Chapter 175 - 175 "Leaving Right Away.
Chapter 175: Chapter 175 “Leaving Right Away.
This was the first time Zhao Xiyan openly expressed his liking for her.
Qi Yue was stunned for a moment, then made the excuse that Shen Zikuang had been waiting for a while and rushed out the door first.
If it weren’t for that White Jade Hairpin acting up again, she would have almost taken the initiative to kiss Zhao Xiyan.
His lips were well-defined, and his mouth was attractive, looking very kissable.
The words he spoke were so captivating, wrapping around her heart…
Regrettably, the White Jade Hairpin really was like a curse.
The two of them one after the other, quickly arrived at the front hall.
From a distance, they could hear the hearty laughter of Huang Zai’an.
“Master Shen has really flattered this old man…”
The caretaker, Madam Zhang, who stood outside, immediately greeted them with a beaming smile when she saw the pair.
“Miss, Marquis, knowing that you would need a while, this old servant took the initiative to call over Master Huang, please forgive me.”
Qi Yue raised an eyebrow.
“You did right, there’s nothing to forgive.”
Only then did Madam Zhang step back, still glancing back at them with a mischievous smile on her face as she left.
Qi Yue was somewhat speechless.
In this mansion, there was almost no one who did not approve of her getting married to Zhao Xiyan right then and there.
One day she had indirectly asked Madam Zhang what to do if Zhao Xiyan had another woman in his heart.
Madam Zhang had said, so what if there is? Which man doesn’t have one or two, or even ten or eight? Even if there isn’t now, there will be in the future, it’s normal!
Others might see it as normal, but she couldn’t accept it.
She was jealous and possessive. The only reason she hadn’t dealt with Lady Bai Shao was that she hadn’t decided whether to respond to Zhao Xiyan’s feelings.
Thinking thus, she saw four men, varying in height and appearance, looking around from a distance, seemingly having something to tell Zhao Xiyan.
“You go, could it be something about the Capital City?”
“Alright, then take care of yourself.”
Zhao Xiyan looked at her, his eyes still brimming with deep amusement.
Qi Yue also smiled.
“Now it’s Shen Zikuang seeking me, and we’re on my turf, what tricks could he possibly play?”
“Hmm.”
Watching Zhao Xiyan’s erect figure leaving, she then walked toward the front hall.
Upon reaching the entrance of the hall, her whole demeanor instantly changed, and her pretty face adopted an inscrutable expression.
“Ah, my apprentice has come!”
Upon seeing her enter, Huang Zai’an immediately smiled.
Now, when he looked at his apprentice Qi Yue, he found everything about her to be admirable.
He could not stop praising her all day long.
“Master Shen, I still have matters to attend to at the medicine factory, the rest of the partnership discussion is up to you.”
Shen Zikuang stood up to see him off, and Qi Yue also exchanged a few knowing looks with Huang Zai’an, quickly grasping some of his opinions.
Huang Zai’an really was a good mentor.
He not only managed the medical hall impeccably but also handled the affairs of the medicine factory perfectly.
Even the partners, he personally vetted them all.
The look he gave just now clearly meant that this Mr. Shen’s character had passed the test and they could collaborate.
After seeing off Huang Zai’an, Qi Yue finally had the chance to take a good look at Shen Zikuang.
He appeared to be around thirty-five years old, tall and well-built, wearing a black robe embroidered with tiny golden cloud patterns, understated yet luxurious, displaying an aura of wealth and prestige.
His skin was fair and tender, his face slightly chubby, and his serene eyes concealed sharp intelligence and worldly wisdom.
“Dongjiang’s Shen Zikuang has met the Divine Doctor.”
Shen Zikuang was very proper; without waiting for Qi Yue to speak, he had already bowed in greeting.
Qi Yue also hurriedly bowed in return.
“I dare not, Qi Yue thanks Master Shen for coming in person.”
After exchanging courtesies, they took their seats.
At first, they exchanged pleasantries for a while before quickly steering the conversation towards their pharmaceutical collaboration.
“Miss Qi, Dongjiang has always been renowned for its pleasant climate and abundance of medicinal herbs akin to Beiyuan and Southern Kingdom, but there is one flaw—preservation is difficult, and transportation is arduous. If we can produce medicines, I am confident that within one year, we can dominate the pharmaceutical markets of Western Chu and Nanyue. Should that day come, the Shen Family is willing to share the profits evenly with Miss Qi. I hope Miss Qi can make this possible.”
After a brief exchange, Qi Yue found herself quite fond of this middle-aged man whom she was meeting for the first time and promptly agreed on the intent to cooperate.
The two agreed on some preliminary preparations, with detailed collaboration to be discussed once Qi Yue arrived in Dongjiang.
“Miss Qi, then it’s settled. I will head back to Dongjiang now to recruit people and build a factory.”
“Good, Young Master Shen, it is decided then. We shall meet in Dongjiang in mid-April.”
“Good, see you in Dongjiang.”
Qi Yue personally escorted him to the door, and upon reaching the corridor, she saw a group of people of various statures standing under the eaves, all bearing melancholy expressions. She didn’t know what could have happened.
“What happened here? Did something occur?” Qi Yue glanced around and did not see Zhao Xiyan.
The tall man cast a glance towards the inner courtyard.
“The master went to look for you.”
Seeing that they clearly did not want to discuss the matter, Qi Yue did not press further and walked towards the inner courtyard.
Somehow, the thought crossed her mind that Zhao Xiyan must be leaving.
As soon as she entered the inner courtyard, she saw Zhao Xiyan standing at the entrance of her courtyard. He must have gone to the front hall and found out she wasn’t there.
Qi Yue quickly approached him.
“Zhao Xiyan, what happened?”
Upon seeing her, a look of reluctance surfaced on Zhao Xiyan’s handsome face.
“Yueyue, my grandfather might not make it much longer; he wishes to see me.”
Zhao Xiyan’s grandfather, Shen Yu’s father, was one of Beiyuan’s top scholars with students and former officials all over the empire. He was now eighty-nine years old.
It was said that he very much cherished his grandson. When Zhao Xiyan became paralyzed and the Zhao Family fell into disfavor, the old man was deeply distressed and had not been well since.
Despite this, Qi Yue still mentioned,
“…should I go take a look at him…”
“It’s no use,” Zhao Yanyan shook his head. “When I came here, he was already confused; it must be a momentary rally…”
Qi Yue nodded.
“Then when do you plan to leave? I will prepare some things for you.”
“I’m leaving immediately.”
As Zhao Xiyan spoke, he took a step closer to her, intending to hug her. But remembering she had yet to respond to him, he withdrew his hands.
“Yueyue, when I come back, I’ll accompany you to Dongjiang.”
“Okay.”
Qi Yue didn’t mention that she had already arranged to meet Shen Zikuang in mid-April. She thought that Zhao Xiyan might not be available then.
“Yueyue…”
The man called out again, a suspicious flush appearing on his usually cool and indifferent face.
“Yueyue, I…”
Seeing him like this, Qi Yue also felt a bit of inexplicable panic. She quickly stepped into the courtyard and hurriedly said, “I’ll go prepare some things for your journey.”
Not dwelling on it further, she returned to her room, entered her space, and took a bottle of each emergency medicinal item. She also took several Blood Coagulation Pills and several bottles of Carefree Pills, packing them into a box and wrapping it up.
Thinking that he would surely travel overnight, she unpacked a few packs of beef jerky, stuffed them into a clean cloth bag, and poured two jars of Spiritual Spring Water.
After some thought, she also included a solar-powered flashlight.
This item might look insignificant, but as long as it absorbs heat, it can illuminate, which might be useful if he travels at night.
She wrapped up these items into another package.
She would have liked to give him a large bag, but that would have been too peculiar.
After packing, she saw that he had come over in a set of black clothes.
The tight sleeves and long body, secured at the waist by a wide belt, accentuated his broad shoulders and slim waist.
Since he was going out, his hair was tied up high and secured with a small crown of jade, making his naturally charming eyes even more striking.
At that moment, Qi Yue thought that what he most needed was a pair of sunglasses, rather than anything else.
She showed him the two packages, introducing the contents one by one: medicines, food, utilities, and even demonstrated how to use the flashlight.
Zhao Xiyan listened intently, his eyes almost fixed on her lips.