Chapter 478: Returning Home After Three Days

Chapter 478: The Third-Day Return Visit

Song Shouqing was delighted to see Xingxing.

While the adults were talking, Song Shouqing quietly asked Xingxing if she wanted to go out and play.

Xingxing couldn't help but look at Cen Yueyi.

Cen Yueyi smiled and nodded.

The two youngsters then happily went out.

Song Yuanqiao, Song Shouqing's father, noticed his son's happiness and fell into thoughtful contemplation.

"How is my cousin getting along at your place?" Song Shouqing couldn't help but ask as he walked with Xingxing in the garden.

Xingxing nodded, "She seems to be doing well, doesn't she? My family adores sister-in-law, and I see that she looks very well, so she must be very content."

Song Shouqing thought about it; earlier, his cousin had a relaxed smile at the corners of her eyes and brows, and her eyes were sparkling, clearly indicating she was doing very well.

Relieved, he gave Xingxing a formal bow, "Sister Yu, I leave my cousin in your family's care."

Xingxing couldn't help but laugh and returned the bow seriously, "You can count on us."

They both looked up and smiled.

The mansion didn't offer much to explore, so they decided to leave the Jiangtai Marquisate and stroll around the nearby streets.

The spring air was crisp, but fortunately, the sun was very bright today, and the two youngsters were having a great time.

Near the Jiangtai Marquisate, there was a Jinxiu Silver Building, a renowned jewelry shop. Unlike the Treasure Pavilion, it mainly focused on gold and silver jewelry.

Around New Year's, Xingxing had ordered a lot of gold and silver ingots from Jinxiu Silver Building, and everyone praised the exquisite craftsmanship.

Later, Xingxing brought some of her childhood gold and silver jewelry to be refurbished. As they passed by, Xingxing remembered this and went in with Song Shouqing to collect them.

As they walked in, it so happened that several customers were looking at jewelry inside, and one of them recognized Xingxing at a glance.

"Ah, it's you!"

A young girl pointed at Xingxing, her voice tinged with indignation.

Xingxing glanced over and thought the girl looked familiar. After a moment's thought, she recognized her as Qin Rui, who had received ointment from Yu Mingzhu at Yu Mingzhu's birthday banquet.

Xingxing nodded and greeted Qin Rui, "Miss Qin."

Qin Rui, visibly upset, stepped forward and said to Xingxing, "Do you realize how worn out Mingzhu has been lately?"

Xingxing: "?"

Xingxing was momentarily speechless. Why was Qin Rui asking her about Yu Mingzhu's condition?

Seeing Xingxing's confusion, Qin Rui pouted and added angrily, "Have you forgotten how you became a Township Lady? You capitalized on Mingzhu's charity to elevate yourself! You got the title of Township Lady, but Mingzhu's selfless act of braving the cold to feed the needy, because of you, became just a backdrop!"

Qin Rui was clearly sincerely standing up for Yu Mingzhu.

Both Xingxing and Song Shouqing were baffled by her reasoning.

Xingxing paused for a moment before addressing Qin Rui, "Miss Qin, I know you have a close relationship with Miss Yu, but my appointment as the Township Lady was the decision of His Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen. Are you saying His Majesty and Her Majesty are wrong?"

Qin Rui's eyes widened, seemingly taken aback by Xingxing's words, and a look of panic crossed her face. "I... I didn't say that!"

"But your earlier words clearly showed resentment towards my appointment as the Township Lady," Xingxing suggested sincerely. "Why don’t you have your father talk to His Majesty? Tell him I’m just chasing fame, which is why I quietly donated money to the charity without any publicity, just waiting for someone like the Princess Consort of Ying to randomly check the charity’s books and boosted me to fame. Unlike Duke of Xinguo’s selfless daughter, who handed out porridge to disaster victims in the cold without looking for credit... What do you think? Sounds good, right?"

Qin Rui's face flushed red instantly!

Even though her mind was filled with thoughts of Yu Mingzhu, she could still sense something amiss in Xingxing's words!

She jabbed a finger at Xingxing angrily, "You... are you mocking Mingzhu?!"

"Me? No way!" Xingxing exclaimed, "I truly didn't mean to mock Miss Yu. There are many ways to do good, and what matters is what you do, not why you do it. She genuinely did good for the disaster victims... I was just making fun of you."

The first part of Xingxing's statement seemed reasonable to Qin Rui, but the latter part took a sharp turn, with Xingxing openly admitting that she was indeed mocking her!

"You!" Qin Rui's cheeks turned red with anger, "What do you mean by that?!"

Xingxing sighed softly, "Miss Qin, Miss Yu hasn't said anything. By rushing to her defense and voicing grievances on her behalf in such a public setting, you're just putting her in a tough spot... People might think Duke of Xinguo’s daughter is unhappy with His Majesty’s decision, and thus is using you, since you’re so easy to influence, to voice her discontent through your words."

Qin Rui's eyes reddened with anxiety, "I didn't! Mingzhu didn't tell me anything! I’m just mad at you!"

Xingxing sighed again, "So, you're saying Miss Yu has no issues with this at all?"

Qin Rui nodded eagerly, "Yes, that's exactly it! Someone as kind-hearted as Mingzhu wouldn't have any issues!"

Xingxing spread her hands, "Well, that settles it, doesn’t it? When you said Mingzhu looked so worn out earlier, I thought she had strong objections to this. But since the noble Miss Yu has no issues, it seems she truly doesn't care. Miss Qin, by rushing to her defense, aren't you going against Miss Yu's own wishes? That doesn't seem right, does it?"

Xingxing totally threw Qin Rui for a loop, who looked utterly bewildered.

Xingxing gave Qin Rui a calm smile and headed upstairs with Song Shouqing.

Song Shouqing was completely stunned by the entire exchange.

Since the matter involved a lady he didn't know, he had no idea how to support Xingxing. Seeing her resolve the verbal dispute with just a few words, he was filled with admiration, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her.

After inspecting the jewelry, Xingxing instructed the owner of Jinxiu Silver Tower to have the pieces delivered to her in the afternoon, and then they went downstairs.

By the time they descended, Qin Rui's companions had already left, and Qin Rui herself was still standing at the staircase, seemingly waiting for Xingxing.

She frowned, clearly torn, "I still think there's something wrong with what you said..."

Xingxing interrupted her, "Miss Qin."

Qin Rui looked confused, "Huh?"

Xingxing complimented her, "That scar on your face has really faded. It makes you look even more beautiful."

Caught off guard by the compliment, Qin Rui was even more bewildered, "Huh?... Oh, um, thank you..."

Xingxing politely replied, "No need to thank me, I was just stating the truth."

Then, under Qin Rui's still-confused gaze, Xingxing and Song Shouqing calmly exited Jinxiu Silver Tower.