Lanting

Kapitel 166

The little crow stroked the white fox, "It's been sleeping since this morning, still as slumped as a rag doll. Even when Xiaoqian came, it didn't snuggle up to her and play like usual. Young master, don't you find that strange?"

Kiyoshitsuki held the white fox in his arms and stroked it for a while, then suddenly his body trembled violently, and he shouted, "Quickly, call someone to fetch a doctor!"

Soon, a doctor was summoned. After examination, it was determined that the white fox had been drugged. Although it wouldn't cause any immediate harm, the dosage was so strong that it would likely remain asleep for several days. This shocked everyone. Who had drugged the white fox? And what was their motive?

Thick, dark clouds swept in from all directions, reaching up to the clear sky and the moon in my heart.

Cai Bo'an, Lin Feng, Su Haibo, Li Anguo, and Fang Runmin all gathered in the flower hall of the Ice Garden. They discussed for a long time without reaching a conclusion. However, everyone was very tense, unanimously agreeing that the ultimate goal of drugging the white fox was still Qing Jianyue. Therefore, they made new arrangements regarding Qing Jianyue's safety.

Qingjianyue's tears and laughter were both incomprehensible.

At 1:00 PM, the guests of Fengyue Villa arrived. Cai Zhonghe had already made arrangements. He first invited the guests to stay in the guest courtyard, wash off the dust, and then served them a simple but exquisite meal. After they had rested for a while, he invited them to the main hall.

The guests had barely taken their seats and hadn't even had a sip of tea before a heated argument erupted in the reception room. Qing Jianyue listened from outside for a while. The guests from Fengyue Manor were extremely arrogant. Not only did they refuse to apologize for Feng Piaoxiang's assassination attempt at Bingyuan in the dead of night, but they also accused Lu Family Fort of maliciously harming Feng Piaoxiang. They demanded that Lu Family Fort apologize to Fengyue Manor and compensate Feng Piaoxiang for her lost arm. The more they talked, the more outrageous and provocative they became.

Kiyoshi Tsukiyomi felt a sense of doubt: Something's not right. I know Kang Boying very well; he's a reasonable person. As for his men, I've dealt with them before. Who is this person speaking inside? Thinking of this, he ordered, "Send the message inside."

Huang Chong announced loudly into the room with a strong voice, "Young Master Jianyue has arrived."

The clamor of arguing in the reception room vanished like water from a closed box, instantly silencing only the sound of people getting up. Qing Jianyue strode into the reception room, stopping as he passed the group of guests from Fengyue Villa. He stared in astonishment at a couple among them. Both were in their forties; the man was robust and strong, the woman strikingly beautiful.

Qing Jianyue asked, both surprised and delighted, "Is that Brother Guo and Sister Shang?"

Yes, this couple is none other than Guo Gang and Shang Wanxia, the third lords under Kang Boying of Fengyue Manor.

Shang Wanxia exclaimed in surprise and delight, "My God! Is that Jianyue? Big brother, look, is that Jianyue?"

Guo Gang also exclaimed in surprise, "It's Jianyue, it's Jianyue!"

"My God! My God!" After confirming, Shang Wanxia grabbed Qing Jianyue and exclaimed in shock and joy, "Is this the sickly, skinny monkey from three years ago? I can't believe it. Jianyue, you've become beautiful, a real beauty. I almost didn't recognize you."

Qing Jian Yue smiled and said, "I was just wondering who Master Kang would send, but I didn't expect it to be Brother Guo and Sister Shang. How is Master Kang? How is Madam Kang? I heard that Madam Kang is pregnant, is that true?"

"My master is doing well, and so is his wife. In two months, his wife will be giving birth, so my master is incredibly nervous," Shang Wanxia said with a smile. "The master even prepared a special gift for you this time."

Kiyomi Tsuki laughed and exclaimed like a child, "Master Kang gave me a gift? Let me see it, let me see it!"

Seeing him so happy, everyone in the room became joyful, and the tension from before vanished completely.

Guo Gang smiled and instructed his subordinates to present the gift. When the gift was presented, everyone was stunned. The gift was a very exquisite large lotus pot, so large that it took two strong men to carry it in. After they put the lotus pot down and removed the netting covering it, Qing Jianyue, Qingfeng, Cai Bo'an, Lin Feng, Cai Zhonghe, Su Haibo, Zhou Peng, and others all crowded around to look at it.

The lotus pot was filled with clear water, its bottom covered with colorful pebbles. Green water plants swayed gracefully, and five lively, golden carp swam about. Qingfeng, Cai Bo'an, Lin Feng, Cai Zhonghe, Su Haibo, and Zhou Peng stared in astonishment at Guo Gang and his wife, who were looking at Qing Jianyue instead. After a moment of hesitation, Qing Jianyue suddenly burst into laughter.

Shang Wanxia asked curiously, "Why is the young master laughing?"

Upon hearing this, Qing Jianyue laughed even harder, leaving everyone present completely bewildered. Shang Wanxia couldn't help but ask again, clearly unaware of the reason. Qing Jianyue forced a smile and asked, "Elder sister, did Master Kang only ask you and elder brother to deliver this? Was there any message or letter included?"

“No.” Shang Wanxia was extremely puzzled. “The manor lord only told us to give this to the young master. He said that the young master would understand once he saw it.”

Qingjian Yue smiled and said, "Qingcheng ordered someone to deliver my handwritten letters to Master Kang. Those letters were not letters, but several paintings I had drawn."

It turns out that Qing Jian Yue painted four pictures in total. The first one shows him lying in bed asleep, dreaming of fishing with Lu Qing Cheng in Yan Cui Lake. The second depicts plump fish leaping and struggling on the surface of the water under the moonlight, shimmering with golden light, as they take the bait. Beside them is a rack with a fire burning underneath, on which five large, fat fish are skewered. Lu Qing Cheng is turning the grilled delicacies, while the little white fox wags its tail, its sharp snout drooling. The third picture shows Feng Piao Xiang suddenly appearing in the scene, menacing and brandishing a long sword, pouncing on Qing Jian Yue like a wolf devouring a sheep. Lu Qing Cheng draws her sword to protect Qing Jian Yue, and the little white fox bravely wipes its drool and joins the battle to protect its master. The fourth picture shows Feng Piao Xiang being captured, and Qing Jian Yue waking from his nightmare, his pillow soaked with drool, having failed to catch a single bite of the fish…

Everyone present burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Please tell Master Kang that I greatly appreciate this gift. I have also received Master Kang's apologies." Qing Jianyue's expression darkened. "However, why did what I overheard outside the door just now completely contradict your intentions?"

"This gift expresses the manor lord's sincere apology to the young master, but not to your esteemed estate." The speaker was neither Guo Gang nor Shang Wanxia, but a young man in his early twenties standing beside Guo Gang. Qing Jianyue sized him up, and he returned the look with an arrogant gaze, speaking in a disdainful tone: "I've long heard of Young Master Jianyue's name, and I imagined her to be a peerless beauty, but it turns out she's a transvestite. Lu Qingcheng either has homosexual tendencies or something wrong with her eyes."

This person not only humiliated Qing Jianyue, but also insulted Lu Qingcheng. It was outrageous! Everyone in Lu Family Fortress was furious.

Qingjian Yue smiled brightly, "Brother, who is this man who is handsome, yet not as beautiful as my Qingfeng; tall and imposing, yet not as heroic as my Lord Lin and Lord Lei; dressed in fine clothes, yet not as noble and majestic as my Qingcheng; and whose demeanor is not as charming as my handsome brother, yet still manages to turn heads on the red-light district?"

This provocation was too much for the hot-blooded young man to handle. He immediately flew into a rage, shouting, "You...you say I'm inferior to whom?"

Kiyomi Tsuki's eyes were serene as she spoke in a gentle, earnest tone, "Little brother, could you please be quiet for a moment? Please don't interrupt when I'm talking to your parents. Didn't your parents teach you to be polite and civilized?"

With a few "pffts," several young lords and stewards from Lu Family Fort couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The man was so angry that his pale face turned into a fireball.

Guo Gang coughed once, "Lu Xiu, do not be rude. Young Master Jianyue is not only the benefactor of my master and his wife, but also the benefactor of your esteemed Lord Long and his wife."

Qingjian Yue thought to herself: Your Highness Lord Long and his wife?

"You are so rude and disrespectful. If my master and his wife, Lord Long and his wife find out, they will not forgive you. Now step back." After reprimanding him, Guo Gang smiled apologetically at Qing Jianyue and said, "Young master, his name is Lü Xiu. He is just a child and he is ignorant. He offended you. Please forgive him."

Qing Jianyue glanced at Lü Xiu, who looked furious and embarrassed. Qing Jianyue thought to himself: Could this kid not be from Fengyue Manor, but from Tianlong Fortress? What's going on? He smiled nonchalantly and said, "Brother Guo, don't worry, I won't hold a grudge against a child."

He immediately sensed Lü Xiu's venomous gaze, sharp as an arrow.

Qingjian Yue casually added, "However, I want to clarify one thing: in this negotiation, is Fengyue Manor in charge, or Tianlong Fortress in charge? Although you are family, as far as I know, Lord Long of Fortress never interferes with his son-in-law. Or perhaps your two families want to join forces to fight against my Lu Family Fortress?"

Guo Gang said awkwardly, "Young master, what are you saying? Before we came, my wife repeatedly instructed us that no matter how important the matter is, we should sit down and have a proper talk for your sake."

"Very good, very good." Qing Jianyue said with a smile, "Little brother of Tianlong Fort, when we talk later, please keep your mouth shut. If you dare to interrupt, don't blame me for being impolite. I will have someone grab you by the collar and throw you out of the gate of Lu Family Fort."

Lu Xiu sneered, "Today I've truly broadened my horizons and witnessed the power of Madam Lu of Lu Family Fortress."

Kiyoshi ignored him completely. "Please sit down. Since Brother Guo said it's such a big deal that you're willing to sit down and talk about it for my sake, then let's sit down and have a proper discussion."

After taking their seats, Guo Gang wanted to speak, but seemed unsure of where to begin. He glanced at his wife, Shang Wanxia, whose eyes were dim, and forced a smile, saying, "Young master, we came here today not just for the sake of Piaoxiang."

Kiyoshi Tsuki said in surprise, "Elder sister, please feel free to speak your mind."

Shang Wanxia sighed, "Young master, it seems you know nothing. On February 15th, Old Madam Lu of Guibao secretly ordered her men to assassinate Madam Long. That day, Madam Long and Madam Long went to the Iron Threshold Temple to offer incense, but were ambushed. Caught off guard, Madam Long was seriously injured while protecting Madam Long. This incident has enraged the Lord of Longbao and the Second Master Long."

Everyone in the hall, including Kiyomi Tsuki, had a sudden change in expression, like the weather in June, suddenly becoming overcast and dark, as if a thunderstorm was imminent.