klisemfg Chapter 214: Departure
Chapter 214: Departure
Chapter 214: Departure
After struggling for a while, Ji Meiqing stopped moving.
"Why are you leaving?"
“It’s so boring.” She blinked, but didn’t push him away. “The social interactions among the noble ladies of the capital are too tedious. The back-and-forth struggles are disheartening.”
Lu Yu held her in his arms, and they could hear each other's heartbeats, but Ji Meiqing just couldn't fall asleep.
"How are you handling things in officialdom?"
"We've already established ourselves quite well, and everyone's pretty familiar with us. The groundwork in the capital is almost done, and we can open our business here next year."
"Hmm..." She nodded, then remained still. Her breathing was long and steady, as if she had fallen asleep.
The rest was none of her business. She had already packed her things and was ready to leave that afternoon, but Lu Yu was still a little reluctant to part with her.
"Why don't we leave together?"
"I need to take care of everyone at the banquet, so I'll head back now."
After packing her things, and with the carriage already parked, Ji Meiqing left without looking back, leaving Lu Yu alone in the empty capital.
Back home, Ji Meiqing lay down on the bed and slept for a full day and night. She wondered if the feng shui of her house in the capital was bad, or if the bed was too hard, because she bumped into it and hurt herself.
Lying in bed, I managed to catch up on all the sleep I had missed over the past few days.
Lu Yu also sent someone back with the message, so it wasn't anything serious. I successfully caught their eye with the Lu family's wine, and the Emperor bestowed many gifts upon me, which was naturally pleasing.
The housework that had been delayed was also taken care of, and Ji Meiqing continued to sit in the yard, while Ji Tianci played with the rabbit next to her.
He seemed to suddenly remember something, and looked up at Ji Meiqing, "When you weren't here the other day, my older brother came to see me."
"Hmm." She didn't seem to care.
Ji Tianci scratched his head, looking a little conflicted. "He said that the Ji family's business has recently encountered a bottleneck and he wants to ask you for a few wine lists."
"Why are you asking me? The Ji family is a large and powerful family. What we have isn't even enough for one of their boxes."
Ji Tianci remained silent for a while before Ji Meiqing realized something was wrong. She put down what she was holding and looked at her younger brother.
Do you want to help them?
He immediately became excited, but quickly backed down.
"It's not that we can't help them, but we need to know if they're telling the truth first. Besides, it seems the Ji family doesn't need our help anymore."
"Huh?" Ji Tianci was a little puzzled, not understanding why he would say that.
Ji Meiqing sighed, "Do you know that the Ji family is one of the candidates for the Imperial Merchants title? Just with that title, the Ji family's business is bound to be successful."
"Oh." He shrank his neck, seemingly still not quite understanding, but Ji Meiqing had no way to make him understand.
The conversation didn't continue, and the next morning, Ji Meiqing woke him up directly. Ji Tianci was slightly displeased, his expression tense and listless.
"Let me take you to see the Ji family's restaurant. We can spend the day there, and then you can decide whether you want to continue trying to persuade me to help them."
Before he could answer, she pulled him out the door.
After wrapping themselves in their clothes, the two headed straight for the Ji family's restaurant. When the manager saw her, his expression momentarily collapsed.
Ji Meiqing glanced at him and laughed, "What's wrong? Guests are guests, you won't refuse to receive them, will you?"
"Of course not." He chuckled twice and then asked, "Are you two downstairs or upstairs?"
"A top-class room, with fine wine and food. Preferably your local specialty wines."
He forced a smile, revealing a perfunctory one. The waiter quickly came over and led them upstairs. The top-tier private room upstairs was decorated quite elegantly, with two large vases behind the door filled with unknown flowers.
The beaded curtain swayed slightly, producing a crisp sound.
"One of each, please." She didn't rush to order, just said casually. She didn't even ask Ji Tianci's preferences, and looking at the pale tea in front of her, she just felt it was a bit bland.
Upon hearing this, the waiter quickly went out to order the food.
After looking around at the furnishings, Ji Tianci returned to Ji Meiqing's side. Without even lifting her eyelids, she asked, "The Ji family's business has never been about drinks, but about service. Did you see how the waiter here was behaving just now?"
Ji Tianci remained silent.
The dishes arrived, but they weren't particularly lavish. The small round table quickly filled up, and Ji Meiqing looked up and said, "There's no need to bring the rest of the dishes; this is enough."
"Yes."
"Also, could you bring two bottles of your store's signature wine?"
The waiter paused for a moment, then laughed heartily. He went outside to get some wine, while Ji Meiqing sat on a stool watching Ji Tianzhuo eat.
Do you miss your aunt right now?
"Yes, I want to." He looked up at Ji Meiqing with a slightly puzzled expression. "Don't you want to?"
"Seeing this food makes me not want to eat anymore."
Ji Tianci continued to eat with his head down. He was already a teenager and was almost as tall as Lu Yu.
I took a couple of bites when people came in from outside.
Ji Meiqing looked at them and put down her chopsticks and bowl.
"Your news travels fast, doesn't it?" She smiled slightly, got up from her stool, and walked over to them. "You're already here? What, are you afraid I'll smash this place up?"
Ji Tianzhuo came with a blank face, his displeasure written all over his face.
"That's not how you ask for favors," she continued, glancing at Tian Cuiwei beside him. She looked even thinner than before, seemingly struggling. She looked at her a few times before looking away again. "The Lu family's wine list isn't something you can just get whenever you want. Trying to pull strings among us while simultaneously playing the 'favor card'... Ji Tianzhuo, these past few days, your tricks haven't gotten any better, but your shamelessness is only growing."
"You!" He didn't come here to hear her insults. Looking at the table full of food, he didn't believe they came to eat. But whether they believed him or not, they had already started eating.
Tian Cuiwei also came out and laughed twice in an attempt to ease the tension.
"After all, we're all family, and the lyrics are so tense. Sister Meiqing, please don't be so aggressive, considering that I still call you 'sister'."
"Oh, if you're my sister, then Ji Tianzhuo would be your brother, right? In that case, wouldn't it be absurd for a sister and brother to get married?"
Tian Cuiwei turned pale with anger and couldn't say anything more. Ji Meiqing didn't give her a chance to speak either.