She remained kneeling even after she finished speaking.
Xin Jiuwei slowly squatted down to be level with her and looked into her eyes.
"Is it really worth remembering my brother's simple act of kindness for so long?"
The songstress smiled. "You don't know what a small favor means to people like us."
Xin Jiuwei paused for a moment, then asked, "What's your name?"
“Xin Kui, my name is Xin Kui.”
Xin Jiuwei helped her up and kept holding her hand after she stood up.
“Xin Kui, Young Master Qi is my cousin. Thank you for telling me what happened today. I will remember your kindness.”
The songstress lowered her eyes. "Third Miss, you don't need to take it to heart."
Xin Jiuwei said, "I will persuade my cousin to go home first. When you get back, tell Qi Huaiyu that you have not found an opportunity."
"It is my maternal grandfather's birthday in three days. I will invite you to the Qi residence to perform and celebrate his birthday. Would you be willing to come?"
The songstress was very clever and immediately asked, "What does the Third Miss want me to do?"
Xin Jiuwei smiled. "I will send you a message tomorrow, Xin Kui. After this is done, I will help you redeem yourself and return to your place of origin, okay?"
The songstress looked surprised, pondered for a moment, and then chuckled: "Since the Third Miss is so generous, it must be difficult for me to do this."
"Since you're willing to do this for Qi Huaiyu, it shouldn't be too hard for me to give you a taste of your own medicine, right?"
Xin Jiuwei smiled and said, "Qi Huaiyu gave you food, but then sent you to a brothel and into a lowly status. I don't have much power, but it's not difficult to pull you out of this situation."
She winked at Xin Kui, a little playfully, "Am I better than Qi Huaiyu?"
Xin Kui laughed, "If Miss San really saves me from this predicament, how is she any different from Xin Kui's second parents?"
“It’s not that exaggerated.” Xin Jiuwei gently patted the back of her hand. “We’ll make a fair deal.”
Xin Kui lowered her head and thought for a moment, then raised her head and said, "Alright, I am willing to serve Miss San."
Not long after, Xin Jiuwei returned to the second floor, saying that she felt like she had caught a chill and was feeling unwell.
Qi Huaihe said, "Then go home and rest early, lest you catch a cold."
Because she looked so distressed, Qi Xinghui also gave up her playful mood. The young masters couldn't persuade her to stay, and Xin Jiuwei successfully returned to the Qi residence with the Qi siblings.
The following day, Xin Jiuwei, using the excuse that she might have caught a cold, sent Wang Qing out with the letter she had written to Xin Kui.
The letter contained her instructions for Xin Kui to do at her maternal grandfather's birthday celebration the day after tomorrow.
Wang Qing returned quickly, and the reply letter had been delivered to Xin Kui. She also mentioned a strange incident she had encountered on the way.
"Since I went out to get medicine, I naturally had to bring it back with me, so I went to a clinic. But when I went to two clinics, they were both closed today. I went to a pharmacy, but there was no one there either."
"That's strange, do the medical staff in Yuncheng take days off?"
Xin Jiuwei was also curious, "Where did you get this medicine from?"
“I met an old man selling medicine by the roadside,” Wang Qing said. “It was quite strange. He could tell at a glance that I wanted to get medicine. When I told him that I needed it to treat a cold, he gave me some.”
Xin Jiuwei said, "It must have been you loitering outside the pharmacy. It wouldn't have been hard for him to figure it out."
She held out her hand. "Let me see."
Wang Qing placed the medicine packet on the table. Xin Jiuwei opened it, picked up the herbs inside, and smelled them.
However, she was not knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine and could not discern the cause.
“It is indeed a bit strange.” She thought for a moment, “The pharmacies and clinics are closed, but there are medicines for sale on the roadside.”
She put the herbs back and rewrapped them. "What was Qi Huaiyu doing today?"
Wang Qing said, "I had our people keep an eye on him. He's been staying in our guest room all day and doesn't seem to have gone out."
Xin Jiuwei nodded and instructed Wang Qing, "When you see him come out, remember to send someone to report back."
Qi Huaiyu's plan failed yesterday, and he certainly won't let it go easily, but it's unknown when he will make his move.
She had to give him a strong dose of medicine.
I'm afraid I'll have to apologize to my cousin first.
Xin Jiuwei silently apologized to Qi Huaihe.
In the afternoon, Wang Qing came to say that she had seen Qi Huaiyu and was ordering people around in their guest room under the pretext of checking the birthday gifts.
Xin Jiuwei smiled slightly, "Mianfeng, help me comb my hair; Wangqing, go and invite your cousin, tell him I'm feeling uneasy and ask him to accompany me to confirm the birthday gift again."
Qi Huaihe was studying at home today. He soon came to the courtyard to pick up Xin Jiuwei and took her to the guest room where the birthday gifts were temporarily stored.
Sure enough, things were bustling inside. Qi Huaiyu stood with his hands behind his back in the middle of the courtyard, directing the servants of the Qi family in a very professional manner.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was the person in charge of the birthday celebration party.
"Jiuwei, what brings you here?"
Upon seeing Xin Jiuwei, he again feigned concern.
"I heard you caught a cold, why aren't you resting in your bedroom?"
"I was worried about you, so I came to check on you," Xin Jiuwei said calmly, without responding to his concern.
Qi Huaiyu said, "With me here, what do you have to worry about? Besides, I've always been the one to deliver the birthday gifts every year, so nothing will happen."
Xin Jiuwei smiled slightly, "In previous years, weren't the servants from my maternal grandparents' family responsible for taking inventory? I suppose this is Huaiyu's first time here, and we have no experience either, so it's always good to be careful."
"I'll have someone order some, Awei, you stay here and watch," Qi Huaihe said. "Once you've seen the food, you'll feel more at ease."
Xin Jiuwei said obediently, "Thank you, cousin. I don't know how nervous I would have been without you, cousin Huaihe."
Qi Huaihe smiled, "If Grandfather knew you were so at ease, he would be pleased. Our Awei has grown up."
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