If she survived such hardship and from nearly dying, then there was nothing majorly wrong with Ji Yunkai's body. She just lost too much blood and was just weak.
Speaking of finding food, Ji Yunkai had to admit that Madam Ji's methods of dealing with her were indeed quite impressive. Madam Ji did not allow anyone to beat or scold her. But, if Madam Ji ignored her, she also made the rest of the people in the Ji Family ignore her as well.
Humans were social creatures. Under such cold shunning, forget about an immature little girl; even a soldier like her, who had received professional training, would not be able to withstand such treatment.
Madam Ji's methods were too ruthless. It was a continuous reminder to the original owner, telling her silently that she did not belong in this family. She was an outsider, so she should not stay in the Ji Family!
In this kind of environment, it was not easy for the original owner to not become twisted or go mad.
"To use such a method against a little girl, Madam Ji really is malevolent. No matter what, I have remembered this debt. Since I managed to survive in her place, I will take responsibility for her love and for her hatred." Ji Yunkai sighed lightly. She instinctively reached out to grab the dog-tag hanging around her neck, but it was only then did she remember that she was no longer the same person she was before. The dog-tag her father left her was no longer there.
Ji Yunkai's eyes stung and she nearly cried.
If there was anything she was reluctant to part with in her previous life, it would be the dog-tag her father had left behind. She had relied on that dog-tag to survive the countless lonely days and nights that she experienced after her father had passed.
Ji Yunkai did not have much time to be sad though, as she suddenly thought of an important matter: "The Phoenix Pendant!"
She remembered that the original owner's Phoenix Pendant had always been hanging around her neck, but now.…
"Damn it!" She only realized now that the Phoenix Pendant was gone. "Where did the Phoenix Pendant go?"
Ji Yunkai got up and searched the room, but unfortunately, she did not have a single clue of where it went. She searched through boxes and cabinets, but could not find any trace of the Phoenix Pendant's whereabouts.
Ji Yunkai forlornly looked at the clothes and accessories scattered on the floor. Her head hurt.
Before Ji Yunkai could have a moment to think of where the Phoenix Pendant could be, she suddenly heard footsteps from outside her door. The person opened the door abruptly and Ji Yunkai did not have any time to react.
"Yo, what is Miss Yunkai doing?" She could not help but frown. She did not need to see them to know who this person was, "Eunuch Li, what is it?"
Eunuch Li, the Emperor's trusted eunuch, was born greedy, was very stingy, and loved to hold grudges. She, the Miss Ji who hardly had any money, naturally did not have much of a relationship with this eunuch. Ji Lan was a different story, however.
"We were ordered to come visit Miss Ji. At the same time, we were ordered to bring you to the palace on the orders of the Emperor. Miss Yunkai, please." The Miss Ji that Eunuch Li spoke of was naturally Ji Lan. Ji Yunkai did not have the qualifications to be addressed as "Miss Ji".
Eunuch Li did not give Ji Yunkai a chance to say no. After saying that, he waved his hand, signaling the young eunuch behind him to take her away.
"Wait!" Ji Yunkai did not want to be dragged into the palace, so she raised her hand to stop the young eunuch. She stood up and said: "Does the Emperor want you to summon me into the palace or to take me into the palace?" She had just saved the Emperor's life, so he would not be so shameless and destroy the bridge as soon as they crossed the river, right?
"What Miss Yunkai has said... of course, the Emperor wants you to enter the palace for questioning." The Emperor was indeed dissatisfied with Ji Yunkai injuring Ji Lan, but she had done a great service in saving his life. So, no matter how much the Emperor despised Ji Yunkai, he had to show at least some respect.
"Since he summoned me to enter the palace, what are these people doing?" Ji Yunkai pointed at the young eunuch who was about to charge forward like a wolf and mocked him coldly.
Since the people who came were not kind, then the person who sent them would probably not remember any favor for saving his life.
Eunuch Li was extremely thick-skinned as he said shamelessly, "This child is insensible. Miss Yunkai, please do not bother with him."
"Hmph, since the people below are not sensible, then Eunuch Li should teach them better. I want to change clothes. Eunuch Li, please take your men out and wait!" Ji Yunkai ordered without restraint, completely not giving face to Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li was clearly not the type of person who would give her face just because she was being polite. Rather than feeling wronged, why not just leave it as it is? After all, even if she wasn't the empress, she would still be Princess Yanbei. As long as Prince Yanbei still had life left in his body, someone like Eunuch Li would not be able to do anything to her.
"Miss Yunkai, you look great just as you are. The Emperor won't care what you're wearing." Eunuch Li pointed to Ji Yunkai's right cheek and laughed wickedly.
When the Emperor saw the black spot on Ji Yunkai's face, he almost vomited. With such a frightening object on her face, even if Ji Yunkai was like a celestial being, it would still be useless. The Emperor would not even spare her a glance.
"I don't care if the Emperor cares or not. I don't want to be accused of dishonoring etiquette in front of the palace." Ji Yunkai resisted the urge to cover her right cheek with her hand.
"Fine, fine, fine. Miss Yunkai, hurry up and change your clothes. The Emperor is waiting for you. Don't make the Emperor wait too long." Eunuch Li did not care that Ji Yunkai did not give him face, when they get into the palace , soon there would be people to discipline her.
Eunuch Li took the young eunuch and left, but he did not go far. He stood guard at the outer court, as if he was afraid that Ji Yunkai would run away.
"You... I was truly blind to sacrifice my own appearance to save a man who was lacking in love and righteousness. Now, that man is going to avenge his little lover. I still don't know if I will be to leave the palace alive." Ji Yunkai muttered while touching her right cheek, she sighed.
This time, the reason the Emperor summoned her to the palace was partly to support Ji Lan, but mostly to take away the Phoenix Pendant.
However, she did not know where the Phoenix Pendant was.
If she bore the crime of losing the Phoenix Pendant; even if she was the future Princess Yanbei, she would not be able to escape death.