Chapter 103: Requesting Help From Xin Cheng
Chapter 103: Requesting Help From Xin Cheng
"You are saying that if I want to buy that piece of land, I need to deal with the County Magistrate of Nanxia County, who is also my father?" Xiang Ling asked and stared at Fu Xiao who was almost carrying a look of sympathy on her face.
Nodding her head, the woman explained, "All the land in our County falls under the governance of County Magistrate Chen. Since the piece of land you want to buy is not owned by any particular person, it can only be bought from the County Magistrate’s office."
Xiang Ling became silent after that as the wheels in her brain tried to work out a way in which she could buy the land without coming face to face with the County Magistrate. In her current situation, she was far from ready to face the parents of the previous owner of her body.
Letting out a small sigh, she dismissed Fu Xiao and closed her eyes to think of a solution. Her mind raced, jumping from one idea to another. She needed someone with money who could buy the land in her name. But other than her husbands and the servants in the family, she knew no one.
Her eyes immediately flew open as her thoughts stopped on her husbands. There were indeed two men with money around her who could be of some help. Feeling excited, she stood up from where she was sitting in the Main Hall and headed in the direction of her courtyard to find Li Dao Ming.
It was not until she asked the servants when she failed to find him anywhere in the manor, did she found out that he had left the Manor early in the morning and had still to return.
"Is Xin Cheng here or he has gone out too with Dao Ming?" She asked Uncle Sun who was her source of information.
"Master Xin is still in the Manor. I saw him heading toward his private chamber a couple of moments ago." Uncle Sun informed her.
Nodding her head, she thanked Uncle Sun before she once again headed in the direction of her courtyard. Compared to Dao Ming, she didn’t have that much expectation from Xin Cheng as the man might turn her request down even before listening to it completely, but she wasn’t left with many choices at this point.
Entering the Inner Courtyard, she headed toward his chamber and knocked on his door.
"What do you want?" The man asked from inside as if he knew it was her, and considering the fact that he was no mere mortal, he might have already sensed her presence the moment she stepped inside the courtyard.
"I need to talk to you about something important." Xiang Ling told him and waited for him to allow her entrance. For a moment or two, nothing happened, no reply came from the inside, but then, the door suddenly flew open.
Letting out a small sigh, she stepped inside the chamber and her gaze immediately landed on the man who was busy doing something at his study table. As she walked closer, she noticed the array of spiritual herbs, minerals, spirit stones, and even spirit cores, that were arranged with perfection across the table. The Twin Devil Flowers were also sitting there and she recognized some other rare spiritual herbs that hadn’t been seen in centuries.
"Are you refining pills?" She asked while her gaze studied the man and the array of items closely. She tried to sense what sort of spell he had been using before she arrived but just like in the past, she failed to detect the presence of his spiritual energy. Whatever the reason, both Xin Cheng and Dao Ming were keeping the essence of their powers hidden from her and it was only making her more suspicious of their intentions and identities.
"What do you want to talk about?" He asked as he stood up from his seat and with one single flick of his sleeve, everything disappeared from the table. He turned his attention toward her and waited for her to speak.
Recalling why she came to find him in the first place, she plastered a big smile on her lips and hurried closer to him. "I want you to help me with something important."
The man just arched his eyebrows and stared at her without saying anything. Clearing her throat, Xiang Ling began, "I want you to buy me a piece of land from the County Magistrate’s Office. As for the money, I will provide it."
The man still didn’t speak immediately and only after certain long moments of silence, he asked, "Why should I do that?"
Xiang Ling opened her mouth to respond but then closed it. After thinking for a minute, she finally replied, "I don’t want to face the County Magistrate yet. But I need to buy that land immediately. That’s why I’m asking for your help."
Xin Cheng nodded his head in understanding and almost gave hope to Xiang Ling. However, his next words went in a completely different direction. "You made your request and now, I’m declining it. You can leave now."
Xiang Ling gawked at the man before grabbing his arm to face her. "You can’t decline."
The man just gave her a look that said he was questioning her level of understanding. Not wanting to give up yet, Xiang Ling made a bold move as she snaked her arms over his shoulders and locked her hands on his nape, surprising the man with her actions.
"What are you doing?" He demanded as he tried to step away from her but Xiang Ling kept her hold tight. Smiling sweetly at him, she replied, "Please, help me, Ah Cheng. Pleaseee!"
Xin Cheng couldn’t hide his shock even if he wanted to. "Y-you... stop behaving like this."
"Not until you promise to help me." Xiang Ling returned while staring at him with her doe-like eyes.
The man let out an exasperated sigh before he finally gave in to her request come demand - "Alright. I will help."