"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 171

 Having heard what was said Ji Ling Xue nodded: "En, that's also not bad, the side courtyard is quiet." She turned and walked in the direction of the side courtyard.

Mo Xiang followed Ji Ling Xue's back with her confused eyes, then she picked up the two bundles on the ground putting them on her back, she hurriedly caught up with Ji Ling Xue.

Ji Yu Qing raised an eyebrow and let out a breath, she also walked quicker, around the corner she came across the awaiting Yi Yun.

Today Yi Yun was wearing a white butterfly dress, her pale sickly face was covered with rouge, she appeared rather well.

Ji Yu Qing said: "Younger sister Yi Yun, were you waiting for me?"

Yi Yun nodded, her hand holding a handkerchief covered her mouth as she coughed lightly: "I wanted to say something to you."

Ji Yu Qing smiled and nodded, after sending Zi Ye away she said: "Speak?"

Yi Yun said: "There's something wrong with demoting her from princess, the night before yesterday prince came to find me, he specially warned me not to have any bad thoughts against Ji Ling Xue, otherwise don't blame him for being heartless, prince was very protective of her, only a day has passed, prince then demoted her from prince to concubine."

Ji Yu Qing laughed: "Then that just shows, prince no longer likes her, he's bound to be fed up of looking at one face all the time, this also proves `times change` good luck doesn't always follow Ji Ling Xue."

Yi Yun's lips twitched, she had nothing to say towards Ji Yu Qing's amazing argument.

"Older sister Yu Qing, what would you do if you don't like someone?"

Ji Ling Xue thought about it: "If she's my friend, I would end our relationship and not see her."

Yi Yun nodded and smiled: "That's just it, if prince really doesn't like Ji Ling Xue, he would have divorced her and drove her out of the residence, but he only demoted her from princess to concubine, even though she doesn't have status she still in the residence."

A flash of jealousy appeared in Ji Ling Xue's eyes, "So you're saying, that cheap person still has a place in the prince's heart...but, why did prince demote her? Younger sister Yi Yun, do you know the meaning behind this?"

If he loved someone so much, why did he suddenly not give her any status?

Yi Yun smiled: "This is the emperor's wish."

"The emperor?" Ji Yu Qing raised an eyebrow, then she suddenly laughed, this emperor wasn't taking care of affairs of the nation, he is so bored he even likes to manage other family's personal matters, but this time he had dealt with it very well.

In the side courtyard, the house had been refurbished, the furniture was also new, it was arranged in the way Ji Ling Xue had when she lived there, Mo Xiang looked around, her eyes turned red, she turned and walked around once, they had come back here again.

"Mistress...it's this servant's fault, if mistress didn't stick up for this servant, prince wouldn't get angry and send mistress back to live here..."

Ji Ling Xue walked to the tea table and picked up a tea cup turning it in her hand, the wooden tea cup, there was a decorative carving on it, the work was exquisite.

"Mo Xiang, don't say that, this has nothing to do with you..." Ji Ling Xue's tone was calm, no joy or anger could be heard, it seemed like she was already used to such cold treatment.

Xiao Yi Mo bore a grudge that her and Ru Ge had become sworn siblings, he didn't like Dayan, she was associated with them so he also disliked her, Xiao Yi Chen had demoted her to concubine now in order to protect her.

Xiao Yi Mo had always had someone watching each move of Xiao Yi Mo, it was safest for her to return to the side courtyard.

Mo Xiang lifted her hand to wipe her tears, she continued saying: "Mistress, if you're heart broken, just cry, you'll feel better after crying."

Ji Ling Xue laughed, shaking her head, "Let's go take a look at the small kitchen, it's late, we ought to prepare dinner."

Mo Xiang saw Ji Ling Xue look like nothing was wrong, she felt depressed, nodding they headed to the small kitchen, there was a small well by the door of the kitchen, a cover was over it, convenient to get water.

Rice and vegetables were placed on the table inside the small kitchen, Mo Xiang asked Ji Ling Xue holding a bok choy, "Mistress, who delivered this rice and vegetable over, the prince?"

Before when they lived in the side courtyard, the rice and vegetables sent over were left over rice and spoiled vegetables, now the bok choy was in good condition, there wasn't even half a rotten leaf, it was clear the prince had given orders.

Ji Ling Xue nodded saying: "En, maybe."

Xiao Yi Chen had said she would have to suffer for some days but he would do his best to compensate her.

Very soon they prepared dinner, lifting open the lid, steaming mist filled the room, Xiao Yi Chen's laughter came from the doorway, "What good food have you made, it smells great?"

Mo Xiang holding a bamboo pipe looked over at the doorway in confusion, "Prince..." She wasn't hallucinating right, prince actually appeared at the side courtyard, it really brightened up the little side courtyard's shabbiness.

Ji Ling Xue turned and glanced at Xiao Yi Chen at the doorway having heard what was said, the prince was wearing court robes which clearly indicated he had just returned, she looked away saying: "Is prince here to ask sympathetically if this concubine is used to living in the side courtyard? Please don't worry, this concubine isn't causing a fuss or crying, everything is fine!"

Xiao Yi Chen's lips twitched, he quickly walked to Ji Ling Xue, holding her right hand he pulled her to the side to examine, "Is your hand alright?"

"It's fine." Ji Ling Xue took back her hand, "Is there something else prince?"

Her unfamiliar tone made Xiao Yi Chen frown, this woman's mood was as fickle as the weather, he already told her this was a temporary measure and won't cause her much grievance, why did she still act like this in front of him.

"It's nothing, I just want to see if you're alright." From Ji Ling Xue's tone she wasn't willing to let him stay for dinner.

Xiao Yi Chen made a fist and placed it against his lips coughing: "This prince came to remind the princess, it's chaotic in the capital these next few days, don't go wondering around, this prince will send people to look after your two restaurants, don't worry."

Ji Ling Xue nodded, giving an en, it was essentially house arrest.

Seeing Xiao Yi Chen off, Ji Ling Xue ate the food without tasting it, after having a few bites she put her chopsticks down.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Mo Xiang, I'm tired." She then stood up and walked to the bedroom.

Ji Yu Qing and Yi Yun walked to the side courtyard, from afar they saw two guards standing at the door motionlessly like statues.

Ji Yu Qing stepped forward, she was stopped by the guard, "Imperial concubine Qing, prince has ordered, no one can come disturb concubine Xue."

Concubine Xue was referring to Ji Ling Xue, from princess to concubine Xue, Ji Yu Qing's heart felt weird hearing this.

Ji Yu Qing said: "She is this imperial concubine's older sister, why can't I go see my older sister?"

The guard looked on with a business manner.

YI Yun pulled on Ji Yu Qing's arm: "Older sister Yu Qing, I think just leave it, they wouldn't dare go against an order given by the prince, here's some of our kind intentions, we'll trouble the two guards to deliver it." Yi Yun turned to look at Ling Lan behind her, Ling Lan placed the food box she carried on the ground.

The two guards looked at each other, they looked ahead and said nothing.

Ji Yu Qing had no choice but to turn and leave, Yi Yun nodded at the two guards, saying "thank you for your trouble" she then left.

The food box Yi Yun left was delivered to Xiao Yi Chen's study, after Xiao Yi Chen got Bai Mo to check it for poison, Xiao Yi Chen passed it to a guard, "Give it to you to eat."

The guard carried the box in thanks and left, Bai Mo looked at Xiao Yi Chen in amusement with his arms crossed, "Prince, don't you think you're being too sensitive?"

Xiao Yi Chen massaged his forehead: "This prince is worried I can't even protect Xue Er in this way." 

Since he was young he never had anything he especially liked in case he liked it to much then lose it, danger was always hidden by his side.

Bai Mo said: "You've already demoted her as wife to concubine, who would make a move against Ji Ling Xue, you're too worried about her."

Xiao Yi Chen leaned on the back of the chair with a weary face, he lifted his hand passing a secret report to Bai Mo: "Xiao Yi Mo has already made a move, Ru Ge's journey to Dongqi will already face no less than ten assassination attempts, they were all sent by him."

Bai Mo's lips twitched, "Then what if Ru Ge safely arrives at Dongqi's capital city, what would the emperor do, he'll send someone to arrest him right away?"

Xiao Yi Chen waved his hand, "Based on my understanding of Xiao Yi Mo, if Ru Ge safely reaches Dongqi's capital, he would actually be safe...I know Xiao Yi Mo's temperament  the best, he wants to be immortalised as a wise emperor in the annals of history, he would probably do something behind his back."

Bai Mo stroked his chin: "Then will you give Ru Ge a helping hand?"

Xiao Yi Chen shook his head, "The emperor still has an eye on me, I can't do anything, I hope Ru Ge is lucky."

Bai Mo shook his head, "Then if one day the emperor wants to deal with me, would you save me?"

Xiao Yi Chen looked at Bai Mo like he was an idiot, "You're a miracle doctor, who would offend you for no reason, are they bored of living?"

The side courtyard, Ji Ling Xue didn't sleep peacefully, when she woke her back was covered in cold sweat.

Looking at the blackness outside the window, Ji Ling Xue left the bed, she took the clothes Mo Xiang had hung out in the courtyard back inside and put them on, she put on makeup in front of the bronze mirror.

She turned and jumped out of the window, walking in the direction of the courtyard's door, under the moonlight, Ji Ling Xue had mimicked Mo Xiang's voice quite well, easily deceiving the guards at the door, she left with no problems.

Ji Yu Qing's room was lit brightly, Ji Yu Qing sat in front of the bronze mirror holding a comb she brushed her hair, talking to herself: "I wonder if prince will come find me tonight?"

Her room door was pushed open by someone, Ji Yu Qing faced the mirror and said without turning around: "Zi Ye, why are you so slow in getting a basin of water?"

Behind her was extremely quiet, Ji Yu Qing turned her head, a cold short knife was held to her neck, the ice-cold edge seemed to freeze her blood, Ji Yu Qing shivered uncontrollably.

She didn't dare move, afraid that if she did her beautiful neck would be cut open.

In the copper mirror a fuzzy figure appeared, wearing maid's clothes, wasn't it the former princess Ji Ling Xue.

"Ji Ling Xue...what do you want, the prince demoted you not me..."

"Shut up!" Ji Ling Xue put a bit of pressure on the knife in her hand, it scared ji Yu Qing so much she didn't speak again.

Ji Ling Xue said: "I came to ask you a few things, you better think clearly before replying."

"You...what do you want to ask?" Ji Yu Qing's voice trembled, "Can you move that knife away first then we'll talk?"

"No!" Ji Ling Xue coldly said, "I'm asking you, did you bribe the storyteller to spread a rumour about my mother and a Dayan man eloping?"

Ji Yu Qing: "..."

Ji Ling Xue continued: "I'm asking you, before you found me to speak of my background, then you spread the secret to someone in the palace, your mother doesn't have such influence, who helped you?"

"I'll ask you again, now prince has demoted me to concubine, do you want the position of princess to keep me under control?"