Chapter 318: What She Cared About

Shi Qingxue looked Shi Baoyan up and down, who stood there and let her look.

They looked at each other for quite a while, and then Shi Qingxue showed a smile and grabbed Shi Baoyan’s hand. “Since you still call me sister, we are sisters. Let’s forget everything in the past.”

Shi Baoyan’s eyes lit up at once, with tears in them.

“Qingxue…” Shi Baoyan called in a sobbing voice and couldn’t say anything else.

She turned away, as she didn’t want Shi Qingxue to see her embarrassment.

Shi Qingxue considerately leaned aside and pretended that she didn’t see Shi Baoyan’s tears.

After a while, she spoke as if nothing had happened. “The banquet is going to start. I will take you to greet the members of the aristocratic families on good terms with Father.”

Qingxue didn’t plan to take this job, but she had nothing to do as Mo Junyang was not here, and since she accepted Shi Baoyan’s request to make up with her, she should show her sincerity.

She led Shi Baoyan and walked to some noble ladies from the families who had contact with them.

When the Shi family hadn’t broken up in the past, even if Shi Baoyan was favored in the family, she wouldn’t have a chance to attend such a grand banquet.

This was Shi Baoyan’s first time, so she was trembling with fear, paying attention to her every word and action cautiously. She was afraid that she would offend a royal family member if she did something wrong.

However, it showed that she was of low class.

Shi Qingxue felt something wrong after walking for only a few steps and looked back at Shi Baoyan, sighing in secret.

She understood Shi Baoyan’s feelings, but the more cautious and humble she looked, the more easily others would look down upon her.

After pausing for a moment, Shi Qingxue stepped backward and grabbed Shi Baoyan’s arm under the latter’s surprised eyes, saying with a smile, “Baoyan, let’s go together.”

She brought Shi Baoyan to Leng Jing first, a legitimate daughter of the Assistant Minister of War, Leng Yuan. Meeting the girl’s doubtful eyes, she introduced gracefully in a natural way, “Jing, this is my sister, Baoyan.”

Hearing that, Leng Jing knew that this tall and thin girl was a concubine’s daughter from Duke Shi’s mansion. She glanced at Shi Baoyan seriously and smiled intimately while grabbing her arm. “It turns out that you are Baoyan. My name is Leng Jing, a daughter of the Assistant Minister of War. If you don’t dislike it, you can call me Jing, like Qingxue does.”

Shi Baoyan was flattered and glanced at Leng Jing, calling in a hurry, “Jing.”

Leng Jing answered with a smile and then looked up at Shi Qingxue, joking, “Qingxue, you are so stingy. When I sent invitations to your mansion, you always hid at home and didn’t come out. I can see you only at this time, yet you just came to introduce your sister. It’s obvious that you don’t care about your friend, me.”

Shi Qingxue knew that Leng Jing was joking with her. She didn’t argue in a hurry but replied with a smile, “Jing, you are kidding. If I don’t care about you, why did I come to chat with you first today?”

Leng Jing rolled her eyes at Shi Qingxue. “Huh, how would you miss me? You just wanted me to act as a go-between for you and the other girls, right?”

Qingxue was seen through, so she didn’t beat around the bush. She intimately grabbed Leng Jing’s hand and stated flatteringly, “Good girl, anybody knows that you are popular among the noble ladies. My sister has never associated with them, so I need you to protect her. Then I will be relieved.”

Since the two girls started to talk, Shi Baoyan sensibly stepped backward and didn’t dare to interrupt rashly.

When she heard Leng Jing’s “reproach”, she felt nervous for Shi Qingxue and wondered if this lady would really blame her.

However, after listening for a while, she understood that they just joked. Although they said something serious, there was no anger in their eyes.

They were not like her and Shi Qingxue in the past who pretended to be sisters loving each other yet secretly hoped that the other party would be out of luck.

At this thought, Shi Baoyan felt more guilty and yearned for such an open and sincere friendship.

Especially after she heard Leng Jing expose the reason why Shi Qingxue brought her to greet this lady first, Shi Baoyan felt warm but couldn’t express her thanks enough. She could only glance at Shi Qingxue with gratitude in silence.

Shi Qingxue smiled at her as a return and didn’t take it seriously. She just pushed Shi Baoyan to Leng Jing and made a face, begging, “Jing, my dear sister, thanks for your help.”

Leng Jing snorted at her and happened to meet Shi Baoyan’s frightened face. Then she instantly stopped joking and explained to Shi Baoyan seriously, “Baoyan, forgive me. I always joke with Qingxue. Don’t take my words to heart.”

Shi Baoyan nodded with admiration in her eyes. “I know. Thanks for your kindness, Jing.”

“You are Qingxue’s sister, so you are my sister. Don’t stand on ceremony. I will take you to see the other girls. They are easy to get along with. Don’t be nervous.” Leng Jing kept Shi Qingxue’s request in mind and didn’t need her to say more. Then she grabbed Shi Baoyan’s arm and walked to the group of noble ladies who were their friends.

Seeing that Shi Qingxue stood still alone behind, Dong Shuang walked forward and whispered, “My Lady, do you really believe that Lady Baoyan will make peace with you? She did many evil deeds in the past, while you forgive her so easily. You are…”

The maid bore a grudge and pouted with displeasure.

Seeing Dong Shuang’s expression, Shi Qingxue felt that it was laughable. She rubbed her nose and joked, “I am what? I am too kind or too stupid?”

She smiled slyly and continued before Dong Shuang tried to argue, “I accept your praise, but don’t say the latter if you want to. I am smart and won’t be fooled easily.”

Dong Shuang got anxious. “Why are you so nice to Lady Baoyan? Have you forgotten…”

“I know what you are worried about.” Shi Qingxue interrupted Dong Shuang and sighed before continuing, “I have considered what you fear, yet Baoyan is different from my cousins. She is Father’s biological daughter.

“I should do it out of consideration for Father. I hope that she will be fine even for Father’s sake. Since she has sued for peace, no matter if she is sincere, I should give her a chance.”

Dong Shuang was still unhappy. “What if she does the same as before and attempts to await an opportunity to harm you?”

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Shi Qingxue finally showed a distant smile and responded indifferently, “The chance I give doesn’t fall from the sky, and I won’t give her chances infinitely. If I am nice to her but she still has dirty plans, don’t blame me when I am cruel.”

Dong Shuang knew that her lady was still alert to Shi Baoyan, so she finally stopped worrying and then said, “In my opinion, sometimes a sister is not as reliable as an outsider. Look. Lady Leng is a good example. She is sincere to you and has never been hypocritical to you. Such a person is worth making friends.”

“Ahem!” Wei Zichao suddenly coughed repeatedly in a loud voice and interrupted Dong Shuang.

Dong Shuang was distracted and forgot what she wanted to say. She turned to Wei Zichao and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong with you? Do you have a cold?”

Wei Zichao cleared his throat and answered Dong Shuang seriously, “Nothing. I just feel itch in my throat.”

“Oh.” Dong Shuang didn’t suspect anything but thought that they were like friends as they had contacted each other for several times. Then she said with concern, “You must be thirsty. Go and drink some water.”

Wei Zichao was speechless.

Perhaps it was his first time to meet a person who was more simple-minded than him and even believed such a lame excuse, which made him at a loss for words.

Dong Shuang thought that she guessed right, but because of her job, she didn’t dare to leave Shi Qingxue, so she suggested considerately, “My Lady, you have stayed outside for so long and must be thirsty. I am going to bring some water for you.”

Shi Qingxue noticed their interaction.

She was not as brainless as Dong Shuang but had noticed the indistinct feelings between them at a glance.

It was so fun.

She glanced at Wei Zichao with ridicule and expressed intentionally, “Go and come back soon. Don’t keep Zichao waiting.”

“Yes.” Dong Shuang replied and then said to Wei Zichao, “Wait a moment.” Then she ran away before he answered.

“Gee, it’s my first time to see my maid so attentive. It made me have a completely new appraisal of her. Zichao, what do you think?” Shi Qingxue talked to Wei Zichao with a big smile.

Wei Zichao blushed and even his ear tips were burning hot under Shi Qingxue’s stare. He had to lower his head and avoid her eyes, saying in a low voice, “Dong Shuang is always diligent.”

Shi Qingxue couldn’t stop laughing after hearing that.

She thought, “Every lover sees a thousand graces in the beloved object. Even if Dong Shuang has many shortcomings, they are merits in Wei Zichao’s eyes.”

Shi Qingxue had seen through this guard and was happy to see the good ending, but the maid’s feelings were unclear, so she didn’t bring them together rashly, yet she would let them work together if there were jobs in the futures.

She was uncertain what good result there would be after a long time.

However, Shi Qingxue’s good mood didn’t last long, as somebody came to make her unhappy.

The fourth prince Mo Junhao led a group of people into the imperial garden and didn’t give her a chance to hide but shouted, “Qingxue.”

His loud voice attracted the attention of many people around.

Shi Qingxue couldn’t run away even though she wanted to, so she could do nothing but watch Mo Junhao walk to her.

She had to greet obediently, “Your Highness, nice to see you.”

Mo Junhao waved his hand and said, “Don’t stand on ceremony.” Then he started to chat with Shi Qingxue in high spirits.

“I have seldom seen you enter the imperial palace these days. Are you okay?”

Shi Qingxue replied, “Thanks for your concern, Your Highness. I am all right.”

“It will be better if you can stay away from me.”

Qingxue thought with unspoken criticism. She didn’t know why Mo Junhao got crazy again. They had dispersed in discord not long ago, and he attached so much importance to his dignity, so he should hate her and never talk with her. Why did he get close to her?

What was more annoying was that she couldn’t ignore Mo Junhao under the watchful eyes of all people.

Mo Junhao knew this point and then invited her. “Qingxue, you have just arrived, so you must have not seen the wintersweet in full bloom lately in the imperial garden. I sincerely invite you to enjoy the wintersweet with me. Please don’t refuse me.”

Gee, he spoke out his invitation in a loud voice because he was sure that Shi Qingxue didn’t dare to embarrass him in public no matter how willful she was, right?

After all, in this occasion, Shi Qingxue stood for not only herself but also Duke Shi’s family.

If Shi Qingxue refused him, it meant that her family turned against the fourth prince’s followers openly.

Even though she didn’t care, she had to make allowance for Duke Shi’s difficult position.

Shi Qingxue considered all these.

She bit her lower lip hard and thought about many ways to refuse him, yet she couldn’t speak a word.

When she was helpless, a sweet voice cut in. “Junhao, you have come finally.”

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