Chapter 65: Chapter 67 The Rantings of a Stinking Taoist Chapter 65: Chapter 67 The Rantings of a Stinking Taoist Regarding Qin Liuxi’s refusal to keep Xi Zheng, Qi Qian was somewhat surprised. After all, Qin Liuxi’s actions had completely convinced and made Xi Zheng grateful; had she been a servant, she would never dare to rebel.
Yet Qin Liuxi didn’t keep her, and even provided her with guidance out of her confusion, without taking a single penny.
In a languid manner, Qin Liuxi said, “I have no idea how many lives I’ve saved through my medical practice. If everyone were like her, volunteering themselves as slaves, wouldn’t I be surrounded by swarms of servants? As a mere Taoist, where would I find enough silver to support all these servants? Do they really think I run a Charitable Hall?”
“You cannot truly mean that, Doctor Qin,” Qi Qian didn’t believe her words.
“Indeed, the main reason is that she herself brings troubles. If I were to keep her by my side, what if she manages to attract these troubles to me? Being frail, would I not be inviting trouble for no reason?” Qin Liuxi put on a scared expression.
Qi Qian: “…Your medical skills are extraordinary, capable of predicting fortunes and avoiding calamities, and you even possess inscrutable powers that even God and Ghost cannot fathom. Should troubles come, I’m afraid it would be a problem for them, not for you.”
So, stop pretending, I see right through you!
Qin Liuxi raised her eyebrows slightly: “Unexpectedly, in Young Master Qi’s eyes, I am so capable. This truly causes me some embarrassment.”
Qi Qian chuckled, then after a long while, he said, “Her father, named Xi Penghai, was once a Fourth-Rank General, but he fled from battle during the West Sea war in the twenty-second year of Kangwu, leading to the capture and death of fifty-thousand soldiers. Thus, he was branded as a traitor, a disgrace to the nation. He even embezzled military provisions, causing the Holy Emperor to rage, stripping Xi Penghai of all military achievements and official titles, demoted him to commoner status. Unable to bear the slanders, Xi Penghai took his own life, and Xi Zheng’s mother followed him in death, leaving only a pair of children.”
Half-leaning against the carriage wall, Qin Liuxi fiddled with a Jade Talisman, silent, neither confirming nor denying.
“Do you believe Xi Penghai truly fled the battlefield and betrayed his country?” Qi Qian intensely stared at her.
Qin Liuxi finally looked over, speaking helplessly, “Young Master Qi is indeed earnest. You may discuss Taoist scriptures with me, burning the midnight oil without issue, but with regards to such state affairs, how could I know? Having never seen General Xi myself, how could I know if he was loyal or traitorous?”
Qi Qian’s eyes narrowed as he said, “You refer to him as General Xi, and you even helped perform rites for the Xi Family’s retainers. Being a Cultivator, you certainly cannot be ignorant of right from wrong, so…”
“Hey, I did not say anything!” Qin Liuxi cut him off, shaking her finger, “Young Master Qi is not familiar with the Mystic Sect, but not all those who practice cultivation are righteous. There’s also the Evil Path. As long as one can pay with silver and bear the cost, these practitioners engage in nefarious and crooked activities that harm others. How would you know whether I belong to the Evil Path?”
“If you were of the Evil Path, you would not have saved Young Master Xi without taking a single Silver Coin,” Qi Qian rebuffed.
“How do you know I haven’t received compensation?” Qin Liuxi chuckled, “Their compensation has already been given, it’s just that Young Master Qi isn’t aware of it.”
Those merits are truly a reward beyond any amount of gold.
“Young Master Qi, there are countless wrongful cases in this world. You ask whether Xi Penghai was loyal or treacherous to seek the truth or to reverse his case? Whichever it is, you’ll need to investigate on your own, right? If I say he was a loyal official, would you believe it, would the Emperor believe it?” Qin Liuxi showed a hint of mocking smile, “Only evidence can convince the Emperor, no matter how dubious; once the evidence of a crime is presented, the sentence can be given. Let me add one more thing, if the Emperor does not believe in his loyalty, even without any evidence, he is not a loyal official, and his life is forfeit.”
Such is the way between an Emperor and his subjects; if the Emperor wishes for a subject’s death, the subject cannot escape death.
Qi Qian’s face changed slightly, and his demeanor became more fierce.