"Ah!"
Everyone was startled by the sudden movement. Ye Jueyao couldn't help but let out a startled cry.
She gave Yi Yaofeng a furtive yet fierce glare. Her heart was filled with fury, but her face instantly showed an aggrieved expression.
"Your Highness~ What's wrong with the young heir?"
Of course, she was in the way!
Ye Xi rolled her eyes so hard that it seemed they would pop out. Suddenly, she found her elder sister quite stupid. The entire mansion had to accommodate this little brat Yi Yaofeng. It would have been fine to just apologize quickly, but instead, she was acting coquettishly with the prince.
[Ugh, this concubine is not only ugly but also so talkative!]
"Pfft..." Ye Xi was amused by Yi Yaofeng's inner rant and quickly squatted down, pretending to help the maids tidy up.
Yi Yuan already disliked Ye Jueyao's affected behavior. Suddenly hearing Ye Xi's soft laugh, he thought she was laughing at him. Immediately, his face darkened, and he said coldly,
"Can't you see you're in the young heir's way?"
"I, I..."
Ye Jueyao's fair face flushed and then paled.
Of course, she saw it. She just thought it was just a kid playing with toys. It didn't matter if she was in the way for a bit.
Who would have thought Yi Yaofeng had such a bad temper.
"For the sake of Miss Ye the Second, I'll spare you this time."
After waiting for a long time and still hearing nothing but "I", Yi Yuan quickly lost his patience and directly ordered,
"Someone, show the guests out."
Show the guests out!? Ye Jueyao looked up in disbelief. She had just arrived, and she hadn't even sat down properly yet, and now she was being shown out?
Ye Jueyao was both angry and anxious. She looked at Ye Xi venomously. The prince was already ordering them to leave, but Ye Xi didn't even stand up to plead for mercy!
However, Ye Xi didn't notice what Yi Yuan and Ye Jueyao were talking about at all. Just now, while helping the maid tidy up, she clearly heard the maid's inner thought—
"Prince Yu'an is really handsome. It's a pity he won't live to see tomorrow."
What did it mean that he wouldn't live to see tomorrow? Ye Xi frowned. Had he been poisoned? Or was someone going to assassinate him?
The thigh she had just managed to hug, and she hadn't even met the great master yet, and now someone was trying to sabotage it?
Ye Xi was deep in thought.
Seeing that Ye Xi didn't move, and Steward Chen had already come over to "invite" them to leave.
Ye Jueyao had no choice but to clench her teeth secretly and maintain her last bit of dignity as she bid farewell and left.
The two maids had already finished tidying up and were about to bow and retreat.
Ye Xi suddenly had a thought and quickly reached out to grab the maid whose inner thoughts she had heard.
"What's the matter, Miss Ye?"
The two maids stopped in their tracks. The maid who was grabbed looked at Ye Xi curiously and asked.
The others nearby also looked at her strangely.
"Um..." Ye Xi forced a smile. "It's nothing. It's just that I thought the girl was so dexterous when tidying up. Her fingers moved so nimbly. It was really beautiful."
Unable to think of a better reason, Ye Xi could only make something up. She didn't dare to loosen her grip at all.
"What's your name?"
Ye Xi didn't dare to ask directly and just made small talk. After all, there were so many people here. If her mind - reading ability was exposed, the Ye family would surely notice something was wrong.
[Beautiful? Is this Miss Ye crazy?]
The maid silently complained, but still looked respectful on the surface.
"Answer to the miss, my name is Xiangxiao."
"Oh..." Ye Xi was extremely anxious as she couldn't get any useful information.
"Then, what kind of work do you do in the mansion?" Ye Xi's question was a bit overstepping since she wasn't the master of the mansion.
So she quickly added,
"Do you usually take care of the young heir? What's your task for tonight?"
"Um..." Xiangxiao didn't know which question to answer first. She tried to pull her hand back while answering,
"I just came to the mansion not long ago. I do some rough cleaning work. Steward Chen usually takes care of the young heir. I only do cleaning. As for tonight, I'm in charge of cleaning the east and west courtyards and lighting the lamps in the south garden. That's all."
[What's wrong with this Miss Ye? She's acting like a lecher, holding onto someone's hand and not letting go.]
[Why is she asking about tonight? Has the assassination of Yi Yuan been discovered?]
Before Xiangxiao could finish her inner thoughts, Yi Yuan couldn't stand it anymore.
She had only managed to gain two points of favor from Yaofeng, and now she was showing her true colors? Asking all these questions as if she was already the mistress of the mansion.
"Miss Ye."
Yi Yuan's thick black eyebrows furrowed tightly. His cold voice carried a warning.
Having obtained useful information, Ye Xi reluctantly let go.
"Sorry, I overstepped. I just thought that it's not easy for the young heir to open his heart a bit, so I asked a few more questions."
She didn't want to be seen as a lecher either, but if she didn't get close, she couldn't hear people's inner thoughts. What could she do?
Xiangxiao smiled, said a few polite words, and then left.
"That's all for today."
Yi Yuan's face showed dissatisfaction as he calmly ordered them to leave.
He had finally found someone who could guide Yi Yaofeng. He hoped Ye Xi would know her place and not be so delusional and annoying.
Ye Xi naturally understood what Yi Yuan meant, but she hadn't told him what she knew yet, so she couldn't leave for the time being.
Bravely staying put, Ye Xi forced a smile.
"Don't be in a hurry. The young heir hasn't finished assembling his Qianji Tiger yet. Let's wait a bit longer."
"Oh right, I wonder what Your Highness's arrangements are for tonight?" As if suddenly remembering something, Ye Xi's eyes lit up. She looked at Yi Yuan intently.
"I used to learn some fortune - telling skills from a great master in a temple. Now, looking at Your Highness, your forehead is darkened. It seems something inauspicious is about to happen..."
"Ye, Xi."
Yi Yuan's voice was as cold as ice, directly interrupting Ye Xi's "fortune - telling".
He thought he had given Ye Xi enough face. But this woman was so ungrateful. Not only did she not leave, but she also blatantly inquired about his whereabouts and even resorted to nonsense.
Then don't blame him for being heartless.
"Steward Chen, escort Miss Ye back to her mansion."
Yi Yuan coldly ordered.
Ye Xi had spent more time with Steward Chen in the past two days. Steward Chen knew that Ye Xi was different from the other women. But he didn't dare to disobey Yi Yuan's order. He could only sigh and reply,
"Yes." Then he turned to Ye Xi and said, "Miss Ye, please."
Seeing that if she didn't leave, Yi Yuan might order someone to throw her out, Ye Xi had no choice but to get up slowly.
But she still wasn't willing to give up. Halfway out, Ye Xi suddenly turned around and approached Yi Yuan.
Her eyes were as clear as autumn water, filled with sincerity.
"Trust me. I don't want anything to happen to you." If something happened to you, who would help me find Master Hunyuan.
Ye Xi didn't say the second half of the sentence. She didn't want to seem too utilitarian.
Yi Yuan was caught off guard. Suddenly seeing Ye Xi's almond - shaped eyes staring at him without blinking. The faint sweet fragrance from her body wafted into his nose.
Strangely, those words seemed to hit Yi Yuan's heart, making him feel a bit itchy.
Realizing that the woman in front of him just wanted to attach herself to the mansion, and yet he had been shaken by her eyes, Yi Yuan suddenly felt annoyed.
He pushed Ye Xi away forcefully. A hint of shame and anger flashed in his eyes.
"Enough, Miss Ye." Yi Yuan's voice became even colder. "We both know what your purpose is. Considering your care for Yaofeng in the past two days, I won't argue with you for now."
"But from today on, you don't need to come to the mansion anymore. Our cooperation ends here!"
Ye Xi: ...
"No, Your Highness..."
"Steward Chen, why haven't you shown the guest out yet!"
Ye Xi's unfinished words got stuck in her throat.
Fine! Ye Xi was also annoyed. She turned around and left.
However, when she reached the door, Ye Xi still paused for a moment and said coldly,
"Everything I said is true. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, there's nothing I can do. But Your Highness will encounter a bloody disaster tonight..."
Looking at Yi Yuan thoughtfully, Ye Xi said with a hint of mockery,
"Beware of women."