Chapter 234: That Pretentious White Sedan Again
“Alright, my dear little ancestor—Mama will have the kitchen make it at once,” Madam Zhang compromised. Right now, this girl was her cash cow; whatever the little ancestor wanted, she’d get.
When madam Zhang first learned that Nan Xun was a bottomless pit when it came to food, she had been genuinely shocked. How could such a small stomach hold so much? But later on, she grew numb to it. Nan Xun’s rice-bucket appetite no longer surprised her. As long as the girl could make money for her, this bit of food expense was nothing.
After finishing an entire braised, extra-plump chicken, Nan Xun went to the private room to meet Young Master Qi.
The man inside stood tall and straight, with handsome features, outstanding talent, and lavish spending—practically the standard male lead template.
If Little Eight hadn’t revealed this man’s identity to Nan Xun, she might have treated him with a bit more courtesy. But now, she truly had no desire to deal with the Seventh Prince of Eastern Lin.
In the original world, Li Yunduo had lost her heart completely to Seventh Prince Qi Hengqing, willing to go through fire and water for him without hesitation, only to end up with such a tragic fate.
And this Seventh Prince, despite knowing Li Yunduo’s feelings, had allowed her to brave blades and boiling oil for his sake. In the end, when the beauty died young, he merely sighed in regret.
From Li Yunduo’s perspective, this so-called chosen one of fortune was nothing but a textbook scumbag.
Nan Xun swept him a glance, then sat down without waiting for him to speak. She took a teacup, poured herself some water, and drank calmly.
Qi Hengqing froze for a moment, then laughed. “Miss Rose truly is a woman of temperament.”
Nan Xun set the cup down with a bang, smiling as she looked at him. “Young Master Qi, what would you like to talk about today? Two months ago we discussed music and chess; last month it was calligraphy and painting. What shall we talk about this time?”
Qi Hengqing studied her in silence, as if weighing something. After a long while, he finally said, “How about matters of state?”
Nan Xun immediately shook her head. “Sorry, Young Master. I, Rose, am but a woman and have no interest in affairs of state.”
Qi Hengqing’s gaze suddenly sharpened. “Miss Rose is a clever person. It’s not that you’re uninterested—you guessed my purpose long ago.”
Nan Xun couldn’t be bothered to keep up appearances and went straight to the point. “Young Master Qi, you don’t seem like someone from Southern Yun. Every time I see you, madam Zhang urges me unusually hard to meet you. Don’t tell me… the real owner behind Zuiyue Pavillion is you?”
Qi Hengqing’s eyes flickered. After a long silence, he admitted it outright. “Indeed, nothing escapes Miss’s keen eyes. I built Zuiyue Pavillion four years ago to gather intelligence in Southern Yun. I am actually—”
“Shh—” Nan Xun raised a finger to her lips. “Young Master Qi, don’t tell me your identity. I’m not interested. Besides, I’ll be leaving Zuiyue Pavillion soon.”
Qi Hengqing’s expression changed slightly. “You’re leaving in such a hurry—do you have some difficulty?”
Nan Xun toyed with the wine cup in her hand and said flatly, “You’re overthinking it. Coming to Zuiyue Pavillion was my real hardship—I had no money, so I had no choice but to take this path. I signed a living contract with madam Zhang precisely so I could leave easily later.”
Qi Hengqing’s lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back.
He drank his wine in silence, while Nan Xun quietly poured him more.
When Qi Hengqing’s cheeks flushed red and his handsome face grew tipsy, he suddenly grabbed Nan Xun’s hand. “Miss Rose, actually I—”
Thud.
Nan Xun punched him square in the face.
Qi Hengqing collapsed onto the table, motionless, two thin streams of… nosebleed flowing out.
Nan Xun poked his head a few times. Seeing no reaction, she casually dusted off her hands and left.
Little Eight gasped. “Holy crap—why’d you knock him out?”
Nan Xun replied, “He molested me. Grabbed my hand and was about to confess. Hmph—do you think I really knocked him out? I was giving him a way out. He understood and played along by pretending to faint. Otherwise, the awkward one would’ve been him.”
Sure enough, shortly after Nan Xun left, the “unconscious” Qi Hengqing slowly opened his eyes. Watching the direction she had gone, he wiped the blood that had reached his lips, his expression turning complicated.
He hadn’t been mistaken—this woman truly was capable of great responsibility. What a pity she couldn’t be used by him. Worse still, she now knew Zuiyue Pavillion was his creation. He wondered whether this would affect his plans.
Qi Hengqing frowned briefly, then relaxed.
He could keep this variable for now. Who said she couldn’t be used by him in the future?
After dealing with Qi Hengqing, Nan Xun returned to her little nest, bored.
“Little Eight, it won’t be long before Mo Ran Hall starts recruiting Gu testers. Shouldn’t we pack up and leave?”
Little Eight was surprised. “You’ve been unusually diligent lately. By your usual nature, wouldn’t you stay comfortable for as long as possible?”
Nan Xun replied expressionlessly, “Don’t you know the market? Tons of people are lining up to die at Mo Ran Hall. If I’m not careful and all the slots get filled, what then? Miss this chance, and getting into Mo Ran Hall later won’t be easy.”
Little Eight found this reasoning… strangely convincing.
The next day, Nan Xun began packing, preparing to leave the den of gold and silver she’d lived in for three years.
“Sigh. After three years, I’m still dirt poor,” Nan Xun lamented.
Little Eight snorted. “Whose fault is that? To show off your lofty integrity, you refused every single tip guests tried to give you. Once you’re out there, you and your rice-bucket stomach will be drinking the northwest wind.”
Nan Xun: “……”
As one human and one beast bickered, someone suddenly knocked on the door. Bang bang.
“Sister Rose! Sister Rose! Come out quick—the National Preceptor is parading through the streets today!”
Nan Xun flew to the door and rushed out. “Peony, is the National Preceptor really coming this way?”
The glamorous woman at the door giggled. “It’s true. I know you’ve admired the National Preceptor for a long time, so I came to tell you as soon as I heard.”
Over the past three years, Nan Xun had discreetly gathered information about the National Preceptor. Anyone paying attention could tell she admired him, so she didn’t think twice.
Peony led Nan Xun straight to a second-floor private room with the best view. Nan Xun leaned out the window and saw the street packed with people on both sides.
That familiar, massive procession slowly approached. Nan Xun saw again the pretentious white sedan carried by eight men, decorated with beaded tassels. Through the white gauze curtains, her gaze locked onto the figure inside.
With so many people lining the street, she refused to believe that this time, the National Preceptor could still sense her watching him.
