Wang Youbao had been upset because one of his calligraphy works was destroyed earlier, and it was personally written by Scholar Sir no less, so he hadn’t paid attention to what Li Wuyu was asking.
Now, after Li Wuyu asked again, Wang Youbao heard it loud and clear, and couldn’t help wondering, "Miss Li, why would you say something like that?"
Li Wuyu responded sullenly, "Aren’t you all discussing marriage? If you don’t like her, why would you do that?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Youbao immediately clarified in haste, "Miss Li, you mustn’t speak nonsense. When have I discussed marriage with Miss Xing? It is only Xing Jurén who harbors such intent, but I dare not aspire to such a match."
"But you still haven’t answered my question, do you like Xing Yaoyue or not?" Li Wuyu, somewhat discontent, sounded even more muffled. She felt that Wang Youbao was beating around the bush, perhaps because he liked Xing Yaoyue but was hindered by his feeling unworthy of her.
Seeing that Li Wuyu had lowered her head, looking quite unhappy, Wang Youbao, although clueless about why she was discontent, bluntly stated, "Miss Xing is indeed a fine lady, but I neither can aspire to her nor do I fond her."
Upon hearing that Wang Youbao took no interest in her, Li Wuyu immediately lifted her head, her eyes sparkling brightly, and said with great delight, "Baobao, I want to eat red date and lotus seed soup. Remember to add more sugar!"
This Miss Li had been so capricious lately; he had thought she wouldn’t come looking for him until the next day, yet she appeared less than two hours later.
With a sigh of resignation in his heart, Wang Youbao then said to Yu Daming, "Go quickly and have someone prepare the red date and lotus seed soup for Miss Li."
"... Yes." Yu Daming, who went to have the soup made, was rendered speechless. His young master clearly knew that Miss Li was not a daughter from a good family, yet he treated her so kindly. It was truly...
Since returning to town, Li Wuyu had not sought An Jing for two days. An Jing could guess with her toes that Wang Youbao certainly would neither marry Xing Yaoyue nor did he like her, hence Li Wuyu stopped coming to her to sulk.
However, although Li Wuyu did not visit, Meng Zhuqing did come to visit with Doctor Jiang, looking for her and her husband that day.
"This subordinate pays his respects to Prince and Princess," Doctor Jiang greeted them with a kneel as soon as he saw them.
Xiao Changyi remained silent.
But it was An Jing who bid Doctor Jiang to stand up and, with a smile, inquired, "Didn’t Doctor Jiang return to the Capital? Why have you come back?"
Doctor Jiang replied, "The Emperor is concerned for the Princess’s well-being and wanted to send an Imperial Physician to be at the disposal of the Princess and Prince at all times. Assistant Fang recommended me again, and the Emperor approved it."
An Jing understood, "If Assistant Fang recommended you once more, then your medical skills must surely be among the top in the Imperial Hospital."
Doctor Jiang immediately demurred, "This subordinate dares not to accept such praise." After hesitating for a moment, he added, "Doctor Fang is my mentor."
An Jing was initially startled but soon smiled, "To praise virtue without avoiding kin—your mentor, Doctor Fang, is not only an expert in medicine but also dares to speak and act righteously, which is extremely rare."
Doctor Jiang listened respectfully and only after An Jing finished speaking, he relayed a message, "Assistant Fang was very pleased with the red envelope given by Prince and Princess, and he specifically asked this subordinate to thank Prince and Princess on his behalf when I saw you."
An Jing said, "That was promised to him, there’s no need for thanks. Moreover, he had already thanked us in advance that day."
At this point, Xiao Changyi spoke, not about the red envelope but to express a concern, "The Princess is carrying quite large—check and see if there’s anything wrong."