The man was stunned. If he hadn't known that this little fellow was brought by Yu Xiaoyu and was so young, he would have mistaken her for a spy.
The one who wanted to buy a little girl with gold was a capital official, a fourth-rank official.
Seeing the man's unusual reaction, Xue Xingyue had a hunch. It wasn't that she was particularly clever, but anyone willing to pay such a price was either rich or noble, at least an official of the fourth rank or higher.
In fact, she was also giving herself a chance, because the higher the official position, the greater her chance of being rescued.
"Since you want to find a good home, you just stay here obediently. I won't treat you badly," the man said.
Xue Xingyue nodded, "I won't run away. Besides, with my short little legs, I can't run away anyway."
It wasn't that she couldn't run, but where would she run to? Perhaps she would encounter someone worse than this man.
It was better to wait and see who the buyer was and act accordingly.
Two days later, Xue Xingyue had just woken up when the door was pushed open, and the man walked in first. He said in a low voice, "The person is here. You behave yourself."
Xue Xingyue looked up at the person who walked in. It was a woman dressed in fine silk, supported by maids on either side.
She looked like someone from a genuinely wealthy family, probably an official's wife. She hadn't learned much from her mother, but she had learned how to judge people.
"Madam, it's her," the man said respectfully to the woman, pointing to the little one on the bed.
The woman looked towards the bed and was stunned. What an exquisite and beautiful little girl!
She had never seen such a beautiful little girl, as delicate as carved jade. Even her features, not yet fully developed, were as if drawn, extremely exquisite.
She had only heard the wife of the Minister of Rites say that the Empress's two children were never seen to be so beautiful.
She believed it, because the Empress and His Majesty Emperor Yun were both beautiful people, especially His Majesty Emperor Yun, the former Crown Prince of Xueguo, a rare handsome man in the world.
When two beautiful people combined, could their children be ugly?
"Sister? Beautiful sister..."
The woman was startled and couldn't help but ask, "Child, are you talking to me?"
Xue Xingyue tilted her head and asked, "There's only one beautiful sister here. Sister, are you here to take me away?"
The woman was overjoyed and couldn't help but hug the incredibly cute, jade-carved little girl. "Yes, I'm here to take you, child."
"Sister, I'm willing to go with you. Will you take me?"
The woman nodded, "Yes, yes..."
"Child, I still have something to say to him. Can my maid hold you for a moment?"
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Sister, I'll wait for you..."
The woman was overjoyed, nodded, and smiled, "Good, good..."
The maid carried Xue Xingyue out. The woman looked a bit reluctant. Seeing this, the man said, "Madam, can I have the money now?"
The woman turned to look at the man, her gentleness from before vanished, replaced by a cold voice, "You'd better keep your mouth shut. You know if you reveal anything, I can deal with you with ease."
The man was so scared that he quickly knelt on the ground, "Madam, I would never dare to speak out of turn. I just want this money and to leave this place."
With a look from the woman, the maid beside her took out a bundle and opened it, revealing piles of glittering gold.
The woman said, "Six hundred taels of gold, exactly. The carriage is ready outside. Take the money and leave now."
"Thank you, Madam..." The man took the money and left.
"Madam, should we..." The maid beside her made a throat-slitting gesture.
"No hurry. After he reaches his destination, wait a few more days before making a move," the woman said.
"Yes, Madam." The maid replied.
The woman walked out of the door and looked at the little one obediently nestled in the maid's arms. The gloom in her heart disappeared. She stepped forward, and the maid handed the little one over to her.
"Sister, you're back."
The woman stroked the little one's head and said, "From now on, you must call me Mother."
Xue Xingyue was stunned, then after a while, she weakly called out, "Mother."
Mother, please don't blame Xingyue. Xingyue was also forced.
The woman was so happy she couldn't close her mouth, and she instructed, "From today onwards, this is my child, your young lady."
"Yes," the maid replied.
The carriage bumped along. Xue Xingyue, who hadn't slept well for so many days, finally managed to get a good night's sleep.
She only woke up when the carriage suddenly stopped. The woman, holding her, stepped out of the carriage with the maid's assistance.
Xue Xingyue looked up and saw the words "Shi Fu" written above.
She recalled the official positions her mother had mentioned. Suddenly, she remembered Shi Lang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Could this be Shi Lang's mansion?
If it was indeed him, it was a pity that Shi Lang had never met her.
Upon entering the Shi Mansion, the woman asked, "Has the master not returned yet?"
The household staff shook their heads, "Not yet."
The woman said, "Inform me when the master returns."
The woman took her back to the courtyard, where she was bathed and fed. Xue Xingyue was so well taken care of that she felt uncomfortable.
In the evening, she was rocked to sleep by the woman.
When she woke up, she opened her eyes. The woman was no longer there. She sat up, and a man's voice came from outside.
"Madam, you are being foolish. Buying and selling infants is a grave crime."
"How could I not know? But I truly want a child. I used to think of choosing a child of suitable age from your clan to inherit your legacy, but your clan's children are either too old or imbecilic. What am I to do?"
"Madam, even so, you shouldn't engage in buying and selling. This is a serious crime, punishable by law."
"If you don't say it, and I don't say it, who will know? I want a child so much."
The man sighed, "Madam, you are still young. We can still have children."
"No, Master won't have any more. The doctor said my body is too weak, and I cannot conceive again."
Upon hearing this, the man reproached himself, "It's all my fault for wearing out your body during those years in Beicheng. This is my mistake."
"Master, don't say that. Now that the hardships are over, we can enjoy the sweetness," the woman said. She paused and continued, "I know what you're worried about. You don't need to worry. That person won't say anything, because in a few days, that person will be dead."
"You..."
"Master, come in and look at the child. You'll like her after a glance." The woman pulled the man inside.
The man walked in and saw a small figure on the bed, just as the woman had said, a delicate and lovely little girl carved from jade. The little girl tilted her head and innocently asked, "Are you Daddy?"
The soft, sweet voice struck the man's heart. "Alas, yes, I am..."
"Daddy, hug me..." The little girl stretched out her hands.