Free Web NovelChapter 654: Chapter 654: What Exactly Did She Say
"Crack!" the sound echoed.
It startled Qin Yao, who was on the rooftop.
Seeing that Gongliang Liao was entirely unresponsive, like a dead man impervious to any words, Sikong Jian angrily smashed the medicine bowl.
Sun Jiang cautiously inquired from outside the door, "Sir?"
The door opened, and Sikong Jian coldly ordered, "Nothing’s wrong, just have someone come in and clean up."
Sun Jiang quickly directed two servants at the door to enter, then cautiously asked again, "Sir, there is more medicine. Shall I continue to serve the teacher with it?"
Sikong Jian nodded, stood by the door, then looked up at the blue sky and white clouds outside the eaves. In the early summer, such a beautiful time, his teacher used to love taking him to the countryside to drink wine and test him on his studies.
From a young age, he loved Laozi and Zhuangzi, priding himself that no one understood non-action better than he did.
Later, following his teacher, he learned "Mathematics" and realized that everything big or small in the world could be controlled, even natural disasters. Everything could be traced and had order.
What was called "non-action" was actually "action." He mastered some so-called mystical Taoist skills, gaining the Holy Emperor’s favor and becoming the State Preceptor.
This should have been something the teacher would be proud of, right?
But the teacher accused him of taking a sinister path, misleading people’s hearts, and becoming estranged from him.
After the world was settled, new issues arose in the court: the tug-of-war for power between the Holy Empress and the Holy Emperor, the overt and covert battles between the external relatives and the Baili Family, the struggle of bloodlines between the Prince and the Holy Emperor, and the competition for favor between the Crown Prince and the Princess...
These were both family and state affairs, but the teacher refused to listen to his advice and got involved to uphold the so-called orthodoxy of the Holy Emperor, ending up in this state.
The fact that his relationship with his teacher had exhausted troubled Sikong Jian, and he could never understand why.
Of course, he didn’t care about the reason; everything moves forward, and reaching this point is fate.
In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Sun Jiang came out with an empty bowl.
Sikong Jian glanced inside the room, where the old man was pressed on the bed by two servants, not released until he swallowed the last mouthful of medicine.
Gongliang Liao was red-eyed with anger, glaring at the disheveled man at the door, as if wanting to bite him, his face full of curses, "Why did I choose this scoundrel back then?"
Cursing truly profanely, Sikong Jian thought to himself. Clearly, the old man hadn’t uttered a word. frёewebnoѵēl.com
"By the way, my subordinates told me, yesterday evening a quite handsome man came to the Prime Minister’s Mansion looking for the Immortal Official. Not finding him, he left."
Sikong Jian clicked his tongue curiously, "Everyone in the Capital should know the Old Prime Minister sent the Immortal Official to a villa in the suburbs to meditate in seclusion. Who would come looking for him?"
"Oh, and almost forgot to tell the teacher, I’ve already had all the items from the Lotus Courtyard moved here for you. Besides what’s currently in the house, is there anything else the teacher needs? I’ll have it brought over."
Saying this, Sikong Jian purposely met Gongliang Liao’s gaze and smiled at him,
"I heard from the villagers that Liu Ji’s family has come to the Capital to prepare for the spring imperial examination next year."
The words "Liu Ji" coming from Sikong Jian’s mouth nearly made Gongliang Liao think he misheard, his expression visibly startled.
Sikong Jian missed none of this reaction, sneering, "Just a mere rustic country bumpkin~"
"The Crown Prince is merciful, letting the scout sent to Liu Family Village live, allowing him to teach at that rundown village. And coincidentally, someone who was supposed to enter the Capital next year comes here early to prepare for the spring examination..."
He spoke on his own accord and left.
Inside, Gongliang Liao, and Qin Yao squatting on the rooftop, were full of disbelief.
Gongliang Liao: Has Liu Ji really come to the Capital?
Qin Yao: Liu Ji, you exposed yourself too quickly!
Besides the serving staff and patrolling guards, there were no other threats in the Pu Courtyard.
It was a great opportunity to meet Gongliang Liao, yet Qin Yao hesitated on the tiles.
Because she wasn’t sure how the old man would react to her appearance.
A strong-willed person, at their lowest, probably wouldn’t want someone close to them to see them.
But not eating or drinking, and coughing blood... I can’t be at ease without seeing it!
Qin Yao pried open a tile, and the bright noonday sunlight streamed through the gap, casting a beam of light onto Gongliang Liao’s hand hanging by the bed.
Quickly feeling the sun’s warmth, the old man who had his eyes closed suddenly opened them.
Because of what Sikong Jian said before leaving, the old man suddenly had a bold idea.
With some anticipation, a bit of caution, and a lot of doubt, he followed the beam of light on his hand upwards— ƒreewebɳovel.com
Only to see a mouth.
Gongliang Liao: ???
Qin Yao silently and clearly mouthed: Tomorrow morning, we will see you, hold on!
After repeating it three times, Qin Yao tilted her head, revealing an eye, and blinked.
The sunken eyes of Gongliang Liao instantly widened, it’s, it’s Liu Ji’s own wife!
Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, being led astray by Liu Ji!
Yao Niang, it’s Yao Niang!
Gongliang Liao was both delighted and scared, nearly springing up from his deathbed. Fortunately, his rationality remained, realizing there were servants present, so he suppressed his excitement and continued to play dead.
Qin Yao smirked, then added: Tonight I’ll bring you something tasty.
Thinking the person inside must have read her lip movements, she mused, ’The old man’s eyesight should still be good despite his age,’ and used the beautifully carved eaves of the National Master Mansion to make her retreat.
The tile was suddenly replaced, the beam of light vanished, and Gongliang Liao, anxious to the point of wanting to pound the bed—What did she say? What exactly did she say!
"Teacher?" The servant looked over suspiciously, feeling that something seemed off about the person on the bed.
Gongliang Liao immediately closed his eyes, continuing to feign death.
His surface remained calm, yet waves of emotion surged inside.
Unexpectedly, Liu Ji and Yao Niang had truly arrived in the Capital, and found him through such a manner.
Recalling what that scoundrel Sikong Jian had just said, Gongliang Liao was almost certain that Qin Yao and her husband entered the Capital for his sake.
Perhaps they learned of his current situation in the Capital from somewhere or someone, and worriedly rushed over.
Sigh~
Gongliang Liao sighed internally, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow.
The National Master Mansion was heavily guarded; Yao Niang alone might manage, but if she brought Liu Ji, how would they get in?
If discovered, who knows what that scoundrel Sikong Jian might do to them!
Yet a hint of delightful anticipation lay in his heart, he must allow Liu Ji to see him one last time.
Suddenly, from the Pu Courtyard came the joyful cries of a servant, "The teacher is willing to eat, the teacher wants to have a meal!"
By the lakeside, where he was toying with the stubborn Golden Peacock that refused to display its fan, Sikong Jian froze. Had just mentioning that rustic villager been that effective?
The teacher truly favored this disciple, after all.
