Xi Daniu was stopped outside the Ninth Princess’s residence and was not invited straight inside.
Everyone at the Ninth Princess’s residence knew about the feud between the Duke of An’s estate and the Xi Qingyue sisters. They would not let the heir to the Duke of An enter so easily. The gatekeeper told him to wait, then shut the gates again.
When Mu Jin received the news, she did not make a decision immediately. Instead, she went to find Luo Ling.
“The heir to the Duke of An says he came to request an imperial physician to examine someone, but who knows what his true intentions are? You decide whether we should see him.”
Luo Ling shook her head after hearing this. “The princess hasn’t woken up yet, so there’s no need for us to see him. Send out the least skilled imperial physician. He asked for a physician, and we’re giving him one. Let’s see what he does next. Have someone keep a close eye on him. Relax the guard outside, but tighten security within the residence.”
Mu Jin’s eyes lit up. What a good idea. There was no need to let him inside at all.
Two quarters of an hour later, just as Xi Daniu was growing impatient, a maid came out of the residence accompanied by an imperial physician.
“Her Highness is still unconscious and unable to receive guests. This is Physician Li. He will accompany you to examine the Duchess.”
After saying this at the gate, the young maid bowed, retreated inside, and shut the gates. She left without the slightest hesitation.
Xi Daniu was stunned. They would not even let him through the gates. The people at the princess’s residence had no manners at all. However, he could not say anything. He had asked for an imperial physician, and they had given him one. He could hardly force his way inside.
Then an idea occurred to him. He glanced at one of the guards behind him.
The guard immediately understood. When Xi Daniu left with Physician Li, the guard did not follow. Instead, he headed in another direction.
He reached a secluded section of the wall surrounding the princess’s residence and crouched beside it, listening carefully for a while. Then he pushed off with his toes and vaulted onto the wall. With another leap, he landed in a remote courtyard within the residence.
He looked around. Seeing no guards patrolling nearby, he boldly crept toward the rear courtyard.
Mu Jin watched his movements from the shadows and sneered inwardly. Did he really think he could come and go from the Ninth Princess’s residence as he pleased?
She had deliberately arranged for some of the guards inside to avoid the man seemingly by coincidence, allowing him to make his way smoothly to the rear courtyard.
The guard cautiously circled outside Lu Qianning’s courtyard for a while but did not enter. Instead, he crept toward the courtyard beside it. That was where the sisters, Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan, lived.
It was the residence with the highest status after Lu Qianning’s courtyard. Two maids stood guard at the entrance, while several others bustled about inside. It appeared more important than any of the other courtyards.
Before the guard could decide whether to climb onto the roof and take a look at the people living inside, a maid appeared silently in front of him and kicked him to the ground.
“Beat him first and tie him up. We’ll wait for the two young ladies to wake up before deciding how to deal with him.”
The woman, dressed like an ordinary maid, gave him a disdainful glance before walking away. She still had to report the situation to Mu Jin.
The guard attempted to escape using his qinggong. He had only just leapt into the air when a small stone struck his leg with pinpoint accuracy. He groaned and fell from midair.
“Hmph. With martial arts like that, you still dare to break into the Ninth Princess’s residence? Where did you get the nerve? Beat him! Hit him hard!”
As soon as she finished speaking, a young maid stuffed a rag into the guard’s mouth. Then a group of them grabbed sticks and began raining blows upon him.
The guard had never imagined that a group of seemingly ordinary maids would all be hiding extraordinary skills. Every blow landed with enough force to make him ache all over, yet he could not even cry out.
After beating him, the maids bound him tightly and made him kneel facing Xi Qingyue’s door.
Mu Jin was very pleased with how they had handled things. If the guard had gone elsewhere, they might have played with him for a while. Unfortunately for him, he had chosen to sneak into the Xi sisters’ courtyard. The two girls were sleeping, and no one was allowed to disturb them.
Xi Qingyue did not wake until after noon. When she and Xi Weilan pushed open the doors of the main room, they saw someone kneeling in the courtyard. His face was impossible to make out, but from his clothing and build, it was clear that he was a man.
The maid in charge, Xia Ran, smiled and stepped forward.
“Young ladies, you’re awake. I’ll have someone bring you something to eat right away.”
She waved to one of the maids, who hurried off.
Xia Ran and another maid came over to the two girls. Xi Qingyue had already dressed Xi Weilan, and the two maids each began combing one sister’s hair.
Xi Weilan opened her big eyes and stared curiously at the kneeling man in the courtyard.
“Who is he? Why is he kneeling in our courtyard?”
As she combed the girl’s hair, Xia Ran explained with a smile, “He’s some kind of criminal. He was sneaking around and tried to get in to harm you, so we beat him and tied him up. You may decide how to deal with him, Young Ladies.”
When the guard saw the two children, his eyes widened. He shook his head frantically, trying to say something, but his mouth was gagged, and no one paid him any attention.
Then he heard Xi Qingyue’s cold, indifferent voice.
“Tell Sister Mujin that anyone who dares break into the Ninth Princess’s residence must have malicious intentions. Kill him. As for the master behind him, throw him in front of his master, then break his master’s legs.”
Upon hearing this, the guard shook his head even more violently. He could not make a sound, but he struggled desperately to move toward Xi Qingyue.
He wanted to tell her that his master was the girls’ father. He had recognized Xi Qingyue from the portrait, and after the initial shock, he was filled with terror. His own death would be a minor matter. The real problem was that his master appeared about to have his legs broken by his own daughter’s people.
Xia Ran exchanged a glance with one of the maids. The maid immediately drew the soft sword from her waist. With a single thrust, the guard collapsed and never moved again.
Another maid promptly dragged away the body. Some cleaned the courtyard while others served the food. Everyone continued working in perfect order, as though nothing had happened.
By the time Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan had washed up and begun eating, Xia Ran had already reported what happened to Mu Jin, including Xi Qingyue’s exact words.
Mu Jin’s lips curved slightly.
“As expected of someone the princess values. She really is different. Do as she said. Throw the body at the gates of the Duke of An’s estate. When the Hereditary Prince comes out, make your move. Be quick. Let them know we did it, but leave them without a shred of evidence.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll send someone to handle it at once. I guarantee it will be done beautifully.”
Xia Ran withdrew, and Mu Jin once again headed toward Luo Ling’s quarters. She needed to check on her princess. Lying down all day was exhausting too, and she had to dismiss those imperial physicians first.
Xi Qingyue paid no attention to what she had said earlier. To her, anyone who tried to harm her deserved whatever punishment they received.
Xi Weilan, meanwhile, was happily eating her way through the tableful of dishes. When she remembered all the additional fruit trees that had appeared in her spatial realm, the smile on her face grew even brighter.
Xi Qingyue placed a piece of pork rib in her bowl and reminded her softly, “Eat slowly, or you’ll choke. We’re not going out this afternoon. We’ll play here in the residence. Later, you can follow Luo Ling or Mu Jin and learn qinggong. I’m going to discuss something with Big Sister Lu.”
“Yes, Big Sister. I’ll study hard.” Xi Weilan puffed out her cheeks and nodded with a smile.
Xi Qingyue patted her on the head. “While I’m away, don’t take off the little trinket around your waist. It won’t interfere with learning qinggong.”
Xi Weilan obediently nodded again. “Mm-hmm. I’ll do as you say, Big Sister.”
