People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 453, Yan Lingji and Tian Mi

Nanyang, within the city of Luyang.

Xu Qing and Tian Guang's hearty laughter came from inside the house, while Tian Mi outside the door looked at Yan Lingji with trepidation.

Although Tian Mi was very confident in her looks and skills, she couldn't help but feel ashamed in the face of Yan Lingji, a stunning beauty who seemed to have stepped out of a painting.

With her flawless looks, stunning figure, and alluring charm emanating from her very being, it would be difficult for even women, let alone men, to resist her.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Yan Lingji looked Tian Mi up and down and asked in confusion.

"Madam, this servant is Tian Mi, a disciple of the Farmer's School. She is a maid given to the Grand Master by the leader of the Knights."

Although Tian Mi felt uneasy, she maintained a friendly smile and respectfully bowed to Yan Lingji.

Since she had investigated Xu Qing's information, she naturally knew which women were around Xu Qing, and Yan Lingji was the most outstanding one among them, not only because of her stunningly beautiful face, but also because of her Baiyue background.

"Tian Mi, a maid sent by the farmer?"

Yan Lingji's icy blue eyes flashed with vigilance. She knew that Tian Guang and Xu Qing were scheming against each other, and she naturally understood that the person Tian Guang sent was definitely not a good person. So she began to carefully observe Tian Mi.

Although Tian Mi's face wasn't as pretty as hers, she was still a rare beauty. Her small, oval face was charming yet slightly innocent, and her large, watery, pinkish-purple eyes seemed to be able to bewitch people. The symmetrical beauty marks at the corners of her eyes added to her allure.

Her alluring and graceful figure was perfectly showcased under the half-open purplish-pink cheongsam, with her slightly exposed, snow-white and perky breasts and her long legs that were faintly visible, all exuding a seductive charm.

Immediately, Yan Lingji's gaze towards Tian Mi darkened slightly. She knew Xu Qing, that scoundrel, all too well. How could he not be tempted by such a beauty by his side?

However, it was a minor matter that Xu Qing was tempted; what she worried about was that this woman would use her beauty to seduce Xu Qing and become an informant for Tian Guang.

"Yes, the Grand Master is a descendant of a sage from my farming family. The chivalrous leader was worried about his food, clothing, shelter and transportation, so he sent me to serve him."

Meeting Yan Lingji's scrutinizing gaze, Tian Mi was all too familiar with that look. She knew that Yan Lingji was treating her as an enemy, and she couldn't help but feel even more nervous and uneasy.

Yan Lingji was the woman Xu Qing brought to Mount Taiyi to participate in the Covenant between Heaven and Man, and she was also a woman from Baiyue, which is enough to prove her status in Xu Qing's heart.

Although she was confident that she could win Xu Qing's favor with her looks and intelligence, she was afraid that she would be cut off from Xu Qing's favor by Yan Lingji right from the start.

Looking at the restrained Tian Mi, Yan Lingji's eyes flashed with a glint of light. She reached out and pinched Tian Mi's small face, slowly lifting her lowered head. Her long, bright eyes were fixed on the other's charming face.

Tian Mi, who was being held captive, did not dare to resist in the slightest. Firstly, she was mindful of the other party's position in Xu Qing's heart, and secondly, she was no match for the other party in terms of strength. If they really fought, she would have no chance of winning at all.

"She is quite beautiful. Since Xu Qing is talking to the leader of the knights, you can come with me first."

Yan Lingji's rosy lips curved slightly, revealing a playful smile. Her fingers gently traced Tian Mi's cheek, and the red ribbon hidden in her sleeve climbed up Tian Mi's body along her arm.

Feeling the cold scales of the red snake slide over her body, Tian Mi's body stiffened instantly, and her eyes showed fear and terror.

Although Tian Mi's strength is not great, she is not afraid of a snake, especially a red-banded snake with little venom.

However, Tian Mi was also an expert in pharmacology. She could tell at a glance that the red snake crawling on her body was different from the ordinary red snake. In addition, this snake was carried by Yan Lingji, a woman from Baiyue, and the Baiyue people were most famous for their various poisonous insects and venomous insects.

She dared not move an inch, terrified that the red snake would bite her and take her life.

"Yes, ma'am."

Tian Mi was on the verge of tears, but managed a forced smile and could only obediently nod and say something.

"Da Liangzao, Dad, stop talking to the Xia Kui and come out quickly! If you don't come out, I feel like your wife is going to kill me!" Tian Mi cried out frantically in her heart.

Looking at the obedient Tian Mi, Yan Lingji chuckled and withdrew Chi Lian and her own hand. She didn't intend to do anything to Tian Mi, she just wanted to scare her and make her behave so that she wouldn't actually climb into Xu Qing's bed.

"follow me."

Yan Lingji turned and walked towards the backyard. The red snake coiled around her arm, its head turning slightly to look at Tian Mi. Its human-like snake eyes were fixed on her, its scarlet forked tongue flicking out.

Tian Mi, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, tensed up again in an instant. Looking at Chi Lian staring at her, her face fell instantly, and all the joy she had felt when she reunited with Xu Qing vanished.

However, Tian Mi quickly calmed herself down, realizing that she had to get through this hurdle.

Then, a peaceful smile appeared on Tian Mi's face. She straightened her clothes with both hands to make herself look less flirtatious and charming, and followed Yan Lingji with small steps.

After passing through two courtyards, Tian Mi followed Yan Lingji to the courtyard of the main house.

As Tian Mi stared at Yan Lingji ahead, wondering what the other would do next, Yan Lingji suddenly turned around and looked at Tian Mi. Yan Lingji's dreamlike eyes instantly turned cold, and blazing flames surrounded her. Her small, fiery hand shot towards Tian Mi, while four fire snakes emerged from beneath her feet, heading towards Tian Mi's retreat.

When Tian Mi saw Yan Lingji suddenly attack her, she was so surprised that she could only hastily prepare for battle.

With her delicate white hand, she took out her pipe, and with her inner force, a cloud of pinkish-purple mist enveloped her as she headed towards Yan Lingji, while simultaneously retreating quickly to the rear.

Seeing the mist rushing towards her, Yan Lingji made a hand seal with her right hand, and the flames on her wrist instantly formed a fire serpent that swallowed the mist.

The blazing fire serpent transformed into a fiery tornado, instantly incinerating the pinkish-purple mist.

Seeing that her moves had no effect on Yan Lingji, Tian Mi quickened her pace. However, before she could take a few steps back, she felt a burning sensation behind her.

Looking back, Tian Mi only saw four fire snakes standing behind her, blocking her retreat.

At that moment, Tian Mi knew that she had no way out and could only surrender.

Yan Lingji didn't care whether Tian Mi had given up resisting or not. She quickly approached her opponent, grabbed her arm with one hand, put her right hand behind her back, and pressed her neck with the other hand, trapping her firmly.

"Woo~"

Tian Mi cried out in pain, and her already teary eyes gradually filled with tears.

"Madam, what are you doing?"

With her neck gripped, Tian Mi could only look up at the sky, her voice soft yet tinged with panic as she spoke.

Seeing that Tian Mi was powerless to resist, Yan Lingji also extinguished the flames around her, moved closer to her, and whispered in her ear.
"What are you going to do? That's a question for you to ask yourself. What was Tian Guang's purpose in sending you here?"

Upon hearing Yan Lingji's question, Tian Mi's unease disappeared. She had thought Yan Lingji was jealous and wanted to kill her, but it turned out she was afraid that Yan Lingji had ulterior motives.

“Madam, I truly had no intention of harming the Grand Master; on the contrary, I am very grateful to him,” Tian Mi hurriedly said.

"Hmm? Would Tian Guang be so kind as to give you away to someone else as a maid?"

Yan Lingji didn't believe Tian Mi, her voice turned cold, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Tian Mi's hand.

"do not move!"

Yan Lingji raised her leg and pressed it against Tian Mi's shapely buttocks, saying in a cold voice.

"I didn't lie to you. The Grand Chancellor may not have told you, but the Chief of the Knights did have ulterior motives in getting me to approach him. However, I didn't want to do it, so I already confessed to the Grand Chancellor, and..."

Tian Mi slowly recounted what had happened at Mount Taiyi, but since Xu Qing hadn't mentioned these events to Yan Lingji, she couldn't reveal everything.

"The specifics were not told to you by the Grand Master, so I cannot tell you either."

"Don't worry, I really didn't have any intention of harming the Grand Chancellor. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to become an Eighth Elder and establish myself in the Farmer's Clan."

Upon hearing Tian Mi's words, the coldness in Yan Lingji's eyes gradually dissipated. It seemed that she had misunderstood the other party. The other party probably wouldn't dare to deceive her. After all, she could find out the truth by asking Xu Qing.

Seeing Tian Mi in pain, Yan Lingji released her.

After Tian Mi was freed from control, her body involuntarily leaned forward, but fortunately she did not fall. Looking at her wrists, which were red from being gripped, Tian Mi felt bitter.

What kind of situation is this? This is completely an undeserved disaster for her.

"I'm sorry, I was reckless. If I had known my sister was one of my own, I wouldn't have hit her. I hope I didn't hurt you."

A smile appeared on Yan Lingji's pretty face. She stepped forward, took Tian Mi's hand, and whispered words of comfort.

Seeing how quickly the other person changed their expression, Tian Mi was speechless. A look of grievance appeared on her face, and she looked at Yan Lingji with teary eyes, whispering...
“This is not Madam’s fault. You are worried about the Grand Master. It is my fault for not explaining clearly.”

"I'm glad my sister doesn't blame me."

Yan Lingji's expression remained unchanged, but she sneered inwardly. They were all thousand-year-old foxes, so why were they playing these ghost stories? Tian Mi's feigned weakness was something she had already mastered.

However, considering that Tian Mi was the key to Xu Qing winning over the farmer's family, she didn't want to expose her.

"Did I hurt you? Let me rub it for you."

(End of this chapter)