Hearing Cheng Caijie's words, Yun Xi frowned slightly. Qi Rong, on the other hand, stroked his chin with an intrigued expression. Looking at Yun Xi teasingly, he asked:
"Who are you to me? Do you want to tell them yourself, or shall I do it for you?"
Qi Rong's expression was ambiguous. His deep, bottomless black eyes stared directly at her, with a burning intensity that made Yun Xi's cheeks flush involuntarily.
Yun Xi was certain in her heart that if she let him speak, this scoundrel would surely spout nonsense! But if she didn't say anything, she would be completely blocked by Cheng Caijie's words. Everyone would surely make random speculations about her identity or look at her with contemptuous gazes.
Although she was just a passing traveler in Lingchuan, she didn't have the habit of allowing others to slander her without fighting back!
Yun Xi originally didn't plan to reveal her identity, but after a moment of inner struggle, she finally decided to be open and honest.
After all, among these accompanying officials, perhaps someone had already recognized her identity. And even if they didn't know now, they might meet in the capital in the future. To avoid future troubles, she had to nip all the rumors in the bud!
Yun Xi slowly stood up. Her expression was calm, and her posture was dignified and noble.
"I am the Princess Yongning, the daughter of the prime minister's mansion. At the invitation of the King of Xian, I am here to contribute to the construction of the weir. I have voluntarily donated five hundred dan of rice, five hundred bolts of cotton cloth, and ten thousand taels of silver for the poor people downstream of Lingchuan."
As soon as Yun Xi said this, everyone was in an uproar. Even the prefect and his daughter couldn't help but change their expressions suddenly! Looking at Yun Xi's inviolable face, the shock in their hearts was like a turbulent wave, overwhelming!
But Yun Xi remained calm as ever. To prove that what she said was true, she continued:
"The five hundred dan of rice arrived at the Lingchuan post station yesterday. It is estimated that it will be transported to the local area by evening; the cotton cloth has also been issued from the warehouse as scheduled and is on its way to Lingchuan. After it arrives, I would like to ask the prefect to allocate manpower to help distribute the items truthfully..."
After Yun Xi finished speaking, the banquet hall suddenly fell silent. The sound of the wine cup that Cheng Caijie accidentally knocked over in her panic was particularly abrupt!
Actually, this decision was made seriously by Yun Xi and Qi Rong after they returned together yesterday.
Because she had seen the hardships of the mountain villagers with her own eyes and witnessed Qi Rong's sincere concern for the livelihood of the downstream people, she was deeply touched!
So, she temporarily used the batch of rice that Qi Rong had previously arranged to rescue the people, and immediately ordered others to prepare another batch of grain, which was also on its way to Lingchuan.
As for the cotton cloth, the Su family had a large inventory every year. Although it was not top - grade fabric, it was still unaffordable for the poor people.
Coupled with the fact that Qi Rong had discovered the secret swallow cave, which would bring continuous benefits in the future, Yun Xi cashed it in in advance and took out ten thousand taels to support the workers building the weir and the bridge, which could also contribute to Qi Rong's plan!
She originally didn't plan to show off with this. Even Qi Rong didn't know about her plan. But to avoid future troubles, she had to say it in advance!
Everyone looked at Yun Xi in shock, as if she was shining with holy light!
The snow disaster at the beginning of the year was still fresh in the memories of the officials and nobles across the Liuguo. Because of their great concern, they had naturally heard of the name of the Princess Yongning.
They had heard that she was just a graceful young girl, but she was extremely intelligent and had helped the current emperor come up with a good strategy to rescue the victims! Today, they were lucky enough to see her in person. They were not only surprised by her noble status but also by her immense wealth!
Was this the bearing of a noble girl from the capital? Donating goods and money without even blinking an eye!
Compared with the prefect's daughter, who only knew how to curry favor with the King of Xian under the guise of showing concern for the people, it was simply like a country hen encountering a phoenix. There was no way to compare them from the inside out!
"I didn't know that the Princess Yongning had come to my humble abode in person. I offended you just now. I hope you will forgive me!"
Prefect Cheng was the first to react. He quickly knelt down in front of Yun Xi.
A princess bestowed by the emperor and the daughter of the current prime minister. Either identity was something he, a small prefect, could not afford to offend!
Thinking of this, Prefect Cheng couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat. He even pulled his daughter, Cheng Caijie, to kneel down together.
"Caijie, quickly apologize to the princess and say that you didn't mean it just now!"
Cheng Caijie was already dumbfounded, completely in a daze. She kept muttering in her heart: How could this happen?
Wasn't this woman just a low - class dancer? How could she suddenly become the Princess Yongning?! Then what was she?
A laughingstock?!
Her proud self - esteem was severely hit, and it was hard for her to accept it for a while. But her father was pulling her to kneel down. She wanted to struggle, but she couldn't resist her father's strength and was forced to kneel on the ground.
Looking down at the pink - green embroidered shoes with brocade patterns in front of her, Cheng Caijie gritted her teeth secretly and said in broken sentences:
"Please, forgive me, Princess."
These five short words had exhausted all her self - esteem.
"It's okay. Since it's a misunderstanding, everyone doesn't need to take it to heart. Please get up quickly."
Yun Xi's smile was kind and generous, which won her praise from everyone. Qi Rong, however, stared at her with deep, glowing eyes, as if she was the only one left in his world.
He couldn't help but reach out his hand, wanting to hold Yun Xi's small hand, but she noticed it in advance and quickly dodged, even giving him a secret glare.
Like a cat about to puff up its fur, it made Qi Rong couldn't help laughing and feel a tender love for her. Thinking of the next plan, he finally resisted the urge to provoke her.
Halfway through the banquet, such a dramatic scene occurred. Cheng Caijie couldn't bear her father's and everyone's flattery towards Yun Xi any longer and left dejectedly.
However, even though she had left, her heart still remained on Qi Rong. When she saw Qi Rong taking a walk in the mansion halfway, she seized the opportunity and personally ordered a maid to hand the sachet she had embroidered in advance to Qi Rong.
Qi Rong had highly praised Cheng Caijie today, so she was certain that Qi Rong also fancied her.
Coupled with the fact that Yun Xi had stolen the show, which severely hit her self - esteem, she decided to take a desperate gamble tonight and confess her feelings to Qi Rong to lay a foundation for her future!
"Look what I just received?"
Qi Rong slightly curved his thin lips and waved the sachet in his hand, showing off in front of Yun Xi. When Yun Xi saw clearly what was in his hand, she immediately curled her lips and scolded angrily in a low voice:
"Lecher!"
She had seen clearly tonight. This scoundrel was glib - tongued and accepted everyone! He had whispered sweet words to her yesterday, but today he couldn't take his eyes off the beautiful woman and exchanged glances with her. Where was his usual sharp - tongued attitude towards her? He could praise people so well!
It was fine for him to philander, but he even deliberately involved her. No wonder Miss Cheng regarded her as a rival in love.
A complete scoundrel!!
"Miss Cheng has invited me to her boudoir. Do you think I should go or not?"
Qi Rong ignored Yun Xi's suddenly cold face. He deliberately took out a note from the sachet and showed it in front of Yun Xi to prove that what he said was true.
Looking at the note and then at Qi Rong's proud face, Yun Xi gritted her teeth in anger and coldly said:
"Go if you want!"
After saying that, she left Qi Rong directly and walked towards the banquet.
She originally thought that Qi Rong would follow her later, but after a long time, she still didn't see Qi Rong's figure...