63 Three girls visit

You just wait!

"Oh no, I still haven't gotten the information about the iron-casting method." As Qi Gu stepped out of the prison cell and saw the light of day again, her mind cleared up, and she felt extremely annoyed that she hadn't been able to get the information she needed.

Sima Hong's gaze fell on the red thread around Qi Gu's neck. No wonder Chen Zhan was so confident. He probably knew that Qi Gu was lying to him when he made a fake iron hoe and presented it to Chen Zhan.

"Find an opportunity to hand over this 'hoe' that Chen Zhan gave you to Her Majesty the Empress," Sima Hong said.

Following Sima Hong's gaze, Qi Gu looked down at the small hoe hanging on her chest and then realized, "You mean the method of iron casting is in here?"

Sima Hong did not answer, but instead asked, "How did you and Chen Zhan meet?" He was astonishing that you still pleaded for him even though you knew he was doomed.

“You and Mother must have listened to what we just said, right?” Qi pointed his index finger to his nose. “I am a peasant girl from Li Village, and he is the son of a blacksmith from Zhao Village. My hoe broke, so I had to go to the only blacksmith in the surrounding area. I never thought there would be such a coincidence in the world.”

Sima Hong's eyes were heavy. He had really missed a lot, and he also wanted to know, if none of these things had happened, would Qi Gu really have married Chen Zhan, or someone else?

Qi Gu leaned against the carriage wall, holding the "little hoe" that Chen Zhan had given her, and thought with her eyes closed, "Brother Zhan, I never expected you would actually give me such a big gift."

After much persuasion from Sima Hong, Qi Gu's injury finally healed with his permission.

"Thank you so much, my sworn brother. I will always remember your great kindness."

"Is that so?" Sima Hong looked at the jubilant Qi Gu. He knew that he could no longer contain her. She was like a bird that had recovered from its wounds, eager to break free from the cage he had woven for her.

"I hope Your Highness will remember my kindness, and that you will not refuse my request in the future."

Qi Gu readily agreed: "Brother, you're too kind. If you ever need any help in the future, just leave it to me."

Li Shi returned from outside, carrying an oil paper package. He watched as Qi Gu patted her chest confidently and made a promise. He chuckled to himself, thinking, "Silly girl, doesn't she realize who Sima Xiuyuan is? Does he ever need your help? Don't let her get tricked and end up counting money for him."

"I'll take care of everything, Aunt Qi."

Qi Gu turned around and ran towards her father, "Father, look how much better I am! I'm going back to the palace tomorrow, and I was just about to say goodbye to you."

Li Shi looked at Qi Gu, whose face was rosy and eyes were bright, and nodded, "Yes, you've been well taken care of these past few days and your fur is very smooth and shiny. Not bad, not bad." It was quite effective that Sima Hong had forced Qi Gu to eat those tonics and supplements.

Qi Gu looked at what her father was carrying and asked, "Father, what is this? It smells so good, could it be...?"

"As expected, it has a dog's nose. I can't forget the day when a little dog named Qi Gu was clamoring for roast chicken."

"Hehe, Father is still the best to me." Qi Gu took the oil paper package from Li Shi's hand without any hesitation. "Then I won't be polite." After all, she wouldn't be able to eat these things outside after returning to the palace tomorrow.

The father and daughter seemed oblivious to their surroundings. Qi Gu thought that Sima Hong would know to leave at this point, but to her surprise, he sat calmly to the side drinking tea, not moving an inch. Did he have something else to do?

"Is there anything else, Lord Sima?" Qi Gu asked.

Sima Hong put down his teacup and sneered, "Ha." He said sarcastically, "Just now the princess said that she didn't need to thank anyone for her great kindness, but alas, she hasn't even left yet and the tea has already gone cold."

When did Sima Hong start repaying kindness with such generosity? Wasn't he always known for his detachment from worldly desires? Why is he being so calculating now?

However, Qi Gu still put on a fawning smile, "Brother, what are you saying? I was just afraid that you were too busy with important matters and that it would interfere with your important business."

"Is that so? I am on leave today. I thought that was something the whole capital knew."

Qi Gu said righteously, "I, of course I know, but who doesn't know that Lord Sima and Lord Situ are the most concerned about the country and its people, and write tirelessly? Even on their days off, they can't stop themselves from dedicating themselves to the country."

"The princess really knows how to flatter me." This was a side of Qi Gu that Sima Hong had never seen in his previous life; he thought she was always meant to be this way.

At this moment, a servant came to report, "Young master, princess, outside, the eldest princess, the second princess, the ninth princess, and Miss Gao Er are requesting an audience. They say they have come to visit Her Highness the eldest princess."

Qi Gu sighed inwardly, realizing that all her efforts had been in vain. She knew that things might change if she waited too long, and that she shouldn't have recuperated at Sima Hong's villa in the first place.

How did the Second Princess and Gao Mingyu know she was here? Could it be Li Qiao? Qi Gu thought through gritted teeth.

Then he looked at Sima Hong with an accusing gaze, saying, "The second brother, the ninth brother, and the second-year high school student all came for you."

Qi Gu's gaze was blatant, and Sima Hong naturally couldn't help but notice it, but he maintained his calm and composed demeanor and showed no sign of leaving!

That's strange. Is there glue stuck to the spot he's sitting on today? Why isn't he moving at all?

Could it be that he actually wanted to see Gao Mingyu? Qi Gu originally didn't want to see them, but after thinking about it again, it wouldn't hurt to see them.

With her consent, the servants hurried to invite the Second Princess and the others in. Qi Gu walked up to Sima Hong with a mischievous grin, "I didn't expect my sworn brother to mean this. If you had said so earlier, I would have obeyed without question."

Qi Gu's face was so vibrant that Sima Hong couldn't take his eyes off her. He really should leave, but for some reason, the thought that if he returned tomorrow, the courtyard would return to its stagnant silence, just like the lifeless years after she left in his previous life, made him reluctant to leave.

He craved her warm presence, which made him feel truly alive.

When Li Qiao entered, she saw Qi Gu sitting at the head of the table, smiling, while Uncle Shi and the handsome young man as bright as the moon sat to her left and right.

Li Qiao looked at Li Shi and respectfully bowed to him as a junior, saying, "Uncle Shi."

Li Shi stood up. "This must be Li Jia's Aqiao. It's the imperial city's rich atmosphere that nourishes people. In just a few months, you've become completely different. Your demeanor and bearing are truly impressive. If your father and mother saw this, they would be overjoyed."

Li Qiao once envied Qi Gu for having a father who loved her wholeheartedly. This Uncle Shi was both cheerful and like a scholar. She lowered her head and said humbly, "Uncle Shi, you flatter me."

Behind her, the Second Princess, the Ninth Princess, and Gao Mingyu naturally wouldn't bow to a commoner. From the moment they entered, the three of them only had eyes for one person—Sima Hong.

Li Shi didn't care about these things; strictly speaking, he should have the two princesses kowtow to him.

Qi Gu walked over to Li Shi and Li Qiao, looking at the three women opposite them, each with their own style, and giving Sima Hongming flirtatious glances.

Li Shi whispered to Qi Gu, "Next, please welcome our first female guest."

Princess Chu Yongrong, dressed in a light peach-colored straight-hemmed robe, with a face as beautiful as a peach blossom, said in a soft voice, "Xiuyuan, I am sorry to have come here today. I am really worried about my elder sister. I have been very worried in the palace these days after I learned that my elder sister was attacked and injured. I heard that you happened to save my elder sister that day. You were not injured, were you?"

Sima Hong's expression remained unchanged. Surrounded by three women, whose overly strong perfume scent made him frown. Through the human wall formed by the three women, he saw Qi Gu across from him wearing a gloating smile.

"Now, please welcome our second female guest." Li Shi's teasing voice rang out again. Although Qi Gu and Li Qiao didn't know what a "female guest" was, they understood that he was referring to the three women surrounding Sima Hong.

The Ninth Princess was still dressed in fiery red, making her stand out in the crowd. Her voice was urgent, showing that she also liked Sima Hong very much. "Yes, Brother Xiuyuan, are you alright? Mother Consort wouldn't let me out before, but I finally managed to get out today. I heard that you were assassinated, and I begged Mother Consort for a long time before she let me out."

Li Shi crossed his arms as if watching a good show, "Here comes female guest number three, please begin your performance."

"Xiuyuan, you must take good care of yourself. If anything happens, just let the people below handle it. You need to know that you are not as important as many people. A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall!"

Qi Gu looked at the three dark backs of their heads with amusement. These were all the romantic entanglements that Sima Hong had incurred. She clicked her tongue three times in her heart. How dare she have dared to chase after him so bravely among these wolfish women in her past life? It was a miracle that she hadn't been devoured alive by them.

No wonder Lady Guo tricked her into the palace on the day of the palace coup; she probably wanted to clear the way for her daughter. Unfortunately, Lady Guo hadn't anticipated that her mother and Sima Hong had already joined forces to guard against the Guo family, and that they were ruthless enough to abandon her decisively, thus ending the palace coup.

"Qi Gu, aren't you going to explain this to your sisters?" Sima Hong looked at Qi Gu with a gentle gaze that seemed unlike Sima Hong's usual self, as if to say, "Where is your gratitude? Where is your repayment?"

The three women turned to look at Qi Gu, and all thought in unison, "Qi Gu?" When did Xiu Yuan become so close to this country girl? He even called her by her name directly, and why was there such a tenderness in his eyes that he had never seen before!

The three of them looked at each other with the same scrutiny and jealousy.

Qi Gu coughed a few times, "Oh, I forgot that I was the one who was injured. My two younger sisters and this high school girl who I don't know much about came to see me. Look at my memory, I can't tell what's important and what's not." These words were a blatant mockery of the three of them.

"Sister Qi, you've misunderstood us. We came to visit you as soon as we heard you were injured."

"Oh~ then why don't you ask Mr. Sima to step aside, so that we sisters can get to know each other better and have a private chat?"

"Who wants to have private conversations with you!" The Ninth Princess was the first to jump out; she was determined to be at odds with this suddenly appearing eldest sister!

"So Ninth Sister left the palace just to see Lord Sima, huh? I understand, I understand." Qi Gu blinked, as if she didn't care.

Gao Mingyu retorted, "Princess, Sima Langjun saved you. What's wrong with us showing some concern for him? How can you be so cold-blooded and heartless towards your savior?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, so the high school girl is here to see Sima Langjun too? Why bother using me as a cover? We don't have any connection."

Qi Gu waved her sleeve and sat down in the seat of honor. "It's a pity, though. Second sister, ninth sister, and Gao Er girl, while there's only one Sima Langjun, you three. How can you possibly share them all? Could it be that Lord Sima will enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives in the future?"

As if she had come up with a brilliant idea, Aunt Qi exclaimed, "Oh dear, look at me! If all three of you marry Sima Langjun, then you'll be true sisters! No wonder Second Sister, Ninth Sister, and Miss Gao seem so close, much closer than they are to me, their own sister! I see, I see! I was so narrow-minded, hahaha~"

Li Shi and Li Qiao watched from the sidelines as the three people's faces turned from blue to purple, a truly fascinating sight. The two of them were perfectly in sync at that moment, thinking, "Why did you provoke her?"

Sima Hong, at the center of the storm, stood up and walked towards Qi Gu, revealing a helpless smile that said, "Qi Gu, what are you saying? There's a limit to jokes." He then gently patted Qi Gu's head. "Now that we've settled things, you two sisters can have a good chat. Mr. Li and I have other matters to attend to, so we'll be leaving now."

The Second Princess, the Ninth Princess, and Gao Mingyu all looked at Qi Gu with unfriendly eyes. What?! Could it be... that this country girl is going to marry Sima Hong?! Absolutely impossible!

Horrifying! Bizarre! What did we agree on? What did we agree on? And why are you touching my head? Qi Gu's eyes blazed with fury. Sima Hong! Despicable! Shameless! You've made me the target of everyone's ire! You just wait!