CHAPTER 364: CHAPTER 364: EXPOSED

No one cares whether Mrs. Xiao thinks highly of He Hua and Qu Fulan.

First, Qu Fulan is already the Young Madam Pei, does she need Mrs. Xiao’s approval?

Then, regarding He Hua, she has no feelings towards the Xiao Family.

Even though she heard from her aunt that the Li and Xiao Families once had a marriage agreement, she doesn’t take it seriously.

Back when she hadn’t returned and everyone didn’t know she was the Li Family’s daughter, to some insiders, Qu Fulan, who wasn’t yet Young Madam Pei, was the Li Family’s daughter. At that time, the marriage between the Li and Xiao Families didn’t materialize, showing that the Xiao Family minded the Li Family’s issues and didn’t accept a daughter-in-law from the Li Family. Why should she be bothered by such matters now?

It’s better not to associate with them. She also looks down on those who break promises.

As for Qu Fulan’s past experiences, He Hua had asked her aunt, and her aunt recounted, saying that Qu Fulan had it tough, having once been a maid. Later, because of her exceptional abilities, she was noticed by Heir Pei.

This deepened He Hua’s admiration for Qu Fulan in her heart. Having been a maid and eventually rising to become the master, such courage and ability are not something ordinary people possess.

But simultaneously, He Hua also had her judgments. If Xiao Shiqing were reliable, it would be impossible for Qu Fulan, as a maid, not to seek his support, yet she ultimately went to Heir Pei, indicating that the Xiao Family did something to chill her heart.

She avoids such a family as much as possible.

Unfortunately, certain matters are intertwined by fate, and cannot be avoided.

He Hua’s encounter with Xiao Shiqing happened two days later.

She intended to buy several tofu skin buns from Li Niang when she found Li Niang was quite busy. Since she was free, she stayed to help — they were neighbors, after all, helping each other was expected.

She heard someone say to give them a few tofu skin buns, and she answered casually, then wrapped them in oiled paper and handed them to the person. When she looked up, she was stunned.

It was Prince Xiao.

Xiao Shiqing hadn’t expected He Hua to be there. He said nothing, took the tofu skin buns, paid, and was about to turn and leave.

He Hua suddenly stopped him, "Wait!"

Xiao Shiqing looked at her in surprise. He Hua moved from in front of the steamer to Xiao Shiqing’s side, pointing to the pouch at his waist, "That’s my pouch. I accidentally dropped it the other day. Since Prince Xiao picked it up, please return it."

This indeed seemed problematic — finding someone’s item and not returning it. Granted, he might not know whose pouch it was, but how could he wear it? That is very offensive, isn’t it?

This pouch was embroidered by her for her cousin, who hadn’t worn it. Instead, a man had worn it. How could it be given away now?

Hence, He Hua felt somewhat upset, feeling her efforts were wasted.

At this time, Xiao Shiqing’s waist bore a jade pendant on the left, hanging two pouches on the right, one new and one old, quite noticeable.

But He Hua’s attention was entirely drawn to the new pouch because she had stitched it herself, and she clearly remembered, as it bore her special mark.

Xiao Shiqing lowered his head to look at the pouch at his waist, then at He Hua, "How do you know it’s your pouch?"

He Hua thought his suspicion was reasonable, so she said, "I stitched it myself, so I know it’s mine. Otherwise, look at the back of the pouch, isn’t there a pattern of this shape embroidered?"

She gestured to show him.

Unexpectedly, after hearing her, Xiao Shiqing’s pupils contracted slightly as he raised his hand to touch the pouch at his waist, knowing without looking that everything she said was true, but—

"How could this pouch be stitched by you?"

This question was rather unpleasant, and upon hearing it, He Hua felt displeased. Why couldn’t it be stitched by her? Wasn’t she worthy of such a fine pouch?

"Prince Xiao only needs to look at the pattern on the back of the pouch to verify what I said, why rush to doubt me? If it wasn’t stitched by me, why would I unnecessarily snatch your pouch?"

After speaking, seeing Prince Xiao unmoved, He Hua grew a bit anxious. Although the pouch couldn’t be given away, it was something she painstakingly made. Even if she kept it at home, it was better than a man wearing it.

"Please return it, Prince Xiao," she spoke again.

Xiao Shiqing looked at her for a while, then pulled the pouch from his waist and handed it to her. He Hua was delighted to get it back, but realized it was the wrong one upon receipt.

"This isn’t mine... Wait, how is this pouch identical to mine?" He Hua curiously examined the worn pouch. Honestly, if not for the old color, she would have thought she stitched it. It’s so similar, not only in embroidered work but also in style. The key is the pattern on the back of the pouch is the same.

Xiao Shiqing closely observed her demeanor, his eyes flickering slightly. He had deliberately handed her the wrong pouch, and seeing her perplexation, was about to speak, when he saw her furrow her brows, holding her forehead with a pained expression, seemingly about to fall.

Xiao Shiqing hurriedly supported her, "What’s wrong?"

He Hua was helped to sit at the table, cleared her head after a while, "I’m fine, just a sudden headache and heart palpitations."

She clearly hadn’t had any headaches or heart palpitations before, yet it suddenly happened. Even she didn’t understand why.

Xiao Shiqing poured her a cup of tea, "Have some tea."

He Hua took the tea, thanked him, then returned the pouch to him, "Here’s your pouch. Please return mine too."

He Hua didn’t think much. She didn’t consider identical pouches to be stitched by the same person. Perhaps there was someone with similar embroidery skills who also habitually stitched a similar pattern, that’s all.

After all, she hadn’t stitched pouches for others. In her family, her mother handled pouch stitching; it wasn’t her responsibility. She only stitched for herself.

Hence, she was certain that the old pouch on Prince Xiao wasn’t stitched by her.

Xiao Shiqing said no more, and after taking the pouch back, he returned the new pouch to her.

"County Princess."

A gentle voice sounded behind them, and He Hua looked back, surprised, "Young Lady Pei."

Indeed, the person who arrived was Qu Fulan. She hadn’t come specifically to find the County Princess; she came to buy tofu skin buns and coincidentally saw He Hua and Xiao Shiqing.

Her curiosity was piqued as to why these two were together, so she called out to her, then nodded towards Prince Xiao as a greeting.

Xiao Shiqing looked at the newcomer and nodded back.

Then he clasped his hands towards the pair and turned to leave. But after walking a short distance, he turned back to look at them.

One had her face, yet her demeanor and actions differed from before; the other was unfamiliar, with some demeanor and actions...

Previously, there was no stark contrast, but now—

The man’s eyes were deep, clutching the sword in his hand.

Qu Fulan was just asking He Hua how she came to be with Prince Xiao when the latter explained that she was helping Li Niang buy tofu skin buns here and then happened to meet Prince Xiao buying buns.

"Isn’t it odd? The pouch on Prince Xiao’s body is identical to mine. If not for his being old and mine being new, I’d have thought he possessed the one I stitched." He Hua shared everything with Qu Fulan.

She knew she wasn’t as smart as Qu Fulan, so she told her everything promptly, in case something was amiss, her counterpart could timely alert her. She previously pretended to be a princess, didn’t she survive because she trusted her? Otherwise, wouldn’t she risk death by the Emperor before discovering her true heritage?

Qu Fulan just happened to take He Hua’s pouch and paused as she spoke, "You said your pouch is identical to the one hanging on him?"