Hua Qiyue stepped out of the carriage to shake hands with Ji Jing.
Qiuyun's face sank.
Ji Jing smiled with overwhelming enthusiasm. "My brother told me that your footwork during the match was outstanding. Can we treat you to a meal?"
Hua Qiyue was flattered. "You're too kind! I couldn't possibly accept such generosity."
Not wanting Hua Qiyue to feel forced, Ji Jing hurriedly said, "You are too humble, Ms. Hua. This is simply a meal between friends."
Having a friend in the Ji family could be quite useful, indeed.
After a quick glance at Lvxin and Qiuyun, she agreed.
As they followed Ji Jing through the streets of the capital, Hua Qiyue began to feel like she knew where they were going, and her heart sank as Ji Jing stepped up to Dong Hai Restaurant.
Zhou Zhicheng was standing inside, and it was all Hua Qiyue could do not to murder him on the spot.
Everything around her was familiar, and, as people streamed into the luxurious restaurant, Hua Qiyue remembered how, before she'd taken over, Dong Hai was just a small teahouse.
The success and popularity of Dong Hai Restaurant, not to mention the rise of the Zhicheng family, was a direct result of her own hard work.
And just when things had gotten to a point where Hua Qiyue thought she could enjoy herself, her husband and his horrid mistress had murdered her.
A cold light flashed in Hua Qiyue's eyes as Housekeeper Chu came to escort their party to a table. They were led towards the south chamber, and the host opened the door with reverence.
Two young men and an older gentleman were sitting by the round sandalwood table in the chamber, with two servants next to them.
They all sized Hua Qiyue up expressionlessly. Hua Qiyue's lips twitched into a nervous smile. Staring at the handsome Ji Feng, she stammered, "This is..."
"This is my big brother Ji Feng. My father, master of the family. And this is my second cousin Ji Yang." Ji Jing excitedly introduced the men while Hua Qiyue smiled shyly, greeting each in turn.
Ji Zhong gave her a kind nod, but Ji Feng and Ji Yang kept their faces carefully blank, politely passing the menu.
Hua Qiyue looked at the dishes on the table and saw that the Ji family had ordered the most popular dishes, all of which she had invented.
Chang'e Baked Rabbit, Golden Beef, Prosperous Ginseng Soup... this meal cost nearly a thousand taels of silver! The Ji family must be even wealthier than she expected.
Hua Qiyue merely glanced at the menu before smiling and ordering her dishes.
"Waiter... I'll have the Good Ending Soup and some Cabbage Egg Soup!"
Butler Wu hesitated. They could easily make those dishes, but they considered food for commoners, and weren't included on Dong Hai's prestigious menu.
When Rong Qiyue was still alive, she'd given the staff strict orders against making anything outside the menu.
However, now that Rong Qiyue was no longer in charge, Zhou Zhicheng had removed this rule, as he believed that any guests' requests should be fulfilled to the best of their ability.
"Yes, Miss Hua. They will be ready shortly!"
Host Wu smiled patronizingly, and left the diners to their meals.
Ji Feng coughed politely. "Please forgive me, Miss Hua… but I must say that your victory over Ouyang Liuer was most unexpected."
Hua Qiyue feigned a shocked expression.
"Oh, I understand! If it hadn't been for Master Xuanji predicting my victory, I wouldn't have thought I could win, either!"
As Hua Qiyue spoke, she gave Ji Feng a closer look. He was more handsome than she'd expected the Medical Saint to be.
Ji Feng found himself mildly insulted at the way she openly appraised him with her eyes. This wasn't considered appropriate behavior someone of her status.
Ji Zhong and Ji Yang also noticed this breach of decorum and were disappointed. If a daughter of the Hua family didn't even know how to behave properly at dinner, how could she show such great fighting techniques? Maybe her victory really was luck.
But Ji Jing was convinced Hua Qiyue had more up her sleeve. "Miss Hua, please have some food. That fight today was spectacular!"
Hua Qiyue lowered her eyes in a show of being flattered, and took a few bites of food.
Ji Feng looked at Hua Qiyue quietly before giving a bright smile. "Miss Hua, do you think you will win the subsequent rounds?"
Hua Qiyue continued to eat, smiling and nodding at Ji Feng. "Master Xuanji said that I will win!"
After that, the three men merely listened as Ji Jing chattered incessantly to Hua Qiyue.
Eventually, Huq Qiyue's order arrived.
Ji Feng continued to watch Hua Qiyue in increasing confusion, unable to comprehend how such an obvious dimwit could have defeated a skilled Qi Artist such as Ouyang Liuer.
He had heard that Master Xuanji scammed innocent women of their money at Rongfu Temple. That may be the case, but Ji Feng was willing to be Hua Qiyue was hiding quite a few secrets under that foolish mask.
When the conversation came to a lull, Ji Jing said, "This is delicious! Dad, we should come to the imperial city to eat more often!"
Ji Zhong smiled at his daughter. "We can come as often as you like."
"Qiyue, are your Qi veins really blocked?" Ji Jing asked curiously.
"Yes."
Tianpi had taught Hua Qiyue how to actively mask her spiritual Qi, so no one at the table could possibly know she was lying.
"But doesn't a woman's virtue lie in her lack of knowledge? Surely, I just need a good husband." Hua Qiyue laughed.
Ji Feng raised his brows, but Ji Jing's enthusiasm was unaffected by Hua Qiyue's odd statement.
Halfway through the meal, Ji Zhong placed down his chopsticks quietly, his face slightly green. "Please, continue eating. I... I have something to attend to."
Ji Feng and Ji Jing were looking at Ji Zhong suspiciously. "Dad, you look terrible. What happened?"
Ji Zhong dashed out before answering.
Ji Feng had never seen his father act like this before. He excused himself from the table and followed Ji Zhong to the bathroom.
After 15 minutes, Ji Zhong came out with a sullen face, but as he exited the bathroom, he convulsed, clutching his stomach, and retreated back in again.
A moment later, Ji Feng felt a pang in his stomach, and, with the only toilet being used, ran outside into the woods.
Back in the dining room, Ji Yang ran out, too.
Ji Jing looked puzzled. "I wonder where everyone has gone. Stay here, Qiyue, I'll go check on them."
Hua Qiyue calmly put down her chopsticks. "I'm full. Let me go with you."
The two walked out of the chamber and heard a commotion in the main lobby, including Ji Zhong's voice.
Ji Jing hurried down the stairs, followed closely by Hua Qiyue. Amidst the crowd, Zhou Zhicheng and Host Wu stood there, looking abashed. Ji Zhong and Ji Feng stood near them, impassive.
"Excuse me, excuse me!" Ji Jing shouted as she forced her way through the crowd.
Zhou Zhicheng raised his head at the shouts, and spotted Hua Qiyue just as she stepped into a patch of sunlight.
She was like a beautiful butterfly, floating softly toward him.
Zhou Zhicheng's heart pumped at double speed.