+ Qingxue took s.h.i.+ Baojing's hand and said with a bright smile.

s.h.i.+ Baojing was relieved and smiled, “Yecheng County won't disappoint you.”

The two had a very happy chat. Mo Junyang didn't disturb them, but listened to them with interest aside. Until they set a schedule, he slowly asked, “Do you know Zeng Zhi, the County Magistrate of Yecheng County?”

s.h.i.+ Baojing replied, “He is my uncle.”

Mo Junyang smiled and said softly, “I had an appointment with Mr. Zeng before. This time I will go to Yecheng County with you. Would you mind it?”

s.h.i.+ Baojing was stunned by Mo Junyang's smile, and her face turned red instantly. She couldn't keep dignified and calm like before, but lowered her head and replied, stuttering, “No. How could I? It's our blessing that Your Excellency would like to visit the Zeng Family in Yecheng County.”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue watched them and felt surprised – when did Mo Junyang become so good at flirting?

And Mo Junyang was flirting with s.h.i.+ Baojing…

For a moment, s.h.i.+ Qingxue doubted whether she had been drunk. Otherwise, how could she make up such an impossible thing?

However, the fact was that when Mo Junyang and s.h.i.+ Baojing were standing together, who were in totally different styles, they seemed to be unexpectedly harmonious.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue deliberately ignored the discomfort in her heart, and began to seriously think about matching these two people together.

The more she thought about it, the more appropriate she felt it, mainly because Mo Junyang's special att.i.tude towards s.h.i.+ Baojing was very ill.u.s.trative of certain problems. If Mo Junyang really became her brother-in-law, it would seem to be okay.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue suppressed the urge to be the matchmaker and thought that they would all go to Yecheng County anyway, so she would know whether this could work as long as she had a try.

—

Located in the southwest of the capital city, Yecheng County was a small town that was quite backward. But as s.h.i.+ Baojing said, it had the advantages of beautiful scenery and pleasant climate.

It was still freezing in February, but in Yecheng County, there was no longer snow. The spring breeze was blowing. Although it was a bit cold, it still made people feel comfortable.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was sitting in the carriage, enjoying the spring view outside. She thought that it was right to come out this time. Anyway, she could relax her mind and avoid the dirty matters of Third Master's Family.

It was also good to stay away from them for a while!

However, s.h.i.+ Qingxue's good mood didn't last long. It took them two days to arrive at the house of the Zeng Family in Yecheng County.

As s.h.i.+ Baojing had introduced, the Zeng family was really poor. Even though s.h.i.+ Baojing's grandfather was a great scholar before, he was an obsolete. Although s.h.i.+ Baojing's uncle was the County Magistrate of Yecheng, he didn't have extra income.

So even when the n.o.ble guest came, Mo Junyang could only get a separate room, which was already the best room they could offer. And it was the room of Zeng Ru, s.h.i.+ Baojing's grandfather, next door.

Zeng Zhi was scared. He personally led Mo Junyang to the bedroom. He asked in a humble tone, “Is Your Excellency satisfied with this room? If Your Excellency thinks it is not good enough, I will…”

Speaking of this, Zeng Zhi was embarra.s.sed.

What could he do?

Could he make his father move out and give that room to Mo Junyang?

Or he could help Mo Junyang find a first-cla.s.s inn outside, whose environment might be better than here.

Zeng Zhi was anxious. He was afraid that Mo Junyang was dissatisfied with this arrangement. Also, he worried that Mo Junyang really turned away.

Mo Junyang looked at the simple and crude residence. There was no extra expression on his face. He just asked, “Where does Qingxue live?”

Zeng Zhi was surprised. He didn't understand why this great man cared about where a little girl lived, but he still answered honestly, “s.h.i.+ Qingxue lived in my daughter's bedroom with my niece. They are all little girls, so they have common topics to talk about while living together.”

Mo Junyang made no comments and said coldly, “Then I will live here. Thank you, Mr. Zeng.”

Zeng Zhi didn't expect Mo Junyang to be so flexible, which was different from the rumors. He responded stupidly, “It's good that Your Excellency is satisfied. It's good.”

In the eyes of outsiders, Mo Junyang seemed to be really satisfied with the residence arranged by Zeng Zhi. After he decided to live here, he immediately let Wei Zichao make a bed. He showed no hint of detestation.

Only then was Zeng Zhi relieved. He took the initiative to invite him, “Your Excellency must be tired after this long journey. How about having a meal with us tonight? Our Zeng Family can welcome Your Excellency in this way.”

Mo Junyang frowned and glanced at Zeng Zhi, which made him anxious again.

G.o.d! Did he offend this great man by saying anything wrong again?

Was it too late for him to recall the invitation?

Zeng Zhi thought desperately.