CHAPTER 179: THREAT

Yan Bingyang smiled, put away his handkerchief, and replied to Feng Xiyan’s question, "Great General, you don’t need to worry. Without your permission, Ji Hui won’t die even if he wants to."

Nodding, Feng Xiyan refilled his cup. "Good."

Looking at his calm expression, Yan Bingyang continued, "However, the poison in his wounds hasn’t been fully cleared."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Great General, would you like me to remove the poison?"

Feng Xiyan took a sip of water and calmly replied, "Not yet."

Getting curious, Yan Bingyang pressed further, "What are you waiting for, Great General?"

"The fish hasn’t taken the bait," Feng Xiyan said as he set his cup back on the table.

"This subordinate is not smart enough for this kind of planning." Yan Bingyang shook his head and stood up. "This subordinate still has many patients to tend to, so this subordinate will take my leave first."

Feng Xiyan nodded. "Thank you for your hard work, Physician Yan. If you need more medicinal supplies, just send word. This general will ask Fairy Bai to prepare more supplies for you."

Hearing this, Yan Bingyang’s eyes lit up. Clasping his hands, he bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Great General."

With that, he left the commander’s tent in high spirits.

After Yan Bingyang left, Feng Yi appeared beside Feng Xiyan and asked, "Master, are you waiting for Tuluo Cheng to fall into our trap? Didn’t he already fall into our trap last night?"

Hearing this, Feng Xiyan picked up a black chess piece, placed it on the chess board, and said, "The one I want to catch isn’t Tuluo Cheng, but the mastermind behind him. Tuluo Cheng is just a chess piece that can be discarded anytime by his master."

"Then why don’t we just kill him? It would save you a lot of trouble, Master," Feng Yi said with a hint of confusion in his voice.

Feng Xiyan glanced at him and explained, "Tuluo Cheng is from the Tuluo Clan, one of the twelve influential nomadic clans in the west. If we can use him wisely, we might be able to avoid conflict with the other clans."

"Now that the Yuezhi Clan has suddenly vanished without a trace, I have this nagging feeling that I’m missing something. Just in case there is a hidden danger in the future, it’s better to keep Tuluo Cheng alive for now."

Listening to his explanation, Feng Yi’s eyes flickered with realization. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Master, shall I send Feng Si to investigate the mastermind?"

Playing with a white chess piece between his slender fingers, Feng Xiyan’s lips curved slightly. "There is no need to waste time searching for the mastermind. We just have to wait, and the mastermind will reveal itself soon."

Knowing his master had a plan, Feng Yi nodded. "Understood."

While Feng Xiyan waited for his prey to walk into the trap, far away in Xiquan City, something happened in the Ji Mansion.

Sitting on the center seat in the main hall, Madam Ji was holding back her anger.

Looking at Wen Yirui seated on the lower right side beneath her, Madam Ji forced a smile and said, "Second Young Master Wen, what do you mean by this?"

Smiling at her, Wen Yirui replied, "Madam Ji, you saw it yourself just now. Your two daughters sneaked into my bedroom dressed so revealingly. It is out of this young master’s kindness that this young master is willing to take them in as low-ranked concubines."

Glancing at the two young ladies of the Ji family who were kneeling before Madam Ji with a trace of contempt and calculation in his eyes, Wen Yirui added, "Given the Ji Clan’s status, being able to become this young master’s low-ranked concubines is already a step up in status for them."

Looking back at Madam Ji, Wen Yirui slowly asked, "Madam, surely you know what decision to make, right?"

Madam Ji’s forced smile froze when he said that. A second later, her expression darkened as she asked coldly, "Second Young Master Wen, are you threatening me?"

Wen Yirui chuckled. "Madam Ji is taking it too seriously. This young master is merely stating the truth."

After saying that, he stood up, brushed his sleeves twice, and lazily said, "Since this young master has said what I needed to say, then this young master will take my leave first."

He glanced at Madam Ji, and the corner of his lips curved up slightly. "This young master believes that Madam Ji knows how to choose."

Leaving those words behind, Wen Yirui turned and exited the main hall with his bodyguards. As he walked farther away, he heard the sound of something breaking behind him.

Crash!

The corner of his lips curved into a disdainful smirk. Shaking his head, he sighed and muttered, "What a pity. Looks like this young master will have to wait for another chance."

Inside the main hall, Madam Ji was seething with anger as she glared at the two concubines’ born daughters who were kneeling before her with ceramic jar fragments scattered across the floor.

Pointing at the two concubines’ daughters with trembling fingers, she furiously scolded, "Foolish!"

The two young ladies lowered their heads, trembling, and didn’t dare to utter a word.

Standing by her side, the second legitimate daughter of the Ji family gently patted Madam Ji’s back. Looking at Madam Ji’s personal servant, she said, "Momo, quickly. Pour a cup of tea for Mother."

"Yes, Second Young Lady." The old servant responded, then quickly poured a cup of tea and handed it to her.

Blowing on the tea to cool it slightly, Second Young Lady Ji presented the tea to Madam Ji and said, "Mother, please calm down."

As the matriarch of the Ji Clan, Madam Ji was highly skilled in masking her emotions and keeping her composure. Taking a deep breath, she accepted the tea from her daughter and took a sip.

Seeing her mother finally calm down, Second Young Lady Ji took the cup from her and set it on the table.