An unexpected encounter with a princess, but unaware

Just as Li Xingyi lay down on the bed, he suddenly heard a loud shout: "His Majesty has arrived!"

Although Li Xingyi was puzzled, he still got out of bed to greet Qi Dou. After Qi Dou entered, everyone hurriedly bowed and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty."

Li Xingyi slowly curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Qi Dou said to the palace servants, "You may all leave."

"yes."

Suddenly, only Li Xingyi and Qi Dou remained in the room.

Qi Dou walked up to Li Xingyi and explained, "Xingyi, I was dealing with government affairs a bit late, which is why I didn't come to Fengyi Palace. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Li Xingyi quietly watched Qi Dou.

Hmm? No beauty in your arms? That's strange, he's explaining like someone who's done something wrong.

She said calmly, "Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. It is my honor that you could come to my palace tonight."

Qi Dou frowned upon hearing this, then stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Li Xingyi's neck, and kissed him.

Li Xingyi was stunned by the sudden kiss. He pushed Qi Dou away with both hands, and Qi Dou took the opportunity to grab Li Xingyi's hand and fall backward, landing right on the bed.

Qi Dou then stopped kissing Li Xingyi and whispered in Li Xingyi's ear, "Since it is your good fortune, then I will accept your kindness and favor. That way... you won't be jealous, right?"

Just as Li Xingyi was about to reply, he saw Qi Dou cover his mouth again.

Jealous? He actually thought I was jealous? How ridiculous... Oh well.

Then came another night of passion.

After bathing early, Shi Yan sat on the bed, waiting for Qi Dou to arrive and favor her. She was looking worried when she heard Fu Rong running in happily, panting, "Your Majesty...Your Majesty, His Majesty...His Majesty went to the Empress's place. You don't need to serve him in bed anymore."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan stood up happily and hurried to Furong, saying, "Really? His Majesty went to see the Empress?"

Furong replied, "It's true, Eunuch Zhao sent someone to deliver a message."

Shi Yan was overjoyed, but then she remembered that she was still His Majesty's concubine and would eventually have to serve him in bed. So she sat quietly in her chair.

Seeing this, Furong asked, "Your Majesty, are you unhappy?"

Shi Yan said, "Furong, even if I happen to have avoided serving you in bed today, won't I still have to serve you in bed in the future? You can hide for a while, but you can't hide forever."

Furong retorted, "But Your Highness, if you can avoid it for a while, then you should. And now you've already avoided it for a while. The matter of serving the Emperor is a matter for later. You should be happy now. Don't think about things that haven't happened yet. You should think about the present, shouldn't you?"

Shi Yan paused for a moment, then realized the truth in his words and said to Fu Rong, "Fu Rong, you are still very innocent, but there is some truth to what you said. Thank you."

Upon hearing this, Furong quickly replied, "No...no need, Your Highness. You don't need to thank me. I didn't do anything; I was just expressing my thoughts."

Shi Yan smiled slightly at Fu Rong and whispered, "Fu Rong, thank goodness I still have you."

Furong didn't hear her clearly and asked, "Your Majesty, what did you say?"

Shi Yan smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's time to go to bed. You should go to sleep too."

Furong nodded blankly and left, while Shi Yan went to sleep.

At night, it was Ji Xi's turn to be on night duty. He sat on the city wall, drinking wine in despair. The thought that Li Xingyi not only called him Young Master Ji, but also wished him a life of wealth and longevity in the name of the jade pendant made his heart ache.

She's married now, so I should let it go, right?

He then touched the jade pendant hanging at his waist and took a sip of wine.

Suddenly a voice rang out, “How dare you! Who are you? How dare you sit on the city wall and drink!”

Ji Xi looked over and saw a beautifully dressed young woman pointing at him and lecturing him. He thought for a moment, not knowing who this woman was or had never seen her before, so he ignored her and continued drinking.

Seeing that Ji Xi was ignoring her, the woman said angrily, "Hey, are you even hearing me? Get down here right now!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xi rolled off the bed. Seeing how obedient he was, the woman nodded in satisfaction and said, "That's more like it."

Unexpectedly, Ji Xi grabbed her and dragged her to the city wall as well. The woman exclaimed in fright, "Ah! How dare you! Take this princess down with you at once!"

Ji Xi was somewhat drunk. When he heard her say she wanted to go downstairs, he grabbed her hand and tried to throw her aside. Seeing this, the woman quickly grabbed Ji Xi's arm tightly and said, "Wait...wait! I...I won't go down, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xi pulled her up again. The woman quickly steadied herself on the city wall, but seeing how high it was, she still clung to Ji Xi. Ji Xi glanced at her and said, "Let go."

The woman quickly shook her head and said, "No! It's so high, what if I fall and die! You brought me up here, you have to take responsibility!"

Ji Xi ignored her and sat down again. Seeing this, the woman also sat down, trembling slightly. She watched Ji Xi drink and muttered under her breath, "Drink! I'll drink you to death! When I get down there, I'll tear you to pieces!"

Ji Xi turned to look at her and asked, "What did you say?"

The woman said慌张地, "No! It's nothing! I wanted to ask you what your name is?"

Once I find out your name, I'll see how I deal with you!

Ji Xi ignored her and continued drinking.

The woman became even angrier upon seeing this.

I'm going to chop him up and feed him to the dogs! How dare he ignore me time and time again!

She suppressed her anger and said, "My name is Qi Min. What's your name?"

Ji Xi still ignored her. Qi Min had already cursed him eight hundred times in her heart. She said again, "Look, I've already told you my name, so just tell me yours."

Ji Xi glanced at her, then moved his face closer. Qi Min immediately panicked and asked, "What...what do you want to do? I...can I not ask anymore?"

Ji Xi was dissatisfied.

It's so noisy.

He suddenly leaned forward and ended up kissing Qi Min.

Qi Min, startled and angry, pushed Ji Xi away, angrily saying, "What are you doing! You..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qi Min felt herself falling backward, and she cried out, "Ah!"

Ji Xi immediately flew over, picked up Qi Min who was about to fall, and put her back on the city wall. Qi Min was terrified and kept trembling.

Ji Xi mumbled in a daze, "Be careful, lizard (Star Shift)!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Min angrily retorted, "What! You dare call this princess a lizard! It's all your fault, I'll beat you to death!"

After saying that, he was about to strike Ji Xi, but Ji Xi jumped to dodge. However, he did jump off the city wall and said to Qi Min, "I'm leaving now, Lizard (Star Shift)! I'll come find you later."

Qi Min angrily shouted after him, "Get this princess down here first! Come back here, you bastard!"

But when he looked again, Ji Xi had vanished without a trace.

The next day, when Qi Dou went to court, he listened to the reports from the officials. General Qi Xuan Gui, the Mighty General, reported: "Your Majesty, the situation on the border is critical. This humble general requests to go there to defend our country's territory!"

Qi Dou knew that the enemy fighting against Qi was the Iron Tatar tribe, which was brave, skilled in battle, and as strong as an ox.

Although they were a tribe, their fighting power was extremely strong. The Iron Tatar tribe had always coveted the fertile lands of the Qi Kingdom and would always use the slightest thing as an excuse to start a war. Therefore, the people living on the border between the two sides never had a good relationship.

The war broke out simply because a child from the State of Qi accidentally fell into the river in the middle of the border. However, Qi was at a disadvantage in this war. When Qi Xuan Gui found out, he naturally wanted to teach the other side a lesson and establish Qi's authority.

Qi Dou understood his thoughts and granted Qi Xuan Gui's request.

Then they continued to listen to the officials' reports. After a short while, an elderly official reported: "Your Majesty, I learned yesterday that a plague has recently spread in the Sichuan and Chongqing region."

Upon hearing this, Qi Dou asked in shock, "Has the area been immediately sealed off? Has the source been found? How are the people? When did this happen? Why did no one report it to me?!"

Upon hearing this, the man immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I only learned of this matter yesterday, and I reported it to you immediately today. I know nothing else."

Qi Dou was immediately enraged and said angrily, "Is this the good deed of all you ministers?! There is a plague in the Bashu region, and not one of you knew about it? I raised you to bring a better life to the people, not for you to enjoy a life of leisure!"

Upon seeing this, all the officials immediately knelt down, shouting, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Qi Dou paused for a moment and said, "Get up, everyone! The most urgent task is to immediately send people to Bashu to investigate. I will send people from the Imperial Medical Academy to fully cooperate. Does anyone have a candidate in mind?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Cunyi, the Minister of Personnel, quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have a candidate."

Qi Dou looked at him for a while and said, "Speak!"

Hu Cun then spoke up: "Your Majesty, Prince Pingshou is capable of undertaking this responsibility."

Upon hearing this, everyone on Qi Dou's side looked at Hu Cun. It was obvious that Hu Cun had already sided with Prince Ping Shou.

Although Li Fengtan didn't know what Qi Hui was planning, he still had to be careful, so he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go."

Hu Cun panicked and said to Li Fengtan, "Minister of Rites, in my opinion, you should stay in the capital! After all, you are in charge of rites!"

Li Fengtan scoffed, "Minister of Personnel, you are in charge of the appointment and removal of officials. Surely this kind of matter is not your concern!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Cun angrily said, "Old man Li! Why are you always going against me! I only recommended Prince Pingshou to Bashu, and you're going against me for that too! Don't tell me you have ulterior motives!"