Yiyun Shangcheng gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, her fingers digging deep into them. Apart from her furrowed brows, there was no sign of anger on her face.
"How am I supposed to know what you're really up to!" Gao Fengfen looked at Ji Wushang's pale face. She couldn't understand it. When she looked at her before, Ji Wushang was quite strong and had a powerful voice. She didn't seem as weak as she was now!
"The Crown Princess just said that you can swim. How can that be? She also said that I was planning to hold you underwater to death, but you can swim. Tell me, how could a weak and frail woman hold someone who can swim underwater? Wouldn't that be courting death? Although Ji Wushang is not particularly intelligent, she has studied the precepts for women since childhood, and her father has taught her to be of good character from a young age. Now that she has married into the Marquis's mansion, how can she cause any more trouble?" Ji Wushang spoke softly, each word like a knife stabbing into Gao Fengfen's heart!
Upon hearing this, Gao Fengfen's expression changed immediately, and everyone around sighed, agreeing that Ji Wushang's words made sense. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that Ji Wushang was indeed unwell, and the imperial physician had just examined him and said that Ji Wushang's body was cold...
People around her pointed and whispered, criticizing Gao Fengfen.
Bei Gongminhao's face remained cold and tense. "What a disgrace!" If she weren't still of some use to him, he would have killed her himself!
Ji Wushang looked at Beigong Minhao, her heart yearning to ask him why he had married her, so that she couldn't even bring herself to kill her!
Ji Wushang lowered her eyelids. "Let's just let this go... Consider it a misunderstanding. I didn't know the Crown Princess was so angry at the time... Sigh." She sighed and said no more.
"Second Prince, what do you think?" Yi Yun Shangcheng looked at Huangfu Ting with an expression that said, "I won't give up until you give me an explanation." Huangfu Ting's lips twitched slightly. Indeed, this woman was quite interesting. She was not simple.
"Princess Consort Nan says it's all a misunderstanding. I think it must be a misunderstanding! Everyone knows that, cough cough, the Prince once went to the General's Mansion to propose marriage. This is common knowledge. Women inevitably have some jealousy and rivalry. So, cough cough, Prince, you should just take your beautiful wife back to your mansion!" Huangfu Ting winked slightly, with a hint of a smile and a hint of a joke, looking at everyone with his eyes curving into crescents.
Ji Wushang glanced at Huangfu Ting, then his gaze fell on Gao Fengfen. Gao Fengfen still had a hint of anger on her face, wanting to argue and say what she wanted to say, but she could only choke back her sobs. Everyone thought that she had pushed Ji Wushang into the water and that she had taken him into the water with her, yet she was trying to frame Ji Wushang. What was there to say? Now the victim was saying it was a misunderstanding. If she didn't go along with it... wouldn't that be ungrateful?
"Hmph!" Gao Fengfen snorted.
Ji Wushang's face was deathly pale. He smiled slightly at her, "If the Crown Princess still feels angry, then... then it really is my fault... Please punish me, Crown Princess..."
"Enough!" Yi Yun Shangcheng instantly stood up from his seat. "I've seen things clearly now, Hmph! Crown Prince, given your relationship with me, I hope you'll behave yourself and keep a close eye on the people in your household!"
"Heh!" Bei Gongminhao sneered twice. "Guards, take the Crown Princess back to the manor! She is not to leave the house for a year!"
Gao Fengfen was immediately shocked. "What? Minhao, Minhao! Listen to me, listen to me! It was her, she was the one who tried to frame me!"
Ji Wushang looked at the people around her with some resentment, her gaze falling on Beigong Minhao, "Why must Your Highness do this? This will make..." Before she could finish speaking, everything went black, and she collapsed to the ground. Zhu'er didn't have time to react, but Yiyun Shangcheng, like a ghost, caught her in her arms to prevent her from falling to the ground, "Wushang?"
The onlookers were stunned. This... this King of the Western Regions was actually embracing a married woman so tightly! What about the Southern Prince? What about the customs and traditions of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty? Did they all think they were blind?
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty, for catching my young lady. I am truly grateful! Zhu'er will take my young lady back to the manor right away... Young lady, you need to rest well." Zhu'er stepped forward and immediately took Ji Wushang's arm.
Yi Yun Shangcheng was slightly brought back to her senses by what she had just said. Yes, she had just overstepped her bounds... At this moment, the fourth young lady of the Marquis's Mansion, Nan Zhaoxue, stepped forward. She was dressed in a blue dress and had a smile on her face that she had never seen before. "I'm sorry to have worried the King about my sister-in-law. Zhu'er, let's hurry back! If my elder brother finds out about this, he will definitely investigate it thoroughly."
Yi Yun Shangcheng released Ji Wushang without saying much. She understood what "elder brother" meant by that cry of "sister-in-law." As for Gao Fengfen, she had already been taken away by the men ordered by Bei Gong Minhao.
Nan Xianxian and Nan Zaiqing watched, feeling displeased. How could such a perfectly good banquet have turned out like this! And now they had to leave! How unlucky and disappointing!
Ji Yinxue's gaze was already fixed on Huangfu Ting, looking at his face, his smile and demeanor, trying to discern something special about him, yet she dared not overstep her bounds.
Huangfu Ting smiled, letting that gaze, which was slightly presumptuous, follow him with his fox-like eyes as he watched Ji Wushang being led away by Zhu'er and the palace maids.
The banquet ended unhappily, and Ji Wushang had miscalculated. He had originally intended this charade to prevent Yiyun from entering the city, but unexpectedly, Yiyun had completely changed his tune. Was his intuition wrong, or was Yiyun simply unpredictable and impossible to fathom?
——
As night deepened, Yiyun Shangcheng had just returned to the temporary palace designated by Emperor Zhou (Emperor Huangfu Zhouhe of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty) and had just drunk a cup of tea when he heard a gust of wind. Yiyun Shangcheng waved his hand, signaling the palace maids and eunuchs who were serving him to leave.
The night was endless and deep.
"Speak." Yi Yun Shangcheng didn't raise his eyebrows; he was very unhappy about what had happened that afternoon.
"Your Majesty, someone has taken the princess and her consort from General Mu's residence!"
"What?" Yi Yun Shangcheng narrowed her purple eyes, her hands clenched tightly. "Get out of here and find out who did this! Tell Murs that if he doesn't want his entire family wiped out, he'd better find out who the princess and her husband are!"
"yes!"
The wind blew by, and the guards had vanished.
Yiyun Shangcheng was filled with lingering resentment. Damn it, these people, these wolves and tigers, they'll steal my happiness! Steal my loved ones! Steal everything I want!
At that moment, a sharp, piercing pain shot through his hand. Yi Yun Shangcheng's expression changed, and he frowned, "Wind!"
In the blink of an eye, another guard knelt before Yiyun Shangcheng and respectfully presented a small black box.
Yi Yun Shangcheng took the box, waved his sleeve to make the person disappear, and opened it. Inside were still those small black insects that were studying and wriggling. Without the slightest hesitation, he put his hand into the box, closed his cold purple eyes, and felt the piercing pain travel from his hand to his nerves.
The black box was surrounded by an endless black light that lingered for a long time.
Ji Wushang returned to Moxuan Garden, where Zhu'er and Xian'er helped him to bed. The doctor came to examine him, gave a few instructions, and left after the medicine was prepared.
Nan Xianxian and the others impatiently said a few words to Aunt Zhao and then left. Aunt Zhao smiled and thought, "We'll have to wait and see. There's clearly something fishy going on. That Gao Fengfen is obviously thinking of banging her head against a wall and dying. Only she would be that stupid!"
The Marquis of Jinnan was unaware of this matter and had gone out.
Ji Wushang lay quietly on the bed, watching the snowy night scene outside, a slight smile on her lips. When Zhu'er brought in the bird's nest soup, she was quite frightened by her appearance. She came forward, helped her lie down on the bed, and covered her with a brocade quilt. "Miss, what's wrong? If you're tired, take a good rest."
"I'm remembering so many things from the past, so many things," Ji Wushang suddenly said, looking at the snowflakes outside. That piercing feeling, he had never forgotten it. Such pain, he would avenge, he absolutely had to avenge!
“Miss, those are things of the past. The most important thing now is to live in the present! The young master will be back in two days. Just wait patiently and don’t worry, everything will be fine.” Zhu’er looked at her, assuming that she was worried about Nan Xu Cong.
"Is there any news?" Hearing Nan Xuzong's name, Ji Wushang perked up. "Go and call Tie Feng here."
"yes."
Tie Feng was allowed to stay by Ji Dingbei's side by Ji Wushang's special permission. Nan Xuzong also knew that Tie Feng had been of great help to Ji Wushang, so he agreed to let Tie Feng serve as Ji Wushang's bodyguard. Now, he has also secured a position as a guard in the Jin Nan Marquis's residence.
Ji Wushang got out of bed and took some medicine. He had thought about his physical condition before entering the pool, but he hadn't expected that he had overestimated his body... It seemed that he still needed to exercise more.
Knowing he needed to nourish his body, Ji Wushang finished the bird's nest.
As she was wiping her mouth, Tie Feng knocked on the door, and Zhu'er was there too.
"Come in." Ji Wushang nodded. "How is the situation? Have you found out anything about Cong?"
"Reporting to Miss, Tie Feng has been sending people to investigate, but what they found is that after the young master entered the Western Regions, our people lost contact. It is estimated that they were discovered, and we don't know who cut off the communication!" Tie Feng knelt on one knee and reported earnestly.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Withdraw the men and arrange manpower in the border area. If Cong encounters any trouble, your men must immediately provide assistance and ensure their safe return!"
"Yes!" Tie Feng nodded.
Ji Wushang waved his hand, "Go down, I'm tired."
Zhu'er and Tie Feng obeyed the order and went down to close the door.
Ji Wushang rubbed his temples, lay back down on the bed, covered himself with the blanket, closed his eyes, and slowly fell asleep.
A gentle breeze stirs, yet a few flutters remain; I ask, with the beauty here, why does spring not return?
The night was like his eyes. His thin lips were slightly upturned, and his slender fingers gently ran down her hair, gliding over her fair and delicate face, her skin as smooth as jade, and he couldn't bear to let go of her.
Ji Wushang was startled. She was already a little irritable because of falling into the icy water earlier that day. This action startled her awake. She sat up in bed, clutching the quilt tightly to her chest, and looked at the man sitting in front of her with a slightly frightened expression.
His purple eyes brightened slightly as he looked at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.
She felt a little relieved after seeing who it was, but then became wary again, asking, "Why are you here?"
"Can't I come?" His slightly hoarse voice came from his throat, and his eyes flickered, adding a touch of light.
“Indeed, I cannot come,” Ji Wushang said truthfully. “I am already married, so please, Your Majesty, show some respect.”
Yiyun Shangcheng gave a wicked smile, "Married? I've never cared whether you get married or not."
Ji Wushang's forehead creased with a few dark lines. "I care."
"Let's not talk about that stuff for now." Yiyun Shangcheng seemed quite uninterested in the matter. "How's your injury? Hmm? Let me see."
"It's nothing, thank you for your concern." Ji Wushang backed away; this man was dangerous.
Yiyun Shangcheng noticed her resentment, thought for a moment, and said, "I sincerely apologize to you. The things I did to you before, I just didn't want you to marry him, but things can't be changed. I... I'm so sorry, please don't treat me like this."
“I shouldn’t have tried to control you with my mind, but, but at that time, I really didn’t know I was going crazy, I had a little difficulty controlling myself… Please forgive me!” Seeing that she didn’t react, Yi Yun Shangcheng had no choice but to continue.
Ji Wushang looked at him, "Then what do you do now..."
“I’m fine now.” Yiyun Shangcheng looked at her. “I’m completely alright.”
Ji Wushang scrutinized him from head to toe. In the past, he dressed in bright and sunny clothes, but now he preferred black. His wildness was on full display. At this moment, Ji Wushang could not feel any murderous aura from him. There was only a faint warmth.
Gentle, with a touch of sadness.
sad?
Ji Wushang looked into his eyes, and the purple pupils reflected only his own image, as well as his own scrutinizing bright eyes.
Ji Wushang lowered his head. "It's good that you're alright."
Yi Yunshangcheng's lips curled into a smile. "Your body is too weak and cold, so I had the five elders concoct some medicine for you to nourish your body." As he spoke, he took out a small bottle from his bosom and held out his hand.
Ji Wushang shook his head, "I don't need it, you can keep it for yourself."
“…Wu Shang.” Yi Yun Shangcheng finally managed to say, “Take this.” He grabbed her arm with a hint of force and placed the bottle in her hand. “Take one pill a day, without fail!”
Ji Wushang looked at him, thought for a moment, and said, "Thank you."
"And also, I want to tell you, let go of everything from the past, okay?" Yi Yun Shang Cheng looked at her. "Let go of everything from the past except me. Including those who hurt you. I'll deal with those people myself, don't worry. Just wait for me, I will do so much for you. I don't care who you married or how many men you've had, but I..."
"Slap." Ji Wushang looked at his hand in disbelief, and he was also quite shocked, staring at her in disbelief, his eyes full of questions: Why, why did you hit me like that?
“I…I, Ji Wushang, have only one man in this life. I consider you a friend, an older brother…I’m sorry.” Ji Wushang shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
His question about how many men he had been with really stung her. In her eyes, was she really that worthless?
Yiyun Shangcheng was still in a daze, wondering what she had said wrong.
“I don’t want you to treat me like an older brother, I don’t want to be your friend!” Yiyun Shangcheng thought for a moment and grasped this sentence.
"Why do you have to do this? In Yiyun City, there are many beautiful, virtuous and better women than me waiting for you, don't you understand?" Ji Wushang looked at him, his face still flushed, realizing he had been a bit too rough just now.
"When you were six years old, do you remember the person you met?" Yiyun Shangcheng suddenly changed the subject.
She was six years old, and he was twelve.
Ji Wushang was stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief. It was him?
"Back then, though you were arrogant, following behind your father, you insisted on riding a horse on the battlefield. I still remember the scene of you leading your men across the battlefield. I hated you, convinced that you were the daughter of an enemy general, and was determined to kill you. But I never expected that you would release me. From then on, I was determined to be with you. I have been practicing martial arts, studying military books, and learning strategies, but why, in the end, have I not seen you?" Yi Yun Shangcheng asked with a questioning expression.
"The calamities of war are truly unpredictable. The past is the past, everything has changed!" Ji Wushang's eyes were filled with tears. "Back then, I was arrogant, but all I got in return was blame. I was ignorant and despised their punishment of you, so I let you go. Father couldn't explain this to the generals, so naturally he punished me and had me sent home!"
"You took the whipping for me, didn't you?" Yiyun Shangcheng grabbed her hand. "I asked the prisoners before, and you took quite a few lashes for me, didn't you? You almost lost your life! I shouldn't have dragged you into this!"
"Let go," Ji Wushang said coldly.
He had to slowly let go of her hand.
"I told you, the past is the past, everything has changed." Ji Wushang said without a trace of emotion. He didn't know that upon returning to the manor, he would receive even more blame. His mother was weak, and Aunt Bai and the others took the opportunity to kick him while he was down, adding drugs to his medicine. Otherwise, how could his body be so weak? Cold constitution? It wasn't something he was born with... If it weren't for them, he would probably be a female general who had fought on the battlefield by now!
“Many things have indeed passed, but we need to see the present clearly.” Ji Wushang sighed after a long silence, then looked intently at him. “I consider you a friend, before, now, and in the future.”
“You control my mind, and I don’t want to know why… There are many things that don’t necessarily need a reason or an outcome. Yiyun Shangcheng, let go, go back to your Western Regions, be your king, you will have a beautiful and intelligent queen, and a whole bunch of good children who will fawn over you and call you Father.” She smiled, “This Marquis’s mansion is not as simple as you imagine.”
Yiyun Shangcheng kept a straight face, afraid of making her angry, and wanted to argue back, but in the end she shook her head helplessly.