Actually, Consort Xiao knew that although her daughter had grown up in the palace, from childhood she loved to secretly leave the palace to find Jingrong, so naturally she was also familiar with Kong Yu.

Kong Yu even regarded her as a younger sister and doted on her greatly!

So Jing Xuan naturally also treated Kong Yu like an older sister. Now, because of her own sake, having Kong Yu take her place going to Qujiang, she would certainly feel terrible inside.

Therefore, at this moment, Consort Xiao understood perfectly well in her heart, yet she pretended to put on an appearance of helplessness and motherly love.

In any case, pushing all the blame onto the man beside her pillow was surely not wrong.

After all, he was the Emperor!

Once the decree was issued, those who resisted would die.

Jing Xuan cried for a long time, crying until her eyes were swollen, but still couldn’t soften Consort Xiao’s heart.

She rose abruptly, stamping her foot. “Since Mother Consort is unwilling to plead with Father Emperor, then I’ll go plead with Father Emperor myself.”

Her body hadn’t even moved before Consort Xiao grabbed hold of her.

Speaking sternly and harshly, “Haven’t you made enough of a scene?”

Her temper could no longer be suppressed!

“If you run to speak with your Father Emperor now and anger him, he’ll surely have you killed. These past two days, your Father Emperor has been vexed enough. Finding this solution now was also a method of last resort. If you continue making a scene, even Mother Consort can’t protect you.”

So angry she nearly swept the table!

Jing Xuan couldn’t care about all that. When her temper flared, death was death.

At worst, it was just one head and one life!

Consort Xiao was no pushover either. Seeing her daughter so determined, she slapped the table and called in several young eunuchs.

“Take the Princess away for this Palace. Watch her carefully. Without this Palace’s orders, you are not permitted to let her out. If this Palace discovers that someone has secretly let the Princess out, this Palace will have your heads.”

“Yes, this servant obeys!”

The young eunuchs quickly bowed and stepped forward one by one, grabbing hold of Jing Xuan.

Yet fearing they might use too much force, they only dared to touch the edges.

Jing Xuan flung both hands, roaring angrily, “Don’t touch me! All you dog slaves, get lost!”

With this shout, the eunuchs immediately wilted!

They retreated several steps in succession.

This thoroughly enraged Consort Xiao. Waving those wide sleeves and robes, she scolded, “What are you all standing there for? Are you disobeying even this Palace’s orders? Take the Princess away now!”

“Mother Consort, you can’t do this! I must see Father Emperor…”

She was once again held by those young eunuchs and quickly dragged out of the great hall.

Only that shrill, thin voice could still be heard clearly even from far away.

Consort Xiao seemed to have fought a battle, panting with a flushed face.

Covering her chest that ached from anger, she sat down.

Seeing this, Sanglan immediately poured a fresh cup of hot tea and presented it, saying, “Your Ladyship, please don’t let anger harm your body. The Princess is still young. When she…”

Bang—

Before the words were finished, that cup of tea was swept to the ground by Consort Xiao.

Shattered into smithereens!

Probably the instinct of a servant, Sanglan quickly prostrated herself to admit fault. “It’s this servant’s fault. I beg Your Ladyship’s mercy.”

Consort Xiao let out a cold snort, looking as if she hated that iron wouldn’t become steel. “For Xuan’er’s sake, this Palace has said so many good words before the Emperor. Now that girl actually says such things. Truly useless.”

“Your Ladyship, please calm your anger. The Princess will surely understand Your Ladyship’s painstaking efforts.”

“All of you, get out!” Consort Xiao suddenly scolded.

“Yes!”

Sanglan was a perceptive girl. Having followed Consort Xiao for so many years, she naturally understood Consort Xiao’s temperament.

If she said anything more at this moment, she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t receive a beating!

So not daring to speak further, she quickly led the palace maids and eunuchs out of the hall.

Consort Xiao propped up her forehead, her elbow resting on the table, so angry her heart ached!

…

On the other side, after Ji Yunshu and Lang Bo returned to Prince Rong’s residence, she began sharpening blades in her courtyard.

What she was sharpening wasn’t kitchen knives though!

Rather, it was those treasures in her sandalwood box.

Kept locked in the box for too long, the blade edges would inevitably become dull, so every so often, she would sharpen them once.

The small knives went back and forth across the whetstone, making scratching sounds.

Ji Yunshu carefully sharpened them, fearing she might damage the blade edges.

After all, these small knives of different types were custom-made for her by a blacksmith.

They cost a pretty penny!

Naturally she treated them as treasures!

When she finished sharpening one knife, she glanced toward the courtyard. At some unknown time, Shi Zijin, whose figure was usually nowhere to be seen, had actually appeared. At this very moment, she was holding that exquisitely carved sword, standing motionless before the water wheel.

Like a statue!

“Zijin!” Ji Yunshu called out to her in a gentle tone.

Hearing the call, Shi Zijin turned and walked over, but her footsteps stopped only at the doorway.

Preparing to hear what Ji Yunshu would instruct!

“You’ve followed me for several days. You must be tired. You don’t need to guard me anymore. Go rest.”

Shi Zijin didn’t speak! Didn’t move!

Looking at that stubborn face—clearly fifteen years old, yet carrying an additional air of a mature woman’s flavor, and extremely cold and stern.

Probably all chivalrous warriors were like this.

Ji Yunshu continued sharpening her blade. After a long while without hearing a reply, she spoke again, “Since you’re unwilling to go rest, then come in and have some tea.”

“No need!”

Finally, a sound!

The corners of Ji Yunshu’s lips curved slightly. While sharpening the blade, she glanced at Shi Zijin with peripheral vision.

Then simply—

She put down the small knife in her hand, wiped her hands, stood up, walked to Shi Zijin’s side, suddenly reached out and grabbed her stiff, muscular arm, pulled her into the room, and pressed her down to sit in a chair.

Then she poured her a cup of hot tea and placed it beside her.

A series of actions, clean and efficient.

Shi Zijin didn’t resist, obediently sitting. Only her body still hadn’t relaxed, sitting upright, her gaze straight ahead, not wavering at all.

“Truly not thirsty?” Ji Yunshu asked.

Shi Zijin nodded.

Seeing her like this, Ji Yunshu couldn’t help but smile.

Fine then, let her sit!

Ji Yunshu began taking out several small knives from her sandalwood box again and focused on sharpening them.

The air was very quiet, still only that scratching sound of blade sharpening.

The two of them spent an incense stick’s worth of time in the room in this manner that was both awkward yet strangely harmonious.

Neither spoke again!

Neither disturbed the other!

Suddenly, Shi Zijin abruptly stood up. The sword hilt in her hand struck the chair, making a thud.

Somewhat jarring!

Ji Yunshu had just finished sharpening the last small knife. Seeing Shi Zijin like this, she raised her eyes toward the doorway.

It turned out Jingrong had arrived!

That fellow walked in bearing an expressionless face, his brows slightly knitted—exactly the same as when she’d seen him at Yuhua Pavilion.

It seemed his conversation with Muruo hadn’t had any effect.

Shi Zijin obediently went out, not wanting to disturb the two of them.

After Jingrong entered, he sat across from Ji Yunshu, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip.

Then…

There was no then!

He just sat there silently like that.