"Hey, don't go, what does this an?"
The shout prompted the bookstore's clerks and custors to crane their necks and look around, causing Qi Yue to quickly shut her mouth.
At this mont, a person strolled out from beside the bookshelf on the right, wearing a long robe of porcelain color, which was the most fashionable style and color in Fengdu at the ti.
With a face neither large nor small, fair complexion, and lips curled into a slightly evil smile, his delicate features took on a slightly ferocious air.
The newcor walked up to Qi Yue and stared at her calmly, greeting her in a very relaxed tone.
"Young Master seems quite familiar with Chief of Staff Liu, eh?"
Qi Yue didn't want to pay attention to this person, but seeing his eyes continually sweeping over the book in her hand, seemingly curious, she simply threw the book onto the small table and casually took a seat on the couch.
"Who are you? Don't you know it's rude to abruptly start conversing with soone?"
"I am Wei Yixiao, a gentleman of Fengdu," the man said with a carefree tone, and without any politeness, he sat down opposite Qi Yue.
"And you, Young Master?"
Qi Yue narrowed her eyes slightly.
This Wei Yixiao was not quite right.
Just like her, he was dressed as a man when he was a woman, but sohow, he felt more like a fake man, the kind that resembles a real eunuch.
To put it bluntly, he seed sowhat perverse.
"There's no need to exchange nas if we're not familiar," Qi Yue said coldly, looking at her. "Please leave if there's nothing else; I wish to read now."
A flash of annoyance crossed Wei Yixiao's face, but she quickly smiled again.
"It seems the Young Master only wishes to form relations with important figures like Chief of Staff Liu. Just rember, it's not only Liu Zhinan who can retire you."
What an attitude, eh?
To start off by tempting her with the prospect of holding an official position!
A crease ford between Qi Yue's brows, and she couldn't help but seriously size up the person in front of her.
This Wei Yixiao, despite her seemingly perverse appearance, subtly exuded the domineering and sharpness of one who had long held power.
Although she was trying hard to appear congenial at the mont, the arrogance revealed in her eyes showed her true nature.
A person's face can be changed with adornnt, but the inherent temperant that one is born with can never be erased.
Could she be from the Nanyue royal family?
The mont Qi Yue contemplated this possibility, she imdiately had an idea.
Wasn't this her goal in getting close to Liu Zhinan?
—To understand the political landscape of Nanyue and, if possible, to influence the Emperor of Nanyue to further influence and even change the Nanyue court's politics.
Best would be like in Western Chu, to turn their external conflicts into internal strife, and then without a fight, quell all wars and permanently eliminate future troubles.
And the appearance of Wei Yixiao was like a pillow arriving with sleep—perfect timing!
It's just a pity that she had no good feelings towards this woman, even a sense of disgust.
With this thought, she let out a contemptuous snort.
"So, who might you be, then? There doesn't seem to be any significant Wei surnad figures in the Imperial Court, right?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than she saw anger rise in Wei Yixiao's contempt-filled eyes.
Her guess was basically confird, and Qi Yue scoffed openly, "I have always disliked those who bully under the guise of power, those who leverage others to intimidate..."
Before she could finish, Wei Yixiao's eyes were already glaring wide.
"You, how dare you be so insolent..."
Wei Yixiao's face flushed with anger, fists clenched tightly, as if she were about to rush forward and slap Qi Yue the next second.
"Insolent? How am I being insolent? I rely ntioned what I dislike..." Qi Yue shook her fan nonchalantly, with a teasing look on her face, "...or are you saying, my words have just stepped on soone's tail..."
"You... you truly deserve to die!"
Wei Yixiao was furious.
Suddenly, with a flick of her right hand, she raised it again, and a horsewhip appeared in her grasp.
Qi Yue slowly curved her lips into a smile.
"As expected, nothing but a bullying dog! It seems today I must discipline you on behalf of your master."
The next second, the distinctive "whoosh" of the Vajra Whip suddenly sounded; the whip snaked towards her like a swift serpent.
Qi Yue smiled faintly, sitting with poise.
Seeing this, Wei Yixiao couldn't help revealing a triumphant and wicked grin.
With a "clang," a shadow flashed at high speed, and simultaneously, a strange black flute intercepted the whip, snapping it in two.
Wei Yixiao, propelled by the force she had gathered, lurched forward, crashing onto the small table and cursing profusely.
Qingzhu rely used a bizarre technique to press down on the flute in her hand.
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Accompanied by a dull "hum" sound, the air seed to explode with a strong force.
Wei Yixiao was imdiately rendered speechless, only able to flail his hands and feet in protest, but despite struggling for a long ti, he couldn't get up.
"My lord, are you alright?"
Qi Yue glanced at Qingzhu and praised her repeatedly.
"Well done! That was really quick!"
Qingzhu, too anxious to feel pleased, cast a worried glance at the prostrate Wei Yixiao.
"My lord, we should leave quickly, this is not a place to stay for long."
Li Fengshou, who had rushed over upon hearing the noise, had already turned pale, his voice trembling as he called out "Young Master" but then found himself speechless.
When he first encountered Qi Yue, a generous noble son who was not disdainful, he couldn't have been happier.
He always felt that Qi Yue was his destined patron and so was extra attentive.
He intended to gradually beco more familiar with him and then plead to allow him and Afa to leave the unscrupulous bookshop owner and gain so protection.
But just as he was making a start, the powerful person he had fixed his hopes on had beaten up a prominent guest.
The situation was utterly hopeless!
With such a significant incident having occurred, if he remained at the bookshop, not only would the important guests above seek trouble with him, but they might also push him out to calm the situation.
After all, he had been the one to serve Qi Yue from the beginning.
He was deep in thought, head bowed, when he heard a voice as beautiful as the sound of nature in his mind.
"What do you want to say?"
Li Fengshou suddenly looked up, seeing a pair of smiling willow-shaped eyes.
"This humble one, this humble one..."
He hesitated to speak what was on his mind, but then he noticed the shopkeeper's head slowly approaching through the bookshelves.
Startled, he instantly lost his composure.
On the surface, this appeared to be no more than a bookshop, but in reality, its main source of inco wasn't from selling books.
And the ruthlessness of this shopkeeper was beyond what ordinary folk could comprehend.
The mont he knew he had thoughts of leaving, his life would not be spared.
"This humble one wishes to say, 'Young master, please leave safely, and do co again when you're free.'" Li Fengshou bowed slightly, offering a courtesy.
"Alright," Qi Yue closed her fan and pointed at the unconscious Wei Yixiao.
"Do you know what to say?"
Li Fengshou was startled, quickly responding, "I know, I will say exactly what I saw."
Qi Yue smiled faintly and without another word, quickly left the bookshop.
Only when she got on her carriage did she instruct, "Qingzhu, that bookshop is a bit strange, have our people keep an eye on it. Also, that Wei Yixiao, I suspect he's related to the imperial family. You guys should follow him and see."
"Yes, my lord."
Qingzhu acknowledged the command and promptly arranged the task.
But what Qi Yue didn't know was that her movents had been completely exposed due to the day's tumult.
Wei Yixiao, who had managed to get up, imdiately cursed the shopkeeper furiously and took out all his anger on Li Fengshou, beating him until his skin was split open, almost to the point of fainting.
To appease Wei Yixiao, the bookshop owner imdiately had people drag Li Fengshou off to the chaotic burial grounds south of the city.
As it happened, this Wei Yixiao was none other than the daughter of the Nanyue Emperor's wet nurse.
Wei Yixiao herself had grown up with Han Linghe, and the two were as close as siblings.
Because of this relationship, Wei Yixiao always dressed as a man and took on the role of a guard in the palace.
Though the Wei Family didn't have an official in the Imperial Court as powerful as Liu Zhinan, they had extensive influence.
In all official ranks below the third rank, whether in the governor's office or the military, there were individuals surnad Wei.
Taken together, their power in the court was even greater than Liu Zhinan's.
Hence, just half a Shichen later, Qi Yue's residence was surrounded by soldiers.
The person leading them was none other than Wei Yixiao.
However, Qi Yue would not be so foolish as to wait around for trouble to knock at her door.
No sooner had she left the bookshop than she went straight to Rishengchang's silver coin transport hub in Fengdu.
This place was discreet and secure, with a third of Fengdu's Black Feather Guard stationed there.
"My lord, to be honest, you should have co here to stay from the morning, as long as you don't go out, you wouldn't be discovered for a month or two," Zhao Tai said while leading the way ahead, babbling non-stop.
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