When it comes to the Su family in Jiangcheng, they are imperial merchants renowned for their vast wealth in the Liu Kingdom. Every year, they alone transport hundreds of thousands of bolts of high - quality cloth to the capital. Not to mention their tens of thousands of shops scattered across the country.
Next to the Su family, separated only by a wall, is the Jing family, an even more remarkable clan. Regardless of the dynastic changes, the Jing family has always stood firm, ranking side by side with the Su family as one of the wealthiest families.
Rumor has it that they also have extensive industries within the Li Kingdom. Even the royal families and noble lords of both countries dare not easily offend them.
However, it's quite a pity that although the collateral branches of the Jing family are prosperous, the head of the family has only one daughter, named Jing Yao.
Yun Xi lost her mother at a young age. Since the age of five, she had been living with her maternal grandparents. Due to her poor health, her grandmother often confined her at home, so she had few friends.
One time, the Jing couple and their young daughter came to visit the Su family. The two children hit it off immediately and became close friends ever since.
In particular, Jing Yao, who was three years older, had a peculiar personality and often had conflicts with other children. She showed little interest in making friends and thus had no companions.
But after meeting Yun Xi, she suddenly became extremely enthusiastic. She almost regarded Yun Xi's words as the highest commandments and always loved to stick to her. She even wished to be by Yun Xi's side all the time and dressed exactly the same as her.
Once, Yun Xi went out with her grandmother to offer incense and stayed overnight in a mountain temple. Unable to see Yun Xi, Jing Yao almost caused a huge commotion. Eventually, her mother sent her to the mountain overnight to meet Yun Xi...
Jing Yao's affection for Yun Xi was almost overwhelming, which made the elders of both families not know whether to laugh or cry.
Although her grandmother occasionally showed her disapproval of Yun Xi's close relationship with Jing Yao, her grandfather always smiled and said that it was just child's play, and Yun Xi would return to the capital sooner or later.
At that time, Yun Xi didn't understand what her grandfather meant. But for her, Jing Yao was one of her few close friends.
She was the most brilliant color in Yun Xi's childhood memories!
When Yun Xi came to the capital at the age of twelve, she heard that Jing Yao had fallen seriously ill because of her departure and even insisted on coming to the capital with her.
However, the Jing couple, who always doted on their daughter, didn't give in to Jing Yao's wish this time. Instead, they left her in Jiangcheng. Over the years, they had maintained close contact with Yun Xi through letters.
The two of them shared almost everything in their letters, including the funny things that happened to them:
When Yun Xi first came to the capital, she made a lot of jokes because she was not familiar with the local dialect. When she first got her period, seeing the blood, she thought she was going to die and hid in fear. Finally, Yu Zhu found her. Only then did she know that this was something every woman had to go through when they grew up, and she heaved a sigh of relief...
Regarding all kinds of Yun Xi's problems and troubles, Jing Yao always advised her like an "experienced person". She carefully told Yun Xi not to touch cold water, keep warm during her period, and drink more ginger and brown - sugar water if she had a stomachache.
In the letters, she desperately conveyed a message to Yun Xi: "I really, really miss you!"
Every time Yun Xi finished reading Jing Yao's letter, she always felt extremely gratified. It seemed that after they separated, Jing Yao had suddenly grown up and become more stable.
She was like a caring elder sister, always concerned about her. Even though they were thousands of miles apart, Yun Xi felt that Jing Yao was always by her side and had never left.
So when Yun Xi learned that Jing Yao had come to the capital, she was overjoyed!
Especially in the current chaotic situation, Jing Yao's arrival was like a timely rain that fell right into her heart!
"Where is Yao'er? Hurry up and let her into the mansion!"
Yun Xi walked quickly, constantly urging the guards. Her impatient look made Qi Rong, who was walking slowly behind her, frown slightly.
Although he knew that the person was a woman, seeing Yun Xi so overjoyed still made him feel unhappy.
Except for himself, he didn't like Yun Xi getting too close to others.
Even if that person was her father or her friend, he still couldn't accept that someone was more important to her than him!
Just as Qi Rong was thinking like this, they were almost at the mansion gate. The guard, following Yun Xi's order, had already gone out of the gate to let the person in.
Yun Xi looked at a tall pink figure just entering the mansion. Her expression froze for a moment, and then she quickly searched behind the figure. After seeing the familiar face of Old Xu, she immediately greeted him with a big smile:
"Uncle Xu, you've also come to the capital with her?!"
Yun Xi quickly walked to Old Xu's side. After greeting him with a smile, she unconsciously stood on tiptoe and looked behind him. After all the servants who came with Jing Yao had entered the mansion, a look of doubt appeared on Yun Xi's face.
"Uncle Xu, where is Yao'er?"
Didn't the guard just report that Yao'er had come to the mansion? Why did she see Steward Xu but not Yao'er?!
"Could something have happened to Yao'er?!"
Thinking of this possibility, Yun Xi's face suddenly turned extremely pale, which was quite terrifying.
Steward Xu shook his head awkwardly. Suddenly, a voice sounded beside Yun Xi:
"Xier, I'm here. Why didn't you recognize me?"
The familiar Jiangcheng accent was soft but also carried a hint of grievance and disappointment.
How, how could it be a man's voice?!
Yun Xi turned around in a hurry, her mouth slightly open, staring at the handsome man in a pink brocade robe beside her in astonishment.
Although he was not as tall as Qi Rong, he was much taller than ordinary men. He had a slender figure and delicate features. His beautiful peach - blossom eyes were very eye - catching and unforgettable.
"You, how could you be Yao'er?!"
Looking at the facial features that were about 70% similar to her old friend in memory, Yun Xi unconsciously shook her head.
She looked at the man in front of her suspiciously, more convinced in her heart that this was clearly a man, judging from both his appearance and the voice just now!
"Are you Yao'er's cousin, right? Yao'er deliberately sent you here to play a joke on me?"
Yun Xi smiled as she looked at Jing Yao and then at Old Xu. Thinking of this possibility, she couldn't help laughing.
"Uncle Xu, Yao'er is really too naughty. After all these years, her playful nature still hasn't changed!"
Old Xu looked at his young master awkwardly and didn't know how to answer Yun Xi's words for a moment.
His young master was naughty, but he only dared to play tricks on an old man like him and had never played a prank on Miss Yun Xi!
Seeing Old Xu's embarrassed smile, Yun Xi didn't wait for his answer and said with a big smile:
"I'll go out right now and catch Yao'er in!"
Saying this, Yun Xi was about to walk out of the mansion gate when Jing Yao suddenly grabbed her sleeve. Looking pitiful, he said:
"Yun Xi, take a good look at me. I'm Jing Yao!"
"Just two months ago, you said you were deceived by a rascal and asked me to send you some of that croton we used to feed the vicious dog of the Wang Fugui family back when we were kids, saying you wanted to make that rascal have a sudden and uncontrollable diarrhea!"