Rebirth of the Duke's Daughter and the Little Imperial Uncle

Chapter 54 The Potential to Be a Matchmaker (1)

After their tender moment, He Yanxi told Qin Yaoyao about the gold mine. Upon hearing the word "gold mine," Qin Yaoyao looked surprised and eagerly asked, "Have you found the gold mine?" He Yanxi nodded slightly in affirmation and explained, "I had arranged for some men to intercept He Mingwen's forces along the way, while another group was responsible for searching for the gold mine. We successfully found it and transferred it to my ownership. Furthermore, the harvest was quite good; besides the gold mine, there were other valuable resources. When the time is right, I will take you to see it."

Upon hearing the news, Qin Yaoyao was overjoyed and excitedly replied, "That's wonderful!" Her face beamed with happiness, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation. However, she suddenly remembered the matter between Qiu Ye and Lan Feng, so she turned to He Yanxi and asked, "By the way, is Lan Feng married?" He Yanxi shook his head and replied, "No." Qin Yaoyao pressed on, "Then, does he have an engagement or a girl he likes?" He Yanxi thought for a moment and then replied, "He's not engaged, but as for whether he has a girl he likes, I don't know. What's wrong? Why are you so concerned about him? Do you have some special feelings for him? Hmm... it seems I need to 'punish' you properly again." After saying that, a wicked smile appeared on his lips, and a cunning glint flashed in his eyes.

He Yanxi gently bit Qin Yaoyao's breast, and Qin Yaoyao immediately cried out, "Ouch, what are you doing?"

He Yanxi frowned slightly and said, "I just felt a little uncomfortable seeing you keep mentioning other people."

Qin Yaoyao then realized what was happening and hurriedly hugged He Yanxi, explaining, "No, it's just that I think Lan Feng is a good match for one of my maids. If he doesn't have a girl he likes, then I..."

Before he could finish speaking, He Yanxi interrupted, "So you want to bring them together?"

Qin Yaoyao nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, what do you think?"

He Yanxi smiled slightly and said, "When did you become so enthusiastic about being a matchmaker?"

Qin Yaoyao chuckled and said, "Because we are happy, I also hope that everyone around me can be happy."

He Yanxi looked at her with eyes full of affection and said, "You're right. I'll ask him about it properly when we get back."

Qin Yaoyao asked curiously, "How should I ask?"

He Yanxi smiled and said, "Of course, we should just ask him if he has a girl he likes."

Qin Yaoyao thought for a moment and said, "Okay then, but I feel like it should be him."

Then, Qin Yaoyao told He Yanxi what she knew.

Qin Yaoyao nestled gently in He Yanxi's warm embrace, whispering, "Brother Yanxi, do you still remember the day you proposed? I told you then that I would embroider a wedding dress for you myself." He Yanxi nodded slightly, indicating that he remembered.

Qin Yaoyao continued her story: "That day, I took out the fabric and prepared to start embroidering the wedding dress. My maids also picked up needles, thread and other items and embroidered with me. The atmosphere was warm and pleasant. We chatted and laughed as we embroidered."

A hint of nostalgia flickered in her eyes: "Dongxue wasn't very good at needlework, so she said she wanted to rest for a while. Everyone displayed their finished pieces on the table. However, Qiuye didn't do what the others did. At first, everyone was so engrossed in admiring each other's work that we didn't notice whether Qiuye had displayed her embroidery. It wasn't until Dongxue asked out of curiosity that we realized Qiuye hadn't shown her work. So we asked her for her embroidery, curious to see what she had embroidered, something so mysterious."

Qin Yaoyao paused, a smile appearing on her lips: "Later we found out that Qiuye had embroidered a beautiful purse. The purse was delicate and small, with intricate patterns embroidered on it, making it irresistible."

He Yanxi frowned in confusion: "What could be wrong with embroidering a purse? Isn't this a very common thing?"

Qin Yaoyao shook her head helplessly and explained, "You're right. Embroidered sachets are indeed very common, but we usually choose some beautiful patterns to embroider, such as those that represent a woman's status. However, the sachet that Qiuye embroidered is unusual. The pattern on it actually represents a man. In this way, it is very obvious that this sachet was not embroidered for herself."

He Yanxi nodded thoughtfully: "So, she's going to give the purse to a man?"

Qin Yaoyao nodded affirmatively and replied, "That's right. After our questioning, Qiu Ye finally confessed that the purse was intended to be given to Lan Feng."

He Yanxi was somewhat surprised: "Did Lan Feng ask her for it? That doesn't seem quite right!"

Qin Yaoyao quickly waved her hand in denial: "Of course not, Lan Feng did not make any request. In fact, Qiu Ye took the initiative to embroider this purse as a gift for him."

He Yanxi raised an eyebrow, looking at Qin Yaoyao with interest: "Oh? Could it be that Qiu Ye has feelings for Lan Feng?"

Qin Yaoyao smiled and said, "I think it's very likely, but she herself is unwilling to admit it. So I want to find out about Lan Feng's situation first. If he is not engaged or has no other engagement, then there might still be a chance for this matter to turn around!"

He Yanxi frowned and asked with a puzzled look, "Does your maid know Lan Feng?"

Qin Yaoyao's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile, and she replied, "Because he's always following you, it's hard not to recognize him!"

Then, Qin Yaoyao continued, "I heard from Qiuye that when we went horseback riding at the horse farm last time, we sent them back, right? On the way, Qiuye encountered human traffickers and was captured. It was Lanfeng who saved her, so she wanted to embroider a purse for him to repay him."

He Yanxi nodded in sudden realization and said thoughtfully, "I see. No wonder I felt something was off about him when I got back that day. Maybe he took a fancy to your maid that day. I'll observe him more closely when I get back."

Qin Yaoyao smiled and nodded, replying gently, "Okay, then I'll wait for my brother's news."

He Yanxi looked at Qin Yaoyao with a hint of concern and affection in his eyes, and said softly, "Mm."

When the two came out, they were told that the Fifth Prince and Cheng Ying had already returned. He Yanxi said, "I know." After that, he arranged dinner, and the two returned after eating.

The two chatted and laughed all the way, and soon arrived at the Duke's mansion. Qin Yaoyao returned to her courtyard and told her maids about the delicious food she had eaten and the scenery she had seen that day, which made them extremely envious.

Qin Yaoyao looked at Qiu Ye and teased, "Qiu Ye, what do you need to envy?"

Qiuye asked in confusion, "I also want to go and see, of course I'm envious."

Banxia said, "Qiuye, if you want to go, isn't it a very simple matter?"

Yingchun also said, "That's right."

Qiuye asked, somewhat puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Qin Yaoyao and the others exchanged glances, smiles appearing on their faces. Seeing this, Qiu Ye asked, somewhat puzzled, "What are you laughing at? What do you mean?" At this moment, Dong Xue smiled and said, "If you want to go see, then go see." Qiu Ye looked at Dong Xue and said helplessly, "Dong Xue, are you silly? That's the Prince of Zhenbei's private place. Who dares to go in casually? I wouldn't dare." Ban Xia chimed in, "You wouldn't dare, but someone would." Qiu Ye quickly pressed, "Who?" After asking, she suddenly slapped her forehead, realizing, "Right, how could I forget that? Miss, you can take us there, right, Miss?"

Qin Yaoyao smiled and looked at Qiuye, saying, "The person Banxia was talking about isn't me!" Qiuye asked in confusion, "If it's not Miss, then who could it be?"

"Besides Miss, who else can freely enter and leave the Prince's study and bedroom?" Dongxue blinked her big eyes and asked Qiuye with a grin.

Qiuye frowned in confusion: "Hmm?" She really couldn't think of anyone other than Miss who would have such privileges.

Seeing Qiu Ye's bewildered expression, Dong Xue couldn't help but laugh out loud, then said, "Like Guard Lan!"

Upon hearing the words "Guard Lan," Qiu Ye's face instantly turned bright red, like a ripe apple. She lowered her head and murmured softly, "What does this have to do with Guard Lan..." Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Seeing this, Yingchun quickly chimed in, "Silly Qiuye, how can it be alright? Guard Lan can freely enter and leave the prince's private quarters. Just have him take you there!"

Qiuye looked up and shook her head seriously. "How could he possibly take me? We're not even close." There was a hint of helplessness in her voice.

Banxia patted Qiuye on the shoulder and comforted her, saying, "What's the big deal? Weren't you going to give him a purse? How come he accepted your gift but won't even help with this little thing?"

Qiuye gently bit her lip and said, "I embroidered a purse for him to thank him, how could I ask for anything else! Besides..." Before she could finish speaking, Qiuye stopped, seemingly finding it difficult to say.

Qin Yaoyao looked at Qiuye tenderly and asked softly, "Qiuye, did you give the embroidered purse to Lanfeng?"

Qiuye silently shook her head, indicating that she had not given it away.

Dongxue asked, puzzled, "It's finished embroidering, why aren't you sending it?"

Qiuye remained silent for a moment, but did not answer the question.

Qin Yaoyao looked at Qiu Ye with encouraging eyes and said gently, "I also want to know the reason."

Qiu Ye looked at Qin Yaoyao and said, "He doesn't know me. Even though he saved me, he didn't ask for anything in return. I did it on my own. Would giving it to him cause him trouble? If that's the case, I won't give it to him. He's been kind to me; I can't repay kindness with enmity!"

Qin Yaoyao stared wide-eyed at Qiu Ye, "How do you know he doesn't recognize you! I only let you come back in the afternoon at the horse farm that day. You two spent at least the whole morning together, how could he not recognize you?"

Qiuye scratched her head and replied innocently, "We spent the whole morning together, but we didn't say a word. Besides, he only knows that I'm a maidservant to the young lady, but he doesn't know which maidservant I am."

Yingchun was so surprised she couldn't close her mouth. "What? You two haven't exchanged a single word all morning?"

Qiuye nodded. "Mm."

Banxia frowned and asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Qiu Ye sighed and explained, "Guard Lan didn't say anything, and I didn't know what to say either, so we just kept quiet."

Dongxue asked curiously, "So what did you all do all morning?"

Qiu Ye thought for a moment and replied, "Miss and the Prince are riding horses, and we will watch from a short distance away to ensure that if Miss wants anything, it will be delivered in time."

Yingchun pressed on relentlessly, "And then what!"

Qiuye shook her head and said helplessly, "And then there was nothing more."

After lunch, the young lady told the coachman and me to return to the manor first, and I left. At that time, Guard Lan was still at the horse farm. So even though we spent the entire morning together, we didn't exchange a single word.

Banxia sighed and said, "Sigh, what a waste of the whole morning." Yingchun chimed in, "That's right, they didn't say a word and just stood there like idiots. What a pity."

Qiuye laughed and retorted, "What are you all regretting? I'm going to take care of Miss, not to chat and play with her."

Looking at her flushed cheeks, Qin Yaoyao teased, "So what are your feelings for Lan Feng right now? Is it gratitude or infatuation?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Ye's face instantly turned bright red, and she hurriedly explained, "Miss, what are you saying! It's naturally gratitude!"

Qin Yaoyao looked at Qiuye with a half-smile and continued to press, "If you want to repay him, why don't you go to a shop and pick out a gift? Why did you have to give him a purse, especially one you embroidered yourself? Qiuye, you should know what it means when a woman gives a man a purse!"

Qiu Ye's face turned even redder, and she lowered her head and said softly, "When he rescued me, I asked him if there was anything he wanted, and if so, he could tell me and I would buy it for him as a way of repaying him. But he said that he didn't need anything, that rescuing me was just a small favor, and that since I was Miss's maid and he happened to run into me, I didn't need to repay him."

Qin Yaoyao nodded, then asked, "If that's the case, why did you embroider the purse?"

Qiuye lowered her head even further, and her voice became even softer: "Because... because when he saved me, the human trafficker damaged his purse. The purse looked quite old, probably many years old. Since it was damaged because of me, I thought I'd replace it for him."

Dongxue, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't you send it out after it was finished?"

Upon hearing this, Qiuye blushed slightly. She lowered her head, her voice becoming somewhat low: "After finishing the embroidery, I suddenly realized that perhaps the purse he damaged was a gift from his family. If I gave him my own purse, would it cause misunderstandings with his family? So, I didn't give it to him..."

Qin Yaoyao smiled and asked, "When you say family, do you mean his parents, his wife, or his sweetheart?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Ye was startled and abruptly looked up at Qin Yaoyao.

Qin Yaoyao continued, "I guess it's the latter. After all, as far as I know, he's not married, so you were worried that if the girl he likes found out, it would cause unnecessary misunderstandings, which is why you didn't give him the purse, right? So, Qiuye, did you give him the purse simply to repay him, or did you have other feelings hidden deep down?"

Qiu Ye was struck by Qin Yaoyao's words and was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. Her eyes flickered, as if she were pondering something, but in the end, she chose to remain silent.