My Lady Always Lacks Ambition -
Chapter 162 - 161: Losing Qin Liuxi
Chapter 162: Chapter 161: Losing Qin Liuxi
In Li City’s Plum Garden, Mu Xi sat in the most picturesque courtyard with his legs up on a table, a good-looking servant boy massaging his calves, as he idly played with a gold-plated ball. Beside him stood a guard, reporting in detail Zhao Family’s actions from the shadows and the arrogance Mrs. Xiao Zheng displayed upon entering the city.
"Looks like this Zhao Ping really thinks of Li City as his own turf, oh wait, actually as Meng Family’s?" Mu Xi scoffed in disdain, "But how could such a trivial Deputy Magistrate dare to indulge Mrs. Xiao Zheng’s arrogance and tyranny without Meng Family’s backing and the usual weight of his office?"
He didn’t care whether the Qin Family that was sent back to Li City was innocent or not; he just needed to look at the Zhao Family’s behavior to glimpse their usual conduct.
The guard said, "Among the civil officials of Li City, Magistrate Ding has the most say. However, Magistrate Ding is in Ningzhou Prefecture. Although his old house is still here in Li City, he takes Ningzhou Prefecture more seriously, allowing Zhao Ping to strut around."
In Magistrate Ding’s absence, Zhao Ping had the loudest voice among the civil officials.
Mu Xi sneered coldly, "With no tigers in the mountains, the monkey claims to be king. Does that leaping clown even qualify! Keep investigating, organize everything for me. I’m going to rid the people of this scourge."
"Yes, sir."
"Young Master Heir, Prince Rui has arrived," reported servant Shuangquan.
"Oh?" Mu Xi stood up and looked toward the entryway, indeed seeing Qi Qian approaching. He walked over and sized Qi Qian up, opening with a direct question, "You arrived just in time, saving me the trouble of looking for you. Can you fight? Shuangquan, go get Yuan Meng over here to exchange a few moves with Prince Rui."
Qi Qian frowned. Everyone knew Mu Xi was a notorious playboy and Little Overlord, but he didn’t expect such rudeness, not even a proper greeting upon meeting.
"How come Heir Mu is in Li City, having stirred up trouble at the Zhao’s too?"
Mu Xi twisted his brows and looked at him sideways, asking, "Why, is that coward Zhao Ping under your protection?"
Qi Qian shook his head, "Not at all. I just heard that the Heir’s ruckus was quite big. If Zhao Ping complains to the Holy Emperor..."
Mu Xi let out a soft scoff, "Let him complain if he wants. In all these years, the amount of complaints and impeachments against me could pile higher than this pavilion. Do I look like I care?"
"Aren’t you worried about making it difficult for the Empress?"
"My elder sister said I can do as I please; even if the sky falls, she’ll be there to hold it up," Mu Xi boasted with pride, puffing out his chest as if basking in glory.
Qi Qian: "!"
Indeed, such a rascal.
Mu Xi saw a towering guard approaching the entrance and his eyes lit up, waving him over, "Yuan Meng, come here quick, and spar a bit with Prince Rui."
"Young Master, I’m not here to practice martial arts," Qi Qian frowned.
He only came because he heard Mu Xi had arrived, fearing that the trouble-making Little Overlord might cause a scandal in Prince Ning Mansion’s territory, causing trouble for their household. But now, he’s being asked to spar with a guard?
What in the world?
Mu Xi said, "Who’s talking about practicing martial arts? You’re going to be my future brother-in-law; of course, I have to see if you can fight."
Qi Qian was stunned, thinking he was hearing things. Future brother-in-law?
"What did you say?"
Mu Xi, seeing his confused expression, explained: "You don’t know yet? Ah, the imperial decree hasn’t been issued probably because they are waiting for you to return to the capital? My Fifteenth Sister has come of age, and my mother has already spoken with my elder sister, asking the Emperor to grant my Fifteenth Sister and you an arranged marriage."
Qi Qian’s mind reeled.
The Red Bird Star stirred at the Yintang of a Commandery Prince, suggesting a beautiful lady would soon accompany him.
That’s what Qin Liuxi foresaw that day, echoing suddenly in his mind.
Could her prediction be pointing to this?
"How could this be, I’ve never met your Fifteenth Sister," Qi Qian frowned deeply, filled with a sense of urgency and resistance.
He did not wish for any imperial marriage, nor had he ever thought about it, especially now, he was even less inclined.
As to why, he could not comprehend the reason.
Mu Xi looked at him as if he were a fool, and said, "How could you have never met? Didn’t you go to the capital two years ago to celebrate the Holy Emperor’s birthday? My Fifteenth Sister also entered the palace, so she naturally saw you. Besides, what does it matter if you haven’t met? My Fifteenth Sister is also a directly descended noble lady from a reputable family, with a lovely appearance and a gentle temperament, greatly adored by my elder sister. Are you saying you are not worthy of her? I’m afraid it’s you who might be too weak to match up to my Fifteenth Sister!"
Qi Qian: "...I meant no such thing."
"Whether you mean it or not, that is your own affair. If the imperial order comes down, can you resist and be disrespectful?" Mu Xi gave him a sidelong glance. "Although you are also of imperial descent, you are not a prince but a prince’s grandson. After all, your father and my brother-in-law are merely first cousins, which makes you subject to him in a relationship of sovereign and subject. How dare you, as his nephew, defy an imperial order?"
Qi Qian furrowed his brows deeply; he was completely unaware of this news. How could this have come so abruptly?
"Young Master Heir." A guard stepped forward and knelt in front of Mu Xi.
Mu Xi, full of interest, asked, "Well, did you find out anything about that lad?"
"I have failed!" The guard hung his head low.
Mu Xi was stunned, "You didn’t find out?"
The guard said with shame, "I... I lost track of him."
Mu Xi was silent for a moment, then eagerly said, "You’re saying you lost track of her?"
"Yes."
The guard felt it was truly bizarre since he was a scout by trade with first-class skills in gathering information and tailing. He was ordered to investigate Qin Liuxi and followed her until she entered an alley. To his surprise, it turned out to be a dead end. Broad daylight, and it was as if he’d seen a ghost!
Knowing his abilities, Mu Xi wasn’t angry at the loss, but rather, his interest and determination grew even stronger. "Then keep looking. I refuse to believe that turning Li City upside down won’t find her. Go and search."
"But Young Master Heir, we still don’t know the person’s name."
Now Mu Xi was angry, and with a kick, he said, "So stupid, haven’t you heard of drawing a portrait?"
"I realize my mistake."
"Go quickly, and if you can’t find her, don’t bother coming back to see me. Go where it’s cool and stay there." Mu Xi threatened.
The guard felt bitter inside but dared not defy, only able to comply.
Qi Qian, coming back to his senses, asked, "Young Master Heir, whom are you seeking?"
"Just a lad I happened to encounter on the street; he’s quite interesting and capable, but my men lost track of him." Mu Xi rubbed his hands together, "I want to see where he can hide."
Qi Qian’s heart stirred, "What sort of person?"
"Just..." Eh, how to describe him, that appearance.
As Mu Xi was pondering, Huo Lang came over with a message in hand and said to Qi Qian, "Commandery Prince, it’s a letter from the Old Princess Consort sent by carrier pigeon, asking the Prince to return home quickly."
Qi Qian immediately thought the news might have leaked to his grandmother in the capital. Concerned it involved his own marital fate, he dared not delay and said to Mu Xi, "Young Master, I’m returning to Ningzhou Prefecture first."
Mu Xi, still preoccupied with thinking about Qin Liuxi’s appearance, absentmindedly waved his hand without a care.
Qi Qian left swiftly.
Mu Xi caught a glimpse of Qi Qian’s profound profile as he turned around and felt a touch of astonishment; that profile looked familiar. Where had he seen it before?
But in an instant, his thoughts returned to Qin Liuxi: "Ah, why can’t I remember her face!"
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