Chapter 410 - 410: Joy
Steward Zhu chose some things to make it 120 items before taking the list to look for Qi Xiuyuan. Rong Xuan and Fan Zijin were also there. Smiling, steward Zhu told Qi Xiuyuan about Qi Haoran’s performance today, making him laugh. “You should’ve seen it for yourself. Fourth Young Master really wanted to move everything in the storeroom and gift them to Miss Mu.”
As expected, Qi Xiuyuan laughed and stretched out his hand. “Show me what he chose.”
Steward Zhu happened to bring the invalid list with him and immediately took it out for Qi Xiuyuan to see. A smile flashed across Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes as he looked at the betrothal gift list. With a beam, he said, “I really thought he emptied the storeroom. But he merely chose some rare treasures.”
As he spoke, he took a pen and ticked more than ten items on the invalid list. Then, he said in satisfaction, “Alright, include these into the betrothal gift list.” Steward Zhu took a look and saw that the coral tree was among them. There were also some rather expensive jewelry. Instantly, sweat broke out on his forehead. “Master, this, there must be more than 120…”
“Then make the box bigger and stuff the items in with all your might.” Qi Xiuyuan waved his hand. “Do you still need me to teach you these things?” Steward Zhu was speechless. ‘If your heart doesn’t ache, why should I worry?’ He turned around and rushed off to pack the betrothal gifts.
Rong Xuan said, “This won’t do. How can we bring Haoran out in the afternoon when he can’t suppress the smile on his face? Others will know that you’re fine at a glance.”
Qi Xiuyuan also had a headache about this. He had already told him to restrain himself, but the joy on Qi Haoran’s face did not disappear. Even if he deliberately pulled a long face, his expression would look off no matter how others looked at it.
Fan Zijin closed the booklet and said slowly, “Eldest Cousin, leave this to me. Just prepare the betrothal gifts. He will definitely be able to act well when we set off.”
Fan Zijin went to look for Qi Haoran. The latter was in the martial arts arena, too excited to go out and ride on a horse. He could only come to the martial ’ arts arena to vent his excitement. When he saw Fan Zijin, he immediately ran over eagerly and placed his hands on his hips in front of him. Laughing, he said, “Hahaha, Zijin, I’m getting married. Hahaha, after we’re married, I’m going to enter the bridal chamber. Hahaha…”
Fan Zijm looked at him coldly. Seeing his smug look, he suddenly raised his eyebrows and smiled. Then, he clenched his fist and punched his face…
Then, Fan Zijin lay on the ground.
Stunned, Qi Haoran stopped laughing and hurriedly squatted down to pull him up. “Zijin, why did you punch me?”
Even though Qi Haoran was laughing smugly and even though Fan Zijin had made preparations in advance, Qi Haoran’s fighting instincts remained. Fan Zijin was still a good-for-nothing in martial arts. Therefore, when Fan Zijin threw a punch at Qi Haoran’s face, the latter only turned his body slightly to avoid it, and Fan Zijin fell to the ground because he found himself punching into air…
Fan Zijin pushed Qi Haoran away and kicked him.
It didn’t hurt. Qi Haoran decided to endure it, but he still glared angrily and said grumpily, “I know you’re eager to get a wife, too. I’ll get Big Brother to find one for you later. But you can’t hit me because of this, right? It’s wrong to be jealous.”
Fan Zijin was so angry that he laughed. “I’m jealous of you? Can’t you be more careful? Is this the time to be happy? Have you no idea why your marriage with Mu Yangling was brought forward? Eldest Cousin is willing to feign serious illness for the two of you for you. Do you want everyone to know that he is lying to the emperor? Or are you heartless? You can smile so happily even when your Big Brother is severely sick?”
Qi Haoran’s face turned cold, but Fan Zijin stared at the joy in his eyes and said, “You’re still happy in your heart. Put it away.”
Qi Haoran jumped up and said, “How to? I’m simply happy. If you have the ability, make me sad. I’ve already put on a straight face without a smile.”
“Bullsh*t. Is that all you’ve got? Usually when you’re pulling a long face, it’s as if there’s a knife hidden between your brows. But now? You can’t wait to announce to the world how happy you are.”
Qi Haoran puffed up his cheeks and glared at him. Fan Zijin kicked him and said, “So lie down obediently and let me beat you up.”
Qi Haoran was reluctant. “I’m going to get married to Mu Yangling soon, and I’m seeing my parents-in-law in the afternoon. Do you want me to go there with a face full of bruises? Besides, what should I do during the wedding ceremony? Ah Ling will show disdain when we enter the bridal chamber.” Anger surged in Fan Zijin’s heart. After glaring at Qi Haoran for a while, he turned around and left. “It’s fine if you’re unwilling. I’ll talk to Eldest Cousin. Forget about using a wedding to drive away Eldest Cousin’s illness. Let’s wait for Your Majesty to order you to marry Minister Qin’s daughter.”
“Wait.” Seeing Fan Zijin turn around, Qi Haoran fell to the ground and said, “Go ahead and beat me up.”
Fan Zijin clenched his fists and aimed at his eyebrows. As he punched him, he scolded, “Serves you right for being smug. Serves you right for not being sad. Serves you right for making me return to the capital…”
Initially, Qi Haoran thought that Fan Zijin was joking. When he saw that he was beating him up for real, he cried out loudly, but he did not dare to retaliate or dodge.
When the two of them appeared in the study again, Qi Haoran had bruises at the corners of his eyes and wounds on his cheek.
Qi Xiuyuan looked at the two of them in a daze. Fan Zijin explained, “Because Haoran was worried about your condition, he vented his anger on the guards and accidentally got injured.”
Qi Xiuyuan and Rong Xuan:”… Good idea!”
With such a face, Qi Haoran went to the Mu family to propose marriage. The
120 betrothal gifts were too spectacular. From Jingzhao Prefecture to
Hanzhong Prefecture, and then to Xingzhou Prefecture, they walked for a total of three days. The commoners watched for three days. By the time they arrived at Xingzhou Prefecture, everyone in the three prefectures knew that Qi Xiuyuan had been injured by the Jin Kingdom’s Tartars and was poisoned. Now that his life was in danger, they were counting on his younger brother to marry a bride to rid of the bad luck.
Instantly, more and more people prayed for Qi Xiuyuan. Those who were close to temples went to temples, and those close to Daoist temples went to Daoist temples. Those who were close to neither prayed to the earth god. They prepared some incense candles to pray for Qi Xiuyuan to tide over the difficulties and live a long life. Some families even set up a longevity memorial tablet for Qi Xiuyuan.
When Qi Haoran arrived at the entrance of the Mu residence with the betrothal gifts, many commoners surrounded him. Seeing that his face was injured, they said, “I heard that he fought with the villain who harmed General Qi.”
“Why did I hear that he fought with his personal guards?”
“He must have fought with the doctor, right?”
Eh? Why isn’t the Mu family opening the door?”
“Since they’re holding the wedding to get rid of the bad luck, the Mus must feel sorry for their daughter.”
But that’s to help General Qi. Why don’t we help Little General beg the Mu family to agree to this marriage?”
Just as everyone was wondering if they should go forward, the Mu residence’s door opened. Qi Haoran originally wanted to smile, but when he recalled that it was not the time to do so, he immediately suppressed the smile on his face In the eyes of others, it looked like the Little General was trying his best to smile, but he couldn’t.
The Mu family let the Qi family and the betrothal gifts in. Seeing Qi Haoran enter, everyone finally noticed the Qi family’s betrothal gifts and couldn’t help but click their tongues. “This is really generous. It’s even more generous than what General Qi gifted the daughter of the Li family back then.”
“Since they’re asking the Mu family to get rid of the bad luck using the wedding, they naturally have to be more generous with the gifts..”