The fragrance of wine mingled with incense throughout the residence. The tables were laden with all kinds of fresh seasonal fruit, and every so often, the sound of a pipa drifted over from somewhere nearby.
The young woman looked hesitantly at the wary Ji Zhaoxi beside her. “Miss Ji, aren’t you hungry?”
Miss Ji had been on guard the entire journey. She wouldn’t allow anyone to approach her—not even a fly.
The young woman was touched by Miss Ji’s concern for her, but Miss Ji really ought to take better care of herself too.
Ji Zhaoxi comforted her. “Miss Qin, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Looking into Ji Zhaoxi’s sincere eyes, the young woman suddenly didn’t know what to say.
She wasn’t afraid at all.
Ji Zhaoxi slung her sword over her back and began patrolling the area again. No one dared come within several yards of her, while the other guests in the residence pretended not to notice her.
That was how martial artists were. And the daughters of martial artists were no different.
Before long, a tall, broad-shouldered man walked over. Ji Zhaoxi’s eyes lit up, and she quickly stepped aside.
The man gave Ji Zhaoxi a hesitant look as well before greeting her.
“Miss Ji.”
“Young Master Xu, long time no see.”
Ji Zhaoxi watched him with satisfaction and began guarding the man and woman.
The male and female leads had finally met.
The two of them had endured far too many setbacks, both mental and physical. In the end, although they had achieved a happy ending, their excessive worries had made it hardly any different from a tragic one.
That was why the system had specially sent Ji Zhaoxi to protect their relationship and prevent any misunderstandings between them.
Xu Ancheng and Qin Qiwu sat facing each other, both looking a little embarrassed.
They sat there in silence, sipping tea. The pot was soon empty, so Ji Zhaoxi thoughtfully had a servant bring them another one.
Both of their faces were flushed crimson. They cast Ji Zhaoxi a pleading look.
Seeing their eyes, Ji Zhaoxi suddenly understood. She was very perceptive and promptly moved farther away from them.
Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng watched Ji Zhaoxi’s retreating back in silence.
The moment Ji Zhaoxi left, the two of them had no choice but to start talking.
Xu Ancheng lowered his eyes and said softly, “Miss Qin, that day… the girl was my cousin.”
Qin Qiwu’s ears turned slightly red. She answered in a low voice, “Young Master Xu, Miss Ji already told me.”
Back when she had secretly wiped away her tears beneath a tree, Miss Ji had suddenly leaped down from the branches with a solemn expression, climbed over the wall, and jumped down in front of her to explain everything.
Ji Zhaoxi glanced at the two red-faced people in the pavilion and nodded in satisfaction.
Let the young couple have some time together.
Just then, a woman came hurrying over. Ji Zhaoxi quickly blocked her path. “You can’t go over there.”
The woman was furious. “Why not?”
Ji Zhaoxi was being astonishingly overbearing.
“Miss Qin and Young Master Xu are discussing something important.”
The woman’s mouth twitched. “Ji Zhaoxi, move. My kite landed over there.”
Ji Zhaoxi looked behind her. Sure enough, a kite was hanging from the tree beside the pavilion.
But of all the places it could have landed, it had happened to fall in the tree beside the male and female leads…
Ji Zhaoxi regarded the woman suspiciously.
The woman put her hands on her hips, her mouth twitching. “Ji Zhaoxi, stop being crazy. This young lady is interested in neither Xu Ancheng nor Qin Qiwu. Now move!”
That lunatic Ji Zhaoxi always seemed to think that everyone in the capital was in love with Xu Ancheng and Qin Qiwu. Were those two really such irresistible catches?
Well, they were indeed rather appealing—but surely not to the point that everyone would like them. What if some people preferred moldy buns?
To be safe, Ji Zhaoxi went to retrieve the kite herself.
When Xu Ancheng and Qin Qiwu saw her approaching, their hearts tightened. Their faces flushed again, and they fell silent.
Ji Zhaoxi gave them an awkward smile and deftly took the kite down from the tree.
Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng had just started to ask her to sit down and eat something when Ji Zhaoxi met their eyes. She suddenly understood once again and swiftly withdrew.
Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng fell silent again.
What exactly was Miss Ji understanding every time…?
After taking down the kite, Ji Zhaoxi handed it to the woman in front of her and said seriously, “Miss, please don’t let your kite drift over beside this pair of lovers again.”
She had already helped this woman retrieve five things today!
First it had been a handkerchief, then a painting. After that, a hairpin had fallen into the river, and somehow even a cat had wandered over. Now there was the kite.
The woman took the kite, looking irritated. “I don’t understand it either. I keep losing things today.”
And they always ended up beside those two, making it seem as though she were deliberately disturbing them.
The woman stared at Ji Zhaoxi for a moment before suddenly bumping into her. Ji Zhaoxi lost her balance and nearly fell into the grass beside her.
Ji Zhaoxi looked at the woman in disbelief and accused her, “What was that for?”
The woman hurriedly caught her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It was an accident.”
She had seen Ji Zhaoxi standing guard there with a sword strapped to her back and assumed she must have been standing very steadily.
Ji Zhaoxi said nothing and remained where she was.
The woman coughed lightly. “Are you hungry? I’ll take you to get something delicious.”
She lowered her voice. “It was bestowed by Her Highness.”
Ji Zhaoxi still didn’t say anything. Just as the woman began to think she wasn’t interested, Ji Zhaoxi said softly, “Could you bring me some? Young Master Xu and Miss Qin can’t do without me.”
The woman stared at Ji Zhaoxi’s serious expression, the corner of her mouth twitching.
This person seriously overestimated her own importance.
Before long, Ji Zhaoxi was dutifully eating pastries while guarding Xu Ancheng and Qin Qiwu.
At last, the banquet came to an end, and the atmosphere between Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng had eased considerably.
Night had fallen deeply by the time the three of them left the residence. Hoofbeats rang against the ground, while the rustling of leaves drifted through the wind from time to time.
Xu Ancheng drove the carriage and said softly, “The government silver disappeared along the road. Since the authorities in Pingyuan County can’t solve the case, we’ll have to pay them a visit ourselves.”
Qin Qiwu lifted a corner of the curtain, her brows tightly furrowed. “The silver had only just gone missing, and already the flow of hard currency had become abnormal…”
Ji Zhaoxi hugged her sword and sat drowsily inside the carriage. Listening to the two of them, she felt even sleepier.
Xu Ancheng had just been about to speak when a scream suddenly came from deep within the forest.
“Help—!”
Several disheveled figures suddenly stumbled out, their bodies covered in blood.
The scream jolted Ji Zhaoxi awake. She immediately moved to protect Qin Qiwu.
With Qin Qiwu under Ji Zhaoxi’s protection, Xu Ancheng’s eyes turned cold. He drew his sword and charged straight into the forest. Before long, the sounds of fighting rang out from within.
Qin Qiwu was frantic with worry and immediately tried to rush down from the carriage.
Ji Zhaoxi stopped her. “Miss Qin, don’t go.”
Qin Qiwu’s eyes reddened. “But…”
Ji Zhaoxi reassured her. “Don’t worry, Miss Qin. Young Master Xu will be fine.”
Looking at Ji Zhaoxi’s calm expression, Qin Qiwu gradually felt herself relax as well.
He’ll be fine. Young Master Xu’s martial arts are superb. Nothing will happen to him.
Even so, she still couldn’t stop herself from worrying about him.
