Li Yanyanâs words shocked everyone, not just Xiaosuisui and the National Master.
However, the person who reacted most strongly was not the National Master, nor Xiaosuisui, but Ji Youzhi.
He was already furious about the unfair treatment Xiaosuisui had suffered at the Li Familyâs hands for all these years. When he had first learned of it, if his elder brother hadnât suspected something was amiss, and if his mother hadnât expressed fears that Suisui would harbor resentment as she grew older and insisted Suisui should handle it herself, he guaranteed he had over a hundred ways to make the Li Family pay with their lives!
"Hmph! My Suisui took everything from you? Are you sure?"
Ji Youzhi emerged from the kitchen and walked step by step towards Li Yanyan. He looked down at her, his gaze sharp and cold.
Terrified by Ji Youzhiâs aura, Li Yanyan clamped her hand over her mouth, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"I... Why can I suddenly speak now?" Li Yanyan looked to the National Master for help.
The National Masterâs face was equally cold and he remained silent, his eyes filled with profound disappointment as he looked at her.
"Go back to your room and reflect on your actions. You are not to come out until itâs time to depart."
The National Master felt utterly weary; he feared this young disciple of his was unteachable.
"Ma... Master..."
"Do you not understand my words?" the National Master asked gravely, his eyes glacial, a clear sign of his rising anger.
Li Yanyan burst into tears with a WAH and ran back to her room. Just before stepping inside, she turned her head towards the kitchen and shouted, "Li Suisui! I hate you!"
"UH... HIC..."
Xiaosuisui, now the target of someoneâs inexplicable hatred, swallowed her meat with a SLURP. She widened her innocent eyes and let out an uncontrollable hiccup.
"I... I didnât do anything to provoke her!"
Princess Ata gently patted Xiaosuisuiâs head and comforted her, "Ignore her. Sheâs acting like a little lunatic, completely devoid of manners!"
The doorway darkened as the National Master walked into the kitchen. His gaze instinctively landed on Princess Ata, and he asked mildly, "Is Princess Ata implying I donât know how to teach?"
Princess Ata: "..."
How could I be so careless? My grumbling ended up being directed at the National Master!
"Feng Wushang, if you still canât teach your disciple properly, I wouldnât mind offering some guidance myself." Ji Youzhi, his face dark, followed him in and immediately drew the National Masterâs fire away from Princess Ata.
The Emperor also spoke, his face stern, "Li Yanyan is still a child, but propriety is essential. Although she is the National Masterâs disciple, in terms of status, Suisui is a princess. We can overlook her grave disrespect towards the Princess for now, as she is still young. But if this behavior continues as she grows older, what will become of our Royal Familyâs dignity?"
National Master: "..."
Are these people deliberately trying to make things difficult for me!
He flicked his sleeves in anger and said, "Your Majesty and everyone else can rest assured. My stay in this mortal realm for tempering is only temporary. Perhaps in three or five years, I will return to my Sect for secluded cultivation. When that time comes, I will certainly take this errant disciple back with me!"
Then, he left.
"This..." Xie PanâEr felt the atmosphere grow stiff. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could speak, the Emperor said, "Letâs eat! We have a tough battle ahead and need our strength!"
"Arenât we waiting for General Dugu?" Xie PanâEr looked at the people in the room. Noticing someone was missing, she remembered that General Dugu had gone to scout the situation.
"He should be back by now!" Ji Youzhi said.
"Iâll start serving the rice then. Princess Ata, would you mind going to call the National Master?" Xie PanâEr suggested.
Hearing Xie PanâEr, the Emperor interjected, "Considering the National Masterâs mood, I doubt he wishes to eat."
Just then, Dugu returned, his expression exceedingly grave.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" he said, saluting the Emperor first before continuing, "MoâErâs defenses are not impregnable. I believe we can achieve a breakthrough from here tonight."
Dugu took out a map. The position he indicated was the same one the National Master had mentioned. However, their strategies differed: the National Master wanted to divide their forces and break through on two fronts simultaneously, whereas Dugu proposed concentrating all their strength to break through via the narrow path through the thorn bushes.
Ji Youzhi and the Emperor looked at the map without speaking. Puzzled, Dugu asked, "Why are you both silent?"
The Emperor said, "The National Master also intends to break through from this point. However, his idea is to divide our forces into two. He, I, and Suisui will break through from here, while the rest of you will break through from the front."