Qing Yao did not expect this woman to attack her so fiercely the moment they met. She retreated, shifting to one side, her body forming a parallel curve, yet her feet remained firmly planted on the ground as she nimbly dodged.
Ji Xue, missing her target, pressed her advantage. Her steps shifted, and she locked onto Qing Yao again.
Just as Qing Yao was about to retaliate, Wu Qing, from above, let out an angry roar. His Heavenly Silk was swiftly thrown out, tightly ensnaring Ji Xue's wrist. His deep, cold voice rang out, "Stop. This is Wu Qing Valley, not your territory!"
With that, he pulled back with seventy percent of his strength. Ji Xue was violently thrown backward in a 360-degree somersault. She landed and found herself standing before Wu Qing.
She glared at Wu Qing, ready to unleash her fury, but upon seeing his ethereal face, she abruptly suppressed her emotions and resentfully sat down to the side.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess, please have some tea."
Her personal maid quickly stepped forward to offer the tea. Ji Xue silently accepted it, took a sip, and looked at Wu Qing, "How did she end up here?"
Qing Yao walked over and sat down opposite her without hesitation, speaking slowly, "Why shouldn't I be here? Such an imposing Crown Princess. Others may not know how you obtained your position, but do I? Killing your sister to seize the throne, that's simply a beastly act devoid of conscience."
Qing Yao's words ignited Ji Xue's rage once more. She suddenly stood up, glaring at Qing Yao, her breath coming in ragged gasps, "You?"
She abruptly turned to Wu Qing on the raised seat, "Do you know who she is? She is the Empress of Da Xian, the woman who dared to divorce the Emperor. Do you think you can keep her?"
Wu Qing was slightly stunned. He truly did not know Qing Yao's true identity. She was indeed the Empress of Da Xian, the only empress in history to divorce an emperor.
Though he paid no mind to the outside world, those who walked the jianghu inevitably heard all sorts of gossip. Such a legendary figure felt unfathomably profound, yet here she stood before him.
She had always been unique, radiant. It turned out she had such an origin.
Wu Qing, his expressionless face turned towards Ji Xue on the side, spoke indifferently, "No matter who her true identity is, she is my friend. You should leave. I don't want to see you again."
Wu Qing's direct dismissal turned Ji Xue's face dark.
If previously she was merely infatuated with this man's beauty, then now it was unparalleled anger. She, Ji Xue, was the dignified Crown Princess of Dan Feng, and this woman was merely an empress. In terms of real power, a female emperor's authority was countless times greater than an empress's.
The inner court had always refrained from interfering in politics, yet Wu Qing had sided with that woman, making it impossible for Ji Xue to swallow her pride. She had been defeated by this woman several times and was unwilling to accept it.
"Wu Qing, don't forget that the Empress Dowager sent me here."
Ji Xue spoke fiercely, her eyes burning red, watching Wu Qing smile at that woman with affection in his eyes.
She was consumed by jealousy because she liked Wu Qing. After their first meeting, she couldn't forget him. Moreover, Wu Qing bore a striking resemblance to Dan Feng's Emperor Consort. They both belonged to the category of gentle and refined men, naturally beautiful.
She had a court painter create an image of him, which the Empress Dowager saw. He then told her that Wu Qing was his nephew and that if the Crown Princess was interested, she could take him as her primary consort.
At the same time, he also told her about Wu Qing's residence in Wu Qing Valley.
It was just that she never dreamed she would encounter such a woman in the valley, the woman who had once severely wounded her.
Furthermore, anyone with eyes could see that she and Wu Qing seemed to have a very good relationship. Initially, her feelings for Wu Qing were just fondness, not intense desire. However, seeing their affectionate interactions, she felt an urge to possess him.
Ji Xue revealed a row of white teeth and looked calmly at Wu Qing.
Wu Qing stared at her coldly, without a word. The reception hall was silent.
Qing Yao raised an eyebrow, contemplating the meaning behind Ji Xue's words. The Empress Dowager had sent her. This Empress Dowager must be the principal consort of Dan Feng's female emperor. Why would Ji Xue specifically mention this person? Did he have a connection with Wu Qing, or was he the one hidden behind the scenes all along?
Could Wu Qing be a prince of Dan Feng? Qing Yao's chest tightened. The thought, once born, refused to recede. Her chest ached violently.
If his parents had abandoned him due to poverty, pursuit by enemies, or other circumstances, it would have been more acceptable.
But who would have thought it wasn't like that at all? Wu Qing was likely a pawn sacrificed in royal struggles.
Dan Feng was still a matriarchal society. Their system differed from patriarchal societies. The birth of a son in the royal family was not cause for celebration, but the birth of a daughter was. If Wu Qing was indeed born to the Emperor Consort, then he should be Dan Feng's eldest prince.
Upon realizing this, Qing Yao suddenly covered her mouth. This was more cruel and painful than any truth. No wonder he was unwilling to interact with that person. Even if he returned, he would only be a pawn in the royal family; it was a fate he couldn't change.
But if Wu Qing was truly Dan Feng's eldest prince, then he and Ji Xue were biological siblings. Yet, anyone with eyes could see that Ji Xue liked Wu Qing. Wasn't this incestuous? What did the Empress Dowager mean by all this?
Qing Yao couldn't fathom this point. She looked up at Wu Qing on the raised seat, waiting to see how he would handle the situation.
"Leave Wu Qing Valley at once," Wu Qing's expression was colder than winter frost, gloomy. His eyes were as deep as misty abysses. Angered, he roared outwards, "Guards, escort them out of the valley immediately!"
He truly shouldn't have told him the secret of entering the valley back then. In fact, Wu Qing Valley had a secret passage to the outside world, bypassing the swamp, allowing their people to enter through it.
However, this had now become a nuisance. It seemed he needed to seal that secret passage quickly and block it, otherwise, they would keep coming in.
"Yes, Young Master."
Qing Feng walked in from outside and bowed respectfully to Ji Xue, speaking at a leisurely pace.
"Please."
"You?" Ji Xue's expression changed drastically. As the Crown Princess of Dan Feng, when had she ever received such treatment? She had initially intended to make Wu Qing her primary consort, but who knew this man would be so unappreciative.
"Wu Qing, how dare you drive me away."
"Please," Qing Feng repeated. The young master on the raised seat had a pale, extremely unpleasant face. The light illuminated his white hair, pure as clean snow, complementing his exquisite features without diminishing them; instead, it added a touch of cold allure and temptation.
Ji Xue glared at Qing Yao, brimming with anger, then cast a furious glance at Wu Qing before leading her personal maid and turning away.
Inside, she harbored a surge of resentment. This time, she would definitely defeat Mu Qing Yao and snatch Wu Qing. Whether he would be appointed as her primary consort would depend on his performance, Ji Xue thought coldly, following Qing Feng away.
In the reception hall, Qing Yao's eyes shifted to Wu Qing, and she spoke slowly.
"Could Wu Qing be of royal blood, a prince of Dan Feng?"
The moment Qing Yao spoke, a fleeting pain flashed across the man's immortal-like face on the upper seat. His entire countenance darkened, and his eyes slowly closed, as if he were very tired. He waved his hand, "Qing Yao, I'm tired. Can you let me have some quiet time?"