Chapter 1125 &126

Chapter 1125: What's Her Relationship with the Yao Family?

Yao Tianqin thought about the chaos in the Ministry of Works and didn't insist on staying longer.

He nodded, "Alright, Ah Yu, you sit for now. We can talk later."

Saying that, before Shu Yu could react, he quickly walked away.

Shu Yu was once again pulled to sit down by Madam Yao for a chat.

Yao An and Yao Hong both breathed a sigh of relief. They had thought Madam Yao was going to bring up the incident where they had driven someone away earlier.

Although Yao Tianqin had a somewhat simple and honest personality, Yao An and his sister were still somewhat afraid of him. He was now the Minister of Works, and they didn't dare to act recklessly. Moreover, they still wanted to ask for his help.

Now that he had gone off to attend to his duty, they finally felt at ease, and they had the time to size up Shu Yu.

Madam Yao and Kang Shi were very affectionate toward Shu Yu, treating her like their own daughter.

What was the origin of this girl?

Yao An wanted to ask, but they were talking so excitedly that he couldn't get a word in.

It was Yao Hong who, with her willful nature, interrupted and asked, "Aunt, you haven't introduced who this girl is and what her relationship is with our Yao family."

Madam Yao furrowed her brow, and a trace of disgust flashed in her eyes.

Kang Shi, a little annoyed, unlike Madam Yao's composed demeanor, raised her head sarcastically and said, "You're talking about Ah Yu, right? She's the village lord appointed by the emperor. You know those heating packs? She presented them to the emperor, who couldn't stop praising them."

Village lord?

Heating packs?

Yao siblings were dumbfounded. This girl, who traveled with only one servant and even stayed in the ship's cabin, is a village lord?

Both Yao An and Yao Hong, as well as Wang Jiayi, changed their expressions.

Kang Shi was satisfied to see them step back a few steps and snorted inwardly.

Ignoring them, she turned her head and continued talking to Shu Yu.

They asked Shu Yu about her plans for coming to the capital. Naturally, Shu Yu couldn't talk about Gong Qiu's matter, so she casually said, "I just finished some matters at home, and a friend is here in the capital to handle some business. I came to find him and, by the way, experience the city."

Shu Yu pointed to the gift box placed beside her, "These are prepared by my parents; they are specialties from our place. They insisted that I must give them to you to try."

"You're too polite." Madam Yao waved her hand, but her smile was radiant.

"Where is there any need for you to be polite? You even specially sent me a gift for my birthday."

Madam Yao asked her, "Do you like it?"

"Naturally, I do."

"Speaking of that, we have Minister Qi to thank. We had prepared the gifts for your coming-of-age ceremony, but originally planned to send them to the southwest. Who knew that you all returned to Dong'an Prefecture? For a while, we didn't know your address. Fortunately, Minister Qi also sent you a birthday gift. He has connections and directly sent the gifts to the county office to be delivered to you, just in time for your birthday."

Listening to this, Zhu mama was startled. Birthday gift? She knew about this matter; Madam and the Young Mistress had mentioned it a few months ago, saying that a good friend of theirs would soon have her coming-of-age ceremony, and they needed to prepare some congratulatory gifts.

But those things were all personally selected by Madam Yao, and after they were prepared, someone else delivered them, so Zhu Mama didn't know where they were sent.

It turned out that the congratulatory gifts were sent to Dong'an Prefecture, to this young lady in front of her.




Chapter 1126: Have You Read Any Books?

Zhu Mama suddenly realized. Madam Yao had mentioned it before that the congratulatory gifts were meant for a girl who had done a favor for the Yao family.

Her fondness for Shu Yu increased even more.

However, unlike Zhu Mama, Yao An's ears perked up at the mention of 'Minister Qi.'

His spirits soared. As far as he knew, there was only one influential and well-connected 'Minister Qi' in the capital—the Marquis of Shaofu.

Unexpectedly, this girl was not only a village lord and acquainted with his uncle, Minister Jing, but she was also acquainted with the Marquis of Shaofu, Minister Qi?

He wondered if this Minister Qi was Qi Chan, the Marquis of Shaofu, or someone else from the Qi family who held an official position.

But given that she was addressed as 'Minister Qi' by Madam Yao, it should be him, right?

Yao An inexplicably felt his heart pounding. He looked at Shu Yu with a hint of excitement in his eyes.

Shu Yu keenly noticed the glimmer in his eyes. She lifted her head and glanced at Yao An, "Young Master Yao, do you have something to say?"

Yao An suddenly came back to his senses and quickly shook his head, saying, "No, nothing."

His smile seemed somewhat ingratiating. "I was just curious. Aunt mentioned earlier that a certain Minister Qi gave gifts to the village lord. I wonder if this Minister Qi is the Marquis of Shaofu?"

"Yes, what about it?" Kang Shi replied in an irritable tone.

Yao An's smile grew even brighter. "Nothing much, I was just curious. I didn't expect the relationship between the village lord and the Marquis of Shaofu to be so good."

He chuckled lightly.

Madam Yao and Kang Shi felt embarrassed by his words. Madam Yao furrowed her brow slightly and said to him, "Yao An, didn't you say that you had fallen behind in your studies recently and wanted to catch up on your reading? Then you should go back to your room and read. Don't delay."

Yao An smiled and said, "Master Confucius said that studying should be balanced with leisure. I just finished an hour of practicing calligraphy and was about to take a short rest. It just so happens that I can chat with Aunt for a while; it won't be a bother."

"It's not a bother for you, but it is for me." Kang Shi replied with dissatisfaction.

Unfortunately, Madam Yao, out of respect for her elder status, couldn't directly send them away.

Shu Yu took a sip of tea and saw how annoyed Madam Yao and Kang Shi were, but also how frustrated they felt. She couldn't help but chuckle.

The two of them hadn't yet fully adapted to their current status, and coupled with encountering someone shameless, they couldn't help but feel constrained in their speech and actions.

Honestly, she didn't want to chat with Madam Yao and Kang Shi while having a few unrelated people hanging around, making them speak carefully and awkwardly.

Shu Yu reached out and pinched Kang Shi's hand on her side, smiling as she said, "Sister-in-law, I actually came this time with a personal matter to ask you about. Can we find a place to talk in private?"

Madam Yao immediately caught on, "Right, right, you two were close before, and it's rare to meet each other. You must have a lot to talk about. I won't intrude. Ah Yu, you can stay for lunch, and I'll go to the kitchen to give instructions. I can't let you be neglected."

"Thank you, Aunt. Then I'll trouble you," Shu Yu said with a smile.

"Don't be so polite," Madam Yao waved her hand and went to the kitchen.

As she left, Kang Shi stood up and said to Yao An and the others, "Third Brother, you can go ahead with your work. I'll take Ah Yu to my room to chat."

Yao An furrowed his brow and watched Shu Yu follow Kang Shi, and immediately gestured to Yao Hong.

Yao Hong caught up with them a few steps, "I'll go too."

Shu Yu suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at Yao Hong, "Miss Yao, have you read any books?"

Yao Hong was taken aback, her face turning red with anger. She felt that Shu Yu was humiliating her.

"Of course, I have!"