Gu Fei raised an eyebrow. It was a good thing that Old Man Huang was living well, but at his age, he was more than qualified to be this girl’s father.
Forget it. None of her business. One was willing to buy, and the other was willing to be bought.
She smirked. “You’re taking a concubine—why not hold a banquet?” At the very least, to celebrate the new chapter in his life.
Old Man Huang waved her off. “What kind of banquet would that be?”
“By the way,” Gu Fei added, “I should remind you of one thing. From now on, keep an eye on her behind the counter. Don’t let her step outside.”
The girl’s head jerked up, her eyes wide with fear.
Gu Fei was also stunned. What kind of demand is this? Does becoming a concubine mean losing your freedom?
“Uncle Huang, I can’t agree to this.”
“Your people, your responsibility.”
Old Man Huang merely smiled and said nothing more. He beckoned to the girl. “I live in the backyard. Come, follow me home.”
The girl looked on the verge of tears, wringing her hands as she shuffled forward reluctantly.
Gu Fei’s lips twitched. She turned and returned to the counter, propping her chin on one hand. The more she thought about it, the more something felt off.
Why did Old Man Huang choose today to take a concubine? Why not earlier?
Today, Housekeeper Wu had been severely punished by Xiao Yu.
She was certain Housekeeper Wu held a grudge against Old Man Huang. Now that Housekeeper Wu was in trouble, Old Man Huang suddenly took a concubine. There had to be a connection.
But Gu Fei couldn’t piece it together.
Eventually, she gave up.
*
That evening, Aunt Liu returned home. Before she even stepped inside, she spotted her husband weaving bamboo baskets by the door and couldn’t resist sharing the day’s gossip.
“I truly saw something extraordinary today.”
The village chief kept his hands busy and snorted. “Women—long on hair, short on vision. What could you possibly have seen that’s so remarkable?”
Aunt Liu swatted his arm. “Listen to me, you old fool.”
Just as she began, the neighbor—Eldest Aunt—who had been hanging laundry nearby, wandered over. “What’s this about something extraordinary? Let me hear it too.”
Aunt Liu quickly pulled out a stool for her. “It’s about your niece, Xiao Fei.”
“Let me tell you, that girl is something else. Mark my words, your second brother’s family is about to rise in the world.”
The village chief’s ears perked up.
“Guess what luck Xiao Fei has? We’ve barely been in the city any time, and she’s already connected to a prince! People like us wouldn’t dare dream of brushing shoulders with nobility!”
The village chief cut in. “What prince?”
Aunt Liu rolled her eyes. “The young prince of Prince Qi’s mansion, of course!”
The village chief’s hand slipped, and a bamboo splinter scratched his palm. “No—that can’t be. Donghai County is Prince Qi’s fief. The young prince is practically a celestial being. How could Xiao Fei possibly know him?”
Aunt Liu huffed. “How could I make that up? The young prince visited the shop today and even had a meal there!”
She launched into a dramatic retelling of the afternoon’s events, leaving both the village chief and Eldest Aunt speechless.
After a long pause, Eldest Aunt murmured, “That prince is terrifying.”
Aunt Liu grinned smugly. “You should’ve seen it. The official and the housekeeper knelt on the ground, slapping their own faces until they swelled up like pig’s bladders—and they didn’t dare stop!”
Leaning in, she lowered her voice to a whisper. “Between you and me, I think the prince has taken a special interest in Xiao Fei.”
Eldest Aunt gasped. “That’s impossible! A prince and Xiao Fei? No matter how clever she is, she’s still just a—”
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