Reprimanded by Qi Rong, Zhan Feng didn't say anything more. He paced back and forth outside the door, extremely anxious.
Since the emperor usurped the throne, he had always been wary of the Luo family, the maternal relatives of the former queen. He frequently wanted to wipe them out.
However, as the Luo family held hundreds of thousands of military troops and had been guarding the border for years, the emperor was afraid of shaking the stability of the country. So he secretly summoned capable officials to discuss feasible countermeasures day and night.
He even wanted to massacre the Luo family in one fell swoop to remove the thorn in his heart!
Finally, with the strategy proposed by Prime Minister Yun Sheng, the emperor successfully placed his confidants on the border while ensuring the stability of his power. This not only weakened the Luo family's influence but also took control of part of the military power.
The old Duke Luo, a veteran of three dynasties and the father of the former queen, was so angry that he died on the spot!
With the passing of the old Duke Luo, the situation of the Luo family on the south - western border was not optimistic. A special messenger came in a hurry to discuss with Prince Xian Qi Rong the strategies for future survival.
However, Qi Rong, their master, had the messenger tied up and thrown into the dungeon before even seeing him.
Moreover, he had hijacked the eldest daughter of the prime minister's mansion and was staying in his bedroom, avoiding discussing the important matters!
This made Zhan Feng, who already resented the prime minister's mansion because of the death of the old Duke Luo, hate Yun Xi even more.
He thought that if it weren't for the seduction of this femme fatale, his master wouldn't have lost his sense of priorities and forgotten the hatred for the old Duke Luo!
He was even getting involved with the daughter of his enemy!!
Zhan Feng took his anger out on Yun Xi and hated her to the core. However, Yun Xi, the so - called femme fatale herself, looked innocent.
Yun Xi felt uncomfortable being held tightly by Qi Rong. She wanted to change her position, but Qi Rong was as immovable as an iron plate. He held her tightly without moving an inch.
Yun Xi felt it was a bit difficult to breathe. She tried to speak again:
"I said, since Your Highness has more important matters to attend to, please go and get busy quickly. Don't delay because of me. I'll feel guilty."
There was an obsequious smile on her lips. She once again deeply realized what it meant:
When under the eaves, one has to bow one's head!
Qi Rong frowned slightly and opened his deep, pool - like eyes. Their eyes met, and Yun Xi had the illusion that she was about to be sucked into them.
"Come with me."
"Ah?"
Before Yun Xi could understand what Qi Rong had said, she felt a blur in front of her eyes and was immediately picked up by Qi Rong.
Yun Xi sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly as Qi Rong helped her put on her shoes and then draped a fox fur over her. Her head was buzzing, shocked by Qi Rong's excessive tenderness at this moment.
Qi Rong's movements were smooth and natural, as if they were a loving couple who had been married for a long time.
Yun Xi was stunned and frightened by the thought in her mind. She immediately slapped her own cheeks with both hands and shook her drowsy head.
Bah! What a couple!
They were clearly in the relationship of a kidnapper and a hostage. How could it be so wonderful?
"Why are you slapping your own face?"
Seeing Yun Xi's actions, Qi Rong immediately pulled her hands away and stared at her unhappily.
Yun Xi, who had regained her senses, quickly declared:
"I don't want to go!"
She had just heard someone mention the word "dungeon", and just thinking about it made it seem like a terrible place.
One Qi Rong was already scary enough. Coupled with a dungeon, it would be a living hell! She wasn't a masochist!
Yun Xi was originally so determined, but under Qi Rong's sharp gaze, she couldn't help but add timidly:
"Your Highness can go by yourself. I can't be of any help. I don't want to cause you any trouble."
Yun Xi carefully peeked at Qi Rong's expression, hoping that she could slip away as soon as he left. If he stayed by her side all the time, she probably wouldn't have the slightest chance.
Qi Rong's dark eyes stared at Yun Xi for a long time. He saw through her tricks completely.
"You have no say in this."
His cold lips parted slightly. His slender fingers tightly wrapped around Yun Xi's small hand, and he led her out of the room without hesitation.
Zhan Feng was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan in the courtyard. When he saw the door suddenly open, he immediately looked at Qi Rong in surprise and stepped forward quickly.
"Master!"
But when he saw Yun Xi behind Qi Rong, his face suddenly turned cold. His hostile gaze made Yun Xi feel rather puzzled.
She had met this guard a few times before, but had never felt any hostility from him.
This time, the hostility was so obvious that it was hard to ignore.
"Where is the person detained?"
Qi Rong pushed Zhan Feng aside unhappily, blocking Zhan Feng's sight. Zhan Feng staggered. Realizing his gaffe, he quickly said:
"Back to Master, the person is detained in the northern dungeon. I've already ordered special guards to keep outsiders away."
"Okay."
Qi Rong nodded coldly, tightened his grip on Yun Xi's hand, and walked towards the northern dungeon.
Zhan Feng followed behind. He stared at Yun Xi, hesitating to speak for a moment. Finally, he made up his mind and said boldly with a stiff neck:
"Master, the dungeon involves the secret mechanisms of our Prince Xian's Mansion. Outsiders are not allowed to enter."
This rule was set by Qi Rong himself, the designer and builder of the dungeon.
So when Zhan Feng saw Qi Rong bringing Yun Xi with him as if he had forgotten this point, he dared to remind him.
On any other day, if any person in Prince Xian's Mansion dared to get within ten meters of the forbidden area of the mansion, they would surely be severely punished!
Hearing this, Yun Xi immediately showed a surprised expression. She grabbed Qi Rong's sleeve and stood still.
"Your Highness, since the mansion has this rule, I can't break it!"
She didn't care about the secrets of Prince Xian's Mansion at all! With this excuse, she didn't have to go to that terrifying dungeon!
She looked at Zhan Feng gratefully, as if seeing a savior. But Zhan Feng was creeped out by her shiny eyes and showed a look of disgust.
"She's not an outsider."
Yun Xi was overjoyed. Just when she thought she was about to gain her freedom, Qi Rong's words almost made her drop her jaw!
Looking at Qi Rong's solemn expression, there was no sign that he was joking.
Zhan Feng was stunned. He couldn't believe that his master would trust a woman so much!
Moreover, she was the daughter of Yun Sheng, the great treacherous official who had betrayed the former emperor and now had caused the death of the old Duke Luo of the Luo family!
Although Zhan Feng feared Qi Rong's tyranny and unpredictability, he was after all a person trained by the old Duke Luo and was now sent to protect Qi Rong.
Therefore, he felt that he had the obligation to remind his master of his actions even if he had to die today.
Zhan Feng suddenly knelt down and was about to speak, but Yun Xi couldn't wait to step in front of Qi Rong. She pointed at her own face and said righteously:
"Your Highness, I'm an outsider! You have the surname Qi and I have the surname Yun. We're neither siblings nor family members.
"What if one day I'm captured by thieves and they force me to reveal the secrets of the mansion? To save my life, I will surely tell the truth. So, for the safety of you and everyone in the mansion, I hope Your Highness will think twice before acting!"