188.1 – Gong Tianqing’s Guest
After dealing with the troublesome Xue Qilin, Qi Qiqi took charge of the meeting once more.
“Everyone, how do you think we should treat this incident?” Qi Qiqi shifted her gaze to Ye Zhen, “Uncle Teacher Ye, what do you say?”
“Hmm… I think we must first determine the nature of this incident, to determine if it is a malicious provocation, or a pure conflict of standpoints. Depending on the answer, we can discuss the next course of action. If this is just a farce, if it is simply a mistake, then we only need to appease the disciples a little.”
Ye Zhen lowered his eyelids slightly, and his gaze became sharp and inscrutable.
“But if there’s something fishy, then we have to be careful.”
“Uncle Teacher Ye is right.”
Li Wanting nodded and agreed with Ye Zhen’s suggestion. Assuming an unconcerned attitude, Xia Xue played with her hair and raised an objection, nonchalant.
“That said, there is too little information to make a judgement.”
“Martial Niece Xia’s words are not without reason. We must first learn why Great General Gong called for Qing’er to return to the manor.”
“Hey, before that, it’s not yet certain that it is true to begin with!”
Xia Xue’s meaningful statement made Qi Qiqi frown.
“Hmm? Senior Disciple Sister Xia, are you saying that it may not be true that Great General Gong wants Qing’er to return? Could it be just a pretext?”
“Don’t tell me that you think it’s not? This is just what the other party told us one-sidedly. Moreover, they didn’t show us any document or letter with Great General Gong’s seal. No matter how you look at it, doesn’t it feel like they just made it up?”
Xia Xue said mockingly.
Although her tone and remarks are unpleasant, but it can’t be denied that she’s got a point.
“Um, it’s true…”
Qi Qiqi contemplated for a moment silently, and then summarized, “In that case, our most urgent task is to investigate the authenticity of the other side’s claim, that is, to investigate whether Great General Gong really sent troops to meet Qing’er. If the claim turns out to be true, then we have to figure out why Great General Gong ordered to bring Qing’er back.”
Xia Xue answered indifferently “sure”, while Ye Zhen commented “okay”. Li Wanting and Yang Yuening looked at each other, and then nodded at the same time.
Next, they talked for a while.
When they were about done, Xue Qilin, who kept her promise of not speaking carelessly, suddenly raised a question.
“By the way, are you going to tell Little Qing about this?”
Regardless of whether it is true or false, but since the other party stated that they came to meet Gong Tianqing, Xue Qilin feels that they should inform Gong Tianqing. Furthermore–
“Little Qing might know something!”
Seeing that no one objected, Xue Qilin, feeling that she put forward a good suggestion, went on to say, slightly complacent, “Isn’t that reasonable? Let’s call Little Qing right now–”
Bang!
The sound of a hand hitting the table suddenly rang, cutting Xue Qilin off mid sentence.
“No!”
Qi Qiqi yelled slightly emotionally. Her reaction was sudden and intense, as if someone stepped on her tail.
Wh, why is she angry?! Xue Qilin, who thought that she said something wrong again, which made Qi Qiqi angry, shrank back instinctively.
However, Qi Qiqi just sighed.
“Qilin, I’m sorry I scared you.”
As she apologized, she rubbed the root of her nose, a tired expression on her face.
Qi Qiqi lowered her head. As a result, Xue Qilin can’t see what emotions there are in the red eyes at this moment.
–it’s sadness and unease.
“Uh… it’s okay?”
Completely at a loss, Xue Qilin looked left and right. Everyone who met her gaze only has looks of helplessness and pity in their eyes.
What’s the matter? What’s the meaning of this? Xue Qilin wants to ask what’s going on, but she doesn’t know if she should. She opened and closed her mouth, looking like she wants to say something.
Qi Qiqi noticed the hesitation on Xue Qilin’s face, but it doesn’t look like she plans to provide an explanation.
“Don’t let Qing’er know what happened.”
“That said, I reckon that it must have already spread!”
Xia Xue poured cold water on Qi Qiqi’s intention.
Since such a major event has happened, it is hard to imagine that it won’t become a hot topic of conversation — even Xue Qilin understands this. Qi Qiqi naturally understands this as well. In any case, why did she make such a self-deceptive decision?
“I know.” Qi Qiqi has a complicated look in her eyes, “Although we can’t conceal the truth, but we can delay it.”
Qi Qiqi’s reply made Xia Xue dumbfounded.
“… forget it.”
Xia Xue assumed a bored expression, and thus this topic ended.
Xue Qilin blinked her eyes and looked back and forth between Qi Qiqi and Xia Xue, thoroughly confused.
However, not all answers can be discerned with the eyes. At least, Xue Qilin didn’t discern the reason this time.
After spending a little time to sort out her mood, Qi Qiqi gazed at Ye Zhen again.
“Uncle Teacher Ye, please gather information.”
“Okay.”
Ye Zhen gave Qi Qiqi a short answer.
“Will you send someone to ask the Gong Clan?”
Xue Qilin asked casually.
“How is that possible?! Really, do you think before you open your mouth?”
Qi Qiqi just finished criticizing Xue Qilin, when Xia Xue giggled.
“Investigation is an arduous and thankless task. Of course, information should be already available!”
Already available? Xue Qilin pondered for a moment, and then recalled hearing that one of the Leisure Manor’s businesses is intelligence trading. She suddenly hit her palm with her fist, excited.
“Hey, so you are going to buy information from the Leisure Manor?”
“No.”
Qi Qiqi answered rather quickly, rejecting Xue Qilin’s guess. Xue Qilin, who believed her guess to be right, became dejected at once.
“Why is that…”
Qi Qiqi’s cheeks became bright red due to embarrassment.
“Well, it’s already impressive that you could think of the Leisure Manor!”
“Huh, are you praising me?”
As if she heard something inconceivable, Xue Qilin heaped surprise on her face.
Seeing the disbelief on the other party’s face, Qi Qiqi opened her mouth wide, and her cheeks became even redder.
“I wasn’t praising you!”
Wow, what’s the matter with this textbook tsundere reply? Xue Qilin is stupefied.
Qi Qiqi ignored Xue Qilin’s reaction. She put her fist in front of her mouth and coughed unnaturally, trying her best to put on a serious expression.
“The Leisure Manor does indeed sell intelligence. In fact, they are first-rate intelligence dealers. However, they don’t collect and sell intelligence on the Imperial Court. In other words, we cannot buy information about Great General Gong from them.”
“Oh, I see…”
Xue Qilin responded indifferently.
Then, a ray of curiosity twinkled in her eyes.
“So where do we buy it from?”
Qi Qiqi was silent for a moment, and then a name escaped her moist, pink lips.
“–the Red Chamber.”