Chapter 419 Warning

Chapter 419: A Warning

"Your Highness, he's just a newly bought servant in our marquis's household and doesn't know the rules yet. Please don't hold it against him."

Wu Jinxi couldn't put his feelings into words. He knew Ji Qingqing was probably just trying to protect herself.

After all, the whole family's future depended on her. He didn't want to go this far unless he absolutely had to.

"Thank you, Your Highness, and thank you, Second Miss Ji, for your mercy."

Wu Jinxi kowtowed to the ground, then clutched his chest and limped away.

Luo Jingshen didn't even look at Wu Jinxi again. Hitting him would dirty his own hands.

"Qing Qing, your marquis's household is a noble family, after all. In the future, when purchasing servants, you should be pickier about their character. Don't just buy any stray cat or dog to bring into the household."

"After all, servants' actions also reflect on the reputation of the Marquis Yongning's household."

Ji Qingqing forced an awkward smile. "Your Highness's advice is well taken. When I get back, I'll talk to my mother about sending that lowly servant away."

After Wu Jinxi's little stunt, Luo Jingshen no longer felt like enjoying the scenery. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Ji Qingqing, he got up and left, saying he had business to attend to.

Once Luo Jingshen was gone, Ji Qingqing's expression immediately went cold. In a fit of rage, she swept all the teacups and pastries off the table onto the floor, her face twisted in fury.

"Bitch! You're all a bunch of bitches! Why do you have to show up in front of me after you left? Are you not happy until you've ruined me?"

If she hadn't reacted quickly today, Wu Jinxi's behavior might have blown their cover in front of the Crown Prince!

In the carriage, with Wang Er there, Ji Qingqing held back from questioning Wu Jinxi.

When she got out of the carriage and walked toward the door, she caught sight of another familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.

At that moment, Ji Qingqing's anger hit its peak.

Wu Shijie was here too. Did that mean Chen Huaxiu and her whole family were back?

Ji Qingqing just wanted to figure out what was going on. She had no intention of acknowledging Wu Shijie, but he directly blocked her path with a foolish grin.

"Second Miss, you're back!"

Ji Qingqing's pent-up anger burst out!

"How dare you! Everyone else kneels before me. Why don't you kneel when you see me?"

The smile on Wu Shijie's face froze in place. He was stunned for a moment until Wu Jinxi's voice rang out.

"Kneel!"

Only then did Wu Shijie quickly kneel down. He had thought his standing with Ji Qingqing would surely be different from other servants'.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, he also felt a sharp sting of mockery.

Wu Shijie remembered how he had bragged to the other gatekeepers that Second Miss Ji would surely treat him well and never let him suffer.

The prouder he had been before, the more painful the slap to his face now.

Ji Qingqing went inside and immediately summoned Wu Jinxi and Chen Huaxiu, and had guards stand watch outside the door, forbidding anyone from coming near.

"What's the meaning of this? Didn't I send you to Ji Yuntang's place? Why are you back?"

Chen Huaxiu had expected this question. She spun a long tale about how wicked Ji Yuntang's character was, how she tormented them and refused to give them food.

She especially stressed how poor the Prince Ye's household was.

"Yueyue, you wouldn't believe it. The people in the Prince Ye's household are so poor they've started eating dirt."

"Especially that Ji Yuntang—she shovels dirt into her mouth, mouthful after mouthful. We just couldn't stand to watch!"

Ji Qingqing's gaze turned ice-cold. She slammed the table hard and ground her teeth. "Fools! She's fooled you all!"

"Do you know who owns the most profitable businesses in the capital—Wan Zhuang Tower and the barbecue shop? Ji Yuntang!"

"Those two shops rake in a fortune every day. How could she possibly be poor? She just has money but doesn't want to share it with you!"

"What? Those are Ji Yuntang's?!"

Chen Huaxiu and Wu Jinxi were both stunned. Even if they were not from the capital, they had heard of these two establishments—their fame had spread throughout the entire Dongchen Kingdom.

Especially Wan Zhuang Tower, which was extremely popular among the noble young ladies of the capital.

Ji Qingqing looked at the two who seemed so unsophisticated and continued to drive the point home:

"Oh, and you probably don't know this yet? Two months ago, Ji Yuntang acknowledged Duke Rong and the Duchess as her adoptive parents, and also acknowledged Heir Xie as her adoptive brother."

"Especially Heir Xie—he is extremely generous. On the day of the recognition, he gave Ji Yuntang one hundred thousand taels of silver as pocket money, and since then, he sends all sorts of fine things to the Prince Ye's household. Do you think Ji Yuntang looks like someone who lacks money?"

Wu Jinxi and Chen Huaxiu were too shocked to say anything!

They had known nothing about all this.

The more Chen Huaxiu thought about it, the angrier she became. She slapped her thigh and wailed, "That damned ungrateful wretch! After all we raised her for so long, she has money but refuses to give us any, and even deliberately deceives us. How can she be so vicious?"

"I truly regret not strangling her back then, to spare her from living and harming others."

Ji Qingqing frowned, her face full of impatience. "Enough! A bunch of brainless fools. What use is talking about this now? Ji Yuntang will never allow you back into the Prince Ye's household!"

"Tomorrow is the day the Crown Prince comes to the marquis's residence to deliver the betrothal gifts. I will arrange a carriage now to send you back. Do not come to the capital again!"

Hearing this, Chen Huaxiu was greatly alarmed. She reached out and grabbed Ji Qingqing's leg.

"No, Yueyue, don't drive us away! The madam has already kept us here to work in the marquis's household!"

"Rest assured, we will not cause you any trouble."

Ji Qingqing shoved her away forcefully, her face filled with fury. "You have the nerve to speak! Ask your man what he did today—he nearly got me killed!"

"If the Crown Prince finds out about my relationship with you, none of us will live!"

Wu Jinxi also knew he had made a mistake today. He knelt on the ground and said, "Yueyue, Father knows he was wrong. Tomorrow I will definitely avoid the Crown Prince and will not come out."

"Yueyue, Mother will keep an eye on your father and guarantee he will not appear before you and the Crown Prince." Chen Huaxiu joined in the pleading.

Just then, a maidservant's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Second Miss, the madam requests your presence. She has had a new dress tailored for you to wear tomorrow and wants you to try it on."

Ji Qingqing responded dismissively, "I know. Tell Mother I will be there shortly."

Before leaving, she warned Wu Jinxi and Chen Huaxiu once more.

"I have no time to argue with you. You had better remember what you said. Do not appear before me and the Crown Prince tomorrow."

"If anything goes wrong during the betrothal ceremony, I will not spare your entire family."

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