Chapter 205 - 203: I’ve Loved Her Since Childhood (Second Update)

Chapter 205: Chapter 203: I’ve Loved Her Since Childhood (Second Update)

Seeing this, Qingyu quickly stopped and, upon seeing who had bumped into Xu Jing, couldn’t help but frown, "Qingyun, why have you come out? Didn’t Madam say you were supposed to stay in the courtyard today and look after things?"

Qingyun hurriedly picked up the hairpin from the ground and returned it to Xu Jing with both hands, saying, "Please forgive me, Doctor Xu, this servant was in a rush to find Madam and didn’t see that Doctor Xu was coming out."

Qingyu was slightly taken aback, "Why are you in such a hurry to find Madam?"

Qingyun bit her lip, "Vice General Sun just went to Lord’s quarters and refuses to leave no matter what, insisting on seeing Lord. I had no choice but to find Madam."

"What?"

Qingyu’s expression changed, "How dare he trespass into Lord and Madam’s room! Who let him in? He did such a thing, and Lord doesn’t want to pursue it further out of consideration for their many years together. Does he really think Lord will always indulge him?"

As she said this, she remembered Xu Jing was still there, quickly stopped talking, and with a slightly sullen face said, "Go quickly and find Madam. She should be greeting guests at the front gate."

Qingyun acknowledged and hastily turned and left.

Then Qingyu looked at Xu Jing, a bit embarrassed, and said, "I hope Miss Xu wasn’t offended."

This seemed to involve Duke Liang’s private matters, and Xu Jing didn’t want to ask more, so she nodded and continued forward.

Since there was still plenty of time before the banquet ended, Qingyu took Xu Jing for a leisurely walk around the Zhao family’s courtyard, occasionally introducing the guests they passed.

Qingyu was one of Madam Cen’s personal maids and was well-versed in the relationships among the Western Capital’s nobility. Listening to her all the way, Xu Jing felt she could identify nearly everyone of importance in the capital.

After walking for about two quarters of an hour, Xu Jing felt a bit tired and sat down to rest on a bench near a rockery. Just then, a Zhao family servant passed by, saw Qingyu, and seemed to need her for something. After saying a word to Xu Jing, Qingyu went over.

No sooner had Qingyu left than footsteps sounded from behind the rockery, followed by a familiar voice—

"Why is it you? Where is Xiao Qilang?"

Hearing a familiar name, Xu Jing paused slightly.

Wasn’t this... Song Erniang’s voice?

Soon, another familiar and gentle male voice spoke, "Yanci has some matters to attend to today and will arrive later. I saw your maid looking for Yanci, so I followed her. She doesn’t know, so don’t blame her."

Was this... Xiao He’s voice?

What is going on?

This place was a corner near Zhao’s back courtyard, where few guests came. Xu Jing had only chosen this spot for its quietness, not expecting to overhear a major gossip.

After Xiao He spoke, Song Erniang’s voice fell silent, as if not knowing what to say, prompting Xiao He to gently say, "When you sent the sachet to Yanci last time, and he didn’t accept it, you should have understood his stance. Qingyun, from childhood to now, you’ve always been so stubborn."

Song Erniang’s voice, tinged with shock and embarrassment, resonated, "Didn’t I tell you? Men and women shouldn’t interact closely; you can’t call me by my given name! Did Xiao Qilang tell you about the sachet I gave him?"

"No, Yanci hasn’t said anything; I happened to see it then." Xiao He continued, "Qingyun, before you followed Madam Song back for mourning three years ago, did you never take to heart what I said to you?"

Behind the rockery came an eerie silence.

Sitting behind the rockery, Xu Jing was in a tough spot, unable to move or stay still, feeling the torment.

After a while, Song Erniang’s voice, laced with sobbing, finally came, "Xiao Erlang, you know my feelings. I thought, three years ago, you were just speaking casually and had long forgotten. I’m sorry..."

After she finished speaking, a distinctive light-footed female pace sounded, clearly indicating that Song Erniang had run away.

Only then did Xu Jing quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

It’s finally over.

But before she could fully relax, a gentle voice like polished jade came from behind, "Miss Xu, what a coincidence, or should I change my address and call you sister-in-law?"

Xu Jing’s body stiffened as she turned to face someone beside her, who smiled innocently, and replied, "Indeed, it is quite a coincidence. My apologies, I didn’t expect to overhear your conversation..."

"Don’t worry."

Xiao He seemed indifferent, turning to lean against the rockery and smirking slightly, "You should know that I, along with Changyu and Yanci, were once study companions of the Holy Emperor, and Mr. Song was our teacher. We’ve known Song Erniang since childhood. I’ve also had feelings for her since young. But in her eyes, she only sees Yanci. After you married Yanci, she followed Madam Song back home to mourn. I thought, if she genuinely likes Yanci that much and Yanci is willing to accept her, it wouldn’t be bad for them to be together."

But who would have thought she’d reappear beside Yanci in such a vastly different manner?

And for the first time in his life, Yanci truly gave his heart to a woman.

Xu Jing: "..."

No, aren’t you being a bit too indifferent?

Do I not understand him well enough, or is his cultivation too advanced?

"By the way," Xiao He suddenly turned to look at Xu Jing, his grin growing wider, "congratulations on planning to remarry Yanci. I’ve noticed he’s been quite busy with this lately."

Busy with this? What’s so busy about it?

Xu Jing lightly coughed and said, "We’re not really getting remarried; it’s unnecessary for someone like you, who knows the truth, to seriously congratulate us."

Xiao He’s eyes deepened slightly, shaking his head with amused disbelief.

Yanci has a long way to go.

Seeing Qingyu return, he straightened and said, "I’m heading to the front. You can find Changyu or me if anything comes up."

With that, he waved a casual goodbye and left.

Qingyu looked at the departing Xiao He in a daze and asked, "Miss Xu, do you know... Xiao Erlang?"

Xu Jing wordlessly glanced at the sky, "We’ve met a few times before, not too familiar. I’ve rested enough; let’s walk around a bit more, and then head to the front."

Qingyu took Xu Jing for another stroll, and suddenly Qingyi, beside Madam Cen, ran over and said, "Madam sent me to invite Doctor Xu over. Earlier, Madam gifted some of Doctor Xu’s Purple Gromwell Ointment to some ladies, and now that the others found out, they’re all really interested and want some of Miss Xu’s ointment."

With business knocking at her door, Xu Jing was more than happy to oblige.

She immediately followed Qingyi to where Madam Cen was. Madam Cen was entertaining guests in the front hall, where several extra long seats were set up, each occupied, mostly by women from various prestigious families.

When Xu Jing arrived, Madam Cen was skillfully engaging in lively conversations with various lady guests.

Zhao Jingming was seated beside Madam Cen, and upon seeing Xu Jing, he gave her a pained grin, evidently kept there forcibly by Madam Cen.

Xu Jing couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.

Suddenly, she felt a piercing gaze that was impossible to ignore. Catching the sight from the corner of her eye, she saw Xu Ya sitting in the far left corner, with two others beside her—one being Xu Jie, whom Xu Jing had met a few days ago, and the other, a graceful middle-aged woman.

Xu Jing squinted slightly.

It was Mrs. Wen, her biological father’s current wife, thus Xu Ya and Xu Jie’s mother.

Xu Ya wasn’t with the Wang family but instead with them.

Moreover, judging by the shocked looks Mrs. Wen and Xu Jie gave Xu Jing, they clearly knew who she was.

Just a few days ago at Huacui Pavilion, Xu Jie couldn’t recognize her, so it’s likely Xu Ya disclosed her identity to them.

What does Xu Ya want? Could it be the thing she’s thinking of?

If so, that’s indeed her... best move.

When Madam Cen saw Xu Jing, she promptly beckoned with a cheery smile for Xu Jing to come over and sit in the empty spot on her right. She then looked at a lady not far away and said, "Lady Gong Sun, this is the Doctor Xu I mentioned earlier. The Purple Gromwell Ointment I’ve been using is made by Doctor Xu. Oh dear, Doctor Xu is truly the most capable female doctor I have ever met..."

Before she could finish, Mrs. Wen suddenly stood up in the corner, gritted her teeth, and said, "Who is this Doctor Xu? Where did this doctor come from? Forth Lady, what do you intend by sneaking into Old Madam Zhao’s birthday banquet and hiding your identity!"