Xiao Qi Tian suddenly smiled: “To tell you the truth, the reason why I worked with you in the first place was because of him, especially after knowing that you gave him some shares from your workshops.”
Living alone meant that everything needed money. If they had directly given Qiao Tian Chang some money, he would definitely refuse it. Xiao Qi TIan also knew that Qiao Tian Chang was capable of earning money on his own, but he still hoped that his best friend could live a better life. Hence, he decided to collaborate in making the sauce workshop and then the wine workshop.
Qiao Tian Chang’s life was stable now. Seeing Ning Meng Yao living her carefree days, he understood that Qiao Tian Chang should be doing well so he and the emperor need not worry about him.
Switching his gaze towards the unfinished clothes on Ning Meng Yao’s hand, he asked: “Are you making that for him?”
“Yes.” Ning Meng Yao nodded. She had lost count of how many clothes she had made for Qiao Tian Chang. She could only think about the time she helped him clean his room and then she noticed that he didn’t have many clothes, so she wanted to make some for him.
Xiao Qi Tian was rest assured. From the needlework, he could see that Ning Meng Yao was very focused in her work. If she wasn’t sincere to live the rest of her life with him, would she make so many clothes for him?
Moreover, he knew that among her servants, there was one who was quite skillful in sewing and often made clothes for her. At present, instead of making clothes for herself, she was making for Qiao Tian Chang. Maybe it was true that Tian Chang would live happily for the rest of his life.
“He’ll be back soon.” Xiao Qi Tian said suddenly.
Ning Meng Yao was stunned then nodded: “I know, he promised me.”
“You trust him that much?” Xiao Qi Tian wasn’t expecting that kind of response since there wasn’t any news from Qiao Tian Chang after he left.
However, she truly did.
“Yes. I do.”
Xiao Qi Tian was satisfied. He looked at Ning Meng Yao and said: “His family matters are complicated. Although he had already put everything aside, his father will still try to take advantage of him. That’s why, I hope that you can continue trusting him like how you do now. If there’s a day that you hear rumours of him betraying you, it’ll definitely be false.”
Ning Meng Yao frowned. What did Xiao Qi Tian mean?
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“Tian Chang’s mother was an unfavored concubine of General Qiang who passed away when he was still a little boy. From then on, Tian Chang’s life became worse than the servants. When he was twelve, he abandoned the house and went to fight at the borders. He joined the army there and slowly gained achievements to finally become the great general.” Xiao Qi Tian narrated to Ning Meng Yao.
Ning Meng Yao frowned: “If this is the case, then his father should look up to him instead.”
“If it’s any other family, then you’ll be right, but not in Qiao Zheng Hong’s family because Tian Chang’s position is higher than him. On the day Tian Chang was given the highest rank a general could receive, it was like a slap across Qiao Zheng Hong’s face. Moreover, it wasn’t the glory of Qiao family’s legitimate eldest son so the members of the Qiao family, be it the concubines or Qiao Zheng Hong, deeply wished that Qiao Tian Chang would stay out from their lives forever.” Xiao Qi Tian was very dissatisfied with that entire family.
Ning Meng Yao bit her lips. Her face was dark and gloomy. To think his life is as such…
Xiao Qi Tian sighed deeply: “Meng Yao, I’m telling you these in hopes that you can be together with him happily. He’s suffered too much in the past.”
A twelve-year-old child should be loved at home, not be fighting in battlefields. She couldn’t imagine how Qiao Tian Chang actually survived in the battlefield.
“And then?”
“After he was given the position of a general, he met with the emperor and disappeared the next day. No one knew where he went, but the emperor had always kept his position for him. It’s because of this that made Qiao Zheng Hong overthink. The robbery case had him demoted. Hence, he wouldn’t give up his child who had a brilliant future.” When Xiao Qi Tian was on the way here, he knew that there was someone following him. He also knew that they belonged to Qiao Zheng Hong, but Qiao Zheng Hong had underestimated him.
Ning Meng Yao understood and nodded: “I see.”
