Chapter 62: The Mistress Got into a Fight with Someone
Inside the study, Dongfang Jibai had already warmed a pot of tea.
This water was the spiritual spring water left behind by Ji Ci.
San-san was Dongfang Jibai's purse, after all, so naturally, he had to be given the very best!
Of course, everyone who followed Dongfang Jibai deserved the best.
"You've had a hard journey." Dongfang Jibai handed a cup of tea to San-san.
San-san received it with both hands: "Thank you, Master."
As a cup of tea slid down his throat, San-san's eyes lit up: "Wonderful tea! Master, another cup."
Dongfang Jibai smiled. Of course this tea was extraordinary—it had been specially prepared by his wife.
Aside from himself, San-san was the very first person to taste this tea.
After another cup, San-san felt all the fatigue in his body vanish completely.
A-Qing let out a soft huff from the side.
Stingy man, not letting him follow Ji Ci.
He had stubbornly insisted on leaving it in the study to protect him!
Please, it was just a dog.
What the hell could it protect?
San-san put down his cup and began to brief Dongfang Jibai on his arrangements in Jiangnan, as well as where the items he brought back had been stored.
"Tonight, when my wife returns, we will hold a welcome feast for our brother."
"Master, where is the Madam from? She looks quite young, and since Master keeps her by your side at all times, should we inform the Master and the Old Madam?"
San-san had a steady temperament; although he was only twenty-two, he spoke like a man of thirty-two.
He looked as though he had weathered many hardships, possessing a maturity far beyond his years.
"My family is already aware. As for her identity... In the Jiangnan Ji Manor, didn't Master Ji Xian have a lost legitimate daughter? Ah-Ci is her."
Without spelling everything out explicitly.
San-san was a perceptive man and immediately stood up to acknowledge the order.
"This subordinate understands."
Inside the room, the men began discussing their future plans of action.
Out on the street.
Ji Ci was dressed in a light blue dress. Her hair had been styled by Dongfang Jibai's own hands, with two little silver bells hanging from the tips of her twin buns.
Every movement and smile carried the crisp chime of the silver bells.
Zhao Qiaofeng clutched her gauze hat tightly, terrified that the wind might blow it away.
"Aiyah, Sister-in-law, I don't want to wear this anymore." Zhao Qiaofeng took off the gauze hat and casually tossed it onto the roadside.
Ji Ci turned her head and said, "If you don't want to wear it, then don't. Sister-in-law has the best skincare products here; I'll let you use them tonight, and I guarantee your face will be as dewy and tender as water."
"Really?" Surprise flashed in Zhao Qiaofeng's eyes.
Looking at her sister-in-law's complexion, it seemed exactly the same as when she had first arrived.
It hadn't been roughened by the northern winds at all.
"Of course." Ji Ci lifted her chin.
The spiritual spring water in her dimensional space could be used as the base for skincare products, infused with flower petals plucked straight from the space.
With just a casual concoction, it became a hydrating toner!
Xiao Yunjian was leading his horse, observing the changes in Pingcheng as he walked through the city.
The commoners here lacked the aura of death; it didn't look at all like a place that had long suffered the miseries of war.
In the distance, two gorgeously dressed women were walking toward him.
The younger woman in front had eyes like cold pools reflecting the stars, and lips like cinnabar dotting snow. With every glance and smile, she seemed like an immortal fairy banished to the mortal realm.
Just a single look was enough for anyone to remember her for a lifetime.
Meanwhile, the chattering young maiden behind her possessed hair like a cascading waterfall, brows like misty distant hills, and skin fairer than snow. Her eyes rippled like autumn waves, and her lotus steps stirred a hidden fragrance.
His Adam's apple bobbed as Xiao Yunjian stared, completely mesmerized.
Zhao Qiaofeng frowned, casting a displeased look at Xiao Yunjian, and scolded sharply, "What are you staring at? Stare any longer and I'll gouge those eyes out!"
[Warning: Fated entanglement detected! Zhao Qiaofeng's countdown to death: 545 days, 23 hours, 59 seconds.]
Ji Ci's footsteps halted. Hadn't the plot already been altered?
She stared dangerously at Xiao Yunjian.
This was the man who had originally fallen in love with Zhao Qiaofeng in the book!
Could it really be such a coincidence?!
Even after fleeing all the way to Pingcheng, she still ran into this so-called fate!
What kind of ghost fate was this?!
Ji Ci hurriedly grabbed Zhao Qiaofeng and hurried away in long strides, as if she were being chased by a dog!
And weren't they being chased by a dog—a vicious, malicious hound at that!
"Sister-in-law, why are you walking so fast? That fellow just now looked like he harbored evil intentions. You should go teach him a lesson."
Zhao Qiaofeng struggled, trying to get Ji Ci to take action.
She knew her sister-in-law's formidable abilities—truly matchless.
Whenever she went out with her cousin, they would end up getting beaten up, but when she went out with her sister-in-law, it was only ever her sister-in-law beating others up.
"Forget it, forget it. Looking at him won't cause you to lose a piece of flesh."
For once, Ji Ci didn't haggle over details. With wind beneath her feet, she dragged Zhao Qiaofeng away at a running pace.
Watching the two figures fleeing in a panic, Xiao Yunjian's eyes darkened.
That woman—just a single glance had set his heart pounding fiercely.
He had never felt this way even around the Princess.
Xiao Yunjian vaulted onto his horse and spurred the mount to follow the two women.
Halting right in front of them, Xiao Yunjian dismounted and bowed with cupped hands: "This humble scholar, Xiao Yunjian. May I ask for the fair maiden's esteemed name?"
Ji Ci glared!
Damn it!
Your granny went out of her way to hide from you, yet you still dare to chase after us!
Today, she was going to tear this so-called fate to absolute shreds!
She pushed Zhao Qiaofeng aside, took off her cloak, folded it meticulously, and whispered, "Hold onto this for me and don't get it dirty, or your cousin will start nagging again—so annoying."
"Mm-mm, go get him, Sister-in-law!"
Zhao Qiaofeng stepped back a little.
Whenever her sister-in-law took off her outer robe, it meant she was about to beat someone up!
Brilliant!
She had found this man repulsive for a long time already!
It would be best if he could be beaten to death right here and now!
"This young lady sits and stands by her real name—I am your granny!"
Ji Ci raised her hand and slammed her fist squarely into Xiao Yunjian's eye.
This time, she didn't use any supernatural abilities; she relied purely on brute force to brawl with Xiao Yunjian.
She was venting her anger on behalf of the deceased Zhao Qiaofeng!
This time it was all about settling old scores, not a shred of personal grievance involved!
The two of them became hopelessly entangled in a fierce street fight.
The townspeople recognized Ji Ci and knew she was the Junior Madam of the Xin Manor, who was fiercely doted upon by her husband!
Seeing Ji Ci fighting right in the middle of the street, they immediately ran off to the Xin Manor to report the news.
"Master, this is terrible! The Madam has gotten into a fight with someone!"
The steward rushed outside the study, shouting at the top of his lungs, panting heavily like an old bellows.
Dongfang Jibai crushed the teacup directly in his grip, grabbed the long spear resting nearby, and moved to head out the door.
San-san hurriedly intercepted him: "Master, stay calm, stay calm. Take this instead."
San-san handed Dongfang Jibai a treasured sword and followed right behind him as he bolted out.
Out on the street, Zhao Qiaofeng was dumbfounded.
Why was this completely different from before?!
Her sister-in-law was extremely skilled in martial arts; why wasn't she using flying kicks?!
How did they end up rolling around and fighting on the ground like this?
This was no different from a couple of harridans brawling in the dirt!
Catching sight of Dongfang Jibai approaching from afar, Zhao Qiaofeng viciously pinched her own thigh, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes: "Sister-in-law, beat this scoundrel to death!"
Hearing Zhao Qiaofeng's cries, Wang Feng's ears immediately perked up. Without a second word, he shoved his way through the crowd and waded right into the fray.
Wang Feng had no martial arts training, but the two of them tumbled together in a brawl. Two against one, Xiao Yunjian found himself pinned beneath Wang Feng, taking a brutal beating.
"Cousin..."
Zhao Qiaofeng wept, her eyes red and swollen.
Dongfang Jibai frowned. It had been quite some time since his cousin had last cried; for her to weep this bitterly now meant she must have suffered a grievance as vast as the heavens!
Then, looking at his own precious little wife—her hair disheveled, her shoes missing entirely, and her bare little feet planted squarely on Xiao Yunjian's face.
Dongfang Jibai covered his own face, feeling helpless yet amused.
He stepped forward and scooped Ji Ci up into his arms. As he lifted her, Ji Ci delivered a vigorous parting kick, landing a few more solid blows right on Xiao Yunjian's backside!
*Just you wait, Xiao Yunjian! There were roads in the capital you refused to walk, yet you chose to court death where Yangguan Pass has no doors!*
Dongfang Jibai narrowed his eyes to inspect the man sprawled in the dirt, taking a long moment to finally recognize Xiao Yunjian's face.
He looked quite pitiful after taking such a beating, but he thoroughly deserved it.
No wonder his little wife was so furious—it turned out she had run into her mortal enemy!