Chapter 288 – Qu Xuexin’S Ulterior Motive
Chapter 288 Qu Xuexin’s Ulterior Motive
Qu Xuexin stood up and walked up to Qu Moying, smiling gently. “Moying, I’ll go with you. Don’t be afraid.”
Qu Moying looked up at her and finally stood up.
Qu Xuexin was charming, and Qu Moying was also attractive though she was wearing an eye veil. Seeing the two of them standing together, Old Lady Qu was quite happy. She waved her hand and said, “Go, go quickly!”
Since Old Lady Qu insisted, Qu Moying had no choice but to bow to her and follow Qu Xuexin out.
“Moying, grandmother just told me to go to the Water Pavilion where we often play. There is a reception hall on the opposite side of the pavilion. We can turn around from the Water Pavilion and look from the window of the reception hall in the front. Second Uncle is receiving the guest there now.”
Qu Xuexin said with a smile.
Qu Moying knew the place she was talking about. Although Qu Xuexin said they often played there, Qu Moying only went there two or three times recently.
It was summer. Lotuses were blooming outside the Water Pavilion, and the breeze was gently blowing. The scene was beautiful. If people were tired, they could admire the lotus over there and have a rest.
This Water Pavilion connected the inner yard and the outer yard, but at night, the corridor leading to the outside was locked. However, there was no such restriction during the day.
It was quicker to get to the outer yard from here.
Qu Moying and Qu Xuexin chatted and laughed as they walked to the Water Pavilion, and they arrived in front of the Water Pavilion. They stepped onto the Water Pavilion and walked through its corridor. Suddenly, they saw a person coming from the opposite side, and they found that they actually knew the person after taking a closer at him. He was Old Lady Qu’s grandnephew, Xiao Hanyuan.
Since they saw each other now, they should greet each other.
Qu Xuexin first bowed, “Greetings, Cousin Xiao.”
Qu Moying also bowed.
Xiao Hanyuan was holding a book in his hand. It seemed that he had just been out to look for a book. When he saw the two of them, he put down the book in his hand and said in surprise, “Eldest Cousin Sister, Fourth Cousin Sister, why are you going to the outer yard now?”
“We need to go to the front yard to ask Second Uncle about something.” Seeing that Qu Moying was silent, Qu Xuexin answered with a smile. Her eyes were coquettish.
Xiao Hanyuan looked at them up and down and he specially looked at Qu Xuexin a few more times. Qu Xuexin was dressed more beautifully than usual. Compared with Qu Moying, who was wearing an eye veil and had her head slightly lowered, Qu Xuexin was even more eye-catching.
Xiao Hanyuan reminded them, “I don’t think it’s the right time to go there. I just heard from a servant that there is a male visitor.”
“It doesn’t matter. Second Uncle is there. Moreover, we are there to…” Qu Xuexin paused. She seemed to realize that she had misspoken, so she hurriedly smiled and glossed it over. “Cousin Xiao, thank you for your concern. It was grandmother who asked us to go over. It doesn’t matter.”
As she spoke, she looked at Qu Moying with a meaningful smile.
Sensing that Qu Xuexin was looking at her again, Qu Moying raised her head and looked at Qu Xuexin through the eye veil coldly.
“Since it is grandaunt’s idea, please go ahead.” Xiao Hanyuan moved to the side to make way for them with an indifferent glance at their faces.
Qu Moying could clearly feel Xiao Hanyuan’s cold gaze on her face.
The two of them bowed to Xiao Hanyuan and then left together. When they turned a corner, Qu Moying glanced back and saw that Cousin Xiao was still standing there. He seemed to be looking at their backs. A hint of gloom flashed through her eyes. She didn’t bother to think of it before, but it didn’t mean that she didn’t know about it.
Qu Xuexin said with a smile, “Cousin Xiao is grandmother’s grandnephew. This time, he came to our mansion to study. I heard from second younger brother that he is very knowledgeable. He will definitely pass the Imperial Examination next spring. Grandmother seems to appreciate him.”
“Maybe.” Qu Moying said indifferently as if she wasn’t interested.
Qu Xuexin lowered her voice and asked shyly, “Moying, what do you think of Cousin Xiao?”
Qu Moying looked at her calmly and said, “I have no special feelings for him. He’s just grandmother’s grandnephew and our cousin brother.”
Apart from that, she didn’t feel anything.
“Moying, don’t you think he is a nice person?” Qu Xuexin asked in a sweet voice, her eyes blinking. She looked lovelier than usual.
Among Qu Mansion’s ladies, Qu Xuexin was known for being gentle, but her appearance was slightly lacking. However, she now looked quite beautiful.
She was dressed up really well today.
Qu Moying said indifferently, “I didn’t pay attention to him.”
Seeing that Qu Moying did not want to talk about Cousin Xiao anymore and even sounded alienated, Qu Xuexin stopped talking about this matter. As the two of them chatted, they had already walked out of the corridor. They were now behind the reception hall. The window was open, and there seemed to be people inside. But before the two of them could get close, a figure suddenly appeared from the window.
They saw a young man’s figure.
They even met the young man’s eyes.
Qu Xuexin’s face immediately turned red. She lowered her head shyly and twisted the handkerchief in her hand. On the contrary, Qu Moying looked directly at the man standing by the window.
He should be Third Young Master He. He looked handsome, and his gaze was very gentle, but Qu Moying knew his true nature, and she could see a bit of gloom in his eyes. Feeling his gaze on her, Qu Moying felt uncomfortable and found his gaze was somewhat lewd.
Both parties were sizing up the other party.
Third Young Master He first looked at Qu Xuexin. He saw her lower her head shyly, but from his angle, he could still see her charming face. She was a very good-looking woman, but unfortunately, she was not the one he was to marry. The woman next to her wore an eye veil, and that was a very obvious feature.
His gaze fell on Qu Moying.
Compared with Qu Xuexin, Qu Moying looked much thinner. A wide eye veil covered most of her face, revealing only her pink lips. Her slightly pursed lips were beautiful, and her skin was as smooth as jade. Even though he could not see her whole face, he still felt that she was good-looking.
She was even more beautiful than the one next to her.
Third Young Master He had seen many women before, so he could immediately tell that Fourth Lady Qu was not as plain-looking as she was rumored to be. If she took off her eye veil, she must be gorgeous!
Qu Moying met his eyes under her eye veil. Then, Third Young Master He smiled and bowed to the two of them gently as if he was a gentleman.
Qu Moying lightly pursed her lips, and a trace of ruthlessness flashed through her eyes. She could not even force a smile at such a monster. He acted like a gentleman, but he actually killed many young girls.
Qu Xuexin bowed shyly. Seeing that Qu Moying was still looking straight ahead, she gently pulled Qu Moying’s sleeve to indicate to her that she should also bow. Qu Moying looked at her, turned around speechlessly, and walked to another place as if this was just a chance meeting.
Qu Xuexin originally wanted to say something, but seeing that Qu Moying had already left, she could only look apologetically at Third Young Master He and bowed to him again. Then, she turned to follow behind Qu Moying.
After walking for a distance, Qu Xuexin caught up with Qu Moying. She asked with a blushed and smiling face, “Moying, Third Young Master He is indeed outstanding. What do you think of him?”
Qu Moying looked at Qu Xuexin. The corners of her lips curved up silently, and she said faintly, “Just so so.”
“Just so so? How is that possible? You probably didn’t see him clearly. It is rare to see such a talented young master. Grandmother has really put in a lot of effort for you!”
Qu Xuexin said with a hint of envy.
Looking at Qu Xuexin’s expression, Qu Moying suggested, “Eldest Sister, if you think he is good, I can talk to grandmother.”
Qu Xuexin lowered her head, shook her head, and said gloomily, “No, no. Second Uncle and grandmother chose him for you. How can I poach him from you? If so, others will think that I am too insensible.”
Qu Moying smiled. “But others don’t know whom he is supposed to marry in the first place. Moreover, the two families have not decided on the marriage yet.”
Qu Xuexin shook her head again and then looked up at Qu Moying with a bitter smile. “Moying, don’t say anymore. People will laugh at me if they know about it. What should be yours is yours. It is not mine, and it is useless for me to be envious.”
What she said was very reasonable, and it could show that she was helpless but sensible, leaving people a good impression of her. However, her words were not in accordance with her previous behaviors.
Qu Moying’s gaze fell on her again and she secretly sized her up for a while.
Qu Xuexin dropped the vexing topic and asked with a smile, “Moying, let’s not talk about this anymore. Should we go back and take a look?”
It was as if what she had said just now was just her sudden thought.
Qu Moying said, “No. I’ve already seen him.”
Qu Xuexin urged, “Moying, I’m afraid that you were too embarrassed to see him clearly just now. Let’s go and see him again secretly.”
“I think we had better not. I just came back from the shop, and I am already very tired. I will go back first.” Qu Moying shook her head and refused. If Qu Xuexin had not urged her in front of grandmother, she would not have come to take a look. She would not have any relationship with Third Young Master He, and she would not waste her time on him.
Seeing that Qu Moying insisted on leaving, Qu Xuexin had no choice but to let her leave.
Yu Dong secretly looked back and was surprised to see that Qu Xuexin was still standing where they had just separated. He asked, “Miss, why isn’t First Lady leaving?”
“She still wants to go back and take a look.” Qu Moying sneered.
“Why? Didn’t she just say that she didn’t want to be with him? Was she lying?” Yu Dong immediately understood and was extremely surprised. He used to think First Lady Qu was not bad, but what was going on now? Third Young Master He was not intended for her. Why did she want to go back to take another look?
Qu Moying said with a meaningful smile, “Let her go. If she doesn’t go, she won’t be satisfied.”
