Chapter 513: Blackening? Stealing the Gunpowder Formula?

Chapter 513: Chapter 513: Blackening? Stealing the Gunpowder Formula?

The Brocade Building in the city had been completely bought out.

All the expensive fabrics and jewelry were bought up in a constant stream.

Group after group of servants entered, carrying away brocade boxes.

Finally, the Shopkeeper walked to the carriage at the entrance, bowing and scraping in an attempt to curry favor.

"Miss Qi, you’ve bought all our new brocades. However, we’re getting a new shipment of Shu brocade in ten days. Would you like it?"

Qi Xiuwei lifted the curtain, revealing her lovely, made-up face.

She was already quite beautiful, and ever since Xiuxiu and the others had come to claim her, she had been assigned four maids to attend to her.

It’s said that clothes make the woman, and now every gesture Qi Xiuwei made truly carried an air of nobility.

After hearing the Shopkeeper’s words, Qi Xiuwei nodded. "I’ll take it all. Mr. Xiu Mu, pay the man."

Xiuxiu, standing to the side, already looked grim.

’This Tenth Princess is an incredible spendthrift, isn’t she?’

’Ever since we brought her back, she’s been shopping every day, buying whatever is most expensive.’

’She called it making up for her past suffering, claiming Mrs. Qi Sr. had suppressed her and forbidden her from doing anything, and now she needed to let loose and indulge herself.’

For the sake of the plan, Xiuxiu endured it.

He took out some silver and paid, and the Shopkeeper immediately beamed and went on his way.

Xiuxiu cupped his hands in a salute toward the carriage. "Princess, this is really quite extravagant. Changliu Country has plenty of fine silks and brocades; you could easily purchase them after you return."

"Absolutely not. I like the things here. Besides, once I’m back in Changliu Country, my father the Emperor will buy new things for me." Qi Xiuwei shot him a sharp look.

She rested her head on her hand, the tassels in her hair swaying gently.

"Mr. Xiu Mu, don’t tell me you’re reluctant to spend the money? Didn’t you say my father the Emperor ordered you to find me and treat me well? I’m just buying a few outfits, and look how it pains you."

"I wouldn’t dare, Princess. It’s just... Tuo Ye left a short while ago and still hasn’t returned. Have you by any chance seen him?"

Qi Xiuwei was getting annoyed. "I’ve told you so many times, of course I haven’t seen him! You’re the one who made the plan, so how would I know where he went? He’s just a guard. What, you think I’d be hiding him?"

Xiuxiu suppressed his doubts.

Just then, Qi Xiuwei saw Su Zhirou approaching with her maid a short distance ahead of the carriage.

Qi Xiuwei’s eyes narrowed. "Run her over."

The driver jumped in fright. "What did you say?"

"Useless fool, let me do it." Qi Xiuwei lunged forward, snatched the whip, and brought it down hard on the horse’s rump.

The horse whinnied and bolted forward, and she nearly cracked her head in the process.

The carriage hurtled toward Su Zhirou. She screamed in terror as a figure in black suddenly appeared and tackled her to the ground.

She was almost trampled to death by the hooves!

The driver finally brought the horse under control, only to hear peals of laughter coming from Qi Xiuwei inside the carriage.

"How satisfying! Too bad she wasn’t trampled to death."

Xiuxiu, still shaken, rushed over. "Princess!"

’Has Qi Xiuwei gone mad?’

’Ever since her falling out with Shen Ningning, she’s like a completely different person.’

Su Zhirou’s face was deathly pale. After her maid helped her up, she first turned to thank the person who had saved her.

"Thank you, sir... Huh? Lord Pei, so it was you." Su Zhirou’s eyes flickered.

Inside the carriage, Qi Xiuwei’s smile froze on her lips.

Through the carriage’s beaded curtain, she stared. Pei Yin was dressed in a dark robe, a treasure sword hanging from his waist.

The red tassel on that treasure sword was one she had braided with her own hands.

At that moment, Pei Yin was gazing at the carriage, his expression complex.

Separated by the bustling street and the pointing and whispering of the crowd, the two of them stared at each other from a distance.

Qi Xiuwei’s wild arrogance vanished, replaced by a sullen chill on her face.

Xiuxiu stepped forward to smooth things over, apologizing on Qi Xiuwei’s behalf.

When Su Zhirou heard that Qi Xiuwei was in the carriage, she became instantly furious. "Qi Xiuwei! How dare you try to run someone down in public! What are you plotting? You’re one of the Changliu Country people now, are you still trying to harm me?"

"If you keep up this arrogance, be careful that even Princess Funing won’t tolerate you!"

Su Zhirou was deliberately poking at her sore spots, flaunting her words with the smugness of a petty person who has gotten their way.

She couldn’t have been more delighted to learn of the falling out between Shen Ningning and Qi Xiuwei.

Inside the carriage, Qi Xiuwei had no desire to even acknowledge Su Zhirou.

Her voice was icy. "Say one more word, and I guarantee the next time you appear on the street, another carriage will come charging at you. When that happens, you won’t be so lucky."

Su Zhirou’s face went white with fear.

She caught a glimpse of Pei Yin’s lips tightening and quickly ducked behind him.

"Lord Pei, did you hear what she said? It’s utterly chilling. You must bear witness for me and stand up for me."

Qi Xiuwei’s fingers tightened on her sleeve.

She lifted the curtain and said to Xiuxiu, "Let’s go back. I’m tired."

However, Pei Yin stepped in front of the carriage, blocking its path.

His voice was icy, and his eyes were filled with disappointment.

"Miss Qi, I don’t know what happened between you and Princess Funing to make you turn on each other overnight."

"I also don’t know why you’ve become so cruel. I only know that the person you used to be was wonderful. Don’t give up on yourself over what’s happened."

As he spoke, Pei Yin removed the red tassel from his sword and handed it to Xiuxiu.

"Lord Pei, what is the meaning of this? Don’t tell me you’re breaking ties with me, too?" Qi Xiuwei’s voice held an irrepressible tremor.

Pei Yin lowered his head slightly. "My parents were killed by people from Changliu Country. Because of that, I swore an oath to never associate with or befriend anyone from their nation."

"I am returning this to Miss Qi. From this day forward, when I see the Tenth Princess, I will only have the distant respect one shows a stranger. I ask the Princess not to provoke me. This is the territory of Cangyun Country, not a place for you to run wild."

After speaking, Pei Yin turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure as he left without a single glance back, Qi Xiuwei fought to hold back her tears.

Su Zhirou tutted. "Miss Qi—oh, my mistake, Tenth Princess. I’ll be taking my leave as well."

They had all gone, but Qi Xiuwei remained silent.

Xiuxiu lifted the curtain to see Qi Xiuwei silently weeping, her reddened eyes filled with loss and sorrow.

"Princess, Changliu Country has many brilliant and handsome young men. Once you return with us, won’t you be able to take your pick of them?"

Qi Xiuwei wiped away her tears.

"You’re right. I don’t need friends, because I’ll make new ones. And I don’t need Pei Yin, because he and I were never on the same path to begin with."

With that, she lifted her chin slightly. "Let’s go. Back to the residence. Mr. Xiu Mu, tell me about your plan in detail—how to steal the secret gunpowder formula. I’m willing to give it a try."

Xiuxiu immediately cupped his hands in assent, feeling even more delighted.

’Qi Xiuwei had been hesitant before, but this encounter with Pei Yin had completely snuffed out any remaining attachment she had to this place!’

’This was exactly the result Xiuxiu had been hoping for.’

And so, after they returned, the two of them began to plot endlessly, with Xiuxiu busy making his arrangements.

For the time being, he had no time to search for Tuo Ye.