As for Jun Buli, once he’d decided to ignore someone, he really wouldn’t even glance their way again.
He let Baili Xiaosheng shout and protest as much as she liked, and stood up. When he turned, he did notice Situ Jing’er’s presence, but he didn’t say a single word to her—only arched an eyebrow and looked her over once.
This annoying girl had been so proud and stubborn about leaving before—why had she come back?
“Guxi, what’s going on?” Jun Buli was clearly looking at Situ Jing’er, but the question was directed at Guxi.
Detestable man! You’re the most detestable person in the whole world! Situ Jing’er muttered inwardly.
“Young master, please don’t blame Princess Jing’er. It’s this subordinate who had to turn back for something,” Guxi hurriedly explained, worried the young master and the princess would start bickering again.
Who would have known Situ Jing’er would immediately pipe up, “He’s not even in a position to blame me. It wasn’t him who ordered me to leave—I chose to leave on my own.”
Guxi could only sigh helplessly. Fortunately, Jun Buli still ignored Situ Jing’er and asked instead, “What is it?”
“This subordinate…” Guxi hesitated for a moment, but soon spoke resolutely. “This subordinate wishes to ask a favor of the young master.”
“Speak,” Jun Buli said, puzzled—what could Guxi possibly want from him at a time like this?
“This subordinate asks the young master to destroy Shiliang.” Guxi’s clear eyes were filled with utter seriousness, with none of the sorrow or heartache from before. Situ Jing’er startled slightly, seeming to sense something, and wanted to speak up but held back.
A flicker of surprise crossed Jun Buli’s eyes, and he didn’t answer for a long moment.
It wasn’t that the poison corpse couldn’t be destroyed—it was that only the one who had raised her could destroy her. Jun Buli had no idea about the past between Guxi and Shiliang, and he was baffled.
Beside them, Baili Xiaosheng suddenly burst into loud laughter. “Impossible! Dream on! Even if I die, I will never let you destroy her!”
“Shut your mouth!” Jun Buli snapped angrily.
“Impossible!” Baili Xiaosheng shouted at Guxi.
“Meng Duo’er, gag her!” Jun Buli ordered. Meng Duo’er wasn’t actually under his command, but she walked over and gagged her anyway.
Situ Jing’er watched, incredulous, but like Jun Buli, she felt certain there was something suspicious about Guxi.
“Why?” Jun Buli finally asked.
“Because living is more painful for her than dying,” Guxi said honestly.
“What does this have to do with you?” Jun Buli asked again.
“She used to be my companion, the best subordinate our master ever had. I wish she were already dead,” Guxi said flatly, with nothing but openness, no intention of hiding anything.
Only then did Jun Buli understand. He hesitated a moment before saying, “If she was Mother’s subordinate, you should ask Mother. This isn’t my decision to make.”
“Is the young master planning to bring them back to the capital?” Guxi asked, startled.
“I came here at Mother’s request, so naturally everyone will be sent back.” Of course, Jun Buli would have Baili Weisheng escort the prisoners.
As he spoke, he glanced at Situ Jing’er and said, “Send her back.”
Situ Jing’er’s anger flared instantly. “No need. Guxi, if you have business to attend to, stay behind—I can get back on my own!”
But Guxi only smiled. “Princess Jing’er, didn’t we agree on the road earlier that this subordinate would escort you to Xijing? Let’s go. My business has already delayed you long enough.”
“Ugh, you—!” Situ Jing’er fumed.
Guxi kept smiling. A rugged mercenary man’s smile was especially handsome, full of sunshine.
“Let’s go,” Guxi said patiently.
Situ Jing’er knew that if she kept being stubborn, it was Guxi who’d suffer for it, so she could only nod. She thought to herself that along the way, she would definitely find out what the relationship between Guxi and Shiliang really was!
She worked up the nerve to glance back at Shiliang, who really did look like a corpse, motionless.
She looked at Guxi again—he was no longer looking at Shiliang, seeming to have let it go.
“Let’s go!” Situ Jing’er said loudly, deliberately ignoring Jun Buli.
But just as they were about to leave, someone called out to stop her. “Little girl, stay right there!”
The person was none other than Baili Xiaosheng.
Situ Jing’er stopped in her tracks and turned back. “Are you talking to me?”
“Yes, you. What’s your name?” Baili Xiaosheng asked, her tone cold and arrogant.
Situ Jing’er was a noble princess but had the temperament of a commoner, and she hated that kind of tone more than anything. She pursed her lips and shot back, “Why should I tell you?”
“You dared use me as a shield against arrows, and now you don’t dare leave your name?” Baili Xiaosheng countered.
Situ Jing’er was still young after all, and provoked like that, she blurted out immediately, “This princess never changes her name or hides her surname—I am Situ Jing’er, Princess of Xijing!”
“Heh, forgive me, a princess—no wonder you’re so spoiled and unreasonable.” Baili Xiaosheng sneered, deliberately using the words “spoiled and unreasonable.” She wanted to provoke Situ Jing’er, to stir up trouble using her.
“You’re insulting me!” Situ Jing’er flared up and immediately moved to charge at her. Baili Xiaosheng sneered inwardly—she’d known this little girl would take the bait.
But before Situ Jing’er could get close, Jun Buli blocked her path, his fierce glare stunning her into stillness.
Situ Jing’er stopped abruptly, breathing deeply. She hated more than anything being called spoiled and unreasonable—how was she spoiled at all?
She’d originally felt that this Xiaosheng older sister had lost her memory and been kidnapped by bad people, and had felt rather sorry for her. But now it seemed that the pitiable always had something detestable about them too.
“So you’re Baili Xiaosheng—this princess will remember you!” Situ Jing’er said coldly, and turned sharply to walk away.
Baili Xiaosheng, having failed to provoke her fully, refused to concede defeat and called back loudly, “So you’re Situ Jing’er—this young lady will remember you too!”
Holding a grudge?
Meng Duo’er watched from the side, feeling rather troubled. But she had to admit, she was somewhat biased in favor of Situ Jing’er.
For one thing, although this little girl Situ Jing’er always talked about holding grudges, she never actually held onto resentment at all—she was the type to forget things the moment she turned around. Baili Xiaosheng, on the other hand, was completely different—the type who never let a grudge go unanswered.
For another, Meng Duo’er was admittedly biased. After all, Baili Xiaosheng used to dislike her and would occasionally take sharp jabs at her, whereas Situ Jing’er had grown close and friendly with her in less than a day of knowing her.
Meng Duo’er thought that if these two ever truly became enemies one day, she would definitely stand on Situ Jing’er’s side!
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but wonder—whose side would Ziqing and Jun Beiyue take?
Jun Beiyue could be disregarded entirely; he was even less likely than his son to bother with such things. But what about Ziqing?
Baili Xiaosheng was Baili Weisheng’s disciple, and also his adopted goddaughter, and she’d once saved his life—the scars on her face were from protecting him. Meanwhile, Situ Jing’er was the daughter of Yelu Qianqian, and their relationship was excellent too.
Meng Duo’er mulled this over for a long while before finally realizing how absurd her own worrying was—Situ Jing’er was heading back to Xijing, so these two girls probably wouldn’t cross paths again anyway. What was she even worrying about?
After Situ Jing’er and Guxi left, only Meng Duo’er and Jun Buli remained, along with the two prisoners, Baili Xiaosheng and Shiliang.
At that moment, Baili Xiaosheng had stopped causing trouble and was simply staring at Shiliang, studying the barrier that confined her.