"No need to be nervous; it's just a casual chat." The Wen family head noticed Xia Qingtian's discomfort and smiled faintly, saying, "How much do you know about Xiang Xueyuan?"
"Probably not as much as the Wen family," Xia Qingtian replied. "I've only met him a few times."
The Wen family head didn't respond, merely observing Xia Qingtian with his gaze, as if trying to see the hidden side she wished to conceal beneath her exposed facade.
"Clan Head Wen, may I ask you a few questions?" Xia Qingtian knew that continuing like this would only waste time, and the Wen family head didn't seem to trust her much.
She wasn't aiming to gain the Wen family head's favor, nor did she intend to curry favor with the Wen family.
It would be better to try and get what she needed first.
"You may ask," the Wen family head seemed to take some interest in Xia Qingtian's attitude.
"Is the Wen family interested in that treasure?" Xia Qingtian inquired. "Will the Wen family participate in the Lei family's auction this time?"
"The Wen family is not interested in the treasure, and we weren't planning to attend the auction. However..." the Wen family head looked at Xia Qingtian and said, "if what you told my eldest son before is true, then the Wen family has no choice but to participate."
"But the Wen family has always kept itself out of the disputes among the noble families. If the Wen family participates in the Lei family's auction under its own name, it might make some families wary, especially since the Wen family possesses something that other families do not," Xia Qingtian gazed into the Wen family head's eyes.
She was still a bit nervous, but Xia Qingtian knew that no matter what, she had to take control of the conversation now.
Though she didn't know why, she could feel the Wen family head guarding against her, testing her, as if trying to ascertain something.
Xia Qingtian didn't think she had anything worth the Wen family head's scrutiny.
If it was because of Xiang Xueyuan, it was really unnecessary.
After all, she wasn't that familiar with Xiang Xueyuan; they even had a bit of animosity.
"Continue," the Wen family head's eyelids twitched.
Everyone knew that the Wen family held military power, making them the most feared existence among all the noble families, yet very few dared to speak so openly in front of him.
"I will definitely attend the Lei family's auction. You want to guard against Xiang Xueyuan, and I want to ensure my friend's safety. How about we cooperate?" Xia Qingtian looked at the Wen family head, her large eyes blinking, unable to help but think how audacious she was. Daring to propose cooperation with the God of War.
"You want to protect Tang Jiamingzhu." The Wen family head looked at Xia Qingtian, a smile playing on his lips, and said casually, "Being able to win over the Miao and Tang families, two opposing clans, to your service, you indeed have some ability. No wonder even that troublesome Wen Jiu praises you highly."
The tone was too casual, not matching the solemn aura of the battle-hardened Wen family head. Xia Qingtian couldn't quite tell if the Wen family head was praising her or flattering her.
"This treasure was jointly buried by the Lu, Miao, and Tang families. The money's origin is not clean. Originally, these three families didn't do anything clean in the past. The Miao family excels at蛊 (gu, witchcraft), originating from Miao territory, and the Tang family excels at poison, having committed their fair share of robberies and murders. The Lu family is relatively better, skilled in weapon manufacturing and trap construction, barely a craftsman family. But during every war, the contraptions devised by the Lu family were responsible for the most deaths."
The Wen family head didn't pay attention to Xia Qingtian's reaction and continued, "These three families were originally quite harmonious. Although the Miao and Tang families looked down on each other, the Lu family acted as a mediator, preventing things from getting too ugly.
Later, the Lu family was inexplicably wiped out, and the Miao and Tang families completely fell out due to mutual suspicion. These things are not secrets, and you probably know some of them, right?"
The Wen family head looked at Xia Qingtian and, seeing her nod, withdrew his gaze, shifting his attention to an exquisitely crafted small ornament on the table. "It is said that this treasure can only be opened by descendants of the Lu, Miao, and Tang families carrying their family tokens. Now that the Lu family is annihilated with no survivors, it is feared that no one can open this treasure anymore. A pity..."
After saying this, the Wen family head looked up at Xia Qingtian again, as if waiting for a reaction. After several seconds of not seeing what he expected on Xia Qingtian's face, he looked away again.
Just as he was about to probe further, he heard a knock on the door: "Clan Head, Mr. Gu is here to visit."
Upon hearing this title, Xia Qingtian immediately looked back, her eyes lighting up.
Gu Yaoyang had arrived?
"Let him come in," the Wen family head glanced at Xia Qingtian before clearing his throat and saying, "You never have any news, yet today you have the leisure to come and join the fun here."
Xia Qingtian's gaze flickered, and she didn't respond. Only after Gu Yaoyang arrived did she curve her lips into a faint smile.
Gu Yaoyang smiled at Xia Qingtian as well before greeting the Wen family head.
Witnessing the sweet interaction between the two youngsters, the Wen family head merely chuckled and said, "Why do you have time to visit today? Did someone ask you to come for support?"
Hearing the Wen family head's implied meaning, Xia Qingtian inwardly cried out, "Unjustly accused!"
She hadn't even told Gu Yaoyang she was in the capital, so how could she have asked him for support?
"Wen Ning told me that your old habit from your younger days had flared up, and you've been eating less these past few days. I was fortunate enough to obtain two excellent ginseng roots and brought them specifically for you," Gu Yaoyang walked to Xia Qingtian's side and said to the Wen family head, "I've already given them to the butler. The weather is unpredictable these days; you still need to take care."
"You're thoughtful," the Wen family head's expression improved slightly. "Your young girlfriend knows quite a lot, and her ambitions... are not small either."
"Heh, thank you for the compliment, Clan Head Wen. My taste has always been good," Gu Yaoyang smiled faintly and placed his hand on Xia Qingtian's shoulder.
Feeling the cool, broad hand on her shoulder, Xia Qingtian's heart immediately felt much more stable and secure.
"Fine, I'm too lazy to meddle in the affairs of you young people," the Wen family head said. "Make sure you go back home more often when you have time. The Gu family hasn't been very peaceful lately."
"I will when I have time," Gu Yaoyang's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes turned a bit colder.
The Gu family, he would never return to.
"It's been a long time since we played chess. Let's have a game." The Wen family head seemed to want to speak with Gu Yaoyang alone and opened a nearby drawer, preparing to take out a chessboard.
Xia Qingtian understood the Wen family head's intention and was about to find an excuse to give them some alone time when she felt the hand on her shoulder press down, stopping her from getting up.
"Tomorrow," Gu Yaoyang said. "I came in a hurry today and still have some matters to attend to. I'll visit you again tomorrow with Qingtian."