The one following by the carriage was the little girl who had followed them outside the examination hall that day. Xiao Si recognised them at a glance and asked in a low voice, “Young Master.”
Gu Yi gestured for him to stay calm for a while.
Xu Ling’er was already being helped by the maid to get down from the carriage, a girl of fifteen or sixteen years old, just the age of a flower, with a beautiful appearance and a slight aura of books, which would make people feel good at the first glance.
“You are ……”
“I’m Xu Ling’er.”
Xu?
Song Wangyue’s mind thought of the great Confucian Xu family that Song Si had spoken of, but her face did not move, “I wonder what Miss Xu is looking for me for?”
Xu Ling’er was asked.
She thought that Song Si would definitely mention Old Mr. Xu to her family, and that if she presented herself at this moment, they would definitely receive her warmly, and would even be bent towards her.
But she did not expect Song Wangyue to react in this way.
It was a good thing she was quick on the uptake.
“I …… was thinking that sister Song must be tired of staying in the inn these few days, today it happens that the market is open over in the western city, I would like to lead sister Song over to play.”
The first time I heard her say “sister Song”, Song Wan Yue narrowed her eyes, Xu Ling’er this is to see big brother?
“Thank you very much, my big brother has repeatedly asked me not to go out before entering the examination hall, so I won’t be going, I hope Miss Xu has a good time.”
Xu Ling’er froze once again.
She had originally thought that Song Wangyue was just an eight or nine-year-old girl from the countryside, and that she would be flattered by a slight gesture of goodwill from herself, and that she would then take the opportunity to brush up on her goodwill in front of her, and that when Song finished thinking about coming out, seeing that she was on such good terms with his sister, she would certainly look at her a few more times as well, so that her intention would be a success.
“If Miss Xu is alright, we are going up.”
“Wait a minute!”
Xu Ling’er eagerly took a step forward, “Sister Song, I am Xu Ling’er, your elder brother has visited our home.”
She didn’t dare to say anything else, there were many people coming and going at the entrance of the inn, if people overheard her and word got out, even her great grandfather, who loved her, would scold her severely.
“And then?”
Song Wan Yue blinked and looked at her in confusion, as if she didn’t understand what Xu Ling’er’s purpose was in telling her this.
Xu Ling’er was choked.
Gu Yi’s eyes curled up and he looked at Song Wan Yue with a smile, unable to resist stroking her head, the little girl was so witty that Xu Ling’er’s face didn’t look good.
Xu Ling’er’s eyes widened at this action of his, “You, you, how can you bully sister Song.”
Song Wan Yue also glared at him.
Gu Yi withdrew his hand and looked at Xu Ling’er, a smile still on his face, “Miss Xu, may I ask, do we know you? You are getting close with one mouthful of sister Song, are you looking at our young age and trying to coax us, or do you have other intentions?”
“What are you talking about, our lady is ……”
Xu Ling’er’s maid couldn’t help herself.
“Lian’er!”
Xu Ling’er hurriedly chided her, lest Lian’er reveal her identity in full view of everyone.
Turning towards Gu Yi, she said, “I was the one who was abrupt, but I definitely did not mean any harm, I just thought that sister Song was bored living alone in the inn and wanted to accompany her around, since she did not have this in mind, I will leave her alone, we will come back another day.”
When she finished, she turned around, and Lian’er hurriedly helped her into the carriage and instructed the driver to leave.
After walking a short distance away, Lian’er couldn’t help but complain, “A countryside girl is a countryside girl, she doesn’t have any brains at all.”
Miss had hinted so clearly that anyone who was not stupid could hear it, but Song Wangyue was just a fool, causing their miss to almost lose face.
“Well, she is still young, what are you bothering with her.”
Xu Ling’er was inexplicably still happy, the fact that Song Wangyue was so stupid meant that her family wasn’t too smart either, and after she and Song Si were married, she could easily hold them and make them all obediently listen to her.
Looking at her and still laughing, Lian’er stared incredulously, “Miss, you’re not madly stupid, are you?”
“What do you know ……”, Xu Ling’er scowled, “Don’t say a word of this when you get back, got it?”
“Slave servant knows.”
……
After Xu Ling’er left, Song Wangyue and Gu Yi also went upstairs, Gu Yi poured a cup of water and placed it in front of Song Wangyue, “That Xu Ling’er is taking a fancy to big brother?”
“I think so.”
“The peach blossom debt that big brother caused?”
Song Wangyue gave him a blank look, “What are you talking about?”
“They’ve come to my door, so it’s not a peach blossom debt? Tell me quickly, when did big brother get into trouble?”
Seeing his eyes glowing with curiosity, Song Wan Yue gave him a chestnut, “I’ve already said it wasn’t Big Brother who caused the trouble.”
Gu Yi was clearly disbelieving.
Song Wan Yue told him about how Song Si had been entrusted by the director of the Qing He Academy to deliver something to Old Mr. Xu, “It must be because this Xu girl had seen big brother and had her heart set on him, so she took advantage of big brother’s absence to come over and please me.”
After hearing this, Gu Yi’s incredible eyes widened, “This is the family style of a generation of great Confucian families?”
Song Wangyue also felt the same way, the most important thing for a bookish family is the rules and manners, Xu Ling’er running to the door in such a big way is not only her face, but also the face of the whole Xu family.
“She has been frustrated today, she should not come over again, when big brother comes back, we are not allowed to tell him. ”
Gu Yi nodded his head repeatedly.
But to her surprise, Xu Ling’er did not come for the next few days, but sent her maids to bring her all kinds of things every day, rouge and powder, all kinds of cakes, and even had someone send Song Wangyue two dresses, saying they were handmade by herself.
Song Wan Yue returned them all to her.
Lian’er was furious, but Xu Ling’er was even happier. What she wanted was to brush up her goodwill in front of Song Wangyue, whether she accepted it or not, her heart was in the right place, and Song Wangyue would certainly put in a good word for her when she and Song Xingyan were married.
In the meantime, Duke Ding received another letter from Gu Yi, and after reading it, he went to ask his wife, “I remember that old Mr. Xu only has one granddaughter, and she should be in her thirties by now, where did this Xu Ling’er come from?”
The Lady of Ding Guo Gong knew all about it, “Your Excellency does not know, Xu Ling’er is not a real Xu family member, her mother is the daughter brought over by the later member of Mr Xu’s family. Her mother was the daughter of a later member of Mr. Xu’s family. Xu Ling’er’s father’s name was Li An and he worked at the Ministry of Works. The reason why Xu Ling’er’s surname is Xu is because Mr. Xu missed his missing daughter and gave her permission to take the surname Xu on purpose.”
“Why is Master suddenly asking about this?”
“She took a fancy to Song Si, went to the inn to look for Song Si’s sister despite her face, and after she was rejected, sent someone to send something over every day.”
The Duke of Ding’s wife was stunned, “The Xu family is at least a great Confucian family, even if she is not a member of the Xu family, she has been taught by the Xu family since she was a child, she should know what is ritual, righteousness and shame, how could she do such a thing?”