Chapter 258 - 257: That’s Exactly the Result I Wanted
Qi Younian’s experiences over the years hadn’t been for naught; he knew a case like this wasn’t for a commoner like him to decide, nor did he dare to make any bold promises or speak candidly. He could only repeatedly utter all sorts of polite platitudes as a stalling tactic.
Although he didn’t dare look at Jiang Yifan for fear of letting Zhou Bingyi catch on, he was waiting for Jiang Yifan to speak. If Jiang Yifan remained silent, he would have no choice but to repeat a bunch of redundant phrases with Zhou Bingyi, saying things like: I dare not presume, how could I be connected with your lordship, Elder Master Liang simply wasn’t thinking clearly when he did such a thing, and so on.
Jiang Yifan’s eyelids were low, listening to Qi Younian and Zhou Bingyi’s back-and-forth pleasantries, and he did not speak up to smooth things over for a long while.
Every time he thought of the Liang family sending Ye Xinyan to his house to serve pastries, he felt a surge of nameless anger. Even if this matter made it past the Sixth Master, he would still have to make Liang Qiyuan suffer, to ensure that from then on, the Liang family had to live cautiously and frugally, no longer possessing the power to stir troubles, nor receiving the admiring courtesies from the local gentry and government clerks.
Ye Xinyan, seeing Qi Younian managing the conversation with difficulty, coughed lightly. For their most innocent elder to deal with a Fourth-Rank Official, Jiang Yifan and Jinrong were indeed pushing it.
Jiang Yifan responded at once, saying, "As long as things are clear, that’s good. My lord, please take a seat. The old master of the Qi family is broad-minded and won’t dwell on trivial matters; my lord needn’t worry too much."
Qi Younian followed up, saying, "Yes, yes, please sit, my lord. Now that we have spoken clearly, this old fellow understands my lord’s intention and will certainly not fixate on the matter."
Zhou Bingyi glanced over Qi Younian, Ye Xinyan, and Jiang Yifan, and although he was annoyed, he couldn’t find the words. Jiang Yifan’s just now might as well not have been spoken, and Qi Younian, despite being very respectful, had not said a word about not holding a grudge against Liang Qiyuan.