The servants brought by Zhou Zhanlan surrounded the door. Everyone could only see a delicate and coquettish face.
A jade-like face with red lips, and amorous eyebrows and eyes. A pair of soul-stirring peach blossom eyes with a red mole at the end of the eyes, truly heroic and enchanting.
It was... Shen Zhou.
This was the first time Ye Xi had seen Shen Zhou's face so clearly. She never knew he had such a breathtakingly handsome face.
No wonder he had become well - known in just two years since he came to the capital.
"Who are you, young fellow!?" Zhou Zhanlan's eyes were as sharp as knives. "This is not a place for you to talk!"
"Mother," Su Xin called Zhou Zhanlan softly and introduced, "This is the second young master of the Shen family, the grandson of Prime Minister Shen."
Her mother - in - law, being so proud of her status, never bothered to look at those of lower rank. Although her mother - in - law didn't recognize him, as the main wife who accompanied her husband to social events, she knew him.
This young master of the Shen family had just returned to the capital in the past two years. With his prominent family background, good looks, and outstanding literary talent, many families were lining up to make friends with him. Offending him would be equivalent to offending the Shen family.
"Master Shen has just returned to the capital in recent years and is highly regarded by Prime Minister Shen."
"I'm Shen Zhou," Shen Zhou bowed his hands as a greeting. "Greetings, Lady of the Minister."
Although the words were addressed to Zhou Zhanlan, Shen Zhou was smiling and looking at Ye Xi.
His peach blossom eyes were deep, hiding a look she couldn't understand.
Could it be... that Shen Zhou had recognized her identity? But she had only contacted Shen Zhou as the Immortal Maiden Manping. Even if Shen Zhou saw that she had concealed her identity, at most, it would only expose that she was Manping...
Ye Xi was lost in her wild thoughts when Shen Zhou began to speak, "All parents and elders in the world love their own children. Your grandson is the apple of your eye. Naturally, you're heart - broken when he gets injured accidentally. But since it was your young master who deliberately hurt others and was wrong in the first place, instead of admitting it, you even shield and indulge him. This may not be a good thing for your grandson."
"Nonsense!" Zhou Zhanlan was furious. If it were Prime Minister Shen, it would be another matter. But this young fellow who had only emerged in the past two years from the Shen family was not worthy of her consideration. He didn't even catch her eye.
"You weren't there to see it with your own eyes. How do you know what really happened?"
"How do you know I wasn't there to see it?" Shen Zhou lied without batting an eyelid. "Not only did I see it, but my guards also saw it. But because there were so many people around and considering that Lord Luo and my grandfather had some friendship, I didn't expose it. However," Shen Zhou changed the subject, "if you need me to describe the details one by one, I'd be happy to oblige."
"You..." Zhou Zhanlan was almost choked by Shen Zhou's words. Her well - maintained face turned pale and then red.
Hiding his lips behind a folding fan and smiling, Shen Zhou pretended not to notice Zhou Zhanlan's expression, "I remember a few days ago, my grandfather said that there was a young master from the third branch of the Luo family who was very talented. He was recommended to be the chief clerk of the Gold Department under the Ministry of Revenue and was going to take office in a couple of days. I haven't congratulated you yet, Lady. Since we've met by chance today..."
Shen Zhou squinted his peach blossom eyes and smiled innocently. "I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate you. The Luo family has so many talented people. It shows that you ladies and lords have taught them well."
Zhou Zhanlan's face turned pale when she realized that Shen Zhou even knew about this.
Although her husband was the Minister of Personnel, in charge of the appointment and promotion of officials below the fourth rank, he had no say in the personnel appointments in the six ministries, especially in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, which were in charge of money and troops. The young master from the third branch could only get the position of the chief clerk of the Gold Department thanks to the hint from Prime Minister Shen and the recommendation of Lord Shen.
If something went wrong because of her... Thinking of the expressions of her in - laws and her husband, Zhou Zhanlan broke out in a cold sweat.
"No wonder you're the grandson of Prime Minister Shen," Zhou Zhanlan said with a forced calm, her eyes looking a bit flustered. "Master Shen is really polite."
"Since we've mentioned something happy, I'll let this bad thing go for now." Then she cast a cold look at Ye Xi and the others. "Little girl, be more careful in the future. Not everyone is as magnanimous and easy - going as I am."
"What do you mean, Lady Minister?" Seeing that the Luo family was so shameless and wanted to leave without even apologizing, Sai Xing said angrily. "It was clearly your grandson who deliberately hurt others and scalded our girl. Isn't he going to say sorry?"
Zhou Zhanlan just glanced at Sai Xing out of the corner of her eye and sneered disdainfully, "He's just a child. How does he know what deliberately hurting others means? You're all grown - ups. Why are you so petty and arguing with a child? You're really vulgar and not fit for the occasion."
"Nanny Wang, let's go." After saying that, she rolled her eyes and led a large group of people away in a hurry. Su Xin quickly said goodbye and then followed Lian Yi closely.
"Hey..." Sai Xing wanted to say something else, but was stopped by Ye Xi.
"Come on, Sai Xing. It's no use talking to such people."
Using the child as an excuse, huh? Well, who doesn't have a child? With a cold laugh, Ye Xi suppressed her coolness and turned to Shen Zhou. "Thank you, Master Shen, for your help. I should really thank you properly, but..."
"Yingying." Shen Zhou's eyes were bright. He happily interrupted Ye Xi. "It's me, your handsome brother."
Ye Xi:?
Everyone behind her:??
"Master Shen," Ye Xi thought he had recognized her identity, but it turned out he had mistaken her for someone else. She let out a slight sigh of relief and quickly corrected him. "You've mistaken me. I'm not Yingying. You can call me Xiaoxi."
"You are." Shen Zhou was very certain and reached out to grab her slender wrist. "There's a..."
"Presumptuous!" Ling Yan frowned and let out a soft shout. She and Yan Gui attacked together, forcing Shen Zhou away from Ye Xi.
Quickly stabilizing his figure, Shen Zhou looked at Ye Xi in confusion. Seeing her strange look, he felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his heart.
"Sorry," knowing that he had been too eager, Shen Zhou's face turned a bit pale. He clasped his fists and bowed. "It was my rudeness. But you really look like an old acquaintance of mine. I wonder if you could let me take a look at your left wrist. Just one look. I know this request is a bit unreasonable, but I'm really eager to find this person. My old acquaintance's left..."
Shen Zhou's words suddenly stopped.
Based on their previous acquaintance, Ye Xi knew that Shen Zhou was not a rash person. She had already generously rolled up half of her sleeve.
Her fair wrist was as white as snow, delicate and slender. There was nothing on it.
Shen Zhou was speechless.
Although the person in front of him had grown up, the cute and chubby appearance from childhood was deeply engraved in his mind. It was exactly the same as the person in front of him.
But why was the cinnabar mole on the hand gone?
"Master Shen," seeing Shen Zhou's dejected look, Ye Xi felt sorry for him, but there was nothing she could do. Moreover, her clothes were still wet, and the burns on her and Ling Yan hadn't been treated carefully yet. She had to go back quickly.
"I'm really in an inconvenient situation now. I have to leave first. Thank you, Master Shen, for your help today. If you need my help, just hang a red silk in front of this Qunying Building. I'll definitely come to repay you when I see it."