Chapter 84: Is Young Prince Rong Coming?

Ji Yucheng’s eyes flashed with a cold, murderous light as she stared fixedly at Ji Tianxin’s back.

Ji Tianxin sensed it and turned her head.

But Ji Yucheng immediately dropped her gaze, fixing it on the objects on the table.

Ji Tianxin glanced at her, then turned away.

“How strange,” she murmured softly, her rosy lips barely moving.

“My lady, is something wrong?” Su Qing lifted her head.

“Someone wants to kill me,” Ji Tianxin replied calmly.

“What?” Su Qing’s eyes widened.

“Overestimating themselves,” Ji Tianxin said indifferently, as if the matter were of no consequence.

Su Qing fell silent, casting a glance behind her. She seemed to understand what was happening, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Just then, a guard entered the room.

The shop’s guards initially tried to stop him, but at the sight of the badge at his waist, they stepped aside and allowed him through.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” The youth in the guard’s attire bowed respectfully.

“Lin Si?” Duan Qing’s face lit up at the sight of him. “Where’s A Yan?”

At the emperor’s question, everyone realized he was inquiring about the young prince from the Rong Royal Residence.

The young Lord of Rong, Si Kou Yan, was the only princeling by adoption in the Yu Kingdom’s court.

Rumor had it that he was the adopted son of the late Prince Rong, inheriting the title as a child after Prince Rong’s death. Yet, no one had ever seen him; it was said he was bedridden with illness year-round—a sickly youth with an odd temperament.

And yet the emperor doted on him extravagantly, treating him with more affection than his own sons and granting his every wish.

No one could really understand the reason, but the truth was simple: the emperor adored the young Lord of Rong.

So, whenever anyone from the Rong Residence appeared, it was best to steer clear—whoever provoked them would only bring misfortune upon themselves.

It was a surprise to everyone, then, that someone from the Rong Residence, who never showed themselves at such events, had appeared today.

Instantly, all eyes in the room were drawn to Lin Si.

Even Duan Yu and Duan Yan, whose gazes had never left Ji Tianxin, turned to look at him.

Lin Si offered a polite smile. “My lord will be here shortly. His Highness wishes Your Majesty to act as if he were not present. I have merely come in advance at my lord’s command to deliver something to Miss Ji.”

Duan Qing made no objection to Lin Si’s lack of kneeling, and the others, perhaps accustomed to the emperor’s unique treatment of the Rong Residence, had nothing to say either.

They could only marvel: in the entire Yu Kingdom, perhaps only that mysterious young Lord of Rong could display such airs before the emperor.

But this time, upon hearing Lin Si’s words, everyone’s faces showed a trace of surprise.

What? The young Lord of Rong was coming? Was this elusive prince finally willing to make an appearance?

And what? He was bringing something for Miss Ji? Which Miss Ji? What was he bringing?

Their minds swirled with questions, their curiosity about this honored guest now eclipsed by gossip.

Everyone craned their necks, eager to see what would happen.

Even the members of the imperial family were consumed by curiosity.

Bringing something for Miss Ji? Which Miss Ji?

After a moment’s thought, it had to be the young lady from the General’s Residence.

There were only two young ladies in the General’s Residence now—one was twelve, soon to be thirteen, and the other, just seven, had only recently returned home.

As for the young Lord of Rong, surely he was sixteen by now?

Thinking this through, it was clear—the gift was for the second daughter of the Ji family.