Chapter 194 Taking the Pulse

Xie Qi left Qianxiang Courtyard and went directly to Jixia Manor.

When Yun Zheng saw him arrive, he said with disdain, "Oh, so you still know you're the boss? It's been so long, and you haven't shown up yet."

"Do you know how busy everyone at our Jixia Manor has been ever since we won the 'second prize' for the sample cloth from the Prince's Mansion?"

Xie Qi asked, "How busy are you?"

He turned and went into the inner room, casually grabbing an account book and flipping through it.

"Revenue has been good these past few days."

Yun Zheng said, "That's right. If we hadn't also turned away a large number of merchants who wanted to weave brocade, we would have become rich by now."

Although Jixia Manor couldn't get orders for top-quality brocade, its reputation spread, and the value of its small items also increased accordingly.

Moreover, the "rough goods" that were previously sold have become much more in demand, so the money earned in the past few days has been quite substantial.

Xie Qi looked at it, thought for a moment, and said, "Give me some silver from the account."

How much do you want?

"Enough to buy a house near Wanbao Street."

Yun Zheng exclaimed in surprise, "Are you moving out of the Xie family? Does your father-in-law know?"

Xie Qi lowered his eyes: "I haven't told him yet."

To put it nicely, he was currying favor with Yuan Xu; to put it bluntly, he was nothing more than a useful dog by Yuan Xu's side.

Yuan Xu gave him a chance because the other party wanted to use him to take over the Xie family, but now his identity is completely useless to Yuan Xu.

Xie Qi's fingers curled slightly. Seeing the worry on Yun Zheng's face, he said, "In the next few days, help me look for a suitable house nearby. It should be close to Wanbao Street, not too big, but as exquisite as possible. If you find a suitable one, send someone to find Wei Hu and let me know."

With a light tap of his fingertip, Xie Qi continued, "Also, I remember that the weaving and dyeing garden of Xiecui Workshop is located in an open space on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by barren mountains, right?"

Yun Zheng nodded: "That's right. I don't understand why Xiecuifang chose such a remote place."

Xie Qi said, "The area is remote and quiet. The fact that Xie Cui Fang can suppress the Xie and Chen families shows that the feng shui of that place is good."

"Go and look around there. If there's still land available, buy it."

"Buy it next to the Xiecuifang Weaving and Dyeing Garden?"

Xie Qi nodded and said, "Buy it next to the Xie Cui Fang Weaving and Dyeing Garden."

As he said this, he tapped his fingertips lightly on the table a few times, and Yun Zheng could tell from that he had no good intentions.

However, Xie Qi's actions, though seemingly haphazard, are actually quite deliberate; it's just that he doesn't yet know what the other party intends to do.

Yun Zheng gathered the accounts in his hands and nodded in agreement.

After explaining all this, Xie Qi went to the Textile and Dyeing Bureau to find Yuan Xu.

He needed to give Yuan Xu an explanation regarding the Xie family's affairs.

It was a cloudy and gloomy day. When Xie Qi arrived, Yuan Xu was half-reclining on the couch, taking a nap with his eyes closed. Only after someone announced Xie Qi's arrival did he lazily get up.

"Father-in-law."

Yuan Xu hummed in agreement and casually pointed to the chair in front of him.

"sit."

Seeing Xie Qi sit down, he narrowed his eyes and said in a lazy voice, "The old lady is gone. Please accept my condolences."

Xie Qi scoffed, "What's there to grieve about without me?"

"Oh? I thought you hadn't been able to show up these past few days because you were at home observing mourning for her."

Yuan Xu lay half-reclined with his knees bent, one hand resting on his knee, constantly rubbing the thumb ring in his hand.

From the moment he entered, he never looked Xie Qi in the eye, and Xie Qi knew that Yuan Xu was dissatisfied.

He snorted coldly: "You are unaware of what has happened to the Xie family these past few days. If you did know, then..."

"Then what?"

Xie Qi said, "Then we should move our stools to the Xie family to watch the opera."

"Oh? That's amazing?"

"Yes, it was absolutely fantastic."

Xie Qi lowered his head and said, "Xie Shan set a fire, burning down the Xie family's looms and most of their warehouse."

"oh?"

Yuan Xu became interested.

Everyone knew about the fire at the Xie family's textile and dyeing plantation, but no one knew that Xie Shan had started it. Hearing Xie Qi say this suddenly piqued his curiosity.

Yuan Xu stood up and then glanced at Xie Qi.

Xie Qi said, "I asked Yun Zheng to look for a house near Wanbao Street for me. I will be moving out of the Xie family home soon."

Why?

"Because I was not born of Hua Nanzhi, nor am I Xie Xuchuan's younger brother."

Seeing Yuan Xu's raised eyebrows, Xie Qi said, "I am Xie Shan's son."

No wonder.

Yuan Xu clicked his tongue twice: "No wonder the Xie family has treated you this way all these years."

Mentioning his background, Xie Qi felt a buzzing in his ears again. He couldn't help but frown, and then suppressed his irritation.

Seeing this, Yuan Xu casually asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Perhaps it's the summer heat that makes one's temper too strong; it's nothing to worry about."

Yuan Xu shook his head: "It just so happens that an old doctor came to the Textile and Dyeing Bureau today. I'll have him take a look at you."

He raised his hand and beckoned the young eunuch, who soon went out to look for someone.

Xie Qi thought for a moment and then briefly told Yuan Xu about his background, as well as the grudges between Xie San Niang and Xie Shan. Yuan Xu listened with great interest and occasionally clicked his tongue in amazement.

Finally, he said, "One is greedy, one is ruthless, and one is stupid. These three..."

He looked up at Xie Qi, his eyes filled with mockery: "You're quite something, you've inherited your parents' ruthlessness and forbearance."

Intelligence and humility are indeed the two qualities he admires most.

People are not afraid of having ambition, but they are afraid of being stupid, yet most smart people consider themselves extraordinary.

Those who are too stiff to bend over are unlikely to achieve great things.

In this world, everyone except those who sit in that chair has to bow their heads at some point, and he dislikes things that are always rigidly straightforward.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before the young eunuch led the doctor in.

The old doctor was not good-looking, hunched over with a large hunchback. He bowed respectfully to Yuan Xu.

"Dr. Wang, please take a look at this man. It's probably due to the summer heat. Prescribe him some medicine to reduce his internal heat."

The doctor surnamed Wang stepped forward and took Xie Qi's pulse.

Yuan Xu half-closed his eyes, seemingly taking a short rest. Doctor Wang seemed to lack expertise, as he couldn't figure out anything after examining him for a while.

Xie Qi listened to his instructions and switched his left hand to his right. After a long while, Doctor Wang said, "This young man not only has excessive liver fire, but also some other problems."

Yuan Xu opened his eyes and smiled faintly: "What's the problem?"

Dr. Wang said, "It's not a big problem. It's just liver stagnation turning into fire and heart and kidney disharmony. Young master, you should think less and worry less these days and focus on calming your mind and spirit."

Xie Qi nodded, feeling that what Doctor Yan had said was largely correct, and was relieved.

After informing Yuan Xu of his disappearance over the past few days and his intention to move out of the Xie family home, Xie Qi made an excuse to take his leave.

As soon as he stepped out, Yuan Xu said to the doctor, Wang, "It's rare to see you take his pulse with such seriousness. Is there something wrong with his health?"