Jiang Yaoji watched Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi standing together, their eyes full of affection as they chatted and laughed merrily. A darker glint flashed in her eyes.
Originally, she could tolerate Feng Xingzhi's coldness towards her. As long as she could marry him and gain power, it would be enough. However, everything changed because of the appearance of Ji Yunxi.
One day, her elder brother gave her a bamboo dragonfly. She excitedly went to the Huaxu Clan, hoping to play with Feng Xingzhi. But Feng Xingzhi said he thought it was boring and didn't want to play.
The next day, she went to find Feng Xingzhi again, only to see Ji Yunxi was there too. Feng Xingzhi was playing those so - called childish games with her.
The bamboo dragonfly in her hand suddenly dropped. It wasn't that he thought the game was boring; it was just that he thought it was boring to play with her.
She learned from the servants that Ji Yunxi was the princess of the Xuanyuan Clan. Although Jiang Yaoji was the princess of the Shennong Clan, she was extremely jealous of Ji Yunxi's great reputation. Moreover, because the Huaxu Clan had a favorable environment, Ji Yunxi had been pampered there since childhood.
She began to envy Ji Yunxi, jealous of the love and favor her elder brother and father bestowed on Ji Yunxi, and jealous of the special treatment Feng Xingzhi gave her. She tried every means to get close to Ji Yunxi, but Feng Xingzhi wouldn't let her.
It was then that she suddenly realized that Feng Xingzhi had detected her impure motives, so he protected Ji Yunxi.
However, none of these mattered anymore. Perhaps God took pity on her and sent Jiang Yin to her side. She felt a different kind of warmth from this man. She knew what she had done was wrong, but Jiang Yin still helped her. Now seeing that Jiang Yin was still alive was God giving her a chance. She was determined to change herself and treat Jiang Yin well.
The past was like a long dream. It was all wrong, wrong from the very beginning. The seed of obsession planted in her childhood had unknowingly grown into a towering tree. Was there any way back? Since there was no turning back, then let her go mad more thoroughly!
The madness in her eyes grew like wild grass. She saw the people of the Xuanyuan Clan gradually leaving in the distance, but Jiang Yin hadn't left yet. He was standing with Ji Yunxi and the others. It seemed that they were discussing something.
"Yunxi, it seems we won't be able to find Li Jiuge today," someone said.
"Oh, right. Let the disciples go back first," Ji Yunxi nodded blankly and then continued to search.
"Yunxi, be rational!" Feng Xingzhi's tone became more serious as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"What's irrational about me!" Ji Yunxi's emotions suddenly exploded. She shook off his arm, her eyes red - rimmed as she glared at him angrily.
Qing Xuan and Lu Shu saw this scene as soon as they came back. They looked at each other, stopped their steps involuntarily, and craned their necks from afar, eager to know what was going on.
"Yunxi, I just..."
Ji Yunxi's wound started to bleed. Looking at the blood - stained clothes, Feng Xingzhi stopped what he was about to say. He quickly and gently pressed on her wound to stop the bleeding.
"I'm sorry. I hurt you. Does it hurt?"
Feng Xingzhi's helpless look stabbed at Ji Yunxi's heart. Such a gentle person, how could she bear to hurt him!
"It's okay. I don't feel any pain," Ji Yunxi lowered her head, not daring to look at him. It was she who had lost control of her emotions first, making Feng Xingzhi seem like a sinner.
Feng Xingzhi understood that because of the disappearance of her relatives and friends, she had been suppressing her emotions.
He gently stroked Ji Yunxi's hair. "If you want to cry, just cry. In my heart, you'll always be that little girl who hasn't grown up."
Her nose tingled. A sour emotion welled up in Ji Yunxi's chest. It was an indescribable feeling, like when she was a child and ate an unripe plum, the sourness going straight to her brain, making her unable to think about anything.
The corners of her eyes turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes, disappearing into the low - lying grass. Feng Xingzhi reached out to wipe away her tears.
"Don't be afraid. I'll always be here," Feng Xingzhi hugged her. There was not a single breath of wind around. Ji Yunxi closed her eyes and quietly listened to Feng Xingzhi's words. She was really tired. When would all this end?
"Can we go over now?" Qing Xuan asked Lu Shu doubtfully.
"Come on. Can't you see they're still hugging?"
"When can we go back then? The other disciples have already gone back."
Feng Xingzhi happened to see them from his angle. He winked at them, and Qing Xuan and Lu Shu immediately ran back happily.
"Master, why are you crying? Did he bully you? Just give the order, and I'll beat him up," Qing Xuan, with sharp eyes, noticed the redness in Ji Yunxi's eyes and looked at Feng Xingzhi protectively.
"Spit! Our master is so gentle and outstanding. How could he bully Yunxi?"
"Come on, stop acting. I couldn't bear to beat him up," Ji Yunxi was amused by their antics and murmured shyly. Feng Xingzhi looked at Ji Yunxi dotingly when he heard this.
"Hehe, as long as the master is happy," Qing Xuan scratched his head embarrassedly when he was exposed.
"I'm really happy to know you. You've all worked hard today. Let's go back to the Xuanyuan Clan to rest."
"Great! Finally, we can go back and rest," Qing Xuan was already exhausted. Hearing what Ji Yunxi said, he grinned happily.
After several days of running around, Lu Shu also wanted to go back and have a rest. He was very happy too.
"Yunxi," Jiang Yin walked over slowly and called out to her.
"Jiang Yin, do you want to go back with me?" Ji Yunxi wanted to thank him properly, so she invited him to be a guest.
Jiang Yin's eyes flickered for a moment. He looked in the direction where Jiang Yaoji and the others were hiding. Jiang Yaoji was also looking at him. He expressionlessly withdrew his gaze.
"No, I still have other things to do. I just came to say hello and then I'll leave."
"Take care. Come and be a guest in the Xuanyuan Clan when you have the chance," Ji Yunxi didn't try to persuade him to stay anymore and clasped her fists at him.
"Take care, everyone!"
After Jiang Yin left, Ji Yunxi looked in the direction of Jiang Yaoji. That strange feeling came back again. She always felt that Jiang Yin was looking at someone because there were too many emotions in his eyes!
Was she just overthinking? Ji Yunxi shook her head to get rid of these thoughts. The four of them rode their horses back to the Xuanyuan Clan at full speed.
After Jiang Yaoji and Jiang Yanjü saw them leave, they emerged from the forest.
"Yaoji, let's go back to the Shennong Clan. The Jiuli Tribe has many ancient books. If they deliberately hide their tracks, we won't be able to find them. We'll have to wait for Li Jiuge to show up on his own."
"Okay, let's go." Jiang Yaoji waved her sleeve, and everyone disappeared. The mountain wilderness returned to its original silence.
In the Shennong Clan.
Jiang Yaoji stepped onto the territory of the Shennong Clan. A familiar feeling rushed over her. Everything remained the same. Jiang Yaoji returned to her room and changed into the attire of the Shennong Clan.
"Princess, Prince, the elders are waiting for you in the council hall," the maid said respectfully with a bow.
"Got it. It's time for us to make our appearance, brother," Jiang Yaoji smiled sweetly.
"Yeah!"