However, she had guessed wrong about Chu Qi.

He had never been one to mince words when it came to someone he did not like.

"Great Shang is indeed a country of etiquette, but you have acted rudely yourself. When it comes to those who have no manners, we do not need to be polite in return. Steward Chen, please see her out."

"Yes, General." Steward Chen stood up straight and approached Man Li, gesturing toward the exit. "This way, please, Southern Xinjiang Princess."

Man Li's expression changed. The elegant and noble look on her face disappeared and she looked at Chu Qi unhappily. "Are you really planning to go this far?"

Chu Qi glanced at her with indifference. "I have shown you the greatest mercy by not annihilating everyone back then. Princess Man Li, it is not wise to gamble with Southern Xinjiang like this."

The color disappeared from Man Li's face instantly and she looked at him with fear.

Southern Xinjiang was now a ruined country after a year of intense battle, and they had fallen from glory. There was no way the country would be able to fight Great Shang's steel cavalry.

If they went to war again, it was not difficult to imagine what the outcome would be.

This was why she was putting in so much effort to continue staying in Great Shang.

Southern Xinjiang had lost its past valor and no one knew when the country would be able to recover. She did not want to return at all.

However, it looked like her last hope had been vanquished as well.

Hatred ignited within her.

When she turned to follow Steward Chen out, her gaze suddenly fell on Ji'er, who was sitting next to Chu Qi.

The girl was a pretty child, especially with the dash of red between her eyes that made her already pretty little face stand out further. Her fair skin was the color of white nephrite jade. Her beautiful black eyes shone bright like the stars in the sky.

She had never seen a child as pretty as her.

Even though there was another child who looked exactly the same sitting next to Chu Qi, she did not affect Man Li the same way.

When she saw the way Chu Qi's eyes became gentle when looking at the child, she seemed to understand something.

Man Li suddenly stopped in her footsteps and looked at Chu Qi tauntingly. "I see why General Chu Qi refuses to touch other women—your heart already belongs to another. Even so, isn't it rather filthy for General Chu Qi to harbor such impure thoughts for a child at such a tender age?"

There was dead silence after she said those words.

There was visible anger in Chu Qi's eyes as there was murder in his expression.

Ji'er did not completely catch the meaning of Princess Man Li's words, but she could clearly sense the animosity when Princess Man Li looked at her.

As Ji'er was still trying to process this, darkness suddenly fell in front of her as Chu Qi pulled her into his arms. He also covered his ears. She could vaguely hear a soft scream and then, there was only silence.

The entire garden fell quiet, as if everyone had just left.

Ji'er felt a little unsettled as her little hand grabbed Lil Qi's collar.

Chu Qi sat down in his seat, looking cold as he gripped Ji'er tightly with one arm. The murderous look in his eyes was still intense.

Man Li, who was alive a moment ago, was now lying quietly in a pool of blood on the ground.

The envoys from Southern Xinjiang fell to the ground in fear as they stared at the cold and calculating man seated at the table.

A few personal guards appeared quietly as they dragged the envoys away and removed Man Li's body.

The entire garden remained silent. Long Xuan hugged his wife and children in his arms while Chu Yi pressed Baoyu's head against his chest. Long Yin had hugged Yaoyao at the first sign of trouble while Zhao Qian stood protectively in front of his two little masters.historical

It took quite a while before the garden returned to normal and everyone let go of the people they were protecting.

When Chu Qi released Ji'er, his expression had returned to normal.

Ji'er looked at him in a daze. "What just happened?" She looked around as she said this and was astonished to see Princess Man Li was gone. "Where is Princess Man Li?"

"She left," Chu Qi replied with indifference.