"I'm honored you'd skip the tournament because of me!" Hua Qiyue replied. "Jing, would you like to come to Hua Mansion?"
Ji Jing's eyes lit up. She winked at Ji Feng, and said, "That sounds great! I'll visit you at Hua's Mansion with my brother sometime."
As the ladies chatted, Ji Feng eyed Hua Qiyue with curiosity. He'd been floored when he'd heard about her personal garden of Long Red. She hadn't exactly kept it a secret. If Yun Shimo was correct, and she had only entered the tournament to win the Purple Lotus Phoenix Ice to cure her son, why not simply offer to trade some Long Red for it?
When the conversation died down, Ji Feng said with a smile, "Qiyue, I heard that Tianci needs Purple Lotus Phoenix Ice to heal his throat. We would like to give it to you in advance."
Hua Qiyue was taken aback by the offer. Was he certain she would win? Was he trying to bribe her with a gift?
She desperately wanted to accept, but knew that she couldn't. "I appreciate your generous offer, Brother Feng, but I'm afraid it would be unfair to the other contestants."
Ji Jing glared at her brother. Of course, Hua Qiyue would play by the rules! Besides, she didn't want Hua Qiyue suspecting that they had investigated her.
Ji Feng looked abashed as he said, "Of course. My apologies. I just… consider you to be a good friend, and I am fond of Tianci, too. I simply want to see him recover quickly."
The awkwardness on Ji Feng's face was so adorable that Hua Qiyue couldn't conceal a quiet snicker. And here she had been thinking that Ji Feng was cunning!
"It's okay. Tianci's health has greatly improved in Prince Nan's care. I'll get the Purple Lotus Phoenix Ice by earning it. There is no need to break the rules."
"Sister Qiyue, you're going to win, right?" Ji Jing said excitedly. "I knew you were excellent even before you stepped into the arena. If there's anything that we can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask."
Hua Qiyue nodded seriously. "I must win. Tianci's throat... is bound to be alright again."
Ji Jing and Ji Feng exchanged a look. It seemed they'd be right about her motivations for entering the tournament.
A fragrant scent wafted over them and Ji Feng suddenly burst from his chair. "The Prickly Bird is flowering!"
Hua Qiyue had never seen a Prickly Bird, but she'd heard of it. It got its name from its flowers being roughly the shape of a bird, but more importantly, it was a powerful medicine, similar to the Long Red, if several steps lower in potency. It was truly rare.
She and Ji Jing followed Ji Feng to the window.
Hua Qiyue stood by Ji Feng's side. This close, Ji Feng detected a unique fragrance from Hua Qiyue, but it was faint due to competing with the Prickly Bird, and he couldn't quite place it.
Heart pounding, Ji Feng glanced over at Hua Qiyue. He never thought he'd find a woman more attractive than a rare herb.
Hua Qiyue didn't seem to notice, as she was staring out the window in surprise. The Prickly Bird looked as smug as a peacock with its tailfeathers spread wide, dotted with small colorful flowers.
When Yun Shimo returned with Tianci, he saw Ji Feng gazing at Hua Qiyue, mere inches from her face, and he felt his heart sink.
He was an even-tempered man, but every time he saw Hua Qiyue, he felt like his emotions ran away with him. He couldn't say why, but one word from Hua Qiyue could drive him mad.
Yun Shimo cleared his throat and everyone at the window turned toward him.
Ji Feng's face was as red as the sunset. "I hadn't expected your Prickly Bird to bloom so soon. I'd appreciate it if you saved one for me!"
"Of course!" Yun Shimo simply answered. Then, he glanced at Hua Qiyue and snapped. "You, follow me!"
Everyone was confused by his sudden change of tone, but he walked away without elaborating, and Hua Qiyue quickly followed Yun Shimo into the inner hall, motioning for Tianci to stay with Ji Jing and Ji Feng.
She found herself in a zigzagging corridor with houses on one side and herb gardens on the other. The gardens contained a wide variety of herbs, many of which Hua Qiyue didn't recognize.
After a few dozen steps, Bingyi stepped out of a side passage and presented a pile of notes to Yun Shimo. "Your Highness, the money, as you requested."
"Give it to her." Yun Shimo stopped and glared at Hua Qiyue. He looked quite upset.
Hua Qiyue was dazed. Why was he giving her money? Hadn't he bet on her to win?
"What is this for?"
Yun Shimo knitted his brows. Bingyi could not help feeling sorry for his master.
"I just want to buy the betting slip I wrote to you, in case someone makes an issue of it," Yun Shimo said gruffly.
Hua Qiyue still wasn't sure what this was really about, but she couldn't risk offending Yun Shimo when she was relying on him to cure Tianci.
"Well… if you insist." She took the pile of notes and put it away without so much as glancing at it.
Hua Qiyue looked into Yun Shimo's dark eyes.
"Is there anything else? If we're finished, then I'm afraid I must leave, Your Highness."
Yun Shimo scoffed. "You love money and men. I should've known..."
Hua Qiyue did not bother to argue. He could call her what he wanted; she didn't care about his opinions.
As long as he could heal Tianci's throat, he could say whatever he wanted.
Soon after Hua Qiyue walked toward the outer hall, a doorman rushed in and reported in a low voice. "Your Highness, the Third Madame of Hua Manion is here with her daughter for treatment."
"Tell them I won't take any patients today." His voice brooked no argument.
Hua Qiyue snickered quietly into her hand. Yun Shimo didn't care about money. He had lots of herbs and he had refined numerous elixirs. He could live off the sale of a single elixir for months.
"But..."
The doorman looked at Hua Qiyue, who was walking toward the outer hall. Yun Shimo squinted in her direction, then sighed in exasperation. "Fine. Show them in."
Hua Qiyue almost tripped at that. But why should she care anyway? Hua Xiaoyi had been taught a lesson. If she dared to plot against Tianci and Hua Qiyue again, more would get ruined than her face.
Hua Qiyue curled up her lips and strode away. Yun Shimo grimaced. He'd driven her away again.
But what did it matter? Why would he want to keep her here?
Hua Qiyue watched as the doorman hurried to fetch the Third Madame and Hua Xiaoyi.
Not wanting a confrontation, she said goodbye to Ji Feng and Ji Jing, who insisted on walking her outside.
Yun Shimo watched the scene with a frigid gaze, eyeing up Hua Qiyue and Ji Feng, and then he gently said, "Brother Ji, didn't you want the book on the Cyan Yang Pill? After I finish the session with my patient, I'll take you to my study."
Ji Feng nodded his agreement, and his sister decided to stay, as well.
Hua Qiyue wryly smiled. "That's okay. Tianci and I must go, but you can visit us some other time."