Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox

Chapter 163

Qing Jianyue asked in surprise, "Isn't this too much of a coincidence? The fortress lord just left, and they arrived right away. Did you inform the old lady?"

"This is the third thing I want to talk about: the old lady is ill," Cai Zhonghe said.

Kiyomi Tsuki was taken aback. "When did this happen?"

Cai Zhonghe's face darkened. "Didn't Yixinyuan send anyone to report to you?"

Kiyomi Tsuki shook her head dumbly.

Cai Zhonghe said with a serious look, "Last night, the old lady suddenly had abdominal pain and we called a doctor. Although she took medicine, I heard this morning that it seems to be more serious."

The little sparrow and the little crow looked over in surprise.

"Why didn't anyone report such an important matter to me?" A thought flashed through Qing Jianyue's mind. Could it be that Xu Yun was hiding it out of jealousy? But he immediately dismissed the idea. Using such a method to frame someone would be too clumsy.

"Please go to Yixin Garden as soon as possible to pay your respects to the old lady and see how things are going," Cai Zhonghe said gently. "Don't worry, I will report this matter to the Lord of the Fortress later."

“That’s not what I’m worried about. What I’m worried about is that I can no longer slack off.”

Kiyoshi slumped helplessly onto the table like a lazy cat, his good mood crushed by Cai Zhonghe's three matters, which weighed heavily on him like three mountains.

After Cai Zhonghe took his leave, Qing Jianyue, accompanied by his personal bodyguard, hurried to Yixin Garden. Upon entering the gate, without needing to be announced, he went straight to the master bedroom. Old Madam Lu's personal maidservant saw him and rushed to greet him.

"Young master has arrived."

Kiyomi asked, "I heard that the old lady was unwell. How is she now?"

The maidservant said in a panic, "It is Miss Xu who is serving the old lady. Miss Xu does not allow us to get close to the old lady, so we are not very clear about this."

Kiyoshi frowned. "Go and report that I've arrived."

As they were talking, the carved door opened, and Xu Yun emerged gracefully, saying coldly, "No need. The old lady just took her medicine and went to sleep. If you wish to pay your respects, please come later."

Qingjian Yue looked at her and, for some reason, felt that she seemed a little different from usual. Although she was puzzled, she still asked gently, "I heard that the old lady had abdominal pain last night, and it was even worse this morning. What exactly happened?"

Xu Yun said expressionlessly, "The old lady just had an upset stomach and some diarrhea. The doctor gave her acupuncture, and the diarrhea has stopped. The old lady just took her medicine and is no longer in pain. She's asleep now."

Qing Jianyue nodded and said, "I understand. Since the old lady has gone to bed, I will come to pay my respects later."

A strange light flashed in Xu Yun's eyes. "Please wait patiently, young master."

Qing Jianyue turned to leave, but suddenly turned back and said, "Miss Xu, the old lady fell ill last night. Why haven't you sent anyone to inform me yet?"

Xu Yun remained expressionless and said, "Please forgive me, young master. The old lady suddenly had a stomachache. She looked so frightened that I forgot to send someone to report it because I was busy taking care of her."

Qing Jianyue snorted in response. He turned and strode away. After leaving Yixin Garden, Qing Jianyue headed straight for the Peony Garden. Qingfeng, having received the report, personally came out to greet him. Cai Bo'an and Su Haibo were both in the living room. Because there were female relatives present, Madam Cai and Mrs. Su were also there. As soon as he entered, everyone immediately stood up to greet him.

Qingfeng solemnly introduced, "Jianyue, this is Grandfather."

Qingjian Yue smiled and said, "Grandpa, how are you?"

Old Master Lin, nearing eighty, was a robust man with white hair and beard, yet his face was ruddy, showing that he was well-versed in the ways of health preservation. He sized up Qing Jianyue and said in a strong voice, "It's common for women to dress as men in the capital. I never thought such a place would have this hobby?"

Everyone looked at Kiyomi Tsuki after hearing this.

Qingjian Yue seemed not to hear, her gaze sweeping over the faces of everyone in the living room, thinking to herself: He Yunya always clamors to marry Qingfeng, so why is she not seen fawning over Qingfeng when her maternal grandfather comes?

Qingfeng then pointed to a man nearing sixty and a middle-aged couple and introduced them: "This is my uncle, this is my cousin, this is my cousin's wife, and this is my nephew and his wife."

Uncle? Cousin?

Qing Jianyue was surprised. According to Cai Zhonghe, Old Master Lin only had one daughter. How come Qingfeng suddenly had an uncle and cousin? Strange as it was, she still addressed them as uncle, cousin, cousin's wife, nephew, and nephew's wife.

Qingfeng's maternal uncle, Lin Zehai, is in his sixties, her cousin, Lin Runhua, is in his forties, and her nephew, Lin Li, is a few years older than Qingfeng.

Looking at this family of four generations living together, Qingjian Yue finally understood why Old Master Lin was called "Grandpa".

"Please sit down."

With a wave of his hand, Old Master Lin exuded an irresistible aura of authority. After Qing Jianyue sat down, Qingfeng, Cai Bo'an, Su Haibo, Grandma Cai, and Mrs. Su then took their seats, demonstrating the proper order of seniority.

"I came here for no other reason than to take Feng'er with me. I'm getting old, and he's my only precious grandson." Old Master Lin looked at Qingfeng with a doting and loving smile. "I hope that in my old age, Feng'er can be by my side, and that I can see him get married and have children. Then I can close my eyes with a smile."

Kiyomi Tsuki, who was smiling and sniffing the plum blossom tea like a puppy, looked up in astonishment when she heard these words.

"Young lady, you won't disappoint this old man, will you?"

Old Master Lin's stern gaze was fixed on Qing Jianyue's face. When he saw Qing Jianyue's stunned and frightened expression, he nodded in satisfaction.

“Feng’er, I have invited a famous scholar from Suzhou to be your tutor. You have passed the provincial examination and become a Juren. If you study hard for another two years, passing the imperial examination will definitely not be a problem.”

"A Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examination)?" Qing Jianyue's brain, which had been on strike, finally started working again. "Qingfeng, you passed the Juren exam?"

Grandma Cai smiled and said, "Young Master Jianyue, don't you know? The Lord of the Fortress, Young Master Qingfeng, and my uncle are all scholars who passed the imperial examination in the same year."

His tone was rather boastful.

Kiyoshi shook her head, and said incredulously, "Why do I always feel that they are more like playboys than like scholars?"

Qingfeng rolled her eyes. Cai Bo'an, Su Haibo, Grandma Cai, and Mrs. Su couldn't help but chuckle. Qingfeng's cousin, cousin's wife, nephew, and nephew's wife stared at Qingjian Yue as if she were a weirdo.

Qingfeng said with a hint of grievance and a touch of coquetry, "Grandpa, I really have no interest in passing the imperial examination and becoming an official in the court."

Old Master Lin said loudly, "Then go back and inherit my Lin Family Manor. My Lin family is, after all, the richest family in Hangzhou. You want to go into business? I agree. With your intelligence, surpassing the Lu Family Manor shouldn't be a difficult task."

Upon hearing this, Qing Jianyue subconsciously observed the changes in the expressions of Qingfeng's uncle Lin Zehai, cousin Lin Runhua, cousin's wife, nephew Lin Li, and nephew's wife. Regarding Old Master Lin's words, Qingfeng's uncle Lin Zehai, cousin Lin Runhua, and nephew Lin Li all wore the same expression: blank. Looking at Qingfeng's cousin's wife, a venomous glint flashed in her triangular eyes, but when she noticed Qing Jianyue looking at her, she immediately broke into a gentle smile. Qing Jianyue couldn't help but shudder. Only the nephew's wife remained completely natural, displaying the graceful demeanor of a well-bred lady.

Qingfeng said, "Grandfather, your grandson cannot."