Feng Xingzhi stood at the door in a white robe.
He was naturally fair - skinned, and now dressed in white, he looked like an otherworldly immortal, aloof from the mundane world.
Ji Yunxi was a bit dazed and felt flustered deep down. She reached out and grabbed the sleeve of Feng Xingzhi's robe, as if afraid that he would drift away.
Feng Xingzhi noticed the sorrow in Ji Yunxi's eyes and was quite surprised. "Xixi? Why are you so sad?"
Ji Yunxi couldn't put it into words. She just shook her head.
Looking sideways slightly, Ji Yunxi saw Feng Xingzhi's maid holding a tray filled with all the dishes she loved.
"Your Highness, is that the crystal dumpling?!"
Ji Yunxi was overjoyed. In her previous life, the crystal dumpling was her favorite dish. However, it was difficult to make, so even as the legitimate daughter of the prime minister's mansion, she couldn't have it often.
After being reborn, Ji Yunxi hadn't tasted it even once.
As if he had long anticipated that Ji Yunxi would like it, Feng Xingzhi smiled. "Yes. My maid happens to know how to make it, so I brought it for you to try."
Ji Yunxi looked at the demure maid behind him in surprise.
"Your Highness..."
"From now on, you'll be the princess of these people. You don't have to call me Your Highness."
Ji Yunxi's face blushed instantly. She felt rather embarrassed, much to the maid's amusement. "Azhi."
Only when the dishes were served on the table did Ji Yunxi realize that the crystal dumpling was just the most insignificant one among them.
There were lion's head meatballs, gingko nuts cooked in a special way, carp - shaped dish, shrimps with jade - belt - like vegetables, deep - fried bean sprouts, and stir - fried shark's fin...
Ji Yunxi stared at them intently, not willing to take her eyes off.
Feng Xingzhi remembered how she would wrinkle her nose when she smelled delicious food. It seemed that his attempt to please her had hit the mark.
"Azhi, where did you find so many chefs? This stir - fried shark's fin is not easy to make." Ji Yunxi's eyes sparkled as she looked at Feng Xingzhi seriously.
He felt a flutter in his heart under her gaze. "Cough, as long as you like it. You've been ill these days, and your taste has been dull. I thought I'd let you eat something good to nourish yourself."
"Xixi, don't worry about the Seven - Leaf Divination Star Fruit. The Dream - Blossom Pavilion will put out a collection in two days. According to my spy, the trading rules of the Dream - Blossom Pavilion are quite complicated. It is said that the buyers will go to a room alone to bid with the steward of the Dream - Blossom Pavilion, and the highest bidder will get it."
Ji Yunxi nodded slightly. "In this way, we won't know the bids of others."
Feng Xingzhi picked up a crystal dumpling and put it in Ji Yunxi's bowl. "It doesn't matter. The bidding will last for a day. And there are still two days left. I've sent people out with my second brother to find out the price. This Seven - Leaf Divination Star Fruit will surely be yours."
Ji Yunxi thought to herself that Feng Xingzhi must have cast some spell on her. Otherwise, why would she be willing to believe whatever he said?
It seemed that not only was one distracted by female beauty, but male beauty could also have the same effect!
Thinking like this, Ji Yunxi couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Feng Xingzhi was stunned by her laughter. He didn't know what he had done wrong and subconsciously touched his face.
"It's all your fault, Azhi. You're as handsome as a jade - crowned gentleman and as charming as He Yan. How can you blame me for peeping at you like a lovesick girl?"
Feng Xingzhi's hand froze on his face. A blush gradually crept up his face, starting from his ears and then spreading across his whole face.
The maid had already covered her face and snickered. Ji Yunxi, however, raised her eyebrows, looking as if to say "What can you do about it?"
Feng Xingzhi coughed lightly twice and didn't respond. Instead, he just picked up some dishes for Ji Yunxi, hoping to shut her sharp - tongued mouth.
The border city of Xirong had frequent exchanges with Nanyan. The streets were noisy with people.
As the sun was setting in the west, Ji Yunxi reached out and grabbed a corner of Feng Xingzhi's robe. They walked one in front of the other.
Finally, they found the place that Ji Yunyi had mentioned. Ji Yunxi complained a bit and muttered, "The Cangyue Teahouse... Second brother really knows how to pick a place. It's really hard to find with so many people coming and going."
When they opened the door, Ji Yunyi was sitting inside. "Yunxi, I heard all your complaints."
"So what if you heard? Second brother, you could have just told me in the inn. Why did you have to come out?"
Ji Yunyi poured a cup of tea for his sister. "You've been sleeping in the inn for several days. I just wanted you to come out for a walk."
Ji Yunxi shook her head helplessly. "Second brother, although I was poisoned, don't worry. I'm really fine."
Ji Yunyi looked up, but he didn't think so in his heart.
Their mother had passed away early. Ji Yunyi had devoted a great deal of care to his sister. He had protected her in the palm of his hand since childhood. But now his sister was poisoned by an unknown toxin. When the headache attacked, she would faint at least. How could he not be worried?
He had thought a lot these days. Ji Yunxi had never left home since childhood. If she was poisoned, it must have happened at home. Then he was even more to blame...
Just as Ji Yunyi was blaming himself, suddenly there was a knock on the door.
A man wearing a patterned mask walked in. He knelt on one knee beside Feng Xingzhi and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness."
Feng Xingzhi remained calm. "Get up and report."
Ji Yunxi and Ji Yunyi glanced at each other. They could both feel the pressure the man brought. This man actually had extremely high cultivation. There was admiration for Feng Xingzhi in both of their eyes.
It was well - known in the entire capital that Feng Xingzhi was a useless prince. No one had expected that he had such a high - level expert under his command.
The man reported, "Your Highness, your subordinate has found out that a high - ranking official in Xirong is willing to offer 300,000 taels of gold. He seems determined to get it."
Feng Xingzhi was still calm. "Do you know who it is?"
"No, but besides the gold, they are also willing to exempt the Dream - Blossom Pavilion branch in Xirong from taxes for twenty years."
Hearing this, Ji Yunxi gasped. She, Ji Yunxi, could afford the 300,000 taels of gold, but the tax exemption was no ordinary thing.
If it was a tax exemption for twenty years, it would be far more valuable than 300,000 taels of gold.
"Could it be the royal family of Xirong that can offer tax exemption?" Ji Yunyi said. "This is not good news."
Ji Yunxi naturally knew this too. For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became solemn.
Feng Xingzhi waved his hand. "Go and investigate further to find out who it is."
The man clasped his fists, responded, and then turned around and disappeared into the crowd downstairs.
"What should we do?" Ji Yunyi was a bit anxious. He couldn't sit still and seemed rather flustered.
"Second brother, don't be anxious. I have a way to solve this."
Ji Yunxi looked into Feng Xingzhi's eyes and had doubts in her heart. "Can he really solve it?"
But there was not a trace of hesitation in Feng Xingzhi's eyes. Ji Yunxi's wavering heart gradually settled down.
Yes, Feng Xingzhi had even brought his spy out openly for her to see. What else was there for her not to believe?
With a soft smile, Ji Yunxi nodded slightly. "Yes, I naturally trust Azhi."
Feng Xingzhi was satisfied. He immediately called a waiter. "Pork tenderloin in a purse and cherry - flavored pork."
Ji Yunxi was stunned again. These were all her favorite dishes. Feng Xingzhi seemed to know her preferences better than she did.
Ji Yunyi was different from Ji Yunxi. He didn't trust Feng Xingzhi.
Even after seeing his spy, Ji Yunyi still didn't believe him.
As a noble in the capital, he knew this prince much better than his sister who had been staying in the backyard.
It seemed that he still had to rely on himself.