The girl glared furiously at Jun Buli, showing no intention of answering.
“Not talking?” Jun Buli raised an eyebrow, a flash of malice crossing his eyes. His long fingers pressed against her half-butterfly mask, threatening to tear it off!
The girl glared venomously at him, still refusing to speak.
“Very well!” Jun Buli scoffed coldly. Since the age of seven, no woman had ever dared say no to him, dared refuse his demands.
The moment he finished speaking, he ripped the butterfly mask away without hesitation, and instantly, the girl’s exquisite, beautiful face was fully revealed!
Features so refined they were flawless, skin like milk, fair and rosy, delicate enough to bruise at a touch—her beauty couldn’t be called the grand, city-toppling kind, but it was undeniably exquisite, matchless in its refined perfection!
Unlike Consort Li’s seductive, dazzling beauty, this was a small, delicate kind of loveliness, the sort that made one want to claim it, to protect it carefully, to guard it close!
Such a face—three parts refinement, seven parts noble bearing—paired now with those furiously glaring phoenix eyes, presented the very picture of a fierce little woman. Even Baili Weisheng, an elder watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but laugh, as if witnessing nothing more than a young couple bickering playfully, teasing each other for fun.
He knew he’d never seen this girl before, yet something about her face felt inexplicably familiar.
Jun Buli, having seen countless beauties in his time, showed no particular reaction to such a face, finding it simply unfamiliar.
“Why did you attack me?” he demanded again, sharply.
But the girl seemed determined to lock horns with Jun Buli. Unable to beat him physically, she chose silence instead—no matter what he asked, she wouldn’t answer, daring him to do his worst!
To her surprise, Jun Buli was truly ruthless!
He actually seized her mouth, forcing her to speak.
Of course, forcing her to speak didn’t mean he wanted her to talk—instead, he grabbed her foot and pushed it toward her mouth!
“Is he serious!?” Baili Weisheng blinked in mild shock.
To everyone’s surprise, even with the shoe nearly touching her lips, the girl still glared wide-eyed and furious at Jun Buli, showing not the slightest sign of yielding!
Undoubtedly, this was a direct challenge to Jun Buli’s patience. He gripped the tip of her shoe and yanked hard, actually pulling the shoe clean off her foot.
Quickly, her fair, delicate lotus-shaped foot was exposed, and the girl, mortified beyond measure, flushed bright red.
Jun Buli, without hesitation, gripped her bare foot with one large hand—but in that instant, the fury in the girl’s wide eyes gave way to something closer to disbelief.
Catching that look in her eyes, Jun Buli himself felt an inexplicable jolt in his heart, but he quickly recovered, yanking her foot hard and shoving it into her own mouth!
“Mmph… you… this is too much!”
“Let go!”
…
Finally, the girl cried out in protest. “Let go… let go of me, I’ll talk!”
Only then did Jun Buli release her, glancing down at her coldly. “Talk!”
The girl sat up, panting, rubbing her foot, looking thoroughly displeased. “I came to steal something. I ran into you, didn’t like the look of you, so I attacked.”
At these words, Baili Weisheng couldn’t help bursting into laughter. “Didn’t like the look of him? Hahaha!”
Jun Buli, of all people, having a day like this!
The corner of Jun Buli’s mouth twitched, but he pretended not to hear, continuing his interrogation. “Who are you, and what did you come to steal?”
The girl grew impatient, frowning. “This is ridiculous. I don’t know you, you don’t know me. Who I am, what I’m stealing—none of your business! I attacked you, that was my fault, I’ve apologized for it, isn’t that enough?”
“No,” Jun Buli said coldly.
The girl grew furious. “I have no quarrel with you whatsoever! Why won’t you let this go, what exactly do you want?”
“Because I don’t like the look of you. Answer my question,” Jun Buli said coldly.
“I’m holding a grudge now!” the girl said through gritted teeth.
“Suit yourself. Answer my question—don’t make me ask a third time,” Jun Buli said, his voice deepening.
“My name is Situ Jing’er, from Xijing. I came to steal the Xiao family’s treasure, the White Jade Flute!” Situ Jing’er declared, word by word.
At this, Baili Weisheng, watching from the roof, nearly toppled off in shock. “What! You’re called Situ Jing’er?”
Situ Jing’er glanced at him. “You know me?”
Jun Buli grew curious too, looking toward Baili Weisheng.
Baili Weisheng stared at Jun Buli, and as he stared, he began to grin, an oddly mischievous smile spreading across his face. “I’ve heard that name mentioned before.”
A flash of alarm crossed Situ Jing’er’s eyes—she seemed genuinely afraid of anyone learning her true identity.
Baili Weisheng leapt down, his grin growing increasingly wicked, deliberately leaning close, murmuring softly, “Princess Jing’er, I heard Yelu Qianqian mention your name before.”
At the words “Yelu Qianqian,” Situ Jing’er’s face instantly went deathly pale!
Indeed, she was none other than Yelu Qianqian’s precious daughter, who had slipped out of the palace while her royal parents were away on a trip, sneaking off to Nanzhao for some fun. “Who exactly are you two!” Situ Jing’er demanded furiously.
Jun Buli, thoughtful, studied her carefully—no wonder her temperament resembled Yelu Qianqian’s so closely, being the princess of Xijing!
Truly, fate worked in strange ways—enemies who fought their way to acquaintance.
“What are you staring at, who exactly are you?” Situ Jing’er pressed anxiously.
“Da Zhou. Jun Buli,” Jun Buli announced his name without hesitation.
“You!” Situ Jing’er sucked in a sharp breath—never in her wildest dreams would she have guessed it was him. She’d heard her mother mention this man more than once!
“You won’t find the White Jade Flute at the Xiao estate. It’s not safe here—hurry back,” Jun Buli said flatly, having hoped to glean some clue about the Xiao family from this girl, but now realizing it was a dead end.
“How do you know I can’t find it!” Situ Jing’er retorted disdainfully.
“Because it’s already in my possession,” Jun Buli said impatiently—words that nearly struck Situ Jing’er dead on the spot.
“You!”
“Go home. Stop getting in my way.”
“Then what are you trying to steal?”
“Straight ahead and out the door. Don’t let me see you out.”
“Someone, help…”
Situ Jing’er shouted, only to have Jun Buli clamp his hand over her mouth again instantly.
“Damn girl, don’t think that just because you’re the princess of Xijing, I won’t do anything to you!” Jun Buli’s patience had truly run dry.
“Mmph… I… I’ve known for years… let go of me!”
Situ Jing’er pried Jun Buli’s hand away, finally managing to speak clearly. “I know everything about the Xiao family inside and out. Whatever you’re trying to steal, I can help. I’ve had my eye on the Xiao family for years now.”
Jun Buli’s gaze turned cold, and he was about to knock her out from behind when Baili Weisheng stopped him, asking seriously, “Years ago? Have you ever heard someone playing the sheng here?”
“I have!” Situ Jing’er answered without hesitation.
At this, even Jun Buli was startled, his eyes suddenly gleaming with excitement!
Situ Jing’er continued, thinking back. “Just recently, actually, I heard it again. At night—always at night, actually. The sound makes you drowsy; I never dared listen too long.”
“Where did you hear it!” Jun Buli and Baili Weisheng asked simultaneously.