After Su Xiaoqi made arrangements, she was led back to the main courtyard by Nanny Ping.
Shen Yun and Liang Jingchen had finished their conversation. They now occupied opposite sides, one to the left and the other to the right, not looking at each other, a subtle aura of awkwardness filling the space.
Su Xiaoqi stood at the doorway, wondering whether she should enter or just turn and leave.
But before she could make a move, two voices spoke simultaneously from within: "Xiaoqi, you must be tired."
"Xiaoqi, come have some tea."
The first voice was Liang Jingchen's, the latter was Shen Yun's.
They exchanged a glance and both stood up.
Liang Jingchen moved from his chair closer to Su Xiaoqi and suddenly reached out as if to support her.
However, Shen Yun, holding a tea bowl, calmly moved forward, separating the two and standing between them, offering the tea to Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi dared not accept. No matter how well these two men concealed their feelings, she could still sense the disharmony in the atmosphere.
"Ahem, you two..." she began, only to hear Liang Jingchen say, "Are you planning to keep this estate?"
He understood Su Xiaoqi's personality well.
Su Xiaoqi nodded, saying that the estate was excellent in every way, especially the hot spring, which she had fallen in love with at first sight.
If she let it go now, she didn't know when she would find such a suitable estate again.
So, she told them very firmly that she wanted this estate.
"Very well, if you like it, then keep it." Liang Jingchen said with a hint of helplessness, yet also indulgence.
Shen Yun was displeased, but he didn't say anything. He simply brought the tea bowl to Su Xiaoqi, signaling her to drink.
Su Xiaoqi was delighted by his thoughtfulness and quickly leaned forward, reaching out to take the bowl.
But she saw Shen Yun gently shake the tea cup, indicating that she should drink directly from his hand.
Su Xiaoqi felt a little shy. Such intimate gestures, feeding each other, were acceptable in private chambers, but in front of outsiders, and especially Liang Jingchen, she felt a bit embarrassed.
"My wife is thirsty, so let's dispense with these formalities," Shen Yun persuaded her gently.
It was still February, and although it wasn't very hot, Su Xiaoqi had been running around. She was indeed tired and eagerly wanted a cup of hot tea to soothe herself. She drank from Shen Yun's hand.
Just as she took a sip, she was interrupted by someone at the door.
"Master, madam, there's someone outside who wants to buy the estate."
Su Xiaoqi had taken one sip of tea and the second sip was just in her mouth, not yet swallowed, when she heard this news. She immediately choked.
She covered her mouth and coughed violently.
"Cough, cough, cough, cough..." She coughed quite severely, even to the point of shedding tears.
Shen Yun put down the tea cup and gently patted her back to help her breathe.
Liang Jingchen stood to the side, wanting to step forward but lacking the standing.
Having returned to royalty and endured a full month of rigorous training, he understood the rules.
If he stepped forward now, in front of Shen Yun, and did anything, he might be in the wrong, but Xiaoqi would certainly be found to have committed a greater offense.
He could only stand by, watching anxiously.
Su Xiaoqi finally coughed out the tea water that had gone into her windpipe.
Meeting the concerned gazes of Shen Yun and Liang Jingchen, she smiled apologetically at them and looked at Nanny Ping, who stood at the main entrance.
"What did you say? Say it again."
Nanny Ping had also been startled.
She never expected that her words would frighten her mistress.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly knelt down.
If she offended her mistress, and her mistress became unhappy, she might be punished or even dismissed.
"Alright, it's not your fault. Just repeat what you just said."
Hearing Su Xiaoqi's voice soften and show no signs of anger, Nanny Ping seemed to have regained her senses. She gasped and said, "Someone, a steward-like person, is outside saying they want to buy our estate."
Su Xiaoqi blinked. "Didn't you tell him that the estate has already been sold and has a new owner?"
Nanny Ping nodded decisively. "Yes, I did. I also told him that today is the mistress's first day inspecting it, and it won't be sold again."
Nanny Ping, realizing the situation, was quite intelligent and quickly recounted her conversation with the steward outside.
Su Xiaoqi listened and found her words to be quite correct, so she didn't intend to concern herself further.
However, Nanny Ping remained kneeling on the ground.
Su Xiaoqi was puzzled. "What's wrong? Why aren't you getting up?
The matter of choking on tea earlier really had nothing to do with you. You don't need to be nervous, and it won't affect your duties."
Su Xiaoqi, fearing she might have some psychological burden and hinder her work, kindly explained.
But Nanny Ping said that she had told the steward everything.
However, the person was very persistent and stood there, saying he wanted to see their owner.
After meeting them, they would surely reconsider their decision.
Su Xiaoqi was completely bewildered.
Even if she used her toes to think, she should have known that she had just bought the estate, and it hadn't even warmed up in her hands yet. How could it be sold like this?
It would be too hasty.
She waved her hand, telling Nanny Ping to send the person away.
This was simply unreasonable; she didn't want to deal with it.
But soon, Shen Yun looked at her and quietly advised:
"Let him in."
Su Xiaoqi blinked and asked why.
Before Shen Yun could speak, Liang Jingchen proactively explained:
"Someone is coveting this estate. If you don't go out and see who it is now, what if that person is persistent and won't give up until they get it?"
Liang Jingchen's meaning was simple.
Since someone wanted it, they should invite the person in and see who they were.
Otherwise, if someone else made a move, they wouldn't even know who their enemy was.
How could they protect this estate then?
Hearing him describe the conflict so lightly, Su Xiaoqi was slightly surprised, but she quickly understood.
Knowing that although Liang Jingchen appeared glorious on the surface now, with noble status and esteemed position, he must have put in considerable effort over the past two months.
After all, as an orphan from the countryside, integrating into the capital, especially the imperial family, would not be easy.
Thinking of this, Su Xiaoqi felt a bit of sympathy for Liang Jingchen.
However, this was not the time for that.
There was still a formidable presence waiting outside for them to deal with.
Since it had come to this, naturally, they had to invite the person in.
"Don't just invite the steward; invite their master too," Shen Yun said.
"Master, the master hasn't come, has he?" Nanny Ping replied cautiously.
Although the three people in the hall were all so beautiful that one couldn't bear to look away, especially when they were chatting, their auras had suddenly changed.
This atmosphere made her afraid to breathe loudly, and her voice became as faint as a whisper.
Shen Yun said, "Just go and invite them."
As soon as he said this, Su Xiaoqi understood.
In those days, although affairs were managed by the stewards of each household, such a significant matter as buying an estate naturally required the owner's presence.
The steward might not have full authority.
Therefore, Shen Yun's statement was understandable.
In fact, it was indeed the case.
Nanny Ping went outside and relayed Shen Yun's instructions. A man dressed in opulent clothing alighted from a carriage parked nearby.
He glanced contemptuously at the estate's gate, where only a thin, sallow-faced old woman stood. He disdained to speak and gestured for the person beside him to speak.
The steward who had been negotiating earlier asked, "Who told you to come and invite us?"
Nanny Ping had originally intended to respect her master's wishes and hadn't expected them to actually bring their master.
The other party had a strong presence, and Nanny Ping dared not say more. She merely stated that her master invited the distinguished guest into the estate for a conversation. With such an invitation, the guest had no reason to refuse.
He immediately got out of the carriage and followed Nanny Ping into the estate.
In the main hall, fresh tea was served, and fruits and pastries were laid out.
Although the visitor's intentions were not benevolent, proper etiquette could not be omitted.
As soon as the person entered, upon a mere glance, Su Xiaoqi realized that this visitor was someone she knew.