Xie Qingran showed no expression. She merely gave a faint nod, wanting to get away from these people and go to her private room.
But Lu Jinzhi, as if there was something wrong with him, blocked Xie Qingran’s path. “Eldest Miss Xie, why are you so impolite?”
“Kindly get lost.”
Xie Qingran was suddenly very polite, but after she spoke, the expressions of everyone present changed, especially Lu Jinzhi’s.
Lu Jinzhi simply couldn’t believe that Xie Qingran would actually speak to him like this.
“That’s right, Sister. Young Master Shen is the son of a royal merchant. You should at least greet him, shouldn’t you?”
Xie Hanyue looked at Xie Qingran with a helpless expression.
Xie Qingran had originally intended to drink some tea, but her mood was now ruined.
She looked coldly at Xie Hanyue and said, “If you like Young Master Shen so much, then stay and have a nice chat with him. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t be keeping you company!”
After saying this, Xie Qingran turned to head downstairs.
But at that moment, Xie Hanyue suddenly burst into tears.
“Sister, I was just reminding you. How could you say that about me?”
“A girl’s reputation is so important… For you to say that about me, I might as well just die!”
As she spoke, Xie Hanyue started to run towards a nearby pillar. Lu Jinzhi hurriedly reached out to stop her, grabbing her tightly and roaring at Xie Qingran.
“You, shut your mouth!”
“Hurry up and apologize to Yue’er!”
Xie Qingran didn’t even turn her head, single-mindedly wanting to leave this place of trouble.
Infuriated, Lu Jinzhi reached out to grab Xie Qingran, but unexpectedly, in a moment of carelessness, he pushed her down.
“Miss!”
“Eldest Miss!”
Baozhu shrieked in terror and scrambled after her.
Like a rubber ball, Xie Qingran tumbled down from the upper floor, landing heavily on the ground. A searing pain shot through her arm.
She took a deep breath and struggled to get up from the floor. Baozhu quickly ran to her side, tears streaming down her face. “What’s wrong, Eldest Miss? What happened to you?”
“It’s nothing.” Xie Qingran moved her joints, confirming that her arm was likely just dislocated, not broken.
That was a relief.
“Eldest Miss Xie, are you alright?”
Shen Wen Yuan walked over, looking at Xie Qingran with some concern.
Xie Qingran felt nothing towards Shen Wen Yuan. In her past life, Shen Wen Yuan had always remained on the sidelines. He never spoke a word for her, just stood aside and watched in silence.
Such a person was, in a way, even more detestable than the perpetrators!
Xie Qingran’s face was expressionless. She gave him a cold glance and turned to leave.
“Eldest Miss Xie, you’re injured. You should see a physician. Let me help you call for one,” Shen Wen Yuan offered, stepping forward again and reaching out to pull Xie Qingran.
Xie Qingran’s expression changed instantly, and she shoved Shen Wen Yuan away.
“Young Master Shen, please have some self-respect!”
Xie Qingran’s tone was sharp and severe, which took Shen Wen Yuan by surprise.
This was clearly their first meeting, so he couldn’t understand why Xie Qingran was treating him this way.
A cold sweat beaded on Xie Qingran’s forehead. Without another glance at the crowd, she strode away.
Once outside, Xie Qingran found a deserted corner and, with a sharp jerk, popped her dislocated arm back into its socket.
“Ah!”
Baozhu was terrified, clapping a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream.
“Eldest Miss, are you alright!”
“This servant will go fetch a physician!”
Xie Qingran flexed her arm and then said faintly, “It’s fine. There’s no need. Let’s go back.”
She had wanted to come out for a stroll, but now her good mood was completely gone. Xie Qingran handed everything she was holding to Baozhu.
“Make a trip and deliver all of this to the Zhen Guo Duke Manor. Say it’s a small token of my affection for the children.”
Xie Qingran smiled, boarded her carriage, and gave an order. The carriage began to sway and move away.
Baozhu thought for a moment, then turned and headed towards the Zhen Guo Duke Manor.
In the shadows, the man in the wheelchair’s expression shifted.
“Luhua, did you see that clearly?”
Luhua immediately nodded. “She did indeed reset her dislocated arm. Her movements were steady, precise, and ruthless. This Eldest Miss of the Xie Family is truly extraordinary!”
Xiao Jue’s brows knitted together. He glanced at him. “Back to the manor. Take the shortcut!”
He was very curious to know what Xie Qingran had sent him.
Zhen Guo Duke Manor.
Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yanran with some dissatisfaction, saying irritably, “Can’t you have a little more self-control?”
“Brother, how do I not have self-control?”
“This is really delicious. Smell it, it’s so fragrant!”
Xiao Yanran looked at Xiao Yu, aggrieved.
The Zhen Guo Duke Manor lacked for nothing, except for a considerate person. Although Xiao Jue doted on his younger brother and sister, he was, after all, a rough man and had no idea what children truly needed.
All these years, the children had eaten the same food as him from the manor’s kitchens. They had no idea what things from the outside tasted like, especially these little snacks for children, which they had never even seen before.
Xiao Yu thought for a moment, picked up a Hawthorn Bean, and popped it into his mouth. Then he gave one to Xiao Yanran. “You can eat this. It’s not poisoned!”
“Brother, she won’t harm us. Doesn’t she want to be our sister-in-law?” Xiao Yanran’s eyes curved into crescents. “Brother, I want this Little Sugar Figure too, and the Osmanthus Sugar! Brother, I like them. Can I eat them?”
Xiao Yu had been about to scold Xiao Yanran, but seeing her face full of anticipation, his heart ached. He could only nod and hand the things to her. “Go on, eat whatever you like!”
“Big Brother!”
Just as Xiao Yanran was about to eat, she saw Xiao Jue had returned. She hurried forward and stuffed the Little Sugar Figure in her hand into Xiao Jue’s mouth.
“Big Brother, look what this is!”
Xiao Yanran beamed at Xiao Jue, then took out a small piece of cloth to show him.
The moment Xiao Jue saw it, his expression changed instantly. His brows furrowed tightly. Even though he had never been with a woman, he knew very well what this was. He snatched it over. “Where did this come from?”
“Sister Xie gave it to me. Baozhu said I’m getting older and should wear this.” Xiao Yanran looked at Xiao Jue earnestly. “Brother, how do you wear this?”
Xiao Jue’s old face flushed red, and the small piece of cloth in his hand felt scorching hot.
He had never imagined that a girl would need this when she grew up. There were so many matrons and old maids in the manor, yet not a single one had thought of it.
But Xie Qingran, how did she know? How could she be so thoughtful?