With a loud “smash,” the porcelain bowl shattered on the ground. The soup splashed onto Qi Rong's robe and shoes, and his face instantly darkened.
This was the ginger soup he had personally cooked for her just now. Whenever he caught a cold in his childhood, his mother would cook this soup for him without letting anyone else do it.
He always felt warm inside after drinking it. He had painstakingly made a bowl following the recipe in his memory. He had even tasted it to check the flavor before carefully bringing it to her. But he never expected her to waste it like this!
Seeing Qi Rong's gloomy face as he stared intently at the broken porcelain on the ground, Yun Xi felt guilty. She knew her tantrum was unreasonable.
However, at this moment, a surge of anger welled up in her chest, and she just didn't want to apologize.
The two stared at each other in silence for a long time. Finally, Qi Rong let out a sigh and took the initiative to speak.
“Alright, tell me what's on your mind?”
Qi Rong gave Yun Xi a chance to express herself, but upon hearing his words, Yun Xi suddenly found herself tongue - tied.
She didn't know in what capacity she should demand something from Qi Rong at this moment. Or rather, she simply had no right to question him!
She couldn't act bossy towards him just because he liked her.
After all, she wasn't his wife yet.
Seeing Yun Xi stammering and then simply closing her mouth to sulk, Qi Rong let out a helpless sigh.
“Regarding the two women in the mansion, I can clearly tell you that one is entrusted to me by an old acquaintance, and the other is just a pawn for my own use. They're not worth your concern, and they won't bother you.”
“If you still can't tolerate them, I'll place them outside the mansion and make sure you never see them again.”
When had the proud and self - willed Qi Rong ever stooped so low to seek someone else's opinion?
But compared to his male pride, he cared more about not making Yun Xi feel wronged. He didn't want any insignificant people or things to create a rift between them.
What? There were actually two!
Yun Xi's focus wasn't on how much Qi Rong had compromised for her, but on the shock of this news!
Her face turned deathly pale. It felt as if a knife had been stabbed into her heart, and the pain in her eyes was so intense that she couldn't even cry.
Whether they were entrusted by an old acquaintance or just a game, she didn't believe a man would keep two women around for no reason.
He kept saying he wanted to marry her and took advantage of her, but in private, he had concubines. How could she trust his sincerity?
What was even more ridiculous was that did he think that by placing them outside the mansion and keeping them out of her sight, everything would be fine? He could pretend all was well, but she couldn't pretend not to know and continue to indulge in false happiness!
Thinking of this, Yun Xi propped up her tottering body and managed to sit up on the bed. Her expression was cold, and her back was ramrod straight.
“Qi Rong, I'm very grateful that you saved me this time. I still have some things to take care of. I'll take my leave.”
At this moment, she felt her heart had shattered into ice. She had no strength left to argue with him. All she wanted was for the two of them to go their separate ways from now on and forget each other in the vast world!
Not noticing Yun Xi's thoughts, Qi Rong just thought she was tired. He wrapped his big hand around hers and said softly,
“Don't rush. I'll handle your matters for you. Go back to sleep for a while. I'll make you another bowl of ginger soup.”
Qi Rong's touch was like a spark that burned Yun Xi's hand and heart. She showed great disgust and forcefully shook off his hand. Her voice rose slightly and trembled.
“No need! I'll handle my own affairs. Don't trouble yourself.”
Not knowing why Yun Xi had suddenly gotten angry again, seeing her resistant actions gradually wore away Qi Rong's patience.
He grabbed her slender shoulders with both hands, forcing her to turn towards him. His eyes stared at her unhappily.
“Now that the Eighth Princess and the Li family are involved in this matter, how do you plan to end it on your own?”
The Li family was different from the Lin family, the queen's maternal clan. They were the legitimate senior statesmen of three dynasties. Their influence was deeply rooted and far - reaching, even more powerful than the Luo family in the military. It could be said that Qi Hong was able to usurp the throne and successfully hold onto power directly because of the support of the Li family!
Even though Qi Rong had been secretly planning for many years, he had only managed to trim the peripheral branches and still found it difficult to shake their core power!
The woman in the harem seemed to be chanting scriptures and praying to Buddha all day long, but having done too many evil deeds, she was used to tightly grasping power and could never truly achieve peace of mind.
The Eighth Princess was her only weakness, and she would never allow anything or anyone to threaten the princess!
“I don't need your help!”
Although Yun Xi knew that Qi Rong was worried about her, she didn't want his kindness. She struggled hard to break free from his hands, which made Qi Rong annoyed.
“If you had agreed to marry me earlier and entered the Prince Xian's mansion, this kind of trouble wouldn't have happened.”
Sooner or later, she would be his future wife. This was already a foregone conclusion, and she did have feelings for him.
He didn't understand why she was so awkward and even repelled being with him.
In response to Qi Rong's accusation, Yun Xi was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her expression was agitated, and she almost shouted out of control.
“I don't want to marry you! I won't marry you! I won't marry you!”
Yun Xi's three consecutive refusals instantly enraged Qi Rong. His black eyes darkened, and his tone was extremely cold.
“Then who do you want to marry?”
“Anyone but you!”
Yun Xi defiantly met Qi Rong's cold eyes, with a fire burning in her chest.
“Dare you say that again?”
Qi Rong gritted his teeth and reached out to firmly pinch her chin. His face was dark, and there was frost in his eyes.
“I said I'd rather die than marry you!”
Yun Xi's chin ached terribly, but her back was straight. There was a mist in her eyes, and she still stubbornly held back her tears.
“Good! You're really something!”
Qi Rong laughed out of extreme anger. His dark eyes stared at Yun Xi coldly, without a trace of warmth.
He had treated her like a precious gem and carefully protected her, but she disliked him so much that, in her eyes, just about anyone could replace him!
Finally realizing his position in her heart, Qi Rong felt his throat tighten and his eyes sting. It was as if a crack had opened in his chest, and he instantly lost the courage to keep her by his side.
“Get out.”
Qi Rong lowered his head and let go of the arms that had been holding her tightly. His voice was soft but carried a heavy weight, which made Yun Xi's face turn deathly pale instantly.
Yun Xi tightly pursed her lips, turned around, and ran out of the door without looking back!
Qi Rong looked calm. He let Yun Xi leave without chasing after her. In the quiet bedroom, the air seemed to have solidified.
After a long time, Qi Rong suddenly punched the table in front of him with all his might! The tabletop made of a whole piece of green jade shattered instantly, and blood gushed out from the deep wound on his hand, the bone clearly visible.