Chapter 163 - 163 Visitors from the Black Market
Chapter 163: Chapter 163 Visitors from the Black Market
Qi Yue glanced at the time and suddenly became a little flustered.
The sun had already set outside?!
Would Zhao Xiyan think she had slept the whole afternoon away?
She hurried out of the space and then snapped back to reality.
What was there to panic about? Zhao Xiyan wasn’t anyone special to her, so why should she try to seem perfect in front of him?
Thinking this way, she lazily responded.
“Awake, do you need something?”
“Heh…” Zhao Xiyan chuckled, “Yueyue, sleeping too much during the day is not good for your health, isn’t that what you told me? Why have you forgotten about it yourself?”
Because the door was in between them, the man’s voice had an ethereal distance to it that made Qi Yue’s heart tighten.
This damned Zhao Xiyan.
Must he capture her soul with that face, and that voice of his!
Composing herself, Qi Yue cleared her throat and said, “I’ve been awake for a while, just reading a book.”
“Oh, what book are you reading, Yueyue? I finished the one you had sent over, it was very interesting. Do you have any others?”
At this point, it would be impolite not to open the door, so Qi Yue hurried to do so.
Zhao Xiyan, standing at the door, handed over a book—it was the same “The Art of War by Sun Tzu” from the morning.
“I have more, I’ll find them for you in a moment.”
As Qi Yue spoke, she reached out to take the book.
Suddenly, from an angle, another pair of hands emerged, snatching the book away.
It was Qu Wei.
Probably feeling inferior in front of Zhao Xiyan, who was clad in white, he had changed into a green outfit. The color suited him, giving him an air of a refined and mature man’s charm.
“Let me check to see if the two of you are engaging in private lessons,” he said.
Qi Yue’s lips twitched.
Private lessons?
Was that something that would happen with Zhao Xiyan? She didn’t believe it for a moment.
As expected, Qu Wei flipped through the book, not finding a single extra word.
“This book seems quite interesting, let me have a look too,” he said, as he tried to stuff the book into his robe. However, Zhao Xiyan suddenly reached out and took the book back.
“I just remembered, there are still parts I haven’t finished. You won’t be able to read this book for now.”
Qu Wei rolled his eyes in frustration and reached out to snatch the book.
But he was no match for Zhao Xiyan—unable to get close, let alone take the book back.
“Zhao Xiyan, are you doing this on purpose?”
Zhao Xiyan simply hummed in acknowledgment.
“You’re right,” he said.
Qu Wei was left speechless, turning to complain to Qi Yue.
“Yueyue, what’s up with him? I’m the brother you’ve acknowledged yourself. Are you just going to watch him bully your dear big brother?”
Zhao Xiyan also gazed at her, his eyes as deep as twinkling stars.
Qi Yue’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately turned on Qu Wei.
“You’re an adult, can’t you just let things slide?”
Qu Wei felt like he was about to cough up blood.
“I’m only eight years older than him, not eighty! Do I really have to let him have his way?”
“Alright, I’ll get you another book later,” Qi Yue said, cajoling and threatening, “If you keep arguing, you can’t stay here anymore.”
“…” Qu Wei immediately fell silent, shooting Zhao Xiyan a fierce glare, “Childish fool.”
Zhao Xiyan responded lightly.
“You’re getting old.”
Qi Yue was speechless.
She could put up with Qu Wei’s behavior, since he had never been normal anyway.
But what was up with Zhao Xiyan?
Wasn’t he always reserved, stern, and inflexible? Why was he acting out of character now?
Fortunately, Nanny Zhang came to report that a visitor had arrived, and Qi Yue immediately left the two bickering men and headed for the front courtyard.
“Nanny Zhang, who is it?”
“It’s the black market people, delivering items to the young mistress.”
“The black market?” Qi Yue was somewhat surprised.
“What are they delivering? Haven’t they already sent all the medicine over?”
“They said it’s some nice-looking trinkets, kept for the Young Mistress to play with; additionally, there is one million taels of gold, to continue the medicine order.”
“Such a grand gesture?” Although she was pleased, Qi Yue felt an inexplicable unease.
Since ancient times, one shouldn’t accept rewards without rendering services, and it seemed as if these black market people were treating her a little too specially.
Was it a kind intention, or a trap they were setting?
During their conversation, the two had already arrived in the front hall.
Seeing her come in, a middle-aged man around forty years old got up from his chair and bowed to her.
“I presume this is Miss Qi, the Divine Doctor!”
The middle-aged man’s voice was strong and resounding, clearly the mark of an expert among experts.
Qi Yue was quick to return the bow.
“I dare not claim that title, I am Qi Yue.”
The middle-aged man also hurried to introduce himself, “I am Zhao Fangyuan, the steward of the black market.”
“Steward Zhao, why have you brought so many things today?” Qi Yue asked, pointing at a scatter of large and small boxes on the ground.
Zhao Fangyuan smiled.
“Miss Qi, it’s like this. Our master has come into possession of some fine items, all things that young mistresses like. Thinking Miss Qi would also fancy them, we’ve brought them over.”
With that said, he gestured with his hand, and someone immediately came forward to open the boxes.
Qi Yue looked and her eyes instantly became wide with amazement.
All of these were exquisite items!
She had never seen such a large piece of red coral decoration before.
Normally, only the favored consorts in the Imperial Palace would have the chance to see such quality items.
And these pair of jade bracelets.
With such a bright luster, in her previous world, this pair would have been worth at least fifty million…
And this yellow jade ruyi, with its golden, round smoothness and enticing color, makes one irresistibly want to touch it.
….
Qi Yue went over them one by one, growing more and more astonished as she did.
Had the black market’s master infiltrated the Imperial Palace?
Each of these items was clearly not those everyday items found outside!
“Miss Qi, our master said this is only the first batch, and we will send more good things later…..”
Before Zhao Fangyuan could finish, Qi Yue interrupted him.
“Stop, stop, stop, Steward Zhao. I cannot accept these items,” she said, pointing to those boxes of gold, very earnestly, “Apart from the gold for trading, take the rest back.”
At these words, Zhao Fangyuan immediately became anxious.
His master had repeatedly instructed that Miss Qi must accept the items.
If he botched this, how would he explain upon his return?
“Why? Miss Qi, our master really wants to be your friend…”
Zhao Fangyuan had not anticipated that his mention of his master wanting to be friends would trigger such a reaction from Qi Yue.
Upon hearing it, she instantly thought of people like Hu Keqing.
She wasn’t being arrogant; her current looks, reputation, and money-making methods, weren’t they all things men liked?
If this black market master was pretending to do business and sending her gifts, when in reality he was covertly pursuing her,
and if she accepted these items, she would inevitably have to reciprocate, that was something she could not do.
Not to mention that her heart was only filled with Zhao Xiyan; even without him, she wouldn’t dare casually accept such valuable gifts without cause.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
If entanglements arose later, it would be troublesome.
If she really wanted such items, she could just visit the Beiyuan Imperial Palace and confiscate the assets of that dog Emperor who bestowed marriage upon her and caused her exile!
She resolutely could not accept these inexplicable gifts!
With that thought, Qi Yue’s small hand motioned even faster.
“No, no, no, take them away quickly.”
“But Miss Qi, please hear me out…”
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