People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 119, Xu Qing: Actually, what I'm best at is (Seeking monthly votes! Seeking subscriptions!)
"A gift that will bring Zilanxuan's business to new heights and satisfy Miss Zinu."

Xu Qing put down his wine glass and looked at Zi Nu with a meaningful smile.

Zi Nu looked into Xu Qing's deep, smiling eyes, and her curiosity was piqued by him, so she withdrew her hand.

"What gift? I didn't see the Imperial Physician carrying anything?" Zi Nu asked.

Xu Qing pointed to himself, then to Zi Nu, and smiled without saying a word.

"Are you offering yourself to me as a gift? If word gets out, aren't you afraid the King will shut down Zilan Pavilion?" Zi Nu said.

Looking at Zi Nu, who was feigning ignorance, Xu Qing shook his head slightly and said...

“Miss Zi Nu, I have come with sincerity, why pretend to be confused with me?”

The smile on Zi Nu's face disappeared, replaced by solemnity. She understood the meaning behind Xu Qing's words.

Xu Qing's gift was himself, or perhaps his influence. Just as she had previously used Xu Qing's influence to shroud Zi Lan Xuan in even more mystery.

However, Xu Qing's initiative in pointing this out made her take the matter more seriously.

"I truly don't understand what you mean, Imperial Physician," Zi Nu said in a deep voice.

"Then let me be more explicit. I want to cooperate with Zilanxuan. I want to use my reputation and influence to help Zilanxuan expand its influence and also provide protection for Zilanxuan."

"Isn't this what caused the rumors that spread about me earlier? But you should know that when outsiders spread rumors, they will only worry, not be afraid, until they are proven true."

"And I can cooperate with you to actively help Zilanxuan confirm the rumors and make Zilanxuan a true gathering place for all parties."

Xu Qing's smile was replaced by seriousness. This was not the time for pleasure; he had to be cautious when dealing with a woman as skilled as Zi Nu.

Zi Nu gave Xu Qing a deep look; she was somewhat tempted by the suggestion.

On the surface, Zilanxuan is a brothel, but in reality, it is an organization she uses to gather intelligence from all sides.

If Xu Qing is willing to help Zi Lan Xuan, not only will powerful officials from the imperial court gather there, but various martial arts factions will also come to Zi Lan Xuan because of Xu Qing's reputation as a divine physician.

At that time, Zilan Pavilion will become a true gathering place for all parties and a place for the exchange of interests. It will not only bring huge benefits to Zilan Pavilion, but also make it easier for Zilan Pavilion to collect more useful information.

She could even use her ambiguous relationship with Xu Qing to attract people from all sides who wanted Xu Qing's help, thereby reaping huge profits.

But Zi Nu didn't believe that Xu Qing would offer such a gift just for an apology; the other party must have his own motives.

"What the Imperial Physician said does indeed appeal to me, but what do you need? When you are about to ask something of someone, you should first ask for it. This is the essence of courtesy. Zi Nu understands this principle."

Zi Nu poured Xu Qing another glass of wine and said.

"My purpose is simple: I need Zilanxuan to help me gather intelligence on the secrets of powerful and influential officials in Xinzheng and to help me make connections with them," Xu Qing said.

If you're looking for the best place in Xinzheng to gather insider information, look no further than Zilanxuan. Amidst wine and women, few can remain sober.

He needs to use this intelligence to cultivate his own power base and create his own official records.

Moreover, he needed an ally in Xinzheng who could be openly acknowledged, and Zilanxuan, whom he knew well, was the most suitable candidate.

As long as a cooperation is reached, at least Zi Nu and Wei Zhuang are trustworthy people.

"It seems the Imperial Physician has grand ambitions," Zi Nu murmured with a sigh.

She already guessed what Xu Qing was planning: to turn Zilan Pavilion into a place for shady dealings in the imperial court, using the guise of a brothel to cultivate his own interest group.

Xu Qing's goal is, to some extent, the same as her vision for Zilanxuan.

"Would Miss Zi Nu be willing to cooperate with me?" Xu Qing asked, raising his wine cup to Zi Nu's face.

"Since the Imperial Physician has taken a liking to Zilan Pavilion, then I am naturally more than happy to oblige."

Zi Nu poured herself a glass of wine and raised it to clink with Xu Qing's.

The two looked at each other and smiled, then drank the orchid wine in their cups.

This collaboration is beneficial to both parties. Zi Nu needs Xu Qing's reputation to enhance the fame of Zi Lan Xuan, and at the same time, she can obtain a lot of useful information from Xu Qing's transactions with various people.

Xu Qing needed the Zilan Pavilion as a cover and intermediary to gather information on officials' secrets and facilitate connections.

Helping Zilanxuan increase its popularity will attract more people, and will also help him find more targets and gather more intelligence.

This collaboration is a win-win situation, and Zi Nu has no reason to refuse.

"The Imperial Physician is indeed a remarkable person. Not only is he outstanding in appearance and has an extraordinary temperament, but he also possesses superb medical skills and has considerable expertise in managing the court. I admire him greatly."

Zi Nu leaned closer to Xu Qing and said with a smile
"Even if you bring me great surprises in the future, I will probably take it for granted."

Zi Nu looked at Xu Qing with deep affection in her beautiful eyes, her curiosity about this handsome imperial physician growing stronger.

In her eyes, Xu Qing was like a treasure shrouded in countless mysteries. Until the fog was dispelled and the treasure chest was opened, you would never know what secrets it held. It was precisely this mystery and uncertainty that made people want to understand Xu Qing more deeply, dispel the fog, and glimpse the truth behind the treasure.

Having successfully achieved her purpose at Zilanxuan today, Xu Qing felt much better.

Looking at Zi Nu's pretty face, Xu Qing joked...

"Actually, these are just minor tricks. My real expertise is not in medicine."

"Oh? What is that? Could it be the legendary alchemy technique?" Zi Nu asked curiously.

"They are not very different, but it is not the art of alchemy."

Xu Qing's inscrutable expression only fueled Zi Nu's curiosity.

Although she agreed to cooperate with Xu Qing, Xu Qing's complicated identity still made her somewhat uneasy.

She might be able to glean a glimpse into Xu Qing's true identity from the methods Xu Qing is most adept at.

"Then I wonder if I will have the honor of witnessing the Imperial Physician's true skills?" Zi Nu leaned close to Xu Qing and whispered in his ear.

Zi Nu's lightly made-up face was slightly flushed, and her narrow, beautiful eyes held a hint of expectation and admiration. The mysterious patterns under her eyes were slightly unfolded, making her even more charming and alluring.

Feeling the firm and soft sensation from her arm, Xu Qing first looked troubled, then closed her eyes slightly, as if she had made up her mind.

“I promised my mentor that I would never reveal this ability to outsiders in my life, but Miss Zi Nu is not an outsider, so there is nothing wrong with telling you,” Xu Qing said in a deep voice.

Xu Qing's words were as sweet as honey, making Zi Nu feel very comfortable, and a light smile appeared on her face.

Although she knew that Xu Qing's words were not to be trusted, who doesn't like to hear nice things?

People only have varying degrees of resistance to sweet talk, not a genuine aversion to it.

"Really? I didn't expect to hold such a high position in the Imperial Physician's heart. I wonder what your methods are?" Zi Nu asked softly.

"Actually, what I'm best at is predicting good or bad fortune through palmistry," Xu Qing whispered in Zi Nu's ear.

Upon hearing this, Zi Nu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and she turned to look at Xu Qing in surprise.

She had long suspected that Xu Qing was related to Taoism, and might even be a person planted in Korea by the Taoist Tianzong sect, but she had always lacked evidence.

Xu Qing now claims to be skilled at predicting good and bad fortune, which is indeed a technique unique to the Taoist Tianzong sect.

However, she couldn't just believe Xu Qing's one-sided story; she had to verify its truth.

As for the other expert, Fang Jijia, who was skilled in palmistry, Zi Nu ignored him completely. She didn't think someone like Xu Qing would be a charlatan like Fang Jijia.

"Really? The Imperial Physician actually possesses such skills? I wonder if I might have the honor of having you take a look at me?" Zi Nu asked.

"My teacher once told me that prying into the secrets of heaven would bring divine retribution, so he forbade me from telling fortunes for others indiscriminately," Xu Qing said with a troubled expression.
"But Miss Zi Nu is not an outsider, so I will take a look at it for you today. As for whether it is true or not, I hope you will not mind."

(At the same time, He Guanzi, who was writing on bamboo slips, suddenly sneezed, and inexplicably felt that someone was talking about him behind his back.)
"it is good."

Zi Nu stretched out her fair, jade-like hands in front of Xu Qing. Xu Qing took Zi Nu's fingers with one hand and held her palm with the other.

Holding Zi Nu's fair and jade-like small hand, the soft and smooth touch exploded in Xu Qing's hands, making him stroke it a couple more times.

Palm reading? What a load of rubbish! Even He Guanzi couldn't do that, let alone him. He just wanted to take advantage of the situation.

Zi Nu was unaware of Xu Qing's unusual behavior and was looking forward to him reading her palm.

Xu Qing released Zi Nu's hand with his right hand, placed his index finger on her palm, and gently slid it along the lines of her palm. His expression was serious, and his lips moved slightly as he silently muttered something.

Feeling the tingling sensation in her palm and the warmth from Xu Qing's hand, Zi Nu's arm trembled slightly, and a different feeling welled up in her heart.

This familiar touch reminded her of the first time Xu Qing came to Zilan Pavilion. Back then, Xu Qing's hand wasn't holding hers, but...
Zi Nu glanced at her ample breasts out of the corner of her eye, and a blush instantly rose to her cheeks.

"what are you thinking about?"

Zi Nu cursed inwardly, then calmed herself down.

"Miss Zi Nu, what would you like to ask? Life, love, or career?" Xu Qing asked.

"I wonder what the Imperial Physician can discern?" Zi Nu asked in return.

“I can see something from all three. Judging from Zi Nu’s palm, her life in the first half seems to be mostly unsuccessful, but she will have benefactors in her life.”

"Not only did they avoid many dangers, but they also gained a great deal."

As Zi Nu listened to Xu Qing's speculations about her past life, a hint of astonishment flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Godfathers, I've already posted two chapters this morning, and there's one more to post this afternoon. My computer broke down earlier, and I lost some of your manuscripts. I've been working on it these past two days and thought I had it all back up, but I didn't expect that one chapter was still missing here.

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(End of this chapter)