At this point, Ji Jing stole a glance at Ji Feng.
Ji Feng could be considered Yun Shimo's good brother. But now, would he retreat or come forward?
Ji Feng's face looked rather pale. Hua Qiyue stared at Yun Shimo, puzzled. "Your Highness, do you have a screw loose today?"
The company heard her and was flabbergasted.
Bingyi was so angry that the corner of his mouth started to twitch.
Caiqing and Caining stood on one side, staring at Hua Qiyue in disbelief. Who was Prince Nan? How dare she speak to him in this tone?
Besides, even Prince Nan had been treating Hua Qiyue tenderly. Her allure was just too irresistable!
Yun Shimo nodded and smiled. "Well, I certainly got a screw loose today. You don't need to remember what I did and say today."
Hua Qiyue heard him and was so upset that she nearly vomited blood.
Must he do this?
Yun Shimo was no fool. He knew how to go with the flow. Alright, so he was getting everybody confused. No one knew whether he was serious. It was as if they were looking into a fog.
Hua Qiyue heard him and at once realized that Yun Shimo was right. They did not need to bother about his occasional seizures.
Ji Feng said with a faint smile, "Qiyue, you will be the champion for sure. Are you ready to be our Ji family's disciple?"
Ji Feng was smart. He asked her in front of everyone. Even if she was unwilling, Hua Qiyue had to give the Ji family some face.
Unfortunately, Ji Feng did not know Hua Qiyue well enough. No one could make her do anything unwilling. Ji Jing quickly smiled with great fervor. "Sister Qiyue, I like you very much. Don't disappoint me!"
Hua Qiyue smiled and Tianci quickly tugged at her to nod. His eyes were imploring her.
Yun Shimo frowned and glared at Tianci. This young fellow! He could not win him over even though he had treated him so well.
"Tianci, you must be dying to play at Brother Ji's house. Since Tianci is willing, I shall agree." Hua Qiyue said with a smile. Ji Jing and Ji Feng beamed. The two of them started to pick food for Tianci with their chopsticks.
However. many people had knocked on the door and come in while they were having their meal. Tho ones bringing Hua Qiyue gifts did so, the rest gave her invitations for their home banquets. They made all sorts of excuses to cozy up to Hua Qiyue and admire her looks.
At 15 minutes to one, the competition resumed.
After two hours of waiting, only Hua Mengshi and Hua Qiyue were left. They were sisters but would soon go up the arena to fight.
Second Madame had seen Hua Qiyue defeat Princess Mingzhu. Now Hua Mengshi was facing her. She was quite worried.
Hua Mengshi's heart was also heavy. Princess Mingzhu had a treasure, yet Hua Qiyue still managed to defeat her in one move.
Hua Qiyue was already a Qi Artist in the lower level of the Dragon Diagram. No matter what happened, she, Hua Mengshi, would be the loser.
Anxiety flashed across Hua Mengshi's beautiful eyes. Second Madame snickered. "Mengshi, you have no other move left but this... "
After these words, Second Madame started to whisper into her daughter's ears. Hua Mengshi's eyes brightened. She kept nodding. "Yes. This is the only way out!"
Hua Mengshi's heart was full of rage, resentment, dissatisfaction and depression. She had not expected Hua Qiyue to have suddenly turned into a Qi Artist at the lower level of the Dragon Diagram. Her powers far exceeded hers. She was so powerful. She had originally thought that Hua Qiyue would end up injured and maimed in this competition.
However, things went way beyond her expectations.
The anger and disappointment in Hua Mengshi's heart made her want to shred Hua Qiyue to pieces.
A worthless wretch, stealing all the limelight in such a short period of time!
It was a great humiliation, an absolutely unbearable humiliation!
With Second Madame supporting her, Hua Mengshi walked up the arena. Today was the final duel of the competition, held by the Ji family. Tens of thousands of spectators were around. They saw Second Madame help her up and were all astounded.
Hua Mengshi's condition did not look too good. Her face was wan and cold sweat kept beading on her forehead. To outsiders, Hua Mengshi must be drenched in cold sweat because she had a health problem.
In fact, Hua Mengshi was using her Spiritual Qi to force the sweat out.
"Presiding officer... House Master of the Ji family... I'm sorry. I... " Hua Mengshi opened her mouth and spat out these words strenuously. Her small pretty face was filled with regret. Her lovely brows were knitted close together.
Second Madame continued on her behalf. "I am the Second Madame of Hua's Mansion, Mengshi's mother. Xi'er is feeling rather unwell now. She cannot continue in the competition. But she did not dare to ask for a postponement, since she knows the competition rules."
"What I mean is... so sorry to everyone supporting me... I have to... withdraw from the competition."
Hua Mengshi exited with a sickly look. At the entrance, many saintly mothers and male admirers started to console her.
"Second Miss Hua, take good care of yourself. This competition is nothing!"
"Second Miss, good for you to withdraw from this competition so honestly!"
"That's right. Don't bother about the idle talk!"
"Second Miss Hua, to us you will always be the most beautiful girl in the capital!" Countless consolations rang out. Tears started to well in Hua Mengshi's eyes. Her countenance was so lovely, with tears streaming down like pearls, that everyone pitied and adored her.
The presiding officer saw this and said with a smile, "Since Second Miss Hua is unwell, she must rest. Princess Jinghua, you don't have any objection, do you?"
Hua Qiyue stood at the other end, staring coldly at this scene. Hua Mengshi was such a great actress. She knew that she would lose to her, yet she had withdrawn on a pretence. She saved herself a lot of energy and won the people's pity.
Although this move might seem to have embarrassed her, it was still much better than getting defeated.
Furthermore, some of her male admirers would think that she had withdrawn due to the cruelty of the contest. She did not wish to fight her sister. Her good name would be even more loudly applauded.
"If this is the case, I have no objections," Hua Qiyue replied indifferently. She would not force Hua Mengshi.
Hua Mengshi instantly shedded tears of gratitude. "Eldest Sis, you are so understanding... I really don't want to fight among ourselves... "
Although Hua Mengshi's voice sounded delicate and weak, many still overheard her. They all started to sigh. So Hua Mengshi had withdrawn because of sisterly love!
"Second Miss Hua is such a kind soul. She must be pretending to be sick! Don't wish to fight her sister!"
"She's right. She has done well!"
"Second Miss Hua will forever be the greatest beauty in the capital!"
"Pooh! That's nonsense. She must be afraid of losing face in front of all these people! Preferring not to fight her sister? What rot!"
A dissenting voice arose from the crowds. Suddenly, many people started to mock her.
"You're right. Had Princess Jinghua's Qi Art cultivation been lower than hers, she would never have withdrawn!"
"This woman has such a wicked heart! She got people to bully Princess Jinghua when the latter was concealing her talents. Oh, and it was also her maid Lanzhu who'd stolen Princess Jinghua's phoenix hairpin at Hanyue Temple and accused her of seducing monks! And she later beat this maid to death!"
"Right! This woman only pretends to be kind but she has a serpent's heart!"
The dissenting voices grew louder and louder. All the old grievances came on the table.
All of a sudden, the opposing factions started to defend their own sides. The antagonism between Hua Qiyue and Hua Mengshi would take more than ten days and ten nights to recount. Of course, Hua Qiyue was now the female champion!
For some people, even winning without a fight was a humiliation.
Hua Qiyue was not so concerned about face. As long as she could win that Purple Lotus Phoenix Ice!
"Very well. I shall announce the final champion of the women's competition—Princess Jinghua, Hua Qiyue!"
The presiding officer gave Hua Mengshi a look of regret and announced loudly.
The crowds heard this and immediately started to cheer. Within a few days, Hua Qiyue had won for herself countless admirers. Those dissenting voices had made many stand over to Hua Qiyue's side.
Second Madame helped Hua Mengshi out of the arena. Many flung looks of disdain in their direction.
Hua Mengshi's face was ghastly pale. The others were no fools. Hua Qiyue was a Qi Artist in the lower level of the Dragon Diagram. Hua Mengshi would lose no matter what.
So the brighter spectators could all guess that Hua Mengshi was not sick but just pretending.
Of course, she was not worried about hurting her sister in the fight. They each had their own ideas.
Many had wished for an exciting match. They did not expect Hua Mengshi to withdraw from the competition. Many were disappointed and started to make snide comments about her.
Hua Mengshi had been the foremost beauty of the capital. She had never been so insulted before. Her rage almost incinerated her heart as she walked from the arena to the carriage outside. Her beautiful eyes were filled with hatred.
Hua Qiyue! Just you wait. I, Hua Mengshi, will make your name go down in infamy!
...
The Purple Lotus Phoenix Ice appeared like a purple lotus before Hua Qiyue's eyes. What astounded her even more was that its coat of ice had taken on the form of a phoenix with wings extended. The purple lotus was well protected inside, like it was the most precious item in the world.
The phoenix ice glistened with iridescent colors, absolutely dazzling. Whether placed in the box or on the palm, it gave off plumes of cold air, chilling the bones.
A faint scent of purple lotus diffused out from the tightly sealed box. Numerous poeple cast envious eyes on Hua Qiyue.
Ji Zhong and the others were very polite to Hua Qiyue. Ji Jing was highly enthusiastic. After all, Hua Qiyue was a Qi Artist in the lower level of the Dragon Diagram.
Of course, the Ji family understood Hua Qiyue was anxious to save her son. Nobody mentioned anything about her getting accepted into the sect. Ji Jing and Ji Feng immediately accompanied her to Yun Shimo's house.
Yun Shimo was enjoying his tea in his hall. Huangfu Xuan and the First Prince were with him.
So the First Prince, Huangfu Changyu, was here as well. Hua Qiyue was a little surprised. After a nonchalant greeting, she cast her fiery eyes on Yun Shimo.
"Your Highness, I have the Purple Lotus Phoenix Ice with me now. I hope you will cure Tianci's voice."
Hua Qiyue said in a low mutter.
Seeing Hua Qiyue lower her gaze with her son in her hand, a strange glitter flashed across Huangfu Changyu's eyes. Although Tianci was not her real son, why did he feel an infinite maternal love emanating from her?
Yun Shimo put down his tea cup and rose to say to the company, "Sorry, everyone. I must refine my pills now. I will sample tea with this company when I am out again."
Ji Feng smiled lightly but gazed tenderly at Hua Qiyue. "Just as well. We can stay, Qiyue, and drink up all His Highness's tea."
"No, Qiyue is coming with me." Yun Shimo said quietly with an expressionless face.
Ji Feng's face turned stiff. Ji Jing tugged gently at his robe sleeve, asking him not to forget himself.
"Oh, all right.... That's good. Qiyue, when you are free, we can discuss the matter about you joining our sect," Ji Feng said gently.