She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 684 - 682 Inquiring

Chapter 684: Chapter 682 Inquiring

Lady Zhao’s sorrowful and feeble appearance not only drastically overturned Wong Qiao’s previous understanding of his mother, but it also made him feel helpless. Yet he didn’t want to give in, and for a moment, he stood there, at a loss for words.

Xiuqin, seeing Lady Zhao like this, softly advised Wong Qiao, "Cousin, we still don’t know if this matter will succeed. Please agree to it for now. Auntie has been feeling unwell these past few days; don’t upset her over this uncertain matter."

Lady Zhao cried out, "His heart has already been bought by someone else’s small favors; how could he still care about my life or death?"

At this moment, Xiao Cui’s voice came from outside, "Granny, Old Master Qi has sent someone to ask if Third Master has returned and if there is any matter."

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhao grew even more angry. She had asked several times during the afternoon if her son had been seen, but Qi Younian didn’t take it seriously. Now that her son had dutifully returned, Old Master Qi came to curry favor. Her foolish son was being manipulated round and round just like this.

Lady Zhao furiously said, "What matter could there be? Ah Qiao came back fine, and now he comes to ask; where was he earlier? If there had been a matter, with no one attending for such a long time, the person would be dead by now!"

Xiuqin spat several times in a row, "Auntie, you’re really angry. We can’t talk like this during the New Year."

Having spoken, Lady Zhao also regretted it. It is profoundly taboo to speak inauspiciously during the New Year, especially regarding one’s son. It was all Qi Younian’s fault for always playing mind games with his own family, making her feel distanced from her son.

Xiao Cui stood outside, dumbfounded. She was merely a twelve or thirteen-year-old child and didn’t know how to respond to the Qi family, surely she couldn’t relay Granny’s words to the Qi family’s young servant, right?

After waiting for a long time without anyone providing her with a clear response, she had no choice but to ask again, "Granny, what should I tell them?"

Lady Zhao responded irritably, "Tell them that we are very much alive." Thinking about how her son was deceived by others to disregard his mother, Lady Zhao was overcome with sadness and snatched the handkerchief from Xiuqin’s hand, pressing it to her face.

.......

The next day, Wong Qiao found Qi Younian, saying he had a few words he wanted to speak in private.

With the first month of the lunar year almost reaching its tenth day, Qi Younian had also been looking for an opportunity to speak with Wong Qiao. So, when he heard that Wong Qiao had something to say to him, Qi Younian led him to his own room, asked the kitchen to warm some wine, and prepared peanuts and salted pork slices to accompany the drink.

Qi Younian had just sat cross-legged on the heated brick bed, inviting Wong Qiao to join him, when he saw Wong Qiao lift the hem of his robe and kneel on the ground.

This startled Qi Younian, and he hastily slipped his feet into his shoes and got off the bed to help Wong Qiao up, "What are you doing? Speak properly. With the bond between us, what words can’t we say? Come on, the wine is ready; let’s talk."

Qi Younian pulled Wong Qiao up onto the heated brick bed, where they both sat down once more.

Qi Younian grabbed the wine pot, but Wong Qiao quickly took it from him, "I’ll do it. How could I let Uncle pour the wine?"

After Wong Qiao downed a small cup of wine in front of him, he began to speak hesitantly, "Yesterday, my mother and I went to the Great Awakening Temple to offer incense... and happened to come across... some Prince Household’s Steward recruiting a manager..."

Wong Qiao found it impossible to continue. During the New Year, the Prince Household’s Steward going to the Great Awakening Temple to recruit a manager seemed like a tale no one would believe.

Having no choice, he drank another cup, but then couldn’t bring himself to speak any further.

Qi Younian watched Wong Qiao stutter, speak in halves, and hold back, clearly understanding that Wong Qiao was in a difficult position. It was probably another issue stirred up by Lady Zhao, and Wong Qiao felt uncomfortable laying all the blame on his mother, which explained his hesitation.

Qi Younian refilled Wong Qiao’s cup with wine and patted his shoulder, saying, "Alright, I know it’s tough for you. Even if you return to Hezhou, and don’t work in the Construction Industry, being a manager for someone else is a decent livelihood. Enough of that, no matter where you work, thinking too much won’t help. Just do your job well wherever you go, and don’t bring shame to your father or us brothers."

Qi Younian’s few words almost brought tears to Wong Qiao’s eyes. His eyes reddening, he attempted to kneel in gratitude, but Qi Younian stopped him, "Enough of that, let’s just enjoy our drink. It’s good that you’re staying in the capital, this way we can meet often and occasionally have a drink together."

The drinking session went on until Wei Hour, with Wong Qiao troubled in his mind, drinking himself into a stupor. It took two young servants to support him back to his room.

When he awoke, it was already the middle of the night. Under the dim light of an oil lamp, Lady Zhao sat dozing off in a chair next to the kang bed, watching over him.

Wong Qiao sighed inwardly and closed his eyes once more. He held no grudges, only lamented his ill fate.

Indeed, Lady Zhang did not make empty promises. On the morning of the seventh day of the first month, Lady Zhang, accompanied by an old woman servant, arrived at the Qi family residence in a carriage.

Knowing that Lady Zhao already had a grudge against him, Qi Younian paid extra attention to matters concerning the Wong Residence and had already instructed Nanny Liu to lead in anyone looking for Wong Qiao and Lady Zhao without asking too many questions.

Upon receiving the instruction, Nanny Liu hurriedly sent an old woman servant to guide Lady Zhang and her companion inside.

Wong Qiao sat woodenly beside Lady Zhao, listening to Lady Zhang tell Lady Zhao to have Wong Qiao meet with the Prince Household’s Steward on the tenth day.

Lady Zhang, noting Wong Qiao’s indifferent expression, guessed he might be reluctant to take on the job. Recalling her husband’s directive to inquire about Wong Qiao’s attitude toward the task, she glanced at Xiuqin, wishing for a chance to question this timid village girl.

Pretending not to notice Wong Qiao’s troubled expression, Lady Zhang still chatted amicably with Lady Zhao. When leaving, Lady Zhao generously gave Lady Zhang ten taels of silver, expressing her thousand thanks.

Lady Zhao told Xiuqin, "Xiuqin, see Mrs. Zhang out, and make sure you escort her to the main gate."

Lady Zhang kept reiterating her sincere appreciation and left with Xiuqin.

As they walked outside, Lady Zhang incessantly praised Xiuqin’s quiet and sensible nature, calling her a good girl.

Reaching the carriage outside the courtyard, Lady Zhang glanced surreptitiously at the Qi Family Courtyard, seeing no one near, she asked sincerely, "Miss Xiuqin, you seem to be an honest girl. Tell me the truth, does your cousin really not want to accept this job?"

Xiuqin was startled and quickly said, "Not at all, my aunt and cousin have been worrying about not finding suitable work." She could not afford to lose such a good-paying job in the capital.

Lady Zhang scolded teasingly, "You child, you don’t trust your auntie, do you? Rest assured, I am afraid of this job falling through as well. If you tell me the truth, I can take precautions and make sure to get the job done. If this is successful, my husband could receive rewards from the Prince Household’s Butler."

Truth be told, Xiuqin was also afraid the job would not pan out; if her cousin misspoke or sabotaged the meeting with the Prince Household’s Steward, the opportunity could indeed be jeopardized.

After hesitating for a moment and ensuring no one was around, Xiuqin shared a simplified account of the dispute between Wong Qiao and Lady Zhao that night, "... My cousin listens to my aunt. With her insistence, he will certainly take the job."

Although Lady Zhang didn’t know why the Prince Household’s Butler needed to know Wong Qiao’s attitude, getting this information was enough to fulfill her task. She smiled and patted Xiuqin’s hand, "Alright, I understand. When the time comes, I’ll make sure my husband mentions Madam Zhao a few times to your cousin. That should keep him from speaking out of turn."