"Framing?" Ji Wu Ran raised his head at the words, his gaze cool as he looked at Qi Yu Ming.
Qi Yu Ming said coldly, "What is this if not framing? Young Marquis Ji claims this prince disrespected Princess Ming Zhu, so where is the evidence? Or does Young Marquis Ji have no evidence at all and is merely speculating? If that is the case, then this prince shall have to inquire with Emperor Xing Chen. Is this the hospitality of Xing Chen Kingdom?"
Ji Wu Ran cast a faint glance at Qi Yu Ming and said indifferently, "I'm afraid the Second Prince will not be able to ask."
Qi Yu Ming froze, his gaze turning cold. "Young Marquis Ji, what do you mean by that?"
Ji Wu Ran picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said lightly, "I thought the Second Prince was well-informed. Are you unaware that the Emperor has fallen into a coma?"
Qi Yu Ming trembled. He truly did not know that Emperor Xing Chen had fallen into a coma. Seeing Ji Wu Ran sitting so calmly opposite him, an inexplicable unease stirred within him.
He placed his hands behind his back and quickly made a gesture, but no one came for a long time. He grew anxious and repeated the gesture several times, yet still, no one appeared.
Sweat trickled down his forehead. By then, Ji Wu Ran had finished his tea. He glanced coldly at Qi Yu Ming, his eyes like frost and flying snow, chilling one to the bone.
"Second Prince, there's no need to struggle. You won't be able to summon anyone," Ji Wu Ran said faintly.
Qi Yu Ming trembled and looked up at Ji Wu Ran. "You did this."
Ji Wu Ran smiled at this, but his smile was exceptionally cold. Combined with his frosty gaze, it gave him a strangely eerie and alluring aura.
Qi Yu Ming instinctively sensed that something was amiss. Just as he was about to strike first, he heard Ji Wu Ran's voice ring out again, "If the Second Prince wishes to make a move, I advise you not to act rashly, otherwise, you won't even know how you died."
"You... Ji Wu Ran, if you dare to touch this prince, Qi Kingdom will not let this matter rest," Qi Yu Ming said angrily.
Ji Wu Ran sneered at this. "Yes, others might be intimidated, but I am not. Do you believe that, Second Prince?"
He was merely a minor marquis, yet he dared to speak so presumptuously. Qi Yu Ming felt he shouldn't believe him.
However, Ji Wu Ran's gaze was too cold and composed, as if he had everything under control. He couldn't help but believe that Ji Wu Ran's words were not an exaggeration.
"Ji Wu Ran, let me tell you, I am, after all, the Second Prince of Qi Kingdom, and you are just a minor marquis. Do you think you can compare to me?" Qi Yu Ming struggled to assert himself.
"Indeed, I cannot compare to the Second Prince. However, I know quite a bit about the Second Prince. Would you like to hear it?"
"What do you mean?" Qi Yu Ming asked warily.
Ji Wu Ran said, "I won't speak of the imperial selection. Let's talk about recent events first. The Second Prince did not come to Xing Chen Kingdom solely for a visit, did he?"
"Young Marquis Ji, what are you implying? I am here on the orders of the King of Qi to pay a diplomatic visit to Xing Chen Kingdom. Young Marquis Ji, you should be careful with your words, lest you provoke a war between our two nations."
Ji Wu Ran replied indifferently, "Then, is it possible that at the hour of Hai yesterday, the Second Prince met with the Earl of Chang Sheng Manor privately at Chang Yue Inn, and I was mistaken?"
Qi Yu Ming was startled and felt a flutter of panic. How did Ji Wu Ran know about his meeting with the Earl of Chang Sheng Manor? He had been so discreet. How could Ji Wu Ran possibly know?
"Young Marquis Ji, this prince has never heard of the Chang Sheng Manor you speak of," Qi Yu Ming said.
"It matters not if the Second Prince denies it. Let me tell you what the Second Prince and the Earl of Chang Sheng Manor discussed."
As Ji Wu Ran finished speaking, Qi Yu Ming's eyes shifted. "Young Marquis Ji, what exactly do you want?"
Qi Yu Ming felt that Ji Wu Ran was not trying to expose him. If he knew so much, he would have gone to see Emperor Xing Chen long ago, why would he wait until now to reveal it bit by bit?
"I do not wish to do anything, nor do I intend to disrupt the Second Prince's plans. I merely wish to tell the Second Prince..."
"Tell me what?" Qi Yu Ming asked.
Ji Wu Ran rose from the stone chair and looked coldly at Qi Yu Ming, his gaze as frosty as ice. "Princess Xing Yue is not someone the Second Prince can touch. I hope the Second Prince will cease harboring thoughts of Princess Xing Yue."
Qi Yu Ming smiled at this. "So it's about Princess Xing Yue. Young Marquis Ji, you should have said so earlier. How could I possibly touch someone belonging to Young Marquis Ji?"
"It is enough that the Second Prince understands," Ji Wu Ran said coldly.
"Young Marquis Ji, rest assured, this prince will absolutely not touch your person. This prince can swear it," Qi Yu Ming said quickly.
"There's no need. Second Prince, remember your words." With that, Ji Wu Ran turned and left.
Qi Yu Ming watched until Ji Wu Ran's figure disappeared, then slumped onto the stone chair.
"Your Highness, your subordinate is late. I beg Your Highness's punishment." Several guards knelt on one knee to confess their fault.
"Useless. All of you are useless. You cannot even protect this prince's safety." Qi Yu Ming kicked the leading guard in the chest.
The guard was sent sprawling to the ground and quickly scrambled up to beg forgiveness. "Your Highness, pardon me!"
Qi Yu Ming's gaze turned cold. "Go and thoroughly investigate Ji Wu Ran for me."
"Yes, Your Highness." The guard accepted the order and left.
"Also, from now on, I want more guards around me. If a situation like today occurs again, don't blame this prince for being ruthless," Qi Yu Ming said coldly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Are you not going to make arrangements?" Qi Yu Ming roared.
The guards quickly withdrew.
Qi Yu Ming clenched his fist tightly within his sleeve. "Ji Wu Ran, this prince will never let you go. I will make you repay today's humiliation a hundredfold in the future."
He shouldn't touch Princess Xing Yue? He was determined to do so. No, wasn't Princess Xing Yue already betrothed to Meng Jiang Ming? Could this Ji Wu Ran be harboring unrequited love?
Upon thinking of this, Qi Yu Ming let out two cold laughs. So, he was a lovesick fool after all.
Ji Wu Ran left Qi Yu Ming's residence. An An Hei appeared beside him and whispered, "Master, the Second Prince has already sent people to investigate your background. Do you want to..."
"No need," Ji Wu Ran said faintly.
"What if the Second Prince discovers something he shouldn't? Won't Master's situation become much more difficult?" An Hei asked.
Ji Wu Ran sneered at this. "Him? I'm waiting for him to investigate."
"Master, what about the Chang Sheng Manor..."
"The Earl is looking for me?" Ji Wu Ran asked.
An Hei nodded. "Yes, the Earl of Chang Sheng is looking for you."