Yuan Qi walked over and blinked his big eyes twice before speaking calmly, "Ask me anything you need to ask. I'm in a hurry to get out."
Jiang Bailu was a little angry. The other party's attitude was not respectful at all. That was fine, but after all, she was her father's daughter, and it was unrealistic to expect her to treat her with the same respect as a servant.
But Yuan Qi, being an outsider, showed her no flattery whatsoever, which made her very uncomfortable, and this had happened several times.
Adding to her frustration at failing to file a complaint last night, Jiang Bailu decided to pick a fight.
"Did Mother give you permission before you went out? What do you take the Jiang residence for? Do you think it's some kind of Japanese temple where you can come and go as you please?"
Without hesitation, Yuan Qi said, "My mother didn't say I couldn't go out."
Jiang Bailu mocked her: "But Mother didn't let you go out either. I'm asking you, what are you going out for?"
Yuan Qi naturally wouldn't tell Jiang Bailu that she was going out to set up a stall to earn money, and she disliked Jiang Bailu's domineering attitude towards her, so she was somewhat disgusted: "Why should I tell you what I'm doing?"
Jiang Bailu was very unhappy that her dignity had been challenged. She had suffered losses at Yuan Qi's hands several times and had long wanted to teach him a lesson, but Yuan Qi seemed to know some strange skills and was not easy to deal with, so now was not the right time.
She tugged at the corners of her lips and changed her mind: "I'm just worried about you. You've just arrived in Kyoto and don't know anyone. There are a lot of bad people in Kyoto, and it's hard to guard against them all. What if you're young and get scammed by child traffickers when you go out on your own? So, it's best if you stay home as much as possible."
Yuan Qi didn't believe that the other party was considering her needs in every way, and said coolly, "No need for you to worry, I will be careful myself."
After saying that, she turned to leave.
Jiang Bailu blocked her path, her eyes filled with disbelief and disdain: "I ask you, how did you seduce Young Master Jiu? What did the servants say about Young Master Jiu taking a liking to you?"
Yuan Qi looked at Jiang Bailu with amusement, his large eyes clearly laced with sarcasm: "If I'm not mistaken, you're jealous? I didn't realize that even though you're engaged to the Crown Prince, you're still thinking about Ninth Master. Heh..."
Jiang Bailu was visibly nervous. She glanced back at the room and saw Jiang Songlu still asking the tutor for advice, officials from the Ministry of Rites drinking water, and servants performing their duties. No one was looking in their direction.
She relaxed a little and scolded Yuan Qi in a low voice: "What nonsense are you talking about? If His Highness the Crown Prince hears this, can you bear the consequences?"
Yuan Qi's focus was not on that, but on Jiang Bailu's nervousness.
A genuine smile curved her lips as she sweetly asked in a low voice, "You like Ninth Master?"
Jiang Bailu didn't want to expose her feelings to others, and she couldn't admit it, so she retorted, "All the women in the capital like Young Master Jiu. Which unmarried noble lady wouldn't consider it an honor to marry Young Master Jiu?"
Yuan Qi had heard some things about this. The Xiangli family's influence spread throughout the entire Sumeru Continent, making them even more authoritative than the royal families of various countries. Noble ladies from all countries considered it an honor to marry into the Xiangli family, let alone marry the eldest son of the Xiangli family's patriarch.
In Kyoto, the eldest sons of the Xiangli family are highly sought after. Not only the Ninth Prince Xiangli Youming, but also the eldest son Xiangli Jiuyou and the fourth son Xiangli Kunpeng are the objects of many women's desires. Even though they have been married for many years, there are still women who want to become their concubines. Whenever the two young masters go out, countless women throw themselves at them.
Jiang Bailu must have thought that one day she could marry into the Xiangli family.
Now, the only unmarried eldest son of the Xiangli family is the Ninth Master, Xiangli Youming.
Although Xiangli Youming is young, he is exceptionally talented and more outstanding than his two older brothers. He is also more handsome and his martial arts skills are unmatched. At such a young age, he already has no rivals in the capital.
Yuan Qi's smile widened. She nodded and said very sensibly, "I understand. I'll introduce you to Master Jiu next time I see him."
Jiang Bailu felt she couldn't clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River. She became anxious and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? I don't want to get to know Master Jiu. I'm just asking if you know him or not."
She wants to get to know Young Master Jiu. What would happen if the Crown Prince found out about this?
Her marriage to the Crown Prince was doomed to fail.
She warned sternly, "Don't be ridiculous!"
Yuan Qi wasn't worried at all about things getting out of hand; she just enjoyed watching others clean up the mess.
"Don't worry, I have a good relationship with Master Jiu. I'll introduce you two. Master Jiu will give me that much face."
She spoke very loudly, and everyone in the room could hear her clearly.
After saying that, Yuan Qi skipped away.
Jiang Bailu was at a loss for words, feeling that the more she spoke, the worse it would get.
Officials from the Ministry of Rites and palace maids looked at Jiang Bailu with strange eyes and displeasure.
"You little bitch!" Jiang Bailu cursed under her breath, but quickly came up with a plan.
She turned around and walked back. With a joyful smile, she walked up to Jiang Songlu, took her hand and said, "Sixth Sister, yesterday Ninth Master came to see Seventh Sister. I was thinking that Sixth Sister's marriage was still unsettled, so I wanted Seventh Sister to act as matchmaker and invite Ninth Master to the manor for a visit, so that Seventh Sister could introduce you to him."
Her words made the expressions of the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the palace maids much better.
But Jiang Songlu was different. She wasn't very happy. She knew best that Jiang Bailu had also wanted to join the Xiangli family. Although Jiang Bailu was much older than the Ninth Master, she was still very willing to marry the handsome and upright Ninth Master.
Yesterday, when Ninth Master came to see Yuan Qi, everyone in the manor knew about it, but Jiang Bailu was the most excited.
Now that she's using herself as a shield, it's really disregarding her dignity.
However, she also really liked Young Master Jiu. If she could marry him, it would be an incredible blessing.
So she was somewhat pleased when Jiang Bailu said that.
She smiled shyly, her lips curving upwards: "My sister is still the best to me."
The crisis has passed.
Yuan Qi arrived at the big locust tree on Tianshui Street and set up her stall as usual. She waited for a long time, but no one came to tell her fortune. As the sun was setting, she had no choice but to pack up and go home.
Upon returning to the manor, Yuan Qi was informed that the lady of the house had summoned him.
Upon arriving at Xiangli Mingzhu's courtyard, Yuan Qi sensed a faint, almost imperceptible, malevolent aura.
The maid at the door lifted the curtain to let her in.
A female steward from the manor stood in the center of the room, her expression serious.
Xiangli Mingzhu, holding an account book, asked without looking up, "I heard you learned all the rules and etiquette in half a day. Let me see."
Yuan Qi bowed to her according to the rules, taking a half step back with one leg, bending his knee slightly, and placing his hands folded at his sides.
The posture was very standard.
Xiangli Mingzhu, wanting to find fault, deliberately talked to the manager about the accounts, ignoring Yuan Qi's bow.
Yuan Qi chuckled. Such petty tricks? This mistress of the house isn't very clever at all.
A faint wisp of malevolent energy lingered in the room, but Yuan Qi paid it no mind. This little bit of malevolent energy might at most keep people from sleeping, but it wouldn't amount to anything.
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