Chapter 622: Chapter 587: Deeply Attracted to Him (2)
Su Qing didnât directly tell Lin Xiaoyue the reason, only said that Amuerâs blue eyes would attract a lot of attention from the outside, which wouldnât be good for the child.
Lin Xiaoyue didnât suspect anything, nodded in response, "Alright, I wonât take him out anymore."
Su Qing held her, resting his chin on the top of her head, eyes once again clouded with a deep color.
This time, in the great battle, on the surface, West Yue was subdued, but in reality, a few key figures from the Imperial Family escaped, and they werenât found even when the war ended.
On that day in the Jinluan Palace, when reporting truthfully to Emperor Guangxi, he didnât mind, "The state is already broken, how can a few little fleas overturn the heavens? Let people search for a while. Itâs best if they can be found, but if they canât, then forget it. Thereâs no need to waste energy on this."
ââ
Song Mansion.
After dinner, Wen Wan recounted to Song Wei what she saw and heard at the Su Family during the day.
When he heard the words "blue eyes," Song Wei paused in his tea-drinking motion.
Wen Wan was making a cloth ball for Qi Bao to play with, and upon hearing this, she looked over, "Whatâs the matter?"
"Itâs nothing." Song Wei shook his head.
The pupils of West Yue people were actually no different from Da Chu people, but because the ancestors of the West Yue Royal Family had blue eyes, occasionally a child with blue pupils would be born among the royals. Though the chances werenât high, once it happened, they would be regarded as pureblooded Chosen Ones of the royal line.
Therefore, the child Su Qing brought back wasnât just picked up casually; Amuer was very likely of royal birth.
Song Wei knew about these things because he loved collecting and read extensively. He had come across snippets about the West Yue Jiuli Clan in an ancient book once.
The couple sat for a while, then Nanny Qin came in through the curtain. She had been on night duty these days, wearing a water-red jacket and skirt awarded by Wen Wan. Her hairstyle changed too; no longer tying a headband, she wore a single spiral bun adorned with the red gemstone hairpin.
Once inside, she followed the rules and paid respects to the masters of the house.
Song Wei, wanting to avoid suspicion, intended to leave first, but Wen Wan spoke ahead, "Yun Cai, go to the outer study to find Duan Yan, and ask which books the master wants to read every night. Bring them to my room."
Yun Cai acknowledged and went out.
Only then did Wen Wan look at Nanny Qin, who was standing with her head down, and smiled, "Sit down."
Nanny Qin obediently sat down.
Wen Wan had just finished making the cloth ball. She put down the thread and talked to Nanny Qin like chatting casually, "Did you rest well during the day?"
"Madam, Iâm full of energy," she replied.
"Thatâs good." Wen Wan nodded, "The weatherâs getting cold, the master wonât go to the study anymore, but will read in my room. If you have anything at night, donât wait so hard, just knock on the door directly to find him."
Though the words were not explicit, they made the listenerâs face turn pale, "Madam, I..."
"Whatâs wrong?"
"The maids in the laundry room havenât sent the babyâs diapers yet, Iâll go check."
Having said that, Nanny Qin left Qingteng Residence as if escaping.
Wen Wan watched her back, unable to hold back her laughter.
Song Wei asked her, "What are you laughing at?"
"Donât you find this little nanny interesting?"
Song Wei was puzzled, "Interesting?"
Wen Wan said, "She lost her man at seventeen or eighteen, and on her first day in the mansion, dressed like a little old woman. The servants said she was plain, but really, was she that plain? I gave her a set of clothes, and didnât she just know how to dress up? Hmm, seems she even put on lip rouge tonight, looks quite moist."
Song Wei didnât respond.
Wen Wan secretly glanced at him, thinking menâs perspectives were often different from womenâs. Even if she pointed it out this much, Song Wei might not notice anything odd. She stopped talking, figuring there was plenty of time to force the little nanny to show her true colors someday.
When Nanny Qin arrived at the laundry room, several young maids had just finished eating and were sitting around the fire talking idly.
Seeing Nanny Qin come in, they all fell silent and turned their heads to look over.
Xique asked her, "What brings Sister Qin to run an errand herself?"
Nanny Qin replied, "Itâs getting late, and the babyâs diapers havenât been delivered yet, so I came to pick them up."
"How could that be?" Xique said, "These chores are for servants to do. Sister, your health is precious, better not dirty your hands. Someone will deliver them later, otherwise Madam would be unhappy."
As she spoke, she eyed her, "Sister, would you like to sit down first and have a cup of tea?"
Nanny Qin could feel the hostility in the eyes of these girls from the moment she entered. Without looking at anyone, she said business-like, "Since Iâm here, thereâs no need for you to go again. Just give it to me."
"Oh, Sister got Madamâs favor and doesnât regard us servants anymore? Well, Sister, with your words, the master will help write a letter. We who canât read a word wouldnât dare trouble you with it, would we?"
Nanny Qinâs face immediately turned ugly. Last nightâs incident, she was sure only she and the master knew, so how had it spread to the laundry room in just one day?
"Sister Xique, donât speak recklessly," Du Juan took over, "Sister Qin opened her mouth, and didnât the master refuse? If he really agreed, weâd have no chance to call you sister, weâd have to call you master."
As soon as she finished speaking, the maids burst into laughter together.
Nanny Qin, eyes red with anger, left without taking the diapers.
"Tsk, a little success goes to oneâs head." Xique rolled her eyes, "Who in the middle of the night wouldnât sleep but dress like that to ask the master to write a letter? Moreover, there are so many literate people in the mansion, why did she ignore everyone else and find only the master? To say she had no designs, Iâd never believe it."
"Arenât you right? Seeing her dress like that before, I thought she was honest and dutiful. How long has she been in the mansion, and sheâs already trying to seduce the master using Madamâs status. Doesnât even look at her own worth. Itâs just that the place has more significance for the baby, does she want to share it with the master too? The master is a dignified Standard Fourth Rank Junior Minister. So many families are eager to send young maidens to be his concubine, and he doesnât fancy them, would he take a liking to a little widow?"
...
Nanny Qin left the laundry room, feeling a fire blocked in her chest, unable to be blown away by the cold wind.
Taking advantage of the early hour, she returned to her room, washed her face, changed out of her clothes, returning to her previous attire.
When she went back to Qingteng Residence again, Yun Cai had already moved the books Song Wei wanted. He was now sitting upright at the writing desk, eyes focused on the bamboo slip, seemingly not noticing her arrival.
Wen Wan and Qi Bao were inside, and a few maids had already left. Now the outer room had only her and Song Wei.
Nanny Qin sneaked a glance at the man under the lamp.
She had to admit, Song Wei was extremely handsome. But more captivating was that mature and steady aura about him.
Nanny Qin didnât deny that she was deeply attracted to him from the first day she entered the mansion.