Chapter 604: Chapter 210 Summoning Peach Blossoms

The next day dawned.

Lu Tong arose early in the morning to wash and change, donning a narrow-sleeved cotton skirt the color of lotus root. She sat before the table to comb her hair.

In the wooden box at the corner of the table lay various silk flowers. She had no other jewelry except for the hibiscus flower hairpin from her sister; that was everything she owned.

However, today in the box, there was an additional peony pattern wooden comb.

The wood-carved comb, a prize won from the "Lanye game of skill," was much more delicate than the ones she typically used. It wasn’t convenient for combing but was perfectly suitable when inserted amongst her hair.

Lu Tong’s gaze fell upon the comb in the box, and after a long while, she reached out and picked it up.

The woman in the mirror, her face unadorned with makeup, looked back at her indecisively.

She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she inserted the comb into her hair bun.

...

"Clack——"

The porcelain teapot in the room was smashed to pieces.

Qi Yutai had just reached the doorway when the guards stopped him.

"Young Master, the Master has ordered that you are not to leave the house for the next few days."

Qi Yutai swung his hand in a slap, "What are you to stop me, the Young Master!"

The guard dared not speak, but he did not move from the doorway.

Qi Yutai’s face showed his irritation.

For several days, he had been confined to his room and was not allowed to leave.

To him, this was more excruciating than being imprisoned.

The longer he stayed at home, the stronger his addiction grew. A fire seemed to be blocked in his heart, unable to be soothed. He wished he could immediately burst out of the room and consume a packet of Cold Food Powder to settle down.

Nowadays, Cold Food Powder was hard to find in the capital. A few days ago, however, he learned from Lu Tong’s words about an alternative to Cold Food Powder. Qi Yutai was skeptical; he originally wanted to send someone to try out the recipe according to Lu Tong’s instructions. But now, his father’s spies were everywhere, so he could not deploy his father’s men.

He wanted to leave in person, but for some reason, the supervision in the mansion had become stricter in recent days, and now he couldn’t even step out of the courtyard.

Qi Yutai felt like his heart was being clawed at.

At the corner of the desk, the Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance burned quietly. Its rich and thick scent, which normally had a calming effect, only made him more agitated. Qi Yutai grabbed the incense burner and hurled it toward the doorway, where it landed with a "thud," spilling ash all around.

A foot stopped in front of the incense burner.

Qi Yutai stood at the doorway, his gaze sweeping across the mess on the floor as he spoke calmly.

"What are you doing?"

Qi Yutai was startled, "Father?"

Qi Qing had arrived.

Qi Qing stepped forward, circumventing the shattered porcelain and spilled ashes on the floor, and stood at the entrance to the room, "What’s this commotion?"

With a tone so even, Qi Yutai shuddered.

But soon, his irritation outweighed his fear. He said, "Father, I want to go out."

"No."

"Why not?" Qi Yutai tried to explain, "Father, look, I’ve been good these days, haven’t caused any trouble... It has been a while since I went out, I just want to take a casual stroll, nothing more."

"The palace ritual is approaching, and you’re not fully recovered. It is best to recuperate quietly in the mansion..."

"I’m not sick at all!"

Suddenly, Qi Yutai cut him off.

Qi Qing paused.

Qi Yutai ruffled his hair, clearly agitated.

"I’m not sick," he repeated, "Lu Tong and Cui Min both said so. It’s just a cold invading my body, a temporary shock. Why don’t you ever believe that?"

Lu Tong and Cui Min had indeed told him that he was only temporarily startled and not truly mad.

Qi Qing looked at him, his tone still leaving no room for doubt, "No."

No, no, no, that was what his father most frequently said to him.

As the scent from the Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance grew stronger from being scattered on the ground, Qi Yutai felt rage filling his chest.

"Your injuries are not entirely healed; movement should be avoided to prevent further shocks."

"Stop making excuses!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Qi Yutai shouted, "You claim to be thinking of my welfare with every word, but your refusal to let me leave is not out of concern for my health. You’re worried I’ll have an episode on the way and shame the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion. You’re afraid I’ll become the blemish of the family and would rather hide me away!"

The room fell into a deathly silence.

The guards and maidservants stood with their heads lowered at the door, not daring to look this way.

Qi Qing still looked at him calmly, his grey eyes devoid of any emotion—cold, disappointed, indifferent.

A sense of resentment suddenly welled up in Qi Yutai.

It was always like this.

His father was always like this.

No matter what he said or did, no matter how much trouble he caused, his father would never get angry or shout. He would only calmly give out accusations and then watch him with those disappointed eyes.

As though all of his actions, no matter what, could never stir any emotion in the other person, as if he were nothing but a dispensable fixture.

Yet his father was never like this with Qi Huaying.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read