Xue Qian was astounded and imdiately exclaid!
"What do you an by that? Could it be that you’re doubting ?"
"I, Su Ke, dare not suspect my elder brother."
Su Ke gently set down the tea cup on the table, producing a clink: "I just saw that before Cui Minghao left the city for the school grounds west of the city, you took a mont to whisper to your page boy. Knowing you as I do, how could I not wonder?"
"How could that be? Look at how honest and straightforward I am, am I not?"
Xue Qian, with utter seriousness, patted his chest: "Our nature is simple and honest, pure and kind, naïve and loyal, upright and steady, honest and true, faithful and open-hearted... free from trickery, with a benevolent heart, true to our word, how could I commit such an infuriating and reprehensible act? You must have mistaken for soone else!"
This self-praise was truly flabbergasting.
With his mouth agape, Su Ke took a long while to co back to his senses: "It turns out that I am only eting Brother Xue for the first ti today, how disrespectful, how disrespectful!"
Xue Qian was smug: "That’s right..."
"It turns out Brother Xue has such a thick face; seems like not even a steel knife would cut through. Perhaps I should find an axe to see if I can split open your thick face," Su Ke said, nodding earnestly.
That made Xue Qian’s smile stiffen on his face.
"You little rascal! You, you..."
Xue Qian laughed heartily, raised his tea cup, and clinked it with Su Ke’s, repeatedly begging for rcy: "It’s a pity my ntor has forbidden from drinking alcohol, otherwise, I would have loved to share another three hundred cups with you. Now, I can only offer tea in place of wine and toast you three tis."
"This hush money tea, I must drink."
Su Ke gave a knowing smile and clinked his cup with Xue’s, leaving everything unsaid.
As the two chatted and laughed, a ruckus suddenly erupted from outside the door.
"On what grounds are you not allowing us in? We reserved a spot in advance, how can you run a business like this, boss? Do you have no faith in your word, huh?"
"Gentlen, gentlen, I truly am sorry. Those individuals... I really cannot afford to offend them. I’m just running a small business; I have elders above and young ones below, I can’t take responsibility for this! Please, I beg you, have rcy, I’ll repay the deposit double. No, triple, would that be agreeable?" a voice repeatedly apologized.
The raucous voices rose again: "Triple? Hmph, do you think we look like the kind of people who are short on silver? This matter is not over yet..."
"Gentlen, I am truly, deeply sorry."
The apologetic tone beca even lower: "It truly is because today is Zhang Bang, and our establishnt faces Bangpeng Street; it’s our honor that they fancied our location. But you see... we really cannot afford to offend the other party! Please, have rcy and let off."
"You’re asking us? You an to say that you can’t afford to offend them, but us, you think you can? Is that what you’re saying?" The angry voice grew more vicious.
"No... I wouldn’t dare think that, please, have rcy and spare !"
"If that’s not what you an, then what do you an..."
One wave of noise after another ca from outside, prompting Su Ke and Xue Qian to turn their heads towards the door of the elegant room.
Just as they were leaning in to listen, suddenly, with a loud "bang," the partially closed door was violently smashed open from the outside.
The boss stumbled in, falling at the doorway.
Su Ke and Xue Qian exchanged glances.
Well!
People sit inside a room, but disaster cos from the sky!
Now, even if I didn’t want to ddle, it would be impossible.
"What’s happening?"
Xue Qian stood up and took several steps forward to inquire. Su Ke followed suit and also discerned the situation outside.
Imdiately, a look of astonishnt crossed his face: "It’s you!"
"It’s you!"
Soone in the crowd also cried out in amazent.
That person was none other than Qin Shuan’er, whom Su Ke had not seen for so days. Although saying they hadn’t t seed incorrect, as during New Year’s when entering the palace, he did catch a glimpse of Qin Shuan’er. Yet, both were in such a hurry that neither had ti to exchange a word.
After exclaiming, Qin Shuan’er realized her lapse in composure and retreated a step back, sowhat vexedly hiding behind the person who had just been making a ruckus outside.
It was then that Su Ke noticed that the group outside the door not only included Qin Shuan’er, but also Qin Hui, Qin Hua, and others. Besides them, there were several young gentlen and ladies. Among them, a tall and burly man pushed through the crowd, pulled Qin Shuan’er behind him, and tilted his head to size up Su Ke.
"Shuang’er, you know him?"
His face blanched at the question, as Su Ke suddenly rembered.
This man was no other, but Zhang Zhongding, Qin Shuan’er’s betrothed fiancé.
Zhang Quanliang, Lord Zhang, was currently serving close to His Majesty. As the Commanding Officer of the Imperial Guard, he enjoyed His Majesty’s great favor, responsible for ensuring His Majesty’s personal safety. The marriage between his second son, Zhang Zhongding, and Qin Shuan’er was already set in stone, with the pair reportedly already engaged. Yet, it was unclear why they didn’t avoid rumors and instead appeared together so openly?
Su Ke had long heard about this arrangent, but hearing was one thing and actually seeing the couple looking affectionate before him was quite another story.
So this was Zhang Zhongding?
Su Ke quickly narrowed his eyes for a better look. Zhang Zhongding, no more than eighteen or nineteen, stood tall and broad-shouldered next to Qin Shuan’er. The man was handso, the woman was pretty, creating an imdiate impression of a damsel devoted to her hero. His bronzed skin exuded vitality, and his sharp and profound gaze swept over Su Ke, his eyes shimring with the sharp light of assessnt.
Even though it was the first ti the two n had t, both could feel an undercurrent of rivalry between them.
Su Ke’s heart sank swiftly; even as a man, he had to admit that Zhang Zhongding and Qin Shuan’er were indeed a good match!
It was this very realization that made him feel even worse!
While his thoughts raced, Qin Shuan’er opposite him showed no good expression toward him.
Their last encounter had ended on a sour note, and she rembered it all too well. Moreover, this petty man had been avoiding her, not even speaking to her over New Year’s, which infuriated her! With that thought, she uttered a nonchalant "hmm," did not co forward to greet him, but casually remarked,
"Hmm, this here is Lord Su, brother of the Empress."
Without revealing her relationship with him, that single sentence made everyone instantly realize his identity—it turned out this man was none other than Su Ke, Lord Su, brother to the Empress!
Zhang Zhongding looked surprised, but soon, his face broke into a smile, and he ca forward with a clasped fist in greeting.
"So you are the Uncle-in-law. By association, I should indeed call you little uncle through Shuang’er. It’s a lapse on my part for not doing so earlier, I hope you won’t take it amiss, little uncle."
At his words, Qin Shuan’er’s mouth fell open in shock; she hadn’t expected this turn of events.
Turns out Su Ke was her little uncle!
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