Ji Wushang turned around, looked at her, and smiled, "Third Miss Shangguan."
"Yes, my father and second brother are here, so I came to join in the fun!" Shangguan Feiyan said with a smile.
"That's great, let's just take a walk together." Anyway, I don't have anyone to accompany me, but with her here, I can chat with her and have some fun, so I won't be too bored.
"Okay!" Shangguan Feiyan replied with a smile.
Just as the two were about to leave, they heard another voice behind them, "Wu Shang!"
"Hmm?" Ji Wushang turned around and saw Mo Qiqi, the seventh princess of the Loyal and Righteous Prince's Mansion, Ji Tiankui's legal wife, and his sister-in-law. Ji Wushang stepped forward and said, "Sister-in-law."
Standing beside him was Ji Tiankui, who exuded righteousness. Ji Wushang greeted him with a smile, "Big Brother."
“Sister Wushang! Hehe!” Ji Tiankui nodded at her, then looked at Mo Qiqi with affection, “Qi’er, you should have a good chat with Sister Wushang. I’m going to the front yard.”
Mo Qiqi nodded, "Go ahead!"
Shangguan Feiyan stepped forward at this moment, "Greetings, Seventh Princess, and greetings to Young General Ji!"
Ji Wushang looked at her and smiled, "Yes, this is Miss Shangguan the Third."
"Oh?" Ji Tiankui nodded, scrutinized the situation for a moment, and then said, "Then you two chat first, I'll go check the front yard." It wasn't appropriate for a grown man like himself to stay here.
After seeing Ji Tiankui off, the three women went to the backyard together, sat around a table, and began to chat.
Ji Wushang observed the people and events around him. Ji Yinxue was chatting idly with several wealthy young ladies, exaggerating everything she had said and constantly showing off.
Ji Wushang snorted inwardly and ignored him.
Shangguan Feiyan started chatting with Ji Wushang, but then she remembered the Seventh Princess was also present. She wondered if she should give the two sisters-in-law some space. Looking around, she was surprised to see Ji Yinxue nearby. She was still worried about the smallpox incident and wondered if Ji Yinxue was alright.
Upon seeing Ji Yinxue, Shangguan Feiyan said, "Princess Consort of the Southern Prince, Seventh Princess, no, Young Madam Ji, I'll leave for a moment. You two can chat first."
Ji Wushang and Mo Qiqi exchanged a glance and both nodded, "Go!"
After Shangguan Feiyan left, Ji Wushang asked, "Sister-in-law, how is Wuzi doing now? Is he still mischievous? Is he obedient now? How is his martial arts progressing? How is his studying going?"
Mo Qiqi chuckled as she listened to Ji Wushang's barrage of questions, saying, "How am I supposed to answer all these questions at once?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang smiled awkwardly. He was a little nervous about Ji Wusi, but he knew that Mo Qiqi meant no harm. He said, "It was Wushang who was being presumptuous."
"Don't worry, little sister. Wu Zi is very obedient now, and his martial arts skills are improving rapidly. My husband says he's working hard and will definitely achieve something in the future." Mo Qiqi looked at her. "Don't worry, he will definitely be able to hone his skills in the military camp."
"Yes." Ji Wushang smiled broadly. "Thank you so much for taking care of me, sister-in-law and elder brother."
"You're too kind," Mo Qiqi said. "Wu Zi is also my younger brother, how could I not take good care of him?"
Hearing Mo Qiqi's words, Ji Wushang felt relieved. "Thank you so much, brother."
"No need for thanks. Since joining the General's Mansion, I have learned a little about things. It is my blessing to be able to take care of Wu Zi. It is a pity that I did not get to see how my mother is doing. It is truly regrettable."
"When Mother hears your words, she will surely bless you and your elder brother for a long and happy life," Ji Wushang said.
"Mm." Mo Qiqi nodded and drank a cup of tea.
Ji Wushang smiled and moved the snacks in front of Mo Qiqi, "Sister-in-law, please have some snacks."
"Thank you." Mo Qiqi smiled and picked up a pastry. "I wonder what the purpose of this palace banquet is?" Mo Qiqi spoke while eating the pastry and looking around.
Ji Wushang smiled, "I don't know, but you should know soon enough!"
Just then, a matron led a group of people over. Ji Wushang looked over and saw a beautiful young lady approaching, surrounded by several noblewomen. She was dressed in exotic clothing, and her headdress was completely different from that of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. She had a pair of large earrings, slightly upturned eyebrows, cherry red lips, and a charming figure. Her body was covered with bells, and she smiled as she was surrounded by the crowd.
Ji Wushang guessed that this must be Yi Yun Muchen! However, judging from the fact that she was able to walk out so easily, it meant that the King of the Western Regions had most likely changed her memories or controlled her mind!
Mo Qiqi followed the direction of the crowd and looked at the beautiful woman. She said, "This, this is the envoy from the Western Regions?"
"It should be," Ji Wushang said. "Should we go over and take a look?"
"Well, I don't want to cause too much trouble. If you want to go and see, go ahead. I won't join in the fun." Mo Qiqi lowered her head and focused on her food.
Ji Wushang looked at her, his gaze sweeping over her a few times. She seemed quite composed. However, he was determined to go and see for himself, not only for the sake of the second son of the king, but also for his own and Nan Xuzong's future happiness.
"Then I'll go take a look first," Ji Wushang said, then walked forward, not getting too close, just observing from a distance. Mo Qiqi listened, tilting her head up to look in Ji Wushang's direction.
Yi Yunmu Chen smiled at everyone, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
"Please, Princess, sit in the pavilion." Just then, the Seventh Princess, Huangfu Lan, suddenly appeared. Ji Wushang looked at her but did not step forward. Instead, he stood aside and watched.
Huangfu Lan helped herself and Nan Xu Cong out of a predicament at Baima Temple. Ji Wushang still doesn't understand why. He thought that the Seventh Princess should ask him to do something to repay her, but unexpectedly, she disappeared suddenly without a trace. Now she seems to have appeared suddenly, which makes people suspicious.
Yi Yunmu looked at her and said, "Thank you, Seventh Princess!"
The crowd bowed to Huangfu Lan and escorted the princesses of both countries into the nearest large pavilion. The pavilion was indeed quite large, large enough for the ladies and gentlemen to gather and rest.
At this moment, Ji Wushang also saw Ji Yinxue and Shangguan Feiyan sitting together. While he hesitated, he heard Huangfu Lan call out to Ji Wushang, "Aren't you the Princess Consort of the Southern Prince? Why don't you come and sit with us?"
As she spoke, the palace maid tactfully stepped forward and walked towards Ji Wushang.
This shout naturally attracted the attention of many people. Ji Wushang smiled and bowed, "Greetings to the Seventh Princess, and greetings to Princess Muchen!"
Yi Yun Muchen looked at Ji Wushang, who had been invited forward, and gazed at him with a hint of amazement. "This is..."
"Princess Consort of the Southern Prince," Huangfu Lan said again.
Ji Wushang learned from Nan Xuzong what had happened to him in the past three days. Therefore, it was possible that he had mentioned his name to Yi Yun Muchen. Or even if he hadn't, she must have seen Nan Xuzong and would naturally know the name "Prince Nan"...
Yi Yun Muchen did feel a little strange upon hearing the words "Princess Consort of the Southern Prince." However, he couldn't quite recall why.
"The Princess Consort of the Southern Prince is truly beautiful," Yi Yun Muchen praised.
Huangfu Lan smiled and said, "That's for sure! The Princess Consort of the Southern Kingdom might just be the most beautiful woman in the capital!"
"Seventh Princess, you must be joking!" Ji Wushang chuckled.
Logically speaking, Huangfu Lan and Yiyun Muchen should be meeting for the first time. However, why does Huangfu Lan act as if she is seeing an old friend? Could it be that they have met before?
But that doesn't seem to be the case, so there's only one other possibility: Huangfu Lan deliberately got close to Yi Yun Muchen...
Just then, as if by magic, Yi Yun Muchen took out a small box from his bosom and placed it on the table. "Seventh Princess, I have a question here!"
"Hmm?" Huangfu Lan flattered her profusely, "Go ahead and speak freely." Her face was full of smiles.
“This is one of the three national treasures of our Western Regions. However, I can’t open this box no matter what I do. I wonder if someone from your country could help me open it?” Yi Yun Muchen glanced at the people around him, and then looked at Huangfu Lan.
Huangfu Lan smiled and stared at the box. In truth, she felt it was just an ordinary object, dark and grimy. It was supposed to be one of the three national treasures... It probably couldn't even hold a little jewelry!
However, it doesn't seem difficult to open; there's practically no lock at all. That's definitely a bit strange!
Huangfu Lan smiled, a sly glint in her eyes. Of course, she couldn't do such a thing herself; otherwise, if she couldn't open it, it would be the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty royal family that would lose face!
Huangfu Lan turned to the ladies around her, "I wonder if any of you ladies could help Princess Muchen open this box?"
The women looked on, unsure what was inside, and hesitated. Ji Yinxue, meanwhile, was calculating in her mind. If she could successfully open this so-called national treasure in front of everyone, she would surely make everyone around her envious! As a concubine's daughter, she had been overshadowed by Ji Wushang so much. If she could open it while Ji Wushang couldn't, then she would finally get her revenge! She would never forget anything Ji Wushang had done to her!
I will repay everything!
Ji Yinxue's eyes darted around, and she looked at Shangguan Feiyan sitting next to her. She leaned closer and whispered, "Feiyan, don't you like opening those weird-looking things? Why don't you give it a try?" Naturally, it was best to have someone scout it out first!
Shangguan Feiyan listened and whispered, "That's right, but I'm too embarrassed to go. I'm just a concubine's daughter. If I go and can't open it, I'm afraid people will laugh at me!" She thought Ji Yinxue wanted her to show off so that some noble ladies could see how clever she was. If word got out, the Shangguan family might have suitors coming all over the place! She and Ji Yinxue had just been talking about marriage.
Ji Yinxue smiled and said, "If you don't go, but someone else does, and it's opened, you won't be able to show off in front of us. Then, who will appreciate you, Third Miss?"
Shangguan Feiyan nodded; this seemed to make some sense.
“If you can’t open it, I have a way to get you off the stage. After all, you’re the first one to go up, so there are bound to be some risks. But high risks bring high rewards, right? Even if you don’t open it, just for your effort, I believe everyone will look at you with new respect!” Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, Ji Yinxue naturally added fuel to the fire.
Shangguan Feiyan looked at Ji Yinxue with trusting eyes, "Yes, I'll listen to you." She smiled at Ji Yinxue as she spoke.
Ji Yinxue cursed him inwardly as a fool, but smiled back, "Go on!"
Shangguan Feiyan stepped forward with a beaming smile and bowed, saying, "Seventh Princess, Princess Muchen, I am the third young lady of the Shangguan family. I have been interested in small objects since I was a child. I wonder if I could help open Princess Muchen's little box?"
"Oh?" Huangfu Lan looked at Shangguan Feiyan who had stepped forward. This Shangguan Feiyan was incredibly naive, without a single ulterior motive. He had just seen her with Ji Yinxue, and now she was coming forward to say she wanted to open it. This was probably instigated by Ji Yinxue!
"What does Princess Muchen think?" Huangfu Lan asked Yiyun Muchen immediately without much thought.
With a hint of excitement on his face, Yi Yunmu Chen said, "Alright, please invite Miss Shangguan San!" He then placed the small box on the table.
Shangguan Feiyan nodded and stepped forward to start fiddling with the box. Ji Wushang had already stepped aside, while Mo Qiqi had been led there by the nanny, so Ji Wushang went forward and stood with Mo Qiqi.
Ji Wushang watched Shangguan Feiyan fiddling with the black box and knew in his heart that she definitely couldn't open it. This Princess Mu Chen was probably using this to test everyone, or to put it bluntly, to deliberately embarrass these young ladies from noble families.
This is not the Yiyun Muchen that Beigong Jueshi knew.
Ji Wushang made up his mind, but he wanted to help her return to her true self. Perhaps this was another version of her, but seeing her being used by her own brother, whether she came to her senses in the end or not, would be a deep hurt... He didn't want her to become such a pawn.
Nan Xuzong had told him about the relationship between Yi Yun Muchen and Bei Gong Jueshi before, and he was moved by their love. If he didn't help them, he would really feel guilty.
Shangguan Feiyan was a little anxious at this moment. She looked back and forth but couldn't see where the black box was open. There wasn't a lock on the box at all!
The ladies and noblewomen around them began to whisper among themselves, thinking of making a good impression, but they didn't expect to run into a brick wall!
Ji Yinxue watched, then slowly left her seat and came forward, her eyes fixed on the black box, trying to find some breakthrough.
Seeing that Shangguan Feiyan was struggling to open the door, Huangfu Lan said, "Since Miss Shangguan can't open it, let someone else try! Miss Shangguan's courage to be the first to try is truly admirable!"
Shangguan Feiyan nodded, "Yes. But to be honest, this box is really too powerful. I really can't open it. Princess Muchen, I'll return it to you!" With that, she placed it in front of Yiyun Muchen. Yiyun Muchen moved the black box to her own side, "It's alright. This black box is indeed quite difficult to open. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought it to the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, thinking I'd let you try and see if any destined person could open it!"
"Hmm," Huangfu Lan said, "I wonder if anyone else will come up and try? I feel like I can't open it myself, hehe, it seems that the treasure Princess Muchen brought is truly living up to its reputation!"
"Seventh Princess, you're too kind!" Yi Yun Muchen smiled, then looked at the young ladies and noblewomen around her.
Seeing that Huangfu Lan said it was difficult to open, the people around them naturally understood that it was also understandable that they couldn't open it either, and there was nothing shameful about it. Just as they were about to go up and try, they heard a clear voice, "Let me try!" It was Ji Yinxue who stepped forward.
I've been looking at it for a long time, I think I should be able to give it a try! Even if I can't open it, I can still show my face in front of others!
Huangfu Lan glanced at Ji Yinxue, then finally focused her gaze on the plum blossom makeup on her forehead, and smiled, "The plum blossom makeup on Madam Nan's forehead is truly beautiful!"
As soon as Huangfu Lan spoke, the plum blossom makeup on Ji Yinxue's forehead immediately attracted the attention of many people. However, when they saw that Ji Yinxue had obviously put on the plum blossom makeup to cover up the scars she had left, everyone immediately showed disdain.
Ji Yinxue was initially pleased, thinking Huangfu Lan was praising her, but when she saw everyone's gaze, she immediately realized that Huangfu Lan's praise was fake and that he was actually talking about how she covered up her scars!
Ji Yinxue felt resentful, but she had to suppress it and greeted the princess with a smile, "Yes, thank you for your praise, Seventh Princess!"
Yi Yun Muchen glanced at Ji Yinxue, then looked at Huangfu Lan, "Is she the Second Madam of the South?"
“Exactly.” Ji Yinxue nodded with her head down.
"Oh, what a beauty," Yi Yunmu Chen praised politely.
Ji Yinxue smiled but remained silent.
"Then let Madam Nan try to open that black box!" Huangfu Lan said, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.
"Here you go." Yi Yunmu Chen smiled and handed over the black box.
Ji Yinxue held the black box in her hand, a smile playing on her lips. She touched every inch of the box, but found no way to break through its defenses.