When the Qi family received the invitation, everyone was somewhat puzzled and suspicious.
Because of what happened with the Zhou family, Qi Fangyun had been staying at her parents’ home recently. Upon hearing the news, she couldn’t help but glance a few more times at Qi Yuan.
Then she quietly asked the old Madam Qi, “Mother, what exactly is Ah Yuan…?”
What exactly is her background?
Why is it that not only the whole family seems to faintly take their lead from her, but now even powerful people outside are paying her so much attention?
The polo gathering at Zhou Wang’s manor—while the Yongping Marquis’ household had received invitations in the past—it had never been like this, specifically addressed to a single person.
Wasn’t that strange?
Qi Yuan had just returned and probably hadn’t even finished identifying all the prominent noble families in the capital. At most, she’d only visited the Xiang family—and that visit hadn’t even ended pleasantly. She stayed a while before leaving.
So why would Zhou Wang’s manor go out of its way to invite a young girl?
Old Madam Qi placed a hand on her daughter’s and didn’t answer, but instead looked toward Qi Yuan and asked, “Ah Yuan, I fear this may be…”
Qi Wang had been demoted in title—it was unlikely he would take that lying down.
They had all been waiting for Qi Wang to make his move.
Qi Zhen picked up the thread of the conversation: “This might be Qi Wang targeting you again!”
But Qi Yuan shook her head. Holding the invitation and playing with it for a moment, she even chuckled, “No. It’s not Qi Wang.”
She wasn’t trying to be mysterious. She simply tossed the invitation onto the table and said, “This isn’t his style.”
The old Marquis looked at her deeply. “Then what are you saying?”
“Liu family.” Qi Yuan coldly spat out the two words, and the image of Liu Jinghong’s smiling face surfaced in her mind.
In her memory, that man was always smiling, always giving the impression that everything was under his control.
That face was absolutely nauseating.
She placed her palm lightly on the invitation, swept a glance at the assembled Qi family members, and said in a low voice, “Zhou Ping was once a subordinate of the Liu family. As for the polo gathering at Zhou Wang’s manor—this must be the Liu family trying to settle a score for Qi Wang.”
A girl raised in the countryside by foster parents, who spent her time raising pigs—what could she possibly know of the world?
Someone so unsightly and uncultured, thrown into a grand setting to make a fool of herself—wasn’t that worse than killing her?
The disdain in those noble girls’ eyes, the condescension of imperial bloodlines—each was a dagger aimed at her.
Adults are cruel for profit. Children are cruel simply for cruelty’s sake.
Used as a murder weapon—perfect.
Upon hearing this, the old Marquis immediately decided, “Then don’t go!”
It wasn’t like they absolutely had to attend. They could just say she was ill.
He looked at Qi Yuan. “It’s better to keep a low profile right now.”
But Qi Yuan raised her head and met his eyes, calmly shaking her head. “No, I’m going.”
The old Marquis and Qi Zhen both felt a jolt in their hearts. He quickly warned, “That’s Zhou Wang’s manor!”
Only nobles of great status would be attending. If Qi Yuan killed someone there, she’d be chopped to bits on the spot.
Qi Zhen hesitated for a moment and added, “Their guards are far stronger than you.”
Don’t think your skills are unbeatable—their bodyguards are top-tier too!
Qi Yuan picked up the invitation and used it like a fan. Even in the dead of winter, she fanned herself and smiled playfully at Qi Zhen, “I know. Why would I kill someone in public?”
She said no more and only reassured Qi Zhen and the old Marquis not to worry.
Having an overly capable junior in the family wasn’t always a blessing—it made it very hard to assert control.
Neither the old Marquis nor Qi Zhen knew what to say.
This time, it was the old Madam Qi who was decisive: “Have your second aunt accompany you! I’ll call for someone to make you new clothes. Go and enjoy yourself.”
Enjoy herself…
Qi Zhen was about to speak again.
Qi Yuan only smiled and thanked the old madam before returning to Mingyue Pavilion.
By the time she got back, Lianqiao was already waiting anxiously at the courtyard gate. Upon seeing her, she let out a breath of relief and rushed up. “Miss, you’re back!”
Then lowered her voice: “His Highness is inside.”
She was nearly scared to death—when she had entered the room earlier and saw Xiao Yunting sitting by the window, she had almost screamed.
What was going on lately?
His Highness had become far too comfortable going in and out of their young lady’s quarters!
The room was quiet. Qi Yuan opened the door and indeed saw Xiao Yunting sitting by the window.
She couldn’t help asking, “Your Highness, why do you keep sneaking in like this? You could just use the main entrance, you know.”
By now, the Qi family wasn’t particularly shocked by his visits anymore.
Of course, walking in the front would draw too much attention.
Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow and sat across from Xiao Yunting.
He glanced at her, saw the healthy flush in her cheeks and the bright gleam in her eyes, and couldn’t help but feel relieved.
At the same time, he silently mocked himself for worrying too much.
He’d seen her skills. This girl killed without blinking—he’d never met anyone tougher.
A little Zhou family drama—how could that shake her?
He smiled faintly. “A few days ago, the Emperor kept me at the palace, so I didn’t have a chance to come.”
After Qi Wang’s demotion, Emperor Yongchang kept him close at hand.
Lately, everyone had suddenly remembered this imperial grandson existed, so he had been quite busy.
Qi Yuan was understanding. “You’re the Crown Prince’s eldest grandson—of course His Majesty would want you near.”
Especially after he cracked the canal corruption case.
To achieve that at his age was no small feat. It made perfect sense that the emperor favored and promoted him.
Xiao Yunting hummed in acknowledgment, rubbing his temples tiredly. “But there’s one thing I still don’t understand—how do you know so much about Qi Wang’s affairs?”
He had spent days investigating the Zhou family before uncovering their ties to the Liu family, and then deducing that the Liu family was pulling strings behind the scenes.
But Qi Yuan had figured it out immediately, and acted decisively.
Qi Yuan shrugged. “I told you—I know my past and future lives.”
She joked lightly and placed the invitation on the table. “Your Highness, those were just appetizers. This—this is the real play.”
Zhou Wang’s Polo Gathering!
Xiao Yunting frowned. “They invited you with ill intent.”
Those noble girls held themselves in high esteem and looked down on others. For someone like Qi Yuan—who had suddenly appeared in their world—they wouldn’t be kind.
She would be ridiculed and belittled.
Not to mention, they had all been trained in polo since they were children. And Qi Yuan… at her age…
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