A Different Significance
Xu Yongyi had only asked casually, essentially talking to himself, and didn't expect his daughter to give him any answer. After all, this daughter had grown up in a small village and had never seen much of the world. She was innocent and naive, spending her days eating and sleeping. He and Madam Xie just wanted to find her an honest and reliable son-in-law and didn't expect her to make any progress.
Even though they entered the Women's Academy with Xu Xi, they felt it was thanks to Xu Xi and didn't regard Xu Xue as anyone special.
Unexpectedly Xu Xue uttered such insightful words.
"Did you come up with these words yourself? Or did someone teach you to say them?" He still couldn't believe that this was his daughter's own idea.
Xu Xue looked at her father in surprise. "Of course it was my idea. Who can teach me?"
"But... did you really come up with this yourself?" Xu Yongyi said, then, afraid of hurting his daughter's feelings, quickly added, "It's truly insightful. You used to know nothing."
Xu Xue blinked and understood what Xu Yongyi meant.
She said to her father with great emotion, "My sister has been telling me lately to think things through more deeply and not just look at the surface. So lately, no matter who I see, I observe their every move and think about what they mean by what they say and do. I guess after doing this a lot, I'm not as clueless as I used to be."
She held her head high, a smug look on her face. "I have to grow up eventually. Dad, you can't treat me like a child anymore."
Xu Yongyi couldn't help but reach out and touch his daughter's head, feeling both moved and gratified, and even more grateful to Xu Xi.
If Xu Xi hadn't advised him to let his daughter take the entrance exam for the Women's Academy, and if she hadn't often given Xu Xue pointers, Xu Xue would probably still be the same carefree person even after getting married. How could she have grown up like this?
Xu Xinda hurriedly returned to the jewelry store and asked Shopkeeper Huang, "Where are the two gentlemen and the two young masters?"
"They've gone to the estate."
The group didn't come to the silver shop specifically today; they were just passing by on their way to the estate and decided to take a look. Since Fifth Master had never been to Beining County before, he wanted to go out for a stroll, which is why he went to the East Market.
Xu Xinda knew that with Fifth Master's instructions, even Second Young Master couldn't handle today's events, let alone him, the young master. So he simply told Huang Xing about it.
He said, "I hope Shopkeeper Huang can consult with the Second Young Master about this matter. Normally it would be a small matter, but today Fifth Master met this Miss Xu and mentioned wanting to cooperate with her. I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the Second Master."
Hearing that Miss Xu's younger sister was engaged to the second young master, Huang Xing broke out in a cold sweat.
But then he thought again and said, "That's not right. The Marquis of Marquis of Suiping's Residence's surname is Zhao, not Xu. Does this Miss Xu really say she's from the Marquis of Huanping's Residence?"
Xu Xinda nodded, saying with certainty, "I couldn't have misheard." He turned to his steward, "You heard it too, didn't she say she was a young lady from the Marquis of Marquis of Huanping's Residence?"
Yes, that's right.
"That's strange," Huang Xing said. "Could it be an impersonation? But who would be so bold as to impersonate the young lady of the Marquis's mansion? No, I must report this to the Second Young Master immediately."
He thought for a moment and said, "The Second Young Master is with the Second Master, Fifth Master, and Eldest Young Master right now. It wouldn't look good if we went looking for them. Anyway, this isn't urgent. Let's wait until the Second Young Master and the others return. If they stop by Beining and rest at the silver shop, we can talk to him about it when we have time."
Having learned his lesson from Fu Yunlang, Huang Xing no longer sees himself as Xu Xinda's subordinate, but rather as the master of the silver shop. He makes decisions directly and no longer considers Xu Xinda's opinion.
Huang Xing originally represented Fu Yunlang, and now that he has become more assertive, and Xu Xinda has vaguely guessed the identities of the Second Master and the Fifth Master, he no longer has any desire to compete for power.
He nodded obediently, without the slightest objection. "Then I'll follow Shopkeeper Huang's arrangements."
Huang Xing was very satisfied upon seeing this.
Xu Xinda was unaware of the affairs of the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, but Huang Xing, as Fu Yunlang's key subordinate, knew everything about the residence.
Although Fu Yunlang is Fu Yunkai's younger brother from the same parents, he feels close to this elder brother, who is only one year older than him, but also harbors some jealousy.
After all, Fu Yunkai was both literate and skilled in martial arts. He had followed his father into the army since he was twelve years old, and although he was only sixteen, he was already a Principal Fifth Rank official in the Ministry of War's Armory Ministry of War.
This was merely a position Fu Yunkai was given in the capital, temporarily leaving the army to attend to his grandmother's orders and return to the capital for his marriage. His future held far more promise.
Once he gets married and has children, he can go to the army, earn merits, and be promoted even faster. With his abilities, he will eventually succeed his father as a general.
Lady Dong, the wife of the Lady Dong of Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan, had only two sons. Her eldest son was to inherit the Marquis's mansion, shouldering a heavy burden from a young age, which Lady Dong was unwilling to do but had no choice about. However, she was absolutely unwilling to send her younger son to the army to suffer. Therefore, Fu Yunlang was always kept by his mother's side. Compared with the children of many noble families in the capital, he was much better, but compared with his dazzling older brother, he was like a firefly compared to the bright moon, completely incomparable.
Now that Fu Yunlang has finally managed to persuade Lady Dong to relinquish some power and let him gain experience in managing daily affairs, Fu Yunlang naturally wants to make a name for himself in this area so that his father and relatives and friends will look at him with new respect.
Therefore, while the business of the Abundant and Prosperous Pavilion was nothing to the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, it was the first administrative matter that the second young master was responsible for, and he could not afford to fail.
Xu Xi returned to the Marquis's residence and entered through the hanging flower gate. Just as she was about to ask the old woman guarding the gate a question, she saw a person sitting on a stool next to her. It was Lady Wei. Matron Li and the maid from the second branch of the family were standing behind her.
The old woman guarding the gate gave Xu Xi a stiff smile and said, "Fifth Miss, the Second Madam has been waiting for you here for quite some time."
Lady Wei stood up and said to Xu Xi with a loving expression, "Miss Xi, I haven't seen you for several days, and I've been really thinking about you. I'd like you to come back to the second house with me for a meal. Your father has also been asking about you quite often."
"Indeed. Fifth Miss, you are, after all, the Second Madam's own flesh and blood. How could a mother not care for her daughter? These past few days you've been leaving early and returning late, and you've only eaten alone when you come back. Do you know how guilty the Second Madam feels? She even had several sets of clothes made for you and two pieces of jewelry."
As she spoke, Matron Li took a bundle from the maid and opened it for Xu Xi to see.
Sure enough, there were two dresses inside, the fabric shimmering with the unique luster of high-quality silk, and the colors were quite bright.
Matron Li then opened a small box placed on top of her dress, revealing two pieces of jewelry inside. One was a hairpin, and the other was a necklace, both inlaid with gold and jewels, glittering brilliantly and exuding great luxury, which filled the gatekeeper with envy.