Chapter 162
As soon as Jixiang finished speaking, the maidservant's face changed.
Even though she had originally thought she could excellently complete the task assigned by the Second Young Miss, she never imagined that in the end, it would be Jixiang who ruined everything.
The maidservant glared venomously at Jixiang, her face full of resentment. Where exactly had she offended him, for him to frame her like this?
She knew very well that if her mission failed, the Second Young Miss would not let her off lightly.
"This servant remembered wrong. My Young Miss said to have Miss Li wait for them in the courtyard," the maidservant quickly changed her words, looking at Li Zhiwei with an apologetic expression.
She prayed in her heart that this Miss Li would not listen to Jixiang's words and decide to leave.
"Since Second Miss Huo is in the flower hall, I shall go to the flower hall to find them then," Li Zhiwei said, and without looking back, she walked out of the courtyard.
"Miss Li!" The maidservant stamped her foot in anxiety. She never imagined that someone who had already arrived at the doorstep could still slip away.
However, she didn't dare to detain the person too blatantly.
After all, the Young Master's people were also here, and she didn't dare to offend them.
Yet, as soon as Li Zhiwei left, a hidden guard jumped out and directly knocked the maidservant unconscious.
Flower Hall
Huo Yunyao looked with satisfaction at the empty seat not far away. Li Zhiwei's absence meant she had likely followed the person she had arranged.
Her plan had succeeded!
Just thinking about how she would make Li Zhiwei lose all reputation and standing today improved Huo Yunyao's mood considerably.
“Mother, why is he here?” Qin Keyun pointed at Xu Qingshi, who was not far away eating happily with Shen An'an, in dissatisfaction.
Huo Yunlan followed her daughter's pointing finger and saw Xu Qingshi eating cheerfully with Shen An'an.
Instantly, rage surged within her.
Damn it, she had been worrying about not having a chance to teach that brat a lesson, and now he delivered himself to her doorstep?
Hearing this, Huo Yunyao also looked in the direction the two were indicating.
Sure enough, she saw Shen An'an warmly attending to a little boy.
It did look somewhat grating.
However, she had to admit the child was quite good-looking, no wonder her niece had taken a liking to this boy.
"Keyun, come here," Huo Yunyao beckoned to Qin Keyun, who was unhappily tugging on Huo Yunlan's sleeve.
"Aunt," Qin Keyun walked to Huo Yunyao's side and called out softly.
Although Qin Keyun had a willful temperament, she only dared to act out in front of outsiders and her mother, Huo Yunlan. Facing Huo Yunyao, Qin Keyun was genuinely somewhat afraid of her from the bottom of her heart.
Seeing Qin Keyun suddenly become somewhat timid and hesitant, Huo Yunyao frowned in dissatisfaction.
However, this wasn't her own child after all, so she couldn't scold Qin Keyun the way she would scold someone like Zhu Maosheng.
It was just that looking at Xu Qingshi, so open and unrestrained, so conspicuously flamboyant, she found it rather grating.
"Do you dislike him?" Huo Yunyao asked, pointing at Xu Qingshi.
Qin Keyun looked at Xu Qingshi, who was currently eating happily.
Dislike him?
It seemed not really.
But, thinking about how he had pushed her last time and refused to go home with her, Qin Keyun was dissatisfied.
However, feeling her aunt's gaze upon her, Qin Keyun shook her head, then nodded.
She should dislike Xu Qingshi. Who told him not to play with her?
But, thinking he was the best-looking person she had ever seen, she felt maybe she didn't dislike him that much after all?
"Then, what if we take him back with us, and from now on, have him serve you?" Huo Yunyao said with a smile at the corner of her eyes, her tone tempting.
"Second Sister?" Huo Yunlan was the first to protest upon hearing this.
After all, this child's background probably wasn't great. What if later, her daughter cried and insisted on marrying him? Wouldn't that be a huge loss?
Thinking this, Huo Yunlan's first instinct was to oppose.
"Elder Sister, why are you so anxious? What can't the sons and daughters of our Huo family have? Keyun, do you want that little brother to keep you company?" Huo Yunyao asked, looking at Qin Keyun.
"Yes!" Qin Keyun replied without thinking. After all, Xu Qingshi was the best-looking little boy she had ever seen. She didn't like playing with ugly ones.
Huo Yunlan looked at her younger sister with a troubled expression, wanting to dissuade her, but she also knew she was no match for Huo Yunyao. Once Huo Yunyao decided on something, she usually had no way to influence it.
"Third Sister, say something!" Huo Yunlan had no choice but to push forward Huo Yunzhi, who had been silent all along.
"What are you all talking about?" Huo Yunzhi asked, frowning.
She had been wondering why the Chen family hadn't sent anyone yet today.
Suddenly pushed out by her elder sister, Huo Yunzhi felt some confusion and also some displeasure.
However, upon seeing it was her elder sister, she retracted her sharp aura.
"Third Sister, Keyun says she likes that boy. I'm suggesting Elder Sister take him back, but she's worried the child might want to marry him later and suffer a loss," Huo Yunyao said with a half-smile expression.
"Such a young child, why think so far ahead? If she likes him now, take him back as a little plaything. If she doesn't like him someday, just discard him, isn't that all?" Huo Yunzhi said dismissively.
“So, that's why you're indulging in those foolish games with the Chen family?” Huo Yunyao, reminded of the Chen family, also asked with some dissatisfaction.
"Second Sister, did you send an invitation to the Chen family?" Huo Yunzhi didn't answer Huo Yunyao's question, instead asking directly.
"Which Chen family?" Huo Yunyao was taken aback, then remembered the Chen family her younger sister had her eye on. She had forgotten about them.
"Second Sister, you really look down on the Chen family!" Huo Yunzhi said discontentedly, looking at Huo Yunyao.
"No, Younger Sister, who exactly are you talking about?" Huo Yunlan quickly interjected, seeing Huo Yunzhi about to explode.
"Hmph!" Huo Yunzhi sat down in dissatisfaction, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.
"Keyun, since you like him, you should be brave and bold. Just go and take what you like," Huo Yunyao said, as if wanting to assert her presence in front of Huo Yunzhi, directly ordering Qin Keyun to go and snatch Xu Qingshi over.
Qin Keyun was somewhat afraid and looked to her mother, Huo Yunlan, for help.
Although Huo Yunlan felt it was improper, still, as Huo Yunyao said, if you like something, why not go for it?
He was just a child, after all.
Moreover, she hadn't seen Li Zhiwei around at the moment, and she didn't spare Shen An'an a single thought.
"Go on!" Huo Yunlan encouraged her daughter with her gaze.
Encouraged by her mother, Qin Keyun no longer hesitated and walked directly towards where Xu Qingshi was.
"Auntie An'an, this is delicious," Xu Qingshi was sharing a pastry he found delicious with Shen An'an, his eyes narrowed into slits.
After all, this was something he hadn't eaten in the capital.
With such delicious food, Xu Qingshi didn't even mind that Li Zhiwei had temporarily left him behind to play.
However, he had guessed that Li Zhiwei must have had something important to attend to, which was why she didn't take him along.
"Hey!" Qin Keyun had been standing in front of Xu Qingshi and Shen An'an for a long time, but these two had their eyes glued to the pastries, completely unaware of her presence.
Could it be that she was less attractive than these few pieces of pastry?
