Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The prince and I have nothing to do with each other…

Biezhi never judged people's personalities based on first impressions. She had encountered many who appeared kind but were actually evil, and others who appeared fierce but were actually kind-hearted. However, the look in this Lord Zhang's eyes from time to time held a depth she couldn't quite place, as if he were observing something.

Madam Qin frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Her eyes fixed on the two figures walking ahead, her lips parted before she spoke for a moment, "Thank you for the reminder, young lady. We will be more careful."

Biezhi sensed Madam Qin's ambiguity, suggesting she didn't want to discuss the matter further.

Suddenly, a thoughtful gaze shot up from the stairs, and Biezhi caught it instantly. She glanced sideways at Madam Qin, who wore a faint smile, then pondered for a moment before saying no more.

That was all I had to say. Whether the Qin family would accept my proposal was their decision.

The banquet soon began.

Biezhi followed Madam Qin, allowing her to introduce herself to the ladies of the noble families. The aristocratic families attending the banquet were all well-established in the court, and today's banquet was the Qin family's formal introduction to her as the second daughter of the Qin family.

When Qin Wan arrived, she was listening to Madam Shen's recounting of interesting stories from the capital, suggesting that if she had time, the eldest son of the Shen family would take her on a tour of the capital.

"Biezhi," Qin Wan called out to Biezhi, then nodded slightly to Madam Shen and said, "Madam Shen, please forgive me, but I need to take Biezhi to the backyard."

Biezhi glanced over suspiciously.

The guests were all in the front hall, so why was she being taken to the backyard?

Madam Shen beamed upon seeing Qin Wan approach. "Of course, Miss Wan's affairs are of paramount importance."

Qin Wan thanked her again, turned aside, and sent her maid off to speak with Madam Qin. She then took Biezhi's hand and led her through the courtyard.

Biezhi followed her into the courtyard and asked, "What are we doing in the backyard?"

"I'm taking you to meet a few people," Qin Wan said slowly. After a moment's reflection, she added, "They are all daughters of aristocratic families I grew up with. They are all of excellent character. You can interact with them more often in the future."

Biezhi nodded.

Before mediating with the Qin family, she had made it clear that she would not have any contact with any other aristocratic families. Publicly, it would be disadvantageous to her, and privately, she naturally preferred to have as few acquaintances as possible.

However, she didn't intend to dwell on the matter. Qin Wan's instructions were enough for her to follow. As for how she would proceed, that was her business.

A hundred steps through the courtyard path brought her to the backyard.

From afar, Biezhi spotted two women smiling faintly in the pavilion. They seemed to sense their presence and simultaneously raised their eyelids to look.

Biezhi had just met one of them: Su Ci's younger sister, Su Qinghe. It was only after Qin Wan introduced her that she learned the woman in pale green at Su Qinghe's side was named Zhu Shi'an, whose father was General Zhu Xu, who had been stationed in southern Xinjiang for nearly fifteen years.

Biezhi greeted both of them.

"I've heard of your name for a long time," Su Qinghe poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her. "Wan'er mentioned you to us many times before you returned to the capital, but we never imagined we'd have the chance to meet until today."

"It's Miss Wan's busy schedule that's to blame," Zhu Shi'an said teasingly, raising his eyebrows slightly. "You've been visiting the palace every day. I'd have thought you'd be living there from now on." Biezhi

glanced at Qin Wan. She

was visiting the palace every day. Could it be that something good was coming to the Qin family?

The story of Prince Su and Qin Wan has been circulated in the capital for years, and it seems time for them to get married.

Biezhi sipped his tea thoughtfully.

This is a good thing for the Qin family.

Even if Lord Zhang wants to do something to the Qin family in the future, he'll have to think carefully before proceeding.

Facing her friend's meaningful smile, Qin Wan said helplessly: "Others don't know, but you two are still unaware of it. If you don't go over and pretend, and let the old people in the Imperial College nag about it, my ears will really get calluses."

Su Qinghe smiled: "Who told people outside to think you are the future princess?"

"I've clarified it a hundred times, but they haven't listened." Qin Wan got a headache when he heard this, and couldn't help but say a few more words: "They just like to believe in lingering stories. The seals distributed at the Imperial College Spring Banquet were also identified as the token of love between the prince and me, not to mention that they appeared in the same place and spread throughout the capital in less than half an hour."

Zhu Shian and Su Qinghe did not find this strange, but Biezhi was confused.

Seeing this, Su Qinghe couldn't help laughing and interrupted Qin Wan: "Don't talk about other people either. Our second young lady has been kept in the dark about the rumors. I'm afraid she has heard about the prince and your deeds after only half a day in Beijing."

Qin Wan frowned slightly, and turned her head to ask Biezhi in confusion: "You heard about it too?"

Biezhi had of course heard about it, and believed it without a doubt.

She blinked. "I heard about it the first day I arrived in Beijing."

Looking into Biezhi's bright, almond-shaped eyes, Qin Wan was speechless. Her lips parted for a long moment, and she sighed deeply. "They're all rumors."

Biezhi was confused. "What do you mean?"

"The prince and I have nothing to do with each other." Qin Wan suppressed her frustration and explained earnestly. "Childhood sweethearts, secretly engaged, those are all outrageous rumors."

"My brother and the prince knew each other when they were young, and they had a good relationship. That's why he occasionally came to visit my brother, but even when he did, we rarely saw each other." She had no idea how the outside world had come to believe the rumor that they were childhood sweethearts, "not to mention the terrifying rumor of a secret engagement."

The Qin family had explained the situation many times, and it was hard to say whether others believed it. But as a member of the Qin family, Biezhi felt it was important to know the truth.

Biezhi was stunned.

After a moment, she said, "My sister and the prince seem very familiar with each other."

"Because they are," Qin Wan didn't deny it. After a moment's hesitation, she added, "If we were in the same place, my brother and Su Ci would be there too."

Biezhi gave her a startled look and hesitated, "The calligraphy gathering..."

"I don't know," Qin Wan said faintly. "I don't know why the prince suddenly appeared on Yongle Avenue." After a pause, the resignation in her eyes deepened. "I can't be so bold as to tell him he can't be here. How many lives can I afford to do that?"

Biezhi could clearly sense Qin Wan's resentment. Normally, she was calm and concise, but when she mentioned the matter with Prince Su, she rambled on and on, unable to calm down for a moment.

However, Biezhi had never imagined that the match made in heaven, rumored for so many years in the capital, was actually a lie. She remained stunned for a moment, listening to Qin Wan's helpless sigh.

"Everyone only wants to believe what they want to believe." Su Qinghe patted her friend's hand comfortingly. "Childhood sweethearts' lingering love stories are indeed very attractive. Once you or the prince get married, the rumors will slowly disappear."

Qin Wan had no plans to marry yet, and she had been waiting for four or five years. Now, unable to bear it any longer, she lowered her voice and asked, "When exactly does the prince plan to get married?"

Zhu Shian shrugged. "You don't even know, so how could I?"

Su Qinghe hadn't heard her brother mention the prince having a crush on a woman. "Let's wait a little longer. At twenty-five, it's time to get married,"

Qin Wan sighed, glancing at Biezhi, who remained silent.

Their eyes met, and Biezhi blinked, perplexed. After a moment's pause, she understood what she meant. After a moment's reflection, she hesitantly said, "Then may he marry today?"

"Okay," Qin Wan nodded, satisfied.

Zhu Shi'an, intrigued by Biezhi's words, looked at her, "Who will he marry?"

Biezhi: "..."

He looked at her, wondering what she was doing. She had no idea.

It wouldn't be her, anyway.

In the study room of the other courtyard, separated from the backyard by a single wall, Fu Huaiqing's eyes suddenly twitched, and the fingertips grasping the black chess piece paused in mid-air for a moment before dropping.

The chess piece fell with a clear, bright sound, like a spring hitting stone.

Qin Xiao, sitting across from him, held his white piece in suspense, his gaze fixed on the chessboard. He said, "Li Shanjue came to my father after leaving court yesterday, intending to bring that playboy to apologize, but my father refused." "

It's been nearly seven days since he even thought of coming to apologize," Su Ci, arriving a few steps late at the Qin residence, observed the chess game from the side. "I guess he didn't take it too seriously."

The day Su Ci filed a petition accusing Li Shanjue of lax household management, his first instinct was to go to Prince Su's residence, not the Qin family. After being turned away for five consecutive days, he realized the thorny nature of the situation.

"You filed a petition, so he naturally assumed it was the prince's intention." Qin Xiao set down his chess piece. He only learned of the conflict between Biezhi and the second son of the Li family that night. The next day, at court, Su Ci wrote a petition to Li Shanjue in front of all the civil and military officials. Later, upon questioning, he learned that he had been at the Qingshizhai that day and had witnessed the entire confrontation.

Upon hearing this, Su Ci glanced vaguely at the calm man.

Li Shanjue's suspicions were correct; Fu Huaiqing had indeed sent someone to inform him of this matter. It was just that when Qin Xiao inquired, he had subconsciously concealed the details.

Qin Xiao, who hadn't received a response for a long time, looked over and coughed softly. "It's just a matter of convenience. I think the Li family will announce their second son's marriage soon, hoping to change the public's impression of them."

Fu Huaiqing rubbed the chess piece between his fingers, his expression growing colder.

Su Ci was reluctant to discuss the matter. While he didn't know why the prince had offered his assistance, the fact that he hadn't explained it to Qin Xiao clearly indicated that he didn't want to discuss it with the Qin family.

After a moment's silence, Su Ci looked at Qin Xiao and subtly changed the subject. "Has the person you're looking for not been found yet?"

Suddenly, Qin Xiao's expression changed.

He glanced at Su Ci, who looked puzzled, then returned his gaze to the chessboard. "I've found him,"

Fu Huaiqing said, raising his gaze.

Su Ci didn't expect his action to be so quick, and raised his eyebrows: "Where did you find it?"

"At home." Qin Xiao didn't even raise his head.

Su Ci: "......?"

Didn't they say they met outside Beijing, how come they were looking for it in Beijing?

He hesitated for a moment and frowned: "What's the matter."

Qin Xiao's eyes fixed for a few minutes, and after a while he said: "Biezhi is her."

Su Ci, who had won the top three prizes and seen many big scenes in the past, was stunned to the ground, frowned and asked: "What are you going to do."

Qin Xiao said truthfully: "I don't know." As soon

as the voice fell, Fu Huaiqing, who had been listening silently, raised his eyelids, cast his eyes on the man who seemed to be wandering in mind, and pursed his thin lips into a straight line.

Not knowing means that he has never considered it, let alone decided to let it go.

Fu Huaiqing's face was gloomy, and he said lightly: "She is your sister."