Liujin scratched his head and left.
Lianqiao, who was attending at the side, looked at Qi Yuan with some worry: “Miss, could it be that you…”
Did you speak too harshly?
Actually, the Crown Prince’s son was quite good-tempered and always tried to help Miss Qi.
But for some reason, whenever Miss Qi faced the Crown Prince’s son, she always seemed to put up all her defenses, bristling like a hedgehog.
Qi Yuan didn’t respond.
She knew perfectly well that Xiao Yunting didn’t come in person because he was angry.
But so what?
Loss is the norm in life.
One who never harbors hope will never face disappointment.
What’s more, if a person knows why they live, they can endure any pain.
She could. In both this life and her past life, she never needed anyone’s pity. She would rely solely on herself, walking as far as her own strength could carry her.
If you aren’t afraid of losing, then you have nothing to fear.
When Liujin returned to the Eastern Palace, Xiao Yunting had just come back to his quarters from visiting the ill Crown Prince.
Every time he visited the Crown Prince, it was never a pleasant experience.
And this time was no exception.
Seeing Xiao Yunting’s expression, Liujin couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
He couldn’t understand how the Crown Prince, despite falling out of favor and finally having such an outstanding son, still failed to treasure him.
But such thoughts weren’t for a servant like him to say. He held back and heard Xiao Yunting ask, “What did she say?”
Recalling Qi Yuan’s words, Liujin instantly pulled a bitter face: “Miss Qi said, there’s no need for Your Highness to worry. Even if she smashes the southern wall to pieces, she still won’t turn back…”
Xiao Yunting’s face darkened immediately.
Usually, Xiao Yunting’s handsome face made people feel as if they were bathed in spring breeze.
But when he truly grew cold, his oppressive presence was so overwhelming it made people unable to raise their heads.
Liujin cried out bitterly in his heart.
Next time someone needed to pass messages like this, he was going to push the job to Babao!
After a long silence, Xiao Yunting suddenly let out a cold laugh, tossed the cup in his hand onto the table, and strode out of the palace hall.
Liujin was so frightened his face turned pale. He quickly leaned over to Babao, and the two exchanged a look.
“Why is His Highness so angry this time?”
Miss Qi had disobeyed him plenty of times before, but he’d never been this angry. Why such a strong reaction now?
Babao sighed, furrowing his brow in worry: “This time the Liu family isn’t playing games… Cheng Wang…”
He hadn’t even finished the sentence when Liujin’s face changed dramatically.
He immediately understood why he was so furious!
The Liu family was setting their sights on Cheng Wang now?!
He muttered, shaking his head: “How could it come to this…”
If it involved Zhou Wang, then Miss Qi was truly in danger this time!
No wonder His Highness was so angry with Miss Qi. No matter how skilled she was, she was still flesh and blood—she wasn’t invincible.
The Liu family had truly played their trump card this time.
It wasn’t just Liujin who was shocked. In another place, Qi Wang was undergoing acupuncture by Physician Xue when he heard what Duke Chu was planning. He immediately lifted his eyes in surprise.
“Cheng Wang?” He winced as Physician Xue pierced another needle and frowned, “Grandfather wants Cheng Wang to marry her?!”
No way!
Rage surged in his heart, mixed with a bitter unwillingness.
She was his woman. If she were to die, she could only die by his hand!
How could she be given to someone else?
“Your Highness!” Duke Chu was an old fox and naturally saw that Qi Wang had a strange attachment to Qi Yuan. He calmly reminded him: “It was her hand that crippled your leg! It was her fault your uncle died! And the potential disaster that could one day affect your mother’s position—Liu Wangfei—all of these are connected to her!”
Qi Wang was silent, his emotions turbulent.
Duke Chu pressed a hand to his shoulder: “Your Highness, those who accomplish great things cannot be sentimental. That woman is wicked and dangerous; she isn’t worth you giving her another chance.”
Hesitate, and disaster will follow.
Qi Wang took a deep breath, recalling how Qi Yuan had shot him without hesitation, how the dagger she wielded on horseback had nearly slit his throat. His resolve hardened.
Yes. Qi Yuan had never shown him mercy. Why should he show her any?
After a moment, he gave a low hum: “What does Grandfather plan to do?”
Knowing this meant consent, Duke Chu finally relaxed and casually raised his brows: “In a few days, it will be the birthday of the Wang family’s Old Madam.”
The Wang family’s Old Madam…
Qi Wang didn’t immediately recall who that was until the Duke reminded him. Then he remembered—this was Qi Yuan’s maternal grandmother.
He chuckled coldly: “A heartless person like her—so what if it’s her grandmother’s birthday? She won’t go.”
Qi Yuan had never been loved by her mother. She herself was cold and indifferent, never keeping anyone in her heart.
Duke Chu was in no rush: “She will go.”
Qi Wang looked at his grandfather. He knew his grandfather always planned several steps ahead and never wasted his breath. So he asked, “What does Grandfather mean?”
“Wang Chan just turned fourteen. She has a childhood fiancé,” Duke Chu said expressionlessly, his words as sharp as knives. “She and Qi Yuan are close. At Zhou Wang’s polo event, she even helped Qi Yuan. So if Qi Yuan doesn’t attend the birthday banquet, the one who will suffer… will be Wang Chan.”
If Qi Yuan didn’t go, Wang Chan would become Cheng Wang’s target.
It would just be the Liu family collecting a little interest.
There would be plenty more opportunities. Unless Qi Yuan never stepped outside again.
And even if she didn’t, there were ways to deal with her at home.
Qi Wang narrowed his eyes, then lowered them with a faint smile: “You’re right. She will go.”
Someone like her always repaid kindness.
She did so with the Xie family, with Xie Ying, and she would do so for Wang Chan.
She would know well that after just injuring him and killing Liu Jinghong, the first invitation she received upon returning would definitely not be something good.
But she would still go.
He let out a soft laugh and said, “Grandfather, go make the arrangements. I have no objections.”
Duke Chu had only come to inform him. Seeing Divine Physician Xue pretending not to hear, he turned and left.
After Duke Chu was gone, Qi Wang pondered for a while, then summoned Eunuch Xu.
“Bring Qi Jin to me,” he ordered.
This was the first task Qi Wang had issued in days. Eunuch Xu didn’t dare delay, quickly instructing the guards.
On the third day, Qi Jin was brought in.
Qi Wang stared at the black-clothed figure kneeling before him and clicked his tongue, raising his brow.
In just this short time, Qi Jin had completely changed.
It was clear she’d suffered a great deal.
He hooked his finger under her chin, forcing her to lift her head. Seeing the scar on her face, he let out a mocking laugh: “Such a deep knife wound, yet the scar has already faded to just this much. You must really cherish this face, don’t you?”
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