This feeling was too eerie!
Qi Yueâs heart suddenly rose with an idea, and she hurriedly looked around.
Under the big tree opposite stood a person.
She couldnât see his face clearly, but she could see that he was dressed in white, tall and slender, with a distinguished air.
That wasâ¦
A name suddenly surfaced in Qi Yueâs mind.
âZhao Xiyan!
Yes, only Zhao Xiyan could come up with such a strategy to encircle Wei to save Zhao, and only he had the ability to impersonate someone from Nanyue to do such things.
But he had always been loyal to his country and Emperor, how could he commit such a treacherous act for her sake?
She quickly took two steps forward, wanting to get a clearer view of the person, only to see him turn and walk away.
She wanted to call out his name, but immediately realized how foolish that would be.
If people found out that the person behind these deeds could be Zhao Xiyan, that could mean disaster for him.
The public opinion could plunge him into the abyss!
But was it really him?
Qi Yue stood dazed on the street for a long time, her mind in a whirl.
At one point she thought it was him.
But if that were true, wouldnât it mean that after he had returned from his duties, he had come to Longnan Ridge, and had been secretly protecting her all along?
Why?
Was it because the Emperor hadnât blessed his relationship with his Lady Bai Shao?
Or did he have other things in mind?
Was it for the National Treasure?
Yes, she had once told him that she had some information about the National Treasure.
Also, when they parted that day, she had left behind his Long Halberd.
That Long Halberd was originally taken from his study; could it be that he had thought she had taken the book as well?
The more Qi Yue thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and her heart grew heavy.
Was she going to contend with Zhao Xiyan for the National Treasure?
As she stood lost in thought, old Mrs. Zhang approached her.
âMiss, letâs go back, itâs getting chilly at night,â she said.
As she spoke, she draped a thin shawl over Qi Yueâs shoulders.
When Qi Yue turned around and saw several figures, tall and short, fat and thin, standing outside, she put together their strange behavior and understood everything in a flash.
Everything matched up.
It was Zhao Xiyan who had concocted a plan to get these four people into her residence.
Pretending to protect her to gain her trust, then probing for the whereabouts of the Treasure Map?
Was all this necessary?
After all, they were once family; had he come to her directly and asked, she might not have been unwilling to tell.
Over the next few days, she heard bits and pieces of news that small groups of soldiers from Nanyue had infiltrated Longnan Ridge, successively attacking several border guard posts, causing Hu Chengxuan to be at his witsâ end, to the point that even Hu Keqing, who had been beaten, was neglected.
Qi Yue felt that this behavior didnât seem like Zhao Xiyanâs usual manner.
For her sake, to impersonate a person from Nanyue to attack the Beiyuan Army?
The whole thing seemed too far-fetched.
On the sixth day, Qi Yue estimated that the Poison Pill she had administered to Hu Chengxuan should be taking effect.
Indeed, in the evening, a troop of soldiers escorted a large horse-drawn carriage into the city.
Soon news spread that Hu Chengxuan had fallen ill, and then all the doctors from the Longnan County Government were called into the Prefecture Magistrateâs Office.
Of course, excluding Qi Yue.
When the Hu Family came to request her presence, Qi Yue didnât allow the door to be opened the first time, and she directly refused the second time.
The Poison Pill given to Hu Chengxuan this time had been improved; the longer he endured, the deeper the poison penetrated, and it would be harder to cure in the future.
Unless Hu Chengxuan came begging her, she would absolutely not provide the antidote.
Those who dared to humiliate her must pay the price.
Mrs. Zhang, after turning away the envoy from the Hu Family, returned with a face full of worry.
âMiss, the Hu Family has already come twice, will they bring soldiers the next time around?â
âSo youâre coming, huh? Is your young missy that easy to provoke?â
Qi Yue pinched the teacup in her hand and glanced intentionally at the four men of different heights and builds guarding outside the hall.
âDonât we also have four great experts? And if things go south, thereâs still a master secretly protecting our residence, right?â
When she spoke these words, she deliberately raised her voice, and sure enough, she saw the four men collectively shrink their necks.
âHmph.â
The four men called tall, short, chubby, and skinny also had their own difficultiesâthey had been ordered by their master not to speak carelessly, after all.
Old Madam Zhang also felt that something was amiss about that nightâs events, but she didnât dare to ask too much.
Two days passed, and it was said that Hu Chengxuanâs illness had become more severe. The doctor who had been summoned to treat him was dismissed for his ineffectiveness.
According to them, Hu Chengxuan didnât have a disease, he had been frightened out of his wits by the people of Nanyue.
When his sickness struck, he would hold his head with both hands, constantly kowtowing to the sky, while mumbling words under his breath.
As soon as the news spread, half of the Longnan County Government was shaken.
Two days later, the Hu Family invited Huang Zaiâan to the manor to treat the illness.
Huang Zaiâan indeed had his own skills, and somehow he managed to control the poison that Qi Yue had placed on Hu Chengxuan.
After learning of this, Qi Yue didnât take it seriously.
She was confident in her poisonâno one other than herself could make Hu Chengxuan normal again.
Huang Zaiâan kept showing up early and late.
And sure enough, that evening, Huang Zaiâan came rushing over.
He burst in shouting to see her, just when Qi Yue had returned from training her disciples. She instructed Old Madam Zhang to entertain him with good food and drink while she changed her clothes before coming out.
Having not seen her for many days, the old manâs health seemed visibly improved.
With a cup of wine in one hand and a chicken leg in the other, he ate heartily and noisily.
Upon seeing her, he started scolding at once.
âDisciple, do you even remember you have this master?â
Qi Yue glanced at him and sat across from him, grabbing a chicken leg to gnaw on.
âI donât remember. All I know is thereâs an old man who has taken many advantages from me and still plays innocent.â
His words left Huang Zaiâan so angry that he nearly choked on his breath, guzzling several cups of wine before he calmed down.
âYou little wench, why do you talk so unpleasantly?â
âDonât like hearing it?â Qi Yue tossed the chicken leg bone back into the empty plate, her face full of defiance, âYou can choose not to listen.â
Huang Zaiâan was once again speechless, rolling his eyes for a long while before he finally recovered.
âTell me, where have I displeased you that youâre so intent on angering me to death?â
âThree things,â Qi Yue spoke calmly, âFirst, the matter of the National Treasure, you agreed but have yet to tell me.â
âSecond, Hu Chengxuan deserves to die, yet you treated him.â
âThird, you bear the name of a master, but you donât teach me your best moves.â
âLastly, to sum up the above, Iâve decided not to acknowledge you as my master anymore.â
As she spoke, she pointed to the spread on the table, âConsider tonightâs meal as our farewell dinner as master and disciple.â
She thought this tactic of pulling the rug from under him would directly knock Huang Zaiâan down, forcing him to spill the beans about the National Treasure.
Who knew that the old guy would slap the table on the spot.
âFine, you heartless thing! After all the times this old man has protected you, you treat your master this way just for that lousy treasure!â
âFine, break it off, then! From now on, donât even think about knowing the location of the treasure! I would even tell a passerby, but not you!â
Seeing how arrogant the old man was, Qi Yue also got riled up.
She slapped the table with a âpopâ, causing a clatter.
âFine, thatâs just great. From now on, donât even think about taking a single poison pill from me!â
Their fierce argument attracted the tall, short, chubby, and skinny men.
âMaster, who is this old guy? Do you want us to throw him out?â
Qi Yue was really at her witsâ end.
Why did none of her subordinates know how to read the room?
Couldnât they see she was verbally sparring with Huang Zaiâan?
As soon as the four of them showed up, the atmosphere immediately changed.
It looked as though she intended to bully the old man!