Chapter 131 (2/2)

Gan Qingjia calmly closed the door behind him and sat down across from Qi Jianqiu, pouring himself a cup of tea.

Back in Linglong's private room, she sat with her hands still holding her zither, s.h.i.+vering in anger. Gan Qingjia had rushed out of a door as soon as the owner mentioned Qi Jianqiu's name. How is he treating me like that!

The owner stood at the door, looking at Linglong. “It doesn't matter anyway; you already have someone else in your heart. Don't forget that we're here on a mission.”

“I don't need your reminder!” Linglong's beautiful face was frosted over in anger.

In Qi Jianqiu's private room, she could not hold it in any longer and aimed a kick at Gan Qingjia's s.h.i.+n under the table.

“What a liar you are! You'd just promised to tell me wherever you go in the future, and now you're here at a zither parlour without telling me about it! I'll never believe you again!”

Gan Qingjia dodged the kick. “That's supposed to be the case after you've accepted my proposal, but you haven't. Not only that, you even spent time drinking tea with others intimately in a teahouse!”

“What are you talking about? Hmph! Who had tea with others intimately in a teahouse?” Qi Jianqiu glared at Gan Qingjia, suddenly remembering her meeting with Xue Yiqi in the teahouse just hours ago.

Qi Jianqiu caught the look on her face and shook his head mockingly. “Seems like you've remembered what you'd done.”

Qi Jianqiu frowned. “I was having tea with Yiqi just now, but we were not intimate at all!”

“Yiqi? Hmph!” Gan Qingjia turned away from her, covering his face with the cup of tea. He would never have done such a childish action before.

Qi Jianqiu looked at the man in front of her and held in her urge to scream at him. She patiently explained herself. “Do you know why I was meeting him?”

“How would I know?” Gan Qingjia put his cup down and laughed harshly. Since when did I become a person that is so petty?  He stood up and turned to leave but was stopped by Qi Jianqiu.

“Will it kill you to just listen to what I have to say?” Qi Jianqiu flared.

“Alright then. Please go ahead, Young Miss Qi.” Gan Qingjia stopped and leaned by the doorframe, arms folded across his chest.

Qi Jianqiu was irritated by the tone in his voice but continued with her explanation. “I'd asked him to meet so that I can make it clear to him that the two of us can only be friends, and that I'll never accept his proposal. Are you happy now?”

Gan Qingjia froze. He knew that the expression on his face was hilarious.

Qi Jianqiu was pleased with his reaction. “Now then, it's my turn. So why are you here in Moonglade?”

The expression on Gan Qingjia quickly changed as he walked towards Qi Jianqiu, smiling. He sat down and poured a cup of tea for her. “Ahhhh…I saw that the two of you were together and my mind went blank! I didn't know what I was doing! Please forgive me, my Lady.”

Qi Jianqiu took the cup of tea from her and glared at him. “Who are you calling your ‘Lady'? What if you do it again next time? I'm not gonna believe you anymore!”

The smile on Gan Qingjia's face froze. “I, Gan Qingjia, vow to the heavens that I will never visit zither parlours and pear orchards without the knowledge and consent of my Lady, or may I be punished by the heavens.”

Qi Jianqiu glared at him. “Are you trying to take advantage of me again? So you're saying that I have to become your Lady for you to be good?”

Gan Qingjia held her hand in his and snaked an arm around her waist. “This is taking advantage of you.”

Qi Jianqiu struggled a little, but let his hands be. “Hmph! I'll like to see how you're going to get through my father; I'm not going to help you!”

“What!”

At the Feng residence, an Imperial Decree had arrived. Every member of the household knelt on the floor as the Imperial Attendant read the decree.

“By the will of the Heavens, and the command of the Emperor, both the daughter of Chamberlain Feng, Feng Luodi, and the Duke of Anping, Situ Muye, have my care and blessings. I bestow the blessing of marriage upon the two of them, to find a date suitable to be wedded.”

The Imperial Attendant smiled at Chamberlain Feng. “Chamberlain, please acknowledge the Imperial Decree. I'm sure the entire city of Chang'an would be envious of you having such a good future son-in-law.”

The Chamberlain kowtowed and took the decree from the Imperial Attendant, a little confused. “Why is his Majesty bestowing marriage upon my daughter all of a sudden?”

Feng Luodi was frozen in place, unable to move. Scarlet helped her to her feet as the two Ladies of the household looked at her.

The Imperial Attendant bowed. “The Duke had requested for the decree from his Majesty, and his Majesty had agreed without hesitation. Congratulations, Chamberlain Feng. I shall take my leave now.”

“Thank you, Imperial Attendant.” Chamberlain Feng had Fu Bo walk the Imperial Attendant to the gate as he turned to Feng Luodi.

“Luodi?” The First Lady called out to her. “Didn't you like that Duke of Anping as well? Why are you looking so pale?”

“Mother,” Feng Luodi said as she stared blankly at the First Lady, panic welling up in her eyes, “I don't want to marry. I don't want to marry him!”

“Now that things have come to this stage, it doesn't matter even if I disagree with it.” Chamberlain Feng approached Feng Luodi. “If we refuse the decree, the entire clan would be slaughtered.”