Xie Yanqing fell silent.
Daiqing was indeed someone he had rescued at the border. Originally, after saving her, he had intended to send her back home. However, Daiqing claimed that her family had all perished in the war, leaving her alone and helpless, with no one to rely on. She only sought a place to settle down and make a living. In the end, Xie Yanqing, moved by a moment of compassion, allowed Daiqing to enter the Loyal Marquis Manor as a personal maid.
Even…
Before returning to the capital, Xie Yanqing had indeed discussed with his father the idea of having him adopt Daiqing as his goddaughter. Once back in the capital, they would help her find a reliable family to marry into, ensuring her a stable life.
He hadn’t even mentioned this matter to the Jiang brothers, yet… Jiang Yueyao knew about Daiqing soon becoming his god-sister.
And what Jiang Yueyao said about Daiqing being a Northern Liang spy…
Xie Yanqing took a sharp breath.
Ever since he had heard Jiang Yueyao’s inner voice at the Jiang residence, he had been arranging for investigations.
So far, no incriminating letters or weapons and armor had been discovered, but… perhaps it was only because they had just returned to the capital and were still settling in, making it difficult for the other party to act.
But this was even better… They could directly monitor the manor in the outskirts of the capital and his father’s study to see who exactly was trying to frame them.
He never expected…
That person would be Daiqing.
No.
Xie Yanqing shook his head.
Daiqing alone couldn’t possibly accomplish so much—she must have a master behind her!
They needed to follow Daiqing to uncover the true mastermind behind the plot to frame the Loyal Marquis Manor!
Xie Yanqing took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to apprehend Daiqing immediately.
Meanwhile…
Upon hearing Jiang Yueyao’s inner voice, Jiang Yuehua had already produced a silver needle in her hand.
This person… was the one trying to frame the Loyal Marquis Manor.
And a Northern Liang spy at that.
Should they keep her alive just to celebrate the New Year?!
However…
Before Jiang Yuehua could strike with her silver needle, she suddenly noticed Xie Yanqing’s expression.
Jiang Yuehua and Xie Yanqing could be considered childhood sweethearts, with a faint sense of ambiguity between them. So… with just one glance, Jiang Yuehua understood his expression.
It was a mix of… shock, realization, and hatred, followed by… the gaze of a hunter locking onto its prey.
Why would Xie Yanqing suddenly look at Daiqing with such an expression?
Could it be…
That he could also hear her sister’s inner voice?!
Jiang Yuehua was startled.
She had thought she was the only one who could hear her sister’s inner voice, but it turned out… Xie Yanqing could too.
Then…
Was Xie Yanqing holding back because… he wanted to follow the clues?
Jiang Yuehua silently retracted her silver needle…
Lately, her silver needle seemed to make frequent appearances, only to be quietly put away again…
“Sis, what are you thinking about?”
Jiang Yueyao suddenly noticed that her sister and Xie Yanqing had both fallen silent, and the atmosphere felt a bit off.
[Damn, could it be that my sister and Xie Yanqing have actually taken a liking to each other?]
[The silent tension between a young couple?]
[No way, sis, wake up!]
[You can’t keep a Big Pig Trotter like him!!!]
“Ah? No, it’s nothing.”
Jiang Yuehua shook her head. “Yao Yao, didn’t you want to go to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant? I’ll take you there to try it.”
She wasn’t sure how to face Xie Yanqing at the moment and decided to take things slowly.
However…
How could Xie Yanqing bear to let his beloved leave just like that?”Wait… Yuehua, are you and your sister going to Drunken Immortal Restaurant? Let me treat you. I still have a jar of Peach Blossom Brew stored there. I remember you love the taste of Peach Blossom Brew the most.”
Jiang Yuehua glanced at Daiqing beside her and curled her lips slightly.
“Young Marquis Xie’s wine is too precious for someone like me to accept. Please offer it to someone else.”
Xie Yanqing: …
What? Why has Yuehua’s attitude suddenly changed?
Just as he was about to speak again to persuade her, Daiqing beside him suddenly let out a soft “Oh!”
She seemed to have tripped accidentally and instinctively leaned toward Xie Yanqing’s embrace.
In the past, Xie Yanqing would have instinctively reached out to steady Daiqing. After all, she had served by his side for so long, and he regarded her like a younger sister.
But now…
After hearing Jiang Yueyao’s inner voice, Xie Yanqing viewed Daiqing’s gaze differently.
Noticing the direction of Daiqing’s fall, Xie Yanqing directly sidestepped to avoid her.
Daiqing: … nearly fell flat on her face.
In the end, she barely managed to maintain her balance and didn’t fall.
But…
Precisely because she didn’t fall, the expressions of both Xie Yanqing and Jiang Yuehua nearby changed.
Daiqing actually had martial skills, and that turning movement… was all too familiar to them, having guarded the border for several years.
It was a habitual movement of Northern Liang people.
She really was a Northern Liang spy!
Xie Yanqing and Jiang Yuehua reaffirmed Jiang Yueyao’s inner voice.
Completely unaware, Daiqing had already been exposed in that brief moment.
Now, she cast a bashful glance at Xie Yanqing.
“Young master, it was this servant who didn’t stand steadily… It’s fortunate that young master didn’t help me, or else Miss Jiang might have misunderstood… Ah, Miss Jiang, I mean, there’s really nothing between the young master and me. Please don’t overthink it.”
[Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!]
[Tea, green tea, big green tea, the tea fragrance is overflowing!]
[With words like that, even if my sister hadn’t misunderstood anything before, she’d definitely start misunderstanding after hearing you]
[No wonder my sister and Xie Yanqing grew distant later. With such a scheming green tea by his side, how could their relationship remain close?]
[Speaking of which, what is this green tea thinking? So eager to make my sister misunderstand Xie Yanqing. Could it be that this green tea actually has her eyes on that Big Pig Trotter?]
[Tsk, such poor taste]
Jiang Yueyao clicked her tongue in amazement inwardly.
Over there, Daiqing continued to exude the fragrance of green tea.
“Miss Jiang, actually, my young master came to the Jewel Pavilion today specifically to buy you a gift.”
“The pearls he prepared for you last time didn’t meet your standards. When he heard the Jewel Pavilion had received a batch of South Pearls, he came specially to select some. Miss Jiang, please don’t blame our young master anymore, alright? Actually, the previous pearls were quite precious too.”
Jiang Yueyao casually pulled out the sunflower seeds she had just asked her maid to buy, cracking them open with crisp sounds, and specially used a small paper bag to collect the shells.
[Oh my god, this is the green tea tactic]
[Superficially speaking up for the Big Pig Trotter, but actually every sentence hints that my sister is materialistic and looked down on his previous pearls for not being precious enough]
[Tsk tsk, indeed killing with soft knives]
[But… this Daiqing can’t possibly be stupid, can she? Does she not know those previous pearls were meant for me?]【Wow, sis hit the nail on the head! So when Big Pig Trotter came to my place earlier, he wasn’t actually bringing gifts for me, but preparing them for my sister?】
【The moment he arrived in the capital, he rushed to deliver presents to my sister. When Pearl didn’t work out, he immediately wanted to buy the more precious South Pearl for her. Somehow, Big Pig Trotter’s actions are actually touching me a little?】