Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Unspeakable Motives
Qu Fulan was still not joining them and left without hesitation.
She was not interested in Mrs. Xiao’s intention to redeem her, because no matter the purpose, it was the other’s concern and had nothing to do with her, she had no obligation to fulfill anything for them.
Ji Nishang clenched the hand in her sleeve but still caught up with two steps, grabbing the other’s hand, "You know the relations between the Pei and Xiao Families, we cannot directly approach you, since you are not free today, when will you be free, shall we set a place in advance?"
Qu Fulan simply said, "I am not free recently, so I must excuse myself."
When Mrs. Xiao found out about Qu Fulan’s refusal to meet her, the anger in her heart was imaginable.
"How dare she? How dare she? I kindly wanted to help her, and yet she can’t appreciate that!"
Ji Nishang lowered her eyes and said, "Perhaps it’s my cousin’s previous actions that made her scared, so she’s acting this unusually, otherwise who would refuse to be redeemed?"
Mrs. Xiao immediately thought of the incident when her daughter once sent people to assassinate Li Jirou, yet she also felt that was a thing of the past, Li Jirou ended up unharmed, wasn’t she? Instead, Nuannuan was shocked and still often has nightmares.
Furthermore, now that she personally appears, it indicates such incidents will not occur again, the other party should hasten to follow, how could there be any reason to refuse?
"If that’s the case, let her be, if she wants to continue being a maid, let her be. Opting to be a servant rather than a proper mistress? She will regret it in the future, and when she wants to seek me then, there will be no opportunity." Mrs. Xiao was very angry.
Mrs. Xiao didn’t originally want to bring Li Jirou back, it was her niece’s persuasion that made her reluctantly come to see her, she thought if the other listened obediently, she’d be unconcerned. Now this is good, she hasn’t done anything yet, but the other has already begun being arrogant.
Mrs. Xiao was pampered and had never received such a grievance, feeling greatly stifled.
Ji Nishang patted her aunt’s back and softly comforted, "Aunt doesn’t need to be overly angry, Miss Li has experienced family upheaval at a young age and fell to become a maid, the hardships can be imagined, now she has a guarded attitude, which is normal."
Mrs. Xiao was still in a fit of rage and not persuaded by this. Seeing this, Ji Nishang had no choice but to reveal the truth, "Aunt might not know, Miss Li is now working for the Pei Family. The ’Flower Garden Ode’ and ’Burning Immortal Grass Milk Tea Shop’ are all operated by her behind the scenes, showing she has a certain talent in this aspect. I think instead of letting her help others to go against us, it would be better to bring her back to work for us?"
Other things might not convince Mrs. Xiao, but when it comes to business, her expression immediately changed, "Is what you’re saying true? Are all these shops and taverns operated by her?"
Ji Nishang wouldn’t speak too definitively, she only said, "I’m not entirely sure, but based on my continuous observations, she is highly favored in the Pei Family, every now and then venturing out of the mansion in luxurious carriages with bodyguards, treatment even noble concubines couldn’t have, she as a maid receives it. Moreover, I haven’t heard Princely Heir Pei has any concubines, such attention must be because she has extraordinary abilities. Aunt can see her currently overseeing the shop’s renovation, this shows she is indeed responsible for these matters."
Mrs. Xiao thought this made a lot of sense but still had doubts, "If she has such capabilities, how come I have never heard about it?"
Ji Nishang smiled and said, "Previously, she was young and likely was just helping out at home, so aunt didn’t know."
Mrs. Xiao thought this reasoning made sense. Though the Li and Xiao Families were neighbors, they didn’t know everything; each family had their own matters, with many complex affairs.
Once she understood, her anger flared again, "So she’s serving the Pei Family, opposing the Xiao Family, this is simply rebellious, completely disregarding the Xiao Family."
Ji Nishang could understand her aunt’s anger because the Li and Xiao Families were former acquaintances, in her aunt’s view, Li Jirou’s current actions were betrayal, excessive.
Yet, as an outsider, Ji Nishang could see more clearly, "Aunt doesn’t need to overthink, Miss Li is now a maid in the Pei Mansion, naturally working for them, there’s no alternative. We should discuss how to redeem her and bring her back to the Xiao Mansion."
"But she didn’t even want to meet us, how can we redeem her?"
"We likely startled her this time, she was unprepared which is why she didn’t meet us. We should send her an invitation, and she will surely come."
"But our Xiao Family shouldn’t send the Pei Family an invitation, right?" Mrs. Xiao asked worriedly.
"It can be done in my name, that’s no problem. Furthermore, it doesn’t necessary to send the invitation to the Pei Family, she’s overseeing this shop now; we can send it here, and it will naturally reach her, as long as we send the invitation, there will eventually be a response."
Qu Fulan was insignificant and couldn’t refuse others’ invitation, those from prestigious families could decline because they had strong backing.
What is Qu Fulan? Even if she weren’t a maid, she’d be just an ordinary girl, she cannot refuse others’ invitation, otherwise, it’d spread that she rejected an invitation, and she could forget mingling in any circles in the future.
Actually, there is another matter Ji Nishang couldn’t be sure of, so she didn’t tell her aunt.
The current popular ’Journey to the West’, Ji Nishang suspected the copyright belonged to Qu Fulan, otherwise, her shop attendants tried all ways to investigate but couldn’t find anything.
Initially, everyone suspected it was written by Manager Wu of the ’Ten Thousand Books Bookstore,’ but later Cai Youliang employed a ploy to defraud this former master, to no avail.
Ji Nishang thus suspected Qu Fulan, but she had no evidence yet.
If she were brought to the Xiao Mansion, everything could be known, then how to proceed would be up to her.
Ji Nishang grew up doing business and often heard her father say: there’s no business without deceit.
Therefore, she didn’t feel calculating against Qu Fulan was wrong, everything was for business, focused purely on business.
Speaking of Qu Fulan, after she saw the shop’s renovation progressing as expected, she left satisfied.
Regarding her small shop, she didn’t plan to invite people to support it, no need.
But the coffee shop definitely needed support, so she wrote invitations to Prince An, Third Miss, and others early, asking them to support and boost popularity on the opening day.
Of course, she didn’t forget such good news should include the Old Madam.
Everyone bustling together ensures prosperous business.
Actually, Qu Fulan’s life goal wasn’t solely about making money.
Once she earns enough, she wants to thoroughly investigate the situations in her original family’s home.
What particular case, what occurred, since the novel hints at being wrongly accused, there should be clues.
Once she vindicates the Li Family, she won’t fear old grievances resurfacing, allowing her to live with more confidence.
The Xiao Family’s invitation quickly reached Qu Fulan.
Qu Fulan was speechless, even after refusing in person, they’d still send an invitation.
Such an invitation couldn’t be declined.
Otherwise, she’d have no social life in the future.
The other party clearly knew this fact, hence they sent an invitation to force a meeting.
If that’s the case, then let’s meet.
Initially, she wasn’t curious about Mrs. Xiao’s purpose, but now her curiosity was piqued.
Determined to meet her, there must be some shady purpose, right?
Qu Fulan didn’t go alone, she took along four bright bodyguards.