Chapter 518 - Disciple
Chapter 518 – Disciple
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Qi Qingyao waited anxiously in her room. She was not sure if Li Ruoxuan would take Erniu in or not. After all, this high and mighty State Preceptor was not easy to talk to. He would never do things that did not benefit him.
However, at this moment, she had no choice but to think strategically to quickly pave the way for her children while she was still safe.
She waited for a little longer.
Zhu Shen came to the courtyard.
Qi Qingyao’s heart skipped a beat.
He bowed slightly and spoke.
“Lady Qi, His Excellency said that Erniu is going to perform a ceremony to honor her master. As her parent, you ought to go attend it.”
“…”
Qi Qingyao raised her brows, and her eyes flickered. She looked at Zhu Shen with a smile and responded, “Let’s go together!”
As soon as she walked into the courtyard where Li Ruoxuan was, she saw Erniu standing at the entrance, happily waiting for her.
As Qi Qingyao got closer, Erniu excitedly took Qi Qingyao’s hand and said, “Mommy, he agreed to be my master.”
After hearing this, Qi Qingyao caressed Erniu’s face with a smile that could not be concealed. “Then congratulations to the State Preceptor on gaining such an excellent disciple.”
Dabao and Xiaobao pouted at the same time, looking at Erniu with a little jealousy.
Erniu would learn martial arts soon. Once she learned it, she would be able to beat the two of them up!
Although Xiaobao was jealous, he was still sensible—so, he said in a hum, “Congratulations to our Erniu for getting another grand master as her master!”
Dabao’s jealousy came and went quickly. He was happy for Erniu. “That’s right, your master is the State Preceptor of Northern Liang! Erniu will have an anchor from now on.” Erniu’s anchor was equivalent to his anchor—and also indirectly equivalent to his mother’s anchor!
Erniu heard the words and said a little embarrassedly, “I haven’t honored my master yet!!”
The three of them followed Erniu into the main hall. Li Ruoxuan was sitting on the quaint scented rosewood chair, and he glanced at Qi Qingyao calmly.
Qi Qingyao pretended to be nonchalant and sat aside with Dabao and Xiaobao.
The maid entered with the tea tray.
Erniu imitated the adults, picking up the lidded-teacup with both hands and kneeling with grace. She said cautiously but proudly, “Qi Yunxi serves tea for Master Li Ruoxuan. Thank you, master, for taking me in as your disciple!”
Her soft and gentle voice was like a freshly steamed soft bun, which was ridiculously cute.
Li Ruoxuan’s pitch black left eye was filled with a calm and deep light. He said mysteriously, “Upon becoming my disciple, you have to listen to me, and do everything I tell you to do during your practice!”
“Yes, master,” Erniu answered obediently and softly.
“Once a master, always a master! You must remember this,” Li Ruoxuan said again.
“Yes, master,” Erniu continued to answer.
“Your master’s words are as important as your mother’s words! Understand?”
“Understood.”
Erniu’s raven eyes were filled with frustration. Without waiting for Li Ruoxuan to speak again, she said hurriedly.
“Master, can you pick up the teacup first? My hands can’t hold the teacup any longer, and it will be bad if it falls!”
“…”
Li Ruoxuan paused. He was silent for a moment, then picked up the teacup impassively.
Erniu immediately heaved a sigh of relief and even wiped the sweat on her forehead. Only then did she look up at Li Ruoxuan with a cute, lovely face.
After Li Ruoxuan drank a few sips of hot tea and put down the teacup, he spoke.
“Get up. There’s no need to kneel anymore, the ceremony is over. From here on out, you are my disciple.”
Erniu stood up very happily and even brushed the dust off her little skirt. Then, she grinned and said, “Master, I’m really happy for you.”
Li Ruoxuan, “…” Happy for him about what? Li Ruoxuan did not quite understand.
Erniu patted her chest with pride. “You got to take in a disciple as excellent as me! You must have burned eight lifetimes worth of high-quality incense sticks.”
Li Ruoxuan, “…”
Motherf*cker! He really regretted taking in this disciple!
How could she be so similar to Qi Qingyao? Shameless!
What an annoying little kid.
Qi Qingyao continuously nodded in approval beside them.
Li Ruoxuan scrunched his brows upon seeing it.
Dammit, had he been set up!!
This little girl had just wanted to look for an anchor.
Li Ruoxuan pretended to be calm and said, “Zhu Shen, have the kitchen prepare more dishes in the afternoon! And prepare some wine. I’m going to have a few drinks with my disciple’s mother!”
…
…
The Head Grand Secretariat’s residence.
After Zhao Xin came back with Jiang Yeqian, he noticed that His Excellency was acting very strange that day. From the moment he returned and entered the house, he was visibly restless—like an ant on a hot pot.
He neither sat nor stood still.
He kept pacing around the front hall.
He did not drink a sip of tea nor eat a mouthful of rice.
After pacing continuously for an hour, Zhao Xin, who was standing to the side, could not take it anymore.
He lowered his eyes, bowed, and asked, “Your Excellency, you keep pacing around. What’s the matter?”
“…”
Jiang Yeqian only paused for a second before he started pacing again. The expression on his face was still that of anxiety.
This made Zhao Xin even more puzzled. Could it be that something big had happened in the Zhaixing Administration, or that something big had happened to other heads of the administrations and halls? He did not know anything and did not dare to ask, only speaking softly.
“Your Excellency, you’re pacing around so much it makes Zhao Xin feel dizzy…”
Jiang Yeqian paused again. He looked at the afternoon sun outside and sighed heavily, “Aih…”
Just listening to this long sigh revealed the mixed feelings, helplessness, and apprehension behind it. Zhao Xin said with concern in his eyes, “Your Excellency, if there’s anything you’d like to say, Zhao Xin can share your burden and alleviate your worries. Please feel free to talk about it.”
Jiang Yeqian turned around and stared at Zhao Xin quietly for a while. His expression was a little hesitant, but after a while, he uttered two words.
“Nothing’s wrong!”
“…” There was clearly something wrong!!
Zhao Xin felt like he was going crazy.
Jiang Yeqian then paced around for some more. He paused again, turned around, then looked at Zhao Xin with bright eyes.
His tone was mildly upset.
“Zhao Xin.”
Zhao Xin clasped his fist with his other hand in a salute and said seriously, “Your Excellency!! If you have any commands, please tell Zhao Xin. Zhao Xin is your right-hand man, your loyal servant. Zhao Xin will definitely go through great lengths to do whatever you want him to!”
“I’m done for.” When Jiang Yeqian said these three words, his dark, cool eyes were shining as if they were on fire.
“Ah?” What did he mean by ‘done for’? What was His Excellency talking about? Zhao Xin said in confusion, “Your Excellency, you’re fine. Why would you be done for?”
Jiang Yeqian closed his eyes, and a cold pain flashed across them. He muttered to himself, “I may have made a very bad decision.”
“…??” His Excellency had always been very calm, so he couldn’t have made a bad decision—Zhao Xin wondered on the inside about what it was.
“I…” Jiang Yeqian’s eyes were half-lidded, and he looked slightly panicked.
“Huh?” Zhao Xin was confused.
Jiang Yeqian suddenly opened his eyes. His expression surged, and dark energy streamed across his eyes.
“I think I might really like Qi Qingyao…”
“…”
Zhao Xin was stunned for a second.
Had he… just realized this?
‘You have always made it clear that you quite fancy Lady Qi…’