The insult was all too obvious.
Xie Jingqi's fists began to itch again.
But seeing Ji Zizhao's calm and undisturbed expression, he relaxed his clenched fists.
When the elder sister wasn't worried, why should he fret needlessly?
If this had happened to any other woman, she would have probably burst into tears on the spot. However, Ji Zixiu merely wiped the wine from her face, lifted the wine jar from the ground, and walked towards General Mu Man to pour him wine.
But just as Ji Zixiu finished pouring, General Mu Man tipped his wine cup onto the ground. "Oh dear, I've had too much before even drinking. I'm truly sorry."
General Mu Man looked at everyone seated around the table, his smile still as amiable as ever.
Han Jingyu tightened his grip on the wine cup, forcing a smile. "The Turk General's joke is not funny at all."
General Mu Man didn't seem to mind, still chuckling. "It's funny enough for me."
Mu Shizhen shot a cold glance at Ji Zixiu beside him and impatiently ordered, "What are you standing around for? Quickly pick up my Abu's wine cup and continue pouring."
Ji Zixiu, without any complaint, bent down, picked up the wine cup, and continued pouring.
However, this time, General Mu Man still didn't drink. Instead, he knocked the wine cup to the ground once more.
General Mu Man harbored a deep hatred for Ji Zixiu.
Upon realizing that Ji Zixiu was Ji Zizhao's own sister, General Mu Man knew that Ji Zixiu must be involved in the theft of the Ji family's remains.
Since he couldn't get to Ji Zizhao, he naturally wouldn't let Ji Zixiu off.
Wasn't it said that blood is thicker than water in the Ji family? Then he would make Ji Zizhao suffer today!
If Ji Zizhao truly defied the Turks for Ji Zixiu, he wouldn't need to lift a finger. The Emperor of Yulin would surely help punish the Ji family accordingly.
Between two nations, what was a mere Ji family?
Ji Zizhao's heart was already burning with anger, yet her face remained placid.
General Mu Man's calculations were correct. Once a conflict with the Turks arose due to Ji Zixiu, the Emperor would surely bring severe punishment upon the Ji family.
And her second sister understood this principle as well.
Ji Zixiu naturally knew this, which was why she chose to remain silent in the face of General Mu Man's repeated provocations.
Seeing Ji Zixiu once again lift the heavy wine jar, even as a trickle of blood seeped through the gaps in her armor, yet still without complaint, Ji Zizhao felt both heartache and relief.
Her second sister had finally understood the importance of the bigger picture.
And she had finally grown up.
After glancing at the bloodstains on her second sister's shoulder, Ji Zizhao suddenly picked up her wine cup and said to Mu Shizhen, "The Seventh Prince and the young Turk General have been quite displeased with each other recently. On behalf of the Seventh Prince, I apologize to the young General."
Xie Jingqi stared at Ji Zizhao in disbelief.
But Ji Zizhao ignored Xie Jingqi entirely. She smiled at Mu Shizhen and then instructed Ji Zixiu, "Pour wine for the young Turk General."
Ji Zixiu remained silent and once again picked up the wine jar.
Although General Mu Man didn't understand why Ji Zizhao had suddenly involved Mu Shizhen, he knew that his son was no match for Ji Zizhao and naturally wanted to intervene.
"This cup of wine, I toast to Turk General Mu Man. May he have a safe journey." But before General Mu Man could stop him, Han Jingyu stood up and walked to General Mu Man's side.
General Mu Man had no choice but to quickly drink the wine in his cup.
However, Han Jingyu refilled the cup again. "Princess Ronghe is correct. Yulin and the Turks have had many disagreements. But now that the two countries have made peace, I hope the Turks and Yulin can support each other in the future."
General Mu Man: "..."
At the same time, Ji Zixiu had already filled Mu Shizhen's wine cup.
Mu Shizhen had known that the thief who stole the Ji family's remains that day had suffered a severe injury to their shoulder when he sent people to investigate. Now, seeing the blood seeping through Ji Zixiu's armor, he felt an unbearable tightness in his chest.
If it weren't for this wench's inside help, the Ji family's remains wouldn't have been stolen.
Now, this wench, clearly injured, was pretending to be fine. She was simply too detestable.
Ji Zixiu could see the anger in Mu Shizhen's eyes. She had intended to ignore him, but then her gaze inadvertently swept towards her elder sister.
The Ji family's unspoken understanding was the most renowned in Yulin.
A single glance was enough to convey everything.
While pouring wine, Ji Zixiu slightly bent her body and chuckled softly in Mu Shizhen's ear, "Your Turk soldiers are truly foolish. Only two of us managed to defeat all your city guards. As expected of Turk barbarians, truly the most useless in the world."
Mu Shizhen instantly clenched his wine cup, staring at Ji Zixiu in disbelief.
How dare this wench speak such arrogant words.
Ji Zixiu smiled leisurely and slowly straightened up.
So what if she spoke arrogantly?
If it weren't for the sake of the bigger picture, she would have whipped you to death long ago, regardless of whether you were a general's son.
Veins bulged on Mu Shizhen's hand. If he couldn't make this wench suffer to the bone, it would be difficult to quell his hatred.
He suddenly stood up and pressed his hand towards Ji Zixiu's shoulder, a smile of anger on his face. "Even your elder sister has to sit here and entertain us, so you, of course, cannot be an exception."
Almost instantly, blood poured from Ji Zixiu's shoulder, flowing down her armor.
In a moment, it had stained the blue-gray armor red.
Ji Zixiu's face turned pale from the pain. If she hadn't gritted her teeth, she would have screamed out loud on the spot.
Seeing this, General Mu Man secretly thought it was bad and quickly tried to smooth things over.
However, Han Jingyu gave him no opportunity. He pushed the wine cup to General Mu Man's lips again. "I've finished this cup again. Are you, Turk General, trying to renege on the drink?"
On the other side, a smug look flashed in Mu Shizhen's eyes. "What? Does the Second Miss of the Ji family not wish to grace me with her presence..."
"Whoosh!"
Before he could finish speaking, a wine cup flew towards Mu Shizhen's face.
Mu Shizhen caught the wine cup and looked towards Ji Zizhao, following the direction of the cup. "Princess Ronghe, what is the meaning of this?"
Ji Zizhao's gaze darkened, killing intent flickering in her eyes. "Naturally, it means I intend to beat you."
Seeing that things were not going well, the Tenth Prince silently raised the plate in front of him, fearing for his food.
"You..." Mu Shizhen had never expected Ji Zizhao to be so audacious.
Xie Jingqi, who had been itching for a fight, certainly couldn't let Mu Shizhen be arrogant. He kicked the round table in front of him.
"Bang—!"
Another muffled sound rang out.
The round table, which could easily accommodate a dozen people, was overturned and smashed directly towards Mu Shizhen's head and face.
General Mu Man immediately drew the broadsword at his waist and split the round table in two.
However, before Mu Shizhen could catch his breath, a punch thrown with full force came directly through the round table and struck Mu Shizhen squarely in the chest.
His ribs, which had just healed, were broken again. Mu Shizhen cried out in pain and fell to the ground. "The Seventh Prince of Yulin has quite a temper! How dare you flip our Turk tables as you please!"
The Tenth Prince, eating the Four Happiness Meatballs on his plate to calm his nerves, looked helplessly at the Seventh Prince.
Really, Seventh Brother, this habit of yours to flip tables is a bit unsightly.
The two young eunuchs attending the Tenth and Second Princes, however, looked at this with a sense of calm.
Thinking back to when they were in the palace, His Highness the Seventh Prince had flipped the Emperor's tables countless times. What was one more Turk table?