The Cannon Fodder and Villain’s Happy Ending

A few days after she rented the shop, a luxurious carriage with black flat-top stopped in front of her shop.

At that time, Qin Gui had come back after picking up some ingredients. Just before she entered the door, she saw an old woman get down from the carriage with the help of a young maid.

Qin Jiao recognized this old woman. She was Granny Xu who had sent her back to the inn in Qingyun County that day. She wore a navy blue hanfu.

[TLN: Hanfu = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanfu]

Just as she stood still, she noticed the nearby Qin Gui. She smiled and went up to greet her, “Miss Qin, I haven’t seen you for a long time.”

“Mother Xu, why are you here?” Qin Gui showed just the right amount of surprise. Then, a smile bloomed on her face, “Is the Young Master feeling better now?”

Mother Xu immediately replied, “Young Lord is doing fine. I often heard him say that he wants to see the miss again to thank the miss in person. Our lord also wants to see the miss.”

“Mrs. Gu is also in Fenggu County?” Qin Gui asked.

The next moment, a white hand parted the curtain of the carriage, revealing a beautiful and graceful face that was looking at Qin Gui with a smile.

Qin Gui’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected the empress to come in person.

“Mrs. Gu,” Qin Gui said happily. “Why are you here? Come in, have a seat.”

Empress Wei looked at Qin Gui intently as if she was trying to imprint her face in her mind before smiling. Mother Xu’s subordinates then helped her get out of the carriage.

Qin Gui hurriedly led the two into the shop.

Qin Gui had already decorated the shop here and there. She asked the carpenter to build a cabinet for desserts in the front. There was a faint woody fragrance in the shop.

“Mrs. Gu.” Qin Gui wrinkled her nose in embarrassment. “It’s a mess here. I didn’t have the time to clean up.”

While speaking, she led them to the back.

There was a small courtyard behind the shop with a row of wing-rooms. This was where Qin Gui lived.

The previous tenant had also left some unwanted furniture. Qin Gui had run an estimation of the remaining silver in her hand before cleaning it without replacing it. She also bought a few pots of flowers and plants, which made the backyard look vibrant and refreshing.

“You are doing a good job here.” Empress Wei praised with a smile.

“You flatter me.” Qin Gui asked her to take a seat. “I’ll make you a cup of tea…”

Before Qin Gui could finish speaking, Empress Wei suddenly grabbed her right wrist and pulled her in her embrace tightly.

“Good girl, you, you have suffered…”

Empress Wei’s voice choked. She could clearly feel that the petite and skinny body in her arms was a little stiff. She had no choice but to let her go; she was afraid that she might have terrified this kid.

Sure enough, as soon as she let Qin Gui go, she saw Qin Gui staring at her blankly. She quickly withdrew her emotions and said, “Little Gui, don’t be afraid, I’m your aunt.”

“What!?”

Qin Gui looked at Empress Wei in shock. Only after a good long while did she blinked.

Empress Wei’s nose was a little sore. She said in her heart, ‘This child has really suffered a lot these years.’

Recalling the injuries Qin Gui had suffered as described by You Bai last time as well as Ze Ning’s inquiries from Jiangyu County, Empress Wei had decided to cut Zhao Aman and his wife into thousand pieces.

“Don’t be afraid, with your aunt here, no one will dare to bully you anymore.” Empress Wei said in a kind and gentle manner. Her eyes were slightly moist.

“Are you my aunt?” Qin Gui asked with a dazed expression on her face.

“Mhmm.”

Empress Wei nodded hard as she thought, ‘This kid look quite calm except when she heard that I am her aunt. She is extremely shocked. Obviously, she must have known that she wasn’t Zhao Aman’s child.’