"Hmm." Ji Wushang could only nod, but it wasn't really appropriate for the remaining man and woman to be alone together, was it? Although this was the Lotus Pavilion, and they certainly wouldn't dare to do anything, it wasn't really suitable for her to stay with him, was it?
However, everyone else had already left.
Bei Luojun was sitting in front of the stone bench when he gently picked up some snacks and chewed them. "Cousin Wushang, won't you have some?"
"I...I'm not hungry." Ji Wushang turned around, glanced at him, then stood by the railing, gazing at the lotus flowers, pretending he didn't exist.
However, Bei Luojun would not give up until he achieved his goal; at the very least, he wanted to ask her if her feelings were right.
He took a few breaths before slowly standing up and walking to Ji Wushang's right. He was also looking at the lotus flowers outside the railing when he said, "Cousin Wushang, there's something... I... I don't know how to say it... How should I say it?" His voice grew softer and softer. As Ji Wushang listened, she thought to herself, "Could it be that he's fallen for me?"
Are there any other possibilities besides this? It seems not. He's now thinking of asking for his own opinion.
Ji Wushang thought for a moment and said, "Second cousin, there are some things that are hard to say, so let's not say them!" His tone was gentle and did not hurt him, but he hoped that the other person could understand the meaning behind it.
Bei Luojun nodded as he listened, but then shook his head. His gaze fell on Ji Wushang, looking at her fair profile. He felt even more strongly that her beauty and the unique temperament emanating from her body were deeply attracting him.
"Cousin Wushang, I, I..."
"Second cousin, Wu Shang has always regarded you as his dearest brother. You are like my elder brother Tian Kui to me. You are so good to me. I am so happy." Seeing that his face was turning red and he was about to confess, Ji Wu Shang had no choice but to speak first. "In the future, Second cousin will definitely marry a good woman, just like my elder brother. I wish you happiness, Second cousin."
Bei Luojun was stunned. She treated him like her own older brother?
“If there’s nothing else, Second Cousin, then I’ll head back. It’s almost time for me to go home. Thank you for your hospitality these past few days, Second Cousin. I will definitely repay you in the future.” Ji Wushang looked at him, then bowed deeply and walked quickly out of the pavilion, continuing on without looking back.
Bei Luojun looked at the figure and listened to what she had just said. She said she regarded him as her brother... She said she wished him well... How clever she was to refuse him so tactfully without causing embarrassment later... Bei Luojun moved a few steps and sat back down on the stone bench, watching the direction she had walked.
Only then did Ji Wushang feel his heart pounding. Thank goodness it was him; if he hadn't asked for his opinion first, he might have gone straight to the manor to propose marriage! Thank goodness it was him, Second Cousin. Thank you for asking for my opinion. I, Ji Wushang, wish you all the best.
"Miss." The maidservant who was working saw Ji Wushang approaching and bowed. Ji Wushang nodded and went back to her room. Seeing Zhu'er and Xian'er packing their things, she asked, "Are you all packed?"
"Yes." Both Pearl and Thread nodded.
"Then let's go!" Ji Wushang said. The purpose of coming here was to reconnect with his family. As for Bei Jing'er, he had already punished her. As for Bei Luojun, he believed that Bei Luojun would not come to propose marriage or anything like that. He was not the kind of person to force himself on others; otherwise, he would have come directly to their door.
Bei Luojun returned to the courtyard with a somewhat dazed expression. Just then, his father, Bei Zhenyun, passed by with some documents. Seeing him walking into his courtyard with his head down, looking lost and dejected, as if he hadn't seen him at all, Bei Zhenyun shook his head and walked away.
Ji Wushang then bid farewell to the people of the mansion before returning to General Ji's mansion with Zhu'er and Xian'er. The Right Prime Minister's mansion then sent some servants to follow Ji Wushang's carriage and protect him.
Ji Wushang sat in the carriage, not saying much. Zhu'er and Xian'er watched her, so they could only remain silent and watch her.
——
Bei Gong Minhao held a carrier pigeon in his hand, intending to go to Bei Gong Jueshi's courtyard. He pushed open the door, only to find no one there! Startled, he searched the entire courtyard, but to no avail. Finally, he found a letter on the table in the inner room. Opening it, he read something about leaving this place and going to live somewhere where no one knew him!
"What is this?!" Bei Gongminhao tore the letter to shreds in an instant! After leaving the hospital, he ordered his men to search the entire Wangfu (Prince's Mansion), but unfortunately, they still couldn't find the person.
"Damn it!" Bei Gongminhao sat on the chaise longue in the main hall, looking at the servant who came to report that he had not seen Bei Gongjueshi.
“Let’s go and pay a visit to the Ji family!” Bei Gongminhao thought for a moment and then said.
While Father, the Prince of Zhenbei, is away from the mansion, it would be best to find him and bring him back as soon as possible!
Perhaps he was taking Miss Ji with him and running away? This thought filled Bei Gongminhao with dread. If he did such a thing, he wouldn't let him off the hook!
Ji Wushang was sitting in the carriage at this moment. Zhu'er and Xian'er saw that she was a little sleepy, so they said, "Miss, why don't you take a nap first? We'll call you as soon as we arrive."
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded, then leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes to rest.
Pearl and Thread exchanged a glance, and then they both tacitly kept a close watch on the surroundings, fearing that someone might be plotting to harm Ji Wushang.
After crossing just a few streets, walking on the official road, there was still a distance to go before reaching East Street, which was close to General Ji's residence.
Only then did Xian'er and Zhu'er lower the curtain, which they had been partially tucking in, and feel relieved, assuming that nothing unexpected would happen.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, the sedan chair suddenly stopped! Instantly, all three of them leaned forward. Ji Wushang was startled awake and barely managed to stay upright so as not to be thrown off.
"What's going on?" Ji Wushang asked immediately. Just then, they heard sounds of fighting and killing outside!
Ji Wushang thought for a moment, then immediately ordered Zhu'er and Xian'er, who were still terrified, "You two stay in here and don't come out!"
"Yes," Zhu'er replied, but when she saw Ji Wushang about to leave, she was startled. "Miss, don't go out!"
"Sit properly inside!" Ji Wushang turned around and gave her a cold look, and Zhu'er immediately dared not speak.
The thread was also curled up into a ball, leaning against the pearl.
Ji Wushang gently lifted the curtain, but unexpectedly, at that moment, an arrow shot towards the carriage! Ji Wushang dodged the arrow.
It seemed the newcomers intended to kill her! If she didn't get out, the sedan chair would probably be riddled with bullets! Would Zhu'er and Xian'er even survive? Without further thought, Ji Wushang seized the opportunity and jumped down from the carriage. Seeing the fierce fighting around her, she, a weak woman, dared not step forward. She noticed the stalls of small vendors on both sides of the street; the people had already fled, but at least they had left behind things to hide behind. Ji Wushang crouched low and ran towards them.
At this moment, several sharp-eyed men in black spotted Ji Wushang hiding among the goods of the small vendors nearby. They immediately rushed forward, slashing at Ji Wushang with swords and other weapons. Ji Wushang dodged them, then picked up whatever was around her and threw it at them. The men were slightly injured by the things she threw, but they relentlessly pursued her. Ji Wushang was anxious as she watched.
When the servants protecting her saw that Ji Wushang was in danger, they immediately came forward to help kill them. However, they were still outnumbered and several servants were killed by the thugs.
Ji Wushang ran backward, taking out a small bottle from his arms as he ran. Seeing that it was a sleeping powder, he immediately opened the bottle and looked back. The men in black were now chasing closely behind. Ji Wushang threw the contents of the bottle behind him. Instantly, the wind created by his running blew the sleeping powder onto the men in black running towards him. The men in black smelled the sleeping powder and fell to the ground after running only a few steps, unable to move.
Ji Wushang was overjoyed. He took the bottle back and turned to continue running, but unexpectedly, he bumped into a man!
Ji Wushang suddenly fell to the ground. When he looked up, he saw a tall man standing in front of him, wearing a silver mask and a magnificent white robe that was fluttering in the wind. The man's calloused hands held his long sword in front of his chest, and his eyes were arrogant and haughty as he looked down at Ji Wushang who was lying on the ground.
Ji Wushang also looked at him coldly. The men in black behind him, seeing their leader staring at Ji Wushang, dared not come forward to disturb him or kill Ji Wushang's servants.
Ji Wushang turned around and saw that no one was harming Zhu'er and Xian'er on the carriage. Only then did she look back at the man in front of her and stand up on her own.
He remained silent, and wouldn't utter a single word. But escape was inevitable!
Ji Wushang looked at him, his hand reaching into his robes, but he coldly said, "Tell me, is your medicine faster, or my sword?"
That voice was somewhat cold and arrogant, and the whole person seemed very cocky. That was the impression Ji Wushang got from it. Most importantly, he was too narcissistic!
"What do you think?" Ji Wushang's tone also turned cold. "You want to kill me?"
"What do you think?" He even mimicked Ji Wushang's tone.
“We’ll see if you have the ability,” Ji Wushang suddenly said with a smile.
This laugh startled the man. This was just a defenseless, weak woman, yet she was laughing! Had she gone mad? Wasn't she Xiaoxue'er's older sister? Why didn't she seem like the person Xiaoxue'er had described before?
"What? Not going to make a move? Then I'm leaving." Ji Wushang suddenly said, and then ran in another direction. The man was startled. Seeing that Ji Wushang had already run away, he took a step forward and was about to strike Ji Wushang with both hands, either grabbing or punching. Ji Wushang only felt that as he ran, a gust of wind like a killer was about to hit his back!
With a slight deviation, Ji Wushang, who had secretly learned some martial arts, managed to dodge the attack. However, he was then entangled by the attacker. Ji Wushang freed one hand and then sprinkled medicine on the attacker's face. But the attacker seemed to know what Ji Wushang was doing and immediately blocked it with his sleeve!
Seeing this, Ji Wushang feigned an opening and turned to run! The man then realized she was pretending to sprinkle medicine on his face, and angrily exclaimed, "You woman, you actually dared to deceive me!"
Having said that, he quickly stepped forward, taking three steps in two, and leaped into the air, drawing his sword and about to stab Ji Wushang in the back.
Listening to the wind behind him, Ji Wushang thought to himself, "I never thought I'd die like this? Who would want my life without even knowing it!"
Just then, a person soared into the air from afar, hurling a whirlwind blade from his hand! Ji Wushang looked and saw it was none other than Beigong Minhao!
"The Crown Prince?"
Bei Gongminhao looked at Ji Wushang with deep eyes, then pulled her close, saying gently, "Don't be afraid." He then pushed her behind him, and at that moment, the iron chain in his hand pulled his knife back. "You're courting death!" he shouted angrily, and Bei Gongminhao leaped forward, his sharp blade aimed at the man, who immediately blocked with his longsword.
Ji Wushang watched as Bei Gongminhao wielded a powerful whirlwind blade, while the man gradually found himself at a disadvantage.
"Spare his life!" Ji Wushang shouted.
Upon hearing this, Bei Gongminhao softened his attacks, while the surrounding men in black were being ambushed by his guards, falling one by one. Knowing he could no longer complete his mission, the man immediately attacked Ji Wushang, but Bei Gongminhao stepped forward to block him.
The man desperately thrust his longsword towards Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang was caught off guard and couldn't react in time. Bei Gongminhao tried to block with his knife, but he was too slow! Instantly, the man's longsword slashed across Bei Gongminhao's arm, and with a clang, Bei Gongminhao's knife was knocked away.
Ji Wushang was taken aback. "Your Highness, be careful."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding guards rushed over, and the man immediately fled.
Just as Beigong Minhao was about to give chase, he felt a sharp pain in his heart and immediately squatted down, clutching his chest!
“It’s poisonous.” Bei Gongminhao said, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. Ji Wushang looked at him in shock, “What should we do? Quick, let me take a look.” After saying that, he immediately took Bei Gongminhao’s left hand to take his pulse.
His lips quickly turned black, and Ji Wushang was so anxious that cold sweat poured down his face. If anything happened to him, the Prince of Zhenbei would definitely kill him!
Ji Wushang pulled a medicine bottle from his robes, his hands trembling slightly. Seeing it was a Blood-Clearing Pill, he immediately poured out one. "Quick, swallow this!" he said, pushing it towards Bei Gong Minhao's lips. Bei Gong Minhao shook his head vigorously before swallowing the pill. At this moment, the guards gathered from all directions, looking at Bei Gong Minhao and Ji Wushang with astonishment.
"What are you looking at? Leave a few people to clean up and get him to the carriage!" Ji Wushang roared. The guards immediately helped put Beigong Minhao into his carriage. Ji Wushang saw that it was his carriage, so he got in immediately. "Quickly, take him to Panyaoju! Doctor Cui is there!"
The guards were in a dilemma. The prince had an accident and should be sent back to the mansion to summon the imperial physician. But how could they find some ordinary doctors at Panyaoju?
"Do you want him dead? Hurry up!" Ji Wushang roared coldly, "He's deeply poisoned! It's not something an ordinary person can cure!"
The guards exchanged glances, then nodded and rode off to Panyaoju.
Seeing that the danger had passed, Zhu'er and Xian'er, who were on Ji Wushang's carriage, immediately got off the carriage, only to see Ji Wushang getting into Beigong Jueshi's carriage in the distance!
The two immediately rushed over, calling out, "Miss, Miss!"
"You all come along in the carriage! Hurry to Panyaoju," Ji Wushang said anxiously, and then lowered the curtain.
Ji Wushang then lifted Beigong Minhao's head and watched as, after he took the medicine, his lips slowly stopped turning black, but they didn't lighten. This indicated that the Blood Cleansing Pill could only control the effects of the medicine, not eliminate them.
Pick up his hand and you'll see that the sword wound on his arm, though not very deep, has already turned black.
Ji Wushang took out the silver needles that Doctor Cui had given him before he left. After thinking for a moment, he decided to follow the acupoints he had learned and, with the help of the explanations in the medical book, inserted them into some of his acupoints.
Feeling the silver needle pierce him, Bei Gongminhao frowned. Ji Wushang looked at him and said, "Bear with it."
Bei Gongminhao was awakened by the pain, opened his eyes and looked at Ji Wushang, "You know medicine?"
"No, I just stuck it in randomly." Ji Wushang looked at him and, seeing his energetic and strong appearance, blurted out.
"Cough, cough." Bei Gongminhao suddenly started coughing. Ji Wushang looked at him and reached out to help him catch his breath. "Why are you coughing? I didn't hurt you."
"No wonder it hurts so much." He managed to squeeze out a sentence, and Ji Wushang's lips twitched slightly. Wasn't it because he had always portrayed himself as the carefree, nonchalant type? He had only said that he was stabbing randomly...
"I'll be careful," Ji Wushang said earnestly.
However, Bei Gongminhao grabbed Ji Wushang's hand. Just now, Ji Wushang had instinctively placed her hand on his chest to help him catch his breath. But now, he caught her out of the way. He grabbed her hand tightly and placed it on his heart. Ji Wushang tried to pull it back, but she was not strong enough to pull him back.
"You, you let me go! I need to give you acupuncture!" Ji Wushang whispered, annoyed. If the people outside knew what was going on inside, wouldn't he be mortified?
Bei Gongminhao listened, looked at her, and smiled slightly. "What if I don't let go? I took a sword for you, you owe me!"
"You, the one who blocked the sword, I didn't ask you to fight so desperately! And besides, do you want to die? But I don't want to go with you." Ji Wushang glared at him, and seeing that his lips were still black, he couldn't help but worry, "Your Highness, let go, let go!"
Bei Gongminhao tried to take a deep breath, but a sharp pain surged from the bottom of his heart, forcing him to release Ji Wushang's hand. Ji Wushang immediately looked at him and, seeing his pale face, said, "Quick, relax. Relax!"
Bei Gongminhao nodded obediently, then lay down, leaning against Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang immediately took out some silver needles and inserted them into some of his acupoints.
"Hmm. Go easy on me." Beigong Minhao said slowly as he felt the pain.
"This is my first time administering acupuncture, so I hope Your Highness will bear with me," Ji Wushang said apologetically.
Beigong Minhao listened, his eyes rolling back in his head. "I see."
Ji Wushang looked at him, puzzled. If an ordinary person were poisoned by such a potent poison, they would probably faint. How could he still talk so much?
Bei Gong Minhao closed his eyes. Ji Wushang had gradually gained control of his strength, and he was starting to feel less pain. It was even starting to feel somewhat enjoyable? Bei Gong Minhao narrowed his eyes slightly, then looked at Ji Wushang, who was now diligently applying acupuncture to him.