This scene really took Song Yihuan by surprise. Her ears burned hot. She chose to take the fruit Qi Lei offered, cleared her throat, and said, "Thank you, my lords, and thank you, Uncle Qi."
Song Yihuan lowered her head and ate the fruit in her hand, not daring to look at Gu Yunzheng and Ji Lingchuan beside her.
Seeing that she had made her choice, Ji Lingchuan and Gu Yunzheng retracted their hands. However, neither of them touched the fruit on the table afterwards. For a moment, the room fell into an awkward silence.
Song Yihuan had brought a roasted chicken and two jars of nu'er hong (a type of rice wine) for Qi Lei. By now, the sun was gradually approaching noon. Seeing that neither Ji Lingchuan nor Gu Yunzheng showed any sign of leaving, Qi Lei politely asked, "It's time for lunch. Would you two lords like to stay and have something to eat?"
Song Yihuan quickly got up and walked towards him, saying, "Uncle Qi, the two lords are busy with official duties. We'd better not delay them..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she heard Ji Lingchuan's voice behind her: "Then I'll trouble you."
Song Yihuan couldn't hide the surprise on her face. She couldn't help but turn around and look at Ji Lingchuan. She said somewhat euphemistically, "My lord Ling, Uncle Qi's place is very simple. It's not as good as the restaurants outside. I'm afraid we can't entertain you well. If my lord Ling is really hungry, how about we go out to eat?"
As the noble heir of the Prince Ning's Mansion, Ji Lingchuan had tasted all kinds of rare delicacies. Uncle Qi was just an ordinary civilian, and his chopsticks and bowls were crude. Even Song Yihuan thought it inappropriate to use them to entertain Ji Lingchuan.
But Ji Lingchuan stood up without caring at all and said, "Food is for filling the stomach. It doesn't matter to me where I eat. Let's just stay here."
Since Ji Lingchuan didn't leave, Gu Yunzheng naturally wouldn't let this chance of being alone with Song Yihuan slip away. He also followed and said, "I have no objections. I'm just afraid of troubling the host."
Qi Lei didn't expect the two of them to agree so readily. He quickly said, "It's no trouble at all. I'm more than happy that you two lords are willing to stay. Please wait a moment, my lords. I'll go and prepare lunch right away."
As he said that, Qi Lei was about to turn around and leave. After what had happened with the fruit just now, Song Yihuan didn't dare to stay with Ji Lingchuan and Gu Yunzheng any longer. She chased after him and said, "Uncle Qi, you can't manage all this alone. I'll come and help you."
Gu Yunzheng raised his hand, trying to call Song Yihuan back, but she had already chased after Qi Lei and gone out. He lowered his arm and looked at Ji Lingchuan behind him. He sneered slightly:
"I've always heard that the heir of the prince is a reserved and polite person. I didn't expect you to be willing to stay and have lunch in a civilian's house. It really surprises me. I wonder, my lord, are you doing this for the sake of investigating the case or out of your own self - interest?"
"My lord, have you forgotten that Miss Song Si is your wife's younger sister? You once said yourself that you would never take her as a concubine!"
"Your memory is quite good, my lord Gu. I'm sure you also remember that she clearly drew a line with you." Ji Lingchuan replied coldly. He stood up and walked towards the door.
Qi Lei's yard wasn't very big. With Ji Lingchuan's long strides, he could walk across it within ten steps. He stood in the yard, listening to the faint sounds coming from the kitchen. His eyebrows softened a little.
His eyes fell on the dressing case placed in the corner to dry. All the anger in his heart had disappeared.
After learning from Doctor Zhong that she had been pregnant and had a miscarriage, he was indeed extremely angry. He even mistakenly thought that there was some hidden relationship between her and Qi Lei. It was only when he met her here today that he realized it was all a misunderstanding.
However, more doubts arose in his heart.
She was just a concubine - born daughter of the Marquis Mansion. Why did she recognize an ordinary civilian with no background as her adoptive father? Could the daughter of an old acquaintance that Qi Lei mentioned refer to Song Yihuan's mother, Concubine Rou, who was a taboo in the Marquis Mansion?
What was the relationship between Qi Lei and Concubine Rou?
Since Qi Lei and she were only adoptive father and daughter, then who had defiled her innocence, made her pregnant, and caused her miscarriage so that she could no longer have children?
Ji Lingchuan first ruled out Gu Yunzheng. Although Gu Yunzheng was stubborn and persistent, he had always been polite to her. If they had had physical contact, Gu Yunzheng would never have been so easily shaken in the Duke Jiang's Mansion.
He suddenly remembered that Gu Yunzheng had once asked her in the Lanfang Garden if she had some unspeakable difficulties that made her so heartless.
She had cried extremely sadly after hearing those rumors in the Duke Jiang's Mansion.
Could it be that she wasn't willing but was humiliated?
That's why she had to plan for herself and intended to find a powerful backer for protection?
...
In the kitchen, Qi Lei opened the oil - paper bag wrapped around the roasted chicken. He glanced at Song Yihuan, who was squatting beside the stove watching the fire, and asked the question that had been hidden in his heart for a long time:
"Girl Huan, you're old enough to get engaged now. Has the Marquis Mansion found a suitable husband for you?"
Song Yihuan's hand that was poking the fire paused for a moment. Then she said casually, "Elder sister has been looking for a suitable match for me. Some time ago, when the old lady of the Duke Jiang's Mansion celebrated her birthday, I went to the banquet with elder sister. But I didn't find a good one at that banquet."
Qi Lei felt relieved and said jokingly with a smile, "That's natural. Looking for a husband is like choosing vegetables. You need to take your time. You mustn't choose someone who is full of flaws like a worm - eaten vegetable and can't hold his head up. Uncle Qi thinks those two lords outside are quite good, especially..."
Qi Lei's mind subconsciously flashed Ji Lingchuan's face. He changed the subject and said, "Especially that Lord Gu. He clearly has a lot of knowledge. He is polite and steady. If you marry him, you'll surely live a comfortable life."
Song Yihuan tightened her grip on the fire - poker. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. "Uncle Qi, do you think so highly of Lord Gu? What about... that Lord Ling?"
Qi Lei's voice deepened. "That Lord Ling's identity is definitely not that simple. Girl Huan, he's not someone you can handle. Listen to Uncle Qi's advice. Stay away from him."
Song Yihuan pulled up the corner of her lips and smiled. A trace of melancholy and helplessness flashed across her eyes.
Although Ji Lingchuan hadn't revealed his identity, his aura of a superior was so obvious that even Uncle Qi thought it was impossible for her to be with him.
"Uncle Qi, don't worry. I'm not interested in either Lord Ling or Lord Gu. If possible, I want to take Xuan'er and leave the capital forever. I want to find a quiet place and spend the rest of my life in peace."
The sound of cutting vegetables suddenly stopped. Qi Lei said, "Do you really think so? You want to take Xuan'er away?"
Song Yihuan put down the fire - poker in her hand, stood up, and looked directly at Qi Lei. She nodded seriously. "Yes, Uncle Qi. I've made up my mind. The prosperity of the capital is not suitable for me or Xuan'er. I don't want to be the Fourth Miss of the Marquis Mansion anymore. I want to be myself."
Qi Lei's voice trembled with excitement. "Then what are we waiting for? I'll go and make arrangements for you tomorrow. I'm sure I can send you and Xuan'er far away so that no one can find you!"