Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Stalking
Given Xiao Shiqing’s alertness, if someone were to follow him, he would be able to detect it.
But today, perhaps he was too emotionally agitated, or perhaps the person following him posed no real threat, so he overlooked it.
As soon as he arrived upstairs and sat down, his mother sent someone to inquire the shopkeeper, and the answer was that the private room had been reserved five days ago, but the shopkeeper didn’t know who it was.
Qu Fulan did not show her face when making the reservation. In this era of strict separation between men and women, how could she blatantly arrange a meeting with a man?
If it weren’t for the need to speak clearly and sever ties, she wouldn’t have met Xiao Shiqing at all.
Although she has regained her freedom now, if she doesn’t clarify things with Xiao Shiqing, what if he causes trouble for the Pei Mansion afterward?
Qu Fulan wants to focus on her career, so she needs to eliminate potential risks in advance.
As the wheels of the carriage rumbled over the cobblestones, Qu Fulan leaned against the carriage wall and rested with her eyes closed.
She was actually thinking about how to clearly communicate with Xiao Shiqing later.
Following the carriage were two newly bought servant girls, one named Bicao, the other Ruyin, names changed by Qu Fulan.
Otherwise, the names would have been random, even worse than the name Zhaodi she had in modern times, one being called Yadan and the other Shadan.
Girls from poor families weren’t valued, and many parents didn’t bother to think of names, choosing randomly instead.
Qu Fulan gave them beautiful names, making the little servant girls so happy, they could proudly tell others their names in the future.
Upon reaching the destination, Qu Fulan prepared to get out of the carriage. Due to caution, she looked around twice, spotting an inconspicuous carriage parked on the other side of Hongfu Building.
This wasn’t something worth concern initially.
But if there were five or six servants watching by that inconspicuous carriage, it warranted some attention.
Generally, an inconspicuous carriage would be accompanied by two servants at most, due to limited means and not being able to afford more ostentation.
Otherwise, if conditions allowed, one would use a luxurious large carriage, accompanied by a retinue, making for much more pompous travel.
So usually by observing carriages and the accompanying entourage, one could discern the condition of the opposing family’s finances.
Now, opposite was that carriage, with five or six servants accompanying a small carriage? And appearing in a high-end consumption place like Hongfu Building.
This arrangement felt rather chaotic.
It had the quality of someone wanting to disguise their identity while forgetting their own, only remembering to use a small carriage but forgetting to decrease the number of followers.
This situation raised suspicion in Qu Fulan’s mind.
She did not immediately disembark.
Meanwhile, a woman and a young lady sat inside on the second floor—who else could it be but Mrs. Xiao?
"They’ve waited for so long, who is he meeting? Why hasn’t the person appeared yet?" Mrs. Xiao, who came with her son early, had been waiting all morning without seeing a single person.
Their private room was on the second floor, her son’s was on the third, and Mrs. Xiao had networks established—she would go up immediately if anyone entered her son’s room.
Actually, Mrs. Xiao had her suspicions; who else could cause her son to lose composure but that woman?
Outrageous behavior this would be—despite the formal separation of men and women, how could a young lady still have the shameless audacity to meet privately with a man?
Absolutely disgraceful.
Mrs. Xiao was anxious, thinking if Li Jirou dared to appear today, she’d ruin her reputation entirely; how could she face people afterward?
"Maybe it’s not time yet; probably cousin arrived early." Ji Nishang whispered.
Listening to her confirmed Mrs. Xiao’s suspicions—it had to be Li Jirou, otherwise with her son’s temperament, when has he ever had the patience to wait so long?
Consequently, Mrs. Xiao’s anger intensified.
Is a servant girl audacious enough to make others wait that long?
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and she let them in.
"Madam, there’s movement upstairs, I saw someone enter with my own eyes."
Mrs. Xiao did not have time to ask who it was before she got up and hurried upstairs.
Ji Nishang followed behind; her role today was to mediate, leaving a good impression in her cousin’s eyes.
Arriving upstairs, however, there was no sign of Li Jirou.
Instead, an eight-year-old boy was inside.
Xiao Shiqing was stunned by the boy’s appearance, unable to inquire before seeing his mother storm inside furious.
No further explanation was necessary for Xiao Shiqing.
"You’re tracking me?"
Mrs. Xiao’s plan failed, and feeling cornered and embarrassed, she pointed at the boy, demanding, "Who let you in? Where is the person who allowed you? Speak quickly!"
Why else would the boy arrive? He must have been directed!
The boy, frightened, couldn’t speak at all.
Mrs. Xiao was increasingly certain Li Jirou had sent the boy to inquire, a mind full of conniving.
How could such a woman dare enter the family?
By now, Mrs. Xiao had long forgotten who Li Jirou was when the Li and Xiao families were neighbors.
She only thought the other side would use any foul means to marry into a prominent family; such a woman mustn’t be admitted into her family.
Xiao Shiqing’s face was grim, he didn’t even want to speak, stepping out immediately.
Seeing this, Mrs. Xiao hurried after him.
But her son was tall and fast, quickly leaving her behind, and by the time she reached the first floor, his horse was already gone.
"Did anyone see which direction the Heir went?"
The servants near the inconspicuous carriage pointed, and Mrs. Xiao hastily followed, but soon she faced crossroads, unsure of the exact route.
Mrs. Xiao was infuriated, almost spitting blood.
She considered returning to question the boy, but he had already run away.
What a futile attempt, running empty-handed.
Now, Xiao Shiqing wasn’t wandering aimlessly ahead—earlier, the boy handed him a note inside the private room.
The paper contained only an address, nothing extraneous.
He was initially unaware of the situation, but after his mother entered the room, he understood.
Upon arriving at the new location, Qu Fulan was already waiting.
"Prince Xiao, wanting to discuss matters with you is truly difficult." Qu Fulan casually poured herself a cup of tea and spoke lightly.
Xiao Shiqing felt guilty for overlooking the situation; he hadn’t noticed being followed.
"I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional." He immediately apologized.
Qu Fulan waved a hand, indicating him to sit.
She didn’t waste time with pleasantries and directly addressed the matter.
"I’ve heard that Prince Xiao and Heir Pei made a wager to compete during the autumn hunt, and the winner could ask the loser for a promise?"
Xiao Shiqing hadn’t expected Pei Ji’an to tell her this; originally he didn’t want her to know, planning to win during the hunt to free her from servitude.
But since she knew, he wouldn’t hide it.
"Yes."
Qu Fulan handed him a contract, "Take a look at this."