Free Web NovelChapter 664: Chapter 664: The Light in His Eyes Fades
Regarding the employment arrangements with Mu Ling, Wang Jin, Song Zhang, and the others, fearing my dear brother would be startled, I brushed it off lightly as "occasionally earning some extra cash".
Qin Feng had a question, "Then how did you get involved with those two high-profile connections?"
He was referring to the Crown Prince and the Princess Mansion.
Qin Yao sighed, rubbing her temples absentmindedly, "It’s a long story, but it all connects back to your meddlesome brother-in-law."
Originally, she just wanted to make some money quietly, but who would have thought that a teacher-student bond would draw out all these big shots.
Brother-in-law? Which brother-in-law?
Qin Feng belatedly realized, he only had this one sister in front of him.
Oh, she means Liu Ji.
But from the way she sounded, he thought he had another brother-in-law.
Qin Feng gave Qin Yao a disgruntled look, thinking, ’Honestly, you two don’t seem very close as a couple.’
Qin Yao coughed lightly, shifted Qin Feng’s focus, and brought the topic back, briefly explaining the relationship between Gongliang Liao and Liu Ji, as well as Gongliang Liao’s connection with the State Preceptor and the Crown Prince. Bai He was also mentioned briefly.
Hearing that Qin Yao had actually beaten Bai He until he vomited blood, Qin Feng’s heart nearly jumped out, reluctant to scold and after being stuck for words for a long time, reminded lightly: "You can’t be so reckless in the future!"
Qin Yao nodded, "Got it." If it had been her, she surely wouldn’t have been so rash.
Qin Feng understood then, it must be Liu Ji, this man, who’s bringing trouble to his sister.
Just as he was about to say something, the tightly closed room door was suddenly pushed open, and the already departing Liu Ji strode in.
Astonished, he asked, "Wife, what did you say? Sikong Jian is actually the teacher’s senior disciple?"
Qin Feng was startled by his sudden appearance and asked puzzled, "Weren’t you leaving?"
"I just came back." Qin Yao answered for Liu Ji.
Qin Feng was speechless, realizing she knew he was eavesdropping.
Looking at Liu Ji’s face, red with anxiety and even more strikingly handsome, Qin Feng’s temples throbbed.
Darn it, his sister was surely charmed by this vixen, unconcerned with the eavesdropping; then wasn’t everything they just talked about overheard by outsiders?
Qin Yao, seemingly aware of what her brother was thinking, gave him a reassuring look, indicating that Liu Ji heard none of what shouldn’t be heard.
However, regarding the matter of Sikong Jian, Qin Yao thought telling Liu Ji was okay, letting him know that in this court, even formerly close teacher and student relationships could break due to differing positions.
"Why did you come back early when I hadn’t even called for you?" Qin Yao asked displeased.
Liu Ji, still processing the explosive news of his teacher being the National Master’s disciple, was momentarily stunned by her questioning before replying with a touch of irritation:
"Wife, weren’t you about to bathe? I prepared the bathwater, worried it would cool, so I came to call you."
Of course, the brother-in-law’s share wasn’t forgotten.
Liu Ji suppressed his shock, nodding at Qin Feng, who looked heartbroken, "Brother, yours is ready too. You’ve had a tiring day; a soak will relieve fatigue."
The word "brother" made Qin Feng bristle with goosebumps and he stood up, stating seriously: "You should still call me brother-in-law."
He instructed Qin Yao to get up early the next day to go to the west of the city to look at houses, then went to rest in the attic.
Liu Ji followed Qin Yao into her room, telling her where the fresh clothes were and took away her discarded outerwear to wash. Before closing the door, he couldn’t help asking excitedly:
"Are we going to look at houses tomorrow?"
Qin Yao: "Yes."
Liu Ji’s eyes lit up and he intentionally said, "Didn’t you say we can’t use brother-in-law’s silver?"
"Exactly." Qin Yao turned back, proudly curling her lips, "We can’t use it, but I can."
Liu Ji: "See you!"
With a slam, he shut the door, approached the water tank with a cold face, and drew water to wash her clothes, scrubbing vigorously. Jealousy made him crazy, wishing he could tear the clothes apart.
The sound of washing clothes in the yard went on for quite a while before suddenly quieting down. Qin Yao didn’t care, relaxing completely in the bath, closed her eyes comfortably, and enjoyed being enveloped by the hot water.
She couldn’t soak for too long; after more than forty minutes, Qin Yao got out, dried off, dressed, and opened the door to dump the water.
Unexpectedly, a silhouette stood there, turning around upon hearing the door and asking with perplexity, hands on hips, "Wife, how can a disciple treat their own master like this?"
Why not just let the teacher retire peacefully in Liu Family Village!
Does differing positions mean you have to do something that hurts your own master?
Qin Yao shrugged, "I don’t understand, no comment."
"Move aside, you’re blocking me from pouring water."
Qin Yao signaled for him to step aside, dragged the big tub outside, emptied the water into the drainage ditch, and carried the empty tub back to the room.
Clapping her hands, she closed the door and lay down.
Liu Ji stood outside her door for a while, thinking and thinking without a conclusion, decisively giving up and went to sleep.
They’d be house-hunting tomorrow~
With no need to visit the National Master Mansion temporarily, Liu Ji thought he could finally sleep in a little in the morning.
But unexpectedly, at the first crow of a rooster, he jumped up in bed.
The world outside was still shrouded in twilight, not yet dawn.
He intended to get back to sleep, but from the room next door came a soft sound of reading aloud.
Second Lang, you’re really something!
The competitive spirit was stoked, sleep became impossible, so he hurried to get up, lit the candles, and tied on the ’Wenquxing Protection’ headband that had accompanied him for many years, determined to work hard!
Ever since leaving Liu Family Village, most of his time had been spent traveling, and upon arriving in the Capital, he was immediately caught up meeting Gongliang Liao, with studies paused for over a month.
Liu Ji retrieved the book box, took out the books and notes left by the teacher, opened the window to the chilly morning breeze, and read softly.
Immersed in the ocean of knowledge, troubles dissipated, the mind gradually cleared, and his restless heart calmed.
The sky was turning light.
Ah Wang and Yin Le got up, Yin Le tidied the yard and cleaned the stables, while Ah Wang prepared breakfast for the family.
Second Lang’s reading voice grew louder, Da Lang also got up, practicing with his small sword in the middle of the yard.
Sanlang and Si Niang lazed in bed for a while, seeing that the household chores were under control, and went back to sleep.
When the morning light spilled into the yard, the door of the east wing finally swung open, Qin Yao stretched and walked out.
First, she pointed out a few moves to Da Lang, then loosely gathered all her hair into a bun, and crouched in the corridor for strength training, energizing her entire body.
After mother and son finished their exercises, feeling refreshed, they had breakfast.
"Is Uncle still sleeping late?"
Sanlang rubbed his bleary eyes, secretly delighted, realizing he wasn’t the last lazy one.
Si Niang eagerly raised her hand, volunteering, "Mother, I’ll go wake up Uncle!"
Qin Yao nodded with a smile, "Go ahead, call him over for breakfast. Afterward, we’re all going out to look at houses today."
The children asked with surprise, "We can go too?"
Qin Yao nodded, "Yes, everyone." After all, she’s not the one looking after the kids; the more, the merrier.
Sanlang cheered happily, "Oh oh! Off to see the new house~"
Da Lang and Second Lang’s eyes sparkled brightly with smiles.
But for babysitter Liu Ji, the light in his eyes instantly faded.
