Chapter 134: The Mask Falls Off

Chapter 134: The Mask Falls Off

"Is there something you need, Qingqing?" Duan Shaoqing greeted the girl who walked in with a smile, though his heart was far from calm.

Over these past few months, he had lost a considerable amount of money due to his niece, and he really didn't want to deal with this girl anymore.

Her sudden visit today couldn't be for anything good, could it? Was she here to swindle more money from him again?

Thinking about how prosperous Qingsong Bookstore had been lately, Duan Shaoqing felt secretly aggrieved.

A young girl should be innocent and pure, yet this one was too greedy.

Xin You curtsied. "I came to see Uncle today because I have something to discuss."

Without waiting for Duan Shaoqing to speak, Xin You sat down opposite him.

This move made Duan Shaoqing's eyes turn cold, realizing that his niece was about to give him another headache.

How much does she want this time? A thousand taels, or two thousand?

She's really gotten used to asking for money.

Duan Shaoqing was calculating how much money it would take to get rid of his niece when Xin You spoke up.

"Uncle, I'd like to discuss the arrangement of the Kou family's assets with you."

"The Kou family's assets?" Duan Shaoqing was so surprised that he forgot to be furious, only feeling bewildered.

"Yes, the money my parents left me, which I brought to Uncle's house when we moved to the capital."

Duan Shaoqing's heart pounded, and his anger could not be contained.

A thousand taels, two thousand taels—these amounts were no longer enough for this girl. She was now eyeing those assets?

That's a million taels of silver! Not to mention the numerous shops and lands.

Duan Shaoqing stared at Xin You sternly. "Qingqing, you did bring some wealth when you came to the capital, but hasn't your grandmother been keeping it for you?"

Xin You nodded.

"Uncle remembers your grandmother saying she would hand over those assets to you when you marry."

Xin You nodded again.

Duan Shaoqing's expression grew even more serious, and the coldness in his tone was unmistakable. "What do you want to discuss with Uncle then?"

Xin You looked at Duan Shaoqing calmly, her lips curving slightly. "I've come of age and wish to manage my own assets."

Duan Shaoqing's face darkened. "Nonsense!"

Xin You watched him quietly.

The composed look in the girl's eyes and her calm gaze exposed Duan Shaoqing's hidden frustration.

Duan Shaoqing felt embarrassed for a moment and forced himself to soften his tone. "Qingqing, although you've come of age, you're still young. Managing such a large fortune is not as simple as you think. It's best to listen to your grandmother and wait until you marry."

This girl has grown ambitious.

His mother was wise to suggest a marriage between Chen and her, but it was unfortunate that the Jiao family was short-sighted and greedy, leading to the current situation.

Seeing Xin You frown, Duan Shaoqing provoked her. "Do you not trust your grandmother?"

"Uncle misunderstands. I am considering what you said."

"What did I say?"

"You said I'm still young and don't know how to manage assets. Uncle, haven't you forgotten that Qingsong Bookstore has been doing so well recently, almost making a fortune every day? Isn't Qingqing managing it well?"

"You—" Duan Shaoqing wanted to say that it was thanks to the managers and others, but he swallowed his words when he met the girl's cold gaze.

He realized that this girl was determined to reclaim her assets.

Duan Shaoqing instinctively sat up straighter, his tone turning mild. "Qingqing, if you want to manage the assets your parents left you now, go ask your grandmother. Uncle hasn't touched those assets, so you'll only be disappointed coming to me."

The change in Duan Shaoqing's tone made Xin You chuckle inwardly.

Finally, the first layer of pretense was stripped away.

She reached out to pick up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Duan Shaoqing herself.

The half-empty cup was refilled, and the leaves floated gracefully in the water.

Duan Shaoqing remained motionless, waiting for Xin You to speak.

"My grandmother is old, and I fear that if I ask her directly, she might misunderstand, thinking I don't trust her, and get upset."

Duan Shaoqing sneered. "If you truly care about your grandmother, you shouldn't be thinking about such things at this time. Your mother was my only sister and your grandmother's only daughter, and you are the only descendant of your mother. How could we possibly covet the wealth left by your parents?"

Xin You raised an eyebrow.

Her eyes were large, but not round; they were elongated with slightly upturned corners and thin eyelids. These eyes, though beautiful, had a regal quality when she looked at someone coldly, making people dare not take her lightly.

Duan Shaoqing felt a chill run down his spine, cursing his misfortune.

It was all those gossipy people's fault for saying this girl resembled Princess Royale Zhaoyang. Just now, he even thought she looked more like the Emperor!

Emperor Xingyuan was the founder of Great Xia, having built the empire alongside his illustrious generals. Unless something unexpected happened, even if Great Xia lasted for centuries, Emperor Xingyuan would remain the peak of martial prowess among all its emperors.

From a commoner to the throne, Emperor Xingyuan might have many shortcomings, but one thing was undeniable: his prestige among the officials and military was extremely high.

No such treasonous thought as the resemblance between his niece and the emperor ever crossed Duan Shaoqing's mind.

He took several sips of tea to dispel the alarming notion.

"Do not take it to heart, Uncle. I did not say you coveted my family's wealth. But I have no intention of marrying for now, and I am capable of managing finances. Why can't I reclaim what belongs to me?" A fleeting sneer played on Xin You's lips as she gauged Duan Shaoqing's expression. "If I go directly to Grandmother, she might misunderstand. If Uncle speaks on my behalf, there would be no such issue."

Duan Shaoqing found it laughable: "Your affairs, Uncle cannot meddle in."

He didn't believe this girl could forcefully extract money from her mother.

This wasn't just a matter of tens of thousands of taels.

Xin You smiled: "Is Uncle not afraid of people gossiping that Shaoqing Mansion covets my family's wealth?"

Duan Shaoqing's face darkened abruptly: "Qingqing, were these your words?"

If the previous remarks could be attributed to growing up, becoming more ambitious, and understanding the value of wealth, these words clearly indicated a confrontation.

Suppressing his anger, Duan Shaoqing pondered what leverage Xin You had to choose such a confrontational approach: "There were some rumors recently, but once people realized it was a misunderstanding, they dispersed. Qingqing, with the family's support for your Bookstore, must you create a fuss at home?"

Speaking of which, it was fortunate that this girl insisted on opening a Bookstore, allowing the public to see Shaoqing Mansion's indulgence towards her. With Shaoqing Mansion subtly guiding public opinion, those rumors were finally quelled.

"Right, the Bookstore." Xin You seemed reminded by his words, placing the box she brought on the table between them. "This is a new manuscript. Does Uncle have any interest in taking a look?"

Duan Shaoqing frowned, staring at the smiling girl, then reached out to open the box.

Inside lay a book without a cover or title.

Duan Shaoqing stared for a moment before taking out the manuscript and flipping through it page by page.