Chapter 11: Confrontation
Ji Tianxin lifted a freshly brewed cup of tea in an unhurried and measured manner, taking a sip. Hearing the hurried and fragmented footsteps of a woman at the entrance of the General’s Manor, she raised her brows slightly, a cold light flashing in her eyes as she slowly set the teacup back on the table.
Her movements were simple and casual, lacking the affected decorum of a noble lady, yet she was effortlessly elegant, breathtakingly so. It was as if every gesture, no matter how unintentional, on this young lady's part, exuded an air of innate nobility.
When Madam Chen reached the main gate, she found the entrance crowded with servants from within the manor, all loitering to watch the commotion. The moment they saw the mistress leading her retinue outside, they hurriedly stepped aside with deference. Madam Chen shot them a glare and snorted in anger before striding out of the manor with her attendants.
As soon as she stepped outside, her eyes fell upon the shattered plaque of the General’s Manor, now in pieces on the ground. A wave of breathless fury and tightness gripped her chest, forcing her to gasp for air.
Her maid hastened to support her, calling out, “Madam! Madam!”
Madam Chen cursed loudly, “Outrageous! Outrageous! This is utter rebellion!”
She looked up and immediately saw Ji Tianxin sitting in the very center of the entrance. Meeting those indifferent eyes, Madam Chen stumbled back several paces, her composure shaken.
Her entire body felt as though it had suddenly plunged into an icy abyss; even her breath caught in her throat.
So alike! So very like that vixen!
“Madam!” The guards greeted her respectfully.
Ji Tianxin regarded Madam Chen coolly, her pale lips curving slightly. “General’s Lady,” she said.
Those four words made Madam Chen tremble again, but she quickly regained her composure and snapped viciously, “Don’t listen to her deceitful words! She’s not the General’s daughter at all! Someone, come! Beat this little wretch to death with the staff!”
No! She must not let the General see this girl, nor allow her into the manor! Whether or not she was truly that vixen’s daughter, this girl was a dire threat to her. Nothing good could come of her arrival at such a time!
Meanwhile, a young gentleman was racing toward the General’s Manor on horseback along the street. He had just received a surreptitious message sent from home, informing him that someone was causing trouble at their gate and that his second sister had been injured. His mother had ordered him to return at once.
Hmph, he was determined to see for himself who dared cause a scene at the entrance of the General’s Manor—who was so bold as to court death!
After shouting for some time, Madam Chen realized that no one moved to obey her. The trembling of their hands betrayed their fear.
“What are you all standing around for? Why aren’t you moving?!” Madam Chen berated them.
“I am only here to acknowledge my kin. Why is the General’s Lady so eager to have me killed?” Ji Tianxin’s voice was gentle yet detached, her pale face devoid of color, yet as exquisitely flawless as polished jade.
The question struck a guilty chord in Madam Chen’s heart. She glared at Ji Tianxin, adopting the stern posture of the lady of the house. “I should be asking you—who sent you? How dare you stir up trouble at the General’s Manor, spreading lies and injuring people! Such arrogance for one so young. Today, I shall act on heaven’s behalf and rid the world of you, you little beast!”
Su Qing’s brow furrowed, and upon hearing Madam Chen’s insults, she was about to act, but Ji Tianxin’s gaze held her back.
“Seize this little wretch at once!” Madam Chen commanded again.
“Yes, madam!” The experts Madam Chen had brought drew their blades; cold steel flashed as they swept past Ji Tianxin’s gaze.
The aura that radiated from them was altogether different from the previous guards.
These were true warriors.