Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 398: All That Passed, She Gave Her Heart in Vain
The department store was crowded with people, attracted by the free storytelling and opera performances. It drew in all sorts of individuals, whether wealthy or not.
This easily led to certain situations.
After all, this was the Capital City, under the emperor’s feet. If a brick were to fall, it could hit a minister. If disputes or other altercations occurred, it involved various interpersonal relationships, and the matter could vary in severity.
Petty officials weren’t too troublesome, but some prodigal sons were a concern as they could kill with impunity. If a higher authority intervened, others would be helpless.
Therefore, the safety hazards in this area were particularly important. It needed someone with significant status to suppress them, and in the Capital City, it was either Xiao Shiqing or Pei Ji’an. If Pei Ji’an couldn’t come, only Xiao Shiqing was left.
For Xiao Shiqing, finding a position in the department store was incredibly easy.
Li Hua did not know she was being observed. She wasn’t relaxed either, knowing Xiao Shiqing worked around here and could appear anytime, so she remained vigilant.
Actually, even in front of her two maids, she wasn’t entirely at ease, given that they hadn’t always served her and there were always some differences. She had to consider them.
So what Xiao Shiqing saw wasn’t much different from before.
It was both similar and not entirely the same.
Even so, Xiao Shiqing didn’t stop observing. It was best if he could discover something; if not, just watching was fine too.
Rather than observing, it was more that he wanted to look at her. Perhaps that was the main reason.
"Dream of the Red Chamber" was told once every seven days, and today Li Hua was just in time, which was why there were so many people.
The storytelling at the department store was a bit later than the one Qu Fulan did in the palace. Qu Fulan had initially told it to the Empress Dowager, and only now did the department store reach the Chapter about Lin Daiyu returning home to visit her father and Feng managing Ning Mansion.
Regarding the earlier part of the story, Li Hua had heard from someone else, who was none other than Cousin Jinxiu. Although she was married, she lived nearby and often returned home. Because her husband was interested in academics, he was intrigued by the appearance of "Dream of the Red Chamber." Chen Zhengsheng first took note of it, told his wife, and then she shared it with her family.
Therefore, Li Hua knew of Lin Daiyu’s pitiful background, similar to her own with parents both gone, living under someone else’s roof. She completely understood Lin Daiyu’s situation in Jia Mansion, but Lin Daiyu still had a grandmother who loved her, whereas she had nothing.
When hearing that Lin Daiyu’s father was seriously ill and she needed to return home to visit him, Li Hua shed tears.
For she also thought of her own father...
Then the storyteller spoke of Feng’s decisive actions during the funeral, stirring emotions in Li Hua. In the past, she wouldn’t have admired such a person, but now things were different. She felt that such a woman was truly capable and worthy of learning from.
Although Feng had many flaws, who in this world is flawless? She just needed to learn from others’ strengths, and Feng’s way of handling matters was something she needed to study.
Not only was Li Hua absorbed, but so were the two maids, who were so captivated that they forgot to attend to the County Princess.
In such moments, Li Hua inadvertently showed her true self, unnoticed by the two maids. Even if they noticed, they wouldn’t realize much, as they weren’t acquainted with the previous County Princess from a young age and didn’t know her well. Without significant differences, they couldn’t discern anything.
But certain actions and expressions appeared different in the eyes of some people.
That "some people" was naturally Xiao Shiqing.
When he saw the poignant expression on Li Hua’s face, his hand holding the teacup slightly paused.
"Aunt, is that Cousin?"
On this day, in addition to Xiao Shiqing, Mrs. Xiao and Ji Nishang were also here to listen to the storytelling.
"Dream of the Red Chamber" was so popular in their circle that when they gathered socially, the noblewomen discussed it. Not coming to listen seemed out of place.
They hadn’t anticipated so many people coming, but fortunately, the mall was well-designed, providing special areas for the elite, allowing them to listen comfortably.
Ji Nishang, casually glancing up, saw the person in the upstairs private room. Wasn’t it her cousin?
Mrs. Xiao looked over and recognized her son, puzzled. Didn’t he say he was busy? How did he have time to listen to storytelling? If they had known he was here, they would have shared a private room, avoiding the need to reserve an additional one.
Mrs. Xiao didn’t know her son’s daily activities. Seeing him at the storytelling session, she assumed he had nothing to do.
Since she saw her son, she sent a servant to inform him, hoping he’d come over to meet her and also see Nichang.
Truth be told, Mrs. Xiao felt apologetic towards Nichang. The child was too earnestly devoted. Shiqing wouldn’t marry, and she remained unmarried, waiting throughout these years. Others her age were married, with kids several years old, yet she was alone, with no response from her son, but still she waited. Too devoted.
If it were someone else, Mrs. Xiao might not approve, but this was a family relation, so of course she was partial. Moreover, the child wasn’t lacking.
Given the Xiao Family’s high status, there wasn’t a need to marry into an equally prestigious family. The girls from prominent families all had high aspirations. Marrying such a daughter-in-law would be less reliable than Nichang. Being family was more dependable.
Xiao Shiqing learned that his mother was also present, slightly furrowed his brow, but went down to greet her before leaving.
Mrs. Xiao was exasperated, but as her son claimed he came to work, she couldn’t say much or inquire further, as questioning him would mean probing into confidential matters. The undertakings of her son were mostly decreed by the emperor, and Mrs. Xiao wasn’t ignorant enough to overstep.
Due to Xiao Shiqing moving around, Li Hua noticed him, her heart subtly tightening. Indeed, her cautious demeanor was justified, as he might appear anytime.
Just as the storytelling concluded, Li Hua turned and left without hesitation.
For she also noticed Mrs. Xiao and Ji Nishang; she didn’t want to reconnect with these "past" individuals.
The past events were her misplaced trust, the path she chose, so she alone bore its consequences. Given another chance, she wished only to live well, unburdened by other concerns. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
After finishing her tasks in the store, Li Hua returned home.
When the emperor granted her the title of County Princess, he also gifted her a three-courtyard house. Though it couldn’t compare to those luxurious mansions, Li Hua was quite satisfied.
Back then, Li Hua was content, and now she was even less picky, never having been a picky person.
But living alone in such a house was dull. She once considered inviting her aunt and others to live with her, but her aunt was unwilling, so Li Hua continued living with her.
Though small, the house’s warmth and coziness made Li Hua fond of it.
Having lived in a large house without familial affection for a long time, she now yearned for a small, cozy home.
Once Xiao Shiqing finished his tasks, he noticed Li Hua had left already, his brows slightly furrowed.
Instead of immediately going home, he decided to take another look.
That little house, although fenced, was no obstacle to him.
