The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 455 - 423: Your Highness, If You Act Like This, You’ll Never Find a Wife
There are only half a month until the New Year, so Xue Yinhuan’s marriage meeting had to be advanced. Today, a banquet was set in the Warm Pavilion of the Minister’s Mansion, with mothers from both sides present. After the meal, the two elders intentionally left the young couple alone, and so Xue Yinhuan and Liang Jun left the Warm Pavilion to stroll in the garden.
In these couple of days, the sun has come out, melting the snow, making it even colder than when it was snowing.
Liang Jun was very fond of Xue Yinhuan, but due to his introverted nature, he was not good with words. Seeing that she was dressed lightly, he wanted to take off his cloak to put on her, but was afraid it would be too abrupt. After pondering for a while, he spoke up, "Miss Xue, if you feel cold, we can go back first. Another day, I’ll invite you to enjoy the plum blossoms."
"I’m not cold." Xue Yinhuan smiled and, as if thinking of something, looked at him suspiciously, "Or is Mr. Liang feeling cold?"
"No..."
Being looked at like this made Liang Jun’s ears turn red, and he shook his head repeatedly, "I’m alright, just worried that you might not withstand the harsh weather."
Having conversed for so long, Xue Yinhuan somewhat understood his timid nature. It seemed some words must be spoken by her first. She reached out to pick an ice piece from a leaf and played with it in her palm, pretending to casually ask, "The purpose of today’s marriage meeting, Mr. Liang must understand. What do you think of me?"
Liang Jun’s ears hadn’t yet cooled down before they started burning again, "Miss Xue is the most intelligent woman I’ve ever met."
Xue Yinhuan smiled and watched him.
Liang Jun is a newly advanced scholar this year. Her grandfather said he has a gentle and calm nature, not arrogant or impetuous. Such a person will have great prospects in the future and will certainly treat her well, making him a perfect choice for a husband.
Her grandfather’s judgment was never wrong. Without having met Liang Jun, she agreed without much thought at the time.
After meeting Liang Jun, although he differed somewhat from her imagination by being shy, upon careful consideration, a little introversion might not be a bad thing. It was better than those who were overly calculating or womanizing.
Xue Yinhuan didn’t feel much repulsion towards him and was even ready to accept him as her husband.
Liang Jun, seeing her silent, felt anxious and cautiously asked, "And you, Miss?"
Before Xue Yinhuan could answer, her personal maid hurried over, out of breath.
Xue Yinhuan looked at her, "What’s wrong with you?"
The maid, gasping for air, said, "Miss, you should go out quickly. His Highness and Young Master Song have arrived, saying they have something to discuss with you. Grandfather has already received the message and wants you to hurry."
Xue Yinhuan was secretly annoyed. Why did these two come today of all days, when she had a marriage meeting?
Hearing the urgency in the maid’s tone, Liang Jun considerately said, "Since it’s an urgent matter, Miss Xue should hurry over. I shall take my leave, and perhaps another day we can enjoy drinks and flowers together."
Xue Yinhuan showed an apologetic expression, "Mr. Liang, apologies."
Afterwards, she followed the maid to the front hall.
Song Yuanbao and Zhao Xi had already taken their seats. Seeing her arrive, Song Yuanbao raised an eyebrow and smiled, while Zhao Xi remained as expressionless as ever.
The Minister of Rites Xue Cheng was seated at the head position.
Xue Yinhuan paid her respects to the three of them one by one.
Xue Cheng looked at his granddaughter and was just about to say something when Zhao Xi interrupted, "Can Minister Xue step aside for a moment?"
The Eldest Prince had spoken, and as a subject, Xue Cheng had no reason not to comply. He stood up, cupped his hands in farewell, and before leaving gave his granddaughter a meaningful glance, clearly instructing her to entertain His Highness well and not easily offend the noble, thus disgracing the Minister’s Mansion.
Xue Yinhuan pretended to have forgotten the previous matter, "May I ask what brings you two here today?"
"Elder Qi has moved. Did you know about this?" Zhao Xi asked her.
"I didn’t know." Xue Yinhuan shook her head, but her face showed no surprise, "Elder Qi has always been nomadic; he never stays in one place for too long."
"But didn’t you say earlier that Elder Qi would come to the Minister’s Mansion for a drink?"
"He’ll appear when he wants to come. There’s no need to invite him. When he doesn’t want to come, I couldn’t find him even with a lantern."
Zhao Xi contemplated the truth of her words, then asked, "Under what circumstances does he usually come?"
Xue Yinhuan paused in thought, "Unless it’s when my brewed wine can be opened."
"So he comes for your wine every time?"
Xue Yinhuan did not deny it, "To gain Elder Qi’s favor, there are only two ways: either give him blueprints or offer him fine wine."
The kind of mechanical beast blueprint that could impress Elder Qi was something Zhao Xi couldn’t produce, so evidently, winning over with fine wine was easier.
He thought for a moment and asked Xue Yinhuan, "May I have a taste of the wine you’ve brewed?"
Song Yuanbao looked over suddenly, his look suggesting he hardly recognized him.
Xue Yinhuan said, "His Highness came unexpectedly today, disrupting my marriage meeting and nearly ruining a marriage, and now you wish to demand the wine I brewed myself. Don’t you find that quite rude?"
Zhao Xi: "Name your price per jar."
Almost ruining someone’s marriage and you don’t have anything to say? Xue Yinhuan was exasperated by him, "It’s priceless, not for sale!"
Song Yuanbao was a bit confused and whispered to Zhao Xi, "You don’t even want to marry her, so why insist on drinking her brewed wine? The palace has plenty of fine wines, just take a jar, and you’re worried it won’t attract Elder Qi?"
Zhao Xi shook his head, "Elder Qi is eccentric, his preferences are unconventional. There are so many fine wines in the world, yet he specifically likes the ones from the Minister’s Mansion, there must be a reason for it."
"If Your Highness has nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Xue Yinhuan didn’t want to stay here any longer.
"You really don’t know where he went?" Zhao Xi felt that Xue Yinhuan might be hiding something from him.
Xue Yinhuan thought about how Zhao Xi had always mistakenly believed she deliberately approached him, feeling frustrated, "Anyway, Your Highness never believed what I said, so what’s the difference whether I know or not?"
Zhao Xi didn’t understand why her attitude was so poor, but still tried to speak kindly, "As long as you reveal Elder Qi’s whereabouts, I will surely reward you generously."
Song Yuanbao, standing by, just wanted to facepalm.
Seeing that Xue Yinhuan looked upset, he silently sighed and whispered to the person next to him, "She’s angry, so what good are promises of riches beyond measure?"
Zhao Xi was still confused, "Why is she angry?"
Song Yuanbao: "... Your Highness, it will be hard to find a wife if you act like this."
"Get to the point!"
"The point is that Your Highness misunderstood her, yet never addressed it."
Zhao Xi asked, "Do you mean I should apologize to her?"
"You’re a prince, there’s no need to apologize, but at least say something."
Zhao Xi pondered, feeling awkward, "You’re good at pleasing ladies, why don’t you speak for me so I don’t accidentally anger her again?"
Song Yuanbao chuckled, "Your future wife, should I marry her for you too!"
"Don’t joke, handling the main issue is important."
Song Yuanbao cleared his throat, looked at Xue Yinhuan, "Miss Xue, actually you’ve always misunderstood His Highness."
"I misunderstood him?" Xue Yinhuan was even more frustrated, who misunderstood whom after all? Even if their previous encounters were too coincidental, she had already explained, so why couldn’t he listen and instead thought she was deliberately approaching him?
Song Yuanbao said, "It’s not that His Highness misunderstood you, but that he’s inherently arrogant, self-important, sees no one in his eyes, not just you, he’s the same with everyone. I wasn’t spared when I first entered the palace."
Zhao Xi: "..."
Xue Yinhuan: "..."
Xue Yinhuan’s gaze towards Zhao Xi became very complicated.
Zhao Xi frowned, clenching the tea cup handle, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Song Yuanbao felt innocent, "Didn’t Your Highness ask me to speak? I must tell the truth, otherwise how can we warm the heart of a hurt lady? Did you notice her gaze at you has changed?"
Zhao Xi: "If you were criticized like this, could anyone still look at you normally?"
"That’s true." Song Yuanbao rubbed the bridge of his nose, smiling as he looked at Xue Yinhuan, "Uh, Miss Xue, if you’re not willing to tell His Highness, could you tell me about Elder Qi’s whereabouts? Our family has no shortage of treasures, if you have time, I’ll have someone send a piece to you?"
Song Wei’s involvement in collecting things wasn’t a secret in the circle.
The offer was too tempting, Xue Yinhuan couldn’t help but soften, "I heard that special embroidery from a certain tribe during the Yan Dynasty was lost, what’s left are priceless treasures, I wonder if Young Master Song’s mansion has any collection of it?"
Song Yuanbao hesitated, "No finished embroidery, only half a book detailing that kind of embroidery."
"Half a book?"
"Yes, it’s a rare copy, too old and incomplete, but I can guarantee it’s authentic, with many recorded stitches inside."
Xue Yinhuan looked at him excitedly, "Can you give it to me?"
"Of course." Song Yuanbao smiled, "As long as Miss Xue likes it, tell me when you want it, and I’ll have it sent anytime."
Seeing him agree so readily, Xue Yinhuan felt a bit guilty, took a deep breath, and told him, "Elder Qi has left."
"Left?"
"Yes, left the capital overnight, I don’t know the exact destination either."
