Yun Shu also chuckled lightly, "It's indeed unexpected that she is the Palace Mistress of Sha Gong."
Xie Jin rubbed his chin, his face full of doubt and curiosity. "How did a county princess from a royal estate become the Mistress of Sha Gong? Did the previous Palace Mistress of Sha Gong really give such a position to her? Tsk tsk, my vision was indeed too narrow. I thought she merely had some dealings with Sha Gong."
"So, things are a bit tricky now," Xie Jin said with a solemn expression, having thought of something.
Yun Shu nodded gravely.
Just then, Yun Changfeng walked in from outside and asked Yun Shu, "When are we leaving?"
They had agreed two days ago to take the three little ones out for a stroll. The General's estate was large, but it was terribly boring, and the three little ones detested Li De's three grandsons.
However, at the General's estate, as soon as they stepped out of their courtyard, they would run into Li De's three grandsons. The little ones found those three children too childish and prone to crying, so they always avoided them.
This made things rather inconvenient.
A couple of days ago, they had agreed to find time to go out and play. The capital of Xixia Kingdom was quite interesting, with many novelties worth exploring from time to time.
Yun Shu then remembered this matter. "Father, we'll depart in a quarter of an hour. Tell Xiao Li and the others to get ready."
"Alright."
Yun Changfeng walked out.
Xie Jin looked at Yun Changfeng, who was beaming with affection and whose heart was solely focused on his three grandchildren, and sighed, "No one would believe that the person I just saw was General Yun."
In the past, if he encountered General Yun in the capital, he would be intimidated by General Yun's aura and curb his boastful demeanor considerably.
He was afraid that if he got too carried away, he might provoke the battle-hardened General, and his small life could be swatted away by a single slap from the General.
One life was all he had, and he cherished it.
Yun Shu glanced at Xie Jin.
Xie Jin touched his nose. "You guys go and have fun. I need to put my mind to work and think carefully about how to deal with Princess Ningde. This woman is deeply hidden. I need to find her weakness. Let me think, perhaps my face can be put to use."
Seeing Xie Jin acting as if he was ready to sacrifice himself at any moment, Yun Shu hummed, "I think it's feasible. You can try."
Xie Jin's mouth twitched. He was just speaking casually!
That woman was cunning and scheming, one moment a county princess, the next the Mistress of Sha Gong, and her eyes were constantly on Zhan Tianye. His brain must have been kicked by a door to even consider such a thing.
If he had any sense, he wouldn't put himself in harm's way.
...
Ruan Xi pushed open the door.
He carried a roasted duck in his hand, along with two jars of wine.
"Ji Rong, come and drink with me! I finally found out a crucial piece of news today, I'm too happy, we must celebrate!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
His eyes widened sharply.
"What the hell!"
The two people already seated at the round table not far away, their eyes filled with affection as they drank, cast a faint glance at Ruan Xi. It was like a sword light.
It stimulated Ruan Xi, filling him with jealousy.
"It must be that I've come at an awkward time. You continue drinking. I'll find some beauties myself and have them serve me as I drink leisurely." Ruan Xi's mouth twitched fiercely, and he slowly retreated.
Qin Yiqing squinted her drunken eyes and snorted, "Ji Rong and I have finally managed to get back together. What are you disrupting for? Hurry and leave."
"If you and Ji Rong can get back together, don't forget who the biggest contributor was! I was the one who sent the message to Ji Rong. Qin Yiqing, don't act like you're getting the best of both worlds." Ruan Xi was infuriated. He regretted his actions to death.
Why did he have to be so meddlesome?
He was fuming!
Qin Yiqing chuckled a few times. "I am acting like I'm getting the best of both worlds!"
Ruan Xi waved the wine in his hand. "This is a rare and excellent wine. To annoy you to death, I won't let you have a single drop!"
Qin Yiqing's eyes lit up when she heard the words "excellent wine." She squinted and stared at the two jars of wine. "For the sake of the wine, we'll take you in. Let's drink together."
"Hmph, I'll go find my beauties!" Ruan Xi turned to leave.
"With your poisonous body, you still dare to overexert yourself? If I were you, I'd be afraid of exhausting myself to death," Qin Yiqing quipped.
Ji Rong watched the two of them with a smile in his eyes.
Time flew by, but the scene before him was like that of many years ago.
"Sit down," Ji Rong said gently.
Although Ruan Xi said he was going to find beauties, he actually didn't want to find any.
For some reason, recently, even when beauties approached him, he wasn't interested in looking at them. He felt that things used to be interesting, but now they weren't.
So, when Ji Rong spoke, he directly sat down. "I'm giving face to Ji Rong, not to you."
Qin Yiqing pouted. "Why are you so stubborn?"
She was in a good mood recently and wouldn't argue with Ruan Xi today.
Just as the three of them were drinking merrily, someone arrived outside the door.
Meng Xiao stood not far away, not entering.
Instead, he looked at the courtyard from a distance.
From inside, bursts of laughter could occasionally be heard.
This was the Xiao Qing he had never seen before.
It was only two days ago that he had seen her true face and learned her real name, Qin Yiqing. And that man was Ji Rong, who was once famous throughout the world.
But recently, for some unknown reason, he had disappeared, no longer accepting any invitations.
That person who was so aloof, as if from the heavens.
Qin Yiqing had said that there were many misunderstandings before and hoped he wouldn't mind. She admitted that she had acted without considering the consequences and hoped they could be like siblings in the future.
Siblings?
Meng Xiao tightened his fist slightly, then relaxed it.
Perhaps, in this life, she was the only woman who had moved his heart.
Suddenly, the door opened.
He was about to leave, but it was too late. The person who opened the door had already seen Meng Xiao.
This was their second meeting.
Compared to Ji Rong's dishevelled state last time, the past few days of recuperation had restored Meng Xiao's spirits. A single glance from Ji Rong seemed to perceive what Meng Xiao was thinking.
His posture was extraordinary, his gaze clear and cold.
Ji Rong closed the door.
He looked at Meng Xiao calmly.
Meng Xiao was somewhat surprised. He hadn't intended to see them tonight; he was just passing by and decided to walk around.
He hadn't expected.
To run into them like this.
"Young Master Ji," Meng Xiao spoke first.
Ji Rong smiled faintly. "Would you like to come in for a bit?"
Meng Xiao shook his head. "I was just passing by. I originally intended to say hello, but I suddenly remembered I have some urgent matters to attend to. I'll visit another day."
"Very well." Ji Rong nodded deeply, his gaze profound.
Some things didn't need to be said; they were understood when their eyes met.
Meng Xiao turned and left, showing no hesitation.
However, after Meng Xiao had walked a few steps, Ji Rong suddenly called out, "Wait a moment."
Meng Xiao stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at Ji Rong, puzzled.