Yuan Qi was quite helpless. Jiang Bailu was really something, actually bringing this matter to the forefront. If she didn't speak up for Xiangli Mingzhu, she probably wouldn't be able to set up her stall anymore.
She had no choice but to tell the truth: "Father, perhaps Mother really didn't know that there was a concealment array on the wooden hairpin that was difficult for ordinary people to discover. I only noticed it because of my discerning eyes. Mother must have been used by the people of Wuji Palace."
Jiang Zhengqing promptly changed the subject: "Are the people from Wuji Palace going after you?"
Yuan Qi nodded: "There is a man named Kong Qing in Wuji Palace. I broke the formation he set on Xiangli Jiuyou's son. He holds a grudge and has tried to deal with me more than once."
Jiang Zhengqing sighed softly: "The Xiangli family is not peaceful either. You actually got involved in the internal strife of the Xiangli family. Xiao Qi, it will be difficult to get out of this. You should go to the Xiangli family less often in the future. The Xiangli family is more difficult to deal with than you think."
Xiangli Mingzhu held her head high with an air of arrogance, as if she were the one who was difficult to deal with.
"Father, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Some things can't be avoided, just like when the Fifth Prince took action against our family. Ask Second Brother about the Saihe incident."
Jiang Zhengqing said, "I know. Your second brother told me a long time ago that the Fifth Prince has indeed wanted to deal with our family for a long time. To be honest, it's my fault. Back then, the Fifth Prince came to me and asked me to stand on his side, but I didn't agree. So he retaliated against me like this. Our Jiang family has gone through several dynasties and has lasted for thousands of years. We are not so easy to deal with!"
Yuan Qi flattered, "I know Father has a way to deal with the Fifth Prince. He can warn him and teach him a lesson. Our family is not to be trifled with."
A servant boy at the entrance of the dining hall had been eavesdropping for a while, but when he heard Yuan Qi say that, he slipped away.
Yuan Qi took out several talismans from his cloth bag and distributed one to each person: "These are insect-repelling talismans that I recently developed. Whenever someone tries to use Gu on you, this talisman will generate heat to warn you and kill the Gu worms, causing them to fail. It's not expensive, one hundred taels per talisman."
The crowd paused as they received the talisman, staring at Yuan Qi in disbelief.
Jiang Bailu glanced at her sideways and sneered, "We're all family, and you're asking us for money? Are you desperate for money?"
"After all, it's my hard work." Yuan Qi chuckled, shamelessly adding, "Only I can draw this kind of talisman; it's unique in the world."
Jiang Zhengqing glanced at her speechlessly: "Give it to her, give it to her. She needs money to buy yellow paper and cinnabar. It's hard work for her to set up a stall every day. She has many expenses. We're family, so let's not haggle."
No one else said anything, not even Jiang Songlu, who had always disliked her, was too upset to bother with her. Only Jiang Bailu was indignant: "Father, she's obsessed with money, and you just let her get away with this?"
Xiangli Mingzhu also said, "That's right, even family members are so serious. Last time, she asked me for three thousand taels of silver to exorcise the worms from the truffle. She also said that there was an evil formation in the statue I invited. She secretly helped me remove the formation and then asked me for money again."
Jiang Zhengqing was furious when he learned of this, but he had not yet come up with a way to deal with Wuji Palace.
After all, Wuji Palace belongs to the Imperial Preceptor, who is so powerful that no one can challenge him. Therefore, even if the Jiang family wants to deal with Wuji Palace, they need to plan carefully, as it cannot be dealt with overnight.
Jiang Bailu said matter-of-factly, "Why would we need money if we're family? You help us, and we'll protect you. You're under the protection of the Jiang family, so isn't it only right that you do something for them?"
Jiang Zhengqing reprimanded Jiang Bailu: "What are you saying? The Jiang family is so big, do we need a little girl who is not even ten years old to do anything? Putting aside everything else, just look at how she saved your second brother, and a few days ago she also saved your eldest brother and expelled the Gu worms from your two younger sisters. How much has she done for us? And you say it's all her duty?"
Jiang Junyu said coolly, "That's right, Seventh Sister is very capable. People help us because we're family. We can't be ungrateful. In my opinion, they still didn't give us enough. Do you know how much Seventh Sister gets for doing things for the Bai and Xiangli families?"
Jiang Songlu stopped talking, pouting as she glanced sideways at Yuan Qi.
Yuan Qi smiled, clearly appreciating what Jiang Junyu had said.
If we're talking about the most capable and eloquent person in the family, it has to be Jiang Junyu.
Sure enough, after dinner, Jiang Zhengqing took his three sons to the study.
Xiao Zhen's blatant bullying of the Jiang family shows that the Jiang family is not so easily bullied.
After all, powerful families are like ironclad clans, while emperors come and go. The Jiang family has survived through several dynasties and has its own set of survival rules.
This little matter is no problem for Jiang Zhengqing.
Furthermore, the Jiang family has numerous branches and many talented individuals. Although they don't see each other often, they still work together when needed.
Jiang Zhengqing did not believe that a mere fifth prince could withstand a full-scale attack from the Jiang family.
Even if it's the Wuji Palace, so what? The Wuji Palace hasn't even existed for as long as the Jiang family.
Yuan Qi returned to Peony Residence and found that it was still early.
She doesn't have the habit of taking a midday nap, for a simple reason: she's young and energetic, so she doesn't need one.
Wen Zhujun wasn't there, so she went to Yaoguang Pavilion again. Whether she had something to do or not, she always liked to go there. Yuan Qi didn't care. She wasn't her servant, just a paper ghost who didn't eat anything from her. Sometimes she would pretend to drink tea, but she didn't really dare to drink it.
Yuan Qi believed that he had no right to control other people's whereabouts.
She's used up quite a few talismans recently, so she draws a few more whenever she has free time. Especially since Wuji Palace has already run into a snag with her several times, they're bound to take action, so she needs to make the necessary preparations.
If she wasn't mistaken, Xiao Zhen would do something to her soon.
Yuan Qi was not the type to passively accept things as they were. Although she wasn't sure if what Xiao Zhen had done to the Jiang family was aimed at her, now that she knew, she had no reason to stand idly by.
After she got tired of drawing talismans, she cut out a paper figure, dotted its eyes with cinnabar to give it a little spiritual power, and whispered to her, "Go to the Fifth Prince's residence and see what he's doing. The Fifth Prince is cunning, be careful not to get discovered."
The paper figure stood on the table, bowed to her, and then floated away.
The paper figure moved nimbly, floating in the air unnoticed, and soon arrived at the Fifth Prince's residence.
The paper figure remembered Yuan Qi's instructions and dared not fly anymore. It walked close to the wall and deliberately passed by flower beds and bushes. Whenever someone looked this way, it would lie down on the ground and collect the waste paper.
The Fifth Prince's residence was heavily guarded, yet no one noticed the paper figure.
A maid was about to bring tea to Xiao Zhen, but not knowing what he was doing, she didn't dare to go in. So she asked the guard at the door, "What is Your Highness doing? May I bring the tea in?"
The guard said, "His Highness is speaking with his guests. You may go in."
The paper figure seized the opportunity to run over and stick inside the maid's skirt, then followed the maid into Xiao Zhen's room.
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