Chapter 399

Chapter 399 Investigation

Qi Xiuran braced himself and replied, “Grandfather, that’s also what I heard!”

Duke Qi said, “She’s a good child. She has a nice personality and a good moral character. She’s quite pitiful. She is probably quite good-looking, too.”

Hearing Duke Qi’s comment on Qu Moying, Qi Xiuran was stunned and began to feel weird.

“You can take a look at her at the party. If you take a fancy to her, I will be willing to see you marrying her. She seems to know how to play the qin as well. She’s a good match for you.” Duke Qi stroked his beard and nodded with a smile.

Qi Xiuran felt that his grandfather had changed into another person.

“Since when did Grandfather care so much about my marriage? And it seems that he has chosen Fourth Lady Qu for me.”

It was not that Qi Xiuran looked down upon Qu Moying, but he really had never thought about marrying Qu Moying. He felt that he and Qu Moying were not in the same circle.

“Grandfather, Fourth Lady Qu has been through a failed engagement.” Qi Xiuran felt that it was better to remind his grandfather. Just for this reason, his mother and his grandmother would not allow him to marry Qu Moying.

Duke Qi glared at Qi Xiuran and said angrily, “So what? Young Master Yongning is a blind and nasty guy. How can Fourth Lady Qu’s reputation be ruined by him?”

Qi Xiuran thought for a moment and said tactfully, “Grandfather, my marriage is up to Mother and Grandmother.”

Duke Qi was unhappy to hear that. “Your liking comes first.”

“Yes, that’s true, but Mother and Grandmother have to be satisfied with her, too!” Qi Xiuran reminded Duke Qi implicitly again. He did not have much say in this matter. In fact, it was up to his grandmother and mother.

Duke Qi rubbed his brows, looking very annoyed. He leaned back and waved his hand, “You may leave!”

“Yes!” Qi Xiuran hurriedly stood up, bowed to Duke Qi, and left. When he reached the door, he looked back at his grandfather, feeling that something was wrong with him.

“It’s so strange! Why does Grandfather care so much about my marriage?”

Qi Xiuran thought as he walked. Just as he was about to turn a corner, he almost bumped into the one coming head-on. Fortunately, the two of them didn’t walk in a hurry. They both stopped and stood still before bumping into each other.

Liu Jingyu stood there with a smile and bowed to Qi Xiuran. “Cousin Brother!”

Qi Xiuran also stood still. He looked at Liu Jingyu, gently cupped his hands, and asked, “Cousin Sister, why are you here today? Are you here to see Grandmother?”

“I’ve seen Grandmother just now, and I want to go see Grandfather now. I heard that Grandfather went back to his study alone. Cousin Brother, you seem to come out of Grandfather’s study, right?” Liu Jingyu asked softly. When she was in Duke Qi’s Mansion, her personality appeared to be the best. Even if Qi Xiuran minded what had happened last time, he thought it should be an accident on second thought.

He knew that his grandmother liked Liu Jingyu very much.

He also found it strange sometimes. His grandfather had always been very fond of his aunt, Liu Jingyu’s mother, whereas his grandmother was indifferent to her. However, his grandmother liked Liu Jingyu very much to whom his grandfather was a little indifferent. He couldn’t understand why.

Qi Xiuran thought that even though two people were connected by blood, they may not necessarily be close. The intimacy was decided by something else.

“Grandfather is in his study, but…” Qi Xiuran hesitated for a moment. He felt that his grandfather probably did not want to see anyone at this time, but Liu Jingyu didn’t often come here. “Grandfather is thinking about something in the study at this time!”

Liu Jingyu immediately understood what Qi Xiuran meant and asked with a smile, “Grandfather doesn’t want to be disturbed?”

Qi Xiuran couldn’t help but praise her in his heart, “She is indeed sensible.” He didn’t hide anything but nodded and said, “Grandfather is thinking about sending gifts to others, but it doesn’t seem to be a very important matter. Cousin Sister, if you go to greet Grandfather, I believe he will be very happy.”

He told Liu Jingyu about the situation. As for what Liu Jingyu thought, it was not his concern.

“I see. Thank you, Cousin Brother!” Liu Jingyu said softly. Then, she leaned to the side to make way for Qi Xiuran. However, when Qi Xiuran passed by, she sharply noticed the qin music score in his hand.

“Cousin Brother, you have a qin music score in your hand. Did Grandfather give it to you?” Liu Jingyu asked curiously. She knew that Duke Qi did not like to play the qin, but Qi Xiuran indeed came out from Duke Qi’s study.

“I found a qin music score at Grandfather’s study. I don’t know if it’s good. I will take a look at it.” For some reason, Qi Xiuran did not tell her where the qin music score exactly came from.

Liu Jingyu was surprised. “It’s quite surprising that Grandfather has such a thing in his study!”

“Maybe he got it without knowing it.” Qi Xiuran said vaguely. Then, he nodded at Liu Jingyu with a smile and strode away.

He was anxious to play the qin based on this qin music score.

Seeing Qi Xiuran quicken his pace, Liu Jingyu frowned. But thinking of Qi Xiuran’s love for qin, she understood.

Qi Xiuran’s hobby was playing the qin. He was keen on qin. It was understandable that he left in such a hurry after getting a qin music score.

Seeing that Liu Jingyu silently looked at Qi Xiuran’s back, the maid asked, “County Lady, should we go over?”

Liu Jingyu said slowly, “Since I am here, I naturally have to go over and greet Grandfather.”

Every time she came to Duke Qi’s Mansion, she acted properly. Even if she could not see her grandfather at her grandmother’s place, she would especially go to greet him. As long as her grandfather was in the mansion, she would go to see him.

She walked to Duke Qi’s study with her maids, but the lad servant stopped her at the door of the study.

“Greetings, County Lady.”

Liu Jingyu asked with a smile, “Is my grandfather inside?”

The lad servant answered with a smile, “His Lordship is resting inside. He just said that he will not see anyone.”

The smile on Liu Jingyu’s face slowly faded. “Did my grandfather say ‘anyone’?”

The lad servant answered with a smile, “Yes, that’s what His Lordship said. He said that he needed to rest for a while. Eldest Young Master has disturbed him just now.”

The lad servant was a little panicked. “This is the first time His Lordship refused to see County Lady Jingyu. Her Ladyship has sent an old maid to tell me that County Lady Jingyu was coming to greet His Lordship, but His Lordship asked me to stop her. I can’t understand what His Lordship is thinking.”

“His Lordship doted on County Lady Jingyu in the past!”

“Why does His Lordship bluntly reject her visit?”

Liu Jingyu asked with a strange expression, “Grandfather doesn’t want to be disturbed?”

The lad servant answered quickly, “Yes, that’s what His Lordship said. His Lordship might be tired after talking to Eldest Young Master for a while just now. County Lady, please go back.”

Since it was Duke Qi’s intention, Liu Jingyu could only turn around and leave although she felt uncomfortable.

The lad servant sent her out of the yard and respectfully saw her off.

Liu Jingyu’s face darkened. This was the first time she had been rejected when she was about to greet her grandfather. Even though her grandfather might not know that she was coming, she was indeed rejected, which made her very uncomfortable.

After knowing from her grandmother that there was going to be a chrysanthemum viewing party here, she wanted to ask her grandfather why he suddenly had this idea. This didn’t seem to be her grandfather’s idea.

She didn’t care much about it before. She just wanted to talk with her grandfather and ask him casually, but now she felt that there was something wrong with it.

“How could Grandfather feel tired and need to rest after talking with Cousin Brother? Was there something I don’t know happened?”

“Otherwise, why did Grandfather behave so abnormally?”

“Not only was Grandfather abnormal, but also the qin music score in Cousin Brother’s hand was unusual. Did he really get it from Grandfather?”

“It is so strange. I have to go back and tell Mother about it.”

After thinking for a while, Liu Jingyu said to her maid, “Let’s go. After saying goodbye to Grandmother, I will just return to the mansion and wait for the chrysanthemum viewing party!”

The maid complied and followed her to the inner yard.

“Lady, it’s not convenient for me to collect information from Yamen now. I can only find some superficial information. It seems that the one who sued Yue’s Gold Pavilion insists on going to court.” Yu Dong said. His two subordinates were secret guards, so it was not convenient for them to directly investigate the case in Yamen.

He could only ask the people in Yamen in the name of a maid of the defendant. He also asked someone to guard outside the Yamen, but the plaintiff did not appear at all.

“Isn’t there any other clue?” Qu Moying asked after pondering for a moment. Was this case really going to be brought to court? If so, it didn’t seem to be profitable to the plaintiff.

It was impossible for her to exchange the entire Yue’s Gold Pavilion for a set of rubies.

The value of a set of rubies could not compare with that of Yue’s Gold Pavilion, but this set of rubies was extremely precious, so this matter had to be solved properly.

According to the previous situation, it was inconvenient for Madam Duan to come out, and Ji Yuanhai was too young to deal with this matter. Even if he wanted to deal with this matter, he would have the second branch’s people accompany him. The second branch’s Ji Yong’an was Ji Yuanhai’s biological father, and Ji Yuanhai had Xiao behind him. If Ji Yuanhai were to manage this matter, this matter would be decided by the second branch.

In that case, the impossible matter could be possible. So, was the plaintiff really aiming for Yue’s Gold Pavilion?

Qu Moying was certain that the second branch of the Ji Family could not directly interfere in Yue’s Gold Pavilion’s case. After all, everyone in the capital knew that Yue’s Gold Pavilion belonged to the first branch of the Ji Family, and it was Ji Hanyue’s dowry.

If the second branch of the Ji Family wanted to obtain great benefits, they could only conspire with others. They would not be able to get this shop, but they could profit from the case.

“Lady, I found something strange.” After hearing Qu Moying’s question, Yu Dong answered with hesitation. He was not sure either.

“Did you get it from Yamen?” Qu Moying pondered for a moment and understood where his suspicions came from.

“Yes, when I was about to go out, two of Yamen’s court runners were talking in a low voice on the side. Coincidentally, I heard them mention ‘Yue’s Gold Pavilion’, so I deliberately slowed down!” Yu Dong paused for a moment before continuing, “I know that the two of them said it on purpose for me to hear, so I think that… what they said might be all lies.”