"Hongluo, go outside the courtyard gate and see if there's anyone there."
Suddenly struck by a thought, Yun Xi stopped packing and gave instructions to Hongluo.
"Yes, Miss."
Hongluo understood and hurriedly walked outside. She returned soon, with a hint of nervousness on her face.
"Miss, there are suddenly two guards outside the gate. As soon as I got to the door, I was stopped. They said that without the Prince's order, no one is allowed to leave the courtyard!"
"What?!"
Yun Xi was stunned. She suddenly stood up, her body swaying. Hongluo quickly supported her.
"Not even you can go out? Where is Qi Rong? I want to see him!"
Yun Xi's face turned pale. She never expected Qi Rong to go this far. He was clearly putting her under house arrest!
Now her father's life was uncertain. She had to return to the capital as soon as possible to try to rescue him. Otherwise, it would be too late and she would regret it for the rest of her life!
Hongluo looked at Yun Xi worriedly and replied hesitantly:
"I asked just now. The Prince has gone out and won't be back for a while. Judging from the guards' attitude, it will be difficult for us to get out!"
"How could he do this! What right does he have?!"
Yun Xi slumped into a chair and murmured to herself, with hatred glinting in her eyes.
He had promised to keep her father alive, but now he broke his promise and was trying to stop her from saving her father?
He was so overbearing and arbitrary. Had he ever thought about her feelings? Watching her father in trouble while being unable to do anything, how anxious she must be!
If, by any chance, her father passed away, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life and never be able to let it go!
"Hongluo, we can't just sit and wait for death. I must return to the capital as soon as possible!"
After a moment of inner struggle, Yun Xi gathered her spirit and said firmly.
Even though her ability was limited and she might not be able to save her father, if she didn't even try, she would surely regret it in the future!
"But Miss, how can we get out of the courtyard smoothly?"
Hongluo understood Yun Xi's anxiety. However, thinking of the guards at the door and the high walls around, it seemed impossible for just the two of them to escape from Lingchuan unnoticed!
Looking at Hongluo's hesitant expression, Yun Xi said firmly:
"Pull the wool over everyone's eyes."
Since they couldn't get out, it didn't mean others couldn't come in.
If Yu Xueming could use her, why couldn't she use Yu Xueming in return?
Yun Xi had made up her mind, and Hongluo went out again as instructed.
This time, Hongluo held a letter written by Yun Xi, stating that there was an important matter and inviting Yu Xueming over.
The guards looked at the letter in Hongluo's hand and looked very hesitant. Hongluo said coldly:
"We're just sending a letter. My mistress and I will stay in the courtyard. What are you worried about?"
"My mistress said that if you stop her from meeting Miss Yu, she will go on a hunger strike! Is that what the Prince wants, to let Miss starve? My mistress is so weak now. If anything happens to her, how will you explain it to the Prince?!"
Hongluo's tone was cold and threatening, which made the guards outside look at each other nervously.
Since they had been following Qi Rong for many years, they had seen how the Prince treated the Princess of Yongning.
Given the Prince's care for the Princess, if anything happened to her, they would surely be in trouble!
Thinking of this, the two guards nodded to each other and agreed to deliver the letter to Yu Xueming.
Not long after, Yu Xueming and her maid Juan'er came to Yun Xi's courtyard.
She had caught a cold, so her face and lips were a bit pale, and she looked listless. That was why she hadn't followed Qi Rong as usual today.
"Speak. What do you want to talk to me about?"
After entering the door, Yu Xueming sat directly on a chair opposite Yun Xi. She looked at Yun Xi coldly, with a sneer on her face. She was too lazy to pretend anymore.
Seeing Yu Xueming's attitude, Yun Xi felt a bit relieved. Compared to Yu Xueming's usual hypocrisy, this directness was rather refreshing.
"I want to return to the capital. I need your help."
Yun Xi got straight to the point without beating around the bush.
Hearing this, Yu Xueming suddenly sneered:
"Why should I help you? If you have the ability, figure it out yourself!"
From the guards at the door when she entered the courtyard, she already knew what was going on.
While she gloated over Yun Xi's situation, she couldn't help but envy how much Brother Rong cared about Yun Xi!
If it were her, if she could get so much of Brother Rong's attention, she would surely stay by his side obediently and die without regret!
"Because you like Qi Rong! As long as I'm here, his eyes will never fall on you."
Yun Xi looked directly into Yu Xueming's eyes, and her words left Yu Xueming speechless.
She knew Yu Xueming was jealous of her, and it seemed that Qi Rong had no feelings for Yu Xueming at all. She had noticed this the first time she saw Yu Xueming in the Fumanlou.
Qi Rong simply didn't like Yu Xueming.
Yu Xueming gritted her teeth and stared at Yun Xi. She couldn't help but cough a few times. Her pale face showed an unpredictable expression:
"Are you trying to show off that Brother Rong cares about you?"
Facing Yu Xueming's question, Yun Xi replied calmly:
"It's a fact."
Even without her, Qi Rong wouldn't fall for Yu Xueming. Because Qi Rong had clear likes and dislikes and was inexplicably stubborn. This was a conclusion she drew from her long - time interaction with him.
However, she couldn't tell Yu Xueming this clearly.
"A striking fact indeed!"
Yu Xueming was so irritated by Yun Xi's words that her body trembled slightly. She felt that Yun Xi was showing off her power because of Brother Rong's care!
However, even though she didn't want to admit it, Yun Xi was right about one thing:
As long as Yun Xi was around, Brother Rong would never notice her!
So, getting rid of Yun Xi would do her nothing but good, which was exactly what she had in mind!
Moreover, the situation in the capital was unpredictable. The Prime Minister's Mansion might fall into irreparable disaster at any time. Since Yun Xi wanted to fly into the fire, it suited her perfectly, killing three birds with one stone!
Thinking of this, Yu Xueming stopped wasting time with Yun Xi and immediately said:
"I can help you, but you must also agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
Yun Xi frowned and stared intently at Yu Xueming. Yu Xueming smiled:
"If Brother Rong asks about the reason for your escape, I'll say that I was forced by you, and you left him voluntarily. It has nothing to do with me!"
Yu Xueming knew that Qi Rong hated others interfering in his affairs, especially since he had an inexplicable obsession with Yun Xi. So, in order not to create a rift with Brother Rong,
she had to clear herself of any suspicion in advance!