NOVPUB
Chapter 891: Chapter 894: Be Careful What You Say
But the housekeeper’s face was full of haughtiness, showing not the slightest hint of guilt.
Qiao Laixi hastily bowed, "I dare not, being able to become in-laws with Master Xu is a fortune for our Qiao Family."
Before he could finish, the housekeeper quickly interrupted him, "Mr. Qiao, you mustn’t speak carelessly. The third young miss became a concubine, how could that be equated to becoming in-laws?"
The stature and position of his own master were clear for all to see, they were beyond what the Qiao Family could aspire to reach.
Qiao Laixi nodded quickly, "I understand, I misspoke. I ask Master Xu to not hold the ignorant accountable."
If the two families became in-laws, it would mean Master Xu would have to call him father.
Liu’s family hastily gave Qiao Laixi a meaningful glance, prompting him to speak about the matter at hand!
The more he said, the more mistakes he could make, and if Master Xu got upset, wouldn’t the matter regarding Qiao Mei’er make him even angrier?
The Xu family were members of the royal family; who were they to offend them? 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
Qiao Laixi quickly called out, "Master Xu, please come inside, I have something else to discuss with you."
The three shabby thatched cottages made Xu Yuanwai furrow his brows—under normal circumstances, he certainly wouldn’t enter such a place.
But today, since he needed to bring back someone else’s daughter as a concubine, he would make do just this once.
Upon entering the room, the housekeeper pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the stool several times before Master Xu would sit down, though he barely perched on the edge.
"Master Xu, please have some water. I’ve added three spoonfuls of sugar," Qiao Laixi said.
Liu’s family’s face was plastered with a smile.
There was only a little sugar left at home. She had intended to save it all for Qiao Jingu, but since Xu Yuanwai was no ordinary visitor, she had to put her heart into using it.
If Master Xu really could meet their expectations, they would have plenty of silver to buy sugar afterward.
Xu Yuanwai spoke with disdain, "Stop the nonsense. Call her out. I’m very busy."
Sitting a moment longer in this cottage made him feel uncomfortable.
Qiao Laixi braced himself and said, "Master Xu, I’m truly sorry, Mei’er has already been taken away by someone else."
"What do you mean? If I remember correctly, you accepted my deposit last year," Master Xu said, his eyebrows furrowed. Did they only realize now they wanted to go back on their word? What did they take him for?
Qiao Laixi quickly explained, "Please don’t be angry, Master. We had no choice. That family was wealthy and imposing; they insisted on having Mei’er, and we couldn’t refuse."
"Didn’t you tell them that Qiao Mei’er was someone I wanted?"
Xu Yuanwai said unhappily. If they knew his name, how many would dare to act recklessly?
The Xu family had a tradition of sending daughters to serve in the palace. After several generations, they had leveraged their position to attain some influence within the palace.
Last year, he followed tradition and sent his daughter to the palace, thinking it would be the same routine.
However, under the arrangement of several ladies, his daughter appeared before the Saint. The Saint found her beautiful and bestowed his favor upon her, then granted her the title of a Noble Person.
His daughter was commendable, conceiving the imperial progeny after receiving favor only a few times.
The Saint, elated at having a child in his old age, had already decreed that as soon as the child was born, she would be immediately promoted to the rank of sixth-tier Virtue Consort.
If the child grew to be even more lovable, it was possible for her rank to rise even higher.
Therefore, now his spine was straighter than anyone’s. Across the entire White Stone County, he could count on one hand the number of people he had to be wary of.
Qiao Laixi nodded, "I did say that, and told them that you are the Saint’s father-in-law, to tread carefully and not to offend those they shouldn’t, otherwise they wouldn’t even know how they died. But they said..."
"What did they say?" Xu Yuanwai asked impatiently.
Damn it, what kind of man speaks in such a faltering manner?
