Chapter 399: The Grand Master Arrives 4
Early the next morning, Qi Qingyao, who had just had breakfast, was planning to go to her room to research and develop various medicines. She had nothing much to do, anyway. Who could have guessed that just as she entered the room with a teapot, Steward Zhang would come over, knock on the door, and report from outside, “Miss, the State Preceptor is here”?
He had come?
Qi Qingyao pondered for a while. “Since it’s the State Preceptor, invite him into the side hall. I’ll change my clothes and be there soon.”
She went back to her personal room and changed into some clothes suitable for meeting guests. Shortly after, she took a pot of tea and went to the side hall. Just a few seconds after sitting down, Steward Zhang led Li Ruoxuan into the hall. Zhu Shen followed behind him, holding a whole lot of gift boxes. He was docile, much like that young eunuch that followed behind the emperor.
Qi Qingyao lazily lifted her eyelids and swept a glance over Li Ruoxuan. “What are you doing here so early in the morning?”
Steward Zhang was shocked when he heard her. He quickly reminded her by moving his eyes around. “Missus, this is the State Preceptor…” There were many rumors about the State Preceptor, and one of them was that he could kill others without even blinking an eye. Steward Zhang did not want Qi Qingyao to be killed just like this.
Qi Qingyao looked as calm as ever. She touched her chin and said, “I know that he’s the State Preceptor.”
“You know that I’m the State Preceptor, yet you’re not giving me any face?” Li Ruoxuan stood at the door, looking at Qi Qingyao, who looked like she was still lazing around.
Qi Qingyao placidly asked, “What face should I give a bastard like you? I now have grand masters backing me up, so why should I be afraid of you? You killed Qi Qingzhu and her entire family, yet you expect me to be willing to make peace with you? Aren’t you being a bit fanciful?”
“Fair enough.” Li Ruoxuan lifted his hands in a dismissive shrug.
The two of them were sparring with their words. By right, a host should have invited their guest to sit down by now, especially when the person before them was the State Preceptor. Thus, Steward Zhang was a bit curious about Qi Qingyao’s silence. He lifted his eyelids and carefully studied the current situation, and he found that Qi Qingyao still had no intention to speak. He was very conflicted. He silently excused himself and asked the servants to serve them some tea and cakes. There was a saying that said regardless of whether a guest was standing up or sitting down, they were still a guest.
Li Ruoxuan was also at ease. He asked of his own accord, “Can I sit down?” As he asked that, he picked a chair and sat down before Qi Qingyao could reply.
He did not give her any chance to refuse.
Qi Qingyao gave a cold snort. “You’re so thick-skinned. Do you still need me to invite you to get a seat?”
“Very blunt indeed.” Qi Qingyao did not know if Li Ruoxuan’s words were referring to himself, or if they were a snide comment on Qi Qingyao’s words.
Qi Qingyao replied with three short words. “You are welcome.”
Standing behind his master, Zhu Shen could not help but break out into a cold sweat as he listened to his Master’s fairly ‘polite’ exchange with the woman.
He was not an idiot. He could obviously hear the sting in Lady Qi’s tone.
He thought to himself, ‘Master, oh Master, yesterday you said you were coming here today to make amends.’
You… How was this making amends? It looked more like picking a fight!
Just as he was thinking about it, Li Ruoxuan turned his head and signaled for Zhu Shen to present the gift. “This is my gift to make amends between us.”
Qi Qingyao did not even move forward to accept it.
She just asked him a cold two-worded question. “Making amends?”
Li Ruoxuan asked Zhu Shen to place the gift on the side table. Zhu Shen obeyed the order, and after placing it, he nervously retreated behind Li Ruoxuan and stood there silently.
Qi Qingyao asked indifferently, “I don’t know which of the many mistakes the State Preceptor is trying to atone for right now.” Was this for the last time he captured her, or was it for… that time he murdered Qi Qingzhu and her family?
Li Ruoxuan was straightforward. “All of them.”