Chapter 126: Own Influence

Chi Nan Yi smiled mildly, as Mo Junyan is now feigning illness and already seated in a wheelchair; she wonders whether this Prince Li can still remain tall, mighty, handsome, and dashing in her heart.

"The maids who came with you, are they your people?"

"Aside from the personal maid, the others all came out of the palace."

Chi Nan Yi understood; that means these maids are all the Emperor and Empress's people.

If nothing unexpected, the one who poisoned her is among these people.

"You must be cautious; no one around you can be trusted, and you must not tell anything to anyone. Understood?"

"Mm, I understand."

After this treatment, Chi Nan Yi no longer gave her the soporific medicine and told Mou Hanqin that their Princess had awakened.

Mou Hanqin, seeing Qin Yue xi truly awake, felt joy in his heart.

"Truly worthy of the Divine Doctor! I admire you, I admire!"

Chi Nan Yi looked at his face, which was clearly different from a few days earlier, and smiled lightly: "Fortunately the Princess woke up today; otherwise I'd be afraid I wouldn't see Master Mou's such expression."

"Earlier the Princess suddenly fell gravely ill, and I was anxious; now the Princess is fine, and I am relieved." He then produced five hundred taels of silver: "This is my intention; I have not yet caught the thieving petty thief, the silver is a bit short, please accept it."

The petty thief touched his nose tip; if he knew the treasures they had been searching for in the city for many days were right before his eyes, he would be furious to death.

Leaving the inn, Chi Nan Yi sat in an elegant room of a tea house, by the window, watching the bustling traffic, and whispered: "Lanxi."

"Miss, what's wrong?"

"How about staying here?"

"What?"

Chi Nan Yi turned to look at the somewhat puzzled Lanxi, smiled and said: "Staying by my side, don't you think you're being underutilized?"

"Miss, you saved Lanxi's life; Lanxi only wishes to stay by your side for a lifetime."

"But you cannot employ all your abilities."

"Lanxi is just a woman, where could there be any ability?"

No ability? In her previous life she single‑handedly built Millennium Hall into a presence that Daqi and any other power could not replace or shake; how could she say she has no ability? Her ability was immense.

"Miss, did Lanxi do something wrong?"

"No." Chi Nan Yi lifted her gaze, her deep eyes fixed on Lanxi: "I need you to do something here."

"What matter?"

"I need you to build a faction that can scout news, spy on intelligence, gather all useful information about Daqi and the other Four Nations, and also have strong combat capability, so that against any person or faction it can stand a fight, like Millennium Hall, which seems a place of revelry but actually controls many secrets; there is nothing it does not know, only things it chooses not to know. I want this—can you possibly accomplish it?"

Lanxi heard this, and a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes.

The miss actually voiced all the fantasies she had previously imagined, but though the vision is good, realizing it is somewhat difficult.

In the past, Millennium Hall had the Crown Prince secretly supporting it; borrowing his influence, Millennium Hall quickly established a foothold. Most people who came to Millennium Hall were either rich or noble, therefore they uncovered many secrets.

Now, if one wishes to rebuild a faction following Millennium Hall's model, not only money is needed but also a big tree to lean on.

But at present, who could become the big tree for Millennium Hall?

"Chi Family." Chi Nan Yi said firmly: "The Chi Family may be backing us from behind; you need not worry about the silver." She produced a stack of large‑denomination silver notes, roughly about three hundred thousand taels.

This is part of what was obtained earlier from Mo Junyan.

"Is this enough?"

Lanxi's eyes flickered with light; after a while she whispered: "So much silver—do you truly trust Lanxi?"

"Do not doubt those you employ; doubt those you do not employ. Since I am willing to entrust this important matter to you, I give you my full trust. I believe you have the ability to handle this. You need not worry about the Chi Family's affairs; later you will just accompany me for a trip."

Mentioning the Chi Family, Lanxi's eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment of thought she asked: "Miss, your relationship with the Chi Family…"

Chi Nan Yi gave a meaningfully long smile without answering; Lanxi is a sharp person, naturally understanding the implication. It seems the miss's relationship with the Chi Family is extraordinary!

Chi Nan Yi arrived at the Chi Family, and everyone there treated her with utmost respect.

She went straight to Chi Zhongshan's courtyard; Chi Zhongshan's body had almost fully recovered and he was drinking tea in the courtyard.

Seeing Chi Nan Yi enter, Chi Zhongshan's face was full of smiles, and he hurried over: "You child, where have you been these two days?"

"I was wandering around the city."

"Didn't I tell you? Move back home; after you've had enough wandering outside, come back, and you can let this old bone of mine have a look."

Chi Nan Yi smiled and said: "Then the words I'm about to say will probably make you even more angry."

"What's wrong?"

"I am preparing to return to Daqi."

"What?"

Just as expected.

From beside her, Old Master Chi's voice roared with full vigor: "Return to Daqi? So quickly? How long have you been here?"

Chi Nan Yi dug at her ear; the effect of the Spirit Spring Water is truly good—just from this sound she could tell how well Old Master's health is now.

"Maternal grandfather." she lowered her voice: "I must return to investigate the events of those years; I will not let the past of ten‑plus years be buried. The Situ Family's grievance, I will uncover the truth and make those evildoers pay."

Chi Zhongshan, hearing her say that, though reluctant, could not find words to persuade her.

"Very well, since your mind is set, Grandfather will support you." He produced a jade pendant: "This is the Chi Family's token; with this you can go to any Chi Family estate, and seeing this pendant is like seeing the head of the Chi Family. You may command any member of the Chi Family."

Chi Nan Yi held the jade pendant in her palm, nodded: "Very well, I'll accept it, thank you, Grandfather."

"Why do the two of us need such formalities?"

"Since that's the case, I have another matter I'd like Grandfather to help with."

"Just tell me."

Chi Nan Yi laid out her plan, and Chi Zhongshan, looking at this not‑yet‑old granddaughter, was deeply shocked; at such a young age she was already scheming to this extent.

Moreover, Chi Zhongshan could see that what she told him was only the tip of the iceberg of her grand ambition.

"As for the personnel to manage these affairs, I have already decided." Chi Nan Yi waved toward Lanxi outside the courtyard, and Lanxi hurried in.

Although Lanxi did not hear their conversation, it was easy to see from Old Master Chi's attitude toward Chi Nan Yi that their relationship was extremely good, so good it was like an elder looking at his own child.