For some reason, she couldn’t shake the unease in her chest. Glancing once more at the motionless Feng Caiwei lying on the ground, she hesitated, then tentatively ran off to find Xiao Jingzhao.
But how could Xiao Jingzhao possibly still care about her at this point?
When it came down to it, everything that happened today stemmed from Feng Caiwei’s malicious intent. If she hadn’t resorted to every underhanded tactic to bring down Qi Yuan, all those people wouldn’t have had to die.
Xiao Jingzhao wanted victory too—but what he wanted more was the empire.
His mentor had often told him: He who wins the people’s hearts wins the world.
His mentor also told him: Water can carry a boat—but it can also overturn it.
The common people were the ones who truly mattered.
If he became someone like Feng Caiwei—who treated the people as disposable pawns, as worthless lives—then he could forget ever reaching the throne.
With a cold laugh, he waved a hand and ordered his guards to get rid of Xiuyi.
Xiuyi bit her lip hard, humiliated, and returned to Feng Caiwei, whispering awkwardly, “My lady… His Highness… His Highness, he…”
Seeing her falter and fail to finish the sentence, Feng Caiwei already understood perfectly what Xiao Jingzhao’s attitude must be by now.
Her heart filled with bitter laughter.
Useless!
He wanted power, wanted to rise above Xiao Yunting—but what was he really?
Incapable of decisive action. Spineless!
If he’d just used the chaos earlier to kill Qi Yuan, everything would have been over.
He could have pinned all the blame on Qi Yuan—claimed it was her dog that incited the riots.
That way, he would’ve eliminated Qi Yuan, thrown Xiao Yunting into turmoil, and at the same time pulled Duke Chengen’s household over to his side.
But this waste of a man, Xiao Jingzhao, hadn’t followed the plan at all.
He had even gone so far as to maintain order—and beat up Tian Baoci!
Useless. Utterly useless.
Still, no amount of cursing Xiao Jingzhao now would help her.
Taking a deep breath, she lowered her voice coldly: “No. There’s still a way. What about our people?”
Xiuyi didn’t quite understand what she meant at first.
Feng Caiwei narrowed her eyes and sneered, “Qi Yuan—she even made a slashing gesture at her neck toward me earlier. She wants me dead.”
She raised a brow at Xiuyi: “How many elite fighters did Qi Wang leave behind for me?”
Xiuyi finally caught on and hesitantly replied, “Thirty, my lady. But… that’s all we’ve got left.”
These men had originally been gathered from all over the realm by Liu Jinghong to serve as Qi Wang’s personal guards.
But when the prince left the capital, he ignored everyone’s objections and left them behind.
Just a few days ago, he even sent word that they were all to follow Feng Caiwei’s orders.
Feng Caiwei lowered her eyes, exhaling slowly.
Suddenly, she felt it was all so meaningless.
No matter how many traps she laid, no matter how hard she schemed, she always ended up playing into Qi Yuan’s hands.
Qi Yuan just kept coming out on top.
She was sick of it.
If she couldn’t have the satisfaction of watching Qi Yuan suffer—then she’d make sure Qi Yuan died once and for all.
She said flatly, “Kill Qi Yuan.”
Xiuyi nearly thought she’d misheard. She couldn’t help but ask, “What did you say?”
Surely she didn’t hear that right?
Feng Caiwei wanted to kill Qi Yuan?!
Feng Caiwei frowned. Though even she knew it was a risky move, being questioned only made her more furious. “There are so many people on this estate! So many people died! Why shouldn’t Qi Yuan be one of them?! Kill her!”
Xiuyi thought her mistress had clearly lost her mind. There were so many people here now—Zhou Wang and even Duke Chengen had shown up. How could anyone manage to kill Miss Qi in front of all these people?!
“Are you useless?!”
Seeing Xiuyi hesitate in silence, looking conflicted, Feng Caiwei’s temper exploded.
She glared coldly at her. “Use your brain! If thirty of you can’t even take down one woman, then what’s the point of you?! She’s a killer—aren’t you all the same?!”
Xiuyi’s lips trembled. She wanted to say that they weren’t the same—they were just hired martial artists, nothing like assassins.
But this was clearly not something Feng Caiwei could hear right now.
She could only lower her head and reply softly, “Yes, ma’am.”
The bite on Feng Caiwei’s leg was still throbbing with pain. Clutching her thigh, she stared coldly at the people milling about the estate—and suddenly thought of another idea.
She pulled Xiuyi back before she could leave and whispered, “Her dog. Find her dog. Let it loose…”
Why should only Tian Baoci take the blame?
This had been a competition between two people.
Tian Baoci might have had more dogs, but Qi Yuan’s dog was the most ferocious of them all. Everyone had seen it.
If Qi Yuan’s dog went berserk and injured—or even killed—someone…
Then whatever fate befell Tian Baoci would have to befall Qi Yuan too.
Was her status any more noble than his?
Xiuyi secretly sighed in relief.
Letting a dog go wild was much easier than trying to kill Qi Yuan.
She quickly agreed and slipped away.
—
Elsewhere, Qi Zhen surveyed the chaotic estate and told Qi Yuan she should go home.
He said, “It has nothing to do with you anyway. The one who caused all this was Tian Baoci. The dog that went wild was his. Your dog at most just bit his dogs—it didn’t hurt anyone. It has nothing to do with you!”
Qi Yuan shook her head. “We’re already here. Let’s wait a little longer.”
Wait?
Qi Zhen was puzzled. He didn’t understand what she meant by “we’re already here.”
Qi Yuan turned to Liujin and asked, “What’s going on over there?”
“Duke Chengen won’t let it go. He’s completely thrown decorum aside—grabbed Nanan County Prince and keeps yelling that he’s the one who murdered his son,” Liujin clicked his tongue. “It’s a full-on mess.”
No wonder Liujin was gloating.
Nanan County Prince had always been a thorn in Xiao Yunting’s side.
Especially when Xiao Yunting had just returned to the Eastern Palace—Xiao Jingzhao constantly gave him trouble. He once even told the Crown Prince that Yunting said he liked rice cakes, even though the crown prince was allergic to them.
That time, the Crown Prince had publicly declared Yunting unfilial and accused him of treason.
There were countless petty tricks like that.
Liujin had long thought Xiao Jingzhao was full of malicious schemes.
Seeing him humiliated now—he was loving it.
Qi Yuan gave a light laugh.
Then said, “Alright. Let’s go home now.”
Go home?
Liujin was momentarily confused. There was still so much drama left! The matter wasn’t even resolved yet—Miss Qi was really leaving already?
Qi Yuan looked at Qi Zhen and said, “Father, we can go now.”
Qi Zhen nodded and quickly agreed. After a beat, he asked, “Then… what about that spotted dog?”
That dog really made a name for itself today—it was seriously impressive. Wouldn’t it be good to bring it home and raise it?
