The night was deep, yet the carriage still hadn't returned outside the Ji Mansion.
"Chun Yuan, ask the small kitchen to prepare some wontons. Wait for brother to come back," Ji Yunyi sat beside Ji Yunxi, his heart shrouded in a haze.
"Second brother, what's wrong with you?"
"I'm just thinking that Ji Yuyan has a twisted personality. You directly killed Mrs. Qiao back then. If she manages to sneak back into the Ji Mansion, she might do something harmful to you."
"Don't worry." Ji Yunxi's voice was cold, like a venomous snake about to strike. "It'd be great if she comes. I don't want to let her go again."
"Let who go?"
Ji Yuchen walked in. Hearing his sister say she didn't want to let someone go, he subconsciously asked.
Ji Yunxi and Ji Yunyi intended to tell him the truth at first, but after a moment's thought, they decided not to. After all, Ji Yuchen was already exhausted because of the affairs in the court.
"Big brother, sit down quickly. I've already told the small kitchen to make wontons for you. You must be exhausted."
Sure enough, his sister was always considerate. Ji Yuchen sat down with a smile, and the gloom in his heart dissipated a little.
Ji Yunxi and Ji Yunyi didn't leave but accompanied Ji Yuchen for the late - night snack.
"Come on, do you think I don't know what you're thinking? I went to see the emperor today. We've discussed that the person who's privately selling military supplies must have had ulterior motives. We suspect this person is the King of Rui."
"The King of Rui?" Ji Yunyi was a bit surprised. "Isn't he the emperor's uncle? I thought he was very low - key. And didn't he retire from the court long ago?"
Ji Yunxi was also very confused. "Yes, big brother. I even heard that he treated the emperor and the princes like his own sons?"
"It's all an illusion. That story was fabricated by the emperor for the sake of the royal family's face, just to cover up some family scandals. Back then, it was because the emperor discovered that the King of Rui was forming cliques and had the intention of rebelling that he was forced to retire."
Hearing this, Ji Yunxi sighed. "Power and influence can really blind people's hearts. I met the King of Rui before. I only remembered him as a gentle person... So what's the court's plan now?"
Ji Yuchen put down his chopsticks. "The emperor is going to send me to Rui City to negotiate with the King of Rui."
The two siblings immediately stood up. "This won't do!"
"It's too dangerous!"
Their unanimous objection warmed Ji Yuchen's heart.
"Alright, sit down. What's the hurry?"
Ji Yunxi could tell at a glance that her big brother had to go on this trip. "Big brother, I'll go with you. This trip is extremely dangerous. I'm not at ease with you going alone."
"I'll go too." Ji Yunyi immediately spoke up, wanting to go together.
But Ji Yunxi refused him. "Second brother, the prime minister's mansion can't be left unattended. You'd better stay."
"Yunxi should stay too."
"Big brother, don't say anymore. Even if you don't allow it, I will definitely go."
Ji Yuchen had no way to deal with this younger sister of his, so he had to agree. "Then Yunyi will stay. The prime minister's mansion still needs someone to watch over. You'll guard the home for now and keep an eye on Sang Qingzhou."
Ji Yunyi was unhappy and couldn't help but mutter. "It's all Sang Qingzhou's fault. I might as well go and kill him now."
Ji Yunxi couldn't help but laugh. Her second brother was always so childish. She comforted him. "Second brother, I'm afraid that person will come back. Isn't it safer for me to be away? It'll just trouble you to keep an eye on her."
"Oh! Right, okay then."
Ji Yuchen didn't know what the two were talking about in riddles and curiously asked. "What do you mean? Who is she?"
"Big brother, I went to check the storeroom today and found that some things were missing. They were exactly the things that Ji Yuyan wanted to steal before and then put back after I found out."
"Do you mean Ji Yuyan is back?!"
"I suspect so, but it's very strange. The guards outside the storeroom all have high spiritual cultivation. How did Ji Yuyan get in without anyone noticing?"
"If that's the case, could it be that there's an insider?"
This speculation was reasonable. Thinking of this possibility, Ji Yuchen's face darkened.
"She really knows when to strike. She came to steal things when we were all away."
Ji Yunxi smiled. "Second brother, since so many valuable things are missing, if that person comes, please don't show any mercy."
"Don't worry. What's yours will always be yours."
The next day, during the court session, everything was calm, as if the urgent summons to the palace the previous day had never happened.
After the court session, Ji Yuchen found Feng Jiangming.
"Your Majesty, I'm already prepared. I'll set off today. It's just... my little sister at home is worried, so she insists on coming with me."
As he said this, there was a hint of sweetness in his heart, and he unconsciously showed a bit of pride.
Feng Jiangming thought of his disobedient younger brother and sister and suddenly felt a bit envious.
"Do you think I can say no? Go, go."
He glanced at his younger brother behind the screen and knew that even if he didn't allow it, his younger brother would come and plead. So he couldn't stop it at all and could only agree.
"Take good care of yourself on this trip, and also... take good care of your sister!"
Ji Yuchen guessed that once Yunxi wanted to go with him, it meant that Feng Xingzhi would naturally go too. So the emperor must mean for him to take care of Feng Xingzhi.
He didn't know if the emperor knew about Feng Xingzhi's high spiritual cultivation, so he didn't say that Feng Xingzhi didn't need his care at all. He could only lower his head and respond.
After the person left, Feng Jiangming spoke. "Well? Are you satisfied now?"
"Thank you, elder brother."
Hearing this, Feng Jiangming felt annoyed. He secretly cursed that he must have owed this kid a debt in his previous life.
"Ji Yunxi is really good to her brothers."
"I've long guessed that Xixi would go."
"Actually, I don't want you to go." Feng Jiangming rarely lowered his voice. "This trip is dangerous. We still don't know how much military supplies the King of Rui has in his hands. And Ji Yuchen is not as scheming as Ji Qilin. If he makes a wrong move, I'm afraid something will happen to you."
Feng Xingzhi didn't say a word but got closer to his elder brother.
"The King of Rui might very well detain you as a hostage. What should I do then?"
In everyone's eyes, Feng Jiangming was always a resolute emperor. It was rare for him to show such emotions.
"Elder brother, you're over - worrying. With Xixi around, nothing will happen."
He also added in his heart that he wouldn't let anything happen to himself either.
Looking at his younger brother's determined eyes, Feng Jiangming was helpless. He wondered what kind of charm Ji Yunxi had that could make Feng Xingzhi so infatuated with her.
"All you know is Xixi, Xixi. Aren't you ashamed to let others protect you?! You should bring a few highly - skilled guards from your mansion with you. If a single hair on you is missing when you come back, I'll make that old bastard, the King of Rui, pay the price!"
Feng Xingzhi smiled and agreed, then turned around and left.
Looking at his back, Feng Jiangming was helpless in his heart. But he also knew that he couldn't stop Ji Yunxi, and if he couldn't stop Ji Yunxi, he couldn't stop Feng Xingzhi.
So other than agreeing, he had no other choice. It was better not to be the bad guy and just let them go.