After marrying a powerful minister, the female partner was pampered

Chapter 357 Something Might Have Happened

Xiahou Xi said "Oh" uncomfortably, without looking at Lian Qimeng again, and left with his colleagues.

Qiao Jingjing took Lian Qimeng's hand and said, "Qimeng, I have reserved a private room upstairs. Come on, sit with us."

Lian Qimeng did not refuse her kindness, and went upstairs with her, taking her maid.

In the private room upstairs, the eldest princess, Lu Shuangshuang, Lu's mother and others were already present.

The roast duck is already on the table.

Seeing Lian Qimeng come in, everyone was a little curious.

"Jingjing, she is..." asked Mother Lu.

"This is Miss Qimeng, my friend." Qiao Jingjing introduced, without revealing the relationship between Lian Qimeng and Xiahou Xi.

"Your friend is really good-looking," Mother Lu praised.

Lian Qimeng felt a little embarrassed when she heard this, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you."

"Qimeng, this is my mother-in-law, this is my sister-in-law Shuangshuang, and this is our eldest princess." Qiao Jingjing introduced them one by one.

Lian Qimeng was startled when she heard the name of the princess, but she managed to calm down and bowed to her calmly, "I greet the princess."

"No need to be so polite, just sit down." said the eldest princess.

"Thank you, Princess." Lian Qimeng thanked her and then bowed to Mother Lu, "Junior greets Aunt Lu."

Mother Lu said with a smile, "Your Highness has said that there is no need to be so polite, why are you still being so polite? Please take a seat."

"Yes, come and try the roast duck in our restaurant, it's delicious." Lu Shuangshuang also said.

Lian Qimeng nodded and sat down stiffly.

Qiao Jingjing squeezed her hand, signaling her not to be nervous.

Lian Qimeng was very grateful to her for not looking down on her background and for inviting her to eat roast duck. Seeing that everyone present was humble, she gradually relaxed.

Looking at the lively atmosphere in the room, Qiao Jingjing couldn't help but think of Lin Fangfang.

The roast duck restaurant opened today, and she also sent someone to invite Lin Fangfang. She originally thought that everyone hadn't seen each other for a long time, and they could take advantage of the opening of the roast duck restaurant today to have a good gathering. Unexpectedly, the person she sent got the news that Lin Fangfang was not in Beijing.

For this reason, Qiao Jingjing felt strange. After all, the New Year was coming soon. Why wouldn't Lin Fangfang be in Beijing?
She always felt that something might have happened to Lin Fangfang.

Thinking of this, she decided to go to Gu Mansion to see Lin Fangfang tomorrow.

After everyone finished eating the roast duck, they prepared to go home.

Qiao Jingjing also gave a roast duck to the eldest princess and Lian Qimeng respectively.

When I came out of the store, the place was already full and there was a queue outside.

"It seems that your roast duck restaurant will make a fortune in the future." The eldest princess retracted her gaze and said sincerely.

"Your Highness, I like what you said. If you want to eat roast duck again in the future, please come to our shop anytime. We will not charge you any money." Qiao Jingjing said with a smile.

The eldest princess curled her lips and said, "Then you must remember what you said."

"What did I just say?" Qiao Jingjing blinked.

"You want a beating." The eldest princess said fiercely, but she just patted her lightly, "Okay, I won't talk nonsense with you anymore. I have to send this delicious roast duck to my mother and my brother to taste."

"Then wait a moment, I'll ask someone to get one more." Qiao Jingjing said hurriedly.

"No need, one is enough for the two of them." The eldest princess stopped him, waved her hand, and got on the carriage.

After watching her carriage go away, Qiao Jingjing was about to send Lian Qimeng to the carriage, but at this moment, a figure walked out from inside.

Before anyone could react, the man had already boarded Lian Qimeng's carriage.

The corner of Qiao Jingjing's mouth twitched. Fortunately, she had good eyesight, otherwise she would have thought it was some playboy.

When Lu Shuangshuang saw it, she said in surprise, "Isn't that..." Lian Qimeng bit her lip, said goodbye to Qiao Jingjing, and got on the carriage.

After a while, the carriage drove away.

Lu Shuangshuang looked at Qiao Jingjing in confusion, "Master Xiahou and Miss Lian..."

"Don't ask so many questions, kid. Let's go back. Your eldest brother and second brother are not available today, so bring them some roast duck as well." Qiao Jingjing said with a smile.

Hearing this, Lu Shuangshuang was very unconvinced, "How can there be a child as old as me?"

"Yes, yes, you are not a child anymore, you are a grown-up girl. Then Miss Lu, please get on the carriage." Qiao Jingjing said with a smile.

Lu Shuangshuang: "..."

The next day, Qiao Jingjing went to Gu's house.

As soon as the doorman heard her identity, he immediately invited her in and asked someone to invite Madam Gu.

As soon as Qiao Jingjing arrived at the front hall, Madam Gu came.

"Madam Lu, what a rare guest." Old Madam Gu smiled.

Qiao Jingjing stood up and said, "Madam Gu, I came here today to look for Fangfang. I wonder if Fangfang is in the mansion?"

Madam Gu looked a little uncomfortable, "That broom... Fangfang has not been in the mansion during this period."

Qiao Jingjing naturally heard the two words she blurted out, and she was unhappy, so she didn't want to deal with her anymore, and asked directly: "Madam Gu, I'm sure you know that Fangfang and I are good friends. I haven't seen her for a long time. I want to know, where is she now?"

Seeing this, Madam Gu's smile fell and she said unceremoniously, "She went to Qingshui Temple outside the city to pray for our family. She will not be back until after the New Year. If Madam Lu wants to find her, she will have to wait until after the New Year."

Qiao Jingjing felt very uncomfortable listening to what she said. Since she had already heard about Lin Fangfang's news, she didn't want to stay any longer.

"In that case, I'll take my leave first." After saying that, he left without waiting for Madam Gu to say anything.

Madam Gu's face darkened. "Isn't it because you rely on your husband's family's ability that you dare to be so arrogant? Don't you even look at your own background?"

Qiao Jingjing naturally didn't hear Madam Gu scolding her behind her back.

She went straight out of Gu's house, but unexpectedly, she ran into Gu Qingliu who was returning from court.

"Mrs. Lu?" Gu Qingliu was a little surprised.

When Qiao Jingjing saw him, she was even more surprised, "Why does Lord Gu look so haggard?"

The Gu Qingliu in front of him had completely lost the dashing look he had when he was at the racecourse before. He looked much more haggard and thinner.

The official uniform was also loose and looked ill-fitting.

Gu Qingliu smiled bitterly and said, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Madam Lu. By the way, Madam Lu, are you here to see my wife?"

"Yes." Qiao Jingjing nodded. "What did your Gu family do to Fangfang? Why did you ask her to go to the temple to pray in such a cold weather and not come back for the New Year?"

Gu Qingliu felt ashamed, "It's because I don't have the ability."

Qiao Jingjing paused, thinking of how harsh and unreasonable Madam Gu was, and suddenly understood something.

People nowadays emphasize filial piety. In an era when filial piety is more important than anything else, elders are unreasonable, which is really suffocating for the younger generation. But they cannot disobey or resist, otherwise they will be labeled as unfilial.

After thinking for a while, she asked, "Is Lord Gu, like Old Madam Gu, blaming Fangfang for not having an heir?"

Gu Qingliu was startled, then shook his head, "I don't think that way. In fact, I don't want any offspring."

His mother had always been very dissatisfied with Fangfang's inability to get pregnant. Some time ago, she took advantage of the fact that he was busy with the affairs of the Ministry of Rites and had no time to spare, and sent Fangfang to Qingshui Temple.

When he found out, he wanted to take Fangfang back immediately, but Fangfang was determined to stay there.

She said that she would rather stay in Qingshui Temple than in Gu Mansion because it was quiet there.

Thinking of this, Gu Qingliu felt filled with bitterness.

Qiao Jingjing heard this and didn't ask any more questions, "Take care, Master Gu. I'll take my leave now."