Lately, XiaoRue and ManQi had grown used to being left behind by their masters. It seemed to happen more and more often, but neither of them found it particularly surprising anymore.
ManQi glanced at XiaoRue.
"Well... I suppose it's time for us to head back too."
"That's right."
With a smile, ManQi gestured toward his horse, which was already waiting nearby.
"Come, let me give you a ride home."
XiaoRue was just about to accept his offer when QingQing suddenly interrupted them.
"Hey! What about me?!"
She sounded rather offended. After all, everyone had ignored her earlier question, and now they seemed ready to leave without giving her a second thought.
ManQi gave XiaoRue a questioning look. Understanding what he meant, XiaoRue quickly explained,
"XiaoJie said that Miss QingQing would be staying with us for a while... so I think I'll return with her."
Prince Li had originally asked ManQi to make sure XiaoRue got home safely. However, just as they were preparing to leave, an officer hurried over with an urgent report for ManQi.
After listening to the report, ManQi's expression turned serious.
He then took a closer look at QingQing. Judging from her appearance and remembering that she was Lady FengHuang's younger sister, he suspected that she was probably quite skilled in martial arts.
Perhaps I don't need to worry about leaving XiaoRue with her, he thought.
"Something urgent has come up. I need to return first and deliver this report to Prince Li. I'll take my leave now."
Without wasting another moment, ManQi mounted his horse and rode away.
"Hey, handsome guy! Aren't you going to offer me a ride too? Why is your treatment of us so different?"
Although QingQing's personality was quite different from her older sister's, they certainly shared one trait. When they took an interest in someone, neither of them felt embarrassed about showing it.
In fact, QingQing had been observing ManQi for a while. His appearance happened to match her taste perfectly.
Unfortunately, ManQi didn't even respond. He simply rode off, leaving the two women behind.
XiaoRue was slightly taken aback by the way QingQing had addressed him.
"What a cool response!" QingQing exclaimed, seemingly unbothered by being ignored. She immediately turned to XiaoRue.
"Hey, do you know that man? I think he's Prince Li's right-hand man, isn't he? Will we see him again when we get to Li Mansion? How lucky am I!"
Without hesitation, QingQing linked her arm through XiaoRue's.
"XiaoRue, let's become good friends, all right? And you have to tell me more about that handsome man!"
XiaoRue felt a little uncomfortable with all the questions. She couldn't quite understand why talking about ManQi made her feel so uneasy.
"I'm not particularly close to him, so I'm afraid I can't help you. I'm sorry, Miss QingQing."
She tried to gently free her arm from QingQing's grasp.
"Ah, that's all right! And please, just call me QingQing. I don't like being so formal. I really want us to become friends! Besides, we're both here to help HuaMuTan, aren't we? That makes us practically coworkers!"
QingQing tightened her hold on XiaoRue's arm and pulled her forward.
"Come on! I can't wait to get to Li Mansion and see that handsome man again!"
Her grip was so firm that XiaoRue eventually gave up trying to pull away and simply followed her.
Throughout the journey, QingQing remained remarkably talkative. She kept asking XiaoRue questions about ManQi—his background, his friends, and even his favorite food.
Unfortunately, XiaoRue couldn't answer any of them.
"Hmm... You really aren't close to him, are you? Even though you both serve the same masters and work in the same place? How strange! You don't know anything about him at all?"
Somehow, QingQing's words made XiaoRue feel a little sad.
She's right... I really don't know anything about ManQi.
After a brief silence, she finally answered,
"I do know a few things..."
"What things?" QingQing immediately perked up, eager to listen.
"I know that he's very skilled in martial arts, and... he's good at preparing medicine."
As she spoke, XiaoRue recalled the time she and ManQi had prepared medicine together for XiaoJie. He had been so kind and helpful back then.
"Okay... And what else?" QingQing pressed.
"That's all," XiaoRue replied shortly.
"That's all?"
QingQing widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Well, it seems I'll have to find out the rest for myself!"
Not far ahead, they spotted a mantou seller by the roadside. QingQing suddenly stopped walking.
"Hmm... I just remembered that I haven't eaten anything since this morning. I think I'll buy some mantou. Would you like some too, XiaoRue?"
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
"All right. Wait here. I won't be long."
QingQing immediately approached the seller, while XiaoRue remained where she was, watching from a short distance away.
Without anyone noticing, the mantou seller secretly slipped a small piece of paper into QingQing's hand. For a brief moment, their eyes met, as though they were exchanging a secret signal. Then, just as quickly, they resumed their ordinary roles—a seller and a customer buying mantou.
QingQing discreetly tucked the paper into her pocket before returning to XiaoRue.
"Here, take one, XiaoRue. Consider it a friendship gift from your new friend... or perhaps your new coworker!"
Not wanting to seem rude, XiaoRue accepted the mantou.
And so, the two continued their journey toward Li Mansion, happily sharing the steamed buns along the way.