Facing the barrage of sarcasm from the Fifth Princess, Yun Xi felt innocent and helpless.
Was this Fifth Princess of Kokchin crazy? How could she be so mean - spirited with her words!
She had been sitting peacefully in the carriage, eating, minding her own business. Who on earth had she offended? How could she be caught up in this unwarranted trouble!
Yun Xi originally didn't want to respond, but seeing the Fifth Princess's persistent and unyielding attitude, as if she wouldn't stop until Yun Xi took the bait, she felt really headache - inducing.
After a moment of contemplation, she said calmly,
"As an ancient saying goes, 'Kind words are warmer than cloth and silk; hurtful words are deeper than spears and halberds.' It doesn't matter if the Fifth Princess dislikes me, because I don't live to please you."
As soon as Yun Xi started speaking, Yuan Zhu's face darkened. Yun Xi paused for a moment, then continued,
"But if the Fifth Princess thinks she can elevate her own status by belittling others, I sincerely advise you not to do so, because it will only expose your ignorance and rudeness!"
She used to be angry when people called her father a "treacherous official", but her father had told her:
"Don't argue with fools about right and wrong, and don't get entangled with villains."
Because fools are too stupid, and villains can't get along with anyone. Arguing with such people is a very foolish thing!
The Fifth Princess, Yuan Zhu, was straightforward - tempered. She immediately retorted angrily upon sensing the sarcasm in Yun Xi's words,
"You say I'm ignorant and rude?"
Being belittled by someone she looked down upon was unbearable for Yuan Zhu!
Facing the angry Fifth Princess, Yun Xi remained calm. Looking directly into the princess's eyes, she said,
"I believe the Fifth Princess is young enough that her ears aren't deaf. I don't need to repeat myself."
Just earlier, the Eighth Princess had scolded her for being deaf because she didn't reply. Now, she returned the favor.
Yun Xi's calm demeanor infuriated Yuan Zhu. She stepped onto the carriage with one foot, even wanting to drag Yun Xi out of the carriage on the spot to teach her a lesson.
However, the coachman suddenly blocked her way. Yuan Zhu frowned and said coldly,
"What do you think you're doing?"
A mere coachman! She hadn't even settled the score with him for his previous actions, yet he dared to block her path now?
Seeing the tense atmosphere between the coachman and the Fifth Princess, Yun Xi slowly said,
"Maybe the Fifth Princess is unaware of our Central Plains etiquette. Even though you're the Fifth Princess of Kokchin, you can't board the carriage of the Prince of Xian's Mansion without the owner's permission."
Looking at the embarrassed expression on the Fifth Princess's face, Yun Xi said in a cold tone,
"I hope the Fifth Princess can remember this, so as not to break the etiquette in the future and then blame me for not reminding you!"
Since this Fifth Princess was so good at picking fights, Yun Xi decided to block all her paths.
The Fifth Princess, who had been so aggressive and had mocked Yun Xi for being uneducated just now, was left speechless and blushing by Yun Xi's few calm words.
It was as if all the insults she had hurled at Yun Xi were now rebounding on herself!
Furious, the Fifth Princess pointed at Yun Xi, her eyes full of disdain,
"You're really glib - tongued! How dare you be so disrespectful to this princess! You're just relying on the power of the Prince of Xian. You're just a concubine. What's there to be so arrogant about?!"
So what if she was eloquent and the daughter of the prime minister?
With her status as a concubine, she would be laughed at for the rest of her life!
Yun Xi didn't like pointless arguments, but this Fifth Princess, Yuan Zhu, was obviously spoiled. She just kept harping on one thing, more boring than a parrot that could only repeat words!
"As a concubine of the Prince of Xian, I really don't have anything to be proud of. It's not like the Fifth Princess, who is so self - important. Relying on the favor of the Khan of Kokchin, she thinks she's the most noble woman in the world and belittles everyone else like ants!"
"Little does she know that there's always someone better out there. She hasn't found her proper place."
Yun Xi didn't care how powerful the Fifth Princess was in Kokchin, but this was the capital. There was no shortage of noble people here. Just the Eighth Princess alone was far more noble than this princess of Kokchin!
Moreover, her elder brother was already dead, and his body was hanging on the city gate. Yet she still had the leisure to pick a fight with her?
Did this Fifth Princess leave her brains in Kokchin?
The Fifth Princess, Yuan Zhu, was so angry at Yun Xi's mockery that she was practically fuming. But Yun Xi calmly reached out and pulled the bamboo curtain shut in front of Yuan Zhu's eyes.
"Coachman, I'd like to take a rest. Please keep the flies outside from getting in."
Glancing at Yuan Zhu's changing complexion, the coachman couldn't help but smile. He immediately replied and said with a double meaning,
"Don't worry, madam. I'm good at swatting flies. Unless the fly brings humiliation upon itself!"
"You! - Yun Xi, come out and face this princess!"
Yuan Zhu had originally wanted to find Yun Xi to vent her anger, but instead of getting any satisfaction, she was completely humiliated by Yun Xi!
Furious, she tried to get closer to the carriage, but the coachman quickly blocked her way, preventing her from approaching.
Yuan Zhu tried to provoke Yun Xi with words, but Yun Xi simply took out two pieces of cotton from the cushion and stuffed them into her ears.
Even though Yuan Zhu was talking herself hoarse, Yun Xi was still eating with relish. She even had the leisure to hum a little mountain tune she had heard the day before.
The tune almost made Yuan Zhu spit out a mouthful of blood!
On the other side, after carefully observing the surrounding environment, Yuan Qi led Qi Rong to an open area under the surveillance of the Imperial City's Jinyiwei. It was a place where the Jinyiwei could only watch from a distance but had nowhere to hide.
In this way, although the Jinyiwei could see that he was talking to Qi Rong, they wouldn't be able to know the content of their conversation.
Qi Rong glanced back in the direction of the carriage and said calmly to Yuan Qi,
"Speak. You went to such lengths to call me here. What's the important matter?"
Sensing the displeasure in Qi Rong's tone, Yuan Qi clasped his fists and bowed deeply to Qi Rong with a look of apology on his face.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I'm under the surveillance of the Jinyiwei at all times. I really had no other choice, so I had to take this risk."
Seeing that Qi Rong was listening silently without saying a word, Yuan Qi quickly seized the opportunity to speak,
"I came to see Your Highness this time to ask about something: Did Yuan Zhen really attempt to assassinate the Empress Dowager last night?"
Yuan Qi had long anticipated Yuan Zhen's downfall.
Because it was a scheme masterminded by the Prince of Xian, and he had assisted by secretly poisoning the weapons of the ten warriors.
He knew that if he wanted to completely bring down Yuan Zhen, this was his last chance. Once Yuan Zhen returned to Kokchin, it would be extremely difficult for him to kill Yuan Zhen.
So, he made a bold move, not only gambling the lives of the ten warriors of Kokchin but also the safety of Kokchin itself!
However, he didn't expect that the outcome would be very different from what he had imagined!
Originally, he just wanted to attribute Yuan Zhen's death to Yuan Zhen himself, but now, it had become a case where Yuan Zhen was killed for attempting to assassinate the Empress Dowager, and his body was even hung on the city gate by the emperor.
As a result, he was worried that Yuan Zhen's death would completely drag down their Yuan clan and even the entire Kokchin!