Xue Miao'er thought for a while and said, "After what you've said, I'm actually starting to look forward to it."
Yi Qing said, "Now I'm thinking your grandfather should be lucky you're not on their side. Otherwise, they wouldn't have lasted this long."
Xue Miao'er stared at her with wide eyes. It took her a while to react, and then she said aggrievedly, "Yi Qing, you despise me!"
Yi Qing patted her on the shoulder. "Yes, I do. But you're not completely useless."
"Then tell me my good points."
"I can't beat you."
Xue Miao'er immediately beamed. "Of course. I don't even put a few ordinary men in my eyes."
"But can you make a living just by this?" Yi Qing said helplessly. "Use your head more in everything."
Xue Miao'er was simple - minded, probably because she had been well - protected by Xue Tianlang. But she was physically strong and had high combat skills. That was her talent.
"Forget it then." Xue Miao'er had self - awareness. "Yi Qing, Henan is in such a mess. You have connections with Lord Deng. You should take your husband back to the capital to seek opportunities. Then later I'll buy a house near yours in the capital. If I can spend more time with you, maybe I'll become smarter by being around you."
Yi Qing was a very interesting soul to her, and she couldn't help but want to get closer.
But Yi Qing sensed something else and calmly asked, "What, are you going to the capital?"
Xue Miao'er covered her mouth belatedly.
Oh no, how did she accidentally blurt out the truth?
Yi Qing rolled her eyes. "I already know you're going to the capital. Just tell me."
Xue Miao'er stuck out her tongue. "You're just too smart. My father told me that Lord Deng said that after this is all over, he'll take me to the capital and find me a good marriage later."
Yi Qing could hardly believe her ears. Deng Xiao was going to arrange a marriage for Xue Miao'er?
Xue Miao'er continued on her own. "I'm going to take my father with me. I'm not at ease leaving him alone on the mountain. Although I'll be reluctant to leave here, my father said that everyone should have the chance to be an upright person. After we go down the mountain, we can open a security company in the capital or do other businesses. Anyway, we'll be good people."
In the end, Deng Xiao had managed to recruit Xue Tianlang.
But this guy, hadn't he told her himself that the emperor's will was unpredictable and not to make promises to Xue Miao'er?
Why did he make such a hasty promise himself?
Xue Miao'er kept chattering. "The capital must be a lot of fun. Then I'll be your neighbor. When I'm free, I'll come to your place. Then you can take me to buy storybooks and we can go listen to storytelling. Okay?"
Yi Qing didn't know what Deng Xiao was up to and just gave a vague response.
After sending Xue Miao'er away, she couldn't help but complain to Xiao Tian. "What on earth is Deng Xiao trying to do?"
Unexpectedly, Xiao Tian actually knew the answer.
He said, "He wants Xue Miao'er to be your martial maid."
Yi Qing's mouth opened so wide that an egg could fit in it.
"Her? Be my maid? I can't afford such a maid. Forget it. Let me live a few more years." Yi Qing rolled her eyes so hard it was almost comical.
She was sure she couldn't handle it and would be angered to an early death by Xue Miao'er.
Moreover, in her heart, even if Xue Miao'er was from a bandit family, she was the daughter of the bandit leader. It would be too demeaning for her to be a maid.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Tian said calmly, "It's her fortune to be able to stay by your side."
Yi Qing was speechless.
Xiao Tian, you're not being so simple - minded now!
"Deng Xiao is smart. He saw that I have some influence in front of the emperor, so he made this promise to Xue Tianlang. He told Xue Tianlang that he would send Xue Miao'er to be the general's wife's maid and let the general's wife arrange her marriage. Xue Tianlang immediately agreed after hearing that."
It turned out that Xue Tianlang highly admired Xiao Jinghan. When he heard that Xue Miao'er would go to the side of his widow, he readily agreed.
"Don't think Xue Miao'er is so noble. Even if her father is recruited, she's just the daughter of a sixth - or seventh - rank minor official. And it's just a military official. Even if a daughter of a civil official of this rank served by your side, it would be a great honor for them." Xiao Tian said.
Yi Qing pouted and said nothing.
She still understood and accepted too little of this strict hierarchical system.
"When did you talk to Deng Xiao about this? I was there just now." Yi Qing asked, tilting her head.
Xiao Tian said, "That's not important. The important thing is that I think although Xue Miao'er is a bit simple - minded, she has good character and excellent martial arts skills. It's very suitable for her to stay by your side. I've always wanted to find a martial maid for you but haven't found a good one. This is just a good opportunity."
Yi Qing stroked her chin and couldn't help but wonder what expression Xue Miao'er would have if she knew the truth.
"Why does Deng Xiao think you have influence in front of the emperor? He told me not to make wild guesses about the emperor's will..."
"He doesn't want you to die, but he wishes I would anger the emperor." Xiao Tian said expressionlessly.
Yi Qing laughed out loud. "Then why did you agree?"
"As long as it's really good for you, why wouldn't I agree?" Xiao Tian countered, with a deep smile in his eyes.
Yi Qing was almost burned by the warmth in his eyes and muttered, "You're such a fool."
But Xiao Tian thought she was worried and said, "The emperor has a broad mind. Xue Miao'er didn't really participate in the rebellion. The emperor won't hold it against her."
Yi Qing said, "Anyway, you two have a good relationship. You won't say anything bad about him."
Now that both Xiao Tian and Deng Xiao had said so, she had no choice but to accept it. But deep down, she still had reservations and thought Xue Miao'er was not suitable to be a maid.
She didn't know what Xue Tianlang had told the Meng family. Yi Qing guessed that he had probably bribed them, and the Meng family had agreed to advance the wedding date.
The people on the mountain had no idea about the inside story. They really thought it was a happy event and happily started preparing for it.
Looking at Xue Miao'er who was lingering in her room and refused to leave, and thinking about Xiao Tian hiding in the dark and unable to come out, Yi Qing couldn't help but shoo her away. "Why aren't you going back to embroider your dowry? What are you doing here?"
"Embroider my dowry?" Xue Miao'er was like she had heard a funny joke. "He, Meng Qinglong, doesn't deserve it! I'm afraid it'll shorten his lifespan!"
Yi Qing: "..."
Maybe her speechless expression was too obvious. Xue Miao'er said, "Yi Qing, I'm so excited now. I'm really looking forward to going to the capital. Tell me what the capital is like. I've never even left Henan, let alone been to the capital."
Yi Qing looked at her and said, "Didn't your father tell you what you're going to do in the capital? Besides getting married, is there anything else?"
Yi Qing thought that Xue Miao'er's carefree look didn't seem like she knew she was going to be a maid.
"Yes. I'm going to be a maid for the general's wife." Xue Miao'er said indifferently.