Chapter Forty-Seven: What I Like Most Is Your Cautious Demeanor

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In the garden of the Master of Goldvale.

“I truly didn’t expect that you’d have the audacity to poison the Third Young Master. The Old Master’s decision today is already mercy; you ought to be grateful.” The Old Master’s trusted aide ordered his men to seize Lanzhi by the arms and drag her toward the woodshed.

Just then, a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six approached. He wore his long hair half-tied in a topknot, and the collar of his sky-blue silk robe was slightly open. His eyes were deep and spirited, and a scholarly air surrounded him.

“The Eldest Young Master has returned! The Old Master is in the Third Young Master’s room. Would you like to go as well?” the servant quickly flattered.

“Mm. What’s happened to her?” Xu Zixing, the Eldest Young Master, asked, his gaze resting on Lanzhi.

“This girl was bold enough to poison the Third Young Master. The Old Master ordered her to be forced to take medicine and then left to her fate,” the servant replied.

Xu Zixing said nothing. He walked over to Lanzhi, gently swept the hair from her cheek behind her ear, and tucked a little yellow wildflower he had plucked into her hair. In a soft voice, he said, “What I admire most about you is your caution and restraint. With this flower, you’re beautiful—just as you were when I first met you…”

Lanzhi opened her mouth but made no sound, her eyes full of emotion as she blushed and gazed at Xu Zixing. She touched the little flower, then after a moment said to the servant beside her, “Let’s go.”

The servants led Lanzhi away. After a few steps, she looked back at Xu Zixing, catching only the sight of his departing figure. She sighed softly and left.

At the door to Xu Zixian, the Third Young Master’s room, Xu Zixing pushed the door open and entered.

The Old Master, upon seeing him, was immediately angered. He seized a teacup and flung it at the half-open door. A shard of porcelain grazed Xu Zixing’s jaw, drawing a sharp line of blood—a striking sight.

Xu Zixing’s expression did not change as he wiped the blood from his chin. Glancing up, he asked, “Father, why are you so angry? What has happened?”

“As if you didn’t know! You encouraged your brother to seize power, endangered Xian’er’s life, and even tried to drive a wedge between us as father and son. What are you plotting?” The Old Master vented all his grievances at once.

“Father, you wrong me. Whenever Second Brother was troubled, I only tried to comfort him with conversation. As for Third Brother, he’s the youngest and naturally receives more affection. As for seizing power—there’s nothing of the sort. Second Brother, have I ever asked you to harm Third Brother or vie for the position of master?” Xu Zixing turned to question Xu Zichu.

“No, but you did say that Third Brother is strong, and if he were to bathe in the Celestial Spring, his claim to the position would become even stronger,” Xu Zichu replied anxiously.

“Second Brother, but did I ever tell you to do anything to Third Brother?”

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“This…” Xu Zichu thought for a moment, then shook his head helplessly.

“There you have it. I hope Father will judge wisely,” Xu Zixing said, bowing respectfully.

The Old Master was not fooled—he knew well Xu Zixing’s hand in these matters, yet there was no evidence to be found. The second son was simply too easily swayed, led into this foolishness. The eldest son’s mind was always deep and difficult to fathom. After this, he’d need to be even more cautious.

After a moment, the Old Master considered the number of outsiders present. It was not the time to punish his own sons. So, he politely said to the young physician, “Doctor, may I trouble you to check my son’s condition? Will he recover now?”

The young physician went to the bedside and felt the pulse. After a while, he said, “Miss Qin’s methods were indeed excellent. As long as the Third Young Master rests and continues her regimen, he will surely recover.”

“Good! Good! I am deeply grateful to you both. The thousand taels of gold I promised will not be withheld. It’s late—please stay in the guest rooms for the night,” the Old Master said, already instructing his staff to prepare the banknotes for gold.

Qin Xiaomo stood beside Qian Mubai, hearing the Old Master make no mention of the promised wish, so she asked, “Old Master, does your promise of a wish still hold?”

“Of course, of course! I nearly forgot,” the Old Master said with a broad smile. “Does the Seer have a wish she would like fulfilled?”

“I do,” Qin Xiaomo paused, then continued.

“Please, speak freely. If it’s within my power,” the Old Master encouraged.

“I wish to bathe in the Celestial Spring to enhance my spiritual power,” Qin Xiaomo stated directly.

The Old Master hesitated, but Xu Qinxian grew angry. She had hurried back expressly to use the spring to break through the eighth level of Earth stage. “Don’t even think about it!” she declared.

“Qinxiang, enough!” the Old Master scolded.

At this, Qian Mubai, who had remained silent, spoke: “Old Master, are you intending to go back on your word?”

The Old Master knew Qian Mubai was there to support Qin Xiaomo. To offend the Princess of Mirror Void would bring him no benefit. After careful thought, he decided, “Very well! My word is my bond. Tomorrow is the day the Celestial Spring reappears. You shall accompany me then.”

“Father!” Xu Qinxian tried to protest. Anything Qin Xiaomo wanted, especially if it involved Qian Mubai, she was loath to give.

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“All of you, return to your rooms. You have worked hard for the sake of my son. I thank you all for saving his life,” the Old Master said sincerely, bowing in gratitude. He glanced at Xu Zichu and added, “I have family matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you here any longer.”

“Old Master, your words are too kind. We are in no position to involve ourselves in your family affairs. We’ll return to our rooms,” Qian Mubai replied, and the group left the Third Young Master’s quarters together.

“Father, how could you agree to such a request?” Xu Qinxian said, unwilling to accept it.

“Don’t think I don’t know your heart. Qian Mubai already has a wife. It may not be publicly announced, but knowing the Old Princess’s love for her son, it’s almost certain. Let go of your hopes,” the Old Master tried to dissuade her.

“Father, I love Mubai—if I must be a concubine, I am willing,” Xu Qinxian insisted, causing Xu Zichu to lose patience.

“Sister, as the daughter of the Master of Goldvale, how can you demean yourself to be someone’s concubine? Have you no shame?”

“What of it? Our mothers were concubines, yet Father has always treated us well,” Xu Qinxian replied. She had never lacked for anything compared to the legitimate children.

“Never mind what you want—did you not see how affectionate Qian Mubai was with Miss Qin today? There’s no place for you,” the Old Master said, recalling Qian Mubai’s protectiveness toward Qin Xiaomo.

“Father, that Qin woman is nothing but a useless fool. No one knows where she came from, and suddenly she’s Mubai’s wife. Who knows what low schemes she used?” Xu Qinxian rolled her eyes, growing more agitated as she spoke.

Xu Zixian, lying in bed, could not bear to hear Qin Xiaomo maligned, even by his own half-sister. He said, “Miss Qin is not as you describe. She is kind, gentle, wise, calm in a crisis, and upright. Do not slander her.”

“Third Brother, with all those compliments, could it be you have feelings for her?” Xu Qinxian teased.

Hearing this, Xu Zixian flushed red, then pale, embarrassed. “Don’t talk nonsense. Miss Qin is a married woman; don’t make fun of me.”

Seeing his reaction, Xu Qinxian was delighted. She hurried to his bedside and whispered, “If you really like her, let’s work together to break them apart, shall we?”

“Don’t speak so carelessly. Better to break a temple than a marriage,” he retorted, turning away. Yet despite his words, a trace of hope lingered in his heart.