Gong Xiaohua and her brother Qin Chuyuan had just parted ways and walked not far when they saw Madam Gong waiting where Gong Xiaohua had gotten off the carriage that morning.
The carriage they had rented that morning from the carriage store was still next to her, even the coachman hadn't changed.
Madam Gong saw Gong Xiaohua jump down from a luxurious carriage from afar, then she turned back and said a few words to the carriage. The curtain was lifted, revealing a young master inside.
As expected of her daughter, she had gotten to know a young noble in just one day. More importantly, the young noble even sent her back with his carriage. It looked like there was hope for Gong Xiaohua's engagement this year.
Thinking of this, her big fat face blossomed into a chrysanthemum smile.
When Gong Xiaohua walked closer and saw her mother grinning at her, she asked, "Mother, what's going on? Did something joyful happen?"
"Nothing much, mother is just happy seeing you. How was the Gongyan Feast? Are you tired?"
"Mother, let's talk in the carriage."
"Yes, yes, yes, let's get on the carriage quickly."
Gong Xiaohua and Madam Gong boarded the carriage.
Before getting on, Gong Xiaohua still politely said to the coachman, "Thanks for your hard work, Old Uncle."
"No hard work, no hard work, this is what I should do."
Inside the carriage, Madam Gong eagerly asked Gong Xiaohua, "Xiaohua, did anything happen in the palace? Did anyone make things difficult for you?"
"Don't worry, Mother. I'm just a no-name guard. Who would make things difficult for me? And with my skills, it would be me making things difficult for others instead of the other way around."
"Really? You're not lying to me?"
"I'm not lying to you, trust me."
Only then did Madam Gong feel relieved. Then she sized up Gong Xiaohua.
But the more she looked, the more something seemed off. The clothes Xiaohua wore this morning seemed different.
Could something have happened to Xiaohua in the palace?
Could she had been bullied until her clothes got ripped apart?
Her heart tightened as she reached out to grab her daughter's sleeves and collar.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
"What do you mean what am I doing? You weren't wearing these clothes this morning. Let me take a look if you're injured but deliberately hiding it from me."
"That didn't happen, I'm totally fine." Gong Xiaohua said, then patted a few places on her body with her palm.
"I just accidentally spilled some soup on myself when eating. So I borrowed a set of clothes from someone else. I'll return them after washing, that's all."
"Don't try to fool me. I know you used to act rashly before your injury, so I wouldn't believe you could accidentally spill food all over yourself. You must have been looked down upon by those young masters from prestigious families who made things difficult for you on purpose."
Gong Xiaohua looked at her mother in surprise. Before entering the palace, her mother had told her to look for an outstanding young master. She had thought her mother didn't realize the true circumstances of their family's background.
Now it seemed her mother understood everything clearly. It's just that all parents wish the best for their children, so they want their child to marry the best and most outstanding man, even if he is out of their league.
"It's fine, Mother. They will suffer the consequences in the end. Look, I'm totally fine right now."
Gong Xiaohua then rolled up her sleeves and collar to show her arms and neck had no injuries.
Only then did Madam Gong feel relieved. "As long as you're fine."
"But I seemed to have offended the young lady from the Lin Family." Gong Xiaohua said worriedly.
She wasn't afraid of the Lins making trouble for her, she was afraid they would make trouble for her family. With the Lin Family's current strength, getting rid of the Gong Family would be as easy as pinching an ant hill to death.
She had to think of ways to prepare countermeasures before the Lins came to make trouble.
"Why does the Lin Family keep targeting us? It doesn't seem like anyone from our Gong Family has offended them!"
"The young lady from the Lin Family misunderstood and thought the fifth young master of the Qin Family was interested in me. That's why she kept making trouble for me and even implicated you, Mother."
Upon hearing her daughter's words, Madam Gong's first reaction was how was that possible? The Qin Family, a prestigious family for centuries, was as unattainable for the Gongs as the moon in the sky compared to a rock on the ground.
But looking at her daughter's heroic yet charming face, perhaps it wasn't entirely impossible for the Qin Family's fifth young master to take notice of Xiaohua.
Either way, whether he had any intention or not, there would never be any relationship between them and the Qins. Her daughter had no reason to become a concubine for another family.
"Don't worry too much about the Lin Family's matters. When you get home, tell your father and uncle to handle it."
Gong Xiaohua's mouth twitched. Now she finally understood why her mother was even fatter than her - being carefree could make one fat. Eating was only secondary.
"By the way, I saw you getting off a carriage just now. Was that a young noble you fancy? Tell mother who he is. I'll get someone to inquire about his background."
Madam Gong looked at Gong Xiaohua expectantly. Unfortunately she was about to be disappointed.
"Oh, I was just escorted back by the Qin Family's fifth young master and his sister."
"Oh, the Qin Family." The excitement had clearly left Madam Gong's voice.
She had gotten excited for nothing. Madam Gong started feeling down again.
Nevermind, she would still go to Aunt Zhou. She had mentioned an outstanding young noble she wanted to introduce to Xiaohua last time.
She had originally planned to arrange a meeting for Xiaohua after the wrestling competition. But many things happened later so she never got around to it.
When she got home, she would get Aunt Zhou to ask the other party. Let Xiaohua meet that young noble.
Seeing her mother go from disappointment to confidence again, Gong Xiaohua couldn't guess her thoughts.
"Mother, there is another thing I need to tell you."
"What is it? Go ahead!"
"His Majesty has granted me and the Qin Family's fifth young master's marriage."
"Oh, an imperial marriage."
"What? Imperial marriage? To whom? Say it again!"
"To the Qin Family's fifth young master."
"Good heavens, am I dreaming? Pinch your mother."
Madam Gong stretched out her arm for Gong Xiaohua to pinch, indicating that she should pinch to see if she was dreaming.
Gong Xiaohua was speechless but did not move to pinch her mother. She said helplessly, "Mother, you're not dreaming. This is true!"
"I'm really not dreaming? But how is this possible!"
"Xiaohua, the Qin Family is no ordinary family. With our family's status, how will you manage if you marry into the Qins in the future?"
"Mother, stop worrying. We'll take it one step at a time."
"Sigh, I guess that's all we can do now."
