“Your Highness…” Feng Wu, who had been waiting at the door, quickly stepped forward, looking around.
Xue Xing Yue saw this and said, “I’m not hurt.”
Feng Wu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. “Your Highness, you are too bold. What if Qi Yu Ming wanted to do something to harm Your Highness…”
“He doesn’t have the guts to do so here,” Xue Xing Yue said.
It was precisely because of this that she dared to venture into Qi Yu Ming’s territory alone.
Feng Wu said, “Your Highness, it’s best to be cautious. Qi Yu Ming is insidious and treacherous; it’s impossible to guard against him.”
Xue Xing Yue glanced at Feng Wu and said, “I know. You’re so naggy at your age; be careful you won’t find a wife.”
Feng Wu heard this and said, “If I don’t get married, it’s also quite good to stay by Your Highness’s side.”
“That won’t do. Even if I’m reluctant to, I can’t keep you forever. If Feng Wu meets the right person, don’t hesitate.”
Feng Wu’s gaze faltered slightly, and he smiled self-deprecatingly. “Your Highness, you don’t need to worry about me. With my appearance, they’d be scared to death. How could they possibly dare to marry me?”
“Someone who truly likes you won’t care about your appearance.”
Feng Wu’s body stiffened, and then he slowly lowered his gaze. “Perhaps, but I don’t want to think about these things now.”
Xue Xing Yue knew that since returning to the capital, Feng Wu had heard too much open and covert mockery. Perhaps he had developed an aversion to marriage. Although Feng Wu didn’t say it and pretended not to care, she knew he did.
“Your Highness, is that person Young Marquis Ji?” Feng Wu suddenly said.
Xue Xing Yue looked up and saw a tall figure appearing before Qi Yu Ming’s gate. Her gaze paused for a moment, and she took a few steps forward. She was being very careful, but she was still discovered when she was still about ten feet away.
That handsome face appeared before Xue Xing Yue. He seemed quite surprised as well. “Your Highness, you’re here?”
Xue Xing Yue looked at Ji Wu Ran and nodded. “Young Marquis Ji, why are you here as well?”
Ji Wu Ran heard this and said, “At the banquet, the Second Prince said he wanted to drink Osmanthus wine from Wan Jun Restaurant, so I’ve brought some for His Highness the Second Prince.”
Xue Xing Yue nodded, her gaze cool as she looked at Ji Wu Ran, who had nothing in his hands. “Where is the wine?”
Ji Wu Ran slowly took out two jars of wine from his sleeve and said, “Your Highness, if you wish to drink, I’ll give you a jar.”
“No need…” With that, Xue Xing Yue turned and left.
Ji Wu Ran looked at Xue Xing Yue’s retreating back, his gaze deepening considerably.
“Young Marquis, it’s fortunate you had wine with you, otherwise, Princess Xing Yue might not have believed you,” Ji An, who was beside him, breathed a sigh of relief.
Ji Wu Ran withdrew his gaze and said faintly, “Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.”
With that, he walked inside.
Ji An was left completely bewildered. Since when did the Young Marquis understand Princess Xing Yue so well?
Suddenly, he remembered something. Could his master have fallen for Princess Xing Yue?
This was serious. He had to quickly go and tell his wife. The Young Marquis was going to snatch someone else’s wife!
Ji An quickly left.
An Hei, who had been hiding in the dark, emerged and whispered into Ji Wu Ran’s ear, “Master, Ji An has left. Do you need me to stop him?”
“No need,” Ji Wu Ran said faintly.
An Hei was taken aback. “Master, aren’t you afraid Ji An will go back and tell the Marquis?”
“He won’t,” Ji Wu Ran said.
An Hei looked at his master with some confusion. Why was his master so sure?
“Let’s go!” Ji Wu Ran walked inside, and An Hei, hidden in the darkness, followed him.
Qi Yu Ming, upon seeing the newcomer, was surprised but quickly regained his composure and smiled. “So it’s Young Marquis Ji. Someone, serve tea.”
“No need for tea,” Ji Wu Ran said, sitting down on a stone chair in the courtyard.
Qi Yu Ming’s gaze flickered, and he also sat down. “May I ask why Young Marquis Ji has come to my residence?”
“To deliver wine,” Ji Wu Ran said, taking out two jars of wine from his sleeve and placing them on the stone table.
Qi Yu Ming was stunned for a moment, then smiled. “I merely mentioned it casually. It’s quite humbling that Young Marquis Ji took it to heart.”
Ji Wu Ran raised his eyes and glanced at Qi Yu Ming faintly. “Second Prince, as you are new to the Star Chen Kingdom, I naturally keep your words and actions in mind.”
Qi Yu Ming smiled upon hearing this. “In that case, I feel a bit embarrassed that I’ve troubled Young Marquis Ji so much.”
“Second Prince, you are too kind. This wine is merely something I picked up casually. If Second Prince likes it, then I would feel truly humbled.”
Qi Yu Ming’s gaze froze, and his expression changed slightly. The smile he had moments ago seemed a bit strained, but being a man who had weathered many storms, he still smiled and said, “Young Marquis Ji is truly good at joking.”
“Joking? I’m very sorry, Second Prince, I never joke. I’ve brought the wine. Whether you drink it or not is up to you,” Ji Wu Ran said faintly, looking at Qi Yu Ming.
Qi Yu Ming’s expression turned cold, and he said sternly, “Young Marquis Ji, what is the meaning of this?”
Ji Wu Ran said faintly, “I have no other intention. Second Prince wanted wine, and I brought it. What other intention could I have? I just don’t know what Second Prince’s intention is?”
Qi Yu Ming grew more confused the more he listened. “Young Marquis Ji, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“I also believe that Second Prince’s ears might not be functioning properly. In that case, it seems there is no need for me to continue speaking with Second Prince.”
“Ji Wu Ran…” Qi Yu Ming was enraged.
Ji Wu Ran looked up, his gaze cold. “I am here. Second Prince does not need to raise your voice so loudly.”
Qi Yu Ming sneered, “Ji Wu Ran, are you acting so rudely on the orders of your Star Chen Emperor as well?”
Ji Wu Ran heard this, raised his eyes, and looked coldly at Qi Yu Ming, saying sternly, “Second Prince, was your rudeness to Princess Xing Yue just now also on the Emperor Qi’s orders?”
“You…” Qi Yu Ming was greatly alarmed. Did Ji Wu Ran hear everything that had just happened?
The reason he dared to treat Princess Xing Yue that way was simply because he saw that Princess Xing Yue had come alone without anyone else. Even if Princess Xing Yue went back and reported that he had been disrespectful to her, without witnesses, as long as he denied it, Princess Xing Yue would have no way to deal with him. But what was the meaning of Ji Wu Ran suddenly appearing now?
However, Qi Yu Ming quickly calmed down. It was likely that Princess Xing Yue had gone out in anger and Ji Wu Ran had guessed that something had happened.
Thinking of this, Qi Yu Ming said coldly, “Ji Wu Ran, one can eat anything, but one cannot speak carelessly. How was I rude to Princess Xing Yue?”
“Second Prince knows in his heart,” Ji Wu Ran said coldly.
“Ji Wu Ran, words without proof. You are slandering me like this, do you have some ulterior motive?”