Taking the water cup brought by Yuzhu, Yun Xi took a sip and said to Qi Rong coldly:
"I'm afraid our shop has some internal issues to deal with. Please leave, unrelated people."
Apart from the woman in a tight-fitting outfit, there were two bodyguards following Qi Rong.
It was the first time they heard someone refer to their master as an "unrelated person" and blatantly issue an order to leave. The two bodyguards immediately stiffened their backs, exchanged a glance, and then carefully looked at their master.
They thought their master would get angry, but Qi Rong merely curled his lips slightly and sat down on the chair opposite Yun Xi.
"Are you going to turn down a business opportunity that comes knocking on your door?"
Qi Rong looked lazy, his eyes smiling as he stared at Yun Xi's obviously unhappy face.
"Of course we do business, but not with you."
Yun Xi replied firmly, with a hint of provocation in her tone.
Everyone present was astonished and secretly worried about Yun Xi: This man was the vicious and ruthless King Xian, who never blinked an eye when killing people! Was she out of her mind?
Hearing this, Qi Rong was not annoyed by her provocation at all. Instead, he raised his eyebrows, tapped his fingers on the table, and pretended to look troubled:
"In that case, it seems that I have no choice but to requisition it in the name of the royal family."
As soon as he said this, Yun Xi was stunned for a moment, then clenched her hands tightly and glared at Qi Rong angrily.
Qi Rong, however, looked helpless and spread his hands at Yun Xi, as if he had no other option since Yun Xi "refused the toast only to be forced to drink the forfeit."
Since this batch of grain was to be purchased in the name of the court for building dams and bridges, not for his Prince Xian's Mansion, Qi Rong's words were not inappropriate.
But in Yun Xi's eyes, this was simply an act of robbery!
He could have easily purchased the grain nearby, but he deliberately came to the capital and chose her shop. Wasn't it obvious that he had evil intentions?
Even a fool could see that he had ulterior motives!
"The quality of the rice in my shop is not good enough. I'm afraid it won't be able to shoulder this important task. Please go elsewhere to make your purchase, Your Highness."
Yun Xi flatly refused, and what she said was the truth. She had come here recently to solve this problem, so she was not afraid of an investigation or being accused of deceiving the court.
"It doesn't matter. I can turn a blind eye."
As Qi Rong said this, he winked at Yun Xi. Suddenly, he leaned forward, and his thin lips deliberately brushed against Yun Xi's ear as he said:
"After all, you're different from others. You're mine."
Qi Rong's words were ambiguous, and his warm breath on Yun Xi's ear made her feel a tingle of numbness. Her face instantly flushed red.
Yun Xi quickly glanced at the people present, covered her ears, and quickly leaned back. She stared at Qi Rong in disbelief.
How shameless could this man be? One moment he was being so high and mighty, using the power given to him by the court to force her to cooperate, and the next moment he was flagrantly showing favoritism.
Did he think he had an extra head and wasn't afraid of being beheaded by the emperor?
Seeing Yun Xi's interesting reaction, Qi Rong couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"Now that you don't have to worry about anything, you should be able to take this order, right?"
As he said this, he made a gesture to his bodyguard, who immediately took out a stack of silver notes from his bosom and placed them on the table.
"Take these silver notes for now. I'll inform you again after the first batch of rice arrives at its destination."
After Qi Rong finished speaking, he pointed at the woman behind him and said to Yun Xi:
"Her name is Nightingale. I'm leaving her with you. She'll be in charge of the communication between us until the dam construction is completed."
He knew that if he didn't have a proper reason to place someone by her side, she would definitely refuse.
But even so, Yun Xi still frowned tightly:
"I haven't even said that I'll take this business!"
Moreover, what did it mean for him to arrange his own woman for her? Was he deliberately trying to make things difficult for her?
However, Qi Rong didn't give her a chance to refuse. He then walked to her side, handed her a special whistle, and gently admonished her:
"I'll be away from the capital for a while. You can miss me obediently, but don't act rashly."
"Don't let this whistle out of your sight. Once you're in danger, blow it, and someone will protect you immediately!"
"I don't want it."
Yun Xi's eyes flashed with determination. Knowing the importance of the whistle, she immediately tried to return it, but Qi Rong held her hand firmly, leaving no room for doubt:
"Be obedient. Don't make me worry about you."
You don't have to worry!
Yun Xi was about to retort, but when she met Qi Rong's serious black eyes, the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back unconsciously. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
"Then take her away. I don't need her."
Yun Xi took the whistle and glanced at Nightingale, who had been silent all this time. She didn't want to compromise anymore.
"As for her, you can just arrange for her as you like. There's no need to go out of your way."
Qi Rong glanced at Nightingale, who immediately understood. She stepped forward and knelt in front of Yun Xi:
"Your Highness, please keep Nightingale. Otherwise, Nightingale won't be able to complete the task assigned by His Highness and will have no choice but to end her own life!"
As she said this, she suddenly drew out a dagger from her sleeve and placed it across her neck, pretending to commit suicide.
"What are you doing?!"
Yun Xi turned pale with fright. Without thinking, she immediately snatched the dagger from Nightingale's hand.
Seeing a clear red mark on Nightingale's neck, Yun Xi was shocked. She glared angrily at Qi Rong.
Even if she used her toes to think, she knew whose stupid idea this was! Doing this was simply not taking human lives seriously!
However, this woman named Nightingale seemed different from Wushuang. She was just too straightforward.
"Alright, then. I have something else to attend to. I'll be leaving first."
Qi Rong's eyes were fixed on Yun Xi. Rarely, a look of reluctance appeared on his face. At the end, he seemed to remember something:
"When you miss me, ask Xiaoxier to send me a message. It'll be quicker that way."
However, upon hearing Qi Rong's words, a strange look appeared on Yun Xi's face:
"Xiao, Xiaoxier? Why does it have the same name as me?!"
Qi Rong winked at her playfully and said teasingly:
"Xiaoxier. You've seen it before. It has a tiny body, white feathers, and a pair of small reddish-brown eyes..."
Qi Rong described it in such detail that Yun Xi immediately pictured the little thing in her mind. She couldn't help but angrily punch Qi Rong on the shoulder:
"You actually named a pigeon after me? Change it back immediately!"
Qi Rong stretched out his big hand and casually wrapped it around Yun Xi's small hand. He laughed shamelessly:
"This is a difficult problem. Not only have I gotten used to calling it that, but the little guy is also used to it. I think it's quite good!"
"Good your head!" Yun Xi was fuming.
The ancients said, "Only women and villains are difficult to raise." Although she didn't agree with the first half, it was an apt description of a villain like Qi Rong!
Qi Rong's laughter echoed. Without a care in the world, he took Yun Xi's hand and kissed it in public.
"I really have to go now. Don't miss me too much."
Hearing Qi Rong's cheesy words, Yun Xi retracted her hand with a look of disgust on her face. She frantically wiped the place where Qi Rong had kissed it and urged him away like she was shooing away a fly:
"Hurry up and go!"
If she spent any more time with him, she was afraid she would die of anger!