Chapter 258: Cautious Words and Actions (Part Two)

Chapter 258: Cautious Words and Actions (Part Two)

The two arrived at Bima Hall. Madam Qu had already changed into her informal attire and, as it was inappropriate to meet with outsiders, Qiao Hui bowed to Madam Qu from a secluded flower room before hurrying out through the second gate.

Hmm, although he was tempted to take the opportunity to visit Yiyuan and see Xianjin, oh, and that person, his own chubby little sister.

But the situation was still unclear, and he needed to strategize before taking action. His friendship was precious, and he had to maintain it while seeking opportunities for progress—of course, the biggest precondition was that Xianjin shouldn’t be averse to it.

Standing outside the second gate, Qiao Hui seemed to want to see through the overlapping dark tiles to the Yiyuan in the southeast.

He understood military strategies—besieging Wei to rescue Zhao, making a feint to the east while attacking in the west, waiting for the enemy to exhaust himself, taking advantage of a fire to loot—using these methods, he had swallowed up everything from a small boat on the East China Sea all the way west until he stood on the spacious and bright deck.

He could use countless kinds of schemes to make Xianjin marry him.

The Chen family was like a sieve, full of holes.

Whether it was setting a trap for Madam Qu or scheming against Xianjin’s stepfather, Third Master Chen Fu, in just three days, he could obtain Xianjin’s birth chart.

Whether out of propriety or face, if he really reached out to design it, even if Xianjin was smart, she would be unable to avoid it—she was in the Chen family’s lineage, and even if Third Master Chen Fu registered her as her own household, the clan’s principles, although nonsense, were still the foundation of existence for people of this time.

If the Chen family forced her, Xianjin could only kill a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred.

He had countless ways to make himself Xianjin’s.

But he couldn’t use any, didn’t want to, and wouldn’t.

Qiao Hui withdrew his gaze.

In a hundred years of troubles, love is a fleeting moment beyond order.

For him.

In a hundred years of troubles, love is the sole order beyond arrogance.

If Xianjin allowed, he would choose to hold a bloody heart in his hands and sincerely gamble on a losing battle.

Other than that, he had nothing more.

The status, identity, and future he was about to have might, to Xianjin, be worth less than a piece of carved silk paper.

Qiao Hui bowed his head and slipped back into the Autumn Harvest Pavilion, lightly tapping the window frame. A shadowy figure descended from the top of the pillar.

“Withdraw the bodyguards from Boss He’s side,” Qiao Hui said in a low voice.

The shadow tapped the wooden board twice, one long and one short, indicating receipt, and then gestured rapidly with both hands, as if asking something in sign language.

Seeing this, Qiao Hui frowned and shook his head, “No need to slaughter the Bai family. The business world is her battlefield; her enemies, she must defeat herself.”

Cutting the tendons of that guy was just his personal grudge, a way to vent his resentment.

Xianjin had enough confidence to calm all the difficulties she faced—without Xianjin’s permission, helping her solve problems was a disrespect to her abilities.

The shadow’s sign language was flying.

Before this, Qiao Hui hadn’t thought that he could see emotions from sign language…

At this moment, the shadow outside the window was extremely excited.

Qiao Hui took a deep breath, “I’ve said it many times, I don’t want you to kidnap Boss He, hide her in a cave on the island, and hold the wedding.”

The black shadow's sign language was at the speed of rap.

"Yes, pirates all do it this way, but we're going straight once we're ashore. I've repeated this many times," Qiao Hui felt he was running out of breath.

The black shadow's sign language now involved the shoulder joints and jaw.

"No means no! Not even a whale as a dowry would change that!"

Qiao Hui, losing his patience, yanked off the sunshade from the window.

Finally, silence reigned.

Qiao Hui let out a long sigh.

Sometimes, having silent subordinates is a blessing.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Qiao Hui turned and carefully folded the outer garment, which carried Xianjin's distinctive pine scent. He opened the half-height nanmu carved wooden box from the luggage chest and carefully placed it inside.

A rustling sound came from the door.

Qiao Hui stepped forward quickly, speechless as a thin slip of paper was pushed under the door.

Qiao Hui bent down to pick it up.

The handwriting was messy—"Boss, you chickened out."

Qiao Hui was instantly furious.

Damn it! I really shouldn't have taught these pirates how to read!

……

Meanwhile, at the Castor Hall, Chen Jianfang sat upright.

Madam Qu had changed into dark hemp cotton house clothes, with the sleeves rolled to hide the fraying.

"Once Master Qiao returns, you'll be stable," Madam Qu recited "Amita Buddha."

Chen Jianfang smiled, "Since when did you start believing in Buddha?"

Madam Qu teased, "If you succeed in the imperial exams, I would be willing to believe in all the gods in heaven."

Chen Jianfang smiled faintly in response.

Madam Qu gestured for Second Aunt Qu to bring pastries and began outlining her plans, "...Once Master Qiao returns, there's no need for you to go to Yingtian Prefecture. Given the grand welcome for Master Qiao today, even if he doesn't enter government service, he will remain the leading figure in Southern Zhili. Wouldn't it be better for you to follow Master Qiao rather than Wang Xuezheng?"

Chen Jianfang had a headache. "Grandmother, changing teachers three times will make people think I'm ruthless and opportunistic."

Madam Qu was taken aback, clearly not having thought of that.

"...If my teacher encounters trouble, I turn to Wang Xuezheng... and if my teacher returns, I immediately leave Wang Xuezheng to come back to Xuancheng? What would others think of me? That I rely only on those who benefit me? Am I a scholar or a mere opportunist?"

Madam Qu understood and hesitated, "So, you still intend to study under Wang Xuezheng in Yingtian Prefecture?"

Chen Jianfang nodded slightly. "I'll continue studying with Wang Xuezheng and also attend my teacher's lessons, traveling between the two."

Now, even though Master Qiao may not teach much, as a disciple, I must show filial respect by visiting and inquiring about his well-being every few days.

Madam Qu nodded repeatedly, saying, "Good, good, good!" She added, "It's just some trouble with horses and carriages, but you'll be holding onto both ends—that’s the key point!"

Noticing Madam Qu’s misunderstanding, Chen Jianfang opened his mouth to explain, but halfway through, he realized explaining would be futile and closed it again.

After a moment of thought, Madam Qu leaned in and tentatively said, "You'll have completed your mourning period in August, and you're nineteen this year. Have the officials in Yingtian Prefecture shown any interest in these matters?"

What matters is she referring to?

Chen Jianfang was puzzled by her meaning.

A moment later, he seemed to wake from a daze.

"The officials in Yingtian Prefecture teach me to write essays and study, but why would they care about when my mourning period ends or how old I am this year..." Chen Jianfang’s lips curved into a bitter smile, "Why would they concern themselves with such questions?"

Madam Qu looked somewhat disappointed and said with a smile to Aunt Qu, "I’ve only heard in stories that some officials favor scholars, marrying their daughter to them and smoothing the way with favors and connections... Our Erlang is handsome and refined, with his father’s strong features and his mother’s fair skin. I thought perhaps..."

Chen Jianfang quickly wiped away his bitter smile and frowned slightly. "Be cautious in your words and actions, Grandmother!" he interrupted.