Chapter 677: Turning a Blind Eye
Right now, those trees had been tormented by Qiuqiu so much that they were at their last gasps. They probably had to rest properly for a period of time.
On the contrary, Qiuqiu had become even more spirited these past two days.
Those unfortunate winter fruit trees had been ruthlessly milked dry.
A single 12 cubic meters ebony blue storage talisman really couldn’t hold all that winter fruit.
Therefore, she had to fill four ebony talismans to the brim before being able to clear up the acc.u.mulated ma.s.s of winter fruit.
Upon receiving such a large winter fruit stockpile, the crown prince was extremely surprised, and he lavished praises on his Qiaoqiao while hugging her.
This time, the Ministry of Revenue’s Song Yuan was going to be elated. Sir Song, who had originally been bewailing his poverty to him every day, had already started to “defame” his dad, egging him into directing his attention to the harem and cutting its spending.
But this may after all not be a bad suggestion. Right now, the common people in the Mo Kingdom capital were nearly unable to fill their stomachs, yet the orioles and swallows in the king’s harem were all still extravagant to the extreme. If he could cut down on the harem’s expenses, he would certainly be able to save a large sum of money.
“Miss Qiao!” Suddenly, a round-faced maidservant, whose face was flushed red, extended her arms to obstruct the two people’s path.
“You, you, how could you ignore our miss?”
It turned out that after the two people stepped out the door, they didn’t even spare a glance at the Miss Wu standing before the palanquin. They simply minded their own business and were about to leave while holding hands.
This time around, that maidservant blocked their path. After casting a sidelong glance, they saw Miss Wu, who was dressed in a light pink garment, cloaked with a light fur coat, and adorned with a small and exquisite beaded flower head-ornament.
She had braved the cold winter wind as she stood next to the small palanquin. Her small face had turned slightly flushed from the blowing winds, and her eyes were suffused with a slight grievance.
“Insolence.” Huifeng lashed out. “How dare a lowly maidservant bar the crown prince and the crown prince consort’s path? Why didn’t you kneel down in salute upon seeing Their Highnesses?”
That maidservant was scared into a jolt, and she promptly knelt on the ground with quivering shoulders, stuttering, “P-Please excuse this servant for her impropriety. G-Greetings to the crown prince and the crown prince consort.”
“On account of your devotion to your master, I’ll let it go. You’re dismissed.” Qiao Mu said coldly.
That maidservant hastily crawled two steps backwards and kept kneeling on the side, not daring to get up.
Yet Wu Xiaosu’s icy fists, hidden away in her sleeves, couldn’t resist clenching tightly.
Taking several steps forward with a rigid face, Wu Xiaosu prostrated herself before the crown prince. “Xiaosu greets Your Highness, greetings to Miss Qiao.”
Crown Prince Mo’s slender eyebrows involuntarily scrunched up, and he rebuked mercilessly in a low and cold voice, “You don’t know to address her as Crown Prince Consort?”
Wu Xiaosu’s fingers, hidden beneath her sleeves, were practically about to snap. She shrunk backwards affectedly and spoke respectfully as she hung her head while kneeling on the ground. “Xiaosu f-feels that. Since Eldest Miss Qiao has y-yet to m-marry Your Highness, this form of address that transgresses her status may perhaps destroy Miss Qiao’s reputation. Xiaosu has been admonished by her mother since young, so she doesn’t dare be improper and unceremonious, which may ruin a lady’s integrity.”
“What a silver tongue.” The crown prince sneered. “So you’re criticizing this crown prince for being improper and unceremonious?”
“It’s Xiaosu’s fault for being wooden and slow of speech, not knowing how to speak properly. Please forgive Xiaosu for provoking Your Highness’s anger.” Xiaosu raised up her charmingly pitiful face as the aggrieved teardrops in her eyes threatened to spill.
“It’s fine, it’s only just a form of address.” Darling Qiao really wasn’t that particular about this! She tugged the crown prince’s hand and said, “Let’s go, are we still going for a stroll? What’s the use of paying attention to her?”
Crown Prince Mo only then retracted his gaze, and he pulled along Qiao Mu’s small hand in a displeased mood.
Yet just as he turned around, he heard Miss Wu call out, “Would Miss Qiao please stay.”