Chapter 46

Zhang Zhiyi has always been honest with Xu Xingguang, saying whatever is on her mind straightforwardly. "Xingguang, what are you going to the Xiahou Family for? Did you receive an invitation? Without an invitation, you can’t enter the Xiahou Family."

She was worried that Xu Xingguang was being deceived.

Xu Xingguang stuck to her words: "Let’s talk in person."

Although Zhang Zhiyi was filled with doubt, since Xu Xingguang mentioned she would be at the Xiahou Family tomorrow, she believed her. "Alright, tomorrow I’ll make a trip to the Xiahou Family."

Yesterday, the sky was bright and sunny; today, it was overcast and rainy.

The fine rain of early spring mornings has a bone-chilling coldness. Xu Xingguang stood behind the window of the room, staring at the man who had been waiting outside the courtyard gate for a long time.

He was an adult male in a black business suit, standing alone in the drizzle without an umbrella, nearly frozen to numbness.

After waiting for a while longer, Xu Xingguang finally went downstairs unhurriedly.

She tightened the camel coat, opened the tightly shut courtyard gate, and said to the man standing outside, "It’s raining, Manager Xiahou, please go back."

Despite hearing Xu Xingguang’s words, Xiahou Zuiyue refused to leave.

He took two steps back and bowed ninety degrees to Xu Xingguang.

Gazing at the ground, Xiahou Zuiyue respectfully pleaded with Xu Xingguang, "Miss Xu, my granduncle’s condition has worsened and it really cannot be delayed any longer. Xiahou Zuiyue sincerely asks Miss Xu to lend a hand!"

Despite Xiahou Zuiyue’s sincere attitude, Xu Xingguang was completely unmoved.

She calmly pointed out, "Lan Zhong Auction House strictly keeps all member identities confidential. As the manager of Lan Zhong Auction House, Manager Xiahou should set an example. You cannot exercise privilege just because your family member is seriously ill."

"You coming to me privately severely violates your profession. Manager Xiahou, if I write a complaint letter to the headquarters of the auction house, not only will your career be over, but you also risk facing imprisonment."

"If you go back now, I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything." Xu Xingguang was not exaggerating; she was simply stating the facts.

Of course, Xiahou Zuiyue knew the stakes involved, but he had no other options!

"Miss Xu, if you are willing to help, afterwards, I will voluntarily submit my resignation and accept legal judgment."

Click.

Xu Xingguang disliked dealing with stubborn individuals.

"Who’s your granduncle?" Xu Xingguang had some understanding of the Xiahou Family’s situation, but it was not deep.

The Xiahou Family’s influence is vast with many branches. For someone to risk their career to seek her help, it must be the direct lineage of the Xiahou Family.

In other words, the person is closely related to her senior’s husband.

Xiahou Zuiyue told Xu Xingguang, "My granduncle is the youngest son of the old master, named Xiahou Huai Gui, who just turned 20 this year. Granduncle has been frail and sickly since childhood, and a sage once predicted he wouldn’t survive past 20 unless he met a divine doctor for help."

"I’m not a divine doctor; I’m just a person who grows herbs." Xu Xingguang was unwilling to wear the ’divine doctor’ hat, she simply excelled at cultivating herbs and knew a bit of medicine.

"But whether it’s Ice Crystal Grass, Pink Widow, or Crimson Ghost, they are all long extinct or only exist in mystical medical books. And you are the only person who can present them." Upon saying this, Xiahou Zuiyue raised his head, his gaze toward Xu Xingguang was fervent and worshipful.

This kind of look, Xu Xingguang had seen many times before.

Xiahou Zuiyue told Xu Xingguang, "In order to treat my granduncle’s illness, the Xiahou Family has searched for famous doctors and even invited the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor Ye Mingluo for consultation recently. But even the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor was unable to help."

"I thought, maybe you know of a miracle medicine that can cure my granduncle, which is why I came abruptly seeking help."

Having understood the circumstances, Xu Xingguang gazed at Xiahou Zuiyue inquisitively and coldly said, "He’s merely your granduncle, and if he dies, he dies. Do you truly care about him that much?"

Knowing that only sincere intentions could succeed in persuading Xu Xingguang, Xiahou Zuiyue dared not lie.

With sincerity, Xiahou Zuiyue said, "If you say how much I care about his life and death, that’s deceitful."

A look of profound pain surfaced in Xiahou Zuiyue’s eyes as he confided to Xu Xingguang, "I don’t care about my granduncle’s life or death, but the old master and few of my uncles do. If I succeed in finding someone to treat my granduncle’s illness, I can then receive the attention of the old master and my uncles and uncles-in-law, and by then, I can leverage the family’s power to avenge my unjustly killed parents."

This is the reason Xiahou Zuiyue dared to take a risk.

Ultimately, all he cares about is his own family.

Xiahou Zuiyue is just a distant relative of the Xiahou Family’s branch. When he was ten years old, his parents were murdered by a commercial enemy’s revenge, but the enemy had a deep background, his thin arms were no match for their thick legs.

The old master certainly wouldn’t make enemies with them for a distant relative.

Individual power is weak, and getting to today’s position left Xiahou Zuiyue already exhausted. He understands, only by striving to win the old master’s favor can he possibly avenge his parents.

Finding someone to cure Xiahou Huai Gui is Xiahou Zuiyue’s only shortcut, and Xu Xingguang is the key to opening that shortcut.

In the past, Liu Bei visited the cottage three times to invite Zhuge Liang out; he’s merely getting drenched today.

Knowing that Xiahou Zuiyue harbored a deep blood feud in his heart too, suddenly, Xu Xingguang saw her own shadow through him.

If she hadn’t experienced those strange ten reincarnations, then when she woke up to face Xu Zeqing and the all-powerful Jiang Heng, she would be powerless like Xiahou Zuiyue.

Knowing who the enemy is but not being able to execute them with your own hands, is the most despairing thing.

"Let’s go."

Leaving those two words, Xu Xingguang walked toward Xiahou Zuiyue’s car first.

Xiahou Zuiyue was momentarily stunned, unable to believe that Xu Xingguang was really willing to help him.

Realizing he had successfully convinced Xu Xingguang, Xiahou Zuiyue couldn’t help showing a look of ecstatic joy on his face. "Miss Xu, let me open the door for you!"

Xiahou Zuiyue was endlessly grateful to Xu Xingguang, speaking words of gratitude as he drove, "Thank you, Miss Xu, for offering your help. Xiahou Zuiyue will always remember Miss Xu’s kindness and will certainly repay you one day!"

Regardless of whether this trip would succeed, Xiahou Zuiyue was genuinely grateful for Xu Xingguang’s assistance.

"Focus on driving."

Xiahou Zuiyue then closed his mouth, earnestly driving towards the Xiahou Family.

In reality, Xu Xingguang deciding to see Xiahou Huai Gui wasn’t because of Xiahou Zuiyue, but because of Zhang Zhiyi.

Her senior came from a less distinguished background and had no influential connections; after marrying into the Xiahou Family for many years, she still failed to gain recognition from them.

Fortunately, her husband doted on her immensely and refused to see her suffer the cold shoulder and snide remarks in the Xiahou Family, hence he impatiently moved out to live elsewhere.

If she succeeds in curing Xiahou Huai Gui’s illness, she could become the old master’s benefactor, and by then, the old master would consider her existence and respect Zhang Zhiyi more.

Since Zhang Zhiyi lacks the background to be valued by the Xiahou Family, she would strive to become Zhang Zhiyi’s background.

The Xiahou Family mansion is built atop the picturesque Tuo Ling Peak in Yujiang City, with the entire mountain being their private territory. Traveling from Cangshan Town to Tuo Ling Peak takes two and a half hours on the highway.

Due to the long journey, Xu Xingguang inquired about Xiahou Huai Gui’s specific illness from Xiahou Zuiyue.

Naturally, Xiahou Zuiyue held nothing back, recounting every detail he knew to Xu Xingguang verbatim.

Through Xiahou Zuiyue’s narrative, Xu Xingguang learned that the man is a sensitive and musically gifted young individual. He possesses an exceptional appearance and excels in playing the piano, guqin, and oil painting.

At 18, Xiahou Huai Gui became renowned in the world of oil painting with his work "Blood Ghost Painting," establishing himself as a fantasy-style artist recognized and admired by painters worldwide.

Yet such a person was plagued by a rough fate and a short lifespan.

Reportedly, Xiahou Huai Gui was even more fragile than Lin Daiyu, a sick beauty who could hardly take three steps without wheezing and five steps without coughing.

But Xiahou Huai Gui was strong and vigorous during his childhood, with a passion for horseback riding and fencing from an early age, participating in the Xia Country equestrian competition at age eight and winning the junior group championship. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

But in the same year, Xiahou Huai Gui fell ill.

After falling ill, he often had unprovoked outbursts at night, even rolling off the bed and crawling on the floor like a worm.