1430 Picked Her Up Smoothly

This Southern Xinjiang princess had taken a fancy to Chu Qi.

However, just a second before the handkerchief touched Chu Qi’s face, it turned inch by inch into ashes at a speed that the naked eye could follow. It had been destroyed by Chu Qi’s internal strength.

The shock from his internal strength forced Princess Man Li a few steps back, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Gripping what little remained of the handkerchief, she stared at Chu Qi in disbelief.

She could not believe that he had just blown her handkerchief to pieces.

Her face turned a livid red.

Was this man a block of wood, or was his heart made of stone?

He should feel blessed to have won the favor of Southern Xinjiang’s greatest beauty, but no—he refused to give her any bit of attention.

The Great Shang officials, however, were not surprised in the least.

As the Emperor’s chief imperial guard, Chu Qi had always been as cold as ice. It was impossible that he would be seduced by this southern princess.

There were plenty of beautiful women in Great Shang.

The Empress was far more beautiful than her, and once the two young princesses were all grown up, there was no way this southern woman could compare to them either.

She had thought too highly of herself!

The crowd felt sympathy as well as disdain for her.

Southern Xinjiang had lost to Great Shang in battle, and its envoys were here this time to make peace with Great Shang. Therefore, no one actually held Princess Man Li in high regard.

The Southern Xinjiang envoys were infuriated by the way Chu Qi had mercilessly humiliated Princess Man Li, but they did not dare to say a word.

Despite the Great Shang general’s young age, he was as ruthless as the Emperor—perhaps even more so.

The war between Southern Xinjiang and Great Shang had managed to last for a year because of the former’s expertise in poison usage and its geographical environment. However, the year-long battle ultimately ended in Southern Xinjiang being captured and forced to surrender.

While Princess Man Li was seething with indignation and embarrassment, a guard’s alarmed cry came from outside the hall. “Princess…”

The next instant, a petite figure darted into the hall.

“Ji’er?” Next to Long Yang, Lu Liangwei frowned when she noticed, at one glance, that Ji’er was barefoot. Before she could descend the jade steps, Long Yang had already left his seat.

However, Chu Qi was faster. In a flash, he rose from his seat, strode toward Ji’er, and picked her up smoothly as if she were a baby.

Cradled in his arms, Ji’er stared at him with shining eyes. “Lil Qi…”

“I’m here,” Chu Qi answered as he carried her back to his seat.

Chang hurried in after her.

Chu Qi sat Ji’er down in his chair. Then, he took her shoes and socks from Chang, dropped to one knee, and put them on Ji’er’s feet.

His eyes were lowered, and there was a concentrated and serious expression on his handsome face.

It was as if he was facing an entire army and not simply helping a girl put on her shoes.

As Princess Man Li gazed at his good-looking figure from the back, her anger at him was suddenly replaced by admiration.

Every aristocrat’s daughter present had their eyes fixed on Chu Qi.

They had heard that the Emperor was planning to grant him a marriage to reward him for his accomplishments in the conquest of Southern Xinjiang.

They had not thought much of it at first because Chu Qi, despite being the Emperor’s chief imperial guard, had always kept a low profile and rarely appeared in public.

Now that these young, unmarried noblewomen had seen how attractive he was, they started to grow restless. Their hearts pounded as their cheeks turned red, and they could not help sneaking occasional glances at Chu Qi.

Long Yang returned to his seat, and Lu Liangwei heaved a sigh of relief as well, though she was also a little glum.

Ji’er had shown up barefoot just to look for Chu Qi.

Long Yang, however, was somewhat disgruntled.

Clearly, his youngest daughter was here for Chu Qi.

Ji’er no longer had eyes for him and Weiwei the instant she spotted Chu Qi.

Even though he had known for a long time that Lil Qi held a special place in her heart, he could not help feeling jealous as he watched them.

Lil Qi had been away for a whole year, yet Ji’er was still so attached to him.

He was even more determined to grant Lil Qi a marriage.

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