C145

Xiao Shiqing did not know that Xiao Jiu'an already knew that Ji Yunkai had lost the Phoenix Pendant.

Hearing Xiao Jiu'an's question, Xiao Shiqing said haughtily, "If I, Xiao Shiqing, marry, then naturally I should marry the most honorable man in the world. Besides the Emperor, who else is fit to marry me?"

Although there was no evidence, Xiao Jiu'an was certain that the Phoenix Pendant was in Shiqing's hands. To strike at Shiqing, Xiao Jiu'an opened his mouth and said, "If you marry the Emperor, what about your precious Feng Qi? You don't want him?"

Feng Qi was her only weakness, and also her only softness.

"Investigate? Do I need to? You didn't even forget to play dumb and pester Feng Qi. Is there a need for This King to investigate?" During her time of playing the fool, Xiao Shiqing had been pestering Ji Yunkai, presumably because of Feng Qi. Unfortunately for her, Ji Yunkai was too smart and did not give her the chance.

Xiao Shiqing awkwardly bit her lips, and said stubbornly, "Feng Qi is Feng Qi, and this does not affect my marriage to the Emperor."

She could not deny that she loved Feng Qi, but who was she?

She was Xiao Shiqing, the Infanta of Prince Yanbei's Mansion, and the only bloodline of the Prince Yanbei's Mansion. No matter how much she loved him, she would never forget what she had to do.

"You've decided not to marry anyone other than the Emperor?" Because of the face of the dead Old Prince Yanbei, Xiao Jiu'an gave Shiqing another chance.

Unfortunately, Infanta Shiqing did not grasp this opportunity, and said resolutely, "I have decided. Besides the Emperor, I will not marry anyone else." If Xiao Jiu'an wanted to marry her off, it would not be that easy.

"Alright, This King will grant you your wish." He wanted to see just how big of a storm Shiqing would create after marrying the Emperor.

"At the beginning of next year, This King will let the Emperor support you. Before that, go to the other villages outside the city to recuperate." Half a year, was enough for him to remove the influence that Shiqing had in the Yanbei Army, and also enough for him to clean up Shiqing's men.

"Thank you for your help, Big Brother. I'll go to the other manor tonight." Now that things had come to this point, she could no longer stay in the estate. Rather than staying here and looking at others' expressions, she might as well go to another manor.

"Go." Xiao Jiu'an did not urge her to stay, showing just how disappointed he was with Xiao Shiqing.

"Big Brother, take care." After Xiao Shiqing finished speaking, she turned around and left without any hesitation.

Did she want to borrow the Phoenix Pendant's power to act in secret?

He would not let Shiqing have her way.

"Yes, Your Highness." The dark guard retreated without a sound.

Xiao Jiu'an sat alone in the study room, leaning on the chair with his eyes closed. After a long while, he let out a light sigh.

His voice was very soft and low. If one did not listen carefully, one wouldn't notice...

Ji Yunkai did not know what the Infanta had done, nor did she have the interest to know. After knowing that the Infanta had gone to a different manor, Ji Yunkai only nodded her head, indicating that she knew.

Baoqin tolerated it for a while and finally could not help it anymore. She asked, "Esteemed Consort, aren't you curious about what the Infanta has done?"

"Why should I be curious? It has nothing to do with me." Ji Yunkai was arranging flowers, and after hearing Baoqin's words, she did not even raise her head to ask.

Baoqin felt stifled to death and could not help but say, "Princess, the one who injured you yesterday was the Third Prince of the Southern Wilderness. He was sent by the Infanta."

"Oh." Ji Yunkai responded but said nothing else afterward.

"Princess, the Infanta wants to kill you. Don't you want to know why?" This was a matter of life and death, yet the Princess Consort did not even care. How big was her heart?

"So what if I know? Can I kill Infanta Shiqing?" Ji Yunkai put down the scissors and turned to look at Baoqin.

What did this girl mean?

Was she trying to test her on Xiao Jiu'an's behalf?

She reckoned that Xiao Jiu'an would be disappointed then. She did not have any strong feelings of wanting to kill Infanta Shiqing, and even if she did, she would not show it in front of the people from Prince Yanbei's Mansion.

She would be stupid to express her dissatisfaction with Infanta Shiqing in front of Xiao Jiu'an and Prince Yanbei's Mansion.

Baoqin was at a loss for words. She thought for a moment before replying, "Even if you can't, you can at least prepare in advance."

"If the Infanta has the intention to kill me, no matter how much defense I have, I still would have no way to defend against her." Wasn't she wary of Infanta Shiqing?

What was the use of being on guard? With Xiao Jiu'an's words, even though she knew there was a danger, she still had to resign herself and advance.

Defense?

Defense was useless. She only knew that the best defense was an offense.

"Esteemed Consort, your words seem to make sense." Baoqin suddenly realized that she was convinced by Ji Yunkai.

Ji Yunkai laughed, and did not speak further; she focused on fiddling with the flowers in the vase.

Baoqin had been waiting by the side the entire time, and only after Ji Yunkai had gone to bed did she withdraw. The moment Baoqin walked out of her line of sight, she went to see the Steward, reporting everything that Ji Yunkai had said to her in detail.

In the end, she did not forget to add, "I do not understand what the Princess means. The Princess does not seem to have any resentment toward the Infanta."

This was the thing she did not understand the most. If ordinary people knew that someone was trying to kill them, how could they not be on guard? Not angry?

However, the Princess did not put her in her eyes.

"Princess is a smart person." The Steward nodded as an extremely faint smile flashed in his eyes. "Don't try to test the Princess anymore. She should know by now."

Knowing that Baoqin was testing her, she borrowed Baoqin's mouth to say what she thought. The Princess Consort was very clever.

"Huh?" Baoqin was shocked and asked uneasily, "Then... then would the Princess not trust me in the future?"

"When did the Princess ever trust you?" The Princess never trusted them, just as they never trusted her.

"How is this possible? The Princess, she... she..." Baoqin could not accept it at all, but if she had to prove that the Princess trusted her, she could not.

Sensing Baoqin's thoughts, the Steward coldly told her, "Baoqin, remember your status. The Princess Consort is your master and only your master. You only need to be loyal to your master. As for whether or not the master trusts you, that is not something you need to consider."

Trust?

Trust is not so easily given. There were far too many things between the Princess Consort and Prince Yanbei's Mansion, and neither side can easily give the other their trust. They can only test each other out and try to trust each other.

As for the outcome, no one would know until that day came.