Tian Baoci immediately named the location of the match: the next day at noon, at Duke Chengen Estate’s country villa in the outskirts of the capital.
He even generously declared that anyone present today was welcome to come watch.
After all, what’s the fun of a competition if no one’s there to witness it?
He raised his brows. “Miss Qi, don’t chicken out!”
Though Old Zhao was a bit worried, he still spat inwardly.
Chicken out?
Even if she loses, can’t Miss Qi still kill you afterward?
If there’s anyone who wouldn’t back down, it’s her!
Qi Yuan only gave a cold half-smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be waiting to see Sixth Young Master Tian’s dog.”
Censor Tie, furious with no outlet, stayed up all night drafting a long memorial denouncing the misdeeds of the noble heirs, and submitted it to court.
But unlike him, most people were quite looking forward to the next day’s match.
Everyone loves a spectacle.
Especially when it’s between noble families.
If there were nothing to watch, that’d be one thing—but now that something was happening, of course everyone had to join the fun.
Old Zhao and Liujin weren’t in the mood to deal with all the chatter. After escorting Qi Yuan and Qi Yunzhi home, Old Zhao gave her a solemn look. “Miss, Tian Baoci may be useless at everything else, but he’s truly skilled at dogfighting. You…”
A dog’s size and strength doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good at fighting.
Not every dog qualifies as a fighting dog. Real fighting dogs tear each other apart in the arena—bloody and brutal.
Most importantly, Tian Baoci’s dogs are famously vicious. He’s almost never lost a match.
Where could Qi Yuan possibly find a dog to go up against his?
Old Zhao lowered his voice. “Miss, should we look around and try to find one?”
Qi Yuan shook her head and replied bluntly, “No need.”
Old Zhao grew anxious. “But miss, you don’t understand—his dog isn’t just any dog…”
“I know it’s not just any dog,” Qi Yuan said with a mocking smile. “But no matter how special, it’s still just a dog.”
She knew Old Zhao and Liujin meant well, so she raised an eyebrow. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
Old Zhao was still ready to argue, but Liujin tugged his sleeve and shook his head.
Once they were outside, Old Zhao frowned at him. “Why’d you stop me?”
Did Miss Qi really understand how dangerous Tian Baoci was? What if she lost tomorrow?
Liujin stretched lazily. “The miss isn’t the arrogant type. If she says she has a plan, then she does. No need to worry.”
Old Zhao didn’t quite understand.
He looked at Liujin. “Is she really that capable?”
Whatever she says just goes?
Liujin chuckled. “Just wait and see.”
—
On the other side, after hearing that Qi Yunzhi and Shen Jialang were injured, Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen rushed home. Old Madam Qi sat with a dark expression as the physician worked.
As soon as he entered, the Old Marquis asked, “Are the children all right?”
They’d already heard bits and pieces on the road—that Shen Jialang was bitten by Tian Baoci’s dog, and not only did Tian Baoci refuse to apologize, he even turned around and beat both Qi Yunzhi and Shen Jialang.
The Old Marquis’s face was clouded with anger.
Old Madam Qi snorted. “Yunzhi’s ear is swollen, his lip’s bleeding—his whole face is still puffy. And Jialang was so scared he can hardly speak.”
She was furious. The moment she heard the news, she was so livid it gave her stomach pains.
Now, seeing the Old Marquis, she couldn’t hold it in: “We’re still a Marquis household, aren’t we? Just as noble! Our families see each other often—what is Tian Baoci trying to say? That our house is nothing?!”
All over a dog, and he treated her grandchildren like they were worth nothing!
The Old Marquis was equally enraged. He checked on Shen Jialang, then asked, “Where’s Yuan’er?”
Qi Zhen also stepped forward to check on the boys. Returning to Old Madam Qi’s side, his face showed the same fury. “We’re not letting this go. At worst, we take it to His Majesty himself!”
The Yongping Marquis household wasn’t some nobody family in the capital. What did Tian Baoci take them for?
Just as Old Madam Qi was about to speak, the curtain lifted and Qi Yuan entered. “No need to bring this to His Majesty.”
She’d changed clothes before coming over, looking calm, as if nothing had happened.
Qi Zhen frowned. “Yuan’er…”
“He likes playing with dogs? Then I’ll play with him,” Qi Yuan said flatly. “I’ve already agreed to a dogfight with him tomorrow at his country villa.”
The Old Marquis and Qi Zhen exchanged a complicated look.
Why was she always ready to compete over everything?
The Old Marquis was first to cough lightly and look at her. “Yuan’er, this isn’t just a game. When it comes to dogs, he…”
Even the Old Marquis had to admit—Tian Baoci might be trash, but his dogs were top-notch.
Every autumn hunt, when the Emperor led the nobles out, Tian Baoci’s dogs always stood out—helping him bring down more game than anyone else.
Even the palace beastmasters were said to fall short.
Qi Yuan replied just as concisely, “I’m not playing either.”
She didn’t want to waste energy, so she spoke plainly: “Besides, this whole thing is clearly someone trying to turn us against each other. How could I possibly do as they wish?”
—
Old Madam Qi’s eyes widened. “Yuan’er, what did you say? You think someone’s deliberately behind this—manipulating Tian Baoci to come after you?”
Qi Yuan chuckled coldly. “Of course. That dog didn’t come charging out earlier or later, but exactly when Jialang passed by. Doesn’t that seem just a bit too convenient?”
She placed Shen Jialang’s discarded clothes on the table. “His clothes were covered in grease. I asked Liu Pingan—he said a waiter spilled it on him while serving food.”
Qi Zhen caught on immediately.
It wasn’t an accident at all.
It was obviously intentional!
Furious, he slammed the table. “Who was it?!”
Qi Yuan lowered her gaze, face expressionless. “Someone with a death wish.”
She hadn’t even gone after them yet—and they were already panicking?
They really thought a single Tian Baoci could trouble her?
They’d underestimated her far too much.
The Old Marquis’s eyes narrowed sharply. “Could it be that Feng girl—Feng Caiwei?”
