âPrefectural Governor, Iâm afraid youâve come at a bad time. This doctor has injured my son, and she must apologize for it.â
Hu Chengxuan said coldly, clearly not intending to give Chu Yuntian any face.
âIs that so?â Chu Yuntian said dubiously, glancing at Hu Keqing, âQingqingâs complexion looks rosy to me, not like someone whoâs been hurt.â
Hu Chengxuan scoffed, âSince when has the Prefectural Governor learned to do diagnosis by observation and questioning? If thatâs the case, you might as well treat your own mother instead of calling for any Divine Doctor.â
Chu Yuntianâs face twisted slightly with displeasure at these words.
âChengxuan, your words are out of line. I might not know how, but arenât you in the same boat? If Qingqing is clearly fine, why make the child bear the name of being sick? Itâs unlucky!â
âYouâ¦â Hu Chengxuan glared at Chu Yuntian angrily and was about to speak when Hu Keqing suddenly stood up.
âFather, since Uncle Chu wants to send Yueyue away, let her go. My leg is healed anyway.â
He looked up again at Qi Yue, his eyes carrying a wounded expression, but he still forced a smile.
âYueyue didnât hurt me just now; she was demonstrating her strength! Father, please donât falsely accuse Yueyue.â
Chu Yuntian immediately stepped forward, smiling warmly as he grasped Hu Keqingâs arm, examining him up and down.
âQingqing, good boy, Uncle Chu is also glad to see you standing!â
Hu Keqing glanced again at Qi Yue, his voice shy, âItâs because the Divine Doctor went far to the Western Regions to find good medicine that I can stand.â
âGood boy, soon enough, youâll be able to go back to battle, protecting the lands of Beiyuan.â
Hu Chengxuan looked at his son irritably, an inexplicable resentment brewing in his heart.
This son is nothing like him!
Soft-hearted, easily swayed by a few sweet words, losing all sense of direction.
How is he to inherit the Longnan Army!?
Thus, the Hu Family watched helplessly as Qi Yue and Elder Huang left.
Qi Yue had not anticipated such a dramatic turn of events; she had been ready to confront Hu Chengxuan harshly.
Although she couldnât bring herself to like Hu Keqing, she didnât dislike him either.
She fully understood the feeling of liking someone. Itâs just unlike Hu Keqing, who, once he felt affection, displayed it openly for everyone to see, as if he wanted the whole world to know.
His last desperate and passionate confession was met with her harsh rejection.
She felt somewhat bitter inside.
As they reached the front gate of the Hu Residence, she heard Hu Keqing following behind, and suddenly remembered the candy beans she had made with Spiritual Spring Water and immediately took them out.
âYoung Master Hu, these are tonic pills which will be good for your health. Consider this my apology.â
She turned and handed the bottle to him; his eyes, which had seemed ashen, suddenly brightened as if illuminated.
âThank you⦠Yueyueâ¦â
He nearly snatched the bottle excitedly, clutching it lovingly in his embrace.
Qi Yue sighed internally.
She hoped she wasnât making a mistake, reigniting a fire in a heart that had been snuffed out.
Little did she know, her premonition had already come true.
In that moment, Hu Keqingâs heart had indeed felt dead, but Qi Yue turning around made it race once again.
Cradling the bottle, he stared longingly at the departing Qi Yue, reluctant to return home.
Hu Chengxuanâs frustration was so intense it physically pained him, but he had no real options with this sonâhis only son.
He cursed in frustration.
âWhy did you have to speak up so much? I could have kept her here, unable to leave the residence.â
âFather, youâre wrong,â Hu Keqing shook his head slowly. âYueyue isnât just any woman, doing that would only push her further away from me.â
Hu Chengxuan stamped his foot in vexation, while Mrs. Hu felt considerable relief.
Ever since the maid discussed Qi Yue and Qu Weiâs affairs, she had been reluctant to let Qi Yue through her doors, even as a concubine. She was not willing!
With Qi Yueâs looks as a concubine, it could only bring instability to the household, and her own son might dote on her excessively.
Unlike her, not only was she of noble birth, but her appearance was also top-notch; which was why she had suppressed the other women in the backyard so thoroughly over the years that none could raise their heads or even bear a son, hmph!
It was better that Qi Yue had leftâit spared her a heap of troubles!
While each family member harbored their own thoughts, Qi Yue, in fact, had indeed freed herself entirely.
However, the sudden arrival of the Prefectural Governor had left her somewhat puzzled.
Treating Hu Keqingâs illness had always been openly managed by Huang Zaiâan, so why would the Prefectural Governor appear so promptly?
As soon as she entered the great hall of the Prefectural Office and saw Qu Wei, she instantly understood everything.
âIt was you, this is what you thought of?â
Qu Wei, shaking his fan proudly, gave her an eager look.
âHow about it, this idea worked, didnât it?â
âVery well,â Qi Yue curved her lips, âYour brain is preserved.â
Qu Wei shook his head, disappointed, âYou donât give me any chance at all. Canât you pretend Iâm the hero saving the beauty just once?â
âDo you qualify?â
âWhy donât I qualify? I am, after all, a supervisor, guarding one side, that counts as a hero, right?â
Qi Yue scoffed and didnât want to banter with him any further. Looking around, she noticed that Huang Zaiâan and the Prefectural Governor, who were just there, had disappeared, which she found rather strange.
âDid the master go to see a patient?â
âYou mean Old Huang? Probably.â
âThen letâs wait.â Qi Yue then sat down and asked him how he thought of seeking help from the Prefectural Governor to extricate himself.
Qu Wei shook his folding fan and said with feigned depth, âLooking around the whole of Longnan County, aside from the Prefectural Governor, who else could enter Hu Familyâs backyard unobstructed? I spotted this promptly, and upon learning that the old ladyâs health was poor, Iâ¦â
Qi Yue quickly interrupted, âStop there, that alone wouldnât make the Prefectural Governor exert so much effort. Be clear, what exactly did you do?â
Qu Wei unhappily closed his fan and said helplessly, âMiss Qi truly has piercing vision, leaving no room for others.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
He paused for a moment, then turned his head to her, lowering his voice.
âIâm very curious. Considering how long you have been with Zhao Xiyan, how did you twoâ¦â
He couldnât finish his sentence before he began to cry out in pain.
âI wonât spout nonsense anymore, Iâll talk seriously now.â
Qi Yue snorted coldly, withdrawing the Silver Needle she had embedded in his head.
The poor man immediately sprawled on the table like a dead dog.
âDo you want another needle?â
âNo, no.â
Qu Wei quickly moved a little farther from Qi Yue, murmuring under his breath.
âI just donât get it. Whatâs so good about Zhao Xiyan that I canât compare? I canât even mention it?â
Qi Yue snorted, her sharp gaze sizing up Qu Wei up and down.
âDo you qualify?â
âHow do I not qualify? Donât forget who fished you out of the Hu House?â
âDonât forget the condition for me preserving your brain.â
âFine,â Qu Wei finally sat down defeated in the chair opposite her.
This guy was heartbroken, didnât even bother to shake his fan, and briskly explained why he sought out Chu Yuntian to intervene.