Chapter 296: Learning One’s Ident.i.ty 6
When Qi Qingyao saw the conflicting emotions on the man’s face, she realized that she had been underestimated, which was why the man was so shocked that his ident.i.ty had been revealed. Did men really think that all women were dumb? Or was the idea of her falling to men’s feet and being utterly smitten a more accurate representation of his image of her?
Qi Qingyao put her hands to her cheeks. Purposefully feigning a cute smile, she said, “Since you’re the Head Grand Secretariat, you definitely have the ability to protect yourself. Based on the corpse collector whom you found recently and the black-clothed person you met at the dead of night, it means that you have manpower in Qingzhou City, and that you have authority. So there’s no need for you to put up with the excuse of using me as your s.h.i.+eld anymore.”
Jiang Yeqian was rendered even more dumbfounded with these few words.
This woman… how did she know that he had been meeting Bai Mei during the middle of the night? She referred to her as the black-clothed person, which meant that she had gotten someone to tail him? There was only one person who would be able to tail him without Jiang Yeqian realizing it—Si Jin.
That also meant that she trusted Si Jin more than him.
When did this happen?
Also, when did he start being suspected?
Was it that day when he did not speak a word from start till the end during their meal together with Lu Yan in Chunjiang Restaurant?
That would explain why she went silent that day in the middle of their meal…
Seeing that he was not saying anything, Qi Qingyao continued, “Or, perhaps you remained by my side not because you were trying to stave off the State Preceptor’s people who were out to kill you. It’s like what you asked me before, ‘You didn’t tell me either what’s your relations.h.i.+p with the Master Architect Li Qinglian and Divine Physician Su Hexiao. So, why are you asking me to be honest with you!’. You’re trying to find out about my connection to Li Qinglian and Su Hexiao, and that’s why you’ve deliberately stayed behind.”
Jiang Yeqian’s pupils dilated sharply.
He certainly had thought that way.
Qi Qingyao observed the slight changes in his expression. The smile at the corners of her mouth deepened, but she did not pursue the conversation. She just shrugged and said with a smile, “Of course, this is just my guess.”
Jiang Yeqian felt his lips go dry. His expression somewhat agitated, he said, “You’ve seen through everything. What else is there for me to say?”
Qi Qingyao’s expression became even more p.r.o.nounced. An indescribable, bone-chilling intent could be discerned in between her desolate brow ridge. “I saved you, and you protected me for a while. You also took me to the koi ghost market, and when others sent a.s.sa.s.sins, you helped me out of that mess. We’re even.”
She added, “Goodbye.”
With that, she pointed toward the door.
Waiting for him to leave.
After some time had pa.s.sed.
He did not move.
She, however, did, turning around and walking out of the hall. She decided to take a nap in her room.
Jiang Yeqian watched her leaving figure from behind and did not know what to say, licking his dry lips. This woman was definitely not one who could be persuaded or bewitched by gentleness and softness!
He was done for.
He was completely done for.
If his objective was to stay undercover to obtain information, he would have completely failed this time.
A crus.h.i.+ng failure.
Not only had he been discovered, but the other party also had complete control over his actions.
What was this?
The head of the Zhaixing Administration… suffering such a crippling failure.
It was nothing short of an embarra.s.sment.
Jiang Yeqian got up after a while. He took a deep breath and stood in silence for a while before putting on his mask and walking in the direction of the study in the courtyard. The children had books in their hands, revising the words they had learned.
Erniu was also holding a brush as she copied the drawings on the wall while casually scribbling away…
After Jiang Yeqian entered, he closed the door to prevent the cold draught of air from flowing in.
He leaned against the table and looked at the three adorable little fellows for a while.
Then, Jiang Yeqian cleared his throat lightly and said, “I might have to leave so I can’t play with you guys anymore.”
Xiaobao lifted his head. He put down the small swan plume brush in his hand and tilted his head. Confusion marred his pink and tender face as he asked, “Uncle, where are you going?”
Jiang Yeqian smiled as he rubbed Xiaobao’s head. “I’m going home ”
Xiaobao was stunned, then he said softly, “Goodbye.”
Dabao and Erniu also hurried bade Jiang Yeqian goodbye.
Jiang Yeqian looked at the children’s innocent and harmless faces and unexpectedly felt a little unwilling to leave. He lifted Erniu and gave her a kiss on her soft face. “Will you miss me?”
Erniu, who had been picked up, asked seriously in her soft voice, “Why would I miss you?”
Jiang Yeqian, “…”
Erniu stared at him dumbly with a pair of innocent, big eyes. “You’re a stranger, but Mommy saved you. You wouldn’t have stayed with us forever to begin with. Even if you don’t feel like parting with us, you have to accept this cruel reality, uncle.”
Jiang Yeqian, “…”
Dabao gnawed on a piece of puffed rice candy as he looked at him with bright and watery eyes. “Yeah. Since you’re leaving, we wish you a smooth-sailing journey.”
“…”
Jiang Yeqian could neither laugh nor cry. He left the study feeling a little disappointed and a little depressed. The children continued lying on the ground, learning words without showing any intention of coming out to see him off.
Jiang Yeqian’s whole forehead contorted into wrinkled lines as he went deep into thought. ‘They were no doubt her children!’
‘Their character…’
The moment he walked out the door, Xiaobao held his head high, some conflicting emotions plastered on his face. In the end, he fell silent for a while and quietly walked to the door. He opened a small gap in the door and watched Jiang Yeqian’s figure disappear through the chuihua gate.
Xiaobao sat there quietly for a long time.
He lifted his hand quietly and waved it in the empty air. Immediately after that, he closed the door, walked back in, and continued reading.
Following the new attack on his spirit he suffered from the children, Jiang Yeqian found Si Jin sitting by the pond, watching the water.
There were some fish in Si Jin’s line of sight, and in his arms he was carrying a white cat. That cat seemed to be Lu Yan’s.
Jiang Yeqian really did not understand why Lu Yan’s cat would be this close to the fellow.
He suddenly realized that while there were a dozen or so fish in the water gathered in front of the boy, there was no fish food at all in his hands.
The fish suddenly scattered at once, swimming away when Jiang Yeqian came over.
When Jiang Yeqian walked to his side, Si Jin turned to look at him. The cat in his arms seemed to be shy and also jumped out from Si Jin’s arms, landing on the snow-covered ground beside him.
The white cat merged with the pure white snow. If one did not look closely, they would not have even realized it was there.
Jiang Yeqian sat down beside Si Jin.
Si Jin said nothing when he saw the man, and naturally, he asked nothing either. He watched the flowing water pond silently, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
Even just looking at the water could make the corner of his lips hook into a particularly satisfied smile.
Jiang Yeqian also looked at it. It was not so much a pond, but rather that it was a small pool…
After sitting together with Si Jin for a while, Jiang Yeqian tilted his head and looked at the young man. He had been able to tail him without being spotted, indicating that his strength was that of rank nine. His strength was seated in the middle of rank nine, though. So could it be that this boy was upper rank nine? This would certainly be interesting.
The master-ranked experts in the world numbered a total of seven. Those who were ranked nine were rarities as well.
The boy said he used to work in a big and influential family. Could he have obtained such a high level of skill from working?
It seemed that he would have to investigate this carefully when he returned.
“Remember to protect her properly after I leave,” Jiang Yeqian said.
Only then was Si Jin willing to lift up his head. He gave Jiang Yeqian a charitable look. “I don’t need you to tell me that. I will protect her properly.”
Internally, Jiang Yeqian was thinking, ‘Could this brat have been waiting for me to leave since the very start?
‘F*ck this.’