Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 405: Chapter 93 Finally Reaping Rewards! Long-Term Layout_3

Master Huangfu Jinhuan was also a towering figure, able to guide nations with a casual gesture, and could even determine the rise and fall of an insignificant prominent family.

But now, in just a few short years, everything has been turned upside down.

Master Huangfu Jinhuan was merely middle-aged, yet white hairs had already appeared at his temples. His appearance was wrinkled and aged. This was all due to him exhausting his energy in these years, trying desperately to preserve the Huangfu Clan, working his heart out.

“Master Huangfu.”

While he was deep in thought, a beautiful maid at the second or third level of the Vital Energy Refining Realm walked out of the “Plum Breaking Garden.”

She bowed to Master Huangfu Jinhuan and said respectfully, “My lady said that she’s been feeling slightly unwell lately and is not prepared to meet anyone. However, since Master Huangfu has personally come, considering the old times, she is willing to meet with you.”

Master Huangfu Jinhuan also hastily returned the courtesy to the maid, “Thank you for your effort.”

Given his status, he wouldn’t usually give a second glance to a maid of this level.

However, under other people’s roofs, one has to bow their head. With him needing favor from others everywhere, he certainly could not afford to be arrogant any longer.

Under the lead of the maid, Master Huangfu Jinhuan entered the manor, where blooming plum blossoms could be seen everywhere. At this season, the thriving spring plums made the manor full of plum fragrance, creating a truly enchanting sight.

Lady Ji really loved plum blossoms, as she had transplanted so many of them.

Master Huangfu Jinhuan realized Lady Ji’s preference and could not help but plan to find some rare plum blossom varieties after this visit, to further enhance his relationship with Lady Ji.

These years, as the Huangfu Clan continued to decline, more and more prominent families had severed ties with the Huangfu Clan. Now, the ones who were willing to lend a helping hand to the Huangfu Clan, apart from a few in-law families, was Lady Ji.

Considering the relationships of the past, she had helped him out a few times.

For a moment, Master Huangfu Jinhuan was deeply grateful to Lady Ji.

“Master Huangfu, we have arrived.” The maid leading the way suddenly stopped, bowed to Master Huangfu Jinhuan, and said, “The lady is waiting for you up ahead.”

“Thank you, miss.”

Master Huangfu Jinhuan came back to his senses, thanked her, and then headed forward.

Ahead was a pavilion filled with a dazzling array of stone flowers.

It sat next to a small lake in the garden, facing the water on one side and open to the wind on all sides. The beautiful flowers obscured everything in the pavilion, and only a stone path twisted its way through the flowers, creating a somewhat hazy beauty.

Walking a dozen steps along the path, the view in front suddenly opened up.

The scene inside the pavilion came into Master Huangfu Jinhuan’s sight.

He saw a stunningly beautiful woman in a purple gauze dress sitting casually at the edge of the pavilion, idly waving a fan while sporadically tossing fish food into the lake. This amused the fish in the lake, making them swim back and forth to compete for food, creating a lively scene.

This gorgeous woman was Lady Ji.

Seeing this scene, Master Huangfu Jinhuan couldn’t help feeling a wave of emotion. Back in the day, the fish were fry he had released, and he had often fed them just like this.

Unfortunately, times had changed. These fish had nothing to do with him anymore.

Master Huangfu Jinhuan took a moment to compose himself, pushing away the random thoughts in his mind, He stepped forward and said, “Jinhuan greets Lady Ji.”

“Master Jinhuan has arrived.”

Lady Ji withdrew her gaze, lazily welcoming Master Huangfu Jinhuan.

The two sat opposite each other in this pavilion. After some casual greetings, Lady Ji got straight to the point, “Master Jinhuan, with your visit this time, could it be that you’ve encountered another problem?”

Huangfu Jinhuan put down his tea cup and sighed slightly, “As the saying goes, adding flowers to brocade is easy, but sending help in a snowstorm is hard. My Huangfu Clan has experienced all kinds of ups and downs over the recent years. Throughout these years, it is only you, Madam, who has been quietly helping me. Jinhuan is deeply grateful.”

Even someone like Huangfu Jinhuan, couldn’t help but be genuinely grateful to Lady Ji.

“Master Jinhuan is being too polite,” Lady Ji chuckled lightly, waving her round fan, “In the beginning, I intended to partner with the Huangfu Clan to make money. But as fate would have it, we ended up cooperated with the Xu Family of Changning instead. You didn’t fault me for it, and what could my little assistance ever amount to? Consider it as making up for the regret.”

A sigh echoed lightly in Huangfu JinHuan’s heart.

Following the failure of the power struggle against the Xu Family of Changning over the textile business, Lady Ji had quickly defected to the other side, using the resources of the Ji Family to make a fortune.

He did want to bear a grudge against Lady Ji, but given the grand wealth and power of the Ji family, his resentment was futile. So he had no choice but to keep in touch with Lady Ji, even though he did it begrudgingly.

Unexpectedly, Lady Ji, while seemingly delicate yet prickly on the surface, placed great importance on integrity and camaraderie.

This kind of powerful woman inspired admiration in Huangfu Jinhuan.

Once the Huangfu Clan recovers from its lowest point and returns to its heyday, he must find a way to repay Lady Ji in kind.

“I’m afraid you’ll be dissappointed. This time, I have come to trouble Lady Ji because I am in need of her help,” he said, clasping his hands.

“Master Jinhuan, please feel free to tell me.” Lady Ji responded with a seductive smile, “You know my disposition does not take kindly to beating about the bush.”

Huangfu Jinhuan straightened his face in an instant and spoke solemnly, “I wonder if Lady Ji has ever heard of a single-use spiritual treasure from the Purple Abode Academic Palace, the ‘Six-Pole Sun Flame Pearl’?”

“Six-Pole Sun Flame Pearl.” Lady Ji slightly frowned, “Pardon my ignorance, but I know very little about it.”

After looking around and seeing no one nearby, Huangfu Jinhuan lowered his voice and explained, “It’s understandable since you’re not interested in fights. The Purple Abode Academic Palace has always been in a long-standing struggle with the Yinsha Sect. Over the long years of battle, we have researched and developed spiritual treasures specifically designed to deal with the Yinsha Sect.”

“This ‘Six-Pole Sun Flame Pearl’, is a top-quality spiritual treasure specifically for dealing with the Yinsha Sect. Unfortunately, the refining process is extremely difficult and the supply is limited. Even within the Purple Abode Academic Palace, only direct disciples are eligible to exchange for it.”

Lady Ji’s delicate brows twitched slightly. She sized up Huangfu Jinghuan again, with a hint of confusion and incomprehension in her mesmerizing eyes, “What would Master Jinghuan need the ‘Six-Pole Sun Flame Pearl’ for? Are you planning on dealing with someone from the Yinsha Sect?”

“There’s something Lady Ji may not know.” Huangfu Jinghuan shook his head gravely, “In the past, a branch of our family colluded with the Yinsha Sect, pained and frustrated as we were, it also causes much risks for the Huangfu Clan. I received news that a Yinsha Sect expert is planning on taking revenge on my Huangfu Clan. As our old ancestor’s injuries have not healed, I could only seek to acquire a spiritual treasure specifically targeting them to provide some protection for the family.”

“This spiritual treasure is single-use and priced at about 200,000 Qian Gold within the Purple Abode Academic Palace. If Lady Ji is willing to use her connections to get it, we of the Huangfu Clan are willing to pay 300,000 Qian Gold to acquire it.”

“A difference of 100,000…” Lady Ji narrowed her eyes, “Since Master Jinhuan needs it for self-defense, I’ll give it a try. But I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to get it.”

“As long as Lady Ji is willing to help, that’s enough.” Huangfu Jinghuan stood and bowed, “In that case, I will not disturb you any further and take my leave.”

After a series of farewells, Huangfu Jinghuan hurriedly left the premises with his people.

He still needed to visit other in-law families. The Purple Abode Academic Palace has a very strict control over the ‘Six-Pole Sun Flame Pearl’. Even though he did not completely trust Lady Ji’s ability to get it, he thought it safer to try and prepare from multiple sources.

After the departure, Lady Ji’s gaze gradually became elusive.

Truly worthy of a long-term strategy by the Family Head, all aimed to bait this fish. After years of tireless efforts and enormous investments, some results were finally in sight.

With this merit, the Family Head will surely reward me, right?

Heeheehee~

Thinking of the fun and satisfying part, Lady Ji couldn’t help releasing a series of seductive and sinister chuckles.

…