Chapter 121 Aunt Gui

Chapter 121 Aunt Gui

Xin You learned about the dismissal of Deputy Commander Han from He Qingxiao.

"Inspector Kong impeached Deputy Commander Han for harassing the people and causing the death of an innocent."

People like Deputy Commander Han, who were accustomed to wielding power and bullying others, could easily be found guilty if one sought to find fault with them; there was no need to involve Qingsong Bookstore.

"Inspector Kong?" Xin You immediately thought of Kong Rui and his sister. "Could this be related to the Eldest Princess’s Residence?"

Compared to the storm caused by Mr. Ping'an's murder, the trouble Deputy Commander Han had stirred up with Qingsong Bookstore was just a small ripple that had long since faded away. Apart from the Eldest Princess’s Residence, which owed her a favor, Xin You couldn't think of anyone else who would choose this moment to pick on Deputy Commander Han.

A smile appeared in He Qingxiao's eyes: "Yes, Inspector Kong is Princess Zhaoyang's nephew and Marquis Jing'an's cousin."

Now many people must know how much Princess Zhaoyang cares about Miss Kou, the girl who saved her daughter.

Xin You felt warmth in her heart.

She certainly didn't seek repayment when she helped others, but knowing that someone appreciated her help made her feel that she hadn't helped the wrong person.

"Then the sealing of Yaxin Bookstore—" Xin You had thought that she would see He Qingxiao on the day the bookstore across the street was sealed, to clear up her doubts, but it wasn't until today that they met.

It turned out that Secretary He had come yesterday but was scared off by Master Kong's request to buy a hundred copies of 'Painted Skin.'

"The Emperor heard about Yaxin Bookstore spreading rumors and was very angry."

Xin You nodded slightly.

Indeed, otherwise, Yaxin Bookstore wouldn't have been sealed without any resistance.

"I must thank Secretary He for speaking up for Qingsong Bookstore. If you have time today, I'll treat you to a meal."

He Qingxiao immediately thought of the meal at Fengwei Tower that cost more than twenty taels of silver.

"Cough, I have some matters today, Miss Kou, there's no need for such formality."

He Qingxiao hurried away, almost fleeing in panic.

The next few days were calm. Xin You spent most of her time writing books in her room, and when she was tired, she would go to the front of the bookstore to take a look.

The bookstore had no new books to sell, so there were no long queues, but because the bookstore across the street had closed down, people gradually started buying other types of books, leading to a steady sales period.

One day, a graceful middle-aged woman came to the bookstore.

Manager Hu was resting with his eyes closed when he heard a gentle voice: "Excuse me, is this a bookstore?"

The old manager opened his eyes and saw a well-dressed woman, secretly thinking it was a pity.

This lady looked proper, but her mind seemed not very sharp.

Liu Zhou also twitched his lips and approached: "We are a bookstore. What book would you like to buy, honored guest?"

Needless to say, the sign outside and the rows of bookshelves clearly indicated that this was a bookstore, not a cosmetics shop.

"Do you have travel guides?" The woman asked, thinking of the book He Qingxiao had brought back to the marquis's mansion.

The woman was none other than Aunt Gui, who had raised He Qingxiao from childhood.

She had long wanted to visit Qingsong Bookstore. She had heard that the owner of Qingsong Bookstore was a young lady who was quite famous in the capital, known as Miss Kou.

Could Miss Kou be the reason for the child's unusual behavior?

"Please follow me, our travel guides are on this shelf." Liu Zhou led the woman to the row of shelves where He Qingxiao often lingered.

Gui scanned the books, confirming that she had no interest in them, but since she hadn't seen Miss Kou, she picked one up to flip through it casually.

Liu Zhou stood beside her. Because Secretary He often came to read books, he didn't mind this kind of browsing without buying, but he was puzzled as to why everyone seemed to love travel guides.

Gui endured for a while, then silently took a travel guide to the counter.

She really wasn't good at dragging things out, and it seemed she would leave empty-handed today.

As Gui was walking to the counter, she suddenly heard a young clerk shout: "Boss."

She immediately turned around and saw a young girl in a green robe and plain dress walking in from behind.

The girl had a delicate nose and cherry lips, very beautiful, and her clear black eyes added a touch of nobility to her appearance.

Gui immediately thought of Princess Zhaoyang.

This Miss Kou really looks like Princess Zhaoyang.

This realization made Gui feel quite conflicted.

She liked Princess Zhaoyang but disliked the other—

Of course, as a servant, her likes and dislikes were insignificant; what mattered was the Lord Marquis.

Was it Miss Kou who enlightened the Lord Marquis?

Xin You was slightly taken aback when she saw Gui.

The woman in front of her looked familiar.

Because of this sense of familiarity, Xin You smiled at Gui: "Would the honored guest like to check out?"

"Oh—" Gui glanced at the travel guide in her hand and quickly placed it on the counter. "Check out."

"Thank you, one tael of silver." Liu Zhou reported the price from the side.

Aunt Gui's pupils dilated.

How expensive!

Thinking of He Qingxiao buying one travelogue after another recently, she was certain: the boy must have a crush on Miss Kou.

It was just unknown whether this affection had been conveyed to the young lady.

Curious and concerned, Aunt Gui couldn't help but look at Xin You with a tender gaze.

Xin You found Aunt Gui's face familiar but couldn't recall where they had met.

Because of her unique ability, she sometimes saw misfortune befalling strangers with just a glance while walking down the street.

She ignored those minor troubles, but when it came to matters of life and death, she couldn't help but give a few words of warning.

This way, it wasn't strange that some strangers left an impression on her.

But when Aunt Gui looked at her with the eyes of an elder, Xin You suddenly remembered.

The woman before her resembled Aunt Xia!

She grew up eating the meals cooked by Aunt Xia, and to her, no one could cook better than Aunt Xia.

But since that day, she never had the chance to taste Aunt Xia's cooking again.

Tears welled up, but she held them back. Yet, facing a woman who looked so much like Aunt Xia, she couldn't remain calm.

"Do you enjoy reading travelogues? I have a friend who also likes them," Xin You blurted out, seeing Liu Zhou already collecting the payment.

She couldn't resist saying something to make the woman stay a bit longer.

Aunt Gui thought the same thing.

She didn't want to leave yet, but the clerk had already finished the transaction.

Xin You's words gave her an opportunity.

"Yes, I particularly enjoy reading travelogues." Aunt Gui picked up the newly bought travelogue and asked with a smile, "I heard the owner of your esteemed bookstore is Miss Kou, is that right?"

Manager Hu shook his head inwardly.

This woman was indeed a bit confused; Liu Zhou had just called the owner.

"It's me. May I know your name, esteemed guest?"

"Miss Kou, please don't be so formal. If you don't mind, you can call me Aunt Gui."

Aunt Gui?

Xin You was stunned, a storm of thunder and lightning raging in her heart.

Back then, she was still young, and her memories were vague, but now they suddenly became clear.

She loved the pastries called Su Huangdu that Aunt Xia made, and after eating them to her heart's content, she told Aunt Xia that her pastries were the best.

Aunt Xia smiled and said she had an older sister who made even better pastries.

Xin You pestered Aunt Xia for more details, and Aunt Xia said her sister's name contained the character 'Gui,' and if she ever met her, she should call her Aunt Gui.

Could the woman before her be Aunt Xia's sister?