“But…” Gu Jianli furrowed her brows in confusion, “If you really used the antidote for the Heart-Eating Powder to exchange for the medicine Poison Doctor Luo made for me, how could it be developed in just one day? If you had already arranged it with Poison Doctor Luo, why bother with another exchange?”
Ji Wujing felt a burning restlessness inside him. He impatiently looked at Gu Jianli, staring at her face and eyes still filled with lingering charm, quirking a corner of his mouth strangely, and said sarcastically, “Gu Jianli, even in your current state, your mind is still so clear?”
Gu Jianli pulled a corner of the quilt over herself for modesty and looked pitifully at Ji Wujing. His face showed significant irritation and impatience, which made her feel uneasy, and her eyes began to glisten with tears.
Ji Wujing was speechless and asked irritably, “Didn’t you say you trusted me?”
“I do,” Gu Jianli nodded, her voice small and aggrieved, “I just don’t understand…”
“When did I ever say that the medicine for you was developed by him when I said I’d use the antidote to exchange for your medicine? Luo Xiangjin, that old poison master, wouldn’t even know how to develop medicine to treat pockmarks. He only has the Black Snow Frost,” Ji Wujing’s impatience grew as he spoke, his expression becoming more and more unpleasant. There was a fire burning inside him that seemed only killing could extinguish.
Gu Jianli supported her upper body with her forearm and moved closer to Ji Wujing, reaching out to undo his belt.
“What are you doing?” Ji Wujing glared at her.
Gu Jianli’s fingers froze for a moment, and she nervously bit her lip before gathering the courage to continue undoing Ji Wujing’s belt. It was her first time helping him with her hands, and although her movements were clumsy, she was extremely earnest.
Ji Wujing frowned, watching Gu Jianli’s cheeks still flushed. The quilt she had wrapped around herself was half-on, half-off, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of spring. He shifted his gaze back to her serious expression.
Suddenly, Ji Wujing felt a bit disheartened—his little bunny was no longer innocent. He had wanted to teach her slowly, but she had already learned so much.
But soon he didn’t have the heart to feel disheartened anymore, as another instinctive comfort replaced all his loss.
Ji Wujing’s eyes darkened as he stared at Gu Jianli, suppressing his strong desire to possess her at that moment. Though they were just one step away, he forcibly repressed all his desires.
He couldn’t.
Not only couldn’t he, but he also didn’t want to take advantage of someone else’s plot to possess her because of some ridiculous medicine. It was too meaningless. Their consummation shouldn’t be so hasty. He wanted to do something big, celebrate with a kill, and prepare properly. He was even more annoyed by others’ schemes. Should he fall for their plot just because they schemed? How disgusting.
Even if he could, he wouldn’t fulfill the petty men’s wishes.
After Gu Jianli fell asleep, Ji Wujing changed his clothes and went to the Xuanjing Sect.
Ji Jingyi had been prepared, pacing in front of the door waiting.
“Where is she?” Ji Wujing asked.
Ji Jingyi said, “Sect Master, Ge’er is, after all, your master’s daughter, the only bloodline your master has left in this world. She grew up by my side, and I treat her as my own daughter. For the sake of your master and all these years of hard work, could you let her go this time? I’ve already educated her, and she knows she was wrong. She deeply regrets it in her heart.”
Ji Wujing’s face remained expressionless.
Ji Jingyi grew increasingly anxious. He knew very well that Ji Wujing was unreasonable, and pleading for mercy with the favor of his master’s upbringing and his own years of following might not be effective. Ji Jingyi, now old, felt humiliated for having to grovel for Luo Muge. But what could he do? He had scolded Luo Muge in anger, but in the end, she was the child he had raised, and he had to do everything to protect her!
“Sect Master, please forgive Ge’er this time. Ge’er once helped you before, didn’t she? No matter what, you have seen how hard she has worked over the years to find medicine for you. Her hands have saved countless lives. Though she may be cold, she has a kind heart. This time, she was so anxious for you that she lost her composure…” Ji Jingyi’s smile was awkward. “To err is human, isn’t it? Let’s consider this as repaying your master’s upbringing by sparing her life this time. If there is a next time, I won’t have the face to plead with you again…”
“Let her go.” Ji Wujing turned around expressionlessly.
Behind the door, Luo Muge leaned against it, her face covered in tears. In her heart, her master, who always smiled and was kind, had a proud spirit. When had she ever seen him grovel like this? And for her. It made her feel awful inside.
Ji Jingyi walked in, sighed heavily, and said, “Pack your things and leave immediately. Take care of yourself in the future.”
“Master…” Luo Muge opened her mouth, but only managed a silent call, unable to utter a single word.
Ji Wujing was merely passing by, as Ji Jingyi had said, the favor of Luo Muge’s father’s years of nurturing was worth her life. Of course, it was only a life.
In the night, Ji Wujing’s red figure flashed by.
He stopped in a secluded alley and knocked on a door, the sound exceptionally clear in the silent night. He knocked twice, then leaned lazily against the side, listening to the approaching footsteps inside.
The wooden door creaked open, and Ji Xuanke stood there, surprised to see him.
Ji Xuanke stepped aside without a word to let him in.
Ji Wujing retracted his gaze and walked straight into the courtyard.
Ji Xuanke followed behind him, his gaze complex as he looked at Ji Wujing’s back. He knew Ji Yan had persuaded Ji Wujing to help, but this was the first time they had met at Ji Yan’s place.
Ji Wujing and Ji Yan had a private conversation in the study, while Ji Xuanke stood under a withered tree in the courtyard, lost in thought, seemingly unaware of the cold. He looked at the lit study, feeling a bit disturbed.
It had been almost a year since Ji Lan ascended the throne. On the surface, the court seemed increasingly stable, but in reality, Ji Yan’s support had grown stronger. Under the prosperous Yongan City, Ji Yan was weaving a tight net.
Ji Yan had tried to win over various forces, including the Xuanjing Sect. The Xuanjing Sect had a special status. Though it was said to be directly under the emperor and his sharpest weapon, since Ji Wujing’s incident six years ago, the Xuanjing Sect had become more low-key, taking on fewer missions. Ji Wujing hadn’t been seen in action, and even the Twelve Disciples of the Xuanjing Sect rarely moved.
Of course, Ji Yan wanted to win over the Xuanjing Sect. Each member of the sect was worth a hundred men, and winning them over was like gaining a formidable army.
It was during this time that Ji Wujing took the initiative to approach.
Ji Wujing told Ji Yan that Ji Lan had set his sights on Gu Jianli, wanting to take her as his wife but feared Ji Wujing’s martial prowess. Ji Lan had placed Ji Jingyi as a spy by his side. Ji Wujing needed Poison Doctor Luo to put on a show for Ji Jingyi, so Ji Jingyi would inform Ji Lan that Ji Wujing had thrown away the antidote for Gu Jianli. He would feign weakness, and when Ji Lan couldn’t resist making a move, he would coordinate with Ji Yan from the inside. Ji Wujing would kill those he wanted dead, and Ji Yan would seize the power he desired.
In the plan, the antidote Poison Doctor Luo gave him was fake, the one he broke was fake, and Poison Doctor Luo would secretly give him the real antidote.
This was Ji Wujing’s plan as he explained it to Ji Yan.
But…
Ji Xuanke furrowed his brows, worried.
But Luo Poison Doctor was Ji Yan’s man, and Ji Yan didn’t fully trust Ji Wujing’s words. Poison Doctor Luo, who had developed countless poisons, had never researched any antidotes. He didn’t have the antidote for the Heart-Eating Powder, and the supposed real antidote he secretly gave to Ji Wujing was also fake.
Ji Yan did indeed want to use Ji Wujing to control the Xuanjing Sect.
Ji Xuanke knew too many of Ji Yan’s plans. Over the past year, he had come to understand Ji Yan’s methods. Even when at a disadvantage, Ji Yan never gave up and never showed mercy.
Ji Xuanke hesitated. He didn’t know whether he should warn Ji Wujing not to fully trust Ji Yan.
The door of the study opened, and Ji Wujing walked out. He glanced at Ji Xuanke standing under the tree and then walked straight out.
“Fifth Uncle,” Ji Xuanke called out.
Ji Wujing turned to look at him.
Ji Xuanke hesitated, then finally said, “It’s cold these days, Fifth Uncle. Please take care of your health.”
Ji Wujing silently turned his gaze away, a mocking smile hidden by the night. With just one look, he had seen through Ji Xuanke’s hesitation.
Ha, a meddlesome yet indecisive little nephew.
Ji Xuanke turned around to see Ji Yan standing at the door of the study, and his heart tightened.
“Though he is your uncle, he has also taken your beloved. If he dies, you can reclaim Gu Jianli, whom you yearn for. And you wouldn’t be the one to kill him, so you need not feel guilty.” Ji Yan paused, then smiled and asked, “Xuanke, don’t you agree?”
Ji Xuanke lowered his head and bowed, “Your Highness is wise.”
When Ji Wujing returned home, Gu Jianli was sleeping soundly. She lay quietly on her side, facing outward. Ji Wujing stood by the bed, taking off his outer robe, remembering how long ago Gu Jianli always slept with her back to him. He had pitifully held her from behind during that time.
Ji Wujing lay on the bed, not needing to think of ways to hold her without waking her up. Gu Jianli had already moved closer, snuggling into his embrace.
The bed had been changed with clean sheets and bedding, and Gu Jianli had also washed and changed clothes, but the lingering scent of intimacy hadn’t completely dissipated.
In the pitch-black room, Ji Wujing poked Gu Jianli’s forehead and said slowly, “Wait, Uncle has a big play to put on. And then, I will make up for what I owe you.”
In her sleep, Gu Jianli mumbled something and obediently nestled closer into Ji Wujing’s arms.
The next day, Gu Jianli woke up as usual, while Ji Wujing slept until noon as usual. When Ji Wujing got out of bed and didn’t see Gu Jianli in the room, his face darkened. He called Lizi to ask, then went to the storeroom to find Gu Jianli.
Gu Jianli was preparing birthday gifts, carefully selected items, including precious jade ornaments bought for a high price and clothes and shoes she had sewn herself.
“What are you doing?” Ji Wujing walked in, lazily sitting on a chest.
“Preparing birthday gifts for Father. Tomorrow is Father’s birthday banquet.”
Gu Jingyuan had fallen into a coma on his birthday last year, so this year naturally couldn’t be neglected.
Gu Jianli paused in her movements, then sat next to Ji Wujing and asked, “Will you come with me?”
“Too lazy to go,” Ji Wujing replied casually.
“Come with me, please,” Gu Jianli pleaded softly.
Ji Wujing gave a sly smile and said, “If you let me bite the peach, I’ll go.”
Gu Jianli glanced at the fruit platter on the table and said blankly, “It’s not peach season right now.”
“Then let me bite pears,” Ji Wujing said slowly.
“But there aren’t any pears either.”
Ji Wujing gave her a strange smile and silently mouthed the words, “Take off your pants.”