Free Web NovelChapter 658: Chapter 658: I’m Not Dying That Soon
The first time sneaking into the National Master Mansion to deliver food to the teacher was a brief yet thrilling experience, albeit without danger.
However, just as the two of them came out, the real maid delivering food arrived, and the ruse was exposed.
But this didn’t stump Liu Ji; his wife had plenty of ideas.
The second time they infiltrated the National Master Mansion was at noon. The two servants attending to Gongliang Liao were dozing off by the door, while the back window was pried open.
Qin Yao sent Liu Ji inside and applied some of Ah Wang’s special knockout powder to the two servants, then waited outside by the window.
This trick worked quite well and was used for three consecutive days.
With arms crossed, Qin Yao waited beneath the window. Seeing Liu Ji jubilantly jumping down with the empty lunchbox, she teasingly asked, "Did you get a good look?"
Liu Ji nodded, "Mm-hmm."
Qin Yao: "Alright, let’s go and come back tomorrow."
Liu Ji immediately beamed at her, his heart shouting inwardly: Such a wonderful wife, I’ll be her ox and horse for life!
Climbing over the wall of the National Master Mansion, Liu Ji looked at the bustling pedestrians with a sigh, "It’s going so smoothly."
Surprised, Qin Yao raised an eyebrow and took a special look at him.
He was contemplating what treats to buy on the way home to amuse the kids, not paying her any mind, seemingly just making a casual remark.
Qin Yao sneered, clearly, he couldn’t be expected to have too high expectations. freewebnøvel.coɱ
"Indeed, it’s going smoothly," she said softly.
So smoothly, it felt like they had an inside connection, entering and leaving the National Master Mansion unscathed.
Liu Ji was still thinking about getting some refreshing items for the teacher next time. The climate in the Capital is warmer than their hometown, and one could wear short sleeves in April.
He completely missed the deeper meaning in Qin Yao’s words.
...
On this day, as usual, the knockout powder put the two servants inside the room into a deep slumber. Liu Ji entered with the food, muttering while setting up an extra meal for the teacher:
"Teacher, you can’t go on like this. Relying solely on this one meal a day won’t do. You have to live to ninety-nine. If you’re ill, we need to treat it; if there’s medicine, we need to take it. Even if the National Master Mansion’s food is hard to swallow, you need to eat a bit more to gain strength..."
As the weather got hotter, he brought green bean paste and some pastries made by Ah Wang.
The Qin Feng household recently added a new oven to the kitchen, allowing them to make sponge cakes again, and they’ve been eating cakes until they’re full lately.
Responding to Qin Yao’s call, Ah Wang and Yin Le have started pondering how to make bubble tea powder for her.
It was out of sheer idleness, and having a task at hand naturally meant putting in full effort.
Gongliang Liao ate the soft cake with the refreshing green bean paste, listening to the murmurs by his ear and glancing at the room’s setup identical to the Lotus Courtyard’s. For a moment, it felt like he was back in that carefree small village—comfortable and free.
After finishing the cake and most of the green bean paste, the old man finally stopped with satisfaction, wiping his mouth and looking at the enthusiastic Liu Ji, who was saying he’d come again tomorrow. He sighed helplessly.
"Don’t come tomorrow."
Liu Ji thought something was up the next day, so he responded with an "Oh," saying, "Then we’ll come the day after tomorrow."
A warmth faded in Gongliang Liao’s eyes, "What I mean is, don’t come again in the future."
Actually, the food in the National Master Mansion wasn’t bad, nor was Liu San’s cooking particularly remarkable. His enjoyment came merely from the pleasant memories the food brought.
But there must be a limit to indulgence, and as things stood, it was enough.
"Go back and finish the books I left for you. This will equip you for the spring examination. In life, one shouldn’t need someone to drive them forward. You must understand one thing: if you want to become better, you can only rely on your own efforts."
Gongliang Liao put down the bowl of green bean paste. Having eaten the comforting food these past few days, he indeed regained some strength, and the medicine from the Imperial Hospital helped as well. Forcing himself to drink a few bowls improved even his breathing.
But he was also acutely aware that his bodily Qi and blood were nearly exhausted, and the time he had left was running thin.
Liu Ji was taken aback and exclaimed urgently, "Teacher, don’t worry, I’m not afraid of that damn State Preceptor. I’ll find Senior Brother; we’ll think of a way to get you out, really!"
Gongliang Liao admitted that hearing these words warmed his heart, but he couldn’t drag two good disciples down with him.
"Liu Ji!" He called sternly, uncharacteristically strict, "If you still regard me as your teacher, heed my words and continue being Liu San. Don’t get mixed up in the troubles of the Capital."
"Don’t let the disciple I cultivated with effort die young!" Gongliang Liao gritted his teeth, now truly angry.
Liu Ji instinctively shrank back a little; the teacher was scary when angry. He meekly said, "But I can’t just watch my teacher go hungry and cold here."
Feeling the heat, Gongliang Liao glared at him and said harshly, "The suffering I’m enduring is my own doing, unrelated to others. You and the Immortal Official don’t have the power to make me suffer. You’re just an ordinary person; don’t mistakenly add a heroic aura to yourself!"
To put it bluntly, if it weren’t for Yao Niang, the three of them would never have been able to meet again in this life as master and disciple.
Liu Ji thought the National Master Mansion was a place he could freely come and go. In reality, without Yao Niang, he wouldn’t even find the mansion’s main entrance.
Looking at the silhouette outside the window, Gongliang Liao said coldly, "Leave with Yao Niang, and if anyone asks later, don’t say you’re a disciple of Gongliang Liao."
Liu Ji was suddenly struck, confusion filled his eyes. He couldn’t understand why things were fine a moment ago, yet suddenly the teacher threw a childish tantrum and started spouting nonsense.
He reached out and touched Gongliang Liao’s forehead, murmuring, "No fever, huh."
Then, defiantly, he asked, "What about Senior Brother then? Can’t Qi Xian be said to be your disciple too?"
Gongliang Liao: "..."
Liu Ji chuckled, flipping his hair with a self-satisfied look, "I know you don’t want to drag me and Senior Brother down, but I’m not meddling at all. I’m just bringing some good food for the teacher, can’t I come to see you?"
"I promised I’d provide for the teacher in old age; a man of his word, just as you taught me, so I’ll serve you until the end." Liu Ji said sincerely.
"You!" Gongliang Liao, in a hurry, coughed twice, scaring both master and disciple into checking the two unconscious servants. Seeing they were still asleep, they let out a collective sigh of relief.
Unable to hold back, Gongliang Liao raised his hand and gave Liu Ji a soft knock on the head.
Liu Ji rubbed his forehead. Compared to his wife’s slaps, the teacher’s hit was nothing, like a tickle, and he mischievously gave Gongliang Liao a look that almost caused a heart attack.
In truth, Liu Ji was well aware of his own abilities. While patting the teacher’s back to help him catch his breath, he whispered in his ear:
"Teacher, just order whatever you want to eat, and I’ll find a way to get it. I don’t care for the affairs of the Princess or Crown Prince at all. I just want you to eat and drink well, live comfortably, and peacefully."
Gongliang Liao’s newly settled breath flared up again—damn it! I’m not dying anytime soon!
