Chapter 324: No One Can Match This Little Brother's Appetite

Every word entered Hao Qi's ears. Beside him, Wei Chu stood uncertain and alarmed. Hao Qi's complexion was extremely ugly, his eyes filled with fear and unease.

Hao Yuntu's meaning, and the oral decree just delivered, were meant to remind him how an eldest imperial son ought to conduct himself. But what Hao Qi heard was the emperor's extreme dissatisfaction and furious rebuke.

In the comparison, he was the moon that bred demons and specters in darkness, the eagle that crawled upon the ground...

Seeing Hao Qi remain silent for a long time, the eunuch who had delivered the decree reminded him, "Your Highness, the oral decree has been delivered."

"Oh!" Hao Qi finally returned to himself. "This son accepts the decree!"

After seeing the imperial messengers off, gloom gradually spread across Hao Qi's face, mixed with a trace of grief and indignation. He glared viciously at Wei Chu.

"Look at the fine thing you've done! So what if you went to see Niu Youdao? How could Father Emperor so quickly become certain you went to investigate Bu Xun and Princess Consort Yu? Didn't you warn Niu Youdao?"

Wei Chu hurriedly defended himself. "Your Highness, I warned him. He also agreed and said he would never dare oppose Your Highness."

Hao Qi said, "Then where did the information leak? Fufang Garden?"

Wei Chu shook his head. "Fufang Garden is unlikely. When Linghu Qiu and I discussed the matter, we were alone in a private room. Our people were guarding outside. No outsider could have heard us. Only a handful of people knew about this."

"Inside the palace, only a handful of people could pass word to Father Emperor this quickly, and even fewer could make Father Emperor believe it immediately. If Fufang Garden isn't the problem, then apart from Niu Youdao, who has dealings with Bu Xun, who else could have carried the matter directly before Father Emperor in such a short time?"

Hao Qi's voice turned bitter.

"I knew that thief Niu Youdao was hiding something from me. Sure enough, he doesn't put me in his eyes at all. This proves the bastard is colluding with Second Brother. That's why he couldn't wait to kick me while I was down! Dog thief! He's gone too far. Does he truly think I don't dare touch him?"

Wei Chu remained silent. He could not actually be certain Niu Youdao had leaked the information. Hao Qi suddenly stared at him.

"A petty cultivator from the State of Yan dares come to the State of Qi and run wild before me... Find a way to dispose of him!"

Wei Chu was startled and immediately tried to dissuade him.

"Your Highness, please reconsider. Niu Youdao is obviously connected with Bu Xun. If anything happens to him here in the capital, I'm afraid it will be difficult to escape the Office of Investigation's inquiry."

Hao Qi said, "You can't do this, you can't do that. Tell me yourself—what use are you to me?"

Wei Chu knew his temperament and quickly said, "Your Highness, I mean Niu Youdao cannot remain in the capital forever. We can wait until he leaves before acting. He has offended so many people. As long as we handle it discreetly, who would know who killed him? Without evidence, no one would dare say Your Highness was responsible. I am thinking of Your Highness as well. We cannot give Prince Yu another chance to kick you while you're down."

Hao Qi's cheeks tightened.

"Do not create another disaster for me!"

Wei Chu immediately promised, "Your Highness can rest assured. I will kill this thief and avenge Your Highness!"

The Qi capital was bustling and prosperous. To Niu Youdao, strolling through it felt like wandering inside an ancient painted scroll.

He had been in the city for many days, but this was the first time he had truly walked around it at leisure. With that swarm of cultivators no longer entangling him, the experience was much easier and more pleasant. As for the warhorses, he had already abandoned the idea of continuing to maneuver for them. He had now personally learned how dangerous this convergence of wind and clouds could be.

With so many eyes fixed on the matter, continuing to interfere would most likely mean nine deaths and one life. Far too dangerous. Besides, he now held two trump cards. One was the token Bu Xun had given him. The other was that island out at sea. More importantly, he knew Xiaoyue Pavilion had its eyes on him. That poisonous snake hidden in the dark might bite him at any time.

He understood perfectly well that with his present strength and influence in this place, he could not play several sides against one another at once.

When they passed along the shore of Ming Lake, Niu Youdao merely glanced twice at the Tofu House as they went by. Eventually, the group strolled all the way to Fufang Garden.

Inside the garden, in an exquisite private room, Guan Fangyi sat before her dressing table and looked into the mirror as she made herself up. From time to time she sighed softly. Her fingers brushed the wrinkles growing deeper at the corners of her eyes, and sorrow dimmed her expression. The old gatekeeper knocked and entered to report. After hearing him, Guan Fangyi was startled.

She turned on her seat and asked, "Linghu Qiu came back? And that Niu Youdao came with him?"

The gatekeeper said, "The man claims to be Niu Youdao. I don't know him."

After a moment's thought, Guan Fangyi immediately said, "Tell them I'm not here. Say I went out into the city."

"Yes!" The gatekeeper quickly withdrew.

Guan Fangyi set down her comb and rose. She paced through the room, Niu Youdao's arrival making her distinctly uneasy. She was not afraid of Niu Youdao or Linghu Qiu. She was afraid of Bu Xun, who was connected to Niu Youdao. More precisely, she feared the cultivation forces Bu Xun could mobilize behind the scenes.

Her secret eavesdropping on Linghu Qiu and Wei Chu had already been discovered by the Office of Investigation, whose old ancestor was none other than Bu Xun. Now Niu Youdao had suddenly come calling. Had he learned something from Bu Xun? And hadn't Wei Chu gone to see Niu Youdao? Could Wei Chu also have found out? Could he know that she had betrayed him? To some degree, as long as one obeyed the rules in this capital, Bu Xun was not terrifying.

He was the man behind the scenes who maintained those rules. Guan Fangyi had spent many years mixing in the Qi capital and knew perfectly well which people absolutely could not be provoked. The man at Prince Jin's residence was one of them. He was vindictive to the extreme. If Hao Qi learned she had betrayed him, he would never let her go. Now she neither wanted nor dared meet Niu Youdao, lest the man at Prince Jin's residence misunderstand.

Once she had sorted through the situation, Guan Fangyi quickly left the room and called to her people outside.

"Come. Let's go stroll through the city."

After gathering some attendants and climbing into the carriage, Guan Fangyi suddenly leaned her head back out.

"Use the side gate!"

At Fufang Garden's main entrance, the old gatekeeper came out and cupped his hands toward Niu Youdao.

"Apologies for making our honored guests wait. Unfortunately, the proprietor went into the city for amusement and isn't in the garden."

Niu Youdao glanced inside suspiciously.

"You went in to report our arrival, and this is the answer you came back with?"

The old man smiled.

"Honored guest, please don't misunderstand. The proprietor usually comes and goes through the side gate. It's perfectly normal for this old man not to know she had suddenly left. If you have business, speaking with the others in the garden will do just as well."

Niu Youdao said, "My business can only be discussed with her. Give me a definite answer. When will she return?"

The old man shook his head.

"The proprietor loves amusement. Everyone knows it. I truly can't say when she'll return."

"Fine. Then speaking with someone else is the same!" Niu Youdao threw down the words and simply forced his way inside.

The gatekeeper froze briefly. Then, with little choice, he beckoned someone over to guide the visitors. The group entered the garden, looking around as they walked. Its elegant scenery was genuinely pleasing to the eye. Niu Youdao praised it.

"This Hongniang really knows how to enjoy life."

Linghu Qiu smiled. If she did not crave enjoyment, why would that woman insist on remaining in the Qi capital all these years? They reached the reception hall and sat. Someone served tea. Before long, a burly man arrived and cupped his hands.

"Apologies for keeping our honored guests waiting. Same old rules: we don't ask where you come from, and we don't ask about right or wrong. Are you here to buy something or sell something?"

Niu Youdao said, "I want to buy a face-to-face conversation with Hongniang!"

Linghu Qiu and Hongxiu looked at each other.

The burly man froze, then replied, "The proprietor isn't here. She's gone out to enjoy herself."

"No matter. I'll wait here until she returns."

The man's brows furrowed.

"Friend, isn't this somewhat inappropriate?"

Niu Youdao said, "I'll wait right here until she returns."

His attitude was firm. There was no room for negotiation. The man started to speak, then stopped. He knew Guan Fangyi had fled specifically to avoid this visitor, so he did not dare act rashly. In the end, his face stiffened and he left. After that, no one served them more tea or offered any hospitality. They were simply left there to wait. From time to time, people wandered past outside and kept an eye on the hall. The sky gradually darkened.

Guan Fangyi still had not returned, and no one brought them any food. Linghu Qiu and Hongxiu, tired of waiting, wandered around the courtyard outside.

"Sir, this fellow is determined to wait for Hongniang. What exactly does he want?" Hongxiu asked softly.

Linghu Qiu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, admiring the night scenery.

"He says he's taken a fancy to Guan Fangyi."

"Ah!" Hongxiu froze.

She had been about to comment on Guan Fangyi's age. Then she remembered that Niu Youdao had spent the whole journey living with Black Peony and constantly had designs on the two sisters as well. She spat lightly.

"Pervert!"

"No one can match this little brother's appetite." Linghu Qiu shook his head and chuckled.

Midnight passed. Niu Youdao finally emerged from the hall and walked over to the pavilion where master and maid were sitting. A Moon Butterfly glowed inside. Hongxiu stood. Linghu Qiu turned his head, propped it on one arm, and sighed.

"Little Brother, come back another day. Why be so stubborn?"

Niu Youdao asked, "It's this late and the woman still hasn't returned. Does she often spend the entire night away from home?"

Linghu Qiu said, "For an ordinary woman, naturally not. For her, it's perfectly normal."

"You're old acquaintances, aren't you? Forget refusing to give me face. She has kept you waiting here all this time without even sending word. Do you think that's normal?"

Linghu Qiu froze. He lowered his arm and slowly stood, frowning. Now that Niu Youdao mentioned it, it did seem somewhat abnormal.

Niu Youdao asked again, "You're certain she didn't know about your conversation with Wei Chu yesterday?"

Linghu Qiu looked at him suspiciously.

"What are you trying to say?"

Niu Youdao did not answer. He merely looked at him and waited. Linghu Qiu could only think it over before replying.

"She shouldn't have known. We spoke in a private room, and Wei Chu's people guarded outside. Asking about something like that in secret was already sensitive enough. Wei Chu himself would have wanted to keep it hidden, so he shouldn't have told her either."

Niu Youdao slowly turned to face the darkness outside.

Then he suddenly shouted, "Someone!"

A man quickly skimmed out of the darkness, came forward, and cupped his hands.

"Are the three honored guests preparing to leave? I'll see you out."

Niu Youdao gave a cold laugh.

"Leave? Tell Guan Fangyi this: I don't care where she's out seeking pleasure. Even if she's lying in a pile of men, she can crawl up and come here. I'll wait another two hours. If she still hasn't appeared by then, I guarantee Fufang Garden will disappear completely from the Qi capital before dawn!"

Linghu Qiu and Hongxiu exchanged a look. Neither understood what he was trying to do. What enormous words. On what basis could he make Fufang Garden disappear from the capital? Did he really dare take action inside the Qi capital? The man's lips tightened. But he had already received instructions not to clash with Niu Youdao. If the man wanted to wait, let him wait until he lost patience and left. So the burly man turned and disappeared into the darkness.

[End of Chapter 324]