Qi Yue curiously stepped out from under the porch eaves and saw two teams winding their way towards her, entering Yimei Garden, filling the small courtyard to the brim.
The two teams were clearly not together.
Upon closer inspection, she realized that the lead figures were not strangers.
One was Song Lian, who followed the Fox King, and the other, whom Qi Yue had also met, was Song Chongzhen, from under the command of Song Qiyun.
The two men arrived in front of Qi Yue almost simultaneously.
âMiss Qi Yue, my lord, the Prince, ordered me to bring you some useful items. Please accept them,â Song Lian had just finished speaking when Song Chongzhen stepped forward ceremoniously.
...
âMiss Qi Yue, my lord, the Prince, and the Princely Heir also have gifts for Miss Qi Yue, and we hope you will accept them.â
Only then did Qi Yue see that both teams were holding items, all encased in exquisite boxes.
Song Lian and Song Chongzhen both clapped their hands, and immediately someone came forward to unveil the boxes.
Good heavens!
An agate bracelet, a jadeite hairpin, a gold filigree flower collar, a gold bead necklace, a Jade Ruyi, a Luminous Pearl, damask fabric, approximately a hundred-year-old ginseng, and various other expensive medicinal ingredientsâ¦.
It wasnât so much about the quantity of the items, but they were thoughtfully selected, werenât they?
After all, Qi Yue was known to have emptied the Imperial City; what good things hadnât she seen?!
She wasnât keen on keeping these things.
Qi Yue curled her lips into a smile, about to tell them to take their items back where they came from, only to hear Song Lian already shouting.
âQuickly move the items into Miss Qi Yueâs room!â
Seeing this, Song Chongzhen also started shouting loudly.
âQuickly move the items in!â
The two men were confrontational, neither backing down as if a secondâs delay would result in Qi Yue refusing the gifts.
Qi Yue narrowed her eyes.
These people must have something wrong with their brains.
Had she said she would accept it?
âHold on! Get out of here with everything!â
With a shout, she stopped the two men who had just crossed the threshold.
Everyone looked at Qi Yue in surprise, not understanding her intentions.
Song Lian hurried forward, offering a smile as an apology.
âMiss Qi Yue, is there something you dislike? No worries, my lord said that everything here is for you. If you do not like them, you can simply give them away to your servants. After all, once we bring these items in, we cannot take them back.â
Song Chongzhen also came forward and bowed.
âMiss Qi Yue, my lord, the Princely Heir, said that he personally selected these items. Please, you must accept them.â
Qi Yue let out a cold laugh.
Were they trying to force these gifts on her?
Song Chengye and his son, and Song Yuanzhaoâdid all three men really think they could manipulate her?
What a dream!
She planned to empty both their residences someday. What did these trivial gifts count for?
Provoking her was not an easy task.
Marriage alliance, was it?
She would show these people.
She feigned interest and meticulously inspected each item one by one before suddenly bursting into laughter.
âAh, all these wonderful items! I like each and every one; I just wonder why you didnât bring them sooner?â
Upon hearing this, both Song Lian and Song Chongzhen were momentarily stunned.
Qi Yue looked at the two men with a smile.
âGentlemen, when you return, could you ask the two Princes and the Princely Heir how they are?â
A hint of difficulty flickered across the faces of Song Lian and Song Chongzhen.
âThis humble one, this humble oneâ¦â
Having silenced the pair, Qi Yue then raised her voice again and asked.
âI want to know, with your two families sending gifts like this, does His Majesty in the Imperial City know about this?â
Upon hearing this, everyoneâs face went pale in an instant, becoming even quieter than before.
Qi Yue, however, watched each person with great interest.
âOriginally, I would just receive these gifts, but before he died, Qing Nanzun told me something. After thinking it over, I dare not accept these gifts! Who knows, maybe someone among you likes to spread rumors, letting someone important know wouldnât be good,â she said.
âSo, you better take them back quickly!â
Song Lian and Song Chongzhen both felt a bit confused and worried but since they were on a mission, they had no choice but to ask, âMay I ask Miss Qi Yue, what did Qing Nanzun say that worries you so?â
Qi Yue smiled faintly.
âDo you truly wish to know?â
Song Lian and Song Chongzhen exchanged a look, and then bowed in unison.
âPlease enlighten us, Miss Qi Yue.â
Qi Yue tugged at the corner of her lip, sympathetically glancing at the two men.
Alas, some people are headed down a path of destruction; she couldnât persuade them otherwise, could she?
She cleared her throat and loudly said, âQing Nanzun said that I possess a powerful weapon, whoever gains my favor could unify the four nations and become the supreme ruler. I was quite alarmed after hearing this. I truly worry that your Emperor might misunderstand the Princes who associate with me. And to think, the Princes and the Princely Heir sent gifts so quickly, it wouldnât be good to accept them in such circumstances, right! Thus, I said that you should go back and ask why it wasnât sent sooner, even just a day earlierâ¦â
At this point, she paused.
âNow that weâve come to this point, Iâll disclose another piece of information. According to Qing Nanzun, someone visited his house early this morning, perhaps thatâs when the information leaked out?â
Upon hearing this, Song Lian and Song Chongzhen were already covered in cold sweat.
Everyone in the courtyard, whether they were holding gift boxes or not, wished they could dig up some dirt to block their ears.
Qi Yue chuckled, ignoring everyone and went straight back to her house to rest.
Song Lian and Song Chongzhen, pale-faced, quietly called their people and scurried away like rats crossing the street.
Qi Yue, watching from the window as everyone arrived pompously and left silently, couldnât help but burst into laughter.
Liao Ye and Zhu Ye, seeing this, were both panic-stricken and dared not utter a word.
Qi Yue contentedly shut the door, reclined in the rocking chair in the pavilion, and embraced Little Bai Yun, feeling utterly fulfilled.
âBeautiful!â
âMooâ¦â
âWhatâs beautiful about you?â
âMooâ¦â
âYou still think youâre beautiful?â
âMooâ¦â
As Song Lian returned to Fox King Residence, he recounted everything in detail. Song Yuanzhaoâs brows immediately knitted together like a knot.
âDid Miss Qi Yue truly say this? Were King Yeâs people also present?â
âYes, I saw that Miss Qi Yue treated everyone equally and wasnât biased towards Princely Heir Qiyun. On the contraryâ¦â@@novelbin@@
âOn the contrary, what? Speak directly, donât beat around the bush,â Song Yuanzhao admonished softly while twisting the ring on his thumb.
âMy lord, please forgive me!â Song Lian hastily bowed, then slowly continued.
âI believe Miss Qi Yue is reminding us that someone in our residence is not clean! Furthermore, in my view, her relationship with Princely Heir Qiyun isnât as the outside world describes. I suspect that it was Princely Heir Qiyun who intentionally spread the rumors!â
Hearing this, Song Yuanzhao nodded, unconsciously standing up and pacing the room.
âIndeed, when that old man first mentioned a marriage alliance in front of His Majesty, I felt something was off. Itâs just that I donât understand how Chengye acted so quickly when I had also just learned of those reports from Qing Nanzun first thing in the morning,â he said.
âMy lord, you may have forgotten, King Ye and Princely Heir Qiyun have control over the best intelligence in Donggao through the Royal Guards. Itâs possible they had their eyes on Miss Qi Yue through other channels long ago. Qing Nanzunâs words are merely a confirmation for them,â Song Lian suggested.
Upon hearing this, Song Yuanzhao exclaimed bitterly, âThat old man and his son are indeed cunning. Theyâve been so obedient in front of His Majesty for many years, itâs frustrating that they got to handle such an advantageous situation. I truly do not live up to the name of Fox King.â
Song Lian stepped forward to console him.
âMy lord, do not worry. When Crown Prince Qingshan returns in a few days, he will surely win Miss Qi Yueâs favor.â
The mention of his beloved son immediately brought a smile to the Fox Kingâs face.
âRight, Miss Qi Yue is as valiant as any man, and Qingshan is brave and skilled in combat. They definitely will get along well.â
âYes, my lord.â