Chapter 356 - So Pissed, I’m Spitting Blood
Chapter 356: So Pissed, I’m Spitting Blood
Qi Qingyao looked down without saying anything, her expression suggesting she was deep in thought. Xiao Wuji and Gu Cheng did not press her either. Instead, Gu Shanshan rubbed her stomach and asked in a manner as though she were very familiar with Qi Qingyao, “Can I stay for a meal in your home?”
Qi Qingyao smiled and nodded, saying, “Of course.”
Then, she got Steward Zhang to bring the three of them to have a tour around the residence. The three children ran out of the study; Erniu hugged Qi Qingyao’s leg and shouted, “Mommy!~~~~” Qi Qingyao looked at Erniu’s red-rimmed eyes and asked Dabao and Xiaobao, “Did the two of you bully Erniu?”
Dabao pouted pitifully and said, “As if the two of us would dare to bully Erniu. She was the one who ran too quickly and stumbled because of the door banister.”
Qi Qingyao laughed despite herself. She rubbed Erniu’s head and comforted her in a soft voice, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, you’re a big girl now. Just look at your nose with all that crying.” Erniu had indeed felt a little pain when she stumbled on the door banister but it was not that painful. Hearing her mommy’s gentle tone, however, she could not help but act like a spoiled child. “But it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!~”
Qi Qingyao rubbed the kid’s knee and said softly, “It’ll stop hurting once Mommy blows on it, okay, fuu~~” Erniu cockily raised her brows at Dabao and Xiaobao under her mommy’s gentle treatment. Dabao and Xiaobao looked at the little lady and did not want to get into a fuss with her despite also being envious of their gentle mommy’s blowing!~
It just so happened that Gu Shanshan and the others had turned back and at a glance from the distance, they saw the young girl in the sun. Her appearance was kind and her features delicate. It was as if she had a pool of spring water in her when she talked to her child.
No, her three children.
The children were standing together like a portrait under the sun.
Gu Cheng once again looked at the three children and could not help but let out a sound of shock. “This…”
Xiao Wuji held back his stunned expression and behaved calmly. Gu Shanshan had only met Qi Qingyao last time back in the kitchen of the Hualian Mountain Springs Villa and not the three kids. That was why Gu Shanshan, who was witnessing this scene the first time, had her mouth forming an ‘o’ as she was stunned for a moment.
Just as she was about to say something loudly, Xiao Wuji stopped her and motioned for her to calm down.
After the three returned to the side hall, they dismissed Steward Zhang. Gu Shanshan had difficulty calming herself down. Her expression was conflicted, which affected Gu Cheng. “Brother, you saw it too. Those kids…”
Gu Cheng said nothing.
His expression was one of deep contemplation.
Gu Shanshan covered her head, looking bitter with hate, “Why do they look so much like Mo Yang? I’m losing it.”
“I’m also about to lose it,” Xiao Wuji added indifferently.
Gu Cheng snickered. “But he’s probably arriving in Qingzhou City soon.”
“How do you know?” Gu Shanshan looked at her brother, astonished.
Gu Cheng glanced at Xiao Wuji, who looked unbothered, and said casually, “Wuji wrote him a letter. I saw it.”
This has been some time ago. Mo Yang had already received that letter…probably.
After Qi Qingyao entertained the children for a bit, she walked back with the kids. When everyone sat at the dining table to eat, the children were very curious about the guests but did not simply speak. Gu Shanshan who was usually talkative also did not dare open her mouth. She was afraid that she might not be able to hold herself back from saying that the kids were Mo Yang’s illegitimate children! Gu Cheng and Xiao Wuji, on the other hand, watched the children from time to time with smiles conveying their interest. That meal was still somewhat peaceful.
After they ate, Gu Shanshan first bid her farewells. Before leaving, she even reminded Qi Qingyao to consider her words seriously.
Gu Cheng looked at the little lady who was deep in thought. Bumping his head on Gu Shanshan’s, he said, “We’ll only be leaving Qingzhou City a month from now, you should have enough time to think about it.”
Qi Qingyao looked at Gu Cheng calmly. “You’re not afraid that I’ll tell other people about this?”
Gu Cheng asked, “You’re referring to the imperial court?”
“…” Qi Qingyao smiled but did not say anything.
“I’m afraid.” Gu Cheng shrugged but then continued calmly as before, “But I’m also not.”
“Why not?” Qi Qingyao asked.
Gu Cheng explained to her leisurely, “Because your little empress will probably be able to guess that these people would come to Qingzhou City. That’s why, whether or not you tell them will have no effect on the situation at all. Either way, death is certain for that grand master who still hasn’t revealed themselves. When they die, the situation would go back to being the same as before. The plan to attack Northern Liang will then proceed.”
“…” How arrogant.
Gu Cheng said somewhat gloomily, “We just think you remind us of someone, that’s why we want to protect your life. It’s just like that.”
Gu Shanshan could not say anything with her brother pressing down on her. She hurriedly threw out a “You have to come with us!” before she got onto the carriage.
Qi Qingyao, “…”
Gu Cheng’s words lingered in her mind.
Those in the Northern Liang Imperial Palace… How could they not know that a few grand masters were going to gather in Qingzhou City? Did Li Ruoxuan not come down this time regarding this very matter? That was why he was doing everything possible to find out who the mysterious grand master was before everyone else.
His methods were…intense.
However, he had achieved his desired outcome.
If Lu Yan were to leak out the information that Si Jin was the grand master now…
It was unknown how the masters out there would take to this. Should they say that this child was hundreds of years old and had been rejuvenated to look young? Or should they say that her children were Si Jin’s…this…
…
…
Two hours after Gu Cheng and Xiao Wuji left, Xiao Wuji once again rushed back. He rushed into the Qi Residence the moment he got off the carriage. After Qi Qingyao invited him in, she calmly looked at the person who was shocked to the point of speechlessness. She smiled and asked, “Why are you back again?”
“There’s news going viral outside.” Xiao Wuji’s brows were furrowed tight.
“What news?” Qi Qingyao continued asking indifferently.
Xiao Wuji replied, “That your Si Jin is that mysterious grand master.”
Qi Qingyao, “Oh.”
Xiao Wuji said agitatedly, “What do you mean oh!! Say something.”
Qi Qingyao absent-mindedly said, “Rumors are rumors, you can’t trust everything.”
Xiao Wuji, “…” What do you mean one could not trust everything they heard?
What was she even saying?
The rumors had not been around when they left their door this morning and it appeared by afternoon. Wait a minute, where was Si Jin anyway? They had not seen the comely youth who was always behind her at all today!
Xiao Wuji had many questions, but looking at Qi Qingyao’s expression, he knew that he would not be able to ask many things. He probably would have to head back and gather intelligence to figure things out.
He cussed internally at how f*cked up everything was.
Xiao Wuji returned to the mountain springs villa once again. Gu Cheng was taking in some news, his expression severe. Once he was done listening, he asked the news bearers to leave. Gu Cheng and Xiao Wuji immediately exchanged their intel when Xiao Wuji entered. Both of them ascertained something at the same time.
That the rumors…might be true.
…
This kind of shocking rumor had, in just two hours, spread throughout the streets and alleyways of the Upper East District of Qingzhou City like a tornado. Many people were still wanting to verify if it were true. However, hearing that Heir Pei was the one who personally let the news out, everyone fell into silence. Information from Heir Pei could not possibly be false.
The public also suddenly came to some realization.
No wonder Qi Qingyao knew the divine physician Su Hexiao.
No wonder Qi Qingyao also knew the Master Architect Li Qinglian.
So the moguls had been secretly helping her in respect toward the grand master?
Also, this grand master was helping her because he accidentally slept with her and got her pregnant. Since the children were his…he could only help her.
However, was there such a young grand master? Could he really have rejuvenated from old age?
When the news reached the residence of the State Preceptor’s home, Zhu Shen and Zhao Xin’s expressions were unsightly. The ghost doctor Jiang Xun had just told them that this matter should be kept secret but who would have thought the public also knew of it already? The two were about to investigate the source of the news when they heard that it was passed around by Heir Pei and they both fell silent for a while. What was Heir Pei’s intention behind his action? Was he deliberately trying to get people to assassinate the State Preceptor and Head Grand Secretariat now? Heir Pei could not possibly be that stupid! It seemed that the two would have to wait for the masters to wake up before they could ask.
Midnight.
Jiang Yeqian who had been unconscious for a few days finally woken in a daze.
Zhao Xin, who was sitting at the side, was so excited he shed tears. Wiping away his tears secretly, he held Jiang Yeqian’s hand excitedly and said, “Master, you’re finally awake.”
“…” Jiang Yeqian peeled back his heavy eyelids, completely dazed. He looked at the beams of the room for a bit as he heard Zhao Xin’s crying. After a while, he finally came to his senses.
Zhao Xin was still quite shocked as he kept urging, “Please say something.”
“I…” After Jiang Yeqian returned to his senses, he used his hoarse voice and babbled vaguely, “I’m still alive huh.”
“What are you saying, of course you’re alive.” Zhao Xin wiped the bottom of his eyes again and said, “The doctor said that your leg is injured, but still attached. But you’ll be estimated to be on crutches for a few months.”
Jiang Yeqian practically had not heard a word of what he was saying. He was trying hard to recall the outcome of that battle but he was not able to think of anything. His memory was blurry and he only vaguely remembered that the youth’s attack had not given him or Li Ruoxuan the room or time to counter him. So, “What about Li Ruoxuan?” he asked.
Zhao Xin was stunned for a moment before he answered softly, “The State Preceptor is blinded in one eye.”
“…” Jiang Yeqian’s eyes narrowed.
He tried to remember the details of the battle again, but still could not remember…
Jiang Yeqian asked, “And I? How did I come back?”
Zhao Xin answered, “According to the coachmen, the two of you were just lying on the ground when he rushed over. There was no one else. He carried both of you onto the carriage and brought you back to Qingzhou City.”
“Looks like he held his hand,” Jiang Yeqian said.
Zhao Xin knew some things but he still did not dare believe it. So he asked carefully, “Is Si Jin really that powerful?”
“You know about this?” Who leaked this information out?
Zhao Xin answered embarrassedly, “It’s already circulating amongst the public…”
“This news, who let it out?” Jiang Yeqian wanted to push himself to support his body into a sitting position, but with how heavy his injuries were, he instantly fell back onto the bed. He was even so tired he almost fainted.
Zhao Xin said, “It was said to be Heir Pei. Anyway, it has practically spread amongst the upper-class circles of Qingzhou City but there is no mention of the fight between you and the State Preceptor against Si Jin.”
Jiang Yeqian was silent.
Zhao Xin asked, “Should we return to our residence now?”
Jiang Yeqian said heavily, “We’ll stay here in the meantime.”
Zhao Xin voiced his understanding.
Jiang Yeqian asked if the State Preceptor had awakened. Zhao Xin replied he had not and so Jiang Yeqian got Zhao Xin to request for Heir Pei to come to him immediately.
Pei Fengtang was dragged out of his blankets in the dead of night. Hearing that Jiang Yeqian was awake, he did not delay. Deep in the silent night, he rushed over quickly in his carriage and entered through the back door in a low-key manner. He then went to the room where Jiang Yeqian was recuperating.
After he entered, he saw Jiang Yeqian who looked practically bedridden, pale and having suffered quite heavy internal injuries. Pei Fengtang no longer thought of laughing. He knew that both the men’s conditions were not too good but he did not think it was…this bad.
Pei Fengtang said, “He destroyed the both of you.”
Jiang Yeqian opened his eyes and glanced at Pei Fengtang, who looked to be able to stand like any ordinary person now. He asked, “Why did you spread the information?”
Pei Fengtang shrugged and answered disapprovingly, “I spread the information after weighing the pros and cons.”
Then, Pei Fengtang shared his plan and the reason why the news was released…
Jiang Yeqian was quiet for a while when he heard till the end. Then, he said, “Nevermind, you can go back.”
Pei Fengtang did not dare believe it and he asked, “Did you call me here just to ask about this? And now you’re asking me to go back with everything said??”
“What else?” Jiang Yeqian closed his eyes, too lazy to even look at Pei Fengtang again.
Pei Fengtang pulled a chair to the bedside and sat down. He even sat somewhat leisurely with his legs crossed and one foot poised in the air. His features were very lazy and leisurely as he said, “It’s good that the public knows about it now. It’s good for her, it’s good for Qingzhou City, and it’s good for Northern Liang.”
Jiang Yeqian could not help open his eyes and said, “Then did you ever think about what would happen if the grand masters of Eastern Ling and Southern Ming were to come, that they might join forces to kill him?”
Pei Fengtang said mockingly, “You and Li Ruoxuan had initially intended to join forces to get rid of him, and now you’re worried about others?”
Jiang Yeqian’s pale face was silent. “Li Ruoxuan and I were 90% confident that he was a grand master but we didn’t have evidence. Li needed confirmation and not ambiguous information, so we cooperated. But since he was a grand master, both of us could not beat him!”
Pei Fengtang sneered, “If he weren’t a grand master then he would have been killed by you two.”
Jiang Yeqian answered indifferently, “If he weren’t a grand master, a rank nine would have died…what about it?” ‘Besides, that guy kept saying that he wanted to be Qi Qingyao’s boy toy; if he really died, then just die! He was not worth any pity!’
After a pause, Jiang Yeqian said again, “But if his identity is exposed, and the two grand masters of Eastern Ling and Southern Ming besiege Si Jin at the same time, and if Si Jin were to die, it would be bad for Northern Liang, bad for Qingzhou City, and even worse for her. ”
Pei Fengtang pondered deeply for a moment then said abruptly, “How sure are you that the opposing grand masters have gathered in Qingzhou City to kill a grand master?”
“I’m completely certain!!” Jiang Yeqian was so furious that his chest and tympanic membrane vibrated with a buzz; it hurt a lot. He made an effort to relax himself and said, “You really have to even think about this? If these grand masters did not come to Qingzhou City to kill someone, then could it be that they just came to take a look to see if the grand master was handsome? If they’re a boy or a girl?”
Pei Fengtang, “…”
Jiang Yeqian’s expression was dark. “The other party must have already planned to jointly kill the mysterious grand master in Qingzhou City to weaken Northern Liang’s strength.”
Pei Fengtang felt that what he was saying still made some sense. However… “She would have been in danger if I didn’t release the information. That’s why I didn’t think too much about it at that time.”
Jiang Yeqian noticed that his expression was weird and could not help but ask, vexed, “Could it be that you’ve fallen in love with her? For you to protect her like this…”
“…” Pei Fengtang rolled his eyes, lazy to refute this nonsense.
He only felt indebted to Qi Qingyao for saving his life.
Nothing else.
Now, she was connected to the grand master.
All the more for him to protect her.
Who would not want to have a good relationship with a grand master?
Seeing that Pei Fengtang was silent, Jiang Yeqian cursed, “You didn’t even wait for me to wake up and discuss this before making a decision, how foolish of you.”
Pei Fengtang was so mad he got up and kicked the bedpost. He said, “Who’s the dumb one? You are. So dumb that you and Li Ruoxuan went off testing a potential subject of a grand master-level. If Si Jin had not held his hand, I think the both of you would have gone to the underworld hand in hand despite how important you two are to Northern Liang!”
Jiang Yeqian held his breath for a while before squeezing out a sentence. “Go away, I’m tired.”
Pei Fengtang saw that Jiang Yeqian was already looking half-dead and that the sky was dark outside. Before he walked out of the room, he thought of some important points and decided to add something.
“Let me tell you this before I leave. It’s not only rumored out there now that Si Jin is a grand master. It is also rumored that this grand master is hundreds of years old and has rejuvenated his youth! That’s why no information about him could be found anywhere. It is also rumored that he is helping Qi Qingyao because the children belong to him!!” While Lu Yan definitely made that up, it was still so interesting!
However, when it was said this time…
The person on the bed gave a start.
“Hngh!!”
A sound.
Then he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
That mouthful of blood dyed the blanket red.
Pei Fengtang’s eyes almost bulged out of his as he shouted hurriedly.
“Zhao Xin, your master is spitting blood! Quick, fetch the copper pot for the blood!”