Chapter 417: Congratulations, Lord Song

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Minister Shen’s expression turned solemn.

“Lord Marquis, you are too polite.

“It’s fine if 1 didn’t know about this before. Now that I know, I can’t sit by idly. This is also my duty.”

“Minister Shen is righteous indeed!” Qin Xiaoyao cupped her hands again.

Minister Shen smiled and gestured for Qin Xiaoyao to sit down.

Soon, he started to talk about other topics with Qin Xiaoyao.

Then, they began talking about Song Rui.

“I’ve already bought my residence and will move there in a few days.

“At that point, if Lord Marquis is free, you are welcome to come and visit us,” Song Rui said with a smile as he extended an invitation to Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Song Rui and then at Minister Shen, who was smiling brightly.

“Is… is that okay?” Then, she looked at Song Rui with some interest.

Previously, she had expressed that she did not have many close friends in the Imperial Court.

After garnering this reaction, it was considered an acceptable performance, wasn’t it?

“You are most welcome!” Song Rui said with a smile.

“Haha…” Minister Shen also laughed.

He didn’t expect that he and Song Rui would be able to rope in Marquis Xiaoyao so easily.

At the very least, in the eyes of Marquis Xiaoyao, they were already considered friends, weren’t they?

“Then when the time comes, I will definitely prepare a gift and visit you!” Qin Xiaoyao quickly replied. She even raised her teacup at Song Rui.

Song Rui quickly raised his cup in response.

They then finished the tea in their respective cups.

The three of them laughed and chatted again.

Qin Xiaoyao played the part of a simple-minded and socially awkward martial arts expert thoroughly.

The more Minister Shen looked at her, the more pleased he became.

The three of them chatted until it was almost noon.

Minister Shen then asked Qin Xiaoyao to stay for lunch.

He even got someone to invite Mrs. Shen and Shen Lian to join them for the meal.

It was also at the dining table that Qin Xiaoyao met Mrs. Shen.

This woman looked graceful and noble, and there was some resemblance between her face and the face of Empress Jia in the palace.

When Mrs. Shen saw Qin Xiaoyao, she was very warm and enthusiastic toward her.

She didn’t hesitate to express her admiration for Qin Xiaoyao, the battle god.

Shen Lian, on the other hand, was put in a spot when she went to pay her respects to Mrs. Shen earlier.

Now that she was eating with Mrs. Shen, she did not dare to take the initiative to say anything.

The crowd did not take Shen Lian seriously, almost treating her as an invisible person at the table.

It was Song Rui who voiced out some concern for Shen Lian because he kept receiving pitiful looks from her.

When she saw this, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked at Song Rui.

The fury in the depths of her eyes made Song Rui’s heart tremble violently.

Song Rui was in turn furious at Shen Lian.

Couldn’t this woman stop for a while?

If he ignored her, he was worried she would think too much. However, if he showed her concern, he would end up angering his wife.

After that, he would probably have to suffer.

“Lord Song, you really have a lot of concern for the fairer sex?” Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Rui and Shen Lian. There was a strong sense of interest in her eyes.

When Shen Lian heard that, she immediately lowered her head shyly.

Song Rui forced himself to smile under Qin Xiaoyao’s gaze.

“Haha!” Minister Shen was stunned at first, but then he laughed heartily.

Following that, he ignored Mrs. Shen who was pulling a long face, and looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a smile.

“To tell you the truth, Lord Marquis. I’ve already decided to betroth Lian’er to Lord Song. After the Emperor’s birthday, I will announce this good news to the public.

“When the time comes, Lord Marquis must come to the engagement banquet and enjoy a cup of celebratory wine on us!” Minister Shen said as he extended an invitation to Qin Xiaoyao.

Previously, he had heard that when Marquis Xiaoyao went to the Ministry of Rites, she had spoken to Song Rui alone.

Looking at the way things were going now, Marquis Xiaoyao was probably…

Hehe! Song Rui was a capable and good-looking kid, and he was extraordinarily talented too. No wonder he attracted Marquis Xiaoyao’s attraction…

Although he heard that Marquis Xiaoyao was married, women, especially those with power, had the same thoughts as men.

Otherwise, why would that male prostitute from Cloud Scent Court end up by her side?

Someone with a status like Marquis Xiaoyao would naturally cherish and take care of her own reputation, and not think about marrying Song Rui.

However, who could say anything if she were to have a secret interlude here and there?

This way, it would not affect Lian’er’s position in the Song family’s residence in the future, and it would also help Song Rui win over more connections in the court.

In short, he didn’t mind Song Rui offering to sleep with Marquis Xiaoyao.

If Marquis Xiaoyao could stand on their side, even Empress Jia and the Jia family would not be able to do anything to him.

As soon as Minister Shen said this, Mrs. Shen’s face sank.

However, even so, she only glanced at Minister Shen and did not object.

This was because this was what she and Master had discussed before.

Master had thought that after Shen Lian entered the residence, he would let her be engaged to Song Rui.

If she hadn’t firmly opposed it, perhaps the engagement banquet would have been right in front of them now.

Fortunately, in order to successfully bring Shen Lian into the residence, Master agreed to postpone the engagement banquet.

Although it was only delayed by a month, it was enough time for Mrs. Shen to properly teach Shen Lian a lesson.

Shen Lian, who was sitting at the side, was originally very shy. However, when she noticed Mrs. Shen’s expression, her face immediately turned pale.

Minister Shen also noticed this situation, but he still continued to smile, pretending that he did not notice it.

Mistress agreed to let him take Lian’er into the residence. In return, he had to agree to her training Lian’ er.

Anyway, it was only for a month. The grievances would pass eventually.

After the engagement banquet, he would marry her off as soon as possible.

When she went to the Song family’s residence, no one would dare to make things difficult for her.

“Of course!” Qin Xiaoyao swept her eyes over Song Rui and Shen Lian before raising her cup to Minister Shen.

Minister Shen immediately raised his cup and drank with Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao finished the wine in her cup and smiled at Song Rui and Shen Lian again.

“Congratulations. You two make an ideal couple,” she said with a smile.

Shen Lian was secretly delighted.

She really wanted to toast Qin Xiaoyao to express her gratitude.

However, because Mrs. Shen was beside her, she did not dare to move.

She lowered her head and said timidly, “Lord Marquis, your praise is too generous.”

As for Song Rui, he was extremely nervous when Qin Xiaoyao stared at him.

However, he still had to appear calm on the surface.

“Lord Marquis, you are too kind.

“Please allow me to offer you a toast, Lord Marquis.” Song Rui braced himself and looked back at Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao stared at Song Rui without blinking.

When they saw this, Minister Shen and Mrs. Shen’s eyes wavered.

This Marquis Xiaoyao was really…

A moment later, Qin Xiaoyao smiled and raised her wine cup.

“Congratulations, Lord Song,” she responded. However, her smile didn’t extend to her icy eyes.

“Thank… thank you, Marquis Xiaoyao.” Song Rui was under a lot of pressure, but he still had to bite the bullet and reply.

Shen Lian finally noticed something odd.

She raised his head and looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao, however, smiled at her.

Shen Lian blushed and lowered her head again.

The odd feeling in her heart was gone.

The rowdy atmosphere at the table continued.

After what happened earlier, Shen Lian no longer wanted to be stared at. She meekly turned into an invisible person again.

Everyone did not look at Shen Lian anymore. They chatted merrily and ate happily.

After the meal, Minister Shen still wanted to keep Qin Xiaoyao back.

However, Qin Xiaoyao pretended to be slightly drunk and turned down his request.

Song Rui and the caretaker of the Prime Minister’s residence personally sent Qin Xiaoyao out of the premises and into the horse carriage.

After that, she left.

Qin Xiaoyao opened her eyes as soon as the horse carriage began moving..