Free Web NovelChapter 704: Chapter 704: He Wasn’t Wearing a Hat
No one knows a child better than their father.
The same can be said for a teacher and disciple.
Although Gongliang Liao has already unilaterally kicked Sikong Jian out of the disciple list, he still saw through Sikong Jian’s little scheme at a glance.
Sikong Jian recounted how Qin Yao helped move the stone lion for him this afternoon, to which Gongliang Liao sighed inwardly: Just as I suspected.
"You’re not okay." Gongliang Liao stated confidently, "This is not love; you’re just panicking."
"You lack what others have. You thought you had everything under control, but actually, you have nothing grasped. Now you know to be afraid?"
Sikong Jian’s expression froze, slightly turned his head away, avoiding Gongliang Liao’s venomous gaze, while his hand hidden in his sleeve quietly clenched into a fist.
Gongliang Liao sneered, seeing that Sikong Jian, though heart-stricken, refused to leave but lingered on; he couldn’t be bothered to say anything more, and proceeded to pour himself a cup of tea.
Since he couldn’t sleep, he might as well fully awaken.
"Let me." Sikong Jian brushed aside Gongliang Liao’s bark-like old hand and poured a cup of tea for him.
Gongliang Liao glanced at him, "Move away." He still had the strength to pour tea himself and didn’t need his pretense.
Sikong Jian withdrew his hand sullenly and drank the tea himself.
"Teacher, who do you think the mysterious expert could be if not Qin Yao?" Sikong Jian asked to himself.
He didn’t expect Gongliang Liao to answer.
But to his surprise, the old man spoke.
"You don’t know who it is?" Gongliang Liao glanced at him, as if to say, you know full well.
He knew that Prince Feng was trouble, yet he allowed the Crown Prince to shield him, bringing disaster upon themselves.
What for?
Could the benefits Prince Feng brings really outweigh the troubles?
Moreover, with the Black Cavalry’s means, if they truly intended to kill a martial artist, would it be so difficult?
A mere opera singer evading the Black Cavalry’s pursuit must either be due to the Black Cavalry’s leniency, or someone is aiding the martial artist from behind.
Gongliang Liao originally didn’t want to think much about it, but seeing Sikong Jian loitering around recently forced him to ponder more.
So, he couldn’t help but suspect Sikong Jian orchestrated it all himself.
But why would he do so?
This was extremely detrimental to the Crown Prince. Now everyone in the Imperial Capital knows that the State Preceptor and the Crown Prince are allies. Does Sikong Jian think the Crown Prince’s downfall would benefit him?
As for what the benefits might be, Gongliang Liao couldn’t fathom any.
Unless... Sikong Jian had another patron!
Facing Gongliang Liao’s eyes that seemed to see through everything, Sikong Jian appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was greatly astonished.
Truth be told, his teacher’s eyes were truly piercing!
"Since teacher is unwilling to tell me, then so be it."
Sikong Jian stood up, unable to stay any longer, fearing that the longer he lingered, the more flaws he would reveal.
He couldn’t afford to provoke, nor avoid.
"Teacher, please rest. I will take my leave, not to disturb you further." Sikong Jian bowed and prepared to leave.
Gongliang Liao stopped him: "For the sake of our past teacher-disciple relationship, I will remind you one last time: you can vie for power, but don’t involve outsiders, especially not Yao Niang..."
"If you arrogantly think you can control her and do something beastly, offending her will truly be your death knell for you and your patron!"
Sikong Jian smiled faintly and bowed again, "Thank you for the reminder, teacher!"
"But—" Changing his tone, his expression turned cold, "As I am yet to marry, seeking a good partner for life is only normal."
Sikong Jian’s eyes were gloomy, thinking to himself that the old man’s so-called kind reminder was just to frighten him so that he wouldn’t harm his beloved young disciple.
If he truly cared, he should abandon his obstinacy and offer his service to the court to aid him!
Seeing Gongliang Liao’s face turning angry, Sikong Jian interjected before he could speak:
"Don’t worry, teacher. Since you cherish our past teacher-disciple bond, I naturally won’t obliterate your beloved young disciple."
"The only fear is that you overestimate your young disciple’s character. If he were to forsake a virtuous wife for wealth and power, then I..."
Gongliang Liao abruptly hurled a teacup at Sikong Jian, angrily demanding, "What are you up to?!"
Sikong Jian neither dodged nor evaded, allowing the teacup to hit him without pain or harm, shattering at his feet with a "crack".
With an evil grin, he said, "I’m not up to anything, just testing human nature. If he withstands the test, I naturally can’t do anything to him, right?"
"You!" Gongliang Liao pointed at him furiously, ultimately speechless, only able to sigh.
He couldn’t dare to expect anything from Liu Ji’s greedy, cowardly, cowardly, shameless nature.
But he was not entirely worthless—the ability to seek advantage and avoid harm had yet to find a match.
Ah, San, I can only help you this much; you must strive for yourself! Gongliang Liao lamented inwardly.
On second thought, Yao Niang having two children didn’t seem impossible.
No, no, no!
With Sikong Jian’s impure intentions, he was not a suitable match.
Watching Sikong Jian’s self-assured departure, Gongliang Liao felt a moment of disorientation.
Among his three disciples, the one most like him was this Sikong Jian, whom he liked the least.
This innate rebelliousness was just like his younger self!
However, as he aged, he became increasingly conservative.
Wait!
Was he really this hateful in his earlier days?
Gongliang Liao gazed at the swaying lanterns outside and fell into contemplation.
...
"Achoo!"
As the carriage pulled up to his own gate, Liu Ji sneezed heartily.
Rubbing his nose, he glanced at the pouring rain and quickly ushered his wife inside.
He took the carriage to the stable in the backyard and managed to get indoors just before the downpour.
Unsure if someone was cursing him behind his back, Liu Ji sneezed again while standing.
Qin Yao cast a side glance, "Could you be catching a cold?"
"What cap?" Liu Ji looked up teary-eyed, filled with confusion.
He awkwardly felt for the top of his head, finding only his hairpin; he wasn’t wearing a hat.
Qin Yao looked at Liu Ji feeling his head and shook her head silently, idiot!
She instructed Yin Le: "Do we have ginger at home? Make some ginger tea for your master to ward off the cold."
It wasn’t out of particular concern; it was just that if he fell ill, he couldn’t work, and without work, there would be no monthly allowance.
A position worth one hundred taels a month, in this age, only Sikong Jian of the National Master Mansion could afford such extravagance.
Liu Ji, on what merits and capabilities!
Yin Le understood her master’s meaning and promptly said, "We have ginger; I’ll make it right away."
"Hold on a moment." Qin Yao thought for a moment, "One bowl for each person; the weather’s alternating between cold and hot, better to prevent early."
Yin Le went to prepare as instructed.
Ah Wang brought the prepared dinner to the table. Once Yin Le brought the ginger tea, the family of eight, whether willingly or unwillingly, each drank half a bowl, before gathering at the table to enjoy a delicious dinner.
Qin Yao was genuinely hungry, finishing two large bowls of rice in one go before slowing down.
Recalling today’s events at the National Master Mansion’s gate, Liu Ji was quite excited.
He animatedly shared Qin Yao’s display of prowess with his family who hadn’t been there, continuously pondering how to reward his wife.
Thinking about it, his ears turned red.
With just a glance, Qin Yao could tell his mind was filled with indecent thoughts.
Just as she was about to give him a reprimanding flick, there was a knock at the door.
All eight family members exchanged glances; who could it be in this heavy rain?
