After Ji Zhuanxu learned the ins and outs of the matter, he flew into a rage. His eyes were deep and cold. "Come here! Summon Feng Jian'an of the Huaxu Clan and the head of the Xiling Clan!"
"Brother, no! Although the matter among the three of us may involve the interests of our respective clans, there's no need for you to step in for now. Let us handle it on our own first," Ji Yunxi pleaded. She was worried that her brother had just managed to win over the various aristocratic families and didn't want him to lose their support because of this incident. So she quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Stop trying to persuade me! Humph!" Ji Zhuanxu flicked his sleeves and left the grand hall, leaving Ji Yunxi alone in the empty hall. Ji Yunxi rubbed her temples. What a mess this was!
"Your Highness, it's all my fault. Please punish me," the maid knelt down, crying in terror.
"Enough! You may step down. I'm going back to my room to calm down. Come and fetch me when they arrive," Ji Yunxi said irritably, waving her hand and leaving without even looking at the maid's expression.
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!" The maid seemed to be frozen for a moment as if struck by a spell, then quickly kowtowed to express her gratitude.
Ji Yunxi returned to her courtyard and sat down angrily in front of the dressing table. Seeing the Jiaowei Qin beside her, she absent - mindedly ran her fingers over the strings, playing in a completely disordered manner.
"Master, what on earth are you playing? It's so..." Qing Xuan heard the jarring sound of the qin as soon as he stepped into the courtyard.
"Hmm? So what?" Ji Yunxi raised her eyebrows, the end of her voice trailing up, her eyes filled with a murderous look.
"Hehe, so nice!" Qing Xuan's mind was surprisingly quick - witted this time, grinning foolishly.
"Hehe, really?" Ji Yunxi smiled sweetly upon hearing this, and Qing Xuan smiled along.
"Get out! Let me be alone for a while," Ji Yunxi pushed him out. "Hey, Master..." Qing Xuan wanted to say something more, but then the door "banged" shut in front of him.
Ji Yunxi remembered Qi Jingyue, the daughter of the Xiling Clan. The first time she met her was at a royal banquet. They had little interaction, just a nodding acquaintance.
Qi Jingyue was an excellent qin player. At that royal banquet, her performance of "Waiting for Your Return" had made her famous all over the world. Ji Yunxi had taken a good look at her at that time. She was truly a beauty, looking so delicate and vulnerable that one couldn't help but want to protect her.
"Your Highness, they're here," the little maid came to deliver the news. Ji Yunxi stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked towards the front yard. As soon as she arrived, she heard a commotion.
She hid behind a tree and immediately spotted Qi Jingyue, wearing a light - green silk dress with a long white silk shawl on her shoulders. Her long hair was pulled up into two buns, and her big, watery almond eyes made her look extremely endearing.
Ji Zhuanxu saw Ji Yunxi behind the tree and deliberately said loudly, "Where's the princess? Why isn't she here? Go to her courtyard and fetch her."
"Yes!"
Hearing this, Ji Yunxi made a face at Ji Zhuanxu and then obediently showed herself. The maid, who didn't know what was going on, really went to fetch Ji Yunxi. She was startled when she walked only a few steps and saw her.
Ji Yunxi blinked at the maid, and the maid blinked back at her. Then she realized what was going on and stepped aside to make way for her.
"Greetings to Your Highness."
Ji Yunxi touched her face. Am I really that scary? I'm not that ugly, am I?
Qi Jingyue sized Ji Yunxi up. After all, she was her love rival, so she wanted to take a good look.
Ji Zhuanxu began, "My sister and Feng Xingzhi are in love with each other."
Qi Jingyue seemed to be greatly surprised. Her eyes filled with tears, and the corners of her eyes turned red. She choked with sobs, "I also have feelings for Feng Xingzhi. Do I have to give him up just because she's the princess?"
"Indeed, love is a matter between two people. Since we both like Feng Xingzhi, why don't we let Feng Xingzhi make the choice himself?" Ji Yunxi had a temper too. She said calmly and confidently.
Her confident look stabbed Qi Jingyue like a needle. Qi Jingyue felt uncertain and deliberately said, "You're the princess. Who knows what tricks you might use?"
Ji Yunxi wanted to laugh and was also angry at the same time. She held back her anger. She didn't want her brother to be accused of bullying others because of his power. "Feng Xingzhi isn't here today. I think we'd better discuss this another day. At that time, we'll listen to what he has to say. How about that?"
This was exactly what Qi Jingyue was thinking. Her engagement with Feng Xingzhi was arranged by the elders for the sake of family interests, so she was naturally not confident. "Fine!"
After everyone had left, Ji Yunxi and Ji Zhuanxu began to discuss and make arrangements. Ji Zhuanxu summoned his subordinate, Rushou, and ordered him to lead the troops to fight. A few days later, news came that the Shennong Clan had started to attack the cities, and the Xiling Clan happened to be in Jincheng, just a few dozen miles away from the attacked city.
At this time, the news of Qi Jingyue and Feng Xingzhi's upcoming wedding reached Jiang Yaoji's ears. She became interested in Qi Jingyue.
At night, a small troop of well - trained soldiers was walking on the road. The leader was a woman, Jiang Yaoji herself. She led the troops to the outside of Jincheng and stopped in front of the high city wall.
"You all wait here. If I don't come out in two hours, follow the marks I left to find me."
"Yes!" A dull voice came from behind the mask, making it impossible to tell whether it was a man or a woman.
Jiang Yaoji leaped onto the high city wall, then jumped onto the eaves and walked as if on flat ground. Finally, she stopped at a place with a wide view.
Inside Jincheng, the mansion of the Xiling Clan was grand and imposing, easily recognizable at a glance.
A beautiful body was faintly visible behind the screen. The steam was swirling, and the fragrance was so strong that it made one feel drowsy.
"Xiangjun, why are you here?" Qi Jingyue thought it was her maid, but then she noticed that this person was taller than Xiangjun.
"Heh," Jiang Yaoji sneered.
"Who are you?" Qi Jingyue reached for her clothes, and the clothes flew towards her on their own. She leaped into the air, spread her arms, and spun around in mid - air. By the time she landed, she had already put on her clothes. The whole set of movements was smooth and natural.
The children of the Xiling Clan did have some martial arts skills, but compared with the battle - hardened Jiang Yaoji, they were far inferior.
"… Mmm, mmm." The sound of water splashing could be heard, and then the hot spring quickly returned to calm.
Early the next morning, the maid Xiangjun went to wake Qi Jingyue as usual. The quilt on the bed was untouched. She had a bad feeling in her heart and quickly went to the hot spring. She found signs of a fight there, and Qi Jingyue's earring was lying on the ground.
"Master, something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"
Inside the Xiling Clan mansion, there was chaos everywhere.
Jiang Yaoji left a note saying that she wanted Feng Xingzhi to come and rescue Qi Jingyue in person. The head of the Xiling Clan stared blankly at the note, motionless. It was not until Ji Yunxi and the others arrived that he seemed to wake up from a dream.
When the head of the Xiling Clan saw them coming, he immediately knelt down. "Please, Your Highness, save my daughter. As long as she's safe, our Xiling Clan won't marry into the Huaxu Clan."
Ji Yunxi helped him up. "Head of the Xiling Clan, it's our duty to save Miss Qi, but one thing is one thing. This has nothing to do with Feng Xingzhi."
"Yes, yes, yes. I was being narrow - minded," the head of the Xiling Clan said and was about to kneel down again. Ji Yunxi just felt a headache coming on.