novelhk Chapter 175 Attending the Banquet
Chapter 175 Attending the Banquet
After a good rest, Meng Ali regained her former energy and immediately told Meng Fuqing everything she had heard from the kidnappers the night before.
He finished speaking with a frown, "Big sister, I think I heard people talking after I fell asleep in the car, but I don't know if I was dreaming, I can't remember clearly..."
Meng Fuqing couldn't extract any useful information from what Meng Ali remembered. Seeing the red marks on his hands from the rope, he patted his head and channeled a small amount of healing power into his body.
"Does Ah Li want to find out who instructed the kidnapper to sell you?" she coaxed gently.
Meng Ali nodded without hesitation and said, "Yes!"
"Then think about it carefully, and tell your elder sister when you've thought it through."
As the two were talking, someone knocked on the door. Meng Ali ran to open it, "Mother!"
Shan Qiyu brought three dishes, a soup, and a bowl of rice into the room. "I figured you should be awake by now. I borrowed the kitchen from the inn at noon and cooked this with freshly bought vegetables and meat. It's been kept hot, so eat it while it's hot."
The dishes and soup were served in small bowls, with just the right amount of food.
"Have you all eaten?" Meng Fuqing walked to the table and sat down.
"I've already eaten, eldest sister," Meng Ali said, her eyes still fixed on the braised pork. "Mother's braised pork is getting better and better. Eldest sister, you should try some."
Meng Fuqing picked up a piece of braised pork and stuffed it into his mouth, saying, "If you want to eat, we can eat together."
Meng Ali felt embarrassed and patted her stomach while chewing, "Ali is full."
Shan Qiyu sat opposite Meng Fuqing and began to recount what had happened that morning.
"This morning, the old lady of the Han family sent over a lot of thank-you gifts. I couldn't refuse, so I accepted them. They're all in my room. The servants also said that they'd like you and Young Master Xie to come to the mansion for a chat tonight. They even sent an invitation. Qingqing, do you want to go?"
“Yes, we should go. I want to inquire about Jing’an Prefecture. The Han family is powerful and influential in Qingzhou City. They might be able to help us.”
Upon hearing this, Shan Qiyu hesitated for a moment, "Then, Mother, did you accept the wrong gift?"
"The matter is still undecided, so there's no harm in accepting it."
After finishing his meal, Meng Fuqing closed the door and went into his spatial storage to collect various items, keeping himself very busy.
After what happened last night, Meng Ranran and Meng Ali didn't dare to go out again at the inn.
Meng Ranran always carried the medical book she had received from her master. She could identify the herbs drawn on it. Meng Ali, being young and unable to concentrate, would look out the window at the various people on the street with great interest.
As a scholar passed by the window, he remarked to his companion, "The old master of the Zheng family is truly benevolent and virtuous. Yesterday, he distributed food and cotton clothing to the refugees, and today he invited the masters of Yunyin Temple to hold a sutra recitation to pray for their well-being. He is truly a man of great kindness..."
Meng Ali didn't quite understand, but when he heard the words "Zheng family," he suddenly remembered the conversation he had vaguely overheard the night before.
He jumped up and down in surprise, "Ah, I remember now!"
As he spoke, he ran to Meng Fuqing's door. Remembering his mother's instructions, he stood in front of the door and knocked excitedly.
Meng Fuqing came out of the space to open the door for him, and as soon as the door opened, he was caught red-handed.
"Big sister, I remember now! It's..."
Meng Fuqing covered his mouth and walked to the door to close it.
"Speak softly, it's not good if someone hears you," she said to Meng Ali.
“Oh,” Meng Ali said softly without asking what was wrong, “The Zheng family, it’s the Zheng family. They said officials are rats, cowardly, and if they say that, they can’t do business.”
The Zheng family, renowned for their philanthropy in Gyeongju City?
Meng Fuqing ruffled Meng Ali's hair, "You can't eat osmanthus cake for nothing."
As evening approached, the shop assistant brought Meng Fuqing a set of clothes.
She wore a light blue dress and a white fox fur cloak.
She asked curiously, "Who sent you to deliver this?"
The shop assistant said respectfully, "That young master said that Miss Yan bought it for you, but Miss Yan was delayed on the way and asked him to pass it on to you. The young master then asked me to deliver it to your door."
He had initially thought these people were relatively wealthy refugees, but this morning the Han family sent their steward to the inn to personally deliver a thank-you gift. How could someone who could attract the Han family's attention be an ordinary person?
The shopkeeper instructed him not to neglect these people.
Meng Fuqing couldn't help but chuckle as he listened to his roundabout explanation.
Yan He would never have imagined that he would buy her clothes; it was clearly Xie Jin who gave them to her. He felt bad for him, having to go through so much trouble to deliver clothes.
She accepted the clothes without hesitation, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."
Meng Fuqing had assumed that the Han family would know her identity as a refugee, so she would simply change into clean and tidy clothes to avoid being impolite. However, she did not expect that Xie Jin had prepared everything for her.
After changing her clothes, she stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself, then suddenly froze.
Upon closer inspection, it became clear that she hadn't misread it.
When she first transmigrated, she looked closely at this face. It was somewhat similar to her past self from another world, but not exactly the same. Now, it seemed to be looking more and more like her former self.
Meng Fuqing couldn't understand it, and could only attribute it to the soul.
Fortunately, the body is still growing and developing, so these changes will not attract the attention of others.
After changing her clothes, she asked her mother to comb her hair, something she had never been good at.
When her mother asked about the clothes, she only said that she had asked Yan He to buy them.
Shan Qiyu couldn't help but feel a little guilty. "When visiting someone's home like that, one should dress more presentably. Mother, I never thought of that."
Meng Fuqing offered a few words of comfort, and by the time her hair was combed, it was almost time.
As they left the room, Meng Fuqing and Xie Jin bumped into each other at the entrance of the inn's staircase.
Seeing Meng Fuqing wearing the clothes he had chosen, Xie Jin was momentarily stunned. Then he suddenly regretted it.
There was also a scheming Han San in the Han household.
However, he quickly put Han San out of his mind. He didn't care about Han San or Zhang San; Meng Fuqing didn't care.
Seeing Xie Jin standing there in a daze, Meng Fuqing couldn't help but remind him, "Young Master Xie, please go first."
Coming to his senses, Xie Jin took a step back. "Miss Meng, please go first."
When we go to the Han residence today, we must keep a close eye on the people there.
The two arrived at the Han family home with invitations in hand, followed by Mu Sheng.
After being informed by the servants, they entered the mansion. Meng Fuqing was invited to the inner courtyard, while Xie Jin was led to the front courtyard by Han San.
Throughout the journey, Xie Jin's face resembled the icy snow that never melts in the dead of winter, filled with dissatisfaction with the numerous rules in the south.
Mu Sheng considered himself to know his young master very well, but at this moment he could only see that his young master was in a bad mood, but he didn't know why.
People caught up in love are truly unpredictable.
Meng Fuqing, who was invited into the backyard, saw Han Ling'er again. Unlike last night, the girl was very well-behaved, as if she wasn't the spoiled person from last night.
Madam Han and Madam Han personally received the group of female relatives, and they sat down together for a meal.
Meng Fuqing was unfamiliar with the customs of wealthy families in ancient times, so he could only listen and observe more, and eventually imitate them.
After finally finishing her meal, she breathed a sigh of relief, sharing the same thought as Xie Jin—there were too many rules.
She rallied her spirits and found a suitable moment to ask, "I have come here not only to attend the banquet, but also to inquire about something from you, Madam."