Yun Xi walked up to Qi Rong reluctantly. She glanced at the betrothal gifts and the crowd in the yard, instantly feeling a headache coming on. She whispered in a conciliatory tone,
"Can you send these people back first?"
Seeing Qi Rong standing there unmoving, his deep black eyes fixed intently on her, Yun Xi gritted her teeth and spoke almost inaudibly.
"Please, just this once."
Hearing this, Qi Rong, with his expressionless face, finally raised an eyebrow. He waved his big hand at the crowd.
"Leave the things and go back!"
Yun Xi was speechless. She quickly called out to the people who were about to turn around and leave,
"Wait!"
The crowd looked at each other in confusion. With a resentful look in her eyes, she turned to Qi Rong and said,
"You misunderstood me. I meant for your people to carry your things and leave together. Do you understand?"
Yun Xi was afraid that Qi Rong might not understand, so she explained word by word. But Qi Rong just folded his arms across his chest and looked at her leisurely.
"This is my bottom line. Otherwise, there's no way to talk!"
Yun Xi gritted her teeth secretly, almost out of breath with anger.
What kind of person was he? How could someone be so overbearing when coming to propose marriage? Did he think he was a bandit?!
"A man should not accept rewards without rendering service. Your Highness should have heard of this saying, right?"
Didn't he feel the slightest bit of heartache for all this gold and silver? It was still too early for all this!
Yun Xi patiently tried to guide him, but Qi Rong just curled his lips in a teasing smile.
"This is the betrothal money. You don't need to feel burdened. If you don't want the Prime Minister's Mansion to benefit from it, you can convert it into your dowry when you marry me and bring it all to the Prince Xian's Mansion."
Yun Xi was taken aback, and couldn't help but feel annoyed. This guy was really pushing his luck!
She carefully stole a glance at her father's already darkened face. Gritting her teeth, she immediately grabbed Qi Rong's sleeve and dragged him out of the yard.
It wasn't until they reached a secluded and deserted corner that Yun Xi pulled a long face and said,
"Have you had enough of this? My father has already lost all his face and is almost driven crazy by you. Are you satisfied now?"
Hearing this, Qi Rong stared at her intently with burning eyes and said,
"Who told you I was just fooling around?"
This time, he really wanted to come and propose marriage to her. He just happened to take this opportunity to humiliate Yun Sheng a bit.
"Moreover, the feud between me and Yun Sheng has nothing to do with you. From now on, stay out of it!"
Looking into Qi Rong's serious eyes, Yun Xi was shocked. Did he really want to marry her?
Also, he called her father by his name, which showed that he still harbored deep hatred for him. Didn't he care at all about her identity?
After all, she was a Yun, and this was something that could never be changed in her life. If he was hostile to her father, how could she remain indifferent?
Wasn't he deliberately making things difficult for her?
Yun Xi knew that she couldn't resolve the feud between her father and Qi Rong in just a few words. So, solving the current problem was the top priority.
So, Yun Xi put on a smile and changed her approach.
"I'm going to move out of the Prime Minister's Mansion to live alone in a few days. Please, don't cause any trouble for me at this time, okay?"
"If my father goes back on his word because of you and doesn't let me move out, I'll hate you!"
Hearing Yun Xi's words, Qi Rong looked a bit surprised.
"You're going to move out of the Prime Minister's Mansion?"
"Yeah."
Yun Xi nodded seriously.
"This was decided before the New Year. I've worked really hard to get my father's consent!"
Yun Xi knew that Qi Rong was more likely to be persuaded by soft words than by force, so she deliberately spoke sincerely. She thought she would have to spend more time convincing him, but unexpectedly, Qi Rong's eyes lit up. His smile spread, and he seemed to be bathed in warm sunlight.
"That's great. Why don't you just move to the Prince Xian's Mansion? I'll have someone help you pack your things right away and set off immediately!"
He had long wanted Yun Xi to break away from the Prime Minister's Mansion, and this was the perfect opportunity!
Seeing that Qi Rong was about to leave right away, Yun Xi was so scared that she immediately hugged his arm from behind and shouted,
"Hey! Don't cause me any more trouble!"
"My father has already found a house for me. If you interfere like this, I'll end up with nothing!"
"Please, okay?"
Qi Rong looked at the small hand holding his arm, and then at Yun Xi's pitiful, pleading face. His heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
"You're begging me?"
Qi Rong smiled, with a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
Under the circumstances, Yun Xi had no choice but to nod.
"Yes, I'm begging you."
"Then give me a little flirt."
Qi Rong was in a good mood and took the opportunity to make a request. But Yun Xi just twitched the corner of her mouth and couldn't bear it any longer!
"Qi Rong, don't push your luck too far! Even a rabbit will bite when cornered!"
Yun Xi widened her eyes and deliberately put on a fierce look. But unexpectedly, Qi Rong burst out laughing. The next moment, he kissed her lips like lightning.
Their lips touched, and Yun Xi felt her mind go blank instantly. Just as she realized what had happened and was about to slap Qi Rong's face, he had already quickly dodged.
"Didn't you say you were going to bite? I clearly gave you the opportunity. Why didn't you seize it?"
Qi Rong looked regretful, but Yun Xi's face turned red with anger.
"Qi Rong, if you bully me again, I'll never talk to you again!"
Yun Xi's mind was in a complete mess at the moment. This was the harshest threat she could think of at the moment, and it actually worked.
Seeing that she was really angry, Qi Rong immediately stopped teasing her. He took her small hand in his big one and said,
"Okay, I'll have someone take the things back right away. We'll talk after you move out of the mansion. Is that okay?"
Yun Xi angrily shook off Qi Rong's hand and still said angrily,
"Don't touch me in the Prime Minister's Mansion! You may not care about your reputation, but I do!"
Unexpectedly, Yun Xi was so angry. Qi Rong didn't want to really push her too far. So, he spread his hands and cooperated.
"Okay, you're shy. We'll only be affectionate when there's no one around."
"Who wants to be affectionate with you? Hurry up and take your people away, or I'll let the dogs out!"
Yun Xi turned her face away and snorted, not even looking at Qi Rong. Qi Rong couldn't help but smile helplessly. He thought this girl was quite cute when she was angry.
Unable to resist, he reached out and ruffled the soft hair on top of Yun Xi's head. Qi Rong lifted his lips and said,
"I can leave now, but you have to see me out of the mansion."
So, after much hesitation, Yun Xi bit her lips and finally decided to send this troublesome person out of the mansion first!
The two of them went back to the yard together. However, not long after they left, a sneaky figure suddenly emerged from behind the rockery. It was actually Mrs. Jiang, who had been hiding in the dark for a long time.
She stared at the direction where Yun Xi had disappeared, her expression excited. She tightly clutched her handkerchief with both hands, and a hint of hidden delight flashed across her eyes. With a sinister smile, she said,
"You little bitch, this is your own doing! When you become a disgrace and are spurned by the world, don't blame others for framing you!"
Previously, Mrs. Jiang thought she could easily deal with Yun Xi, so she was careless. Unexpectedly, she was severely tricked by the well - hidden Yun Xi several times!
Now, she had lost all her face in the Prime Minister's Mansion and suffered all kinds of humiliation in front of the old lady. She must get even with Yun Xi for this!