Chapter 126 (1/2)

Chapter 126 Cascades: Uncovered

Qi Jianqiu followed Gan Qingjia as they walked through Chang'an before finally arriving in front of a villa.

”Isn't this place…” Qi Jianqiu looked at the villa in surprise. She suddenly realised something and asked softly, ”Isn't this the Villa of Mount Baicha? Why did you bring me here?”

”Go in and you will understand.” Gan Qingjia was full of smiles.

Qi Jianqiu turned her face away. Gan Qingjia's smile is so captivating.

Gan Qingjia knocked on the red-coloured door in a specific rhythm and it was quickly opened from the inside. The person saw Gan Qingjia and called out to him. ”Master.” He stepped aside and directed the two of them into the villa.

Once inside, Gan Qingjia led Qi Jianqiu to the backyard. A huge field of blooming Baicha flower appeared in front of her eyes. The flowers hustled together, elegant and dreamy. Qi Jianqiu couldn't stop smiling when she saw the Baicha flowers. She liked Baicha, and loved its flowers the most.

”I bought this place because I know that you'll like it.” Gan Qingjia sincerely said, ”the villa's name also contained Baicha. Is this enough to represent my feelings?” Gan Qingjia winked.

”The Villa of Mount Baicha? The name is so bad!” Qi Jianqiu complained, acting as though she was dissatisfied.

”I am so hurt!” Gan Qingjia held his heart in an exaggerated manner.

”You are so overdoing it.” Qi Jianqiu gave him a look of disgust. Yet, she couldn't hide her smile.

”Are you finally admitting that you like me as well?” Gan Qingjia gently pushed Qi Jianqiu like a young child.

Qi Jianqiu wanted to glare at him but she couldn't do it. She hesitated. Anyway, he was the one who admitted it first, which means that I didn't lose to him! Even if I admit it now, I'm not going to lose anything! However, Qi Jianqiu continued to contemplate.

Gan Qingjia watched on anxiously. ”What are you still worried about? I went to zither parlours because for missions that I can't tell you about now. You might need to suffer a little bit now but I will tell you once everything is ready.”

QI Jianqiu had never seen Gan QIngjia so fl.u.s.tered before. She grinned and put her hands behind her back, ”Send me home then.”

”Then I'll take it as you agreed, then.” Gan Qingjia nervously followed behind. He heaved a sigh of relief when she didn't disagree and gave a satisfied smile. Such a stubborn lady.

In the palace, the Heir was troubled.

He had lost most of his power as well as the trust of his father, the Emperor. He wanted to rise in power again, but the number of officials standing by him was dwindling. Adding on to the dire situation, the death of the Imperial Treasurer gave his enemies an opportunity to remove him from his position as the Heir.

His father, the Emperor, had said that he would believe him, but there was no way to stop others from scheming against him. What's more, the person in charge of the case was the Duke of Anping who had gained the trust of his father and held much military power in his hands, a person whom he was unable to bribe. As he contemplated the problems at hand, his advisory tried to provide a solution.

”Your Highness, I remember that your tutor and the Duke of Anping has a very good relations.h.i.+p. The Duke continues to keep in touch with your tutor even though he is on your side. Why not ask him to find out about the progress of the investigation?”

”Right! There is still Jiang Moyin.” The Heir finally remembered his tutor. He quickly gave orders to Yu Ming. ”Quickly prepare all the herbs and medicines that are good for health. I am going to visit my teacher.”

Yu Ming agreed and went to prepare the gifts.

When the Heir got off his horse carriage, he immediately put on an anxious look as the head steward led them to Jiang Moyin's room. As the Heir entered the room, Jiang Moyin smiled and got off the bed pay his respects to the Heir.

”Your Highness.”

”Please rise.” the Heir hurriedly helped Jiang Moyin up and ordered someone to cover him with a cloak. ”I feel ashamed that I have not visited you after you have fallen ill. Sigh, this is all because I fell into the villain's scheme and got confined by my father. Without your strategizing, I am lost.”

In the span of a few short sentences and the Heir pushed away all his wrongdoings. If Jiang Moyin had not heard the news from his head steward and attendants, he would have thought the Heir as the same person he'd known.

”I have heard of your situation.” Jiang Moyin said indifferently, his tone not as intimate as before. ”If you want to keep your position as the Heir, the only way is to dispel the suspicions that the Emperor have of you.” Jiang Moyin immediately recognised the main reason for the Heirs visit.

As expected, the Heir couldn't retain his composure and replied angrily, ”So I have to stay and watch the Eight Prince gain an upper hand? What if my father decided to pa.s.s his throne to the Eight Prince?”

”Cough, cough.” Yu Ming coughed lightly, shooting a glance at the Heir.

The Heir understood and softened his tone, ”My apologies for the slip of my tongue. But it is hard to guess what my father is thinking; I feel that the best solution is still to gain the support of all the officials.”

Jiang Moyin smile faded as he looked out of the window. ”The Emperor's thoughts are hard to fathom, but the support of the people is even harder to gain. The Emperor chose you as the Heir because you treat your people with generosity, gaining their support and love. Also, the Xuan Kingdom has finished laying its foundations and he feels that you do not have to resort to such political expediency to get to power. Hence he is very strict with you.”