Chapter 37
Chapter 37: A Fascinating Glance
Hua Qiyue hurried to shake hands with her before jumping off the carriage.
Lv Xin looked at Ji Jing. She was happy that Hua Qiyue had known a lady from the Ji family.
Qiuyun’s face sank.
“How about this. My brother told me that your footwork is outstanding. How about we treat you to a meal?”
Ji Jing smiled with overwhelming enthusiasm, and Hua Qiyue was flattered. “This… As an idiot myself, I can’t afford it!”
Ji Feng was known to be the medicine saint of the Ji family. She had the confidence of her victory but did not want any connection with the Ji family. However, that was difficult as she realized that she still needed to be the disciple of the Ji family even if she had really won the tournament.
Of course, looking at this issue from another perspective, she would have an extra pair of hands to lend her help if she was met with difficulties in the future, especially since Miss Ji was from the impressive Ji family.
“You are too humble, Ms. Hua. Do follow me if you take me as your friend.” Ji Jing spoke fast, not wanting to force Hua Qiyue.
Hua Qiyue looked at Lv Xin and Qiuyun and agreed.
Ji Jing had a room in Dong Hai Restaurant. As she stepped into the restaurant, her heart was pouring with murderous intent.
She had seen Zhou Zhicheng. However, she was no longer attracted nor heartbroken. She had filled her heart with hatred, a hatred that could tear this man apart!
Everything around her was familiar and people were streaming into the luxurious restaurant. She remembered that she was the one who painstakingly managed and formed the restaurant.
Before her, Dong Hai teahouse was just a small teahouse.
However, after she was married into the family, she had tricks and plans that changed the menu to more delicious dishes, attracting numerous guests to come and visit, causing a small commotion and raising Zhou family into the ranks of the wealthy.
However, just when Hua Qiyue thought she could enjoy herself, that asshole Zhou Zhicheng had got together with Huizhen, tormenting her to death.
How could she not seek revenge? “Let’s not wait! Let me use this opportunity!”
An ice-cold simmer of light flashed across Hua Qiyue’s eyes as Housekeeper Chu came to fetch Ji Jing and her. The walked towards the south chamber and the host opened the door with reverence.
There were three men sitting by the sandalwood round table in the chamber, with two low-browed servants next to them.
Two men were young while the other was about 50 to 60 of age. However, he was energetic, with bright eyes.
The three men were Ji Zhong, Ji Yang, and Ji Feng.
They all sized Hua Qiyue up expressionlessly, concealing their inner thoughts. Hua Qiyue’s lips twitched as she gave an innocent and scared smile. Staring at the handsome Ji Feng, she stammered, “This is…”
“This is my big brother Ji Feng. My father, master of the family. And this is my second cousin Ji Yang…” Ji Jing introduced the men passionately while Hua Qiyue smiled shyly, greeting the men one by one.
No matter what, she must hide her shrewdness.
Ji Zhong looked at Hua Qiyue with appreciative eyes. Ji Feng and Ji Yang, however, concealed their inner feelings, passing the menu to Hua Qiyue politely.
Holding the menu, Hua Qiyue looked at the dishes on the table. They were all outstanding dishes that she invented, those that had been wildly popular.
Chang’e Baked Rabbit, Golden Beef, Prosperous Ginseng Soup… Each dish cost hundreds of pounds of silver! It did seem that the Ji family was wealthy.
“Waiter… I want a Good Ending Soup and a cabbage egg soup!”
Hua Qiyue merely glanced at the menu before smiling and ordering her dishes.
Butler Wu hesitated as these dishes were ordinary dishes excluded from Dong Hai Restaurant’s menu. However, guests could feel free to add them in.
When Rong Qiyue was still alive, she had strict restrictions against ordering outside the menu.
However, now that Rong Qiyue was no longer in-charge, Zhou Zhicheng had removed this rule as he believed that any guests’ requests should be fulfilled to the best of their ability.
“Please wait, Ms. Hua. The dishes will be ready soon. Please wait!”
Host Wu smiled patronizingly while Hua Qiyue laughed delightfully, seemingly unable to control her happiness.
“It is truly surprising that Ms. Hua can have a huge victory towards Ms. Ouyang!” Ji Feng replied lightly and did not reveal the fact that there was a master behind Hua Qiyue.
Hua Qiyue looked at Ji Feng shockingly, still smiling, even with a tinge of lust hidden within her eyes.
“No… Master Xuanji said that I will win the competition so I tried my best. Surprisingly, I really won! Master Xuanji is amazing!”
As Hua Qiyue spoke, she stared at Ji Feng. Compared to Ji Yang, Ji Feng was much more handsome.
Ji Jing silently stared at Hua Qiyue, confused. “Could her calmness and happiness when she was insulted by others due to her low intelligence and her weakness?”
Having been accurate over her judgement of individuals over the years, she did not believe that she had gotten it wrong this time.
Ji Feng was unhappy as well, noticing that the woman was staring at him in such a rude manner. That was not how the legitimate daughter of Hua’s Mansion should behave.
Ji Zhong and Ji Yang had noticed the abnormality of Hua Qiyue. They were all disappointed and believed that they had wrongly guessed, for Hua Qiyue had won Ouyang Liuer out of pure luck.
“Ms. Hua, please have some food. I’m truly delighted to see you today, especially since you have evaded more than 50 moves by Ouyang Liuer!”
Ji Jing did not care. She was confident that Hua Qiyue was merely hiding her shrewdness.
Hua Qiyue seemed to be flattered. However, she did not hesitate to start consuming.
Ji Feng looked at Hua Qiyue quietly before smiling humorously. “Ms. Hua, do you think you will win the subsequent games?”
Hua Qiyue ate while talking to Ji Feng, smiling while nodding her head. “Master Xuanji said that I will win, thus I will definitely win!”
At first glance, she did seem like an idiot who had been conned by the words of a conman, refusing to reflect and understand.
Ji Zhong did not talk much while Ji Jing chattered incessantly to Hua Qiyue even though she did seem like an idiot most of the time. However, Ji Jing did not seem frustrated at all.
Ji Zhong and the rest merely listened. After the two soups arrived, Butler Wu retreated.
Ji Feng looked at the idiotic Hua Qiyue curiously as he became more confused. “Was she guided by Xuanji or someone else?”
However, how can a conman be a master?
He had heard that Master Xuanji was a tyrant of Rongfu Temple, scamming innocent women of their money.
Of course, that was the case on the surface, but Hua Qiyue seemed to have more secrets hidden underneath.
“Erm. It seemed like the food of Dong Hai Restaurant was incredible and delicious. Dad, let’s come to the imperial city to eat more often in the future.” Seeing that everyone was quiet, Ji Jing smiled and initiated conversation.
“I can bring you here with your brother as long as you like it.” Ji Zhong smiled.
Ji Jing smiled delightfully as her father had her a strict tutor for Qi Art that only allowed her to be out once per month. Thus, she was as happy as a fish who had just entered the water.
“Yes, Qiyue, are your Qi veins really blocked, preventing you from practicing Qi Art?” Ji Jing asked curiously.
None had sensed the spiritual Qi of Hua Qiyue as she had hidden them before she entered the restaurant, making it invisible to all.
This method was taught by the good master Tianpi.
“Yes, my Qi veins are blocked and thus I can’t learn Qi Art. However, I do believe that a woman’s virtue lies in her lack of knowledge. I, Hua Qiyue, just need to find a good husband.” Hua Qiyue laughed idiotically, breaking the silence.
Ji Feng raised his brows but said nothing.
Ji Jing was still enthusiastic. Halfway through the meal, Ji Zhong’s face turned green as he placed down his chopsticks quietly. “Eat first, I… I have some matter to attend to.”
Ji Feng and Ji Jing were looking at Ji Zhong suspiciously. “Dad, you look terrible. What happened.”
Ji Zhong dashed out before answering, disappearing in the corridor.
Ji Feng did not see such an anxious Ji Zhong before and thus followed him out. He had heard that Ji Zhong went to the washroom and thus followed him there, but the door remained closed for a very long time…
After 15 minutes, Ji Zhong came out with a sullen face.
His face turned greener upon seeing Ji Feng. He was just about to go upstairs when a sharp pain hit him in the stomach, forcing him to retreat to the toilet.
Ji Feng is a wise man. He understood what had happened from the reaction of his father. As he was about to find Butler Wu, he felt a sharp stomach ache. Staring at the closed washroom door, he ran to the woods outside.
While Ji Jing was eating with Hua Qiyue, Ji Yang ran out too, making Ji Jing puzzled and worried. Thus, she was unable to eat much before putting down the chopsticks. “I wonder where the others were. Stay here, Qiyue, I’ll go check them out.”
Hua Qiyue calmly put down her chopsticks. “I’m full. Let me go with Jing.”
Even though the two had just met each other, they called each other by their names, which proved an improvement in their relationship.
The two walked out of the chamber and heard the commotion in the main lobby, with voices of her dad.
Ji Jing went downstairs hurriedly with Hua Qiyue. Amidst the crowd, Zhou Zhicheng and Butler Wu stood there with a sorrowful face. Ji Zhong and Ji Feng sat there, looking indifferent.
“Excuse me, excuse me!” Ji Jing shouted as people gave way to her. Ji Jing and Hua Qiyue walked over and Zhou Zhicheng raised his head, staring at Hua Qiyue as sunlight fall on her.
The woman in white was like a butterfly. Her brows like paintings and her clothes like snow. It seemed that all light was focused on her, making her so beautiful and ethereal.
Zhou Zhicheng’s heart pumped. He did not expect himself to like another girl other than Princess Huizhen.
Of course, he loved Princess Huizhen too. All men have many hearts to accommodate many women.