The woman on the ground had gone completely insane.
Jing Yi got up and walked towards her, lowering his eyebrows, his gaze fell on the two lines of tears on her face. Really, when this woman took off her unruly and capricious shell and turned sorrowful, she did look a little moving. If she were not the eldest daughter of the Ji family, maybe at the moment, his heart would really be moved. Of course, he banished that terrible thought immediately.
"Right now, you and your two brothers are like three wild horses that have been captured and briddled by this prince. You are all useless other than as a tool to command troops. As long as I gain power in the future, your two brothers will turn from wild horses into ants that can die at the slightest squeeze of this prince's hands."
"You won't have the last laugh. What goes around comes around. You and Concubine Xiao will lose your heads sooner or later." Ji Muqing looked up and said viciously.
The next moment, Jing Yi raised his foot and kicked her shoulder. Her skinny body was kicked a full three meters away.
The pain in her shoulder made her brows wrinkle, but the hatred in her heart masked all the pain in her body. She secretly gripped her fists, her nails sinking so deep into her flesh that blood flowed. She swore that she would kill this man with her own hands!
At this moment, someone came. The servant trembled as he entered the room and was startled when he saw the scene. He bowed down and reported, "Your Highness, the consort's… sister has come to visit the consort and is waiting at the gate."
Ji Wanxin? Such inopportune timing! Jing Yi glanced at the woman on the ground, walked towards her, then bent down to whisper, "If you want the Ji family to be safe and sound after this prince ascends the throne, you'd better act out a good show for me. If you fail to keep up the ruse, I promise that your father will be the first one to die."
Ugh! Ji Muqing secretly grit her teeth in anger. Jing Yi smiled demonically and straightened up. He jerked his chin towards the servant, and commanded, "Bring the consort to freshen up. Give her all the treatments that the consort should receive and nothing less." Since her family had come to visit, they had to keep up with appearances.
"Yes, Your Highness." The servant then dragged the woman on the ground away. The maids in the courtyard rushed to freshen her up, dress her, and apply her makeup. But no matter how much powder was used, the injuries on her face still couldn't be hidden.
Ji Wanxin waited outside the front door for a long time without receiving a reply. Her body had always been frail. After standing for so long, her forehead was beaded with sweat.
The maid beside her had been supporting her. Seeing her master like this, she mumbled and complained, "How can the prince’s estate treat their guests like this? How long does it take to send a message? I think that First Miss is making things difficult for you again on purpose. Just because she’s a consort doesn’t mean she can…"
Before she could finish speaking, Ji Wanxin quickly glanced at her with narrowed eyes, "Don't talk too much."
The maid could only shut up and continue to support her.
After waiting for a while, the servant who had gone in to announce their arrival slowly wandered over and bowed, "Sorry for making the young lady wait for so long, the consort was resting, and is now awake. Please come in with me, I will guide you there."
Her eyebrows gently drooped, "Thank you."
The prince's estate was large, and Ji Wanxin walked slower than most. It took the time to brew two cups of tea before they finally reached the luxurious courtyard set up for the consort. In the courtyard, the maids were going about their duties, but when they saw the visitors, they all turned to look at them.
The girl was an uncommon beauty. She had a dignified demeanour and looked like flowers would sprout where each of her graceful steps landed. People would be attracted to her elegant and beautiful face by just one glance. The red mole on her forehead especially accentuated her delicate face, increasing her beauty up a few degrees. Although her face was a little pale, she still was extremely beautiful.
She was supported by someone, and her body appeared frail. The consort's sister was rumored to be sickly. In order to break their longstanding engagement, the Shen family went all the way to Jinjiang to make a scene. In the end, Ji Shuhan slapped that guy and they returned to the capital, forced to accept the marriage. What's the use of her beauty if she was so sick? Such a pity!
Ji Wanxin had long gotten used to such envious and pitying looks. She ignored them and entered the room.
Ji Muqing was lying on the chaise lounge on her side with her back facing Ji Wanxin. It was unclear if she was asleep.
Ji Wanxin walked over and bowed, "Your Ladyship." Although this is her sister, she still needed to be polite to someone of a higher status!
The only thing she heard was a hum from the person on the chaise lounge. The maid next to her tossed some incense into the incense burner and brought over a chair for Ji Wanxin to sit on.
She looked at Ji Muqing, who never turned around, and asked, "Your Ladyship, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Ji Muqing had opened her eyes and was looking out of the open window. She only responded coldly after a long time, "No, no…" She seemed somewhat distracted.
"This sister came here in a hurry to visit the princess consort on behalf of Father and our two brothers. I brought some things for you." Ji Wanxin took a brocade box from her maid's hand, held it in her hand, and said, "This is a piece of white ivory jade that father specially asked me to deliver. Knowing that the consort would like it, when father came across this jade he ordered someone to buy it and send it to you." What a tender, loving father!
But… Ji Muqing didn't even look at it and said, "Put it down, and when you go back, please say thanks to Dad for me." It was still so cold that no emotion could be heard in the tone.
At this time, Ji Wanxin also sensed that something odd was going on and placed the box aside, confused, "Your Ladyship, what exactly are you…"
"I'm fine." Ji Muqing immediately said, "Sister, don't be offended, it's just that I have a rash on my face and can't meet anyone right now. When it gets better, I'll go back to visit our family myself. If you don't have anything else, you may leave now."
"Big Sister…"
"When you return, please only say I'm well and don't tell Dad about the rash on my face so that he won't worry." She ordered her guest to leave!
Ji Wanxin didn't say anything more and only agreed. She didn’t make a fuss and left after giving a bow in farewell.
Ji Muqing finally moved from where she been reclined on the lounge after the girl left. She sat up and looked towards the door, her eyes filled with tears, her hands tugging at the clothes she was wearing. She crumpled a patch of her robes into a ball. Tears poured down her face in an unending stream.
But Ji Wanxin, who had left Prince Yi’s estate and gotten into the carriage, felt that something wasn’t right. After considering it for a while, she felt that things were not what it seemed, from the long wait to Ji Muqing's abnormal behavior… Everything seemed very strange.
And… Why wasn't Cai Lan, the dowry maid, in the room? She was an extremely smart person, and if she thought about it further, she would surely detect something fishy.
Eldest Brother was sent by Prince Yi to set up troops outside the city. It was enough to see that, because Eldest Sister was Prince Yi's consort, Eldest Brother now worked for Prince Yi. Eldest Sister's abnormal attitude had something to do with Prince Yi, but she knew Ji Muqing's temperament. If she were wronged, she would never keep quiet. Unless Prince Yi had caught hold of her weakness, and it had something to do with Eldest Brother? Or was it something else?
Ah, she’ll stop thinking about it for now!
