Capítulo 585: Chapter 577: Master Chi Yuan Raised an Ancestor
Returning to Jiuxuan Auction Hall, Qin Liuxi saw Mou Jingyuan, the Think Tank of Dongyang Marquis, who had been waiting for her for a while.
The man was only about forty years old, with a long face and a beautiful beard, dressed as a genial scholar, and his eyes sparkled with shrewdness and wisdom when he casually looked up.
Qin Liuxi just glanced at his face and felt that the Dongyang Marquis had a good eye for people; no wonder he could defend the East Sea for many years with smart people around him giving advice, much stronger than her striving alone.
As soon as Mou Junshi saw Qin Liuxi, he got up and approached her, respecting her without belittling her for her youth, and gave her a formal bow.
“Mou Junshi, there is no need for such grand gestures.” Qin Liuxi slightly stepped aside and casually lifted her hand.
Mou Junshi straightened up and said, “Junior Temple Master deserves such respects, you have done a great favor for the Dong Weng family.”
“It was merely a good deed, not a favor. The old general paid enough consultation fee, and the karma is resolved,” Qin Liuxi gestured for him to sit down.
Mou Junshi gave a wry smile and said, “When I received the young general’s letter, I should have come immediately to see you, but I felt too ashamed to meet the Junior Temple Master.”
“Meng Family refused to agree?” Qin Liuxi cut to the chase.
A hint of cold mockery flashed in Mou Junshi’s eyes, and he said, “The Meng Family got a bit greedy.”
Qin Liuxi was not surprised and said, “One opportunity missed, so be it. If the Jiao Pearl doesn’t fall into the hands of the Yue Family, it’s just a lack of chance. Think Tank, don’t be upset; if it’s not meant to be, then let it go. As for the greed of the Meng Family, it is human nature, as they hold the advantage and are naturally bold enough to ask for more from those who seek.”
“Junior Temple Master, are you willing to give up the Jiao Pearl?” Mou Junshi, seeing her speak so lightly, was somewhat surprised.
Qin Liuxi chuckled, “That Jiao Pearl, I am determined to have it.”
Seeing her confidence, Mou Junshi’s eyes twinkled and he said, “It seems the Junior Temple Master already has a plan.”
“Nothing more than an exchange of benefits,” Qin Liuxi stated indifferently.
Seeing her not elaborating, Mou Junshi said, “Maybe the Junior Temple Master could wait; I think Lin Xiang might have a way.”
“Oh?”
Mou Junshi looked at her and also said, “Exchange of benefits.”
Now Qin Liuxi became somewhat curious.
“Yue Family broke their promise, I wonder how much the equivalent of this Jiao Pearl would be, what should we offer?” Mou Junshi asked.
Qin Liuxi became somewhat disinterested and said, “Whatever.”
Mou Junshi furrowed his brow; he dreaded such negotiations the most, without a fixed amount, and considering Qin Liuxi’s status and abilities, the Yue Family could not really take it lightly and truly just give ‘whatever’.
Qin Liuxi then said, “Since you cannot obtain this Jiao Pearl, Think Tank, there’s no need for you to stay in Shengjing. Leave the capital, go to Li City to meet the young general and return to report.”
Upon seeing this, Mou Junshi’s heart jumped; was this child perhaps upset, blaming them for breaking their promise, and wanting to send them away?
Another day cursing the Meng Family: cursed be the greedy Meng Family.
“Junior Temple Master, can the young general return then?”
Qin Liuxi looked over, “He can leave, so why not return? Does he want to settle down in Li City and start a family? It’s the same if you go back to your place to recuperate.”
Mou Junshi sighed in relief, so that was it.
He talked with Qin Liuxi for a few sentences, making sure that Qin Liuxi really didn’t want them to hassle the Meng Family for the Jiao Pearl, then happily declared that he would go to Li City that very day and settle the consultation fee.
As for how to settle it, he still needed to discuss with the Junior General before making a plan.
Once Think Tank Mou left, Feng Xiu entered, folding his arms and leaning against the door frame with a look of schadenfreude, “Didn’t I say negotiating with the Meng Family based on gentlemanly principles wouldn’t get us the Jiao Pearl? So, shall we go and raid them?”
“Shut up!” Qin Liuxi gave him a cold glance and said, “Since we are the bosses of Jiuxuan Auction Hall and Changsheng Hall, don’t always think about robbing and looting, it’s gangster-like, what sort of look is that?”
Feng Xiu scoffed, “Look at you, pretending to be a righteous gentleman, winning people over with virtue, but actually, you’ve schemed against so many people behind their backs.”
Master Tai Cheng: A lack of virtuous appearance?
“Don’t worry about it, when I take something, I take it openly and honestly, especially since this is for medicine, I can’t let it be tainted with any karma, it wouldn’t be smooth.”
Feng Xiu held back and said, “Let me remind you, even if you really take these materials and manage to make the Foundation Establishment Pill, if the old Taoist doesn’t have the cultivation, eating it is useless, he still can’t establish his foundation…”
His voice grew quieter under Qin Liuxi’s deadly disdainful look until it faded away.
“Go on,” said Qin Liuxi in a gloomy voice.
“I dare not.” From your glance just now, I was really scared.
Qin Liuxi snorted and said, “Ask Yellow Immortal and the others to help check if the remaining few medicinal herbs can mature or be found, and reward them handsomely.”
She finished speaking and walked out the door to return to her own room.
Feng Xiu said from behind her, “Little Xi, if the old Taoist really can’t reach perfection and successfully establish his foundation, what will you do?”
Qin Liuxi paused her steps, fell silent for a while, and then said, “What can I do, if dead go and take an exam below, become a Ghost Messenger or something down there, wait for Laozi to die then reincarnate.”
Feng Xiu: “…”
Watching her departing figure, he sighed and didn’t know whether to call her foolish or to say the old Taoist was unlucky, ending up with such a disciple that even after reincarnation, he had to line up behind her.
Master Chi Yuan didn’t raise a disciple, clearly, he raised an ancestor.
…
Now, Meng Pinggui, the father of Noble Princess Consort Meng, and a Marquis, didn’t come from a humble rural background. His father was a low-ranking official, and he himself had some fortune. When the Saint was in the secret mansion, he became one of the Saint’s personal guards. After the Saint ascended to the throne, he was appointed a Sixth-Rank Soldier and climbed over the years to the fourth-rank. The real rise to prominence was four years ago when he sent a daughter to the palace who won favor, making him a new noble overnight.
However, although the Meng Family is a new noble in the court and has the favor of the Saint, they are still not regarded by the established clans. Some high-ranking officials also would not get too close or depend on such a new noble, even though Noble Princess Consort Meng has a prince by her side. Those careful of their reputation would be cautious in their dealings to avoid making the Saint suspicious of forming factions.
Meng Pinggui also knew very well that many looked down on the Meng Family, but so what, as long as Imperial Concubine and the little prince were there, the Meng Family would have their day of glory, and people would naturally attach themselves.
Only, anyone could attach, but it would never be Lin Xiang, who was notoriously famous for being an upright official.
Yet, in reality, this person sneaked into his house in the middle of the night to discuss matters, which made the Marquis feel somewhat incredulous.
What could they have to talk about?
“Not sure what brings Lin Xiang here?” After a pot of tea, the Marquis asked straightforwardly.
Lin Xiang, setting down his white jade tea cup, smiled warmly, “I’ve come to beseech the Marquis to make a selfless act and give up the Jiao Pearl to me.”
The Marquis nearly scalded himself with the tea, stunned, he looked at him. Has Lin Xiang gone mad, was he openly robbing him?