QingQing continued walking toward the study room, with ManQi following closely behind. Before long, he caught up with her.
"Wait! What exactly are you doing? This isn't your job!"
ManQi eyed her suspiciously. He couldn't help wondering whether QingQing was simply entertaining herself. After all, he knew very little about this woman, except that she possessed impressive martial arts skills.
"Aiyah! I'm so happy you've finally started paying attention to me!" QingQing teased, showing no intention of hiding her amusement. She even winked at him again. "It's fine. I always enjoy helping people. You know, I want to show you my good side!"
She then looked around.
"Anyway, where's the study room? You should show me the way."
ManQi glanced at the teapot and then back at QingQing. He couldn't think of any reason she might have another agenda, apart from the one she had just mentioned.
Feeling rather uncomfortable with the situation, he tried to take the tray from her.
"Um... why don't you let me do it? You can return to the kitchen and have lunch with Young Madam and XiaoRue."
"Oh? You're worried about me? How sweet!" QingQing grinned. "But no!"
She deliberately smacked the back of his hand when he tried to take the tray, making him wince slightly.
"I can manage it, don't worry. Now, let me guess... that room over there is the study, isn't it?"
ManQi didn't deny it.
Taking that as confirmation, QingQing continued toward the room without waiting for him.
A few minutes earlier, inside the study room, Minister Hua had been explaining the arrangements for the gift delivery.
The plan itself was quite simple.
The following morning, Minister Hua would prepare a horse carriage carrying an empty chest, which would later serve as the container for the gifts. Prince Li, in turn, would assign two of his officers to guard the delivery. One of them would be ManQi.
Prince Li listened carefully, but his mind was occupied with another matter.
Is there some hidden plan behind this delivery? And why is Minister Hua so willing to let me get involved?
He still couldn't understand why Minister Hua had agreed so easily to his involvement.
"So, everything has been settled. I'll assign my best men to guard the delivery. Nothing should go wrong," Prince Li concluded.
"Nothing will go wrong, Your Highness. You have my assurance. I'm glad we could settle everything together."
Minister Hua smiled pleasantly.
Just then, the door opened.
QingQing walked in confidently, carrying the tray of tea. Both Minister Hua and Prince Li looked slightly surprised to see her. She certainly didn't look like an ordinary servant.
ManQi followed her inside. When he noticed Prince Li giving him a questioning look, he immediately tried to explain.
"Master, this..."
QingQing smoothly interrupted him.
"Please forgive me, Prince Li. There was a little accident in the kitchen, so I'm helping Aunt Tong deliver the tea."
She walked forward and placed the tray on the table.
Minister Hua studied her carefully. Meanwhile, QingQing appeared slightly tense as she began pouring the tea.
"You don't look like a servant," Minister Hua remarked.
Noticing the unusual way Minister Hua was observing QingQing, Prince Li decided to explain.
"She isn't. This is Miss QingQing, a friend of HuaMuTan. She's staying here for the time being."
"Oh? A friend of the Young Lady?" Minister Hua continued looking at her. "Hmm... Have we met before?"
"Perhaps we did, at the front gate this morning. I believe you were entering the mansion when I happened to be there."
QingQing answered as calmly as she could, covering her tension with a smile.
"Ah... I see."
By then, QingQing had finished pouring the tea. She offered a cup to Minister Hua, who accepted it politely.
"Thank you."
She then poured another cup and served it to Prince Li.
Minister Hua raised his cup, making a small toast toward Prince Li.
"To the delivery and our good cooperation."
Although Prince Li wasn't particularly enthusiastic, he raised his cup and drank. Minister Hua did the same.
Throughout the exchange, QingQing remained standing, her eyes occasionally fixed on Minister Hua.
Once they had finished their tea, QingQing seized the opportunity to speak.
"May I ask, are you arranging a delivery?"
Prince Li answered politely. He didn't want to appear rude to a guest in his own residence, although he was somewhat displeased by QingQing's sudden intrusion into their discussion.
"Um... yes. We have a small delivery to arrange for tomorrow."
"Wonderful! Then let me join!"
Prince Li looked at her strangely.
"No. You're my wife's guest. How could I trouble you with such a task?"
"But I want to help! You've been kind enough to let me stay here, Prince Li. Allow me to repay your kindness by helping with your work. Besides, I have experience in this field."
She looked at him confidently before adding,
"Don't worry about my abilities. You can ask ManQi if you don't believe me."
QingQing appeared so sincere, and perhaps a little too enthusiastic, that Prince Li couldn't help wondering what she was really thinking.
"It's a very important delivery, Miss QingQing. I hope you understand that."
But QingQing didn't back down.
"And I'm equally serious about offering my help! I'll make sure this delivery goes smoothly, just like a river flowing without obstacles!"
Minister Hua seemed interested in her proposal.
"Why don't we let this brave young lady join us? I don't see any harm in it. Besides, she's the Young Lady's friend. I'm sure HuaMuTan would be pleased to know she's helping."
QingQing turned toward him and gave a knowing smirk.
"Exactly! I'm doing this for HuaMuTan, too. You can trust me!"
Prince Li still had his doubts. He turned toward ManQi.
"What do you think, ManQi? Can she handle it?"
ManQi understood what his master was really asking.
It wasn't simply whether QingQing possessed the skills to help. Prince Li wanted to know whether she might interfere with the delivery or pose any threat to its success.
After watching her behavior in the study, ManQi had begun to believe that QingQing might simply be having fun and genuinely wanted to repay HuaMuTan's kindness. Besides, even if she did have some hidden intentions, he believed he could handle her.
ManQi nodded.
"Yes, I believe she can."
Prince Li considered his aide's opinion before finally agreeing.
"Very well. You may join the delivery."
QingQing couldn't hide her excitement.
"Wonderful!"
Minister Hua was amused by her enthusiasm. Still, he couldn't help wondering why the young woman seemed strangely familiar to him.
However, he had other matters to attend to.
"I believe I should take my leave now. Once again, thank you for your kind assistance, Prince Li. And thank you as well, Miss QingQing."
He rose from his seat and politely bid them farewell.
Prince Li and QingQing returned his gesture.
After Minister Hua had left, Prince Li turned toward QingQing with a serious expression.
"Tell me the truth. Did HuaMuTan ask you to deliver the tea and request to join this delivery?"
"Nope! She doesn't know anything about it. I decided to deliver the tea on my own. You saw that, didn't you, ManQi?"
QingQing turned toward ManQi for confirmation.
ManQi gave a small nod.
Prince Li continued questioning her.
"Oh, really? And where is HuaMuTan now?"
QingQing answered casually,
"She is in the kitchen, cooking lunch with FangFang."
"She... what?"
Prince Li looked genuinely shocked.
QingQing repeated herself, wondering why he was reacting so strangely.
"She is cooking with FangFang in the kitchen."
Without wasting another moment, Prince Li hurried out of the study room.
His sudden departure left QingQing staring after him in confusion.
"What's wrong with him? What's so strange about cooking lunch in the kitchen?"
ManQi could only smile.
"The problem isn't what she's doing. It's who is doing it."
QingQing still looked confused, but ManQi had already followed his master out.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
She hurried after him.
Just as she stepped outside, she caught sight of Minister Hua in the distance. He was walking toward the front gate, accompanied by a servant.
QingQing stopped and watched him until their figures disappeared from view.
Not yet... This isn't the right time. Let's just wait.
She silently repeated those words to calm herself.
Only after Minister Hua had completely disappeared did she turn around and continue following ManQi toward the kitchen.