Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 77 - Father Won't Know 2

Chapter 77 – Father Won’t Know 2

Xiao Wangshu took her time with the bag of pastries, eating until the evening banquet was more than halfway through before she and Chen Chu unhurriedly returned to Linde Hall.

At the banquet, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, their melodies intoxicating the senses.

Singing girls and dancers moved with fluttering silk ribbons, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that dazzled the eyes of the guests.

In this gluttonous feast, there were always those who clinked glasses and strove to fit in, just as there were always those who remained detached, watching from the sidelines like spectators.

Xiao Wangshu quietly played the role of an observer, taking in the various types of people present at the banquet.

…

After the banquet ended, everything returned to its normal routine.

Aside from the addition of foreign envoys in the Official Lodge and on the streets, everything in the Capital remained as usual, without any significant changes.

Tuoba Xin frequently visited the Prime Minister’s Mansion to play with Xiao Wangshu, and she also grew closer to Xiao Pingnan. Xiao Hong was pleased to see this development, only instructing Xiao Pingnan and his other children to treat their guest well.

Throughout the Xiao Mansion, everyone seemed to be doing quite well, with the exception of Fang Qin’er and Xiao Fuguang, who were immersed in a silent grief.

This included Xiao Wangshu.

–

On this day, Tuoba Xin came to find Xiao Wangshu to go out and play as usual. It happened that Fang Qiluo was also at the Chancellor’s Mansion, so the three of them went to Brocade Gate together.

Along the way, Tuoba Xin spent the entire time praising how wonderful her two elder brothers were.

Xiao Wangshu simply smiled after listening, offering a few polite words of agreement.

As for Fang Qiluo, because she knew about Xiao Wangshu’s impending political marriage and had heard Old Lady Fang lamenting it too many times lately, she felt a deep sense of pity for Xiao Wangshu.

As she listened to Tuoba Xin’s praises of her two elder brothers, she truly couldn’t bring herself to chime in.

Naturally, in this distracted state, she also failed to notice that Tuoba Xin’s praises for her Second Elder Brother were slightly more frequent.

“Both princes are warriors of the tribe. In fact, not just them-which of the sons and daughters of the Tuoba Tribe isn’t brave and skilled in battle?”

Sitting in the carriage, Xiao Wangshu poured a cup of milk tea for Tuoba Xin.

“Rest a moment before you continue. Taste this first. I had people make it according to the method you described, with a few small additions. See if it tastes like what you mentioned.”

In the nomadic lands of the Tuoba Tribe, there were an extraordinary number of ways to prepare dairy products, from milk tea to milk cakes.

Building on that, Xiao Wangshu had her people add some small toppings like glutinous rice pearls, making it very close to modern milk tea.

However, in this drink, the fresh fragrance of the tea was stronger, without so much artificial sweetness.

Tuoba Xin took a sip from the cup, her eyes lighting up as she praised, “The tea in your Central Plains is so fragrant, and the milk tea made from it is delicious. These little pearls inside are so chewy; I didn’t know you could boil them and drink them like this!”

She had only casually mentioned wanting to drink her tribe’s milk tea, and she hadn’t expected Wangshu to actually make it for her. She was so thoughtful!

“As long as you like it. I’ll have Jade Feast Pavilion add this drink specifically for you, so you can go and drink it whenever you want.”

As Xiao Wangshu spoke, she poured another cup for Fang Qiluo. “Cousin, you try some too.”

Fang Qiluo truly couldn’t understand how Xiao Wangshu could maintain such a good mindset when she was about to be sent off for a marriage alliance in the north.

Thinking this, she took the milk tea Xiao Wangshu handed over and said, “Thank you, Cousin.”

“Are you really going to add this to Jade Feast Pavilion? That’s wonderful! Then I’ll be able to drink my tribe’s milk tea even in the Capital without having to spend so much time and effort making it,” Tuoba Xin said, smiling happily.

Xiao Wangshu replied, “Yes. Since you provided the idea, you can enjoy this drink for free for the rest of your life. I’ll speak with the manager of Jade Feast Pavilion later and have him record your information.”

“Wangshu, you’re so kind!”

Tuoba Xin set down her bowl and leaned in, hugging Xiao Wangshu’s arm as she murmured, “I really wish you could stay in the Capital. I want to keep playing with you in the future.”

Saying this, she suddenly sat up straight and asked, “Oh, right! If you marry my Third Elder Brother, what will happen to all these businesses you have in the Capital?”

“I’ll leave them to Mother,” Xiao Wangshu answered with complete candor. “Mother manages the household affairs and needs money for everything. Since I won’t be by her side in the future, these shops will stay behind to help her.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Fang Qiluo began to wipe away tears.

“Cousin, you…”

What kind of sin had she committed? Her cousin had only just moved past the hardship of Mu Yunze, and now she was being ensnared by the Tuoba Third Prince.

Tuoba Xin was also momentarily overcome with sadness. She hugged Xiao Wangshu’s arm and remained silent.

A heavy silence fell over the carriage as the three women were lost in their own thoughts.

It wasn’t until the carriage stopped outside Brocade Gate and the driver, Qin Tai, spoke up to remind them that the three snapped back to their senses and stepped out one after another.

–

Ruan Fuxin had managed Brocade Gate well. Even on an ordinary day, the shop was filled with customers.

Relying on his naturally honest and simple appearance, Ruan Fuxin embodied the spirit of hospitality to the fullest. Not a single customer who entered to buy something left without chatting with him for a bit.

It wasn’t until he saw Xiao Wangshu and the others enter that Ruan Fuxin bid farewell to the lady in front of him and asked an attendant to take good care of her.

After attending to the customer, Ruan Fuxin walked toward Xiao Wangshu and the others, leading them up to the second-floor tea room.

“Miss.”

After closing the door, Ruan Fuxin moved with practiced efficiency, handing over Brocade Gate’s transaction ledger.

Xiao Wangshu began to flip through it quietly. This look lasted for the time it took to drink two cups of tea.

Fang Qiluo was fine; she had a patient temperament.

Tuoba Xin, however, couldn’t sit still for more than half a cup of tea. She stood up to pace and look around the tea room.

At this point, Xiao Wangshu suggested, “Cousin, Sister Xin, I’ll be a while longer. Why don’t you two go browse downstairs first?”

“Great!” Tuoba Xin replied immediately.

Seeing this, Fang Qiluo had no choice but to stand up as well. “All right then. You stay busy; Ah Xin and I will go for a walk downstairs.”

“Okay. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.”

After saying this, Xiao Wangshu turned to Ruan Fuxin and instructed, “Have Luo Xing and Yang Ping follow them to ensure the ladies’ safety.”

“Yes,” Ruan Fuxin bowed in response. He stepped forward to open the door for Tuoba Xin and Fang Qiluo, watching them head downstairs.

Luo Xing and Yang Ping, who had been guarding the door, left with them.

Once they were gone, Xiao Wangshu looked at Yichun and Shuxia. “You two guard the door. Don’t let anyone near. Tell Qin Tai to come in.”

“Yes.”

Yichun and Shuxia didn’t dare ask questions. They stepped out together and sent Qin Tai in.

After entering, Qin Tai habitually closed the tea room door behind him.

“Miss.”

Xiao Wangshu set down the ledger and looked at the two of them. “Is everything ready?”

Ruan Fuxin lowered his head and answered, “The news has already been leaked to the local beggars. We haven’t interfered with those who have come near Brocade Gate to eavesdrop.”

There were still spies in the Capital, lurking in the shadows and waiting for an opportunity to sabotage the alliance between Xiao Hong and the Tuoba Tribe.

Xiao Wangshu nodded to him and then looked at Qin Tai.

Qin Tai bowed his head. “Everything is ready. We can act at any time.”

After saying this, Qin Tai hesitated before adding, “Miss, if the Prime Minister finds out about this, I’m afraid…”

He didn’t know if anything would happen to his mistress, but men like them would certainly be executed by the Prime Minister.

“Father won’t know,” Xiao Wangshu said with absolute certainty. “Both you and I have reasons why we cannot go to the north. Aside from us, no one else can know about this. There are no ‘what-ifs.'”

Hearing Xiao Wangshu’s words and seemingly thinking of something, Qin Tai gritted his teeth and cupped his fists. “Understood!”

Once the mistress entered a marriage alliance with the Tuoba Prince, the six of them would become guards in the dowry procession. They would spend the rest of their lives with her in the Tuoba Tribe, never to return to the Capital.

He could accept never returning, but the other five brothers had families in Wei.

To never let them see their families again for the rest of their lives-that was absolutely out of the question!