Chapter 82 Xie Chengyi Teases the Young Master

Chapter 82: Xie Chengyi Teases the Young Master

"He's here too?" Qin Ji muttered.

Qin Jiao hadn't seen Qin Chaole since the New Year's Eve lantern festival. Qin Chaole spotted them and rose enthusiastically to greet them:

"Both big brothers are here, please come and sit."

"Third Brother, Doctor Miao." Qin Ji greeted first, and Qin Jiao nodded to them both.

"Please sit, gentlemen." Miao Mao, the physician opposite Qin Chaole, gestured for Qin Ji and Qin Jiao to sit freely without ceremony.

After handing the New Year gifts they had brought to a servant in the Miao residence, Qin Jiao chose a seat close to Qin Chaole.

He discreetly observed the "Miracle Poison Doctor" Miao Mao. In appearance, Doctor Miao was about fifty, with white hair and purple pupils. Unlike the genial Doctor Hou, this man seemed far more sinister, especially his bright purple eyes, which appeared quite eerie.

After a few more exchanges while seated, Qin Jiao learned that since his departure from the capital, Qin Chaole had been coming to Miao Mao’s residence every few months for health treatments. Today, by coincidence, they ran into each other.

Qin Jiao said he had come for medical treatment, but since his condition was not urgent, he suggested that Qin Chaole go ahead with Miao Mao for the treatment first, and he would wait.

Miao Mao glanced at Qin Jiao upon hearing this. Those purple eyes were so bewitching that Qin Jiao’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, but a moment later, Miao Mao smiled lightly and said, "Then please, gentlemen, wait a while in the small garden. I’ll attend to you once I’m done."

"Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Miao."

Qin Jiao and Qin Ji followed the young maidservant leading the way in the Miao residence. Once they were far enough away, Miao Mao’s expression immediately turned cold and detached.

He glanced at Qin Chaole, his tone full of contempt and disdain: "Follow me."

"Yes." Qin Chaole, apparently accustomed to such treatment, answered and followed without expression.

In the small garden of the Miao residence, several large oleander trees stood tall, with deep roots and lush foliage. Pink blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, looking lovely. However, oleander wasn't in season at this time of year; it was unclear what methods the Miao residence used to make flowers bloom out of season.

The leading maidservant settled Qin Jiao and Qin Ji in a pavilion, then ordered someone to bring a brazier, tea, and snacks. Just as she was about to take her leave, a woman’s startled cry rang out:

"Mengmeng? What’s wrong? Someone, come quickly!"

Qin Jiao turned to look. Amid the dense and beautiful oleander bushes, a woman in purple lay unconscious on the ground, her face blue and lips black, clearly poisoned. Another woman in pink, looking worried, was gently shaking her.

"What happened?"

Qin Ji rushed over first. The leading maidservant, seeing this, took a small medicine bottle from inside her robe and followed.

"Please step aside, sir. This servant will handle it."

Qin Jiao watched the maidservant ask Qin Ji to move back, then take a pill from the bottle and administer it to the unconscious woman. She then pressed acupressure points on the woman’s inner wrist.

The maidservant’s antidote method was swift and skilled, as if she had been professionally trained. Just as Qin Jiao was observing her, the poisoned woman in purple slowly regained consciousness.

Seeing the woman was fine, the maidservant put away the bottle, with an impatient look on her face: "You’re Miss Zuo Mengmeng and Miss Li Xiaohu, right? Weren’t you taught the rules before coming? If you touch things in this residence carelessly, it can get you killed."

"I’m sorry! We were wrong!" The woman in pink, Li Xiaohu, immediately knelt and admitted fault.

The woman named Zuo Mengmeng, after coming to her senses, straightened her clothes, tossed her hair gracefully, and said in a soft, coquettish voice, "Mengmeng knows she was wrong too. I just thought the flowers were pretty and wanted to pick one to look at. I had no other intention."

"Hmph!" The maidservant let out a dissatisfied snort.

This Miao residence is so strange—a mere maidservant acting so high and mighty.

Qin Jiao stood by watching, and also noticed that the two women had graceful figures and were exceptionally beautiful. Miss Li in pink was fresh and bright like a spring peach blossom, while Miss Zuo in purple was charming and seductive.

Qin Ji seemed puzzled by the strange situation, frowning slightly. He asked the leading maidservant, "Who are these two young ladies?"

The maidservant frowned in disgust. She was about to speak when a man’s voice suddenly rang out: "They are this prince’s maidservants."

Hearing the voice, the maidservant immediately knelt and performed a grand bow, showing none of her previous arrogance.

"Your servant greets the Second Prince!"

Zuo Mengmeng and Li Xiaohu also knelt and paid their respects: "Greetings, master."

Seeing the newcomer, Zuo Mengmeng’s eyes were filled with undisguised joy and adoration. Li Xiaohu knelt properly, but upon closer inspection, her pupils dilated and her breath was rapid, as if she feared the man before her.

"Qin Ji greets the Second Prince."

Qin Ji pulled Qin Jiao to bow to Xie Chengyi. As Qin Jiao bowed, he secretly observed the Second Prince.

The Second Prince held a golden crutch in his left hand, wore a luxurious purple-gold robe with curled grass patterns, and over it a dark blue wolf-fur cloak. His face was cold and stern, his gaze sharp.

"Rise."

He waved his hand, signaling everyone to stand.

Although Xie Chengyi had a leg disability, his stature was imposing when he stood with the crutch. After Qin Jiao rose, he suddenly felt a heavy shadow pressing down over him.

Xie Chengyi’s eyes were cold and sinister, fixed on Qin Jiao, his voice like a hissing snake:

"So you are the eldest son of the Qin family, Qin Jiao?"

"Your servant Qin Jiao greets the Second Prince." Qin Jiao bowed his head. "May I ask what Your Highness commands?"

As Qin Jiao finished speaking, Xie Chengyi did not reply. Instead, he limped around Qin Jiao slowly, leaning on his crutch.

The golden crutch made a dull thud on the ground, making Qin Jiao’s skin crawl.

Today, Cong Shuang had dressed Qin Jiao in a moon-white robe embroidered with cloud geese and fine feathers, making the young master appear graceful and refined, clear and bright. A belt of peacock silk inlaid with pearl beads accentuated his slender waist and tall and jade-like figure.

"Nice figure."

Xie Chengyi’s voice was neither loud nor soft, but everyone present could hear it. And this remark was clearly directed at Qin Jiao, making everyone feel uneasy.

Using "nice figure" to describe a man was clearly suggestive and teasing. Qin Jiao’s expression changed slightly upon hearing it.

Xie Chengyi’s gaze slid over Qin Jiao inch by inch, like a snake scoping out its territory. A sudden chill went through Qin Jiao, goosebumps rising on his back. "If Your Highness has no further orders, your servant will take his leave." Qin Jiao tried to back away but was blocked.

Xie Chengyi raised an eyebrow and said to Qin Jiao, "Raise your head. Let this prince have a good look at your face."

This behavior, like toying with a courtesan, infuriated Qin Jiao. He stepped back angrily, but Xie Chengyi seemed to have anticipated his move and reached out to grab him!

"Your Highness, please calm down!" At the crucial moment, Qin Ji swiftly intervened, blocking Xie Chengyi.

"Who do you think you are? Get out of the way!" The eunuch beside Xie Chengyi immediately stepped forward and yelled at Qin Ji.

"Your servant is the second son of the Vice Minister of Rites, Qin Ji. My elder brother is injured, and he came to the Miao residence for medical treatment." Qin Ji was nervous and scared but forced himself to stand his ground:

"I stopped Your Highness just now because, given Your Highness’s status, I was afraid my brother's illness might offend you."

Qin Jiao looked at Qin Ji in surprise. He hadn't expected Qin Ji to help him. Just then, Qin Ji turned and looked at Qin Jiao. Their eyes met, and Qin Ji said harshly:

"What are you staring at? Aren't you here for treatment? Go find Doctor Miao!"

Qin Jiao didn't want to continue entangling with Xie Chengyi. After bowing to Xie Chengyi, he tried to leave, but the eunuch beside Xie Chengyi stopped him again: "Eldest Young Master, please wait. His Highness hasn't said you can leave."

A surge of anger rose in Qin Jiao's chest: "What exactly does Your Highness want? This is our first meeting. If you harass the family member of a minister, it wouldn't look good if word of this gets out."

"We met at the palace three years ago," Xie Chengyi said in a hoarse voice. "And just now, I only wanted to confirm your identity. I did not intend to make things difficult for you."

Xie Chengyi spoke very "sincerely," but a dangerous smile did not reach his eyes.

Qin Jiao stood frozen, lost in thought. Seeing him unmoving for so long, Qin Ji quietly nudged him. Qin Jiao came back to his senses, his expression still dark.

He did not want a direct confrontation with Xie Chengyi. Forcing himself to adjust his expression, Qin Jiao tried his best to appear nonchalant: "In that case, if Your Highness has no further instructions, we will take our leave. Our elders are still waiting at the manor for our report."

As Qin Jiao turned to leave, Xie Chengyi suddenly changed his expression and barked harshly: "Why haven't you brought the Eldest Young Master over here!"

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