usatvline Chapter 537 Brothers Destined to Stand on Opposite Sides
Chapter 537 Brothers Destined to Stand on Opposite Sides
Liu Peng stayed for dinner, while the Liu family steward went back to report.
"Haha, it makes it sound like I'm here to freeload."
"It's nothing. It's rare to have a day off, so having hot pot together is a good idea. It's just a bit late, otherwise we could have invited Xiao Ming too."
Jiang Xiaoqi was just saying that, after all, Xiao Ming is now her future fifth sister's husband, and her grandmother does not want the engaged couple to see each other frequently before marriage.
This is also because they are afraid that if word gets out, it will damage their granddaughter's reputation. The man himself is not afraid of anything, but other people's gossip can be deadly to a woman.
Jiang Xiaoqi was helpless against the various customs of feudal society, but he could not change them by his own strength and could only superficially accept them.
"I really envy Xiao Ming. He's your fifth brother-in-law. Doesn't that mean you'll have an endless supply of hot pot in the future?"
"What? Being my good buddy means I can't eat hot pot? What's that in your mouth right now?"
Liu Peng quickly swallowed the tender mutton in his mouth and shrugged.
There's nothing in its mouth!
"Childish~"
Clearly, the discord between Consort Liu, the Liu family, and Liuxiang Pavilion did not affect the friendship between Jiang Xiaoqi and Liu Peng.
Finally, Jiang Xiaoqi offered up all his stock. He himself would have to spend points to order hot pot from the system if he wanted to eat it.
In addition to the homemade hot pot base, Jiang Xiaoqi also prepared several complete sets of shampoo and body care products and skin care products, as well as a small amount of makeup.
"these are?"
"These are new goods that just arrived from Liuxiang Pavilion workshop. They will be put on the shelves in ten days. I have picked out some good ones and they have already been matched into sets."
The bottle has instructions on the bottom; you can take it home as a gift for your elders or siblings—it's just a small token of my appreciation.
"How can this be allowed? I'm eating and taking things at the same time, that's too much. I'll just take the hot pot base."
Jiang Xiaoqi did not allow him to refuse and directly ordered the servant to load the cart.
"Alright, listen to me. This time your family has really suffered a huge loss. The family's expenses will probably have to be cut back for a long time."
Consider these things a small compensation; I hope you won't mind.
Liu Peng's face was a little red, whether from the spiciness of the hot pot or from embarrassment, it was hard to tell.
"Oh dear, Mingfei, you've left me speechless. It's clearly..."
"Stop! I already said we've moved on and won't bring it up again, why do you keep bringing it up? Alright, it's getting late, go back now, see you at the Hanlin Academy tomorrow!"
"Alright, thank you very much! See you at the Hanlin Academy!"
Liu Peng boarded the carriage and stroked the beautifully packaged gift boxes with his hand.
The fragrance was so enticing that I couldn't resist opening a set with the freshest scent.
"What is this? Shower gel? Brother Jiang is truly a genius! I'm almost reluctant to share such a good product with my family, what should I do?" Liu Peng muttered to himself.
The following day, Jiang Xiaoqi ran into an acquaintance at the Hanlin Academy's roll call area.
"Lord Jiang, what a coincidence!"
unfortunately!
"Good morning, Lord Qiu!"
"Uh, good morning~ it is pretty early, haha."
Jiang Xiaoqi was speechless, wondering what had gotten into this colleague this time.
Didn't he know he would see the Second Prince the very next day? Of course, Jiang Xiaoqi didn't think that this Lord Qiu was conveying any message for the Second Prince.
After all, it was far less convenient and frequent for him to see the Second Prince than for himself.
Could it be that they've come to cultivate a relationship with me? Ugh, Jiang Xiaoqi felt a chill run down her spine.
"Since we're going the same way anyway, let's go together."
After Jiang Xiaoqi finished speaking, it was obvious that Qiu Xueshi's eyebrows and eyes curved a little. Um, why does it look a bit like a husky?
Just as Liu Peng and Xiao Ming were about to greet Jiang Xiaoqi, they saw Jiang Xiaoqi walking towards them together with Inspector Qiu.
Xiao Ming thought that Qiu Xueshi was going to cause trouble for his good brother, and was about to rush over when Liu Peng stopped him.
"Wait a minute! It doesn't seem like what we thought. Let's take another look."
Xiao Ming was persuaded to stop, and just then Jiang Xiaoqi and Qiu Xueshi approached.
Only then did they realize that Scholar Qiu was very kind and gentle to Jiang Xiaoqi, even somewhat... fawning?
No way! No way! I must be seeing things! Let me look again!
He's laughing! He's really laughing!
Xiao Ming and Liu Peng stared wide-eyed at Qiu Xueshi's expression, hardly believing their eyes.
Scholar Qiu is known for his aloofness and seriousness, and he rarely pays attention to anyone. Why would he be so obsequious to Jiang Xiaoqi?
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't feel uncomfortable at all, after all, Scholar Qiu's attitude had changed a lot last time.
The current situation is definitely due to the Second Prince.
"Well, Lord Qiu, I've arrived."
"Oh, is that so? Then I won't disturb Lord Jiang's work any longer."
Seeing that Scholar Qiu had turned and left, Xiao Ming quickly went up to him.
"Mingfei, what's going on? Why is Qiu the Dark-faced being so friendly to you?"
"Qiu the Black-Faced?"
"Ahem, ahem, I let it slip. Liu Peng and I just called each other that in private, just joking around~"
Jiang Xiaoqi pulled the two into her office without answering Xiao Ming's question.
The main reason is that he doesn't want to lie, but he can't tell the truth.
In the future, Xiao Ming's stance, whether from the perspective of kinship or friendship, will most likely be on my side.
However, if Consort Liu in the palace really had such thoughts, the entire Liu Prime Minister's residence would definitely give her their full support.
This is the principle of sharing both honor and disgrace within the family, and Liu Peng, as the eldest grandson of the Liu family, cannot escape this responsibility.
The three of them are destined to stand on opposite sides... Sigh~
Jiang Xiaoqi laid out some snacks she had just brought from home for the two of them, since Xiao Ming had overslept and hadn't eaten breakfast.
After eating a few delicious snacks and drinking a cup of hot tea, he completely forgot about what he had asked outside the door.
Liu Peng seemed to have sensed something, but he wisely didn't point it out.
After all, who doesn't have one or two secrets?
He still smelled faintly of mint from his shower the day before. He had kept all those bottles and jars for himself, without giving them to anyone else.
She simply sent those things that looked like lip balm to her mother's room. The First Madam thought the Jiang family was very stingy. Her family had spent 150,000 taels of silver and only got such a small amount in return.
Since it was his own son who brought it, he didn't say anything, accepted everything, and said he would definitely use it.
"Alright, Brother Xiao, let's go back and not disturb Brother Jiang's work."
"Oh, right, right, I'm sorry, Brother Jiang, I ate all your breakfast."
"It's alright, I've already eaten at home. This is what I brought for you."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ming became even more embarrassed, realizing that it was meant for two people.
Cough cough, now it's all gone into his stomach all by himself, but Brother Liu won't mind, will he?
"I'm not hungry, you can eat if you want, why are you making that face!"
"Hehe, this meal was supposed to be mine anyway, since you guys didn't include me in last night's hot pot! This dessert is kind of a compensation!"
Jiang Xiaoqi looked at Liu Peng questioningly: Did you tell him?
Liu Peng responded with a look: I'm innocent!
Jiang Xiaoqi: Hehe, there are bad guys among the crowd!