Chapter 157: I Want Your Blood Drop
Gu Fei turned around to see Stone standing behind her. He cupped his fists in greeting. "Miss Xiao Fei, we’ve been looking all over for you."
The Young Master Heir had taken his men to Young Master Su’s estate outside the city first thing in the morning. But when they asked around, they were told Gu Fei’s family had moved elsewhere.
Fortunately, it wasn’t far. But when they went over, they found a large lock hanging on the courtyard gate.
After asking around again, they heard someone say they had seen Gu Fei’s family leaving with a mule cart, apparently heading into the city.
The Young Master Heir’s face darkened, and he spurred his horse back toward the city.
They circled the streets a few times before finally spotting Gu Qing sitting by the side of the road, guarding a mule cart.
Thank heavens they had finally found Miss Xiao Fei. Otherwise, the Young Master Heir wouldn’t have been able to contain his anger any longer.
Gu Fei asked in confusion, "You need me for something?"
Stone smiled. "It’s our young master who has business with you, Miss Xiao Fei. My young master is just outside. Would Miss Xiao Fei do him the honor of meeting with him?"
Gu Fei frowned. ’What could Stone’s master want with me?’
’Could it have something to do with that telescope?’
’She had been desperate to rescue Lan Zhi back then. She knew that young noblemen like him wanted for nothing, so the only way to move him was with something novel, to beg for his help. She hadn’t thought it through at the time.’
Gu Fei thought for a moment, then said to Mrs. Chen, "Mother, I’m going out for a bit. I’m not sure how long I’ll be. I’ll come home on my own later, so you don’t have to wait for me."
Mrs. Chen remembered Stone. He was the one who had lent Little Fei the Silver before, so he probably wasn’t a bad person. She hesitated for a moment, then turned to Lian’er. "You go with Little Fei."
She was always worried about a young lady going out alone.
Lian’er nodded and followed Gu Fei.
As Gu Fei walked out the main door of the fabric shop, she saw several horses waiting outside.
Xiao Yu was sitting on his horse, a look of impatience on his face. When he saw Gu Fei, however, his eyes lit up. He lifted his chin. "I need to talk to you."
Stone quickly interjected, "Young Master, there’s a teahouse next door. Why don’t we talk there? It’s cold out."
Xiao Yu dismounted, tossed his riding crop aside, and, lifting the hem of his robes, started up the steps.
Gu Fei and Lian’er followed Xiao Yu into the teahouse.
An attendant led them to a private room, served a pot of tea and a few snacks, and was then promptly shooed out by Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu’s other servant, Zhuzi, stood guard at the door, and Lian’er was also kept outside. Only Xiao Yu, Gu Fei, and Stone were in the room.
Xiao Yu sized Gu Fei up with a sidelong glance and nodded. "You clean up nicely. Much easier on the eyes than before."
Gu Fei mentally rolled her eyes. "Young Master, you were looking for me about—"
Xiao Yu didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. "Two things. First, I’ve taken a fancy to that hidden weapon of yours, the Blood Drop. Name your price."
"Second, I want to meet your master."
Gu Fei’s pupils contracted slightly. ’The Blood Drop, and a master... She remembered telling only one person about that: Uncle Ma.’
"Is Uncle Ma your man?" Gu Fei asked, her eyes narrowing.
Xiao Yu nodded nonchalantly. "I sent him to keep an eye on you. Who told you to have all those strange and bizarre things? That telescope was simple enough; I’ve already had someone replicate it. But that gold bar... I had someone look at it. The purity is very high. What method did you use to refine it?"
Gu Fei lowered her gaze, but a storm of shock raged within her.
’So, from the moment I gave Xiao Yu the gold bar and the telescope, he became suspicious of me. That’s why he arranged for Uncle Ma to watch me the entire way.’
’But it was a blessing in disguise, I suppose. Without Uncle Ma, I don’t know if we would have even made it to Ping’an City.’
’It seems I was still too careless. From now on, I must be much more cautious.’