Shen Zhou, however, seemed completely oblivious. With an innocent and harmless smile on his face, he stared straight at Yun Xi and said cheerfully,
"What do you think, Xiao Xi? Are you satisfied?"
"If there's anything I've missed, just tell me. I'll go and find it."
Yun Xi inwardly groaned.
That damned Shen Zhou was deliberately causing trouble.
She thought that she might as well have just agreed to marry him back then. After all, her identity as the young lady of the Yun family hadn't been discovered yet, and the Shen family would surely have done everything in their power to stop the marriage.
But now, the condition of not being able to distance herself from Shen Zhou didn't seem too excessive at first glance. However, upon closer thought, who could stand being constantly pestered by someone like him with no way to avoid it?
Yi Yuan would probably go crazy sooner or later.
Forcing a dry smile, Yun Xi said,
"No need, no need. It's more than enough. Thank you, Shen..."
"Cough, cough..."
Suddenly, Shen Zhou let out a cough, interrupting Yun Xi's words.
Yun Xi paused. After struggling for a while, she squeezed out the words one by one through her teeth:
"Thank you... A, cough, Zhou."
Shen Zhou's eyes curved into a smile.
"Sister Xi!"
Before Yi Yuan could lose his temper, Yun Qianying broke down first. Her shrill voice pierced through everyone's eardrums:
"His Highness the Prince of Yu'an is still here! You and the prince have already exchanged betrothal tokens. How can you address another man so intimately?"
Although others didn't know about the deal between Yun Xi and Shen Zhou, Yun Qi did.
Although Yun Xi had been vague about the details at that time, after what had just happened, Yun Qi could easily figure out what Yun Xi had promised Shen Zhou.
Seeing Yun Qianying shouting out such an inappropriate thing so loudly, as if she was afraid that others wouldn't know, Yun Qi immediately frowned and scolded,
"What nonsense! It's just a bit of intimate address between good friends. Everyone does it like this. Xiao Ying, don't make a fuss and lose your composure."
"I..."
Yun Qianying was so jealous and resentful that her face was slightly distorted. Just as she was about to defend herself, she saw Yi Yuan stretch out his long arm. He lazily pulled Yun Xi into his arms to assert his sovereignty and said coldly,
"The gifts have been delivered. We appreciate Young Master Shen's kindness. We still have something to do, so we won't keep you any longer."
This dismissal order was almost clearly slapped in Shen Zhou's face.
Any person with a bit of self - respect and sense of propriety would probably blush with shame and leave immediately at this moment.
However, Shen Zhou seemed not to understand the meaning behind Yi Yuan's words at all. He calmly twitched the corner of his lips and said,
"Just now, Young Master Yun said that Xiao Xi and I are good friends. Since my friend is in trouble, how can I stand by and do nothing?"
"Your Highness, don't be polite. Just tell me what you need. You can rest assured that with Xiao Xi's relationship, I will do my best to help."
These words made it seem as if he was the main character, while Yi Yuan was the outsider.
The veins on Yi Yuan's forehead were throbbing. His hand hidden in his sleeve was clenched so tightly that it was slightly trembling. He managed to hold back the urge to drive Shen Zhou away.
He wasn't a fool.
When Yun Xi was captured by the Saint Teacher, everyone was busy looking for her. So how was the "Red Decline" poison in his body cured?
Combined with what Qiao Yan had accidentally let slip later, Yi Yuan had a rough guess in his mind.
He just didn't want to admit it.
Now seeing Yun Xi acting so abnormally, Yi Yuan had to admit, even though he was reluctant, that Shen Zhou was the one who had saved him.
No matter how angry and awkward he was, he couldn't drive Shen Zhou away casually anymore.
Staring coldly at Shen Zhou's annoying and delicate face, Yi Yuan snorted,
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Shen, but I will handle Xiao Xi's matters. If I remember correctly, it's Yun Qianying who is closer to Young Master Shen. Young Master Shen should care more about her."
Shen Zhou was at a loss for words.
He glanced at Yun Qianying out of the corner of his eye and was about to argue again. But Yun Xi was already fed up with their constant bickering. She simply raised her hand and interrupted,
"Alright, alright. I'm not feeling well, and Father has been traveling all night without rest. There will surely be a welcoming banquet in the palace tomorrow. Everyone, please go back and rest well."
Hearing Yun Xi call him Father without any hesitation, Yun Weisheng felt warm and a bit sour in his heart. His eyes were even a bit red.
"Alright, alright,"
After giving Yun Xi some kind and considerate instructions, Yun Weisheng got up with Liu Jingyue and said,
"Then your mother and I will go back first. We've always kept your childhood boudoir at home for you, Yingying..."
Yun Weisheng paused, and the meaning in his words was self - evident.
But he also felt that it was a bit hasty. And judging from the situation just now, it was obvious that Yun Qianying and Yun Xi didn't get along well. Yun Weisheng didn't want to wrong either of them, nor did he want Yun Xi to be unhappy when she returned to her own home.
So he stopped talking and looked at Yun Xi hesitantly and nervously.
Seeing that Yun Xi was gradually replacing her position and that Shen Zhou was completely on her side, Yun Qianying tightly clutched the silk handkerchief in her hand so hard that her nails were almost broken.
"Sister Xi,"
She half - lowered her eyelids to hide the venom in her eyes. When she raised them again, her eyes were full of sincerity.
Limping forward, Yun Qianying enthusiastically reached out to pull Yun Xi while wearing a sweet smile and said,
"Come back and live with us. Mother has been talking about you for a long time at home. She just was afraid that you were still angry about sending you away when you were a child, so she never dared to say it.
"Fortunately, the misunderstanding has been cleared up now. Since Father and Mother had their own difficulties back then, Sister Xi, don't be angry anymore. Let's go home and live together."
With these words, it seemed as if Yun Xi was still angry if she didn't go back to live in the Yun family.
Moreover, Yun Xi had been away from home since childhood and didn't know anyone in the huge Yun Mansion. She would surely not be as comfortable as living in her own mansion.
And with Yun Qianying being so restless, no one knew what underhanded tricks she would play behind the scenes.
There were thieves for a thousand days, but no one could defend against them for a thousand days. Besides, Yun Xi was already struggling to take care of herself and was still trying to investigate the "contribution" of the old prince during the plague back then. She had no time to deal with Yun Qianying's dirty tricks.
Before everything was clear, Yun Xi had no intention of going back to live in the Yun family.
Avoiding Yun Qianying's outstretched hand indifferently, Yun Xi glanced at her and said,
"If you can't speak properly, then just keep your mouth shut."
"What do you mean by saying that I'm angry? Which eye of yours saw that? I naturally know that Father and Mother love me. I don't go back to live in the Yun family because I'm used to living here. Why does it sound so different coming out of your mouth?"
Would she let others bully her on her own territory?
Too lazy to keep up the pretense, Yun Xi scolded Yun Qianying mercilessly:
"Since you're the young lady of the Yun family now, act and speak more properly. Otherwise, you'll invite gossip and disgrace the Yun family's reputation."
"I, I..."
Since she had been raised in the Yun family, when had Yun Qianying ever been scolded like this?
And it was right in front of the man she loved.
Tears streaming down like broken beads, Yun Qianying looked around pitifully and sobbed,
"I didn't mean anything else. Sister, don't misunderstand... Wuwu..."
Then she anxiously reached out to pull Yun Xi again:
"Really, sister, I... Ah!"
With a scream, because Yun Xi dodged, Yun Qianying fell to the ground. She covered her ankle painfully with tears in her eyes.
But she still said very considerately,
"I was just careless. Sister, are you okay? Father and Mother, please don't blame sister..."
"Miss!"
Liuyun behind her screamed and pounced on her:
"Your foot..."
While shouting, she untied the gauze on Yun Qianying's leg, showing her bloody wound to everyone in an attempt to gain sympathy.
But Yun Xi immediately saw the birthmark on her ankle!