"Young man, I'm so sorry, but our private room is currently closed. If you don't mind, a distinguished guest would like to invite you to sit with him."

After hearing what the waiter said, Xie Qi slowly raised his head and glanced upstairs. He saw a man in gorgeous clothes and with an extraordinary temperament nodding at him from the window on the second floor.

After hesitating for a moment, Xie Qi nodded slightly to the waiter to show his agreement.

Although Xie Qi didn't want to share a table with others, he chose the former rather than continuing to stand downstairs and endure the gazes of everyone.

The waiter, beaming, led Xie Qi and the other man through the bustling crowd and headed upstairs. Before long, they stopped at the door of a private room.

As Xie Qi stepped into the room, he looked up and saw two men sitting there. After a moment's hesitation, Xie Qi bowed and thanked them, then sat down at an empty table that the waiter had hastily cleared.

At this time, Xie Qi and Lu Xing beside him were sitting together near the door, while Lu Feiling and Lu Jing were sitting by the window on the other side.

Xie Qi first glanced discreetly at the food in front of Lu Feiling and the others, then turned to the waiter and ordered, "Give me one portion of each of the dishes they ordered."

The waiter nodded in agreement and wrote down the dishes in the book. After everything was ready, he bowed and left the room.

At this time, Xie Qi, who was sitting upright on the chair, turned his head slightly and cast his gaze on the two people opposite him again.

His eyes were deep and sharp, as if they could see through everything, which made people feel awe. After staring at him quietly for a long time, he slowly withdrew his gaze.

Xie Qi's penetrating gaze made the two people across from him feel uneasy. They had been sitting there dignified, but under Xie Qi's gaze, their bodies gradually stiffened, and they could only accept his scrutiny.

Xie Qi looked back at Lu Xingze and said softly, "Aze, take it off."

Before he finished speaking, he gently reached out his hand and carefully helped Lu Xingze take off his hat. Then, he gracefully picked up the teapot on the table, filled a glass of water for Lu Xingze, and handed it to him with a smile.

"Come, drink some water to moisten your throat." Xie Qi's voice was as gentle as water, full of concern.

Lu Feiling and Lu Jing, standing by, exchanged glances, their eyes communicating their thoughts. Clearly, they both wanted to find a chance to speak to Xie Qi, but faced with the situation before them, they didn't know where to begin.

Especially when they saw Xie Qi being so caring and considerate to her husband, helping him pour water and carefully wiping the sweat from his forehead, they found it difficult to interrupt this heartwarming scene.

For a moment, the entire room was filled with an awkward atmosphere. However, this awkwardness only existed between Lu Feiling and Lu Jing.

For Xie Qi, it seemed that there was only Lu Xingze in his eyes, and he didn't care about the strangeness around him at all.

Lu Feiling reached out uncomfortably and picked up the exquisite wine glass on the table, gently shaking the liquid in the glass, trying to hide his inner embarrassment.

At this moment, Xie Qi, who was sitting beside him, suddenly turned his head. His deep eyes looked straight at Lu Feiling, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly as he said, "Your Majesty, please give me a mansion. I want to live in the capital for a long time."

Lu Feiling had just put the wine into his mouth when he heard Xie Qi say this. He was startled and immediately started coughing violently.

"! Cough cough cough..." Lu Feiling covered his mouth with his hands and coughed desperately, his face turning red in an instant.

After finally catching his breath after his coughing subsided a bit, he looked at Xie Qi with a puzzled look on his face and asked, "How do you know my identity?"

After asking this question, a thought suddenly flashed through Lu Feiling's mind. Since Xie Qi said that he wanted to stay in the capital for a long time, doesn't that mean that it will be easier for him to recruit him to serve as an official in the court?

Thinking of this, he quickly followed up with another question: "Do you really plan to stay in the capital for a long time? I originally thought that chivalrous men like you who roam the world all love freedom and wandering around."

Facing Lu Feiling's question, Xie Qi appeared remarkably calm and composed, simply responding calmly, "The Jianghu is indeed wonderful, but for me, I still yearn for a stable life. So, does Your Majesty have a vacant mansion? I want a large one."

Hearing Xie Qi actually asking for a large mansion, Lu Feiling felt relieved instantly.

Because many forces have been racking their brains to win over this elusive figure, but have never succeeded. Now, Xie Qi has taken the initiative to make a request to him, which undoubtedly gives Lu Feiling hope of bringing him under his command.

Thinking of this, Lu Feiling couldn't help but straighten his back and put on the dignified and solemn demeanor he had when attending court.

He cleared his throat and said loudly, "The General's Mansion is the largest. Do you want it?"

Lu Feiling had previously issued an imperial decree to confer the title of general on Xie Qi. Unfortunately, Xie Qi had not accepted the honor, and had even directly refused it.

At this moment, Lu Feiling brought up the past with a touch of probing intent. If Xie Qi was willing to accept the General's Mansion, then perhaps it also meant that he had tacitly accepted the important position of General.

However, faced with such tempting conditions, Xie Qi simply responded calmly: "I want the mansion, but not the general."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jing, who was standing by, couldn't contain his temper and blurted out, "Oh my! What's wrong with you? Even for a Jianghu person, refusing to obey an imperial decree is a capital offense. And you're still nitpicking here?"

Before he could finish his words, Lu Jing suddenly felt a sharp gaze directed at him. Lu Fei shouted sharply, "Fifth brother! Don't be rude!"

After stopping Lu Jing, Lu Feiling took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He turned his gaze to Xie Qi again and said slowly, "That's fine. Since you have this idea, I won't force you. From today on, the General's Mansion belongs to you."

As the emperor, Lu Feiling knew that they could not retain talents like Xie Qi. Even if Xie Qi could not be used by him, using the General's Mansion to keep Xie Qi in the capital would undoubtedly be a great thing for him.

After all, compared to letting Xie Qi join another country and become a powerful general in the hostile forces, it is obviously much better to keep him here.

Seeing Lu Feiling's sincerity, Xie Qi explained, "I don't want to be a general because I don't like leading troops to war. But don't worry, Your Majesty. I don't want your mansion for nothing. Come to me for big things in the future, and don't bother me with small things."

When Lu Feiling heard Xie Qi say this, an indescribable excitement instantly surged in his heart.

Although Xie Qi did not directly state that he was willing to join their royal forces, Xie Qi's words were undoubtedly a disguised agreement.