Hua Qiyue knew that she had taken Youshui by shock, though she did not bother explaining further. Hua Qiyue laughed and gestured for Youshui to continue combing her hair.
Lv Xin’s heart roiled with waves of surprise, though it was the good kind of surprise. She recalled the changes she had seen in the young lady for the past few days. If the young lady really did participate in the platform martial arts tournant organized by the Ji family, who knew she might achieve shocking results.
After washing up, Hua Qiyue went to the grand hall. When Tianci saw her, he pattered towards her and grasped her hand tightly. His eyes looked pitiable, as if they were saying—"Mommy, you’re awake? Why didn’t you allow Tianci to sleep beside you? Are you angry?"
It did not take Hua Qiyue long to know what the child was thinking.
Children were sensitive. Even if Tianci was mute, his thoughts could be expressed through his eyes.
"Mommy had a bit of a cold last night. I was worried you’d catch it too, so I asked you to sleep beside sister Lv Xin. Understand?"
Tianci looked as if he just had a revelation. He nodded vigorously before moving to rub her small hand with his face.
Hua Qiyue felt delighted. Soon, the servants brought breakfast. After breakfast, Hua Qiyue and the little guy headed over to Fu Xin Hall to see the Old Mada.
The Old Mada saw Hua Qiyue and imdiately brightened up.
"Co sit beside grandmother. Tianci, you co too."
Hua Qiyue obeyed and led Tianci by hand to sit beside her grandmother. The Old Mada appraised Tianci before nodding appreciatively. "Tianci had grown so fair and chubby after just a few days. Qiyue, looks like you’ve been doing a wonderful job raising him!"
Hua Qiyue grinned. "It’s all thanks to you, grandmother! Because of your good health, the whole family is at ease. We’ve been eating and sleeping well. Even the children have gained so weight."
At Hua Qiyue sweet words, happiness blood in the Old Mada’s heart like flowers. Her body had recovered a great deal. She felt two or three tis better than she used to. Now, she could feel energetic for the whole day.
Well, the Long Red was a miraculous dicine after all. How could anyone’s vitality not improve by leaps and bounds after drinking that soup!
That was why the Old Mada had been treating Hua Qiyue like a priceless treasure and was practically spoiling her rotten.
After all, Hua Qiyue had suddenly obtained the aid of a ’supre master’. Hence, the Old Mada would not dare treat Hua Qiyue with anything other than courtesy and respect.
After a while, Second Mada and Hua ngshi made their appearance. When they saw Hua Qiyue, they imdiately noticed her glowing expression. Hua Qiyue seed to them to be pink in health and altogether showing signs that she had been living a good life.
Hua ngshi’s nails dug into her palms. She felt a strong urge to murder Hua Qiyue right that instant, though her rational mind told her to endure. She had to endure!
"Old Mada, ngshi wants to participate in the platform martial arts tournant organized by the Ji family. This ti she might be able to make a na for Hua’s Mansion!" Second Mada said smilingly while gazing at Hua ngshi with nothing but pride and joy.
This daughter had a lot of pride in her. She had bested the daughters of all other families in the entire capital.
Hua ngshi wore a pale pink gown today. A dancing phoenix was embroidered on the gown’s neck with golden threads. All in all, her attire was colorful and eye-catching. A pearl was attached in the place of the phoenix’s eye. The pearl glowed lustrously, accentuating her skin which was soft and milky like bean curds.
The gown fitted her like a glove. It was neither too tight nor too loose. It brought out Hua ngshi’s perfect figure.
Hua ngshi flashed a tiny smile and said, "Grandmother, I’ll try my best to glorify Hua’s Mansion’s na."
The Old Mada did not comnt much at all. She wore a flat expression, as if she did not hold much hope for Hua ngshi’s prospects. "I can only hope so. The Ji family is a house of divine dicine. No ordinary person could catch the eyes of the head of that house. Just try your best. Do not be so blind as to hold yourself to unrealistic standards."
Hua ngshi received the Old Mada’s words of advice imdiately, though deep down she was in a good mood.
She just hoped that the day of the tournant would co sooner. The mont she stepped onto the platform and defeat all the other Qi Artists, she would be able to gain more admiration and attention.
Surely, nobody could outshine Hua ngshi if she were to successfully beco a disciple of the Ji family. Not even Hua Qiyue could do it, no matter how outstanding she was.
Second Mada chatted with Old Mada for a short while before taking her leave, claiming the need to accompany Hua ngshi to enroll for the tournant.
Hua Qiyue took a tiny sip of tea. The light in her eyes was mild, like a growing ripple in water. Her disposition bespoke sophistication and composure. "Grandmother," she said, "I’d also like to participate in the tournant."
At Hua Qiyue’s sudden words, Old Mada, who was enjoying a bowl of ginseng soup, stared at Hua Qiyue in pure shock. Recently, this neglected granddaughter of hers had been surprising her continuously.
Now Hua Qiyue was actually thinking of participating in the tournant?
"Qiyue, you must know that no participant of that tournant is allowed to put bla on their opponents for any deaths or injuries. Because of this lack of accountability, your opponents would not show any reservations at all throughout the tournant. You have bad Qi flow and you have no knowledge in the Qi arts. Just how do you think you could hold your own in the tournant?" Old Mada asked in a low voice.
Hua Qiyue shook her head, though her eyes contained nothing but confidence. "Old Mada, to tell you the truth, a supre master had helped cleared the Qi passage of my body a while ago. So now, I’m able to learn the Qi Arts. In fact, I’ve already reached the Oracle Profound stage at the mont. Please do not worry about !"
Old Mada was stunned, her heart palpitating.
Hua Qiyue could learn the Qi Arts?
That was sothing nobody knew. How could she have found out only now?
For a normal woman, reaching the Oracle Profound stage was already considered an impressive feat. What had utterly surprised her was the fact that Hua Qiyue had reached the Oracle Profound stage so rapidly.
"Yue Er, why didn’t you tell this earlier?"
"Pardon , grandmother. I was worried that I would end up disappointing you if it turned out that I wasn’t gifted in the Qi Arts at all. So I decided to wait until I’ve shown so good prospects before I tell you. That would please you more, grandmother." Hua Qiyue’s response was flawless.
Old Mada looked at the lovely and adorable Tianci, who was waiting quietly beside them. She felt a shudder in her heart.
This child was definitely not ordinary. Hua Qiyue had only trained him for just a few days, and yet he was already so quiet and composed.
Such a disposition was beyond that of an ordinary child.
"I see. So Yue Er can now train in the Qi Arts and is even a Qi Artist at the Oracle Profound stage. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Can’t believe that our Hua’s Mansion now has two talented Qi Artists." Old Mada was ebullient. Imdiately, she ordered Nanny Zhou to retrieve Hua Qiyue’s reward.
Hua Qiyue tried to turn down the reward, though her efforts were futile due to Old Mada’s strong insistence. In the end, she was forced to accept her reward.
Beside them, Lv Xin and Youshui were so surprised that they nearly started squealing. No wonder they were told that the young miss was different. It turned out that she could now train in the Qi Arts!
"Very well, then. But Yue Er, if you really do participate in the tournant, then you have to promise one thing. If your opponent is more powerful than you, then you must not force yourself during decisive monts. The most important thing is to stay alive, you understand? The Hua family isn’t a big family after all. We don’t want you taking unnecessary risks. You don’t have to trade your life for reputation."
Concerned, Old Mada gave out earnest instructions, all of which Hua Qiyue took to heart. Afterwards, Hua Qiyue began formulating plans with Old Mada. Hua Qiyue had decided to present two sprigs of Long Red to Old Mada after the tournant. Old Mada would then bring the two sprigs to the palace and present them to the emperor.
Naturally, Old Mada was thrilled with the idea. The emperor would no doubt be extrely overjoyed when presented with two sprigs of Long Red.
Old Mada had been entertaining that idea for quite so ti, though she had decided to put it off until a later ti. She was afraid that Hua Qiyue might hate the idea.
After all, Hua Qiyue had acquired the aid of a supre master, who must have been among the world’s top elites. Old Mada would not risk alarming him just for the sake of a gift.
Now that Hua Qiyue herself had suggested it, the Old Mada could finally heave a sigh of relief.
Hua Qiyue had left Tianci at ho under Youshui’s care while she and Lv Xin went to enroll for the tournant.
The streets were busy and filled with noises from the crowd. The entire street was lined with a variety of stores. There were herb stores, pawnshops, and other shops that cater for all basic human needs.
An old man strolled around with a tray of skewered candies while children with sweet teeth chased after him. The children finished skewer after skewer, leaving the old candy seller grinning from ear to ear.
The enrollnt booth that the Ji family had set up was especially crowded. When Hua Qiyue saw the long queue, she frowned. At this rate, she did not know how long it would take before it was her turn.
Her ti was too precious. She really did not want to waste her ti waiting in line.
Lv Xin had noticed Hua ngshi and Second Mada. In Changjing Kingdom, all won were allowed to step outdoors, though so won preferred to have their faces obscured with a veil.
There were others who did not mind showing their faces too. They would step outdoors without any reserve. The tournant’s platform had been set up in the area, which was teeming with beautiful won. The beautiful won in the area were as abundant as the clouds in the sky. Most of the n who were lining up for the enrollnt would throw surreptitious looks at these won from various prominent families.
Of course, the daughters of so prominent families would just send their servants to enroll on their behalf.
"Co, let’s head over." Hua Qiyue had noticed Hua ngshi, which caused her eyes to shine brightly. A barely-there smile adorned her lips as Hua Qiyue strolled confidently towards the front of the queue.
"Miss, what do you think you’re doing? Don’t we have to queue up?" asked Lv Xin.
Lv Xin was seriously taken aback by Hua Qiyue’s blatant confidence. "What is she trying to do? Get Hua ngshi to help her enroll?" Lv Xin wondered.
With the kind of ntality Hua ngshi had, surely she would not bother helping Hua Qiyue at all.
When Hua Qiyue walked up to Hua ngshi and Second Mada, she was smiling crisply. "Second Mada, sister, I didn’t expect to et you here."
It was clear that Second Mada loved her daughter dearly. When the servants from other families saw that she had personally co to accompany Hua ngshi for the enrollnt, they began singing Hua ngshi’s praises. They lauded Hua ngshi for being in such good taste. They even went as far as declaring Hua ngshi as the woman destined to win the tournant. At such complints, Second Mada was all smiles.
When they suddenly heard Hua Qiyue voice, both Second Mada and Hua ngshi thought they were both mistaken.
But when they looked to their left, the person they saw there was indeed Hua Qiyue. Hua Qiyue stood there, smiling at them. Lv Xin was there too with her small face crumpled into a frown.
"Oh, yes. What a coincidence. Big sis, are you here to shop?" Hua ngshi was grinning. Her attitude towards Hua Qiyue was affectedly kind and warm.
Hua Qiyue looked at the long queue a little hesitantly. Most of those in the line were servants. These servants were in charge of the enrollnts of several ladies in their respective houses.
"No... I... actually... I’m also here to enroll." Hua Qiyue looked a little sheepish, her eyes filled with hope and yearning. "A supre master said that this year will be my lucky year. Any tournant that I join, I’ll be able to win, right?"
When the first heard them, those words really sounded like sothing only a lunatic would say. Hua ngshi and Second Mada looked at each other, their eyes brightening with glee.
"This really is a fantastic opportunity!" they both thought.
Before, Hua ngshi had been trying to co up with ways to get Hua Qiyue to enroll in the tournant. But now, Hua Qiyue had volunteered to sign her own death warrant!
Hua ngshi smiled like how she normally would, calm and poised. She picked up Hua Qiyue’s hand with warm enthusiasm. "Big sister, why didn’t you tell us earlier that you intend to join the tournant? Mother and I would help guarantee your spot."
Hua ngshi’s good looks could literally topple cities. Smiling as she did, she had the n who were queuing beside them utterly besotted. Countless pairs of eyes were now set upon her.
Hua Qiyue’s own looks certainly would not lose to Hua ngshi’s city toppling beauty. If Hua ngshi were a peony, then Hua Qiyue would be an elegant white lily in a pond. Her entire being exuded grandeur and elegance.
Second Mada nodded. "Yes, that’s right. First Miss, you need not to trouble yourself with the queue. We’ll enroll on your behalf!"
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