LOGINThe usual morning in Ying Yue Huayuan wherein people of noble and common birth are in line waiting for it to open are not present as they have announced two weeks ago that they will be closed today to host a small gathering. Some are speculating that its owner will be present thus they have tried to get information who are the attendees of the gathering and if they can be added to the guest list by bribing the employees but none of them returned successful.
In the owner's office Xianyao, Qi Ming and Xiuying are busy preparing for the banquet for their guests. All guests are close and trusted confidant of Emperor Zhao aside from being friends with Left Prime Minister Long and Old General Xi. They specified in the invitation that they should arrived in disguise.
Two hours before sunset, the guests one at a time arrived. The first one to arrived is young general of Lou clan and eldest young master of Ji clan who just earned the first place in imperial examination for scholars, they're with the patriach of their clans. There's also Princess Xiang who is the most doted daughter of Emperor Zhao together with young miss Hou who is her study partner and both ladies are known part of the four beauties of Great Yan. Qi Lian and Qi Jie are also invited with Qi Bai and Ji Huan. Qi Lei was the last one to arrived as he needed to sneak out, despite the actions of his parents to Qi Chen's family Qi Chen didn't blame him and even taught him together with Qi Jie on managing businesses.
"So Imperial Uncle I will finally meet the lady who captured your heart...hehehe I'll tell her all your embarassing moments when we were younger." Princess Xiang is just three years younger than Xianyao thus they always play together when they were small. Xianyao can only glare at Princess Xiang who ignores his warning and approach Qi Lian wtih young miss Hou who is trying to hold her laughter. She can't imagine the known war lord of Great Yan have times like this.
"Ahem...Thank you everyone for coming here today despite your busy days. I would like you to meet the owner of Ying Yue and my beloved daughter Xiuying." Qi Chen proudly said, seeing the shocked expressions of their guests he chuckles and signals the servants to remove the thin cloth covering the stage. As the servants remove it, everyone sees a young lady with doe like eyes with the blackest orbs they have seen even, small button nose enhancing her already beautiful heart shaped small face that is almost size of an adult man's palm. Her lips wears a faint smile but it is enough to capture the hearts of the young masters but since they are in the same circle they are aware of the edict requested by Jun Wang Xianyao to his eldest brother Emperor Zhao.
"Oh my! You are so beautiful I knew it all the rumors are false!" Young miss Hou can't help but exclaimed the truth while the others nodded in agreement.
"Thank you for the praise young miss Hou I know it but you are a charming lady as well I might have fallen for you on the spot if I were a man." Xiuying playfully praise the young lady back resulting for the others to either laugh and chuckle while young miss Hou blushes even her ears and neck are now pinkish red.
"Hahahaha you are really different young miss Qi, I will just call you Yingying if that is okay with you?" Princess Xiang liked her the more she look. Now I know why Yao gege hide her from us, she is someone to be keep forever! Uncle needs to be prepared to drink a thousand jars of vinegar... Hehehehe it will be fun to watch!
"It will be my honor to be close you too Xiang'er!" Xiuying saluted before holding the princess' hands. If it were other people Princess Xiang will be offended but she like Xiuying who she immediately view as a friend and in her mind she is already her imperial aunt.
"Please be comfortable and enjoy the feast. This is but a small gathering for us who helps our great emperor to be close that way we will be comfortable to share our ideas that will contribute more to the Great Yan's citizens." Xiuying stated before she guide the young misses to their own table. She glanced to her mother and aunt and smiled sweetly.
While everyone is busy devouring the delicacies prepared by Ying Yue's servants, in Long Fu Guanting heard that his grandfather isn't in his courtyard and went outside in incognito.
Zhao Xianyao titled Jun Wang by the previous emperor due to his credit in military. Every person in the kingdom fear at the same time admire the young general. He accompanied the Old General Xi as a disciple since ten years old despite being a prince the old general treated him like any soldier he trained which Xianyao admired. The young prince trained and fight along with Qi Ming who later became his best friend. Xianyao is very talented both in fighting and making strategies earning the trust and admiration of his fellow soldiers including the stubborn eccentric old general though he doesn't say it. During the selection for the crown prince, Xianyao supported his brother and step down from the competition. The prince said he doesn't want to be inside a golden cage when old general heard this he recommended the prince to replace him in managing the army of the kingdom while having Qi Ming as his vice general.No one would expect that the man who is always seen to bath with h
After two months of being away from the capital Long Guanting came back in Long Fu and is currently in Qi Fan's courtyard. Qi Fan have been six months pregnant and being taken care of the two wet nurses assigned by Patriach Long.Looking at the woman resting in front of him, he can't help but feel disgusted. Discovering all the schemes done by Qi Fan and her parents to Qi Xiuying behind his back, he is helpless at the retribution he is facing. His supposedly wife whom he now love can be engage to another man that is most probably be Jun Wang, as he heard of the frequent visits of the prince to Ying Yue and in Qi Chen's residence. Now he recalls what his grandfather told him when he went to Ying Yue during the first banquet held for the closest aides if the emperor.The road I chose indeed is one without a way out huh... He can't help but mock himself for being a fool. He loved Qi Fan and is sure of it but discovering that all the instances they have met were all fabric
"Young miss Old Hu came..." Xiao Hua said while looking at Xiuying who busily checking the month's revenue of Ying Yue."Bring him in." Xiuying instructed without removing her attention to the account books."Young miss..." the old man from the slum bowed respectfully."Elder Hu you came is there anything urgent?" Xiuying looks up seeing the man's appearance far from he usually looks like when she visits the slums. He was wearing a decent attire of Ying Yue's employees and with a stern bearing, people who don't know him would assume right away that he have the same position as Manager Ba."One of our people in Fang Fei courtyard found this." He gave the sachet decorated with white lilies. Xiuying sniffed the faint fragrance from it, her expression changed drastically. "Did you know who gave it to Fang Fei?""It was given by Qi Chang's second wife named Lin Hei. I think you noticed that there's a faint smell of opium poppies and salvia which results
Qi Lei accompanied Qi Fan in returning to Long Fu, she still can't believe that her father killed Fang Fei and is now in jail she have lost her support. Although their grandfather is still alive he is in critical condition and there's no guarantee that he will wake up soon. If he does by then Qi Bai have already stabilized his position as the heir since her brother is still too young."Qi Lei... I need your help we can't let uncle take control of Qi Fu... I will lose my support to stabilize my position here in Long Fu!" Qi Fan said while biting her nails as they arrived in her courtyard's receiving area. Qi Lei just stared at his sister before taking steps to leave but he heard another scream from her. "Qi Lei! You ungrateful bastard you shouldn't have been born if father didn't need a heir!"Instead of walking towards Long Fu's gate Qi Lei went to Patriach Long's study and sees the housekeeper guarding it. "May I ask if Patriach Long will have few minutes to spare?"
"Master, Fang Fei was killed by Qi Chang this morning but it was concealed that the first madam died due to illness as for Eleven she is safe and ready for your next task while Qi Bao is currently in critical condition.""Is Qi Bao concious at least?" Xianyao smirked as he listened to the report of One."Yes.""I see, advise Qi Bai to make sure he will be the one to inherit everything in Qi Fu. Have Qi Fu's physician declare that Qi Chang became insane due to what happened. Have the city peacekeeper detain Qi Chang. About Eleven tell her to leave Qi Fu, her role as second wife of Qi Chang's done.""Master, should we tell Mistress about this?" One asked since both of them are causing problem in Qi and Long Fu, his master should at least show off his efforts to the Mistress."She doesn't need to know, she'll be mad at me once she knows I laid my hands on her enemies."I see Master is truly knows Mistress, why am I so dumb about what Mistress w
Xiuying is currently walking near the slum with her maidservants and guards with baskets full of food from Ying Yue. It has been a habit of hers to visit the slum to provide food on weekly basis though she only go personally once a month. While Xue'er and Xiao Hua are handing out the food to the people, Xiuying had Ping, one of father's shadow guards go with her and rest in the same residence of the old couple."Thank you for helping me out these past months." Xiuying elegantly bowed to pay respect and thanks the old couple. "You don't need to thank us at all Young Miss as what we did give us benefits to help the children here finally go to school and physician to check their health." The old man stated, few months ago Xiuying went to them to hire them to sabotage the stores of Qi Chang and Long Guanting. Though they just needed to reveal the dirt in Qi Chang's stores they took time to do it so it wouldn't arouse any suspicion. Despite being an asshole it is not surprising th