It was not a secret that Ji Yunkai had been ordered by the Emperor to go to the palace. The people from Prince Yanbei's Mansion quickly received the news, and they even found out about information that others did not know.
"Understood." The sound came through the bed curtain, and it ended in a heavy, drawn-out voice, obviously dissatisfied.
"Your Highness, the person who stole the Phoenix Pendant must have taken it for the Phoenix Guard. Once the Emperor has confirmed the next candidate to be the empress, we might be able to find out." Only the empress was able to use the Phoenix Pendant to mobilize the Phoenix Guard. Whoever it was that obtained the Phoenix Pendant would definitely think of ways to help their daughter sit in the empress' seat.
The reason why he wanted the Phoenix Pendant was absolutely not to just to sit around and have the Phoenix Guard protect him. He was sure that the Phoenix Pendant definitely had other uses, but he just did not know what they were!
Xiao Jiu'an did not know what else the Phoenix Pendant could do, but the Emperor knew a little about it.
He was the Emperor, and it had always been him who threatened others. No one had ever dared to threaten him until now.
"I can only pass the Phoenix Pendant to the next empress. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Ji Yunkai's face was filled with determination, and gave no leeway to negotiate. Those who were not in the know would think that she was very stubborn about the late empress' message, but God only knows that she had just lost the Phoenix Pendant, and she really could not take it out.
"Ji Yunkai, We have ways to make you live a life worse than death!" The Emperor was angered to the point that his veins bulged on his forehead, and his expression was as dark as ink.
Ever since he ascended the throne, no one dared to disobey him. Ji Yunkai was the first.
Ji Yunkai said,"There are still two days until my wedding with Prince Yanbei. It's not worth the Emperor killing me at this time!" If she, as the next Princess Yanbei, were to be killed by the Emperor, Prince Yanbei would want to protect his face and request an explanation from the Emperor.
If the Emperor killed her, not only would he be unable to explain it to Prince Yanbei's Mansion, he would also be unable to explain it to the people of the world.
Killing her was really not worth it!
"What do you want in order to be willing to hand over the Phoenix Pendant!" Although the Emperor was furious, he was not an irrational person. As Ji Yunkai had said, it was not worth killing her now.
Ji Yunkai said, "On the day of the Emperor's wedding, I will definitely present the Phoenix Pendant to the new empress. After all, there is no use in my keeping the Phoenix Pendant at all." She was not the empress, so she did not have the authority to mobilize the Phoenix Guard.
The duty of the Phoenix Guard was to protect the empress and her son. They had always done this, so, no matter what, they would not do anything other than that.
"Will you live until that day?" The Emperor said without a trace of care.
"Even if I don't live to see that day, someone will send it to the empress." Ji Yunkai did not seem to mind at all. In order to dispel the thought of letting the Emperor search her body, Ji Yunkai continued, "Your Majesty, the Phoenix Pendant is not in my hands right now." This had to be made clear, or she would never have peace.
"If it's not on you, then who has it?" The Emperor's face was full of doubt, clearly showing that he did not believe her.
It was unknown whether it was Ji Yunkai, who had failed so much or it was Madam Ji and Ji Lan, who were too successful, but after living for eighteen years; Ji Yunkai still did not have a single person that could be considered a friend.
Even if Ji Yunkai wanted to find someone to guard the Phoenix Pendant, she still would not be able to find a suitable person.
"Your Majesty does not think that I was just born with medical skills, right?" Ji Yunkai was incomparably glad that the original owner had an elusive master; otherwise, she really would not be able to spin this lie.
"Your master? Didn't you say that your master hasn't appeared for more than a year and you can't contact him? " This time, the Emperor did not outright believe her.
Ji Yunkai secretly cursed the original owner for being too honest and for telling the Emperor everything. Regardless, she did not reveal any change in her expression and said confidently, "Even though I cannot contact my master, I can contact my senior brother and the pendant is in my senior brother's hands. If I am still alive for the Emperor's wedding, I will personally deliver the Phoenix Pendant to the empress. If I were to die, my senior brother will personally deliver the Phoenix Pendant to her."
Ji Yunkai actually gave the Phoenix Pendant to someone else. Does she know the importance of a Phoenix Pendant?
"Things have already come to this point. If the Emperor doesn't believe me, there's nothing I can do." Ji Yunkai lowered her head, looking wronged.
She knew that the Emperor would not let her off just because she was pitiful, but she still had to put on an act. Otherwise, the Emperor would lose a lot of face.
"You… do you believe that when you marry Xiao Jiu'an, We will decree for you to die?" If he had known that giving Ji Yunkai to Xiao Jiu'an would be so troublesome, he would not have listened to Ji Lan's words and passed down the order.
"The Emperor wants me dead, I have no other choice. I can die right now." Ji Yunkai casually took out the hairpin in her hair and placed it on her neck. "Your Majesty, I said that I would die sooner or later, I'm not afraid of death!"
Ji Yunkai's hand that was holding the hairpin was steady, as if she was determined to die, but only she knew that she did not want to die at all.
She was only betting on this young emperor's pride, betting on this young emperor's reputation.
"Ji Yunkai, you're done!" The Emperor, on the other hand, was truly frightened by Ji Yunkai. After seeing the wound on her left wrist accidentally reveal itself, he was even more furious and angry.
In order to save him, Ji Yunkai had ruined her appearance, and the marriage had been annulled by him. If she was forced to death by him again, he would not be a man.
"Your majesty, if there's nothing else, can I leave first?" Ji Yunkai knew that she had won the bet, but she still did not dare to relax.
The Phoenix Pendant's importance was unquestionable. She definitely could not let others know that she lost the Phoenix Pendant. She had to find the Phoenix Pendant before the Emperor could make his move. Otherwise, how would she be able to give it to the Emperor?
"Scram, scram, scram! When We see you, We want to puke!" When the Emperor saw the orchid mask on Ji Yunkai's face, he became even angrier. "Men, take off her mask for Us!"
He wanted everyone to see Ji Yunkai's ugly appearance, so that Ji Yunkai would never dare to go out again!
"Your Majesty, I am the future Princess Yanbei!" Ji Yunkai protected her mask, unwilling to let the guards take it from her.
She knew, from the lingering ache in her knees, that the Emperor was taking off her mask in order to humiliate her so that she would not dare to see anyone.
"So what if you're Princess Yanbei? Don't forget, you were the one crying and yelling, begging Us to give you a marriage decree!" The Emperor suddenly laughed, his eyes, that were like a poisonous snake, released a faint light, staring straight at Ji Yunkai.