“Madam, all right.” Half an hour later, the stall owner took out a few very cute little wooden figurines and handed them to the people.
After Yun Xi paid the money, they couldn’t put the little figurines down.
“Hey, Qing Jiejie, why does your little person look a little different from you?” Yun Xi noticed the little wooden figure in Xia Yuqing’s hands, and asked a little surprised, “I just think that Qing Jiejie, the little girl seems to be a little different.”
“Ah…this!” Xia Yuqing had a guilty conscience and quickly put the little figurine in her sleeves. She smiled faintly, “This is the appearance according to when an adult shrinks into the appearance of a child, it makes sense to be a little bit different. It’s nothing strange.”
“Oh.” Yun Xi nodded her head seemingly, but didn’t take the matter to her heart. Cui Er on the side gave Xia Yuqing a deep glance.
Seeing Yun Xi believe her, Xia Yuqing was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but suddenly, she realized that she was empty-handed. She remembered she was holding the hands of two children before. She hurriedly looked back and only saw her Big Baby playing with his little figurine.
Xia Yuqing breathed a sigh of relief and whispered: “Dudu, there are many people here, don’t let go… of Daddy’s hand, come here.”
“Oh.” Big Baby’s attention was still on the little figurine in his hand. So only following the sound, he walked towards Xia Yuqing and stretchws out his hand to hold Xia Yuqing’s hand.
Xia Yuqing was stunned again after holding Big Baby’s hand. With a stiff face, she asked in a low voice: “Dudu, where’s Dundun?”
“Isn’t Mother holding her?”
“…” Big Baby bowed his head. Everyone on the side stopped talking and laughing. Everyone stared at the place where Second Baby was standing before.
Xia Yuqing’s small face whitened: “Dun Dun…Dun Dun is gone!”
“Master, Master, don’t worry, the young lady was just here, it shouldn’t be long since she left. She must still be around here. Don’t worry, we will look for her. We will definitely find her.” Cui Er took a step forward. Holding on to Xia Yuqing’s shaky body, she comforted her.
“Yeah, yes, yes… let’s split up and look. Baby must still be around here. There are so many people around and baby being so cute, someone must have seen her. Just ask, someone must know.” Yun Xi also hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Xia Yuqing’s hand to comfort her.
“Well, the matter shouldn’t be delayed, let’s split up.” Xia Yuqing took Big Baby and rushed towards the pa.s.sersby on the side.
A group of people asked about the whereabouts of Second Baby, but unfortunately most of them just shook their heads at them, then pa.s.sed and left.
Xia Yuqing was desperate and her mind became filled with thoughts of human traffickers, liars, s.a.d.i.s.ts, and murderers. All kinds of b.l.o.o.d.y images of her baby being sold to other people’s homes as a child bride or being used as a tool for abuse revolved in her mind. Xia Yuqing became more and more frightened.
At this moment, an old woman who had been watching the excitement interjected: “Are you asking about a little girl who was standing by the wooden figurine stall?”
Xia Yuqing turned around, looking surprised. Staring at the old woman, she exclaimed: “Yes, it’s her, do you know where she is?”
“Isn’t she there?”
Xia Yuqing and the others looked in the direction that the old woman was pointing to. It was a bun shop at the end of the street corner.
There standing was a tearful little girl beside a tall tower of bamboo trays. The little girl’s left hand was holding the little wooden figure just taken from the stall, and her right hand was holding a half-eaten little white bun.
“…”
Without waiting for Xia Yuqing’s response to rush over with excitement, they heard a sharp exclamation: “Isn’t it just eating some of your buns, do you have to be so fierce? The child is small, what would they know? A big man yelling at a child, aren’t you ashamed?”
“Hey, why does this voice sound so familiar?” Xia Yuqing stepped forward and watched the woman standing in front of Second Baby screaming at the bun shop owner, somewhat puzzled.
The owner of the bun shop was frightened by the woman’s aggressive appearance and took a few steps back. But when he thought of the buns that were eaten, he was still a little dissatisfied: “Some buns? She ate more than a few buns. She ate a steamer of steamed buns. So what if she’s a child? Can children eat without paying? Does this mean that those little beggars over there can eat and drink for free every day? Is it reasonable for them to eat my food for free? I can tell that you and this girl are in the same group, or else how could a child eat so many buns. Maybe she stole them and you ate them!”
“Your buns are thick and small, after eating them once, I wouldn’t want to eat them ever again. Yet you dare say something like that! Don’t you just want money? Here, this lady will buy all your buns.”
With a bang, a gold ingot was thrown on the shop table with the girl’s low growl. Xia Yuqing who was not far away could now see the woman’s profile clearly.
“Jiang…Jiang…Jiang Feizao (soap)!” After Xia Yuqing saw the woman’s appearance, she couldn’t help suck in a breath.
The few people behind Xia Yuqing were also taken aback when they saw this. As if they had taken root under their feet, they all froze in place.
“Go…Gol…Gold!” The store owner was dazzled by the large ingot of gold, and almost fell to the ground with a weak leg.
“Why, not enough?”
“Enough, definitely enough.” The store owner hurriedly took the gold ingot into his arms, fearing that Jiang Zhaorou would be unhappy and take the thing back.
Jiang Zhaorou sneered: “Since it’s enough, are the buns on this stall all mine now?”
“It’s yours, yours.”
“That’s good.” Jiang Zhaorou’s enthusiasm rose. After removing a steamer, she beckoned to the little beggars on the side, “The remaining buns are yours.”
The little beggars were taken aback, then they all swarmed up towards the bun shop.
“Hey, what are you doing? Don’t come over, don’t come over!” The shopkeeper was startled, and hurriedly wanted to step back. He grabbed the stick on the side and wanted to drive these little beggars out, but Jiang Zhaorou chuckled softly: “Shopkeeper, you just said that these steamed buns are all mine. Why are you driving the people away when I ask these people to eat my steamed buns? I paid for it. How do you want to do business after you drive people away like this?”
The shop owner was speechless. He could only silently let go of the stick in his hand, letting the little beggars trample on his shop and s.n.a.t.c.h the buns like a devil.
Jiang Zhaorou snorted disdainfully. Turning to look at Second Baby who was on the side, she said softly: “Little girl, are you okay, do you have any injuries? Did the person hit you just now?”
Second Baby was stunned. After sniffling, she said pitifully: “No.”
Then she stared at the bun in Jiang Zhaorou’s hand. Her eyes lit up, “Bun…”
“What?” Second Baby’s voice was too small, Jiang Zhaorou couldn’t hear her clearly at all. Second Baby’s face was slightly red, then she repeated the word she said just now: “Bun…”
This time Jiang Zhaorou heard it clearly, but she deliberately pretended not to hear it, teasing Second Baby: “What did you say? I didn’t hear it. I can’t know what you want if you don’t say it clearly. Hey, this steamed bun doesn’t seem to be very tasty, maybe I should give it to those little beggars.”
Jiang Zhaorou moved the steamed bun in her hands with a bit of wickedness. Second Baby was anxious when she saw this, so she didn’t care about being shy. She shouted with tears, “Bun, I want the buns, wuu…”
Seeing the tears in the eyes of Second Baby, Jiang Zhaorou couldn’t help but laugh. She reached out, pinched Second Baby’s plump cheeks, and handed over the buns in her hands: “Eat it, I specially reserved it for you. This time no one will scare you, so don’t worry. Just treat it as if I’m treating you.”
Second Baby turned her tears into a smile. She grinned and reached out towards the steamer in Jiang Zhaorou’s hand, and grabbed one little bun. As if thinking of something, she raised her head and raised a big smile at Jiang Zhaorou : “Thank you, Jiejie.”
Jiang Zhaorou was stunned. The corners of her lips were slightly hooked and she reached out to touch Second Baby’s head. Her face had an unprecedented tender expression.
“What’s your name? Where’s your family?”
“!” Xia Yuqing and the others woke up like a dream. Looking at Jiang Zhaorou, who was enjoying herself with her Second Baby, their expressions were not good.
“Baby’s nickname… is Dundun, my mother…”
“Dun Dun, how can you run around by yourself?” Xia Yuqing’s exclamation successfully prevented Second Baby from revealing her ident.i.ty.
Second Baby was stunned when she heard the sound and turned around. Facing the figure of Xia Yuqing and the others rus.h.i.+ng over, she excitedly yelled: “Moth…mm…”
Second Baby was about to call out Xia Yuqing’s t.i.tle, so Xia Yuqing covered her mouth swiftly, and hugged her into her arms. Fortunately, she caught up!
“Dun Dun, how can you run around? Do you know how anxious your Father was when he couldn’t find you?”
“Daddy?” Second Baby just remembered. Before going out in the morning, Mother asked to be called Daddy after they went out, otherwise, there will be no sweet-scented osmanthus cakes in the future, ooh…
Xia Yuqing looked anxiously at Jiang Zhaorou who was looking at them. She secretly sighed in her heart. Out of all people to meet, how could she run into her? Enemies really are on a narrow road! However, today’s Jiang Feizao seems a bit different from usual.
“Are you the child’s family?” Jiang Zhaorou looked at the few people, as if she didn’t quite believe in their ident.i.ties. Her eyes clearly saw Xia Yuqing and the others as traffickers who abduct children.
“Of course it is true, I am the father of this child.”
“Then why did you cover her mouth as soon as you met?”
“…” So she saw it!
“Did I?” Xia Yuqing met Jiang Zhaorou’s scrutinizing gaze, and swallowed hard. Then unable to pretend to be stupid anymore, “Ahahaha, I just saw the child was eating and was afraid she was shouting too loudly and would spit out the food.”
Jiang Zhaorou glanced suspiciously at Xia Yuqing. She looked down at Second Baby who was still committed to nibbling on her buns. She asked softly: “Is he really your dad?”
“…” Is he not her father? Then is he a human trafficker?
“En…” Second Baby’s mouth was full of stuffed buns, she couldn’t speak so she nodded. Finally swallowing the buns, she smiled, “Daddy brought baby out to buy candied haws and we went with brother. Brother…”
As soon as Second Baby’s voice fell, Big Baby had already stepped forward and pulled Second Baby over. He looked at Jiang Zhaorou with some caution.
Jiang Zhaorou was taken aback when she saw another child rus.h.i.+ng out. Staring at the Big Baby for a while, she stared at Second Baby in his arms for a while. Then, she asked in a surprised manner: “They…
“They are brother and sister, twins.”
Jiang Zhaorou took a close look at the two small jade-carved buns, then found that the expressions of the two of them were somewhat similar. It was only then did she believe in Xia Yuqing.
“You adults, can’t you be careful when you go out with children? There are so many people in this market and she is just a small child, yet you let her run around all by herself? What would you do if she ran into bad guys? If she really got lost, then you will have nowhere to cry. Fortunately, this kid met me, otherwise who knows what the owner of the bun shop would have done to this kid?” Jiang Zhaorou confirmed the ident.i.ties of the several people, but was not happy. She angrily pointed at the noses of the few people and scolded them, making the few people stunned.
“…” In fact, the bad guy they were most afraid of encountering was… Xia Yuqing then had a divine thought. If Jiang Feizao knew that the people she had tried so hard to capture to the Kingdom of Shu were now in front of her, how would she feel?
The most important thing is that the child she just saved was one of the two children who she schemed against while they were in her stomach. If this person knew, she would turn crazy, cough cough…
“Daddy, that Uncle scared me.” Seeing someone supporting her, Second Baby hurriedly swallowed the last bite of the meat bun in her hand and grabbed Xia Yuqing’s clothes pitifully.
Xia Yuqing recalled Second Baby standing in front of the bun shop with red eyes and a pitiful appearance, and her heart trembled. It is undeniable that what Jiang Zhaorou said was the truth. If it hadn’t been for Second Baby meeting Jiang Zhaorou by chance, Second Baby would have suffered a lot.
“Thank you Jiang…this lady. If you weren’t there just now, who knows what would have happened to Dun Dun.” Xia Yuqing held Second Baby and thanked Jiang Zhaorou.
Jiang Zhaorou was silent for a while and her face turned red slightly, but it was only for a moment.
“Ahem, it was just a whim. Just blame your child for being so cute and making people…whatever, pay attention in the future. If such a cute child is lost, next time you may not have such luck in getting the person back.”
“Yes, yes…” Xia Yuqing didn’t dare to argue with her, she only nodded and said yes, but she was surprised in her heart. Jiang Feizao was… embarra.s.sed? She didn’t realize that Jiang Feizao had such an awkward side before.
Jiang Zhaorou gave a final squeeze to the small round face of Second Baby. There was a trace of loss that unconsciously flashed under her eyes. She scanned Xia Yuqing’s group with her gaze staying on Cui Er’s body for a few more seconds, frowning.
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Xia Yuqing’s hearts trembled. Thinking Jiang Zhaorou had discovered something, Jiang Zhaorou just watched Cui Er for a while, then without saying anything, she turned and left.
When Jiang Zhaorou had finally left, all of them couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
“Dun Dun, why did you run over there? Don’t you know how much your Mother and Brother were worried about you? You are not allowed to run around anymore, do you understand?” After what happened just now, Xia Yuqing didn’t dare to let Second Baby down anymore. Carrying her in her arms, she whispered to her.
Second Baby then remembered the reason why she ran to the bun shop. She was aggrieved and angrily pouted: “Baby was hungry. Baby spoke to Mother, but Mother ignored baby, so baby went out to find something to eat herself.”
“…… “
Everyone was speechless. Xia Yuqing coughed slightly: “It’s Mother that was not good, next time, Mother won’t be like this. But next time baby can’t run around without telling Mother, okay?”
“Ok.” Second Baby pouted softly.
Xia Yuqing couldn’t help but smile when she saw this. She stretched out her hand and wiped the small oil stain on Second Baby’s mouth. She chuckled lightly: “Don’t pout, or else it would hang on the basket.”
Second Baby was taken aback. Then waving her fists, she pushed Xia Yuqing: “Mother is teasing baby, bad.”
The few people on the side could not help but show a gentle smile when they saw this. Xia Yuqing smiled, and stopped teasing her little bun: “Yes. Now, what happened with that… big sister? How could she be with you?”
“Oh, that big sister…” Second Baby exclaimed and said very happily, “Baby was hungry at that time, and after eating a few small buns, the fierce bad uncle grabbed baby’s hand. Baby was in pain, so baby was so scared. Then big sister came and helped. She scolded Uncle for being bad, and let baby eat the steamed buns. Big sister is really a good person.”
“…” Hey, baby, you were bought over by a steamer of steamed buns? What kind of thing is that of just looking at the food given and not looking at a person’s conduct? Don’t just issue good people cards that easily or else you will be deceived!
Xia Yuqing’s mouth twitched slightly. She looked at her bun’s happy appearance of eating everything, and silently hid her face. She secretly decided in her heart that she must focus on Second Baby when they go out, otherwise if someone comes and offers her a lollipop, she would definitely run off with them! A big foodie bringing along a small foodie, the pressure is too big!
Thinking about this, Xia Yuqing breathed a sigh of relief. She reached out and pinched the round face of Second Baby. Turning her head and glancing at Jiang Zhaorou who was drifting away, she smiled.
Forget it, maybe Jiang Feizao just loves children!
“Candied haws, candied haws…” Second Baby who had regained her vitality after eating a few buns, hugged Xia Yuqing’s neck and shouted in excitement.
“The candied haws in Shu are all made with freshly picked fruits from the mountains. The fruits are fat, sweet, very delicious…” Yun Xi also recovered from the consternation of seeing Jiang Zhaorou. Continuing to recommend Xia Yuqing the special food of her hometown, it’s a pity that she was interrupted by the sudden uproar of the crowd in the market before she finished her words.
“Hey, what’s the matter? Why are people coming towards us?” Xia Yuqing held Second Baby and stared at the crowd rus.h.i.+ng towards them.
“Master, come here quickly.” Cui Er’s eyes saw the magnificent rider and hurriedly pulled Xia Yuqing and Yun Xi into the small alley on the side.
Xia Yuqing hid in the small alley. Then from a distance, she saw a group of people and horses in front of a very n.o.ble carriage, evacuating the crowd in the market.
The originally lively bazaar suddenly became a lot quieter. The pedestrians who came and went were all driven to the sides, leaving a big road for the gorgeous carriages and horses to go through.
“Who is setting up such a grand entrance, even having to disperse the crowd to get by?” Isn’t this a bit wicked? Xia Yuqing poked her head out of the alley with a look of curiosity, wanting to see who was sitting in the carriage.
“That’s…” Yun Xi also poked her head out, but her face changed after seeing the person leading the way in front.
“Xiao Xi, do you know that person?” Xia Yuqing looked at the strange look on Yun Xi’s face, and asked in a low voice.
“En, that person was a close attendant to my Third Royal Uncle, the judicial officer Xize Yanxi Da Ren. The last time Third Royal Uncle conspired to rebel, Royal Aunt specially came forward to protect him. Later, he started to follow my Royal Aunt.” Yun Xi glanced at the energetic man sitting on the tall horse, and explained in a low voice.
“That judicial officer, getting out of the crime of treason, that man must be very powerful. Hey, that’s not right… Xiao Xi, what did you just say, that man is following…”
Xia Yuqing suddenly reacted, looking at Yun Xi in surprise, then she saw Yun Xi nod.
“That is to say, the person sitting in that carriage now…” Xia Yuqing pointed to the gorgeous carriage that made such a big movement.
Yun Xi chuckled twice, then felt a little uncomfortable again. She suppressed her smile and nodded.
“…” This is no longer a problem with enemies meeting on a narrow road! Sure enough, looking at the calendar before going out is actually a very important and necessary thing! Didn’t they just want to buy candied haws for their children? It’s fine if they met Jiang Feizao, but to meet even the big dark boss behind the scenes, the eldest princess, this sh*t luck is terrible!
“Oh, isn’t that the Fourth Miss? How come the Fourth Miss has the leisure to go out shopping?” Xizeyan saw Jiang Zhaorou who had just walked to the end of the street and chuckled. He rode his horse towards her.
Jiang Zhaorou had just parted from Xia Yuqing and was about to go back to her mansion along the road but didn’t expect to hear such noise in the market as soon as she reached the intersection. She planned to give way to the side and wait for the princess’s carriage to pa.s.s by, then leave, but was a step too late.
Xizeyan tightened the reins in front of Jiang Zhaorou, and looked down at her condescendingly. He spoke with a mocking expression: “With this officer’s memory, the Fourth Miss and Master Ji seem to have been fined and downgraded three ranks when they came back, and are temporarily suspended. In this way, naturally there must be a lot of time to come out and walk around. It is really enviable. This officer has spent years and years dedicating time to the court and it is rare to have a rest, Master Ji and the Fourth Miss…”
Xizeyan was interrupted by Jiang Zhaorou with a sneer before finis.h.i.+ng his words: “What are you talking about, Xi Da Ren? It is because you are capable that work is left to you, how can you be idle like me, but…”
Jiang Zhaorou took a step forward. Leaning close to Xizeyan’s side, she chuckled: “Lord Xi don’t have to be too ostentatious. Who is behind the Third Prince’s incident, you and I both know in our heart. The Eldest Princess can save you once or twice, but not necessarily three or four times. Master Xi should know when to take it easy, lest you…do not end well in the future!”
Xi Zeyan’s eyes narrowed dangerously, the eyes staring at Jiang Zhaorou became sharp: “Thank you Fourth Miss for being so caring. This official is curious who will be the one who will not end well in the future?”
Jiang Zhaorou smiled coldly: “I… can’t wait to see.”
Xia Yuqing looked at the scene that was filled with strong gunpowder smoke. She tentatively asked: “Does Jiang Feizao and that Mr. Xi… not agree with each other?”
“Mmm, I have heard of it. The relations.h.i.+p between the two of them does not seem to be very good.”
“Jiang Feizao was your Third Uncle’s people?” Xia Yuqing continued to ask as if she had thought of something.
“No, Xi DaRen is from Third Royal Uncle’s side. She shouldn’t be.”
“Oh.” Xia Yuqing nodded, probing.
Originally, she planned to watch the show, but how would they know that before the two had time to say a second sentence, a very pleasant female voice would come out from the gorgeous carriage.
“Master Xi, who is outside?” The killing intent on Xizeyan’s face was instantly placed away. He smiled and shouted in the direction of the carriage: “Princess, it’s the Fourth Miss.”
“Fourth Miss? Oh, yes. The girl next to Miaoyan, right?”
“Miaoyan?” Xia Yuqing keenly caught another name from the princess’s words, and turned to Yun Xi with some questions.
“Miaoyan should be the eldest son of the Ji family, Ji Miaoyan. Oh, Qing Jiejie, you met him last time in the stronghold… ahem, the one who wanted to kidnap you with Jiang Feizao… …”
“Little General Ji?!” Xia Yuqing exclaimed. Finding herself shouting too loudly, she hurriedly covered her mouth, then she carefully retracted her head.
“Yes, yes, it’s him. He is… old general Ji’s grandson, Ji Miaoyan.”
When Yun Xi said this, Xia Yuqing became even more puzzled: “From listening to your Aunt’s tone, why does it seem like she’s very familiar with the little general?”
“…Have I not told Qing Jiejie? My Royal Aunt is the aunt of General Ji.”
“…What?!”