Chapter 8: Everyone, Come Quickly! The Great General is Bullying a Weak Woman

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“What an intriguing woman. Born with divine strength, perhaps?” Xue Jingmo stroked the thin calluses on his fingertips, a dark glint flickering in his eyes.

In his eighteen years of life, this was the first time he had suffered such a great loss—being sold on the street, and with such brazen justification!

What did that girl say? She didn't want him to pay; someone else would pay for him!

At the time, he even thought she was kind-hearted, only for her to turn around and sell him out!

Very well.

Now he wanted to know exactly which family had raised such a brazen girl who dared to treat the Fourth Imperial Prince as mere merchandise!

Ji Ci was completely unaware she had already been marked. Her sleep was restless, filled with uneasy dreams.

In her dreams, she fought decaying zombies in an apocalyptic world, then glimpsed Dongfang Zhibai holding a bloodstained sword, his crimson eyes fixed coldly on her as he said, “Ji Ci, you deceived me.”

“Dongfang Zhibai, please don’t fall into darkness...” she curled up instinctively, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, clutching the blanket tightly.

In the darkness, a tall figure stood silently by the bedside.

Dongfang Zhibai lowered his gaze to the murmuring girl in her sleep, his fingers lightly brushing her furrowed brow. Hearing her mutter his name, a wild smile crept to his lips.

Even in her dreams, she called out to him.

Sure enough, she had him in her heart.

All night, Dongfang Zhibai remained in Ji Ci’s room.

Only at dawn did he depart.

Ji Ci sprang out of bed like a lively carp.

She picked a peach-colored ruqun dress, twirled before the mirror; the skirt blossomed like spring flowers in March.

This color complemented her complexion, making her look almost elfin.

“It’s time to visit Dongfang Zhibai. I have to follow him into the Flower Viewing Banquet, or that absent-minded one will get tricked by the princess.”

Outside the General’s Mansion, Ji Ci crouched behind a stone lion, finishing her third meat bun, finally watching as the vermilion gate slowly opened.

“Finally coming out, and so late too. Miss, you still have time to dress up for going out?”

She dusted off crumbs from her skirt and rolled her eyes at the slowly departing carriage.

Inside, Dongfang Zhibai heard Ji Ci’s unspoken thoughts and shook his head helplessly. He had guarded her all night, only managing half an hour’s sleep before morning; leaving at this hour was already pushing his limits.

“How can I get Dongfang Zhibai to bring me into the banquet?” Ji Ci frowned, her mind racing.

Eventually, she came up with a less-than-perfect idea.

Fake an accident!

Ji Ci leisurely walked toward Dongfang Zhibai’s carriage.

Worried the carriage might really hit Ji Ci, Bai Yi warned, “Bai Yi, drive slower in the city.”

Bai Yi was stunned; the carriage was moving slower than the pedestrians beside them!

Otherwise? Should he get down and push the carriage?

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“All right, master,” Bai Yi responded.

Ji Ci’s clumsy acting began as she approached the carriage and suddenly collapsed before it, clutching her knee and wailing.

“Ouch! How could you drive the carriage into me?”

Bai Yi’s mouth twitched. “Miss, our wheels haven’t even turned halfway yet...”

“I don’t care!” Ji Ci threw a tantrum on the spot. “Everyone, come see! The great general is bullying a weak woman!”

The surrounding crowd quickly gathered, pointing and whispering.

Dongfang Zhibai rubbed his temples; his head ached early this morning.

“Be quiet, get in the carriage. I’ll take you to the clinic.” The curtain was abruptly lifted, Dongfang Zhibai’s sharp eyebrows furrowed.

His voice reached Ji Ci, who immediately fell silent.

“You brute, why so fierce! I only faked the accident for you! If the dog emperor ruins you at the banquet, I’m done for!”

Ji Ci wanted to give up; she was eager, but the male lead wasn’t cooperating.

“Miss, if your injury isn’t serious, why not come with me to the princess’s residence? I have urgent matters; please forgive me.” Dongfang Zhibai cleared his throat and softened his voice, flowing like a clear spring.

Sure enough, Ji Ci’s eyes sparkled, her heart cheering: “The male lead’s playing along! Coming here to save you wasn’t in vain!”

“Then I’ll bother you, sir.”

Ji Ci quickly climbed into the carriage.

Just as Bai Yi tried to stop her, Dongfang Zhibai said, “Let’s go.”

When the General’s Mansion carriage paraded a girl in peach-colored clothes through the capital, the city exploded with gossip.

“Is the General’s Mansion finally getting a woman?”

“Yeah, that girl is so lucky. How did she catch the general’s eye?”

“I heard she faked an accident right on the street...”

“Tomorrow, I’ll fake one too.”

Suddenly, the city’s mood shifted.

The next day, the Capital Prefect, seeing noble ladies “accidentally” falling before the young lord’s carriage, shouted in frustration, “Investigate! Find out who started this!”

Inside the carriage.

Ji Ci openly stared at the man, from his sharp brows to his moving Adam’s apple, her gaze solid and unabashed.

Instead, Dongfang Zhibai blushed under her stare, his ears burning.

“Miss,” Dongfang Zhibai suddenly leaned in, the scent of dragon’s incense enveloping her, “does your leg still hurt?”

Ji Ci froze like a puppet, her mind screaming:

“Too close!”

“Those eyelashes could swing like a pendulum!”

“Help! His breath is on my neck!”

Hearing her panicked thoughts, Dongfang Zhibai chuckled and stepped back. “Miss?”

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“Ah?” Ji Ci blinked at Dongfang Zhibai.

“What did Dongfang Zhibai just say? I didn’t hear anything!”

“Beauty leads men astray!”

Ji Ci raged silently.

Dongfang Zhibai chuckled, amused to the point of flowering inside: “May I know your name, miss?”

“Ji Ci,” she replied casually.

“I am Dongfang Zhibai.”

“Mhm, I know.” Ji Ci nodded.

“Such a handsome dog of a man, why does he look so decent in clothes?” Ji Ci internally mocked.

Dongfang Zhibai nearly lost face; her words were ambiguous!

What did she mean by “looking decent in clothes,” as if he usually didn’t wear any?

No, wait!

He must often be unclothed in front of Ji Ci!

“Ahem,” Dongfang Zhibai laughed and asked, “Where do you feel unwell? Let me examine you first.”

“Ah? No, no, I’m fine.” Ji Ci waved her hand.

“If you’re fine, then get off,” Bai Yi called from outside.

Ji Ci froze. No, she was faking the accident!

“I’m hurt; my leg hurts terribly.” She clutched her leg dramatically.

Dongfang Zhibai’s eyes twitched—her acting was truly poor.

“After the banquet, I’ll take you to see a doctor.”

Ji Ci nodded. Silence fell, the air thick with awkwardness. She felt the discomfort too.

She cursed Dongfang Zhibai silently.

“Wow, even taking her to a doctor! Can’t resist women, huh? Such a scoundrel!”

Dongfang Zhibai clenched his fists tightly. Not angry, not angry—anger harms the body.

“Hmph, you claim to avoid women, yet you let strangers in your carriage. What if they were assassins? How many lives do you have? Don’t you know I came to save you? You must live well for me.”

“But with me here, I won’t let anyone trick you. Invincible Ji Ci is invincible wherever she goes!”

As she spoke, Ji Ci began praising herself.

Along the way, Ji Ci chattered like a sparrow, and Dongfang Zhibai almost couldn’t hold back his serious expression.

He secretly thought: when acting like a fox, she talks a lot; how come after turning human, she’s even worse?