Chapter 1455: Mandarin Ducks Are Fickle Creatures

Zhi’er pretended to be surprised upon hearing the news, her face full of regret.

"Ah? I’m sorry, please accept my condolences."

Fan Xinhui wiped away her tears and raised her head: "This sad matter, let’s leave it. I came here specifically to thank you, miss, and sir."

"Last time, thanks to your reminder, this box contains a pair of mandarin ducks, please accept them."

Her maid opened the brocade box and walked in front of Zhi’er for her to examine it closely.

Zhi’er glanced at it.

The mandarin ducks were actually carved out of pure White Jade, without a trace of impurity, their value obvious at a glance.

But Zhi’er felt a twinge of oddity.

Fan Xinhui’s child had just been killed by a concubine, logically one shouldn’t have the mood for such miscellaneous affairs.

If she truly wanted to express gratitude, sending someone over would suffice.

After all, Zhi’er wouldn’t doubt how Fan Xinhui knew where their family lived.

With Fan Family’s influence, it would be simple to inquire about those newly moved into Peng City.

Yet this warm attitude from Fan Xinhui seemed a bit strange to Zhi’er.

She raised her head: "Madam Fan, thank you for your kindness, but we merely contributed a word, such a precious gift is undeserved, please take it back."

Fan Xinhui hesitated: "Does the miss feel the gift is inappropriate?"

"I don’t know about you and sir’s relationship, but I thought you seem intimate, presumably young married couple, hence sent this."

"If it’s not suitable, I’ll have someone return and exchange it."

This sounded like probing whether she and Feng Fuce were lovers.

Zhi’er found it even stranger.

Thus, she refused even more firmly.

"I’m sorry, madam Fan, I can’t accept any gift regardless of what it is."

"Not to mention other things, regarding these mandarin ducks, poets like to use mandarin ducks as metaphors for steadfast love, but in truth, mandarin ducks are fickle, whimsical, and inconsiderate."

"As for other gifts, I can’t decide. You’d better wait for my brother to return and ask him."

Fan Xinhui was taken aback by Zhi’er’s few words.

Brother?

She pondered briefly, then regained her composure: "I’m sorry, I acted presumptuously and offended you."

Fan Xinhui didn’t linger long, she stood up to bid farewell.

Zhi’er still sat firmly in the main seat: "I won’t see you off, madam Fan."

Fan Xinhui nodded lightly, not staying any longer.

After she left, Cai Ying came up to clean the table and collect the tea cups.

"Really strange..." she murmured.

Zhi’er looked at her: "Strange about what?"

Cai Ying said: "I seem to have seen those mandarin ducks somewhere, but I can’t quite remember."

Zhi’er laughed: "You used to serve in the governor’s mansion, perhaps you really did see them, it’s just a set of gifts, I didn’t accept them, no need to dwell on it."

Cai Ying nodded repeatedly: "Miss, let me accompany you to admire the flowers again!"

At this time, Fan Xinhui left the mansion and got onto the carriage to depart.

Unknown to outsiders, there was also another resolute-faced man sitting in the carriage.

"Did she accept?"

"No, she refused me, but she didn’t seem to realize these mandarin ducks were crafted from the former dynasty." Fan Xinhui said.

These mandarin ducks were a unique feature bestowed by the imperial palace of the former dynasty.

If someone was specifically investigating, they wouldn’t fail to recognize it.

Yet she noticed the expression on that young lady’s face, as if genuinely clueless.

"Then how did she refuse you?" the man asked urgently.

Fan Xinhui hesitated for a moment, then said: "She said, mandarin ducks are fickle animals, unsuitable for metaphorizing ideal emotions..."

The man was equally stunned.

Before coming, they hadn’t anticipated such a response from their counterpart.