"You little rascal, is it so hard to give your brother a break?"
The chief eunuch was dozing off outside the palace hall. It was already the Hour of the Boar, and the moon had long hung on the treetops.
Feng Xingzhi glanced at Feng Jiangming and casually blocked his last way out on the chessboard.
"Fine, fine! I can't play with you!"
Feng Xingzhi found it quite amusing to see his elder brother acting like a spoilt child. His elder brother, the Emperor of Southern Yan, who usually dominated the court, was now completely cornered by his younger brother in a game of chess.
"I've issued an imperial edict to let Ji Yuchen inherit his father's position. In the future, Ji Yunxi will still be the most noble lady in the Prime Minister's Mansion. Are you satisfied with this?"
There was an obvious teasing look in Feng Jiangming's eyes.
Feng Xingzhi was quite straightforward. He immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Feng Jiangming. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After the bow, Feng Xingzhi sat back down without the slightest bit of courtesy.
This kind of behavior was unique to Feng Xingzhi. Feng Jiangming was so amused that he laughed. "You're only polite to me when it comes to Ji Yunxi."
Feng Xingzhi simply ignored his elder brother's complaint and quietly arranged the chess pieces.
"Hehe! I really don't know who the emperor is anymore." There was no dissatisfaction in Feng Jiangming's words. "You never show any respect to your elder brother on normal days!"
Feng Xingzhi picked up the tea beside him and filled Feng Jiangming's cup. "I've always respected you, brother. Have some tea."
Feng Jiangming shook his head helplessly and changed the topic. "So what are you going to do now? If you can't wait any longer, you can just marry her."
Feng Xingzhi's eyes gradually darkened. It wasn't that he didn't want to marry her. In fact, he couldn't wait to bring Ji Yunxi into his mansion immediately.
But he couldn't.
Especially after he learned that Ji Yunxi would die on her wedding day every time, Feng Xingzhi dared not act rashly.
After all, Ji Yunxi was still poisoned and in poor health. If anything unexpected happened, Feng Xingzhi wasn't sure if he could bear it.
After a long silence, Feng Xingzhi spoke, his voice full of disappointment. "I haven't made up my mind yet. The person in the dark hasn't been found out, so I'm not in a hurry."
Feng Jiangming knew about Ji Qilin's incident and naturally also knew about Ji Yunxi's situation from Feng Xingzhi.
He was slightly surprised for a moment and then said, "What if we can never find out?"
"Then we'll postpone the wedding. We can't take any risks with Xixi's safety."
Feng Jiangming thought to himself that his younger brother was completely infatuated with Ji Yunxi. Well, let him be.
At noon the next day, Ji Yunyi rushed into the main hall.
"Yunxi, the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion has announced that they will sell their items in advance, just two days from now."
Ji Yunxi remained calm, while Ji Yuchen immediately stood up. "Is this true?"
Ji Yunyi hesitated for a moment. "It's true, but the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion has never done such a thing before. It's almost like changing their decision overnight."
Ji Yunxi was calm enough, with a skeptical look in her eyes.
The Dreamy Elegance Pavilion was a major sect in the Jianghu. The fact that they had changed the selling time several times was already suspicious.
Moreover, Ji Yunxi felt that the mastermind behind the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion seemed to know that she needed the Seven - Leaf Divination Star Fruit to detoxify and was well - aware of her whereabouts.
"Second brother, have your spies found out why the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion changed the time?"
Ji Yunyi shook his head. "My spies couldn't find out such detailed information. Why? Are you worried that something might go wrong with the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion?"
"No, I just find it strange. When I was first found to be poisoned, the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion immediately announced that they would sell the Seven - Leaf Divination Star Fruit, which can detoxify all poisons. I just thought I was lucky. But when we had to return to the capital, they postponed the time. Now that things have calmed down, they're going to sell it in advance. It's as if they have eyes on me all the time."
Ji Yunxi's words made Ji Yuchen and Ji Yunyi fall silent for a moment.
Ji Yunxi's suspicion was reasonable. One coincidence might be acceptable, but what about two or three?
Ji Yuchen knew that his younger sister was always decisive, so he asked, "So what do you plan to do, Yunxi?"
"I don't know their intentions, but even if they're deliberately trying to lure me there, I can only play along."
Ji Yunyi was a bit worried and immediately said, "I'll go with you."
Ji Yunxi agreed, and Ji Yuchen also said that he wanted to go.
This time, Ji Yunxi didn't agree. "Big brother, with second brother and Azhi accompanying me, you can rest assured. Besides, now that you've just become the prime minister, there are so many eyes on you, and the person who poisoned the mansion hasn't been found yet."
Ji Yuchen was reluctant but had no choice. He knew that his younger sister was right, so he could only agree, but he kept instructing Ji Yunyi again and again.
Just as the three siblings were talking, a voice suddenly interrupted them. "Big brother, what are you instructing Brother Yunyi about? You seem so nervous."
As she spoke, Li Jiuge walked in wearing a pale yellow dress.
Remembering Li Jiuge's care during this period, Ji Yunxi quickly stepped forward and took her hand. "Jiuge!"
Li Jiuge looked Ji Yunxi up and down. Seeing that she had finally regained her former appearance, she was satisfied.
"I was planning to come and see you these days, but my mother said you were busy, and I might cause you trouble if I came."
Ji Yuchen remembered the meals that Shutao had sent every day and gave a gentle smile. "Your Highness is joking. Thank you for your help before."
Li Jiuge joked, "Big brother has become so formal with me now that you've become the prime minister!"
Ji Yuchen paused for a moment and then laughed. "Yes, it's my fault. Yunxi, take Her Highness to play."
Ji Yunxi knew that Ji Yuchen still had something to say to Ji Yunyi. Ignoring the pleading look from her second brother, she pulled Li Jiuge towards the back courtyard.
"Yunxi, what were you just talking about? I seem to have heard something about poison..."
Ji Yunxi knew that this girl must have heard a lot. But there was no need to hide it from her. After dismissing the servants, Ji Yunxi pulled Li Jiuge and whispered, "Father didn't die of a sudden illness. He was poisoned, and I'm also poisoned, but the poison hasn't flared up yet. Now the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion has the Seven - Leaf Divination Star Fruit. We're going there to find it to detoxify me."
Li Jiuge was shocked. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier!"
"We were busy with Father's funeral before. It's not too late for you to know now. Don't worry."
"What can I do?" Li Jiuge's eyes were full of worry.
Ji Yunxi was touched. She tightened her grip on Li Jiuge's hand. "You live in the palace, so you have access to more information. If you hear anything, please let me know in time."
Li Jiuge suddenly stopped. "If you say so, I just remembered something. It was Cousin Xingzhi who talked to the Emperor cousin that helped Big Brother inherit the position of prime minister so quickly."
Ji Yunxi raised her eyebrows in surprise.
She didn't expect Feng Xingzhi to interfere in the affairs of the Ji family, and even less did she expect him to suggest something for Ji Yuchen to save the Ji family.
But then again, she seemed to understand.
Wasn't Feng Xingzhi completely infatuated with her?