Chapter 153: Chapter 154: Presenting a Generous Gift

Hu Chengxuan, upon hearing this, indeed leapt to his feet on the spot.

“What is she, a cast-off wench that nobody wants; she can dream on!”

Madam Hu also cried out, disregarding her dignity.

“What Divine Doctor? She’s worse than a whore, trying to extort from us, there’s no way!”

“Are you all conspiring to blackmail us?”

Huang Zai’an spread his hands, showing helplessness on his face.

“Hongye is your younger sister, Yunzhao. What kind of older sister would imply something like this about their younger sister? You are good at studying only because you took after me. Do you think you would get first place in school if Hongye wasn’t kind enough to be lenient to you?” Ye Qin said everything in one breath, then started to cough so vigorously that her face turned red.

Ye Qin understood her condition and had accepted her fate, but she couldn’t bear to leave her two children behind. She even doubted the fortune teller’s prediction about Jing Yunzhao since her life had turned out like this.

“You are right, Mother, I must have taken after you. Hongye must have taken after Father since we don’t look at each other at all,” said Jing Yunzhao deliberately.

Ye Qin stared at Jing Yunzhao, speechless. She could feel that something was wrong with Yunzhao today; she was unusually harsh and irritable.

“Alright, alright. When did you become so outspoken? Look at how soft-spoken and understanding Hongye is and be more like her. How else are you going to find someone who would want to marry you?” Ye Qin said angrily, beginning to feel even sicker.

Ye Qin had fallen sick out of the blue. She rarely fell ill, but one day she had been admitted to the hospital where they had found a malignant tumor in her liver.

She underwent treatment for a while but not only did it fail, Ye Qin became weak and lost all her hair as a result of it.

The Qiao Family was just an ordinary family. They weren’t wealthy to begin with, and Ye Qin’s illness had used up a big portion of their savings. When the doctor hinted to the family to prepare for her funeral, Ye Qin knew that her time had come and insisted on going home so she wouldn’t die at a sad and lonely place like the hospital.

When Ye Qin started to get well at home, she became even more reluctant to return to the hospital.

Not wanting to argue with Ye Qin, Jing Yunzhao went to the kitchen to look for food.

Yes, she owed the Qiao Family her life; but she also took care of all the household chores and gave them every single cent that she had earned. She very much considered the debt paid off when her previous life ended so miserably.

Also, she had been an outstanding student since young, and had been receiving scholarships from winning all sorts of competitions since primary school. She hadn’t spent even a single cent of the Qiao Family’s money once she was old enough to earn, but even so she had to behave a certain way at home. How was that fair?

As for the sweet porridge in her room? Thanks, but no thanks.

She had eaten that sweet porridge in her previous life and ended up with vomiting and diarrhea for a week.

She used to think that it was her duty to do everything for this family and that she was blessed to be a part of it, but she didn’t think so anymore.

There wasn’t much food in the kitchen but Jing Yunzhao was not picky. She had a simple meal and planned her future.

“Isn’t there porridge in your room, Yunzhao? Why did you look for food in the kitchen?” Qiao Hongye asked unhappily when she noticed Jing Yunzhao looking for food in the kitchen.

“I didn’t dare eat the cold porridge, what if I get an upset stomach from it? We have a test on Monday too. I don’t think I’ll eat unsafe food like this from now on,” said Jing Yunzhao cryptically.

“Are you saying that cold porridge can give you an upset stomach? I think you are just being squeamish, Yunzhao,” said Qiao Hongye, panicking at Jing Yunzhao’s words.

“My lord, there’s no need to reject hastily. Listen to what I have to say before making your decision.”

Seeing Qing Nanzun’s confident demeanor, Hu Chengxuan felt a bad premonition rising in his heart.

The two took their seats again and began to discuss in detail.

“Lord Qing, please speak.”

Qing Nanzun smiled slightly, his sharp eyes gazing at Hu Chengxuan.

“To not conceal from Prefectural Magistrate Hu, our Fox King has already learned of Nanyue people’s betrayal and sudden attack on the Longnan Army, and he is quite furious about it.”

Hu Chengxuan looked at Qing Nanzun in astonishment and exclaimed, “You, how did the Fox King know about…”

Qing Nanzun continued to smile, his expression one of unwavering confidence as if he were talking about an event he personally took part in.

“My lord need not be surprised. The lord has been in contact with the people of Nanyue for a long time, and the affection is profound. My Fox King is quite envious!”

“If my lord is willing to form a good relationship with our Fox King, Donggao will certainly not act like the people of Nanyue, who have taken advantage of the war to hoard so much grain and resources, only to turn around and steal and kill. It’s too much!”

“This, this matter still needs further investigation; there may be some misunderstanding,” Hu Chengxuan said, although inside he was incredibly shocked.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

This Qing Nanzun fell just short of saying that he had colluded with the people of Nanyue to stage a fake war and split the spoils of grains and military funds.

How did he know?

“Lord Qing, when I say this, I do not wish for you to fall out with the people of Nanyue. As the saying goes, the more friends one has, the more paths one can take. For our Fox King sincerely seeks friendship, he would be very pleased to see the whole of Longnan Ridge under your control.”

Hu Chengxuan’s face tightened.

Seizing control of the entire Longnan Ridge was his next move, so how did Qing Nanzun come to know of it?

“Moreover, there is one more matter I need to clarify with my lord.”

“Go on.”

“As I mentioned when I entered, my lord is suffering from poisoning. The pill you took today is only a temporary relief from the pain. It was a kind gesture from our Fox King. If my lord refuses to accept it, following treatments…”

The implication was clear: without Donggao’s cooperation, they would not provide him with the antidote.

Hu Chengxuan immediately raised his hand to interrupt Qing Nanzun.

“This official accepts. I have long heard of the Fox King’s renowned reputation and have admired him greatly. If we can work together on a great cause, it would surely be a good thing!”

Cooperating with Donggao only had advantages, no drawbacks.

Over the years, he had been in cahoots with Nanyue, reaping countless benefits. Even the position of Prefectural Magistrate and the 150,000-strong Longnan Army came about with the help of Nanyue, having murdered Qi Yunzhang to secure his position smoothly.

If he could now ally with Donggao and kill Chu Yuntian, then wouldn’t Longnan be his to command alone?

“Good, Prefectural Magistrate Hu is indeed straightforward. I offer my Fox King’s thanks on his behalf.”

Hu Chengxuan had no time to feel elated and immediately asked Qing Nanzun, “Lord Qing, what you just said… will my illness flare up again? But I feel quite well at the moment.”

Qing Nanzun nodded.

“That’s precisely what’s terrifying about this poison. When it doesn’t flare up, it’s indistinguishable from normal health, but once it does, the pain is unbearable. I will hasten to prepare the real antidote.”

Hu Chengxuan was effusively grateful.

“Then, I must ask Lord Qing to take great care with this.”

Qing Nanzun too had a smile plastered across his face.

“Prefectural Magistrate Hu, rest assured, I will take care of this matter.”

After a pause, his sly eyes twinkled.

“Besides the antidote, I have another generous gift to offer my lord.”

“What generous gift?”

“I have already identified the person who poisoned my lord.”

“Who?”

“Qi Yue.”