Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1021 The Unawakened Little Girl

He Yue sent Fan Changgeng to greet the guests, while she happily followed her younger sisters to the back hall.

He Jin'an glanced at Xiao Nan, then at He Min: "How should we handle this matter today? You two, tell me your thoughts."

Xiao Nan hesitated, but He Min spoke first: "Hasn't everything been taken care of? That Chen was wicked and intended to harm me. I outwitted the villain and protected my reputation. As for Editor Xiao, he simply stepped in to help those in need and deserves to be rewarded."

He Jin'an glanced at her, then looked at Xiao Nan: "What does Editor Xiao think?"

Xiao Nan pursed his lips and said carefully, "I was so eager to save people that I offended the princess. I dare not accept any reward. From now on, I will keep my mouth shut and never mention today's events again. Please rest assured, Your Highness and the princess."

He Jin'an was quite satisfied to see that he was sensible enough. He looked at He Yue and asked for her opinion, since He Min was He Yue's younger sister.

He Yue thought for a moment and said, "Although you two were quick-witted and won by a hair's breadth, Min'er has fallen into the water after all. A woman's innocence is of utmost importance. I will inform the Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort Xian and ask them to make a decision."

Upon hearing this, He Min pouted and said, "What happened today was purely accidental. If you go and tell Mother and Consort, won't that make things worse? Good sister, how about we just pretend nothing happened? Sister~"

He Yue glared at her: "No, you have to tell her. This matter concerns you, and we can't hide anything from you, otherwise how will I face Consort Xian in the future?"

He Yanran also agreed, and pulled He Min aside to persuade her, "Just listen to Sister Yue. The Empress and the Noble Consort Xian both love you. If something happens to you in the Princess's residence, you must tell them."

He Min glanced at Xiao Nan with a conflicted expression, then lowered her head.

She wasn't afraid of anything except that her mother and concubine might take their anger out on Xiao Nan. After all, Xiao Nan had seen her naked.

The thought of the burning heat of their skin touching made her ears involuntarily turn red.

He Jin'an coughed lightly: "Then let's listen to Second Sister. There's no time to lose. You should go to the palace now. I need to see Lord Chen and tell him to keep his son in check and stop him from making baseless accusations."

Before the banquet had even ended, the group split into two. On the carriage back to the palace, He Min didn't say a word, only sighing repeatedly.

He Yanran laughed and said, "What, are you worried about Lord Xiao?"

He Min glared at her: "They saved me and then stood out to be laughed at. And you all have to report to the Empress Dowager and Consort. What if the Empress Dowager and Consort want them to take responsibility? You saved someone and ended up with an enemy."

He Yinuo chewed and chewed: "How can we be enemies? Maybe we're destined to be together."

He Min pinched her: "But he doesn't like me at all. You can't force a relationship."

He Yanran chuckled lightly: "How do you know he doesn't like you?" After saying that, she carefully looked He Min up and down: "Her eyebrows and eyes are like paintings, her skin is fair and beautiful, she is graceful and elegant, and her smile is charming. I am a woman and I am moved by Min'er. How could he, a man full of vigor, not be moved? I don't believe it."

He Min pinched her: "Yu Nuo is still here. Aren't you afraid of setting a bad example for her by discussing this with me?"

He Yinuo chewed and chewed: "Hmm, you don't need to worry about me. I've read countless novels, I understand."

He Min sighed softly, "Anyway...anyway, he doesn't like me." Then she briefly recounted her interactions with Xiao Nan over the past two months.

"If he liked me, why would he avoid me like the plague after we've met so many times? If I didn't go to the study early every morning to wait for him, he would have slipped away faster than an eel!" He Min was at her wit's end, and she tried every possible way to repay the money.

He Yanran inexplicably sensed a hint of resentment in her voice. He gave He Min a deep look, thinking that this girl probably had feelings for him but hadn't realized it yet.

She smiled and said, "Alright, let's not worry about whether he likes you or not. Just tell me what you think of him. The Empress will definitely ask for your opinion later. As for Editor Xiao's opinion, it's not as important as yours."

He Min fell silent. She couldn't quite figure out what kind of person Xiao was. How much could she know from just one meal a day? She decided to deal with her mother first.

In Chang Le Palace, Tao Yanyan listened to He Yue's report on the matter, and then He Min recounted it. Finally, she looked at He Min and said, "Min'er, I will listen to you on this matter. If you want Xiao Nan to take responsibility, then I will talk to your mother about this marriage. If you want to pretend that nothing happened, then nothing happened. However, Xiao Nan cannot stay in the capital any longer. I will find an opportunity to transfer him out of the capital."

Upon hearing that Xiao Bianxiu's future was in jeopardy, He Min anxiously said, "Mother, he finally managed to enter officialdom through the imperial examination. How can they so easily transfer someone away from such a difficult place as the Hanlin Academy? I hope Mother will reconsider."

Tao Yan said, "It's not that Mother is heartless or ungrateful, but people's hearts are the most unpredictable. He may seem innocent now, but who can guarantee he won't tell others in the future? You will be engaged in marriage in the future, and if he lets it slip one day, it will affect you."

He Min bit her lip: "But, but if it weren't for him, I would have been harmed by Chen Bin today. Mother, why don't we just let it go and not make things difficult for Lord Xiao, okay?"

Tao Yanyan narrowed her eyes: "Min'er, you've been protecting Xiao Nan all along. Could it be that you have some other feelings for him?"

Tao Yanyan stared intently at He Min, who shook her head helplessly: "I have no such thoughts."

Seeing that he couldn't get the girl to talk, Tao Yanyan didn't dare to push her too hard, so he said, "Alright, if that's the case, then we won't pursue his responsibility. I'll have him come here to give him a good talking-to another day. I think he won't dare to mention today's incident again for the sake of his own life."

He Min breathed a sigh of relief, thinking of finding an opportunity to give Xiao Bianxiu a heads-up beforehand, so as not to be summoned by the Empress Dowager and lose her composure.

He Min returned to Yongtai Palace first, while He Yue and He Yanran stayed behind to accompany Tao Yanyan.

"Mother, I think that Min'er may not be without feelings for Xiao Bianxiu, but she is still a child and has not yet realized it."

He Yanran nodded in agreement, saying, "I also think Min'er hasn't quite figured things out yet. Actually, Xiao Bianxiu and she look strangely well-matched standing together."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "Then give her some time, let her figure it out, there's no rush."

The innocent thoughts of a young girl are the most precious. Tao Yanyan didn't want to force things to grow up and wanted everything to take its natural course.

However, He Min was still clueless, while He Yinuo had grasped the situation far too early. She glanced at He Yinuo: "Now that Min'er's matter is settled, let's deal with Nuo'er's matter."

He Yinuo blinked his big eyes, looking completely bewildered: "What is it, my son?"

Tao Yan said sternly, "Do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper, do not speak what is improper. I usually turn a blind eye to you reading stories in novels, but you peeked into the scene and were corrupted. Tell me, how should you be punished?"

He Yinuo: "..."