The couple, Master Qian and his wife, noticed the person beside them had fallen silent. Just as Master Qian was about to speak again, the words lingering on the tip of his tongue, the figure beside him vanished in the blink of an eye, only to reappear…
Feng Jin Yue gazed at the Millennial Fire Spirit Mushroom right before her eyes. With such a rich aura of fire spirit, its quality was truly beyond reproach. Fortunately, she had already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage and could protect herself with her Innate True Fire. She casually plucked it and stored it in her Spirit Ring space.
Just as she was about to turn back, she noticed a layer of red light seeping out from the soil after the Fire Spirit Mushroom was harvested. She brushed away the soil and uncovered a Crimson Molten Fire Crystal growing alongside it. This material was used for crafting top-tier fire-attribute Magical Artifacts.
This trip had not only been highly profitable but overwhelmingly so. Since arriving in this world, it was the first time she had obtained two treasures at once.
Seeing the approaching figure, the Qian couple exchanged glances. So, the Medicine King in their ancestral land, which no one could approach, had been effortlessly harvested by this person?
Feng Jin Yue could clearly sense their shock and confusion, but she paid it little mind. She simply said, “Master Qian’s ‘illness’ has been cured by me. I’ve taken what I came for and will take my leave now. Farewell.”
After taking two steps, Feng Jin Yue paused slightly, turned back to Master Qian, and added, “Before I go, let me give you one more reminder.”
Master Qian snapped back to reality, not daring to show the slightest neglect. “Please… Senior, enlighten me.”
“The parasite in your body is called the ‘Essence-Devouring Parasite.’ It often enters the body through food and drink, devouring one’s vital energy and causing depletion of essence and blood. Over time, you will grow weaker and weaker. No matter how many physicians you consult, they will never find the cause. Your death would occur without a ripple. I’ve heard that the Qian family is one of the four great merchants of the capital, with vast wealth and influence. Ponder carefully on this.”
Upon hearing this, Master Qian was deeply shaken. Whoever stood to inherit the family leadership seamlessly after his death would be the most suspicious. Lost in thought, his brow furrowed tightly. By the time he regained his composure, the person before him had long since departed.
Meanwhile, Feng Jin Yue exited the Qian family ancestral grounds by the same path. She had no time to meddle in the Qian family’s internal affairs. Finding Xu Fu, she said, “Let’s go. Everything’s settled.”
Without another word, Xu Fu immediately followed her.
Once inside the carriage, Xu Fu said with a smile, “It seems the ‘Medicine King’ in the Qian family ancestral land did not disappoint you, Master.”
Feng Jin Yue replied nonchalantly, “It was quite satisfactory. If similar situations arise in the future and they seek you out, I wouldn’t mind intervening.”
“Master means, as long as the ‘price’ is right—like the ‘Medicine King’ in the Qian ancestral land that even internal martial arts experts couldn’t approach?”
“Clever.”
“Yes, I understand,” Xu Fu responded earnestly. “Master, I must return to the Jiangnan headquarters tomorrow, but I will report any news to you immediately.”
“Mm.” Feng Jin Yue lifted the small carriage curtain and said to the coachman outside, “Stop up ahead.”
As the carriage gradually came to a halt, Feng Jin Yue glanced at Xu Fu. “Is there something else?”
“Regarding the Empress Dowager’s arranged marriage… Many are watching since your return to the capital. Will you marry the Regent and become the Regent Consort?”
Mentioning this matter inevitably made Feng Jin Yue think of that fellow Qi Bei Han—especially how he had recognized her as the one who saved him at Tianshan and was so adamant about it. What a nuisance.
Seeing Feng Jin Yue remain silent, Xu Fu quickly said, “My lady has her own considerations in her actions. This subordinate spoke out of turn and begs for your forgiveness.”
“It’s fine.” Feng Jin Yue seemed lost in thought as she asked Xu Fu, “Do you think there is anyone in this world capable of recognizing a person in disguise at a single glance?”
“Of others, this subordinate cannot say, but for my lady, it is certainly impossible.”
Feng Jin Yue shook her head with a light laugh, yet Qi Bei Han happened to be the exception. Without saying more, she alighted from the carriage and headed straight back to the General’s Manor.
Xu Fu watched her disappearing figure, taking a long moment to collect himself before instructing the coachman to return. He knew well that his lady’s affairs were never his place to worry about or inquire into.
General’s Manor.
Feng Jin Yue stealthily slipped into her own courtyard, but from the moment she entered the manor, she had a faint sense that something was amiss. This feeling grew stronger upon returning to her courtyard. Suddenly, the chatter of several maids reached her ears—
“Earlier, the Regent King personally came to our manor to deliver the Empress Dowager’s oral decree, summoning our young lady to the palace for an audience tomorrow. But why did the Regent King dismiss everyone to speak with the young lady alone, even having the master and mistress step aside?”
“The marriage between the Regent King and our young lady was decreed by the Empress Dowager herself. It’s only natural for them to want to talk privately. Since the master and mistress didn’t object, you all shouldn’t speculate and gossip idly.”
Hearing their conversation, Feng Jin Yue was inwardly fuming. The Empress Dowager’s oral decree should have been delivered by palace messengers. That fellow Qi Bei Han came in person—on purpose, no doubt. And now he even…
Damn—
At that very moment, a transmitted voice reached her: Since you’re back, come inside already.
He could already perform sound transmission—this guy’s internal energy was remarkably profound for his young age!
Without further hesitation, Feng Jin Yue revealed herself. She saw Qi Bei Han seated in her bamboo chair, with Qian Zhu kneeling to the side. Damn it all! The disguise and appearance-changing techniques she had taught Qian Zhu could even fool her own parents, let alone others. Yet Qi Bei Han alone…
Qian Zhu cautiously glanced at her young lady, then immediately bowed her head again, kneeling prostrate on the ground.
Qi Bei Han cast a cold glance at the kneeling maid. “The disguise technique is quite clever.”
“Your Highness’s words are truly sarcastic. A disguise technique that can be seen through is as good as useless—hardly ‘clever’ by any measure,” Feng Jin Yue said sternly. “I have returned. Whatever you wish to discuss, speak with me directly. Let her leave first.”
Without hearing the Regent King’s permission, Qian Zhu remained kneeling there, not daring to move recklessly.
Silence filled the room, so profound that even the faint sound of a breeze from outside the window could be heard with unusual clarity.
After a moment, Qi Bei Han spoke in an icy tone, “Leave.”
Noticing Qian Zhu’s worried expression, Feng Jin Yue reassured her, “Go on for now. Leave this to me.”
After Qian Zhu had left, Feng Jin Yue fixed her gaze on Qi Bei Han. “Your Highness appearing here at this moment was intentional, wasn’t it!”
Meeting Feng Jin Yue’s eyes, Qi Bei Han’s tone softened considerably compared to before. “Naturally. In this Eastern Mausoleum City, every person and every matter is under my control. Moreover, the four great merchant families of the capital have always been under the Qi family’s influence. I am fully aware of the Qian family’s affairs. I had thought your visit to the Qian family would keep me waiting longer, but you returned sooner than expected.”
Feng Jin Yue frowned slightly. “Is Your Highness so certain your judgment is flawless?”
Qi Bei Han stood up, took two steps forward, and approached Feng Jin Yue. He lowered his gaze, locking it intently on her, and said in a deep voice, “This prince never forgets a face, especially that of his life-saving benefactor.”
Feng Jin Yue: “…”