Chapter 147: Then keep him hanging!

Lin Qingyue's idea is very simple, Dongfang Qi is the future emperor, taking advantage of the fact that his relationship with her is not bad now, binding with him more, and asking for more titles, is definitely the more the better.

Although they are all empty titles without real power, who can guarantee that those empty titles will not become real power in the future?

Of course, as a reward, she will teach Dongfang Qi the talisman technique with all her heart. As for whether to hide secrets, that depends on her mood.

"Then... when will you teach me?" Dongfang Qi asked.

Lin Qingyue said: "Whenever you have time."

Dongfang Qi continued to guide step by step: "You have to be busy with official business in the Xuanjing Division during the day, and I also have government affairs to deal with during the day. How about after dusk, I go to your mansion?"

Then he thought that a man and a woman alone in a room would affect her reputation, so he added: "I will let Xiao Hui come too."

Good guy, he even brought one! It seems he wants to learn all her skills!

But it doesn't matter, she is not afraid. So she said: "Okay."

Dongfang Qi said: "Then every day at the third quarter of the You hour, Xiao Hui and I will go to Lan Yuan to find you. At that time, remember to leave me dinner."

Lin Qingyue was surprised: "You are so shameless, not paying a cent of tuition, and still want to come and eat for free?"

Dongfang Qi's smile was bright: "Isn't that just meal time? I usually have to go to the cabinet to work in the afternoon. After finishing, if I rush back to the Eastern Palace to change clothes and eat, it will be after the Xu hour when I go to your house. After class, we can't just talk on paper? Theory plus practice, at least... it will take an hour or two. In this way, it will be the middle of the night, and it is not very good to affect your rest."

Lin Qingyue thought it made sense, so she nodded: "Then fine, let's decide like this."

At the end, she added: "Meal money must be paid. And tuition, tuition cannot be less."

Dongfang Qi got his wish and happily agreed to everything.

Lin Qingyue also got her wish: not only can she earn silver, but she can also set the master-apprentice relationship with the Crown Prince. In the future, in the Qi Guo, wouldn't she be able to cover the sky with one hand?

The two calculated each other, looked at each other and smiled, each getting what they wanted.

Not long after, Dongfang Qi and his party arrived at the Li Duke's mansion.

The guard went up and knocked on the gate: "The Crown Prince heard that the Duke is seriously ill and came to visit in person. Open the gate quickly to welcome him!"

The gatekeeper was shocked when he heard this and hurried to report to the master.

Not long after, the Li family's chief steward hurried over, kowtowed and paid respects, and said: "Crown Prince, please forgive me, my master is seriously ill in bed and has been unable to get out of bed for several days. To avoid the spread of illness, he ordered the slaves to close the gate tightly and dare not see guests."

The guard asked: "Besides the Li Duke, are there no other men in the Li family who can come out to answer?"

The steward said respectfully: "Except for the Duke who is ill in bed and unable to get up, the other masters and young masters have all gone out. In the back house, there are only the Madam, concubines, and unmarried young ladies, I am afraid of neglecting the distinguished guests, so I dare not come out to see the imperial carriage."

This is the confidence of a thousand-year-old aristocratic family, even if the Crown Prince visits, they have the courage to refuse if they don't want to see him.

Dongfang Qi gave a look, and the guards under his command took out a handwritten edict and said arrogantly: "The Emperor is worried about the Duke's health and specifically ordered the Crown Prince to visit on his behalf. The Imperial Edict is here, does the Li family want a steward to receive the edict?"

Once the Imperial Edict was issued, the steward's face changed on the spot.

The Crown Prince's visit can be treated as a private matter, and refusal is refusal. But once the Imperial Edict is shown, it is a state affair.

Even if the Li family is an aristocratic family, they dare not openly deceive the Emperor.

Thus, the steward had to go in and report again.

Not long after, the middle gate was opened wide. Madam Li, with a pile of female relatives, came out to welcome the Crown Prince into the mansion.

And the men of the Li family were all gathered in the Li Duke's study at this moment.

"Father, the Crown Prince has never had much friendship with our Li family. Visiting suddenly, I am afraid there is another intention."

"Our Donglin Prefecture's mine was wiped out by Duke Luo, and the loss was heavy. The Crown Prince happened to return from that direction, maybe it is the imperial court targeting our Li clan behind the scenes."

"What about the Crown Prince? What about the Emperor? The Emperor is flowing water, the aristocratic family is iron! If it weren't for the support of our aristocratic families, could they sit firmly in this world?"

"Shut up!" The Li Duke scolded, "Don't talk nonsense!"

"Big brother!" The one speaking was the Li Duke's younger brother, Li Xiu, "Li Duo went to look at jade properly, but died tragically in the mine! And big brother, not only did you hand over the mine, but you also let Li Duo bear the crime and be removed from the family forever! That is your own son, who should have been the future head of our Li family! Big brother, are you really not going to avenge this?"

"Revenge? How to take revenge?" The Li Duke sighed helplessly.

Li Xiu said: "Of course, unite with other aristocratic families and drive the Dongfang father and son off that position!"

"Absurd!" The Li Duke scolded, "Do you really think our Li family is omnipotent?"

"Isn't it?" The Li Duke's third son also echoed Li Xiu, "I think Second Uncle is right! Even if it is the royal family, aren't they jealous of our aristocratic families? Father, you are in a high position and have many followers, why do you have to look at the royal family's face?"

"Do you really think things are as simple as you think?" The Li Duke hummed.

"It is true that we are a thousand-year-old aristocratic family, but the Qi Kingdom's national fortune is deep, and the various regional military governors control one side, checking and balancing with our aristocratic families. No one wants to break this balance and cause war. What's more, behind the royal family, there is also the support of several major aristocratic families. The Luo clan bears the brunt, having soldiers and power, and is also the Crown Prince's own uncle. Who can have the certainty of victory to topple the royal family? One carelessness will lead to the danger of extermination."

"Now that the Emperor is wary, and willing to let the Donglin Prefecture matter rest, we naturally have to give the Emperor some face."

Li Xiu said: "Since we want to give the Emperor face, big brother, why are you still avoiding the Crown Prince?"

The Li Duke said: "I originally just wanted to give the Crown Prince a show of strength, who knew he would bring an Imperial Edict."

Li Xiu said angrily: "Dongfang Qi is truly cunning. At first, he didn't show the Imperial Edict, and only showed it after we said there were no men in the house. Now we are riding a tiger and can't get off, and can only let the female relatives go to welcome him."

The Li Duke said: "That's fine. With a hall full of female relatives, it is inconvenient for him, an outsider, to stay for a long time. If he is sensible, he should leave immediately."

"That's right, we won't come out. As an outsider, it's not good for him to barge into the back house to see Father. Otherwise, ruining the reputation of the female relatives in our house, we can just go to the Emperor and sue him!"

Just as they were talking, the steward ran over.

The Li Duke asked: "How is it, does the Crown Prince have any intention to leave?"

The steward shook his head and said: "No."

Li Xiu asked impatiently: "It's been more than half an hour, and he still hasn't left? There isn't a single man in the house, how can he be embarrassed to stay and not leave?"

Steward Li said: "The Crown Prince said he wants to wait for the master of the house to return before visiting the Duke. Otherwise, the task of visiting the sick will not be completed, and it will be difficult to explain to the Emperor."

"He really thinks he is visiting the sick!" Li Xiu said angrily, "Who doesn't know that claiming illness is just an external statement? Even if you come to see the illness, it's just going through the motions, expressing the Emperor's concern, and then you can get out! What does he want to do by staying and not leaving? Want to see what you look like lying on the bed sick?"

The Li Duke pondered for a long time and said: "Then keep him hanging!" ===== CHAPTER 148 =====