Chapter 104 It's a bastard to refuse money.
Despite Qi Zhuying's warm and affectionate manner, Mu Xun frowned: "What brings you to Moyang this time? Hasn't Master Qi always been against you coming north?"
Qi Zhuying retorted, "Brother Xun, didn't you see the letter I sent you?"
"What letter?" Mu Xun asked, looking bewildered.
Qi Zhuying said with a coquettish smile, "It's in the box of handkerchiefs I gave to Brother Xun. Didn't Brother Xun receive it?"
Mu Xi immediately recalled the box of shimmering brocade handkerchiefs; it turned out they were a gift from the woman in front of her.
However, ever since she took over that box of handkerchiefs, she used them for other purposes and didn't pay attention to whether there were any letters in the box.
"...I received it. I'm afraid the letter was buried underneath, so I didn't see it." Mu Xun was somewhat slow to realize what was happening, so he made up a story on the spot, and then added at the end, "But don't send any more in the future, I won't use them."
Qi Zhuying objected: "Why?"
Mu Xun remained silent and did not answer.
Qi Zhuying then muttered softly, "You used to just throw away any handkerchiefs with a little stain, so I specially got you this shimmering brocade. It doesn't easily get dusty, and it's perfect for making handkerchiefs. The embroidery on it was done by me... and the nannies together."
"Uh..." Mu Xun couldn't find a reason, so he could only refuse stiffly, "Anyway, I won't use it."
Qi Zhuying pouted, but quickly smiled again: "If you don't want to send it, then you don't have to. But Brother Xun, please don't refuse the 100,000 taels of silver."
The second chance has arrived.
Mu Xun, however, adopted an even more stern expression: "No need means no need."
"Ah... I said they meant well, so why don't you..." Mu Xi had no choice but to swallow her pride and agree. When you desperately need money, you have to put your pride aside.
Mu Xun stood up abruptly, almost to the point of being stern: "No need, no need. The Jin Fangjun Mansion is under imperial decree to build the Qifeng Terrace and has the responsibility. You've come to Moyang, and I'm sure Master Qi has many concerns. You should go back as soon as possible."
"Brother Xun, what's wrong?" Qi Zhuying was so aggrieved that she was about to cry.
It's a bastard to refuse money.
Mu Xi was furious for no reason: "What are you doing? She's a perfectly nice girl, can't you talk things out?"
Mu Xun realized he had lost his composure as soon as he spoke, but he didn't want to take back what he had said, so he softened his tone and said to Qi Zhuying, "If you have nothing to do, you should go back to Xiangnan. Your flamboyant attire in Moyang City is probably not good for your father."
Upon hearing this, Qi Zhuying felt even more aggrieved than before: "Brother Xun, are you referring to these gold ornaments? These are the ones Father told me to wear. He said that things have been quite unsettled in and around Moyang City lately, and that I need to wear more gold ornaments to ward off evil spirits and calm my nerves."
"Sigh..." Mu Xun let out a long sigh, unable to speak.
"If Brother Xun doesn't like it, I won't dress like this anymore." Qi Zhuying carefully tugged at Mu Xun's sleeve.
Mu Xun abruptly pulled his sleeve away: "You're not young anymore, so you should listen to your father's arrangements."
Having said that, he didn't look at Qi Zhuying again, but asked Mu Xi, "Can we go back to the manor now?"
Mu Xi remembered Mu Xun as always being gentle and refined, but she didn't know why he was like this today. Instead, she felt apologetic towards Qi Zhuying: "Miss Qi, I'm sorry, today Mu Xun... was forced by me to lose his temper a bit. Please don't mind."
Qi Zhuying believed everything she heard, but in an instant, her face lit up with a smile again: "Is that so? Well then..."
Mu Xi quickly said, "We won't bother you any longer today. We'll take our leave now. Another day, when there's an opportunity, Mu Xun will invite you back as an apology."
“This…” Qi Zhuying looked pitifully at Mu Xun again.
Mu Xun finally nodded helplessly.
Qi Zhuying's expression finally brightened.
Mu Xi turned around and called to Bao Fan, "Bao Fan, let's go."
Bao Fan stood by the table, his mouth never stopping, but he couldn't bear to leave the almost untouched dishes on the table, so he couldn't move.
Qi Zhuying was quite perceptive in this regard, so she quickly ordered, "Someone, quickly pack these into food boxes."
Mu Xun opened his mouth, about to refuse again.
Having already missed out on 100,000 taels of silver, Mu Xi didn't think much of this banquet and rushed to express her gratitude: "Then I will thank Miss Qi on behalf of Bao Fan."
"What's this? Is the young master's attendant called 'Bao Fan'? He loves to eat so much, I'll give the order that from now on, whenever the young master sends him to the restaurant, whatever he wants, just order it and have it delivered to his residence." Qi Zhuying quickly regained her extravagant nature.
Mu Xi was truly envious.
The meal ended on a sour note.
Once Mu Xi and his party were seated in the carriage, they couldn't help but ask, "Why did you refuse that young lady's kindness? That's 100,000 taels of silver! 100,000 taels of silver!"
Mu Xun was still in a bad mood after leaving Heyun Tower, but he still spoke to Mu Xi in his usual gentle tone, only sighing helplessly: "Alas, that 100,000 taels of silver is indeed a lot for us, but for the Qi family of Xiangnan, it's not even a hair's breadth. Why do you have to owe the Qi family a favor for 100,000 taels of silver? Do you know what you'll have to use to repay it in the future?"
"Yes, that's true." Mu Xi understood that there's no such thing as a free lunch, so she immediately agreed.
Mu Xun then countered, "Are you going to take over the construction of Qifeng Terrace?"
Mu Xi gave a vague answer: "Since it is the king's order, even if it is just for show, we can't just ignore it."
Mu Xun frowned again: "Father has already instructed me to ask Yan Shu for help today. His intention is that you should not interfere in this matter before the birthday banquet, and just focus on the preparations."
Mu Xi had other plans, but couldn't say them outright, so she had to pretend to be honest: "Yes, I know, but when you ask Yan Shu to do something, don't cheat her. Make sure she does her best. After all, if she does her job honestly, things will never go wrong."
"There's no need to worry about that. Yan Shu is always shrewd and good at making friends. She won't lose out on something like this," Mu Xun said with considerable reassurance.
They returned to the Jun residence in silence.
Upon returning to the East Courtyard, Mu Xi did not forget to send Tao'er to inquire about the time when Madam Gao would return to the mansion.
Tao'er returned about an hour earlier than Mu Xi and the others.
Mu Xi estimated that it was roughly the same as her guess, and carefully recalled the results of the day's tracking. She felt that the gold shop was somewhat suspicious, especially the mask with strange gold patterns on a black background, which lingered in her mind.
But now she is in a situation where she has no one to rely on and can do nothing, so the matter of Liujinsi can only be put on hold for the time being.
In the days that followed, Mu Xi covered things up while trying her best to keep track of the construction of Qifengtai.
On this day, Mu Xi held a copy of "Travels in Mountains and Seas" in her hand but couldn't concentrate on reading it. She felt restless and had a bad feeling.
This feeling persisted until evening. Mu Xun returned from outside with a worried expression, and the first thing he said to Mu Xi was, "Qifeng Terrace is on fire."
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