So, when Ji Youzhi returned after renting the ship, and after he had tied up the officials and thrown them aboard, the National Master surprisingly stuffed the silver thread into the Princess’s hands.
Xiaosuisui was delighted. She took the silver thread and imdiately began examining it.
Li Yanyan was dumbstruck when she saw her Master give the magic artifact to Xiaosuisui.
She tugged lightly at the corner of the National Master’s clothing.
The National Master looked down at her.
Li Yanyan pointed at the silver thread in Xiaosuisui’s hand and said, "Master, I want one too!"
The National Master frowned, thought for a mont, and said, "The silver thread is one of the few magic artifacts I possess, and there is only this one. There are no more if you want one. However, I do have a Flying Leaf Sword here which is quite suitable for you, especially since you’ve been learning swordsmanship recently. You can take it and have so fun!"
After saying this, the National Master took out a small sword and handed it to Li Yanyan.
It’s truly said that the crying child gets the milk. Look at Li Yanyan; she didn’t even need to cry to get a Flying Leaf Sword.
However, Li Yanyan was not satisfied. What she wanted was the silver thread in Xiaosuisui’s hand, not the Flying Leaf Sword.
"I want the silver thread, I don’t want the Flying Leaf Sword!"
Li Yanyan instantly threw a tantrum, tossing the sword onto the deck, her eyes fixed on the silver thread in Xiaosuisui’s hand.
"Master! I am your disciple! Shouldn’t all your treasures be mine? Why are you giving them to her?"
Li Yanyan, feeling perfectly justified, threw a tantrum, demanding the silver thread in Xiaosuisui’s hand.
This attracted everyone’s attention.
The Emperor, standing to one side, was fanning himself with a folding fan. Despite the onset of winter, he seed not to consider his fanning the least bit unseasonal.
Ji Youzhi sneered, then stretched out his hand to Xiaosuisui.
"Sweetheart, let your uncle take a look. What exactly is this silver thread? If you like it, Uncle Ji will gather a whole basketful for you."
Xie Pan’Er, unaware of the past grievances between Xiaosuisui and Li Yanyan, mistook Li Yanyan’s tantrum for childish jealousy. Therefore, she simply smiled and remained silent.
The National Master’s thoughts mirrored Xie Pan’Er’s, but Li Yanyan’s words caused him a degree of aversion.
"Master!"
Seeing the National Master staring at her without saying anything for a while, Li Yanyan resorted to the ultimate weapon of children—she pouted, on the verge of tears.
This was the National Master’s first ti taking a disciple, especially such a young one. He felt an inexplicable wave of regret rising within him.
Seeing the National Master ignoring her, Li Yanyan ca up with a plan—to snatch it.
She turned, rushed towards Xiaosuisui, and reached out to grab the silver thread Xiaosuisui was examining.
Xiaosuisui was engrossed in her study of the thread. Sensing soone approaching from the side, she instinctively felt danger. Without thinking, she raised her hand and landed a heavy punch squarely on Li Yanyan’s nose.
With a loud shriek, Li Yanyan’s body flew straight backward, right off the deck, and in an instant, she was in danger of falling into the sea. This sudden turn of events startled everyone.
The Emperor even paused his fanning.
The National Master, quick-eyed and swift-handed, flew out, hovered in mid-air, and extended a large hand to catch his young disciple, pulling her back onto the deck, his eyes filled with shock.
"Why is the Princess so aggressive? Do you realize that if I had been a mont later, she would have fallen into the Yunhang Sea and wouldn’t have been able to get out?"
Xiaosuisui glanced at the National Master staring at her, then turned to look at Li Yanyan, who was hiding timidly behind the National Master, making a defiant face at her.
"She won’t die."
Xiaosuisui’s face hardened. She muttered these three words, then tossed the silver thread back to the National Master.
"I don’t want your things anymore!"
The National Master was stunned, his face burning with a stinging sensation. Holding the silver thread, he was sowhat at a loss.
"National Master, you should keep your good things for yourself from now on. Whatever my little sweetheart wants, I, as her uncle, will get it for her."
Ji Youzhi scooped up the little girl, held her in his arms, gave her a firm kiss, then turned and went into the room.
He called for the boatman and handed him a chart.
"Follow this route!"
This nautical chart had been given to Ji Youzhi by Old Madam Ji.
It was said that Yunzhou Island was extrely well hidden; without a special navigation chart, it was impossible to find.
Old Madam Ji had been away for decades and had never returned. She knew Ji Youzhi was keen to go, and since she couldn’t stop him, she instructed him that he could go to Yunzhou Island, provided he did not reveal he was her son.
Upon seeing Ji Youzhi’s chart, the boatman’s eyes showed confusion.
"Young Master, there are several places on this chart that are impassable!"
Ji Youzhi looked at the boatman, his expression puzzled. Impassable?
"Young Master, you’ve rented our boat, so naturally, we’ll follow your instructions. However, this place is too dangerous. It’s not just that we don’t go; none of our brothers who make a living on the sea will go there."
Ji Youzhi took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table.
The boatman shook his head. "Young Master, this could very well cost us our lives!"
Ji Youzhi placed two more ten-tael silver ingots on the table.
The boatman still shook his head. "Young Master, our lives are precious too!"
Ji Youzhi was about to take out more silver.
Xiaosuisui directly produced a five hundred-tael silver note. "Is this enough for you and your brothers to share?"
The boatman’s eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the five hundred-tael silver note Xiaosuisui had produced.
A mont ago, he had just thought that a few dozen taels were not enough to share among his brothers. If it were a few hundred taels, he could give his brothers a proper accounting, and then attempting Black Water Ridge wouldn’t be out of the question.
The mont this thought occurred to him, the little girl Ji Youzhi was holding produced a five hundred-tael silver note.
"You... how did you know I wanted several hundred taels?" the boatman stamred.
Xiaosuisui blinked and said softly, "You wanted these several hundred taels, didn’t you?"
The boatman nodded vigorously.
"If so, take it and keep it safe! Set sail!"
The boatman took the silver note and left.
Ji Youzhi chuckled quietly. "You used your mind-reading ability again!"
Xiaosuisui nodded. "I’m in a bad mood. I want to fight. Seventh Uncle, let’s have a fight!"
Ji Youzhi was caught between laughter and tears, patting her small head.
"Don’t take Li Yanyan seriously. She’s no longer worthy of being compared to you. You must rember, you are the Grand Princess, and she is the National Master’s young disciple. In terms of status alone, she falls far short of you."
"I know. She’s always liked to snatch my things since we were little. I find her so annoying!"
Ji Youzhi patted her head again, comforting her. "That’s all in the past."
KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Seventh Young Master, Grand Princess, I’ve brewed so tea. I’ll bring so over for you."
Outside, Xie Pan’Er knocked on the door.
Ji Youzhi, however, refused her. "No need. You can take it to His... to Young Master Long. He needs it."
Outside the door, Xie Pan’Er’s face instantly stiffened.
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