Chapter 499: The State Preceptor Was Attacked 4
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Although Jiang Yeqian was envious of a certain someone who was riding the same carriage as Lu Yan, he chose not to mention it. Besides, the triplets were also in the carriage! Even if Lu Yan had any plans, he would not be able to carry them out. Hence, he looked especially at peace.
Since Li Ruoxuan was injured and afraid that Gongsun She would show up, he was relatively quiet for the remainder of the journey.
A month later, they arrived at the capital after a long journey.
The group checked in at a hotel in the largest town of the capital. After having their dinners, the triplets went to bed.
Sitting in the carriage all day and not being able to play had left the triplets somewhat restless. However, Qi Qingyao had felt too embarra.s.sed to ask the carriage for a pit stop given that this was a trip back to the capital and they could not dilly-dally.
Hence, when they were in the carriage throughout their journey, she told the triplets many stories to fill up the empty time—from Snow White to The Little Mermaid, and Little Red Riding Hood to The Journey to the West. Only Erniu enjoyed listening to the stories about princes and princesses, whereas Dabao and Xiaobao preferred The Journey to the West! Later on, Erniu started to get into The Journey to the West as the days pa.s.sed but still said she liked Baigujing best! She thought that Baigujing was very intelligent as she could make the Longevity Monk force Wukong away three times… Each time Erniu praised the demon, Dabao would roll his eyes. Xiaobao, on the other hand, would be in silent contemplation, likely thinking about what Erniu was saying. After thinking about it, he believed she had made a fair point.
Qi Qingyao had asked Xiaobao just then, “Why did you suddenly think Erniu made sense?” Shouldn’t everyone like the monkey king?
Xiaobao said, “The demons were always trying to eat the Longevity Monk’s flesh… Looking at it from a different perspective, it’s evident that these demons are very enterprising! They could gain longevity and immediately become immortal the moment they ate the Longevity Monk’s flesh. This is a good deal. However, since it’s a shortcut, it must be risky. Doesn’t Mommy always say that risks and opportunities coexist? They had just met the protagonist Wukong—yet in the end, those who had support were taken away by the G.o.ds, while the demons were killed! ”
Qi Qingyao, “…”
As his mother, her jaw almost hit the floor.
Although she used to mutter about her ambitions in front of the children, she had explained to them that they should look at problems logically and discuss them with pragmatic theories. However, she did not expect Xiaobao to say… that the demons were actually very enterprising!
Qi Qingyao had just sat down in the downstairs hall, feeling the breeze from outside that was blowing in through the window, drinking tea, and enjoying the sight of the moon. Lu Yan walked over, no longer able to put off asking the question he wanted to ask.
“What is a castle? There is nothing called that in Northern Liang… even with all the different buildings all over the entire mainland! I can understand what a prince is. They’re probably similar to the son of the emperor! Is a witch an old woman who knows witchcraft? Is a dwarf a kind of midget? But the dwarf you’re talking about seems more like an elf. Mermaids are part-fish part-human creatures of legends, right? The word mermaid sounds nice. You’re very good at naming things! What’s with that princess with the long hair? How would someone wash their hair with it being so long? You must have made these stories up! I prefer Cinderella’s story. Cinderella rode in a beautiful pumpkin carriage and wore crystal shoes to the party which she had to leave by midnight, but I can’t imagine how the pumpkin carriage would look… Do you happen to have a picture? I’ll have the craftsman build one later! And what about the crystal shoes—are they gla.s.s shoes? If they were gla.s.s, you wouldn’t be able to wear them at all! They would hurt your feet and easily fall off…”
Qi Qingyao, who had just taken a sip of tea, almost choked to death listening to the series of questions. A moment later, she scratched her head helplessly.
“Brother, you have a lot of questions. Which one should I answer first?”
“Just answer them one by one.” Lu Yan gulped and became mildly anxious. She was growing more and more mysterious in his eyes.
Qi Qingyao made a gesture of digging her ears. She casually said, “First of all, I was just telling stories which were all made up, so there’s no need to look at them so deeply.”
“…” This seemed to be an obvious excuse to dodge talking about her past. Lu Yan was very frustrated. However, it was what she had said, so of course, he did not want to press further with any more questions. No matter what he asked, she would simply reply that they were made-up stories! From the perspective of a businessman, Lu Yan asked curiously, “Then, could you draw me a picture of the pumpkin carriage later?”
Qi Qingyao was stunned. “You’re interested in that?” Why was a grown man so concerned about a pumpkin carriage?
Lu Yan replied seriously, “I find it very interesting. I’ll manufacture it later and sell it to those n.o.ble girls. I’m sure I can sell it at a good price!”
Oh, he wanted to cash out with it. Qi Qingyao had an idea. “That’s a good idea. I’ll invest in the shares by drawing a picture for you later. For every pumpkin carriage you build, I’ll charge 20% in intellectual property fees!”
Lu Yan asked, “What is an intellectual property fee?”
“Who designed the picture?” Qi Qingyao asked with a smile.
“You…” Lu Fan said softly.
“So, aren’t you going to pay me for it?” Qi Qingyao asked again.
Of course he had to, but… “Can’t I buy your work with a lump sum?” Yes, he fancied her, but business was business! He had already lost an entire house to her, so he had to earn it back somehow!
“Buy out?” Upon hearing this, Qi Qingyao scrutinized Lu Yan with a sneer and said, “Don’t think that just because you’re handsome, you can have your way!”
Lu Yan felt like there was some flirtatiousness and disdain in her gaze—as if she was saying “Who do you think you are?” Although that was what she had meant, Lu Yan sighed. “But there are also other costs; labor costs and workers’ wages. 20% for design costs is too high—I can only do 7%.”
“That’s fine, 7% it is.” Qi Qingyao spoke frankly, “I’ll give you the drawing later.”
“….” She was so willing to give him the drawing? Was she really not the legendary Master Li Qinglian?! Lu Yan was confused and upset—had he not known that Master Li Qinglian was a man, he would have heavily suspected her.
Li Ruoxuan’s injuries had more or less healed within a month. Jiang Yeqian’s leg, as well—he no longer needed crutches! He just looked slightly strange when he walked, like a cripple… Hence, to preserve his image, he still used crutches.
When Li Ruoxuan came out of the bathroom, he saw Lu Yan and Qi Qingyao talking by the window. The little woman was beaming as she bargained with Lu Yan. Her expressions were particularly vigorous and lively.
Li Ruoxuan could not help but sigh again.
She did not look like a woman who had given birth to three kids!
Nothing about her made her seem like a young married woman. She behaved like a young and charming lady!
“If it wasn’t for my calm mind, I would be confused by this little widow!” Li Ruoxuan muttered as he walked by.
Zhu Shen, who was waiting nearby, was stunned when he heard this. He thought to himself, ‘Why does His Excellency sound like he fancies Lady Qi a little, but doesn’t want to admit it?’
Zhu Shen said, “Lady Qi is indeed really good-looking!”
Li Ruoxuan suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned his head and looked at Zhu Shen with a suspicious look. His eyes seemed to be asking, ‘What random topic are you bringing up?’
Zhu Shen said solemnly, “Your Excellency, even Si Jin, the youngest and most powerful grand master, likes Lady Qi. If Your Excellency really likes Lady Qi, this servant will give Your Excellency his absolute support.”
Li Ruoxuan’s expression s.h.i.+fted. “I just want to take advantage of this little widow. You’d better not think my taste is so horrendous!”
Zhu Shen, “…”
This… Was liking Lady Qi in poor taste? Si Jin was a young grand master, and he liked Lady Qi—proving that those who liked Lady Qi must have impeccable taste!
Zhu Shen could not help but worry about His Excellency’s superficiality!
Putting aside having children and not knowing martial arts, Lady Qi was both talented and beautiful!
Not only was she charming and beautiful, but she was also a powerful doctor and someone who could design buildings… She was a curious woman—one not easily found!
Was she not far better than those aristocrats in the capital who only knew how to compare their clothes to one another?
Zhu Shen sighed and comforted himself, reminding himself that His Excellency only had one eye left. Since he was half-blind, it was not strange he could not see any of Lady Qi’s good qualities!