Speaking of which, Su Chengjin looked at the young servant who had followed him and the servant immediately stepped forward, presenting the gift of thanks respectfully to Xiao Changyi.
But Xiao Changyi did not accept it.
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.
An Jing, however, was used to it and laughed while smoothing things over, "You are thanking the wrong person. It was Gong Juechen who agreed to treat you because he saw the Fifth Prince looked promising, it has nothing to do with us. The gift should be given to Gong Juechen."
Su Chengjin smiled and said, "The palace doctor has his own, these are for the Prince and the Princess. The reason the palace doctor was willing to stay at my residence for treatment was because the Prince and the Princess instructed Vice General Meng to protect Gong Juechen at my residence, only then did he agree. I am truly grateful to the Prince and the Princess, and I hope you will not find the gift too modest and accept it."
Xiao Changyi’s refusal to accept just now already represented his attitude; he didn’t want Su Chengjin’s gift of thanks.
An Jing knew that Xiao Changyi would not accept Su Chengjin’s gift and she also felt that Su Chengjin’s sudden visit was not just a simple thank you. Therefore, when she saw Su Chengjin insisting on giving the gift, An Jing laughed and said, "Fifth Prince, you also said that it was Vice General Meng who protected Gong Juechen in your residence, so the gift should not be for us, but should be given to Vice General Meng."
Without waiting for Su Chengjin to say anything else, An Jing turned to Meng Zhuqing and said, "Meng Zhuqing, don’t you want to accept the thank you gift from the Fifth Prince quickly?"
Meng Zhuqing immediately took a step forward and accepted the substantial gift from the servant’s hand.
Originally Su Chengjin had wanted to establish good relations with Xiao Changyi, the Prince Yi, but the Prince had not only refused to speak a single word to him, but the gift also ended up in someone else’s hands... He never expected such an outcome, and Su Chengjin’s smile stiffened slightly.
However, Su Chengjin quickly recovered and sensibly said with a smile, "Chengjin must not delay the Prince and the Princess in their affairs, so Chengjin will be leaving now, and you should go ahead to the Editorial Academy."
Only after Su Chengjin left did An Jing say to Xiao Changyi, "Husband, I think he really wants to build a good relationship with us."
Xiao Changyi snorted coldly, "His intentions aren’t pure."
An Jing nodded in agreement, "I also feel his sudden thank you is not so simple. Look, he has been detoxified for two months now; if he really wanted to thank us, he would have come earlier, not wait until now."
Xiao Changyi did not say anything more and instead gestured for An Jing to get into the carriage.
Seeing that Xiao Changyi did not want to talk about Su Chengjin, An Jing did not bring him up again either, but obediently got into the carriage, and then they entered the Imperial Capital and went to the Editorial Academy.
Afterward, Su Chengjin came two more times, once using visiting the four little ones as an excuse, and another time inviting An Jing and Xiao Changyi to his residence for a meal. Unfortunately, Xiao Changyi did not speak a single word to him and naturally did not go to his residence for a meal.
Watching Xiao Changyi ignore him completely, Su Chengjin couldn’t help feeling some admiration for Su Chengyu, who had managed to win Xiao Changyi over to his side.
Initially, Su Chengjin indeed wanted to establish a good relationship with Xiao Changyi, but after these three attempts at warming up to him were met with cold indifference, Su Chengjin no longer had the face to seek out An Jing and Xiao Changyi.
Even later, when Duke Tao scolded him and wanted him to make another effort with Xiao Changyi in hopes of establishing a good relationship with Prince Yi, Su Chengjin was unwilling to come again. In the end, Duke Tao could do nothing about it and let Su Chengjin be.
As for Su Chengjin, An Jing didn’t take him seriously, so when Su Chengjin stopped coming after three visits, An Jing didn’t find it strange at all, simply considering it as him knowing when to retreat.