The thought of this brat constantly 'ruining' her future daughter made her furious. Then she remembered that this niece wasn't obedient and dared to play tricks on Yan'er. She immediately snorted coldly, "Let this princess think about what you said before..."
Ji Ping and Xi Rui raised their phoenix eyes.
"A pair of intact eyes, a life free from want, in exchange for Zhizhi's body and the rest of her life—this is what we agreed upon long ago, no deception whatsoever. If I haven't gotten tired of it, no one can change my mind. What's done is done; I never expected to hide it forever."
"When the mood strikes, I might take a concubine. I might tell a lie at the beauty's request. Whether she's a wife or a concubine, it's up to me."
"Beauty is beautiful, but one day you'll get tired of it."
"Liking someone is agonizing enough, and love is even more elusive in my understanding. From the first moment I saw her, I was attracted to her body. She was beautiful and delicious. Even if Madam Yu knew everything, she couldn't change the fact that Zhizhi was the one I welcomed into the family—"
The "concubine" was turned away. Ji Pingxi covered the princess's mouth with one hand, and her previously rosy face had lost most of its color.
Her voice turned cold, her eyes as deep and heavy as the frost of the twelfth lunar month: "Your Royal Aunt has a very good memory. You'd better not say such things again."
Ji Rong broke free from her grasp: "Now you know how outrageous I was?"
Being in love with someone you thought would never fall in love with is destined to lead to a painful lesson. Ji Pingxi's face was almost swollen from being slapped by her past self. Fortunately, she was flexible and adaptable. The frost between her brows dissipated, and she patted her sleeves: "I was young and ignorant. Thank you for your guidance, Imperial Aunt."
They were all people who were desperate to become the Liu family's 'son-in-law'. She was willing to back down, and Ji Rong was magnanimous and didn't hold it against her. Before long, the two of them were huddled together, discussing their strategy.
"Help me win back Yan'er/Zhizhi first!"
Both of them were thinking of themselves, and Ji Rong glared at her: "You're still young, what's the rush?"
Ji Pingxi retorted, "Young people need the nourishment of love even more."
"..."
Less than a quarter of an hour after shaking hands and making peace, the aunt and niece had another falling out and parted ways.
Half an hour later, Princess Changyang came out of the kitchen, carrying freshly cooked dishes called "Twin Branches" and "Birds of Love" into the courtyard.
Yu Zhi was much better and ate slowly and methodically, holding long chopsticks.
Ji Pingxi leaned on the table, tilting his head to look at her, and said when he found a suitable opportunity: "Zhizhi, how about we become a pair of birds flying wing to wing?"
He would rather die than not say something shocking.
Her change of heart was so sudden that Yu Zhi was shocked for a moment, then coughed uncomfortably. After recovering, she blushed and asked, "What...what did you say?"
The beautiful woman looked up with concern, her expression worried: "Xi Xi, are you sick?"
But his brain got fried and confused?
"..."
Perhaps because she had used too many crude and flirtatious words in the past, Zhizhi didn't believe her sweet talk and smooth words. Ji Pingxi shot herself in the foot, and with her neck stiff, she said seriously, "I...I've fallen for you!"
Yu Zhi stared at her blankly for a moment, then chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand as she touched the princess's fair and smooth cheek: "Of course you've taken a liking to me, otherwise how could I have such a life of luxury and unparalleled wealth today?"
They had made love countless times, and Yu Zhi found her adorable when she said those words again. She slightly raised her eyelids and, without making a sound, instructed Jin Shi to call the divine doctor.
Ji Pingxi never imagined that his courage to express his feelings would be seen as foolishness.
When she spoke again, Yu Zhi pondered her words carefully. Suddenly, she leaned softly against her, her eyes sparkling with alluring charm. When she lowered her gaze, a hint of bewilderment flashed across her face: "Your Highness is just playing around. How could I dare to take it seriously?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Changyang turned pale. She had been playing among the flowers and was now reaping the bitter fruit of her actions.
Chapter 82 Sleeping for a Lifetime
"Divine doctor, divine doctor, please go and see His Highness, His Highness, she..."
Jin Shi spoke haltingly, while Yao Chenzi, engrossed in preparing the medicinal herbs, was startled upon hearing this: "What's wrong with her?!"
He threw down the gardenia he was holding and hurriedly rushed out.
Jin Shi caught his breath and followed, his forehead covered in sweat: "Your Highness looks like she's lost her mind from a fever!"
"What?" Yao Chenzi paused, finding it strange.
Before he mastered the Compassionate Subduing Magic, his friend already had an exceptionally good physique. After mastering this unparalleled skill, while he might not be immune to all poisons, he was at least far from being "brain-dead" like her.
"Tell me more carefully."
"His Highness is speaking strangely all of a sudden. He said he wanted to be a pair of birds flying wing to wing with his concubine, and that he had taken a liking to her. He was so affectionate. He doesn't seem to be the composed person he usually is."
Upon closer examination, Jin Shi felt that the prince, who was saying these words to his aunt, seemed like a young girl experiencing her first love.
The word "little girl" is perfectly normal, but when placed alongside their unpredictable princess, it inexplicably sends a shiver down one's spine.
How should I put it?
It's just... weird.
Yao Chenzi patiently listened to her explain the whole story, and immediately suppressed his earlier anxiety, stroking his beard and laughing: "Ji Pingxi, Ji Pingxi, you've finally met your match?"
He quickened his pace unceremoniously: "Come on, let's go make a good fool of her!"
"Miracle doctor, this..."
"Your Highness is not ill, she has fallen in love."
"Mingxin is moved?" Jinshi pondered the words repeatedly, his eyes suddenly lighting up: "There's hope for Auntie?!"
"It's more than just hopeful." Yao Chenzi flicked his sleeves, his clothes fluttering in the wind.
He was genuinely curious about how foolish the man would be if he fell in love, and how he would end up 'calling a doctor'.
...
Princess Changyang was pale, as if she were suffering an unbearable weight.
Having lived two tumultuous lives, this was the first time I'd ever felt love, and she was the one who nipped the seed of love in the bud—what utterly absurd things she'd said!
"Just playing around?"
Her voice was muffled.
If the earlier suggestion to have Jinshi invite the divine physician was a precaution, seeing her pale face and trembling lips now, Yuzhi couldn't help but feel nervous: "Xi Xi?"
Ji Pingxi felt a sharp pain in his heart, his expression fragile, like a cat caught in the rain, its tail and ears drooping, listless, having lost the shining confidence and composure of the Great Yan Dynasty's 'Number One Playboy'.
Yu Zhi was startled by her appearance and raised her voice: "Xi Xi, are you feeling unwell?"
"..."
No one believed her when she told the truth; Princess Changyang was too ashamed to speak of the embarrassment and heartache of the backlash from the karmic forces.
How thick-skinned do you have to be to keep slapping yourself in the face?
"I'm fine," she said, her voice choked with emotion.
Yu Zhi panicked and reached out her hand towards her forehead.
Ji Pingxi's face turned pale and then red, her gaze unfocused. She wanted to slap away the outstretched hand, but was worried that if she slapped too hard, she would scare the person away from getting closer. It's true, when you don't care about someone, they're like grass, manipulated however you want. But when you do care about someone, the grass becomes a flower.
Flowers are delicate flowers; they need careful tending to ensure they bloom forever.
In this respect, the princess was exceptionally pragmatic, suppressing her annoyance and allowing the beauty to act so brazenly on her forehead.
"It's not burning." Yu Zhi tried again and again.
Ji Pingxi hesitated, his expression shifting dramatically.
She sighed, head bowed: "Who wants to play with you anymore..."
Yu Zhi's movements stiffened slightly, her worried expression lingering on her brow. Her eyes quickly reddened, and a hint of sadness crept onto her beautiful face, as if she were thinking of something heartbreaking: "Aren't...aren't we going to play anymore?"
Are we going to lose her?
Seeing her flustered yet forced composure, Ji Pingxi felt a lump in his throat: "I don't want to—"
I don't want to play games with you; I want to genuinely like you.
Before she could finish speaking, Yao Chenzi appeared by sheer coincidence. He stepped through the door, walked around the pear wood square table, and before Ji Pingxi could give him a disapproving look as if to say, "Why are you here?", he placed his fingers on the princess's pulse and said, "What's wrong? Let me see."
Upon closer inspection, his expression gradually became serious, and he acted as if it were the real thing.
Yu Zhi, startled and hurt by him, was more concerned with Xi Xi's long life and health than with whether she could be with her beloved. Her heart was pounding: "Divine Doctor?"
"This is bad, this is really bad."
"???"
Princess Changyang frowned, wearing a puzzled look that seemed to say, "What nonsense are you spouting?"—How could she not know whether her own body was healthy or not?
"He's quite ill." Yao Chenzi waved his hand dismissively: "Bring me paper and pen!"
Her air of superiority was quite intimidating. Jade and agate nervously presented the writing implements, worried that something might have happened to her prince.
Yu Zhixin's heart was in her throat.
Ji Pingxi glanced at Yao Chenzi, who was writing the prescription with flowing strokes, and then turned her gaze to Yu Zhi. How could she make Zhizhi believe that what she said was true?
"It's written down." Yao Chenzi blew on the prescription, glanced at it with satisfaction, and handed it to the extremely worried beauty.
Yu Zhi took the form, her eyelids twitching slightly: "This..."
"Let me see." Ji Pingxi moved closer to her to look at the black and white words on the paper. The prescription listed all sorts of things, such as "pig's heart," "chicken heart," and "duck heart."
Princess Changyang's face darkened, and she glared angrily at her friend: Who are you calling a fool!
Yao Chenzi wasn't afraid of her at all, and said in a measured tone, "This is a medicinal diet, and it will only be effective after eating it for seven days."
Ji Pingxi felt a pang of nausea; she found these things utterly repulsive.
Whoever wants to eat it can eat it; she's not going to.
Yu Zhi pulled the doctor out of the house and into a secluded corner. "Is this illness serious?"
Yao Chenzi chuckled: "Take it for seven days, and I guarantee the medicine will cure your illness."
Hearing his words, Yu Zhi felt relieved.
She was an honest person, and seeing the paper full of "hearts," she didn't think the doctor was cursing her, and thanked him politely.
Before Ji Pingxi could finish speaking, she turned around and her little darling gave her a huge surprise.
With a pained expression that seemed to say, "How could such a disgusting thing exist in the world?", she closed her eyes and opened them again, pointing at the dark red dish and saying, "Take it away, take it away quickly! This princess cannot bear to see these things!"
Yu Zhi knew she was picky about food, but the principle of taking medicine when sick was undeniable, so she gently coaxed her, "Good medicine tastes bitter. The doctor said that if you take it for seven days, you'll get better..."
She knew nothing about pharmacology and was easily fooled by Yao Chenzi's flowery words, only understanding one principle: she would feel better after taking it.