Ji Yunxi couldn't quite put her finger on what kind of feelings she had for Feng Xingzhi.
When she saw him in pain,
her heart would clench.
It was true that she and Feng Xingzhi hadn't had much interaction before the marriage negotiation, yet she liked him as if it was predestined.
His face was pale, but his smile was so bright.
Ji Yunxi only felt heartache. In her memory, the man who looked just like Feng Xingzhi was high - spirited and physically strong.
But the man before her now
was frail and plagued by illness.
Was Feng Xingzhi really the man in her memory? If so, why had he become like this?
Ji Yunxi was becoming more and more eager to figure out those extra memories in her mind.
"By the way, I'd like to go to Xirong before our wedding." Ji Yunxi looked at Feng Xingzhi seriously.
Afraid that he might misunderstand her as not wanting to marry him, she then explained, "I'm going to Xirong because..."
"It's okay. If Xi Xi wants to go, how about I go with you?"
Ji Yunxi was stunned.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I want to go to Xirong?"
The man lowered his eyebrows and smiled faintly. "Xi Xi must have her own reasons for going to Xirong. I've said that no matter what you do, I'll stand by your side."
Ji Yunxi didn't know what to say. Feng Xingzhi's unconditional trust made her feel even more fond of him.
After seeing Feng Xingzhi off, Ji Yunxi went to find her father and brothers and told them about her plan to go to Xirong.
Ji Qilin knew that his daughter always had her own ideas. She must have something important to do in Xirong, so he didn't object.
"Yunxi is going to Xirong. I'll go with you, second sister." Ji Yunyi immediately jumped out, looking excited.
Ji Yunxi didn't want to trouble her second brother and was just about to decline.
Then her eldest brother spoke up. "That's good. I'm too busy to go recently. Let Yunyi accompany you. That way we'll feel more at ease."
"Since second brother and sister are both going, I want to go too. I've never been to Xirong. Second brother and sister surely won't mind having one more person, right?"
Ji Yuyan quickly stood up
and also planned to go to Xirong with Ji Yunxi and the others.
Ji Yunxi was just about to decline, but then she thought something was wrong.
Ji Yuyan had been pampered since childhood and was a delicate young lady who rarely left home. Xirong was filled with yellow sand everywhere, and the desert climate was extremely harsh. The people of Nanyan all knew it was a difficult place to live. Why would Ji Yuyan, who could enjoy the comfortable life of a prime minister's daughter, insist on going to Xirong with them?
Well then.
Let her go. Ji Yunxi wanted to see what Ji Yuyan was up to.
If she could catch Ji Yuyan's serious mistake then, she could rightfully kick Ji Yuyan out of the Ji family.
"I don't mind. Then sister, go and pack quickly. We'll set off in two days."
Ji Yuyan happily left with her maid.
Two days later.
A spacious carriage set off from the Prime Minister's Mansion.
To avoid being noticed, the four of them rode in the same carriage.
Along the way,
Feng Xingzhi took great care of Ji Yunxi. Although he was in poor health, whenever someone passed by with something, Feng Xingzhi would always gently step aside and protect Ji Yunxi behind him.
When the attendant bought some food, the first portion after opening was always given to Ji Yunxi.
He didn't like to talk, but every time Ji Yunxi spoke to him, he would beam with joy and look at her tenderly with a smile.
During the journey,
they spent day and night together.
Ji Yuyan saw Feng Xingzhi every day. Facing his otherworldly, handsome and cold appearance, she would always be mesmerized and reluctant to look away.
As time went by,
seeing Feng Xingzhi caring more and more about Ji Yunxi, Ji Yuyan became even more jealous and regretful, thinking that all that tenderness should have been hers.
She regretted not withdrawing the engagement before. Although Feng Xingzhi was in poor health, his appearance was truly unparalleled, much better than General Su.
After Ji Yunxi noticed that Ji Yuyan's look at Feng Xingzhi was different, to annoy Ji Yuyan and also out of her true feelings, she responded to Feng Xingzhi more warmly.
Feng Xingzhi understood what was going on. Seeing Ji Yunxi happy, he was also willing to cooperate with her.
"Your Highness, we're almost at the border of Nanyan. We'll rest in a small town near Qixing Pass before setting off again."
"Okay, I'll follow second brother's arrangement."
This call of "second brother" made Ji Yunyi very happy. He nodded, and his recognition of this brother - in - law deepened a bit.
When getting off the carriage,
Feng Xingzhi and Ji Yunyi got off first. Then Feng Xingzhi naturally and skillfully turned around and reached out his hand to Ji Yunxi in the carriage.
"Xi Xi, let me help you."
Seeing this, Ji Yuyan quickly supported her head and got out, pretending to be unwell. She said coquettishly, "Brother Xingzhi, can you help me too? I'm a bit uncomfortable."
Feng Xingzhi's smile froze.
Ji Yunxi twitched at the corner of her eye.
It took a lot of nerve for Ji Yuyan to call him "Brother Xingzhi". As a noble prince, few people dared to address him like this.
Seeing this, Ji Yunyi walked towards Ji Yuyan with a gloomy face.
"Come on, let Brother Yunyi help you."
Feng Xingzhi gave Ji Yunyi a grateful look and then helped Ji Yunxi get off the carriage.
After getting off the carriage,
because Feng Xingzhi was in poor health, Ji Yunxi asked him to wait in place while she went to fetch water from the stream.
But as soon as Ji Yunxi left, Ji Yuyan immediately moved towards Feng Xingzhi.
"Brother Xingzhi, it's cold and the late - spring cold is most harmful to the body. Are you cold?"
After saying that, she even stretched out her hand.
"Let me warm your hands, Brother Xingzhi."
The disgust on Feng Xingzhi's face was very obvious. He quickly stepped aside as if avoiding something extremely dirty.
"I'll go and see if Xi Xi has fetched the water."
After saying that, Feng Xingzhi quickly walked away.
Watching Feng Xingzhi's back, Ji Yuyan stamped her foot angrily.
She really didn't understand what was wrong with her. Even a sickly person like Feng Xingzhi whole - heartedly favored Ji Yunxi.
"Ji Yuyan, you're really bold." A cold snort came from behind.
Ji Yuyan turned around and saw Ji Yunyi staring at her intently. His look was intimidating.
"Second brother, I, I didn't do anything..."
Ji Yunyi walked towards Ji Yuyan coldly and sneered. "Do you think I can't see what you're up to? Ji Yuyan, I'm warning you. I'm not as easy - going as Yunxi. If you dare to act recklessly and scheme against my sister again, you can go back alone."
"Second brother, I'm your sister too!"
Ji Yunyi sneered disdainfully.
"I, Ji Yunyi, only have Yunxi as my sister."
Just then, Ji Yunxi came back with the water and happened to see the tense scene between her second brother and Ji Yuyan.
Feng Xingzhi silently hid behind Ji Yunxi.
"Sister, you're back." Seeing this, Ji Yuyan quickly shifted her attention. At home, she was most afraid of Ji Yunyi. Being stared at by him made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Ji Yunxi glanced at Ji Yuyan but didn't say a word.
She disdained to talk to her and didn't have the time to play the good - sister act with her.