Chapter 165: Chapter 164: Mistress
Wen Qingye fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "I’ve come mainly to tender my resignation to the deans. I must return home."
If Yann Shanjun intervened, Wen Qingye would owe her a favor regardless of the outcome, and that was something he was unwilling to accept. Besides, ’why would I be afraid of the Jia Family from the Imperial City?’
"Going back now... I’m afraid that’s not a good idea," Wang Tianming said, hesitating. If Wen Qingye returned now with no one to protect him, the Jia Family might just show up at his door to kill him.
"It’s fine. I’d like to see just how formidable the Jia Family’s experts are," Wen Qingye said with a faint smile, waving his hand. "In that case, I will take my leave."
Though Wen Qingye’s expression was calm, inside he was burning with impatience, wishing he could return in a single flash.
After speaking, Wen Qingye rose to his feet and left without another word.
Yann Shanjun reached out, her mouth opening and closing, but in the end, she said nothing.
.......
The moment he was outside, Wen Qingye began racing toward Phoenix City without the slightest delay.
「In the Imperial City of the Celestial Martial Country, within the study of Jia Tuchun, Patriarch of the Jia Family.」
"Master, the Eighth Prince has arrived. He is already waiting in the drawing-room."
Hearing the voice from outside, Jia Tuchun couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Though confused, he quickly replied, "Very well, I understand. I’m on my way."
The Eighth Prince was a renowned expert of the Celestial Martial Country’s Royal Family and rarely deigned to visit the mansions of others. Although the Jia Family was one of the Eight Great Families, they were nothing compared to the Royal Family. This was, in fact, the Eighth Prince’s first visit to the Jia Mansion.
After speaking, Jia Tuchun quickly rose and strode toward the drawing-room.
In the drawing-room, a middle-aged man sat calmly, sipping tea. He was dressed in a purple Three-Clawed Python Robe, and an air of majesty hung about him. His eyes were clear and piercing—it was none other than the Eighth Prince of the Celestial Martial Country, Ling Xiao, a supreme expert at the Refining Spirit Ninth Layer Heaven.
"Your Highness! My sincerest apologies for not greeting you at the gate!" Jia Tuchun said hurriedly as he walked in.
Ling Xiao didn’t rise. He simply nodded and got straight to the point. "I’ve come today on a specific matter."
Jia Tuchun replied at once, "I wonder what matter is so important that Your Highness would come in person? If there is anything I can do to help, I will certainly do everything in my power."
"I’ve come about Wen Qingye," Ling Xiao said slowly, setting down his teacup.
A flash of hatred crossed Jia Tuchun’s eyes. "Wen Qingye?"
Ling Xiao stared intently at Jia Tuchun. "That’s right. Wen Qingye is under my protection. I hope the Jia Family can let go of its conflict with him."
Jia Tuchun inwardly frowned. ’So Wen Qingye has this kind of backing? Enough for the Eighth Prince to personally come and protect him.’
Seeing the silent Jia Tuchun, Ling Xiao continued, "Jia Lu may have passed, but you still have other sons. Furthermore, you’re an expert at the Refining Spirit Seventh Layer Heaven. Your Essence Qi is abundant and your body is in its prime. I imagine having a few more children would be no problem for you."
Ling Xiao’s words carried a hard, uncompromising edge.
Anger flared in Jia Tuchun’s heart, but his expression remained unchanged.
Ling Xiao then added lightly, "I’m not being completely unreasonable. You’ve always been interested in the position of Grand Tutor, have you not? I’ll support your claim."
"Do you truly mean that?" Jia Tuchun asked, his expression visibly moved.
"When have my words ever been false?" Ling Xiao snorted.
Jia Tuchun gritted his teeth and nodded. "Since Your Highness has put it that way, I would be a fool not to accept your kindness."
"Good. As long as you agree." Ling Xiao nodded and rose to his feet. "I will take my leave."
With that, he turned and strode toward the main gate.
Jia Tuchun watched Ling Xiao’s departing figure, his heart blazing with fanaticism. ’The Grand Tutor! The pursuit of my entire life! What is one son’s life compared to becoming the Grand Tutor? A son is gone, so what? I still have seven sons and ten daughters. If worst comes to worst, I can have more. But there is only one position of Grand Tutor!’
"Those destined for greatness cannot be sidetracked by trivialities. Lu’Er, may you rest in peace," Jia Tuchun said with a sigh, slowly composing himself.
Once outside the Jia Mansion’s gates, Ling Xiao couldn’t help but sneer. ’Is your son’s life only worth the position of Grand Tutor? How laughable.’
Then, Ling Xiao thought of Ling Jiao, and a smile touched the corners of his lips. ’I wonder what kind of charm this Wen Qingye possesses to make that little lass finally settle down.’
Before long, news spread like wildfire through the Imperial City: the Eighth Prince had paid a personal visit to the Jia Family, and the Jia Family had subsequently dropped its case against Wen Qingye. The moment this news broke, it sent shockwaves through the city!
The entire Celestial Martial Country was shaken. Who was the Eighth Prince? A supreme expert at the Refining Spirit Ninth Layer Heaven, a man even the current Emperor wouldn’t dare to slight! For such a renowned and universally respected figure to personally protect Wen Qingye—what could possibly be the reason?
And soon, this news made its way back to Phoenix City.
Everyone in Phoenix City was stunned. Since when did Wen Qingye have such a powerful backer? Powerful enough to make the Eighth Prince himself intervene on his behalf?
It wasn’t long before a rumor began to circulate: Ling Xiao’s daughter, Ling Jiao, was infatuated with Wen Qingye, and this was the true reason for the Prince’s intervention.
.......
"You tell me what in the world is going on!" Zhang Hua roared, glaring at Zhang Xiaoyun from his seat on the stone chair.
For days, Zhang Xiaoyun hadn’t seen Yunshan. She had been searching day and night, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted, and she didn’t know what to do. Now, hearing Zhang Hua’s furious rebuke, her face grew even paler, and she stood there, trembling uncontrollably.
CRASH!
Zhang Hua furiously hurled the teacup in his hand. "Hmph! You’d better explain yourself! What is going on between you and Wen Qingye? And what is his relationship with the Eighth Prince’s daughter, Ling Jiao?"
"I... I..." Zhang Xiaoyun didn’t know how to answer. Her face was as pale as a sheet, her body trembling slightly.
"What did I tell you from the start? I told you to properly..."
"I believe my husband. The rumors are all false," Zhang Xiaoyun said, biting her lip and mustering all her courage.
Zhang Hua flew into a rage. "How dare you interrupt me! Shut your mouth!"
"You bastard! You’re the one who should shut his mouth!"
Suddenly, a loud shout echoed from the entrance.
An old man with a stooped back walked in slowly.
"Who are you?" Zhang Hua was startled. The man had appeared before him without a sound; Zhang Hua immediately realized this old man was no simple character.
"I am Jie Jiachun, a name I’ve never seen fit to change," the old man said proudly.
’Jie Jiachun!?’
’It’s him?’ Zhang Hua’s heart lurched. ’Jie Jiachun, the chief Fifth-Grade Alchemist of the Yao Family? Weren’t the rumors saying he had disappeared? Why would he be here?’
"So it is Master Jie! Please, please, have a seat," Zhang Hua said, scrambling to his feet with a fawning expression.
Without sparing Zhang Hua so much as a glance, Jie Jiachun walked slowly to Zhang Xiaoyun, bowed respectfully, and said, "This old servant pays his respects to the Mistress!"
"Th-this..." Hearing Jie Jiachun’s words, Zhang Xiaoyun was too stunned to react.
Zhang Hua was even more shocked, frozen in place with the fawning smile still plastered on his face.
’Mistress!?’
’Jie Jiachun called Zhang Xiaoyun "Mistress"... doesn’t that mean he’s become a household servant? A Fifth-Grade Alchemist becoming a servant? Not even the Royal Family could command such a thing, could they?’
’A Fifth-Grade Alchemist is revered wherever they go; they can have anything they desire. Why would one choose to become a servant, bound to another’s command?’
But what Zhang Hua didn’t know was that Jie Jiachun was no longer a Fifth-Grade Alchemist. He was now at the peak of a Sixth-Grade Alchemist.
"Mistress, with this old servant here, anyone who dares to insult you today, I will ensure their blood spatters the ground within five paces," Jie Jiachun said. Though his back was bent, his peripheral vision was fixed on Zhang Hua.
’Blood spattering the ground within five paces!’
Jie Jiachun’s voice echoed through the courtyard.
A chill shot through Zhang Hua’s heart, and his lips began to tremble.
"N-no, that’s not necessary," Zhang Xiaoyun said, completely flustered.
Zhang Hua hurried forward to explain. "Master Jie, I am Zhang Xiaoyun’s father, and also..."
Jie Jiachun suddenly straightened up and said coldly, "If you do not leave now, don’t blame me for being discourteous."
Staring at the killing intent in Jie Jiachun’s eyes, Zhang Hua felt sweat stream down his forehead and back.
Zhang Hua quickly turned around. "Master Jie, please calm your anger! I’m leaving right now, right now!"
With that, Zhang Hua bolted out the door without a backward glance.
After watching Zhang Hua leave, Jie Jiachun turned back to Zhang Xiaoyun and said with the utmost reverence, "Mistress, please give me your command. This old servant will not hesitate to carry it out, even if it costs me my life."
"No, no, that’s not necessary," Zhang Xiaoyun said, waving her hands frantically.
