The Tyrant's Beloved Empress

4

After handing Steward Wang the plum blossom cakes, Xiao Zhige went to the study. This was a room in the southeast corner of the main courtyard and located right opposite the main room.

It was early in the evening and the sky was still lit, allowing one to see that in front of the main room, a maid was kneeling and Xiao Zhige could hear her sobbing voice. This should be the one Steward Wang mentioned who had angered An Chang Qing.

Xiao Zhige did not have much of an impression of her. For many years, he had been stationed at Yanzhou and rarely returned to Yejing. Even after he was called back to Yejing, most of his time was spent at the barracks. The matters of the Wang Manor had all been relinquished to Steward Wang. He himself might not even remember the faces of everyone in this household.

In fact, he was more interested in how An Chang Qing would deal with this maid.

From the information his subordinates gathered, An Chang Qing and his younger sister, An Xianyu, both had their mother's mellow temperament, making their lives very difficult in the Xiang Manor's arduous environment. Even the maids would brazenly bully them at will. If it wasn't so, he wouldn't have brought him back to the Wang Manor. At least here, he could provide him with a safe and peaceful environment.

Xiao Zhige watched as Steward Wang entered the main room's door.

An Chang Qing was sorting out the books that he had brought with him. Although he had been married off, Madame Li had said that he was a man, everything should be simple unlike when a girl was married off. As such, she had sent him off without any dowry, his possessions were only some useless items they had given him out of spite and the rest were books.

An Chang Qing and Anfu were tidying their things when Steward Wang came in.

Steward Wang bowed low holding the pastry box in his hand. His attitude was much more respectful than before, even his tone was more humble, "Wangfei, Wangye has ordered this to be given to you."

It was just a box of snacks, any other lower-ranked servants could've sent it but Steward Wang was a man with experienced insights. From his master's behavior, he could detect that there was something more to this Wangfei. Thinking of his cockiness this morning, he felt a chill and had to redeem himself by personally delivering the item.

An Chang Qing looked at the box with some uncertainty. Opening it, there was a piece of oil paper and on top were eight plum-shaped pastries. A light pink stuffing was wrapped with a white layer of flour, looking delicate and appetizing.

"Wangye told you to send this over?" An Chang Qing blinked as he looked at the chic delicacy in his hand, unable to relate it with the majestic and fearsome Northern Warlord.

"Yes, these are plum blossom cakes of San Wei Zhai. Wangye most likely went to get it especially for you," Steward Wang said with a smile.

"Thank you Steward Wang for your trouble," An Chang Qing tried to visualize the scene where Xiao Zhige went into the snack shop to get this for him and found that it was too unimaginable. But looking at the pastries in his hand, the restlessness from last night seemed to have dissipated.

"Where is Wangye now?"

Steward Wang: "He went to the study."

An Chang Qing considered and said, "I'm going there to see him."

Steward Wang thought of Yan Hong who was still kneeling at the door and said, "Yan Hong, that unruly girl, I'll have someone take her away. The ya po1 will be coming tomorrow, does Wangfei want to replace the girls with people in the Manor or have the ya po bring someone new?"