Rebirth of the Duke's Daughter and the Little Imperial Uncle

Chapter 55 The Potential to Be a Matchmaker (2)

Looking at the silent Qiu Ye, Qin Yaoyao pondered to herself that perhaps Qiu Ye needed to think carefully about whether her feelings for Lan Feng were gratitude or admiration. After all, the hero-saves-the-damsel scenario often stirred feelings of affection in women, but were these feelings genuine? Thinking this, Qin Yaoyao decided to stop dwelling on it and instead turned her gaze to Qiu Ye, changing the subject: "After returning from the horse farm, you experienced such a significant event, why didn't you tell me? If we hadn't pressed you that day, were you planning to keep it a secret forever?" Qiu Ye gazed at Qin Yaoyao and softly replied, "Actually, nothing too terrible happened. When I was first captured, before I even left the city, I was rescued by Guard Lan. I felt neither fear nor injury, so I didn't want you to worry about me, nor did I want to spoil your good mood, which is why I chose to remain silent."

Qin Yaoyao looked at Qiu Ye with a serious expression and said earnestly, "No matter what happens in the future, you must tell me!" Then she turned to the others and added solemnly, "The same goes for you! No matter what happens, you must tell me clearly!"

Then, Qin Yaoyao earnestly emphasized, "Don't try to hide it because you're afraid of affecting me. If I find out you're doing this, I'll be very angry."

She looked firmly at the group of people in front of her and continued, "You have all grown up with me since you were little. I have never treated you as servants. To me, you are my family, like my own sisters. You have taken care of me in every way, so if you dare to hide anything from me, I will think that you do not want to be my family. In that case, I will not let you stay by my side."

Upon hearing this, the maids all expressed their agreement. Banxia quickly replied, "Don't worry, Miss, we'll tell you everything that happens in the future." Qiuye also hurriedly echoed, "Yes, we won't hide anything from you anymore." Dongxue nodded repeatedly in agreement. Yingchun then said with a smile, "Don't find us annoying, Miss." Everyone then exchanged smiles, and the atmosphere became harmonious.

Qin Yaoyao glanced at the sky, then turned to the group and said, "Alright, it's getting late, everyone go back and rest!"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Ye stood up. It was her turn to keep watch tonight, and she needed to make arrangements first. So she left the room with Qin Yaoyao. The other maids remained together, chatting enthusiastically.

Dongxue said with a puzzled look, "If you don't know where the purse came from, why don't you just ask him directly? Why are you worrying about it here?"

Yingchun interjected, "Dongxue, Qiuye is worried that doing this will cause trouble for the other person, and what if they are disliked because of it?"

Banxia nodded in agreement: "Yes, Qiuye is still unsure about her feelings for Guard Lan, so she doesn't currently have any intention of exploring them."

Yingchun continued, "To put it bluntly, it's just that Sister Qiuye is too timid. Just give him the embroidered purse. Who cares who gave it to him? It's already broken, so it's only right to replace it for him. It's his fault for not saying what he wants. If he really wants it, then give it to him; if he doesn't want it, then make it clear that he shouldn't use this as an excuse to get Sister Qiuye to do things for him again."

Hearing Yingchun's words, Banxia echoed, "That's true. But since Qiuye has chosen not to give it, perhaps she has her own reasons. We just need to stay by her side and keep her company." Everyone nodded in agreement and then went back to their rooms to rest.

Qin Yaoyao and Qiu Ye returned to the house together. Qin Yaoyao softly said to Qiu Ye, "You should go and rest first." As usual, Qiu Ye would go to the outer room to rest after Qin Yaoyao gave this instruction, but today Qiu Ye stood motionless. Qin Yaoyao knew that Qiu Ye must have something important to discuss with her. So, Qin Yaoyao asked, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Qiu Ye looked at Qin Yaoyao, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. Her lips parted slightly, then closed again. Seeing her like this, Qin Yaoyao knew she must have something difficult to say, so she encouraged her, "Tell me what you want to say!"

Qiu Ye frowned and said, "Miss, I think I'd better not repay your kindness."

Qin Yaoyao asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Qiuye lowered her head and said, "Because he doesn't know who I am, he might have already forgotten that he saved me. If I go to him now, it might annoy him. So, I..."

Qin Yaoyao quickly interrupted her: "What do you mean? Are you saying we shouldn't repay kindness? We should do what we can to repay others for their help! Even if they don't remember, we should still do what we should do! Otherwise, what if they do remember, and you haven't repaid them? How will they see you?"

After listening, Qiuye thought about it carefully and nodded in agreement: "You're right, I understand. However, I can repay you in another way."

Qin Yaoyao asked curiously, "Oh? What method do you plan to use?"

Qiuye tilted her head and replied, "How about I treat him to a meal?"

Qin Yaoyao smiled and said, "That's a good idea, but you can't just order a whole table of food for him and then let him eat alone. That would be very impolite. So, how about you eat with him?"

Qiu Ye nodded in sudden realization: "Then forget it, I'll just make some food and send it over." Qin Yaoyao continued: "If he's at the Prince's Mansion, that's fine, but what if he's away and has something to do? How are you going to deliver it? Besides, it's all handmade. What's the difference between sending a purse and sending food? No matter what you send, you still have to see him."

Qiu Ye said anxiously, "What should we do, Miss? I can't just go to the Prince's mansion to find him!" Qin Yaoyao thought for a moment and then said, "How about this, when I go out to play with Brother Yanxi, I'll have Brother Yanxi take him with him, and then you can come with me." Qiu Ye nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, He Yanxi had returned to the Prince's residence. As soon as he entered his courtyard, he saw Lan Yu standing there. He asked, "Where is Lan Feng?" Lan Yu replied, "Lan Feng went out on business." He Yanxi nodded, indicating he understood. He then said, "When he returns, have him come to see me." Lan Yu responded, "Yes, Your Highness."

He Yanxi washed himself and changed into clean clothes. Not long after, Lan Feng returned. When He Yanxi came out of the room, he found Lan Feng waiting for him. Seeing He Yanxi, Lan Feng immediately went to greet him and said, "Your Highness, what brings you here?" He Yanxi walked to a chair and sat down, then looked at Lan Feng and asked, "Has anything happened recently?"

Lan Feng thought he was asking about the gold mine in Nancheng, so he said, "Your Highness, everything is normal there. A batch of gold has been refined, about a thousand kilograms. I don't know..." As he spoke, Lan Feng noticed that He Yanxi was looking him up and down.

He Yanxi leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips, looking at Lan Feng with a languid air. Lan Feng, seeing He Yanxi like this, felt a cold sweat break out on his back. He cautiously said to He Yanxi, "Your Highness, have I said something wrong? Why is Your Highness looking at me like that?"

He Yanxi said, "That's not what I'm asking about."

Lan Feng looked at He Yanxi with a puzzled expression, somewhat confused.

He Yanxi continued, "Lan Feng, how old are you? If I remember correctly, you should be eighteen this year!"

Lan Feng didn't understand why the prince was asking him this, but he still respectfully replied, "If Your Highness is not mistaken, I am indeed eighteen."

He Yanxi nodded thoughtfully, then said softly, "Hmm." He then asked, "Are you married?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Lan Feng blushed slightly and quickly replied, "Your Highness, I am not yet married."

He Yanxi smiled, seemingly quite satisfied with the answer. He continued, "Hmm, I understand." With that, he picked up his teacup and took a small sip of tea.

Lan Feng stood to the side, filled with doubt and confusion. Why would the prince suddenly ask such personal questions? This puzzled him greatly, but he dared not ask rashly. He could only stand there quietly, waiting for the prince's next instructions.

He Yanxi looked at Lan Feng, a slight smile playing on his lips, and then asked, "Do you have a girl you admire?" Lan Feng was even more surprised by this question. He didn't understand why the prince had suddenly brought this up and was momentarily at a loss for words. Just then, He Yanxi seemed to sense his hesitation and said with a smile, "If you do, you can tell me, and I can arrange something for you." Upon hearing this, Lan Feng quickly shook his head, indicating that he didn't have one.

However, He Yanxi did not stop there, but continued to ask: "I heard that something happened a while ago, and it is related to you. Do you know what I am talking about?" Lan Feng frowned, thought for a moment, and then said: "Is Your Highness talking about the human traffickers that appeared in the capital a while ago?" He Yanxi raised his eyebrows and nodded to indicate his agreement.

Upon seeing this, Lan Feng immediately explained, "Your Highness, I just happened to be there and offered my help."

He Yanxi continued, "I remember that day I took Yao'er to the horse farm to ride horses. After lunch, I sent you back. The Prince's Mansion is in the city, but the human traffickers you caught were outside the city, and in the opposite direction from the horse farm. So tell me the specifics of what happened!" After saying that, He Yanxi kept observing Lan Feng, wanting to see his reaction.

Upon hearing He Yanxi's words, Lan Feng couldn't help but recall the scene from that day, especially the girl he had saved, and a blush crept onto his face.

Looking at Lan Feng's blushing face, He Yanxi was secretly delighted. It seemed that Yao'er could finally take action.

He Yanxi pressed on, "What, is there something you can't say?"

Lan Feng quickly replied, "Your Highness, that day when I was entering the city, I encountered a strange carriage. At first, I didn't think there was anything special about it, so I didn't pay any attention to it. But later, when the carriage stopped at the city gate for inspection, I saw something fall out of the carriage."

So I went over to check, and the guards at the city gate picked up the item and handed it to me. I originally intended to ask them to help find the owner so I could return it. If the owner couldn't be found, I could take it to the government office and notify the owner to come and collect it. However, when I looked closely at the hairpin in my hand, I realized something was wrong. This hairpin was the one worn by the princess's maid, and she had clearly left in the Duke's carriage. But this carriage wasn't the Duke's, so…”

"So you think there's something wrong with this carriage?" He Yanxi asked.

Lan Feng nodded and continued, "That's right, so I decided to follow the carriage tracks. When the carriage stopped, I discovered that it was a human trafficker's hideout. Several young women were taken off the carriage, including Qiu Ye, the princess's maid."

I saw Qiuye locked up in a room alone. To avoid alerting them, I hid and planned to act that night. I also sent a message to the Ministry of Justice, whose officers arrived quickly. That night, I began my operation, taking all the human traffickers into custody. I was responsible for rescuing Qiuye, while the Ministry of Justice officers went to rescue the others. Later, the Ministry of Justice took all the human traffickers away, and the rescued women all went home.

He Yanxi asked, "So you also sent Qiuye back to the Duke's mansion?"

Lan Feng nodded and said, "Yes."

He Yanxi looked at Lan Feng and said, "Then how did you know that hairpin was Qiu Ye's?"

Lan Feng said with a shifty look in his eyes, "Uh, because we were together at the horse farm that morning, I saw it by accident."

He Yanxi's lips curled slightly, and he said with a hint of teasing, "You saw it by chance? You remember it so clearly? I didn't know you had such a good memory." Hearing He Yanxi's words, Lan Feng's heart tightened. He knew his explanation was somewhat far-fetched, but he couldn't very well tell the prince that he had encountered Qiu Ye several times, and that she always wore this hairpin. So he forced a smile and said, "I just remembered it after looking at it for a long time." He Yanxi looked at the blushing Lan Feng and chuckled inwardly. Feeling he had asked enough, he said, "Alright, that's all for now. You can go back and rest." Lan Feng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Highness, it's my turn to be on duty today." He Yanxi nodded and said, "Oh, good, then go ahead and get busy." Lan Feng bowed respectfully and turned to leave. Watching Lan Feng's departing figure, He Yanxi thought to himself that this lad had taken a liking to the girl. He Yanxi thought that he would tell Yao'er the news tomorrow; she would definitely be happy.