Chapter 51: The Plot Has Completely Derailed! Oh My God!
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Ji Ci stood outside the makeshift shelter built by the displaced villagers, gazing intently at the land that desperately needed rebuilding. She ordered someone to bring paper and brush, and on a rough sheet of straw paper, she sketched a brand-new plan for a rural town. Each household was allotted equal land, and the house layouts were uniform and orderly.
She approached Dongfang Jibai and pointed to the drawing. “According to this plan, we’ll build everything uniformly from the start. Once this place is rebuilt, we can reclaim our city and even construct a Great Wall, preventing foreign invaders from harassing our borders.”
Dongfang Jibai’s lips curled into a faint smile, eyes full of adoration. “I’ll follow whatever my lady decides.”
“Watch your words,” Ji Ci chided, lightly kicking him.
Dongfang Jibai reminded her, “My lady, have you forgotten that Yanmen Pass is not yet under our control? We’re still constrained by others.”
Ji Ci was silent for a moment. “You command an army of a hundred thousand. We have the advantage.”
“Then we’ll keep recruiting, but my lady will have to work hard to gather provisions for us,” he said.
Suddenly, the system emitted a sharp alarm:
[Warning! Host’s task is to prevent the villain from turning evil, not to incite rebellion! The plot is completely off-track! Oh my heavens!]
Ji Ci was exasperated. ‘Isn’t this still preventing the villain from turning evil?’
The system hesitated. [That might be true. Since you’re practically putting the villain on the throne, there’s no time left for him to turn evil...]
Ji Ci smugly lifted her chin, utterly pleased with herself.
‘I call this a roundabout way to save the country.’
[Fine, I’ll reluctantly give you that...]
Dongfang Jibai frowned, displeased that this so-called system dared to boss around his lady.
He wouldn’t dare do that himself!
Whatever his lady said was right; he always obeyed her.
If she wanted him to be emperor, then he would be emperor.
“I’ll arrange for troops to start construction according to your plans,” Dongfang Jibai said, taking the blueprint. Noticing the lines were somewhat rough, he furrowed his brow, then softened his voice. “Why not come back to my residence with me? I can help you redraw a cleaner copy.”
Ji Ci leaned close, her fresh scent lingering near his nose.
Once tasted, never forgotten.
Dongfang Jibai’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he struggled to contain his feelings, reminding himself to focus on the task at hand.
“Is my drawing not good enough?” Ji Ci asked.
“It’s excellent. I want to treasure your artwork,” he replied, carefully folding the blueprint and tucking it close to his chest.
Zhao Qiaofeng couldn’t help but mock from the side, “Cousin, you look like a peacock showing off its feathers.”
“Looks like you’re missing the capital. I’ll have Chusi send you back right away,” Dongfang Jibai jabbed at his cousin’s sore spot.
Zhao Qiaofeng pouted.
No more talking then. She was always threatened with that every time!
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“The weather’s still bearable now. Adults can endure sleeping outside, but I worry about the children,” Ji Ci said, looking at the huddled refugees with pity.
She wanted them to cultivate the land and live in peace, but meals must be eaten bite by bite, and tasks completed one step at a time.
“The children are settled inside the city, with wet nurses to care for them. These refugees now view Lord Xinhe as their faith; nothing will happen,” Dongfang Jibai reassured her, drawing close. From a distance, it looked as if Ji Ci leaned against his chest.
“Thank you, Xiaobai,” Ji Ci said sincerely.
Before his smile faded, urgent hoofbeats sounded in the distance.
A young man tumbled off his horse, clutching a small dog that rolled several times before darting toward Ji Ci.
“Aqing!” Ji Ci exclaimed joyfully, picking up the little white dog. She turned to Yan Xiaoqi. “Why are you just arriving now?”
Yan Xiaoqi scratched his head in apology. “Miss, we took a wrong turn and got delayed. Luckily, Aqing was smart and led me to you.”
Ji Ci patted his shoulder and nodded. “Good job.”
Dongfang Jibai grabbed Ji Ci’s hand to keep her from reaching out to another man.
Zhao Qiaofeng stared at the dog in Ji Ci’s arms, convinced it was her own Aqing.
“Aqing?” she called.
The dog stiffened, immediately turning its back to her as if pretending not to know her.
Ji Ci handed Aqing back to Zhao Qiaofeng. “Here you go.”
“Aqing, where have you been? Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?” Zhao Qiaofeng said, hugging the dog before quickly dropping him in disgust.
This dog—
What a smell!
How long has it been since his last bath?
Zhao Qiaofeng placed Aqing on the ground, but he immediately ran back to Ji Ci’s feet.
As if he wasn’t familiar with Zhao Qiaofeng at all.
Zhao Qiaofeng gritted her teeth in frustration. This silly dog! Why can’t he be tamed?
She picked him up again. “Let’s go home for a bath.”
Aqing instantly became obedient. A bath! He’d never had a beautiful lady bathe him before!
His antics made everyone laugh.
Dongfang Jibai made arrangements, and the group headed back to the Xin residence.
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At last, Xue Jing met Dongfang Jibai.
To be precise, it was Dongfang Jibai who came to see him.
His face was ordinary, but he exuded a suffocating aura of dominance.
Xue Jing scrutinized him, hoping to find a flaw.
Dongfang Jibai spoke coldly, “You owe my lady three thousand taels of silver. It must be repaid today. She hates being owed debts.”
Xue Jing clenched his fists, torn inside: should he keep hiding his identity or confess?
If the grand general discovered the truth, he’d be doomed.
If he confessed, he’d likely be thrown out immediately.
Their eyes locked. Xue Jing closed his eyes, silently steeling himself before speaking, “I am Xue Jing.”
Dongfang Jibai’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had long known.
He was already aware that the Fourth Prince had been saved from an assassination and fall by Ji Ci.
Allowing Xue Jing to stay close to Ji Ci was a test to see his intentions.
Had Xue Jing not behaved, he would have been dead already.
“I am Dongfang Jibai,” he stated flatly, dropping all pretense.
Xue Jing’s heart skipped a beat.
Dongfang Jibai’s hidden ambitions gave him confidence; if he dropped the act, it meant he was determined to seize the throne.
With the court in turmoil, if Dongfang Jibai raised his army now, no one could stop him.
“General, why are you here instead of with the army?” Xue Jing feigned calm.
“Why ask such a foolish question, Fourth Prince?” Dongfang Jibai scoffed.
Ji Ci watched them exchange words, then leaned toward Dongfang Jibai.
“Xiaobai, he’s the Fourth Prince? The one who captured me?”
“Exactly.”
“Then I’ll kill him.”
Xue Jing dug his nails into his palm.
Raised in luxury, never had he suffered such humiliation. But now, his life hung by a thread; he could only bow his head.
Just as Ji Ci was about to act, Xue Jing shouted, “I’m willing to follow the general’s command. I beg you to spare my life.”
Only then did Dongfang Jibai grasp Ji Ci’s hand gently. “Let me talk with him first. If we can’t reach an agreement, it won’t be too late to kill him.”
Goodness, a heartless couple—no hesitation even when killing!
Xue Jing clenched his fists. The tides of fortune shift; after thirty years of favor, now he was at Dongfang Jibai’s mercy.