77. Killing Intent

◎Proposed to be a concubine◎

Chapter 77

The next morning, Ji Ci took Jiang Qiuye to the palace to pay another visit to the Empress Dowager Zhao before leaving for the spring hunt.

Zhao is old and no longer participates in physically demanding activities. However, it is said that he was also a skilled archer in his youth, and his hunting trips always amazed everyone.

At one in the morning, Jiang Qiuye went out and found him waiting at the courtyard gate. She hadn't slept all night, and when she woke up this morning, she looked pale, so she had to put on lots of makeup to cover it up.

As she approached Ji Ci, she observed him quietly and saw that the wound on his forehead had begun to scab over. Although it was not big, the feeling of guilt was still there.

"Husband." Jiang Qiuye called him cautiously with a sidelong glance, with a hint of tentativeness.

"Yeah." Ji Ci nodded and turned around, and was slightly startled when he saw her outfit today.

Today she was not wearing the luxurious attire she had worn before, but a simple goose-yellow gauze skirt. She no longer wore a complicated and expensive headdress on her head, but only a jade hairpin with no pattern on it.

She was nothing like her usual self, but very similar to the one I first met, plain and simple.

He wanted to say that she was beautiful even when she was dressed up, but in the end he didn't ask his question. He just whispered to her, "Let's go into the palace."

After getting on the carriage, Ji Ci started flipping through his book again. The atmosphere between them was strange. Jiang Qiuye sat beside him nervously, not getting too close to him and not saying a word.

It was too embarrassing, so she mustered up her courage, leaned towards him, pressed her arm against his, and whispered softly, "Husband? Are you still angry with Ye'er?"

Ji Ci pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows slightly, then put the book in his hand back into the locker in the middle of the carriage.

"What? Have you calmed down today?"

If he was angry, it was like this when they had just had an argument. But what could he do to her?

She had hit him, scolded him, and he couldn't hit her back. If he ignored her, he would be the one who suffered in the end. Last night, she lay on the small bed in the study all night, unable to fall asleep. He really had no idea what to do with her.

You can only worship the ancestors you marry home.

Seeing that he responded, Jiang Qiuye felt more courageous. She stepped forward, took his hand, and touched the jade ring on his thumb.

Since he put on this ring, he has never taken it off.

"Husband, Ye'er had a nightmare yesterday. She was so frightened and panicked that she lost her mind. It won't happen again in the future."

As she spoke, she climbed up, put her lips close to his forehead and blew gently, "Husband, does it still hurt?"

Ji Ci sighed inwardly, not understanding the meaning of her quarrel yesterday. However, a warm and gentle breath caressed the wound, like a spring breeze blowing on his face and rippling spring water, causing a slight tingling and numbness.

Looking up, I saw her small and slightly pointed chin, and above that were her plump and crystal red lips, which looked particularly pink and tender today, making people's heart flutter.

His voice was hoarse, and he reached out to pull her to sit down, "Okay, we are going to the palace to see the grandmother, so we must be solemn."

solemn?

Jiang Qiuye was a little confused. How could it be undignified for her to blow on his wound?

Forget it, now I will give in to him and take whatever he says as it comes. "It's good that my husband is not angry with Ye'er. When I saw my husband was injured yesterday, Ye'er was also very distressed."

Ji Ci couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth. Did she really feel sorry for him when she looked like that last night?

"Don't be angry anymore. Be more careful next time you hit someone. If you disfigure your husband, you will be the one who suffers."

Jiang Qiuye chuckled and immediately threw herself into his arms, hugging his waist tightly. She raised her head and said, "Brother Jian Xi is the best to Ye'er!"

Ji Ci looked at her like this, her peach blossom eyes were wide open, her pink lips were pouting, dimples appeared on her face, and her round and sticky tail was so cute.

Who can get angry when facing such a woman? What if she beats you to death?

He sighed, reached out and rubbed her head, helplessly accepting his little wife's hundreds of faces, and the corners of his lips curled up uncontrollably.

He tried hard to suppress his smile, not wanting his little wife to be too proud.

Then he asked his question: "Why are you suddenly dressed like this today?"

Jiang Qiuye blinked, still holding his waist tightly, and said, "Doesn't my husband like simplicity?"

After hearing this, Ji Ci paused for a moment, and suddenly began to doubt whether his scheming little wife had done it on purpose when she first met him by dressing so plainly.

He cleared his throat, averted his gaze, his ears reddening slightly as he spoke uncomfortably, "Actually, your usual, beautiful, elegant demeanor is quite nice. I...I quite like it, too. You don't have to dress so plainly. You're the princess, so you naturally deserve it."

The most beautiful woman in the world?

Is this a good description? Isn't it common to use the metaphor of "rich flower" to describe someone who is vulgar?

Never mind, just take it as a compliment.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, my husband!"

She propped herself up and gave Ji Ci a kiss on the face, unexpectedly leaving a pink lipstick mark on his face.

After Jiang Qiuye withdrew, he saw the lip print and couldn't help laughing.

"What's wrong?" Looking at her smile, the corners of his mouth rose involuntarily.

"No, no, you have to be solemn when you enter the palace to see the grandmother!" After saying that, she straightened up and wiped away the lipstick marks on his face bit by bit with a white silk handkerchief.

Ji Ci shook his head helplessly.

Being with his young wife, I have ten different emotions every day, and it feels like I have lived my life in vain for more than twenty years.

…

The two men entered Shoukang Palace, bowed to Zhao together, and then stood up.

Zhao Ben smiled and nodded. Seeing the wound on Ji Ci's forehead, she asked, "Ci'er, what happened to your injury?"

Jiang Qiuye was stunned, and quickly pursed her lips and lowered her head, her fingers entwined under her sleeves, not daring to look directly at Zhao.

Ji Ci was a prince, and the most beloved grandson of the Zhao family. Even if she was a legitimately married princess, beating her husband was still disrespectful.

He just chuckled softly and said, "Grandma, don't worry. Last night, my grandson got up without turning on the light, and ended up bumping his head against the screen. He bled, and it really made Grandma laugh."

Zhao shook her head helplessly. "Next time you get up in the middle of the night, you must light a lamp. It's so dark at night. Don't be like you did when you were a kid, always getting yourself hurt."

"That's what my great-grandmother taught me."

Jiang Qiuye slowly exhaled. She didn't expect that Ji Ci had helped her conceal the past.

She reached out and grasped the hibiscus jade pendant at her waist, rubbing it gently. It was a pity that, due to her foolishness, the pendant had a small tear.

After they sat down, she quietly listened to Ji Ci and Zhao talking about the arrangements for the spring hunt.

After two quarters of an hour, Zhao Wan'er also came to pay a visit to Zhao, sat opposite Jiang Qiuye, and joined their conversation.

The mood that had been cheering up since the carriage fell to the bottom again with the arrival of Zhao Wan'er.

Zhao Wan'er was of noble and special status. During this hunting trip, the female affairs of the family were entrusted to her and the Queen, which involved the protection of the Imperial Guards and brought her into many interactions with Ji Ci.

Although Ji Ci had explained to her that he had no other feelings for Zhao Wan'er, she still felt unhappy for no reason in her heart.

Watching them converse so eloquently, Jiang Qiuye could barely hold back her smile. For a moment, she suddenly felt like she was in a different world from them.

She secretly lowered her head and smiled bitterly to herself.

They weren't in the same world, were they? She was just a spy sent by Feiyan Pavilion, an imposter of Princess Qi.

Zhao Wan'er looked at Jiang Qiuye and said, "Many of the women accompanying us aren't proficient in riding and archery. So I thought we'd keep it simple and not hold competitions like the men do. We'll just set up a private circle and put out some rabbits, pheasants, and other small animals for the women to enjoy. The princess must come and support us when the time comes."

Jiang Qiuye looked up immediately after hearing this, and smiled at her, "My riding skills are OK, but archery and other things are really difficult."

Zhao Wan'er covered her lips and smiled, "How difficult is that? My cousin's archery skills shocked the world. If you let him teach you, you will definitely stand out among the women."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Ji Ci and said, "Cousin, could it be that you don't even have the time to teach the princess?"

Ji Ci glanced at Jiang Qiuye, who looked unchanged, and said calmly, "I will teach you naturally."

After bidding farewell to Zhao, Ji Ci stayed in the palace and went to the Taiji Hall, while Jiang Qiuye decided to return home first.

After watching Ji Ci's back disappear, she turned around. At this moment, Zhao Wan'er suddenly called her, "Princess."

Jiang Qiuye looked at Zhao Wan'er who was jogging towards her and nodded, "I wonder what's the important matter, cousin?"

Zhao Wan'er looked embarrassed. She glanced around and said, "This isn't a good place to discuss matters. Princess, could you please excuse me for a moment?"

Jiang Qiuye didn't want to have too much interaction with her, but she still agreed. The two of them walked to a stone bridge, and there was no one around.

Zhao Wan'er then spoke: "Princess, since we are a family, I will speak frankly."

"Please speak, cousin Wan'er."

"The princess must know Zhou Chenghu. He has long been accepted into the service of my cousin."

"Of course I know." Jiang Qiuye replied patiently.

Zhao Wan'er said seriously, "Zhou Chenghu was initially found guilty by His Majesty and his military power was taken away, causing him to be constantly suspicious of her. Now that the Empress' Huo family is the dominant force in the military, and the influence of the Empress's relatives in the government is rampant, they sought to send Zhou Chenghu to the Imperial Guards to contain the Huo family's military power. However, this is precisely why His Majesty's trust in my cousin is at risk."

"My Zhao family is powerful, and I have the support of the former King of Han's forces in the south. I'm looking for the princess today because I have a suggestion."

Jiang Qiuye seemed to have guessed what Zhao Wan'er was suggesting, and she began to feel annoyed. However, she still smiled sweetly and asked, "What's the suggestion?"

Zhao Wan'er paused, then continued, "Princess, tell me the truth. My cousin's marriage to the Duke of Anguo hasn't helped him in any way. The Duke of Anguo is a mere shell, possessing neither political power nor military authority. But if I marry my cousin, I can bring all the forces in the south under his command."

"With this shield behind us, we can not only check and balance the Huo family, but also make His Majesty hesitate before taking action against my cousin."

She seemed to suddenly think of something and immediately shook her head and said, "Princess, don't be afraid of me. I have no intention of competing with you for anything. It's all based on considerations of pros and cons. If you agree, I am willing to be a concubine and call you sister."

Jiang Qiuye's eyes darkened. She understood what Zhao Wan'er said. It made a lot of sense.

She knew Ji Ci's situation with the emperor better than anyone else. Back then, the emperor had used Princess Anyang to trick Ji Ci out of Shengjing in order to seize military power. This showed how little trust between brothers really mattered.

Ever since they got married, the Duke of Anguo's Mansion not only didn't bring any benefits to Ji Ci, but instead made a lot of money from Ji Ci like a leech.

And what about herself? A spy from an enemy country, a liar.

Apart from serving men with her beauty like a concubine, she has nothing else.

Suddenly, she understood why she always felt a sense of inferiority whenever she saw Zhao Wan'er. The strength of this woman's family and her own strength were beyond her reach.

No, she doesn't even bother to compare herself with herself.

Otherwise, why would he come to me directly and say that he wanted to be my concubine?

However, no matter how wonderful Zhao Wan'er's words were, it was such a pity.

She is a selfish, vicious woman who doesn't care about these so-called checks and balances of power at all.

She is so selfish that she only cares about what she wants.

She absolutely could not stand sharing a husband with someone else, nor could she stand such an outstanding woman standing in front of her and saying that she wanted to be a concubine.

Zhao Wan'er...she couldn't bear it any longer!

Jiang Qiuye closed her eyes, raised her eyes and smiled slightly, her deceptive smile reappearing, "What cousin Wan'er said is very good. Hearing you say that, my heart is moved. But... maybe the prince doesn't want to take a concubine."

Zhao Wan'er shook her head nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter. The princess has the right to release someone from her cousin's room. That's why I came directly to see the princess."

"I see." Jiang Qiuye seemed to be thinking seriously. "But a concubine is still a member of the royal family. Even though I am the princess, I can't just take her in without any hesitation. And I've been busy lately, so let's wait until the spring hunt is over. I think what cousin Wan'er said makes sense. I'll get started on this matter after the spring hunt is over."

Zhao Wan'er was overjoyed upon hearing this, thinking that Princess Qi was indeed a softie, so easy to talk to. Delighted, she volunteered to escort her out of the palace.

Jiang Qiuye naturally agreed.

She watched Zhao Wan'er walk in front of her. Although she was dressed simply, she had a voluptuous figure. She was a widow, but she knew that many men liked Zhao Wan'er's type, her charming and charming demeanor.

Plus the power she represents is too tempting.

Jiang Qiuye couldn't help but ask herself, what could she compare with Zhao Wan'er?

Suddenly thinking of the nightmare yesterday, she broke out in a cold sweat. Looking at Zhao Wan'er's slender neck in front of her, she felt that she could break it with just 40% to 50% of her strength.

God is so unfair.

Why is it that although they are both women, Zhao Wan'er can have such a smooth life and such a powerful background?

And what about her? A ridiculous gambling addict father? A mother who had disappeared somewhere? Even staying alive in Feiyan Pavilion was a struggle.

She suddenly realized that she was jealous.

Jiang Qiuye looked around. The lotus pond was empty and bottomless. She quietly picked up a stone and followed Zhao Wan'er, who didn't notice anything amiss.

No one knew about her meeting and conversation with Zhao Wan'er. It was this foolish woman who brought her to this deserted place in the palace. As long as she hit Zhao Wan'er to death with a stone and threw her into the lotus pond, it would create the illusion that she had accidentally fallen.

Zhao Wan'er, damn it! She's really jealous.

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I have collected 300+ today, what a happy day~ Red envelopes will be randomly dropped in the comment section today and tomorrow!