Chapter 509: Qi Mansion
The next day, at the Qi Mansion.
Qi Dongjing had long instructed the Qi Mansion’s people that there were important guests today and that the kitchen staff should prepare the dishes earlier.
However, when he woke up, he heard from the butler that the Matriarch had guests and the dishes prepared in the kitchen had been taken over.
Qi Dongjing narrowed his eyes and asked the butler to go to the kitchen to prepare another serving.
Unexpectedly, the butler stuttered for a long time before saying, “Matriarch wants Young Master to go to her.”
“I’m not going.” Qi Dongjing said coldly, “I’ve already said that I have important guests today. If I neglect them, I’ll hold you accountable.”
“But…”
Before the butler could say anything, Qi Dongjing had already walked past him and left.
The butler frowned slightly. He shook his head and sighed softly before hurriedly returning to Matriarch Qi to report.
In the room, the Matriarch was speaking to a group of people. When she saw the butler walk over alone, her face darkened.
“Why isn’t Second Young Master with you?”
The butler bent his waist and said nervously, “Matriarch, Young Master said that he has important guests here today. He went to receive them.”
“Important guests?”
Matriarch Qi smiled coldly. “He has been fooling around outside all these years. How can he know any good people?”
Sitting at the side were the Wu family, which was Matriarch Qi’s maternal family.
She knew that she did not have much time left. She invited the Wu family over today to betroth her brother’s granddaughter, who was also her grandniece, to Qi Dongjing.
When the Wu family heard that they could marry their daughter to the Qi Mansion, they were naturally willing.
After all, the reason why the Wu family was where they were today was all thanks to the Qi family.
Moreover, Qi Dongjing was the only person in the Qi Mansion now. He would be the head of the Qi Mansion in the future. If their daughter could marry over, the Wu family would naturally benefit.
Seeing Matriarch Qi’s displeasure, the Wu family subconsciously slowed their breathing.
The butler did not know what to say and his palms started to sweat.
“You can’t say that.” Old Master Qi frowned and said disapprovingly, “Although Dongjing is a bit stubborn, he’s also a sensible person. How bad can his friends be?”
Matriarch Qi coughed a few times and drank the water the nanny passed over before calming down.
She looked at Old Master Qi and said coldly, “You’re the reason why he’s where he is today.”
“Thanks to me?” Old Master Qi pointed at himself in disbelief. Then, he took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay, thanks to me.”
Anyone with a discerning eye knew who had bestowed this upon them.
If not for the fact that the old woman was sick, he would have argued with her.
“Matriarch, Young Master wants me to order the kitchen to prepare some dishes. Look…”
“He told you to prepare it, so prepare it. Why? Is Second Young Master unable to order you to prepare a meal?”
Before Matriarch Qi could speak, Old Master Qi had already scolded the butler.
The Wu family was embarrassed. How could they not tell that Old Master Qi did not like them much?
“Yes, I’ll give the orders now!”
The butler secretly wiped his sweat and retreated carefully.
“Damn old man, you insist on going against me, right?”
Matriarch Qi glared at him and said angrily.
Why did she get someone to bring the dishes Qi Dongjing ordered here? Wasn’t it to lure him here?
“Matriarch, calm down!” Wu Qingniao’s voice was gentle as she persuaded. “Since Cousin has important guests today, why don’t we visit you another day?”
She was today’s ‘main character,’ the person the Matriarch wanted Qi Dongjing to marry.
She had seen Qi Dongjing and heard stories about him, but she was still moved.
After all, besides his extraordinary background, he also had an enviable skin.
At least, among all the young masters she knew, no one could compare to Qi Dongjing in terms of background or looks.
“You don’t have to leave.”
Matriarch Qi smiled coldly. “I want to see which guests he invited.”
“What are you up to now?” Old Master Qi had a headache.
He felt that he must have been pecked in the eye when he was young, which was why he felt that this old woman was gentle and virtuous.
Matriarch Qi ignored him and let the nanny help her up. Then, she said lightly, “Let’s go to the front courtyard to meet the important guests.”
She emphasized the words ‘important guests’ with a hint of sarcasm.
The Wu family glanced at Old Master Qi, who was frowning and glaring at them, and hesitated about following them.
However, seeing that Matriarch Qi had already left, they had no choice but to follow shamelessly.
Old Master Qi took a few deep breaths before standing up and striding after them.
On the other hand, Qi Dongjing was loitering outside the door, waiting for Chu Sihan and the rest to come over.
“Young Master, fifteen minutes have passed. Why don’t you go back and rest first? The weather is quite hot.”
The guard looked at the sun hanging high in the sky and persuaded carefully.
“Ignore me.”
Qi Dongjing waved his hand and continued waiting outside.
After another fifteen minutes, there was still no movement from the alley.
However, Qi Dongjing did not seem anxious at all.
The guard hesitated for a while before deciding to remain silent.
Qi Dongjing naturally knew that Chu Sihan and the rest would not come over so early. The reason why he came out to wait was because he did not want to follow the Matriarch’s orders to see the Wu family.
How could he not know what Matriarch Qi was scheming about?
She wanted him to marry Wu Qingniao so that she could find someone for the Wu family to rely on before she died.
He would not follow her wishes. It was his wish that she died with remaining grievances.
He knew what kind of people the Wu family were. If not for the Qi Mansion, their Wu family would be nothing in the capital.
Wu Qingniao’s brother was either wandering around the brothels or staying up all night at the gambling den. He had yet to repay his debts.
If not for the Qi Mansion, he would have been killed by the gambling den.
Another hour passed, but there was still no sign of the guests.
Qi Dongjing was already sweating profusely, and his clothes were soaked.
He wiped the sweat off his forehead and said to the guard, “I’ll go back and freshen up. If the guests come later, bring them to the hall first.”
“Yes!”
The guard agreed in unison.
He had no choice. Although they were all good friends, it was their first time visiting him. He could not meet them in sweat.
When he returned to his room to freshen up and change his clothes, Chu Sihan and the rest had not arrived.
He thought for a while and decided to wait in the hall.
However, when he reached the entrance of the hall, his face darkened.
“Jinger is here.”
Seeing him turn to leave, Old Master Qi hurriedly shouted.
In the past, Old Master Qi was very strict with him. However, after that incident, his attitude towards him changed a lot.
Qi Dongjing paused in his footsteps and turned around to reply. However, Matriarch Qi said lightly, “Why? Aren’t your important guests here yet?”
Qi Dongjing looked at her expressionlessly and did not speak.
Matriarch Qi coughed and continued looking at him. “Or are they afraid to come?”
The Qi Mansion was the General’s Mansion after all. Normal people naturally did not dare to visit them rashly.
Of course, Chu Sihan and the rest were not ordinary people. Although they were inferior to his father, Qi Long, now that Qi Long was not around, everyone in the room had to greet him.
In addition, there was Lu Sheng. She was the Third Prince’s disciple, an existence even the Emperor acknowledged.
The Third Prince had no children. Lu Sheng’s identity was equivalent to the Third Prince’s adopted daughter.
Although she did not have a title, His Majesty liked her.
Ever since Lu Sheng came to the capital, she had been summoned to the palace twice. Even Concubine Xiang liked her a lot.
It was said that some time ago, Concubine Xiang suddenly fell ill for some reason. She invited the imperial physician to take a look, but there was no improvement after taking the medicine.
When the Emperor found out that Lu Sheng was in the capital, he ordered her and Chu Sihan to enter the palace. Coincidentally, Concubine Xiang was present at that time. When Lu Sheng saw Concubine Xiang, she said some strange things.
Concubine Xiang was curious and asked her.
In the end, she found out that it was Concubine Xiang who got into contact with an evil aura. Lu Sheng only gave her a talisman to wear, but she recovered the next day.
Because of this, Concubine Xiang gave her a lot of rewards.
Of course, not many people knew about this. He only heard Shi Yi and the rest mention it when he gathered with Chu Sihan and the rest.
“Why? Did I guess correctly?”
Seeing Qi Dongjing remain silent for a long time, Matriarch Qi spoke coldly.
Unexpectedly, Qi Dongjing only showed her a mocking expression and left.
“Cousin, wait!”
Seeing that Qi Dongjing was about to leave, Mdm Wu hurriedly shot her daughter a look.
Wu Qingniao understood and hurried after him.
Matriarch Qi’s expression turned imperceptibly cold as she scanned Mdm Wu coldly.
However, Mdm Wu was focused on her daughter and did not notice Matriarch Qi’s gaze.
“What’s the matter?”
Qi Dongjing stopped again and asked Wu Qingniao expressionlessly.
“No… Nothing. Cousin, are you going to fetch the guests?”
Wu Qingniao was shocked by his cold expression and paused before speaking nervously.
“Yes.”
He replied faintly and turned to walk out again.
Wu Qingniao, who was left behind, felt a little awkward. She didn’t know if she should continue to follow Qi Dongjing or return to her room to sit.
She turned back to look at the room. When she met Matriarch Qi’s gaze, her heart could not help but sink.
How could she have forgotten that Matriarch Qi disliked frivolous girls the most because they reminded her of Qing Huan?
“Qingniao, come back and sit.”
Old Master Wu glanced at Matriarch Qi and hurriedly called his daughter back to sit.
Wu Qingniao replied nervously, regretting her decision.
She should not have listened to her mother’s orders just now and rushed out without thinking.
If Matriarch Qi was unhappy with her because of this, the gains would not make up for the losses.
“Brother Chu, Miss Lu!”
Qi Dongjing’s gloomy mood dissipated immediately when he saw the people being led in by the guards.
Chu Sihan nodded at him. Lu Sheng smiled and shouted, “Young Master Qi.”
“Where’s Brother Shi, Brother Yun, and the rest?”
Seeing that there were only the two of them, Qi Dongjing hurriedly asked.
Chu Sihan said coldly, “Behind us.”
“Hello, Brother Qi!”
Shi Yi and Yun Ting strode in.
Qi Dongjing raised an eyebrow. “You’re here by yourselves?”
Shi Yi smiled and said, “Mingyue went to admire the flowers with my sister-in-law.”
Yun Ting said, “Sisi accompanied my mother out early in the morning.”
“I see.” Qi Dongjing nodded.
Speaking of which, Yu Mingyue and Dongfang Yuechu were originally good friends. It was unexpected that they became sisters-in-law in the end. One had to admit that the two of them were really fated.
“In that case, please come in!”
Qi Dongjing smiled and gestured at the four of them.
“I wonder how Matriarch Qi’s health is?” Shi Yi asked.
Qi Dongjing’s expression darkened and he said lightly, “She shouldn’t be able to enter the soil anytime soon.”
When the few of them heard that, they did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Qi Dongjing initially wanted to bring them to his courtyard.
However, Yun Ting said that since they were already here, they had to meet the two elders.
He had no choice but to bring the four of them to the hall.
Matriarch Qi had never seen Chu Sihan before, so she did not know who he was. However, she had seen Yun Ting and Shi Yi.
After all, the Shi family and the Yun family had a high status in the capital. In addition, Yun Ting was now the Prime Minister’s son-in-law. She would pay more attention to him.
However, just because she did not know him did not mean that Old Master Qi did not know him either.
Hence, when they saw them enter, the two elders were stunned.
However, it was obvious that the two of them were surprised at different people.
Although Chu Sihan’s official rank was lower than Qi Long’s by two grades, he was the favorite of the Emperor. His status was naturally not ordinary.
The Wu family had never interacted with these people, so they did not react much when they saw them.
“You are… Magistrate Chu?”
Old Master Qi stood up and asked.
“Greetings, elders.” Chu Sihan cupped his hands at the two of them.
He came here today as Qi Dongjing’s friend, not as Magistrate Chu. Hence, he had to give them some formalities.
“Magistrate… Magistrate Chu?”
Matriarch Qi was puzzled.
Chu Sihan said coldly, “I’m Chu Sihan.”
“Chu Sihan?!”
Old Master Wu exclaimed.
They had not seen Chu Sihan before, but that did not mean that they had not heard of this name.
After all, he was the youngest top scholar in Xuan Yue Country. He knew that.
Chu Sihan glanced at the Wu family indifferently and looked at Matriarch Qi again.
“So it’s Magistrate Chu!”
Matriarch Qi smiled awkwardly.
Shi Yi and Yun Ting also bowed to the two of them.
“Young Master Yun, you’re Prime Minister Fu’s son-in-law, right?” Old Master Qi asked with a smile.
Yun Ting smiled and nodded.
“This must be Second Young Master Shi!”
The Shi family were imperial merchants, so their status could not be underestimated.
“Yes!” Shi Yi smiled and nodded.
“Please take a seat!” Old Master Qi greeted them with a smile.
“No need.”
Qi Dongjing said lightly, “I’ve already arranged seats in my courtyard, so I won’t stay any longer.”
“This lady is…”
As Chu Sihan walked in front, and Shi Yi and Yun Ting went forward to bow to the two of them, only Lu Sheng and Qi Dongjing stood at the back.
When Matriarch Qi saw this scene, she could not help but frown and ask faintly.
“Lu Sheng,” Lu Sheng said faintly with a faint smile.
As she had heard about Qing Huan, Lu Sheng did not like Matriarch Qi.
“Surnamed Lu?” Matriarch Qi’s heart trembled.
In the capital, people surnamed Lu did not have ordinary identities. They were basically relatives of the royal family.
“Third Prince’s disciple, Lord Chu’s wife.”
Qi Dongjing looked at Matriarch Qi and introduced her with a faint sneer.
His meaning was obvious. It was as if he was telling Matriarch Qi not to be nervous as she did not fancy her grandson.