After being expelled from the mansion, I changed the dynasty by writing novels.

Chapter 281 Strange

Bai Zunyue and Xiao Yulan exchanged a cold laugh.

It turned out that when Bai Zunyue came in, she was followed by two servants, who were also carrying boxes that looked exactly like the pastry boxes on the table.

The three of them didn't say anything, but sat down together.

The pastry boxes, however, filled the entire table.

Qiao Songqing stared blankly at these things, not understanding what they were doing.

"You guys? When did you start liking pastries?"

The two of them didn't answer, and the three of them looked at each other in bewilderment. No, it should be said that Bai Zunyue and Xiao Yulan looked at each other in bewilderment.

I just don't understand why the atmosphere between them has become so strange.

"These pastries are quite good; they're unlike anything I've had before." Qiao Songqing opened another box of pastries, and seeing that the two weren't angry, he picked up the pastries and started eating them again.

"When did Baiweizhai's pastries become so innovative? I'll buy some for my mother to try."

"This is not from Baiweizhai."

"Huh? Huh?"

"These are pastries from Zhenlang Pavilion."

"Zhenlang Pavilion, I feel like I've heard of it somewhere before, I remember now!" Qiao Songqing clapped his hands, "Isn't that the shop opposite Zhiyu Bookstore?"

Qiao Songqing really didn't expect that the two of them would actually buy pastries from Zhenlang Pavilion.

The two of them didn't continue the conversation, but instead asked Qiao Songqing, "What is the reason you asked us to come out today?"

"Can't I invite the two of you out if there's nothing wrong? The three of us haven't gotten together in a long time, and it's rare for us to have some free time."

At this moment, Xiao Yulan suddenly opened the window in the private room. Only then did Qiao Songqing realize that the window was directly facing Zhiyu Bookstore.

While eating pastries, Qiao Songqing casually remarked, "I never expected that Ye Yuwu would be promoted two ranks in such a short time. I heard that the former Grand Minister of the Imperial Treasury regretted it deeply and told everyone that they had raised Ye Yuwu. However, there are also rumors that Ye Yuwu's position is not secure at all and that she only got it because of Wuming. Otherwise, how could she have become an official? Although there are many examples of three people becoming officials throughout history, many people still look down on her for becoming an official as a female merchant."

The two people inside the room frowned upon hearing what Qiao Songqing said.

Throughout history, prioritizing agriculture and suppressing commerce has been a strategy upheld by various countries. Although Jin Kingdom has not explicitly expressed this policy, everyone tacitly agrees that merchants are the lowest class and cannot hold official positions. Now, Ye Yuwu has broken this tacit understanding.

The real fear is that someone might harbor resentment and make a big fuss behind the scenes. Of course, some businessmen are also eager to follow Ye Yuwu's example.

It has to be said that Ye Yuwu is now like a dish on the table, and everyone is waiting to see who will make the first move.

Once the first piece is touched, others will follow and devour it.

What's worse is that her other identity cannot be revealed yet. It's not that Ye Yuwu doesn't want to reveal it, but that His Majesty doesn't allow her to reveal it now.

It all depends on how the emperor views Ye Yuwu's identity and where he places her, but at least she still has some use for him now.

Qiao Songqing had no idea that his words had served as a wake-up call for the two of them.

"Do you really think that the truth of ignorance is so beautiful?"

"Stop pretending. Didn't you already know that Wuming was her?"

Qiao Songqing's smile remained unchanged. "Alright, you've seen through me. I'm afraid I'm the only one in all of Bianjing who hasn't read her stories, right?"

After saying this, Qiao Songqing suddenly stopped smiling. "Ziyu, have you forgotten what you told me? You said that you wouldn't consider personal feelings until you avenged your great enemy. You rejected Ye Yuwu before, but now your actions seem to be trying to win her back. I feel something is very wrong with you! Are you hiding something from me?"

Bai Zunyue and Xiao Yulan didn't look at him, but instead looked out through the wide-open window. Today, the entrance to the bookstore was as lively as usual.

I heard that even the largest bookstore in Bianjing was brought down by them.

Today, Zhiyu Bookstore is considered the largest bookstore in Bianjing.

"You're overthinking it." Bai Zunyue withdrew her gaze.

Qiao Songqing breathed a sigh of relief.

"I admit I regret it. Maybe my decision back then was wrong, but it would have protected her. If I had known things would turn out this way, I would never have left Bianjing to sever ties with her."

Qiao Songqing had only just begun to breathe a sigh of relief when he was instantly startled by those words. "What... what do you mean by that?"

Does this indirectly admit that he does indeed have feelings for Ye Yuwu?

Qiao Songqing's eyes widened in fright.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Yulan suddenly sneered, "Is there any point in you saying this now? Don't spout nonsense about her safety. You're a coward yourself, you don't have any courage at all. It's good that she doesn't like you anymore."

Qiao Songqing grew up in Bianjing with Bai Zunyue a long time ago, while Xiao Yulan came to the capital later. The three of them always got together because they shared the same ideals and ideas.

Of the three, Qiao Songqing naturally had a better relationship with Bai Zunyue.

But after hearing what they said, he finally understood what the strange atmosphere between them had been all along.

Qiao Songqing gritted his teeth, "You...you're all going to such lengths for a woman?!"

I never imagined that my two best friends would become rivals in love! But when did Xiao Yulan fall for Ye Yuwu?!

In the end, their reunion ended unhappily.

Qiao Songqing's disgust for Ye Yuwu also reached its peak.

On the way back, Qiao Songqing was completely puzzled. What was it about Ye Yuwu that made her so charming?

So, halfway there, they turned back.

However, he wanted to see what was going on.

As soon as he reached the entrance of the bookstore, he peeked inside and found that Ye Yuwu was not there, which relieved him.

He strode into the bookstore, bought a storybook, and left.

After going outside, he saw the shop across the street.

After thinking about it, I went to the shop and bought a few boxes of pastries for my mother to try.

Only when he held the box in his hand did he realize that it was the pastry he had eaten at the tavern earlier that day.

He had a bad feeling and wondered to himself, "Could it be?"

Sure enough, after asking around among the shop assistants, he found out that it really was a shop owned by Ye Yuwu.

No wonder the two brothers were carrying the same pastry box today.

It seems like they're "giving money" to their sweetheart! After all, buying so much would last them a long time, even if they ate it all themselves! They wouldn't be able to give it all away!

Are these two possessed?

Qiao Songqing returned to his residence, his skin crawling with unease.

Unexpectedly, when he delivered the pastries to his mother's room, she was already eating them—of course, they were pastries from Baiweizhai.