Li Jiuge pushed up to Ji Yunxi, her face a study in disbelief and curiosity. “Yunxi, was that really you just now?” She gripped Ji Yunxi’s hands and practically inspected her from head to toe. “Did someone possess you? How did you suddenly get so strong?”
Ji Yunxi smiled faintly. Strictly speaking she had only recovered memories—countless lifetimes of them. It wasn’t exactly possession, but she didn’t correct Jiuge; some things were better left unsaid. “Jiuge, stop reading those stories in the palace. All that ‘possession’ nonsense is just fiction. I only just noticed the surge in my spirit energy myself. Maybe it’s tied to that old poison or my headaches. Honestly, I don’t know.”
Jiuge still looked unconvinced. In this world, sudden leaps in cultivation were rare without foul means. Her expression darkened. “Yunxi, you aren’t hiding something from me, are you?”
Ji Yunxi blinked, thinking for a moment. “Don’t jump to conclusions. I’m telling you the truth as far as I know.”
Jiuge accepted that—reluctantly—and stopped pressing. Before either of them could wonder why Jiuge had become so easy to placate, their two brothers’ carriage rolled up to the execution ground.
They’d arrived too late. The execution site was a ruin of splintered wood and overturned stands. Ji Yuchen’s face was as black as coal.
Jiuge, seeing the carnage, ducked behind Ji Yunxi and peered out with wide eyes. “Yunxi, what happened?”
“Someone stormed the prison and took Ji Yuyan,” Ji Yunxi said.
Ji Yuchen slammed his fists together in fury. “Ji Yuyan—she’s always had betraying thoughts. A traitor and a thankless wretch.”
Ji Yunyi, staring at the corpse of Lady Qiao, could hardly hide her disgust; her expression tightened. “Take her away. The sight of her is nauseating.”
The siblings’ contempt for Lady Qiao was unanimous.
“This won’t end here. Ji Yuyan won’t escape,” Ji Yuchen growled. He was unusually grim, and Ji Yunxi felt a prickle of unease—Li Jiuge was standing right beside her. If Ji Yuchen showed this side in front of her, it might shatter the romantic image Jiuge had of him.
“Brother, it’s all right,” Ji Yunxi soothed. “Ji Yuyan won’t get far. As for Lady Qiao, I’ve ordered her body tossed out. A hasty burial is still a burial; it won’t make our Ji household look uncivilized.”
Ji Yuchen nodded at that, then his gaze fell on the small face peeking from behind Ji Yunxi. He froze, then forced a embarrassed smile. “Princess.”
Li Jiuge stepped out from behind Ji Yunxi and gave a slight bow. “Minister.”
Ji Yunxi and Ji Yunyi stood to one side, watching them. “There was a prison raid just now. Princess, are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine,” Jiuge replied.
“You shouldn’t have come. It’s dangerous,” Ji Yunyi warned, pouting. “We have business at the residence. We should go.”
Without waiting, she hauled Jiuge into the carriage and the horses bolted off, fearing Ji Yuchen might call them back. Jiuge was left standing beside Ji Yunxi, heart pounding—what was she to do, stay with the eldest brother alone? Excited and terrified at the same time, she went momentarily silent.
Ji Yuchen cleared his throat, making a fist at his side. “Ahem. Princess, the capital isn’t safe lately. You should be careful entering and leaving the palace. Allow me to see you back.”
“That would be most appreciated, Chancellor,” Jiuge said.
They climbed into the carriage, sitting at opposite ends out of formality. The maid set out cakes; both Ji Yuchen and Jiuge demurred and left them untouched.
“Brother—”
“Jiuge—”
Both began at once and immediately blushed. Ji Yuchen forced a smile. “You’ve endured a lot recently, Princess. Thank you for staying with Yunxi.”
“We’ve known each other since childhood. We’re like sisters. I only did what any friend would,” Jiuge answered.
Their conversation fizzled and died, the tension dissipating only when the carriage reached the palace gate. Ji Yuchen jumped down and watched her walk through the gates until she disappeared from view. Then, to his own surprise, he clapped a hand over his chest—his heart was beating far too fast.
Inside the carriage Ji Yunyi studied Jiuge with a calculating look. “Tell me, when did you and Brother start…?”
Ji Yunxi raised an eyebrow. Ji Yunyi could be clever in most things, but matters of love made him oddly slow. “There’s nothing to see, Yunyi. You’re just late to notice. Even now it’s nothing serious, no need to be tense.”
“Why would I be tense?” Ji Yunyi snorted.
“Because if Brother is taken, it’s your turn next,” Ji Yunxi teased.
Ji Yunyi retorted, “Don’t forget we must observe three years of mourning for Father and Mother. Even after three years you’ll be an old maid. The Emperor will have issued his edict to marry you off already.”
Ji Yunxi only laughed. “I know you don’t even have someone you fancy, which is why you’re jealous. I’m magnanimous—I won’t hold it against you. I’m going to see A Zhi now. You two can go home.”
She pulled the carriage to a stop. Ignoring her brother’s calls after her, she hurried east toward Prince Feng’s residence.
Prince Feng’s mansion lay some distance from the Meridian Gate. Along the way Ji Yunxi ran into Qingxuan and Lushu returning from somewhere.
“You two know I’d be here?” she asked, surprised. The streets were full, and she’d come on a whim—how had they managed to find her?
Qingxuan flashed a proud look at Lushu. “We’re connected to our mistress. Wherever you are, we’ll find you.”
Lushu rolled his eyes at Qingxuan’s show-off tone. “Any spirit beast could do that. What’s he proud of?”
Before they could bicker, Ji Yunxi cut them off. “Hush. Don’t quarrel in public; you’ll make fools of yourselves.”
The two immediately shut up and fell into step behind her.
Lushu stepped closer. “Mistress, I buried Lady Qiao’s body at the common grave.”
Ji Yunxi nodded. Her thoughts drifted briefly to her late mother; at least now her spirit could rest.