Chapter 67: Chapter 67 After all, he’s a cripple!
 

When the house was being built, Qi Yue had people make the backyard extremely spacious, even adding a resting room.

Described as a resting room, it was actually a pavilion, originally intended for growing some vegetables and flowers come springtime. It would be quite comfortable to sit there weary from work and enjoy a cup of tea.

Yet before spring had even arrived, Zhao Xiyan had already occupied the place.

Entering the backyard, sure enough, Zhao Xiyan was seen sitting in his wheelchair, holding a tattered book, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was preoccupied with some thoughts.

Hearing someone approaching, he swiftly rolled the tattered book up and hid it in his sleeve, a move that aroused suspicion in Qi Yue.

What kind of book is it? Could it be something not meant to be seen by others?

Suddenly, the thought of a certain type of secretive book made her blush slightly.

Nevertheless, Zhao Xiyan was also twenty-one years old. Even if he harbored certain thoughts, it would be normal. The question was whether his condition was normal or not?

During the last leg examination, she should have glanced over it at the very least.

Qi Yue started to regret being too upright but then pondered if he were not normal, he probably wouldn’t read that type of book, right?

“Yueyue, why don’t you come over?”

Zhao Xiyan’s clear voice rang out, instantly scattering the fanciful thoughts in Qi Yue’s mind. She walked over with a slightly awkward expression, feigning nonchalance.

“I was just pondering something. How did you know it was me?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiyan tightened his fingers that were covering the book, his refined lips curving into a slight smile.

“Yueyue walks both briskly and lightly, unlike anyone else.”

Qi Yue was taken aback—had he even committed to memory the sound of her footsteps?

But then Zhao Xiyan asked again, “Did Yueyue come over for something specific?”

Remembering what she wanted to discuss with Zhao Xiyan, Qi Yue immediately became excited again.

“Zhao Xiyan, I obtained a valuable medicinal herb yesterday that could greatly benefit your leg.”

She excitedly shared her thoughts and, worried that Zhao Xiyan might not agree, made a point to explain further.

“Rest assured, I will definitely find a way to get you standing on your own within a year. With this herb as a foundation, your physical condition will surpass that of normal people. Once I find the white…”

She suddenly felt it best not to let Zhao Xiyan know the name of White Rhino and promptly diverted the topic.

“…the white medicinal plant, combined with the Ghost Gate Needle…”

“White medicinal plant? What’s its name?” Zhao Xiyan suddenly interrupted her, “Why don’t you say it, perhaps I’m aware of its whereabouts.”

Qi Yue thought to herself that there were very few records about White Rhino. She had sifted through the Duke’s extensive library to find just a clue and doubted Zhao Xiyan would know of it.

Besides, that place was perilous—there was no point worrying Zhao Xiyan with such knowledge.

So she just smiled and turned the conversation aside.

“Since when have you become interested in medicinal herbs? I can’t quite remember its name, but I would recognize it if I saw it.”

Zhao Xiyan, however, furrowed his brows and was silent for a while before saying, “Yueyue said it can heal my left leg?”

“Not just to heal your left leg, but to start with the left leg, then heal you completely,” Qi Yue firmly corrected him, “One must be precise in their speech!”

Zhao Xiyan suddenly raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Alright, we’ll do as Yueyue says. When do we start?”

“These, these next few days would be suitable.”

Qi Yue, thrown into slight disarray by Zhao Xiyan’s sudden laughter, quickly stood up.

“However, we need to first cut down a camphor tree to make a bathing tub… Ah, I might as well go now!”

It truly was cruel—no matter how many times she saw him smile, each time her heart would somewhat lose control.

But having seen it many times, she was building immunity, and she was steadying herself more and more.

She hurried to the front yard, planning to chop down the tree while it was still early and then have Zhao Yonglian inform Li Yuan to come over and make the bathing tub first thing the following morning.

As she was considering this, she heard Shen Yu’s voice, frantic and flustered.

“Yueyue, it’s not good, a man has come.”

“What man?”

As Qi Yue heard this, she followed Shen Yu’s gaze and saw Qu Wei standing outside the fence, talking to Qi Baozhen.

“Why hasn’t she left yet?”

Shen Yu was stunned for a moment before realizing she was talking about Qi Baozhen, and her expression soured.

“She refuses to leave no matter what, and Mother didn’t know what to say—after all, she’s your sister.”

Qi Yue saw the difficulty in Shen Yu’s face and softened her voice to console, “Mother, haven’t I already said it? Shuanghua and the others are my sisters, Qi Baozhen means nothing. Next time she comes, just throw her out directly!”

“Alright then, Mother understands.”

The two speakers didn’t notice that Zhao Xiyan was quietly listening from not too far away, his expression becoming more and more bizarre.

Indeed, his thoughts were very complicated at the moment.

He felt he finally understood Qi Yue’s real intentions.

Consider Shuanghua and the others as sisters, and him as a brother, huh?!

No wonder Qi Yue’s gaze had become increasingly indifferent towards him.

It must be because even this face of his, which was still decent to look at, was losing its charm in her eyes!

After all, he was a cripple!

The Qu Wei outside might not look great and was older, but at least he had a good family background and was in good health.

…

Of course, Qi Yue would not know that her casual remark had led Zhao Xiyan, who had followed her, to conjure up so many thoughts.

At this moment, upon seeing Qu Wei, an idea suddenly surged in her heart.

Why not use Qu Wei to deal with Qi Fengzhang?

As long as she let Qu Wei know that Qi Fengzhang, whom he supervised, was actually a spy, it would both declare her stance and save her the time of dealing with this petty uncle.

Her only task for the upcoming year was to find a way to go to Longnan Ridge in the Western Regions and bring back the horn of the White Rhino.

Outside the fence, Qi Baozhen was pestering Qu Wei.

“Young Master, where do you reside? You don’t look like someone who’s been exiled here!”

Helplessly, Qu Wei held his folding fan, smiling mysteriously, but refused to reveal his origins.

Qi Yue shook her head watching this.

In this freezing weather, who is he trying to impress with a fan?

“Qi Baozhen, you guessed right this time—he’s not an exile. His name is Qu Wei; he’s our Supervisor!”

“Ah, the Supervisor?”

Upon hearing this, Qi Baozhen’s face flushed, and she bashfully lowered her head, timidly offering a bow to Qu Wei.

“I am Baozhen, my lady; I had no idea you were the Supervisor. Please forgive me.”

But this Supervisor seemed not to have the slightest notion of cherishing fragility or sparing the fair, not even sparing Qi Baozhen a glance, instead, he smiled at Qi Yue.

“My my, Miss Qi has well-informed sources!”

Qi Yue, however, snorted coldly.

She still remembered how Qu Wei had deliberately humiliated Zhao Xiyan that day, and she truly harbored no fondness for him.

“What’s so special about that? Surely the Supervisor hasn’t spent over a decade here for nothing?”

Qu Wei had been in Northern Ridge for over a decade but hadn’t seen a woman as bold and hearty as Qi Yue.

Far from taking offense at her words, he found them to be an attempt from Qi Yue to make friendly advances and smiled again.

“Miss Qi has a point.”

Qi Baozhen suddenly interjected.

“Sister, how could you speak to the Supervisor like that? I think the Supervisor is amiable and a really good person!”

Qi Yue immediately felt like giving this sister a kick and sending her flying, but considering what she had to do next, she went along with the conversation.

“My sister is right, our Supervisor is kind and approachable. Didn’t you say your family member was ill? I’m sure the Supervisor would be very willing to help you.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Baozhen immediately lit up with joy, shyly glancing at Jiang Wei.

“Supervisor, could you please visit my home and look at my father and brother? If the Supervisor goes, their illnesses would surely be cured right away.”