Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After Li Ruoxuan promptly left the Qi Residence with his entourage, the news was immediately sent to Jiang Yeqian by a spy.
Zhao Xin bowed slightly and said, “Your Excellency, the State Preceptor has left Qi Residence.”
Jiang Yeqian’s pacing steps suddenly paused. He stamped the ground forcefully with his crutch and demanded, “What expression did he have?”
“Our people said that it wasn’t too great,” Zhao Xin cautiously said. “But the spy also said that he did not bring the chest of gold back with him.”
Jiang Yeqian’s expression was getting uglier. “So the proposal was a success?”
Zhao Xin shook his head. “If it were a success the State Preceptor wouldn’t be wearing such an expression. So this servant thinks that it probably didn’t succeed.”
“Would he have given Qi Qingyao a chest of gold for free if the proposal wasn’t a success? You fool!!”
Jiang Yeqian picked up the inkstone on the desk and threw it at Zhao Xin. Zhao Xin instinctively dodged and thought, ‘His Excellency is really too irritable lately.’
Jiang Yeqian was indeed irritated.
He was completely on edge.
His temples throbbed dully.
His chest felt tight and some part of him was aching.
That Li Ruoxuan can certainly act fast, he actually went and proposed to her! Then he left that chest of gold at the Qi Residence although he was “probably” rejected?
That would mean that Qi Qingyao owed him.
That woman was already a sucker for money to begin with.
It did not matter what beef she had with Li Ruoxuan before, all would be forgiven with this chest of gold.
Lu Yan, Si Jin, Li Ruoxuan… Jiang Yeqian felt his head throbbing harder.
…
…
Since the maids of the Qi Residence were not trained to be spies, they were not very strict about keeping a tight lip about this private situation.
Aside from that, the current State Preceptor bringing a chest of gold to the Qi Residence to propose marriage was a big deal.
How could they possibly hide it?
As such, in less than half a day…
The rumor that the State Preceptor had proposed marriage to Qi Qingyao spread like a tornado via several restaurants in Qingzhou City.
“I heard the State Preceptor proposed to Qi Qingyao.”
“What?”
“What do you mean ‘what’? This is what happened. The State Preceptor has walked up to her door and proposed marriage.”
“But…although that house of hers is called Qi Residence, didn’t she win it from Master Lu? Master Lu must still be living there too.”
“So what?”
“Oh dear lord, and here I thought that Lady Qi was Lu Yan’s concubine or personal maid. I didn’t think she was quite sought after in the market. Even the State Preceptor has proposed to her!!”
“What are you saying? Qi Qingyao has that young grand master at her side, how could she possibly be Lu Yan’s personal maid?”
“That’s the weird thing. I heard Qi Qingyao was born in a nearby village. How did she get everyone she met to fall in love with her in just a few months?”
“It’s because of that young grand master of hers…”
“Oh, that’s true. The State Preceptor must be thinking of roping in the young grand master for the imperial court’s use. Why else would he possibly wed an unprincipled widow who gave birth out of wedlock!”
“That’s right…”
…
…
This gossip soon spread to half of Qingzhou City.
It even spread to the Qi Residence.
Dong Jing listened to the report while he was settling the trivial matters that Lu Yan had instructed him to handle. He thought angrily, ‘Which blabbermouth of a servant spread this out?’
Dong Jing asked Steward Zhang of the Missus’s whereabouts.
Steward Zhang replied, “She’s in the study.”
Dong Jing went to the entrance of the study and noticed that the door to the study was shut tight.
He was slightly stunned.
On the other side of the door.
Qi Qingyao, Dabao, and Xiaobao were sitting on the arhat couch.
Si Jin and Erniu were seated to the side watching the three of them.
Between them was the small red sandalwood box.
The box contained the Pill of Omnipotence.