Chapter 2: Being a Dog is OK, But That’s a Different Price

To be honest, Yun Xi was frightened by his eyes. Ji Xun's eyes had a natural sharpness that made it impossible to look at them for long.

"I have plenty of money to buy you." Yun Xi said stubbornly, "When I came in just now, the black shopkeeper was smiling and greeting me. Do you think I can't afford you?"

Are you kidding? As the eldest princess, the thing she has the most is money.

"The eldest princess..."

Ji Xun savored the name and ruthlessly exposed her: "You are more like a paper tiger."

Yun Xi: “…”

With his current status, how dare he talk back to her?

Or did he simply think she was easy to bully?

[System: You think too much, host. He is just speaking the truth.]

Yun Xi clenched her fists, tolerating the system's momentary mischief. She said to Ji Xun, "Can you please understand your current position? I'm the master. You're talking to the slave market owner the same way. Aren't you afraid of being beaten to death?"

Ji Xun said bluntly: "I have already died once, so what's the harm in dying again?"

Yun Xi was speechless for a moment.

But looking at the scars all over his body and the fact that he was staying in a place without sunlight, he was actually no different from being dead.

If Ji Xun hadn't been appreciated by the Crown Prince in the original novel, he might have died in a place like this. Because the Insect Kings that emerged from the Hundred-Man Slave Fighting Arena were usually difficult to control, and if there were no buyers willing to train them, the Black Shopkeeper wouldn't keep them for long.

"You won't die." Yun Xi squatted down, her fiery red skirt falling to the dusty ground, looking out of place in the surrounding environment. "I'll buy you, no matter how much it costs, I can afford it. I'll go and negotiate with the black shopkeeper right now, okay?"

"The money you use to buy me won't go into my hands." Ji Xun said, "It's also very expensive to support me."

Yun Xi: "Two hundred taels of silver after tax, one month, how about that?"

Ji Xun frowned, stared at her without saying a word, and pursed his thin lips.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Yun Xi sighed and didn't plan to waste any more words with him. She went straight to the black shopkeeper to pay the money and capture the man first.

Just as she stood up and was about to leave, a bony hand suddenly grabbed the hem of her skirt.

"etc."

Yun Xi: “?”

"Two hundred taels, all for me?"

Yun Xi: "Of course it's for you. Do you have any family members?"

wrong.

As soon as the words came out, Yun Xi felt that she had offended him a little.

Just as she was about to apologize, she suddenly heard the sound of a knee hitting the ground.

Ji Xun knelt down on one knee, grabbed her sleeve, and said expressionlessly: "Master."

Yun Xi: “???”

What just happened?

[System: Sorry, the original novel omitted a paragraph. The young master also said: "I will give you one hundred taels every month. Are you willing to come with me?"]

Yun Xi: “…”

She had thought that the prince in the original novel looked more approachable than her, but it turned out to be a matter of money.

Indeed. Even if she offered a high price to buy Ji Xun away, the money would not belong to Ji Xun. Only tangible benefits after leaving here could make him interested.

Although Ji Xun has a low emotional intelligence, he can be considered flexible.

In this way, Yun Xi felt relieved.

"Follow me, I won't treat you unfairly." Yun Xi said, "Get up, I'll take you out."

Yun Xi asked Yuan He to call the Black Shopkeeper to release the man, and then bought him for one hundred taels of silver. This price was a bit low for the Insect King, but the shopkeeper did not dare to offend the eldest princess.

The cell door was opened, and Ji Xun stood up expressionlessly. He brushed the dust off his knees as if nothing had happened, then stared at Yun Xi motionlessly, as if he was not the one who had just knelt down and called him master.

When Shopkeeper Hei saw Yun Xi had chosen him, a hint of hesitation flashed across his face, but he finally chose to speak out: "Princess, to be honest, this slave... seems to have had a brain injury before he came in. What if he can't serve you well..."

Yun Xi: “?”

She glanced at Ji Xun, and apart from a slightly cold look in his eyes, she didn't see anything unusual.

Yun Xi thought that the black shopkeeper was just making a disclaimer in advance, so she said, "It's okay. I want him. Whatever happens has nothing to do with you."

When the black shopkeeper heard this, he smiled happily and said, "Okay. Princess, you must keep this dog under control and don't let it run away."

Yun Xi had no male guards with her, so the shopkeeper had to hand the other end of the chain to Yuan He. Yuan He was frightened by Ji Xun's dirty appearance and did not dare to take it.

"Let me do it." Yun Xi stretched out her jade hand. "Give me the key to the shackles, and you can go now."

After handing over the keys, the shopkeeper Hei left on his own accord. Seeing him leave, Yun Xi untied the shackles on Ji Xun.

"You are not my dog." Yun Xi let go of him. "From now on, you are mine."

In a restricted novel, declaring who is whose dog could lead to serious trouble. She didn't want to set a flag for herself.

Ji Xun lowered his eyes and looked at the marks of shackles on his pale wrists, which were embedded in his skin like bloodstains.

"You can be a dog, but that's another price."

Yun Xi: "..."

Is this kid a little too conscious?

"Okay, let's go." Yun Xi said, "My carriage is outside..."

Before she could finish, Ji Xun stretched out his long legs and strode towards the exit of the dark prison.

Yun Xi: "Stop."

Ji Xun paused, stopped, and looked back in confusion.

"Where are you going?" Yun Xi asked.

Ji Xun: "You just let me go."

"Come back." Yun Xi was speechless for a moment. "Do you know that guards must stay with their masters?"

A trace of confusion appeared in Ji Xun's eyes, as if this was really the first time he was a slave. He thought seriously for a while, then returned the same way and retreated to Yun Xi's side.

Yun Xi: "That's right."

However, she always felt that the man in front of her seemed to have a temperament completely opposite to that of a slave. He did not consider himself a lower person here at all.

Speaking of which, the original novel didn't seem to write about Ji Xun's origin, nor did it mention why he ended up in the slave market.

As Yun Xi was walking, she was about to ask him, "Um, you used to..."

Before she finished speaking, there was a sudden commotion in the slave cages on both sides. Wherever the two of them passed, the slaves in the cages gathered around the iron doors, banging on them and shouting curses.

"Ji Xun, just wait for me. When I get out of here, I will definitely make you look good."

Ji Xun nodded to the man: "Thank you."

The slaves on both sides began to bang on the door, which scared Yun Xi, but Ji Xun looked calm, as if he was already used to it.

He had only taken two steps when Yun Xi was stunned and couldn't keep up with him, so he went back and started over again.

Looking at their ferocious expressions, Yun Xi couldn't help but move closer to Ji Xun: "What's wrong with them..."

"He's just a defeated general who got angry out of shame." Ji Xun replied.

The slaves in the prison all had some disabilities, either broken hands or broken legs. On the other hand, Ji Xun, apart from the scars on his body, was the most normal one.

Just as Yun Xi was thinking this, she caught a glimpse of Ji Xun's face out of the corner of her eye. The wind in the aisle blew up his black hair, revealing the other half of his face hidden beneath his hair.

It was a half-disfigured face, with burn scars spreading from the forehead to the cheek, which was shocking and formed a sharp contrast with the delicate and deep handsome face on the left.

Yun Xi was startled and couldn't help but take a few steps back. She was caught off guard and bumped into the iron gate next to her. The slave behind the iron gate grabbed her wrist and she couldn't break free.

"Princess, take me with you. I will serve you well."

The slave held on to her and tried to pull her in. The narrow gap in the iron door squeezed her so hard that her back hurt.

"Let me go..."

Yun Xi was just about to call for help when suddenly a gust of wind brushed past her ears and a large hand clamped the slave's wrist. In an instant, the sound of bones breaking was heard.

Before Yun Xi could see clearly, something seemed to splash on her face, and the slave fell straight back.

Yun Xi turned around and found that a key was stuck in his forehead, and her face was covered with blood.

Ji Xun was supporting the iron gate with one hand and was very close to her. At this moment, Yun Xi could clearly see his entire face.

Half beautiful, half terrifying.

His deep voice came from his chest, without any emotion: "Are you afraid of me?"

Yun Xi swallowed and was speechless for a moment.

Ji Xun took two steps back and wiped the blood off his hands neatly: "It's not too late to regret now."

"...I don't regret it." Yun Xi finally calmed down. After all, she had just seen him kill someone with her own eyes, and she was still very shocked.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to look at your face." Yun Xi said, "If you need it, I'll have someone make you a golden mask when I get back."

"The face is meant to be seen by others." Ji Xun didn't care, but he didn't reject Yun Xi's suggestion.

The golden mask is also a valuable thing to him.

"You did a great job just now." Yun Xi praised him, "If someone approaches me like this in the future, just chase them away."

"Of course, it's best not to kill anyone," she added.

Ji Xun didn't expect that she was not afraid at all. In his impression, princesses were delicate butterflies who could not stand the sight of blood.

He didn't say much: "Yeah."

…

Yun Xi took Ji Xun out of the slave market and went to look for a carriage when they happened to meet Prince Duan Song who was coming towards them.

When the young master Duan Song saw the people beside Yun Xi, he was stunned at first, then he immediately smiled and greeted: "Your Highness, may you be well."

Yun Xi also saw him, but she was too embarrassed to speak. Firstly, she felt guilty about snatching someone away, and secondly, because she remembered the story about him.

Duan Song, the prince of the Prince of Yan, was born to a concubine and was fostered in the countryside since childhood. Two years ago, the eldest son of the Prince of Yan died, and the only remaining son was brought back to Chang'an.

He has an easygoing personality, is not arrogant, and can get along with everyone, so he can be regarded as a socialite among the Chang'an aristocrats.

Most importantly, he is Yun Xi's first man.

When she saw his face, the key words of the original text automatically emerged in Yun Xi's mind.

[At the banquet, they fell in love at first sight. Sitting next to each other, amidst the laughter of the crowd, her delicate hand quietly passed through the gauze under the table, reaching into the private part, her finger pierced through the mouth, and she kissed in public.]

Yun Xi couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Your Highness?" Duan Song saw that she was distracted, so he put away his folding fan and reminded her with a smile.

Yun Xi's eyes fell on his hands, and the sight of his slender white fingers made her cheeks flush.

"Don't block the road, get out of my way." Yun Xi said with a stiff upper lip.

Yun Xi walked right past him and quickly headed towards the carriage.

Duan Song was puzzled by her sudden reprimand, but he gave way obediently. As they passed each other, his eyes turned to Ji Xun beside him.

Ji Xun also glanced back, but after a brief moment, he looked away.

Yun Xi, who had gotten on the carriage, suddenly remembered that Ji Xun was still outside. She lifted the curtain and found that he was standing obediently by her window.

I got into the role pretty quickly. Money makes the world go round.

Yun Xi was still worried about him: "You are injured, please ride in the carriage with me."

After all, I have to protect her in the future, and it would be bad if she develops a chronic illness.

"I can walk." Ji Xun said.

Yun Xi: "Come up, this is an order."

Ji Xun paused for a moment, then finally got into the carriage. He sat far away from her, as if intentionally avoiding her.

Yun Xi was very satisfied with his attitude: "Next time, you must be as obedient as before."

Before Ji Xun could reply, a few soft moans suddenly emanated from the carriage beside him, like the panting of someone released from lust. The next moment, the curtain of the carriage beside him was lifted, revealing the flushed face of the Third Princess, Yun Shang.

On top of her was a still-moving, muscular man, one of the two slaves from the slave fight. She lazily leaned against the window, glancing inside Yun Xi's car and giggling, "I thought Sister was mad at me for not choosing well, but it turns out she's already found someone better."

After saying this, he lowered the curtains and continued on his way to Wushan, with the carriage shaking constantly.

Yun Xi: “…”

Ji Xun retracted his gaze, his dark eyes devoid of emotion: "Is this why you asked me to get in the car?"