Chapter 99: Hold it, let’s make a deal (1/2)

Chapter 99: Hold it, let’s make a deal Original and most updated translations are from volare. If read elsewhere, this chapter has been stolen. Please stop supporting theft.

Zhao mama kneeled on the ground, head lowered as her heart filled with terror. Though she’d served His Highness Duke of Qin for many years, a servant was still a servant. The greatest taboo wasn’t not doing the work well, but offending one’s master. This was only her first day in the Leisurely Cloud Pavilion, but she’d already offended esteemed wangfei. How was she supposed to spend the coming days?

Suppose esteemed wangfei told on her to His Highness Duke of Qin, then that’d be terrible. She’d served him for so many years, but never disappointed him before. While Zhao mama was terrified, Han Yunxi was stunned, ears echoing with Zhao mama’s earlier reprimands.

“How could he not take you seriously?”

It looks like this old mama had returned and arrived too suddenly. She probably hadn’t figured out the true nature of the relationship between her and Long Feiye and misunderstood. But even though she knew it was a misunderstanding, Han Yunxi still gave an unconscious smile without realizing it.

“Cough, cough!”

She lightly coughed a few times, tone mild. “Zhao mama, just forget about this time. You didn’t mean it. As for the matter between His Highness and myself…” Han Yunxi paused and couldn’t hold back her laughter. She patted Zhao mama’s shoulder and grinned. “Hehe, you’ll understand in the future.”

When she finished, her light steps took her inside the house. Zhao mama slowly raised her head to look at Han Yunxi’s retreating form before thinking back to her words just then. She couldn’t help but feel that something was off.

She should find Chu Xifeng and clarify the situation…

—

In the quiet of the night, Long Feiye’s quarters were still lit. A shadow appeared silently before the door. The guards on watch at the side was long aware of its presence, but none of them dared make a sound when they saw who it was. This arrival was none other than the Qin Wangfei, Han Yunxi.

She spotted the lit windows from a distance and immediately came over. But right at the door, she stopped. After a long time, Han Yunxi still hadn’t knocked on the door. When she finally turned to leave, the door suddenly moved. Startled, Han Yunxi prepared to flee, but she had the wretched luck to miss a step and fall down!

“Ah!” she cried out, before immediately covering her mouth. Unfortunately, it was already too late. The door opened to reveal Long Feiye standing inside, dressed in black like a god of the night as he gave her a disdainful look from above.

“What are you doing?” Long Feiye’s voice was colder than the winter wind.

“I…I…” Suddenly nervous, Han Yunxi lost her ability to speak.

In response, Long Feiye’s face turned so cold it was frightening. He walked out the door and past her without a second glance.

“I’ll go with you to treat the poison!” Han Yunxi said in a rush.

Before she’d asked Zhao mama questions, her heart had been content and reasonable. But after all that, she was filled with a guilty conscience and decided to come by in the end. She didn’t know why she felt so guilty, but perhaps helping him with poisons would be her way to repay him for leaving her in the Hibiscus Courtyard and minimizing her troubles.

Long Feiye stopped, pausing for awhile before asking, “Why did you change your mind?”

“Just…just then I slept a bit, so I’m much more energetic. I should be able to make an accurate diagnosis now,” Han Yunxi replied.

Long Feiye’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Unfortunately, your lordship doesn’t need it anymore.”

As he spoke, he continued to walk forward. Han Yunxi hastily stood up, unaware that she’d twisted her ankle. The sudden movement sent a sharp pain that made her sit back down and cry out, “Aiya!”

Long Feiye stopped walking, but it was only a second before he prepared to leave again.

“Long Feiye, hold it right there, I’m here to make a deal with you!” Han Yunxi said in a rush.

This time, Long Feiye really did stop. Seeing this, Han Yunxi hastened to add, “No matter what, I’ve helped you twice, so you can help me once, right?”

“If your lordship remembers correctly, consultation fees were paid for both times,” Long Feiye reminded her coldly without turning around.

“So I won’t treat you unfairly this time, either. I’ll help you treat the poison and you can help me with a favor. Then we’ll both take what we need and mutually benefit,” Han Yunxi said with a grin.

After a long time, Long Feiye finally turned around. “What kind of favor?”

Han Yunxi silently released a breath. She just knew this fellow hadn’t found anyone to treat the poison yet. Actually, she wasn’t here to discuss conditions with him. She just thought that the fact he found her to treat poisons meant that he’d met with a particularly difficult case, enough to wait for her for over two hours. It must be quite urgent.

As for making a deal, it was just something she’d blurted out in the heat of the moment.

Observing Long Feiye’s unapproachable, arrogantly icy face, Han Yunxi felt no dread. She gave a mischievously apologetic smile and waved a hand. “Come here and we’ll talk.”

Long Feiye pursed his lips, obviously impatient, but he still walked over and crouched down. Han Yunxi lowered her voice. “I’ll help you treat the poison, you help me sneak into the Han estate. I want to search for something in Madame Li’s quarters.”

“You’re going to steal?” Long Feiye raised an eyebrow.

“No!” Han Yunxi rejected that immediately, her voice growing even lower. “I’m investigating! Mu Qingwu asked me to search for poison since he was afflicted with Ten-Thousand Snake Poison last time.”

Long Feiye knew about this long ago, but Han Yunxi had no idea he was paying attention to the matter.

“You suspect the Han Family?” Long Feiye was doubtful.

“It’s not really a suspicion, but there are clues there that I need to look for to be certain,” Han Yunxi said seriously. It wasn’t a big deal if this guy knew about the general’s estate’s affairs. She wasn’t pleading for his help, but making a deal. Of course, if he was willing to help on his own, she wouldn’t mind it either.

Long Feiye paused before saying mildly, “Let’s go treat the poison first.”