Chapter 352
Xiao Hanyuan greeted Qu Mingcheng dejectedly, “Second Cousin Brother!”
Qu Mingcheng was walking over with the help of a lad servant. He was much better than before, and he sometimes took a walk.
Qu Mingcheng came over and asked with a smile, “Cousin Brother, what’s wrong?”
Xiao Hanyuan forced a smile. “I’m fine. Second Cousin Brother, you haven’t fully recovered yet. You should rest more.”
“Was it Eldest Sister who passed by just now? Did she come back from Moying’s place?” Qu Mingcheng smiled as if he did not know anything. He looked in the direction that Qu Xuexin had gone.
“I don’t know where she has been.” Xiao Hanyuan smiled bitterly and shook his head. He felt an indescribable pain in his heart. He did not understand why Qu Xuexin suddenly changed into a different person.
Qu Mingcheng asked, “Do you think that Eldest Sister has changed?”
This question hit Xiao Hanyuan’s mind. He nodded and sighed, “It’s strange. Eldest Cousin Sister… seems to have changed into another person.”
“Maybe it’s because she came back from Moying’s place.” Qu Mingcheng looked at the place from where Qu Xuexin just came over.
Xiao Hanyuan noticed the implied meaning in Qu Mingcheng’s words and grabbed him. “Second Cousin Brother, do you know something? What happened? Hasn’t the matter with the Side Princess of Crown Prince’s Mansion been settled?”
He heaved a sigh of relief when he heard that the matter was settled.
“It seems to be settled…” Qu Mingcheng forced a smile. He stood with the help of the lad servant in silence for a moment. Then, he pointed to a pavilion on the side and said, “Cousin Xiao, let’s talk over there.”
“OK!” Seeing that he couldn’t stand still, Xiao Hanyuan nodded and reached out to help the lad servant support him.
The three of them sat down in the pavilion.
As soon as they sat down, Xiao Hanyuan couldn’t wait to ask, “Second Cousin Brother, is there something behind this? Did Crown Prince’s Mansion’s people go back on their words?”
Qu Mingcheng said meaningfully, “No, that’s not the case. It’s just that the Side Princess of Eastern Palace has a special relationship with Moying.”
Xiao Hanyuan was stunned. He didn’t know about this. “What relationship?”
“The ex-Crown Princess of Eastern Palace was Moying’s Cousin Sister. Princess Ji was also the ex-Crown Princess’ Cousin Sister. She entered Eastern Palace to take care of the seriously ill ex-Crown Princess back then. It could be seen that their relationship was not ordinary. If Princess Ji sees Moying, she will call her Cousin Sister warmly.”
Qu Mingcheng explained the relationship between Qu Moying and Ji Youran.
Xiao Hanyuan pondered over it and asked doubtfully, “Since Princess Ji has such a good relationship with Qu Mansion, why did she make things so difficult for Eldest Cousin Sister? It was just an accident, but why did she make a fuss?”
Since the relationship between Qu Moying and Princess Ji was so close, why did Princess Ji make such a big fuss? Although this matter could be considered settled, Xiao Hanyuan knew that words would get out, and it would taint Qu Xuexin’s reputation. In addition, Qu Xuexin fell into the water and was rescued by a man last night.
This matter did harm to Qu Xuexin’s reputation, and what happened now added fuel to the fire. Ji Youran was the Side Princess of Crown Prince’s Mansion, whose move would be watched by many people, and it meant that what happened to Qu Xuexin would be seen and known by many people.
Qu Mingcheng didn’t give a direct answer. He just curled his lips and said helplessly, “That’s why I asked you just now if my Eldest Sister came back from Moying’s place.”
“Is it because of Fourth Cousin Sister?” Xiao Hanyuan’s face changed.
“I’m not too sure about that. I just think that if something happens, it is very likely to have something to do with Moying. Of course, I may have guessed wrong. After all, I did not see what happened with my own eyes. I heard it from others. Unlike you, you saw it with your own eyes.”
Qu Mingcheng’s words were watertight but meaningful.
Xiao Hanyuan thought about it carefully, and the corners of his eyes twitched. “Did Fourth Cousin Sister do it on purpose?”
“It can’t be!” Qu Mingcheng waved his hand. “Alright, Cousin Xiao. Maybe what we guessed is wrong. Moying has always been very good to Eldest Sister. The relationship between the two of them is the closest among the sisters. It’s meaningless for us to do the guesswork.”
Qu Mingcheng said hurriedly as if he wanted to dispel Xiao Hanyuan’s suspicions.
But he sounded insincere. It reminded Xiao Hanyuan of how Qu Xuexin and Qu Moying got along that day. They didn’t seem to be close to each other, and he felt that they were somewhat hostile to each other.
Thinking of this, he figured something out. He suddenly stood up, his face livid from anger. He turned around and was about to leave.
Qu Mingcheng grabbed his sleeve and asked, “Cousin Xiao, what do you want to do?”
Xiao Hanyuan said angrily, “I’m going to ask Fourth Cousin Sister about it. She clearly set up Eldest Cousin Sister on purpose.”
“Did you misunderstand something? What we said just now was just a guess. There is no evidence. Even if there is a grudge in Moying’s heart, it is impossible…”
At this point, Qu Mingcheng realized that he had made a slip of the tongue and quickly shut his mouth.
“Second Cousin Brother, what do you mean?” Xiao Hanyuan grabbed Qu Mingcheng’s hand and asked anxiously. He detected many other messages from Qu Mingcheng’s words.
Qu Mingcheng knew that he had misspoken and hurriedly waved his hand. “Cousin Xiao, I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I only know that you’d better not get close to Eldest Sister now.”
After saying that, he held the lad servant’s hand and stood up. He pushed Xiao Hanyuan’s hand away and was about to leave in a panic.
How could Xiao Hanyuan let him go at this time? Qu Mingcheng didn’t even finish his words, and it made Xiao Hanyuan so curious that he grabbed Qu Mingcheng’s sleeve tightly, and the veins on his forehead bulged. “Second Cousin Brother, if you still take me as your Cousin Brother, you should make it clear to me. Why can’t I get close to Eldest Cousin Sister? Why didn’t she let me get close to her?”
After saying this, Xiao Hanyuan was stunned. He stared at Qu Mingcheng blankly. He opened his mouth, but he could not say a word.
He suddenly knew the answer!
Seeing him like this, Qu Mingcheng knew that he understood. Xiao Hanyuan loosened his grip. Qu Mingcheng pulled his sleeve back from Xiao Hanyuan’s hand and shook his head with a bitter smile, “Cousin Xiao, you made a mistake. You should not have been so close to Eldest Sister. It could be said to be your fault. Originally, your family and our mansion…”
At this point, Qu Mingcheng sighed again and reached out to pat Xiao Hanyuan on the shoulder. “Cousin Xiao, take care of yourself! Grandmother has decided on the marriage.”
After saying that, he turned around and left, leaving Xiao Hanyuan standing there alone with a darkened face.
It turned out that Qu Xuexin suffered because of him. Her fall into the water yesterday might have something to do with Qu Moying. After all, Qu Moying was on the boat while they were both chased off the boat by the owner of the boat. If he and Qu Xuexin were not driven off the boat, there would be no subsequent trouble.
Qu Xuexin would not have had a conflict with Princess Ji.
Therefore, Xiao Hanyuan thought it was all his fault, and it was he who landed Qu Xuexin in trouble.
Xiao Hanyuan’s face was livid at first, but then it became ashamed and regretful.
He didn’t want to marry Qu Moying, and he had never thought of marrying her. He didn’t like her fickle personality.
He couldn’t accept that she stayed with the boat’s owner alone last night, not to mention her previous blind date with Third Young Master He.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Xiao Hanyuan could not help but angrily turn around and walk towards Qianyue House.
After arriving at Qianyue House’s gate, he went straight in. Seeing him, an old maid hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.
“Where is the Fourth Lady?” Xiao Hanyuan was not totally irrational and stopped in his tracks.
The old maid quickly said, “Please wait for a moment, Young Master Xiao. I will go and report your arrival now.”
Xiao Hanyuan nodded.
The old maid went in to report. After a while, Yu Dong came out. Seeing Xiao Hanyuan standing in the middle of the yard with an angry face, Yu Dong was also angry.
He didn’t know why Xiao Hanyuan was here. Qu Xuexin had just left, and now Xiao Hanyuan came. There was no moment of peace.
Yu Dong stepped forward and bowed to him, “Greetings, Young Master Xiao.”
Xiao Hanyuan said self-righteously, “Where is your lady? I want to see her.”
Yu Dong replied with a smile, “I’m really sorry. Our lady is not feeling well and is resting. It is inconvenient for her to see anyone now.”
Xiao Hanyuan’s face immediately darkened. “Didn’t she see First Lady just now? Why can’t she see me now? Does she feel guilty?”
“Young Master Xiao, what do you mean? Our lady didn’t see First Lady just now.” Yu Dong raised his head, and the smile on his face slowly faded away.
Hearing Yu Dong’s words, Xiao Hanyuan thought that he was trying to cover it up and shouted coldly, “Do you think your words are credible? First Lady is gravely wronged, and it is all your lady’s fault. I am here to tell her that it is impossible for me to accept her. Let her drop the idea forever.”
He made such a noise at the yard’s gate, and some maids and old maids who walked past the yard were stunned by him.
They all knew him, but what did his words mean?
They wondered if Qu Moying was going to marry him.
Seeing that he shouted angrily without caring about Qu Moying’s reputation, Yu Dong was also annoyed. He put his hand on his waist, sized up Xiao Hanyuan, and sneered coldly, “Young Master Xiao, what do you mean by this? What does our lady have to do with you? She has only seen you a few times. How dare you dream so wildly?”
If he was not in Qu Mansion and if he was not only a maid here, he would have beaten Xiao Hanyuan. How could Xiao Hanyuan be so insensible? He was tainting Qu Moying’s reputation.
Yu Dong’s words were blunt. Xiao Hanyuan felt as if he was slapped twice after hearing such words from a maid. He was embarrassed and angry. He glared at Yu Dong and was about to make a scene.
But then, another maid who also served Qu Moying came out in a hurry. Seeing Xiao Hanyuan, the maid bowed sideways to him and said, “Young Master Xiao, our lady invites you in.”