“This way, please.”
A servant led He Xiuyuan through a covered corridor and brought him to a side hall.
“Please have a seat. Our master will be here shortly.”
After saying this to He Xiuyuan, the servant turned and withdrew.
He Xiuyuan looked up and around, then sat down calmly.
A moment later, a maid brought hot tea. As soon as the maid entered the side hall, He Xiuyuan smelled a delicate fragrance.
This tea aroma was quite refreshing.
“Sir, the master asked me to bring you tea.”
The maid brought the tea over and poured hot tea for He Xiuyuan.
“Thank you,” He Xiuyuan said.
Noticing the pleasant aroma of the tea, he immediately picked up the teacup and took a small sip.
The maid, meanwhile, did not withdraw but stood to the side, quietly observing He Xiuyuan.
When He Xiuyuan finished his tea, the maid refilled his cup with hot tea.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan picked up the teacup and took another sip.
The tea’s fragrance lingered between his teeth; it was a rare good tea.
When He Xiuyuan finished the tea in his cup, he placed the cup on the table beside him.
Seeing this, the maid refilled He Xiuyuan’s cup again.
He Xiuyuan looked at the refilled tea, glanced at the maid, then picked it up again and drank it all.
The maid, holding the teapot, saw this and refilled He Xiuyuan’s cup once more.
“This guest, has he never had good tea before?”
While refilling the tea, the maid looked at He Xiuyuan with a strange expression, feeling puzzled.
It was her first time seeing someone drink so much tea.
Other guests who had visited the mansion would stop after a few cups, even if they were thirsty, but why was this gentleman drinking tea so fiercely?
He Xiuyuan didn't know what the maid was thinking, but seeing her continuously refilling the tea, he seemed to realize something.
“No more tea, please. I’ve had enough.”
Hmm?
The maid looked at He Xiuyuan stopping her from pouring tea, and was a little surprised.
Then, the next moment, the maid obediently put down the teapot, covered her mouth, and her lips slightly pursed, as if she had realized something.
This gentleman is a guest who doesn't like his teacup to have tea in it.
She hadn't realized it just now, thinking he loved tea. According to their rules, they couldn't let a guest's teacup be empty.
A smile curved on the maid’s lips, and then she stood silently to the side.
He Xiuyuan looked around, and seeing nothing else to do, he curiously asked the maid in front of him.
“Did your Master Jia invite many Daoist priests and Buddhist monks to perform rituals in the past?”
He Xiuyuan, having nothing to do, decided to inquire about the Jia household’s affairs.
The maid, who had been standing humbly with downcast eyes, saw He Xiuyuan asking about this, and her expression immediately changed slightly. Then she quickly whispered.
“Guest, we servants dare not speak carelessly about the Master’s affairs!”
The maid lowered her head slightly, speaking softly.
He Xiuyuan was surprised to hear this. He had intended to ask if Master Jia had invited any powerful He Xiuyuan in the past.
Now it seemed he couldn't ask.
Thinking this, Expert stopped asking, so as not to make the other party uncomfortable.
Seeing that He Xiuyuan no longer spoke, the maid looked around, and seeing no other servants nearby, she hesitated for a moment before gently advising him.
“Guest, if you are here to help the Master’s child, if you don’t have real skill, it’s best to return from whence you came.”
“Our Master is very easy to talk to, but if you try to use this matter to swindle him, then the Master will certainly not let you off.”
The maid felt that He Xiuyuan seemed like a good person, so she offered a word of advice, hoping He Xiuyuan would know when to retreat.
Over the years here, she had seen the Master worry countless times about his child’s matter.
Throughout these years, countless Experts had been invited, but not a single one had been able to resolve the Master’s issue of an heir.
Initially, the Master treated all these people with great courtesy.
But as time went on, more and more people came to the Jia household to swindle, and Master Jia began to grow impatient.
If it weren't for the concern that there might be a truly skilled Expert among the visitors, and the fear of slighting them, Master Jia probably wouldn't even meet a single Jianghu person.
In terms of reception, the Jia household still treated people like He Xiuyuan with courtesy.
This was before He Xiuyuan’s capabilities were determined. If it was confirmed that He Xiuyuan had no skill, then He Xiuyuan would face a severe beating.
The Jia household also used this to make some swindlers retreat, to avoid attracting all sorts of troublesome people.
He Xiuyuan listened to the maid’s words, smiling as he looked at her, “Then, do you think I am a person with real skill?”
The maid paused slightly at his words, quickly glanced at He Xiuyuan, then swiftly lowered her head.
Her voice was as tiny as a mosquito.
“This servant doesn’t know, but seeing the guest, I just feel that the guest doesn’t seem like those swindlers who come for the Master’s money.”
He Xiuyuan smiled at her words, “Then you are mistaken. I am indeed here for your Master’s money.”
“Ah?”
The maid heard He Xiuyuan’s words, instinctively opened her mouth wide, and looked at He Xiuyuan in astonishment.
She probably hadn't expected He Xiuyuan to say such a thing.
According to He Xiuyuan’s words, wouldn’t that mean he was here to swindle?
But… that didn’t seem right either.
Someone who was truly here to swindle shouldn’t speak so bluntly, should they?
“Your Master is here.”
Just as the maid was somewhat at a loss, looking at He Xiuyuan and not knowing how to respond, He Xiuyuan suddenly spoke.
The maid was startled at his words, and with a slight shock in her heart, she instinctively picked up the teapot nearby, preparing to pour tea for He Xiuyuan.
He Xiuyuan did not stop her this time, simply allowing her to pour him tea.
After she finished pouring, He Xiuyuan paused for a moment before slowly picking up the teacup.
The maid now finally had time to secretly glance around, but she didn’t see the Master anywhere.
Seeing this, the maid couldn't help but look at He Xiuyuan suspiciously. Didn’t he say the Master was here? Why didn’t she see him?
Just as the maid was wondering, there was movement from outside the door, then the side hall momentarily darkened, and a figure walked in.
The maid quickly glanced at the person’s lower clothing and shoes, and recognized that it was the Master.
Seeing this, the maid quickly bowed and retreated to the side, yielding the space.
He Xiuyuan, meanwhile, remained seated in his chair, watching Master Jia enter.