Chapter 49: Warning at the Door

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Ji Hua’s eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled as she extended an invitation.
“Miss Xia, if you’re willing, why not come back with me? You once saved Yiyi, so you are, in a way, her friend. Just recently, I encountered some trouble and realized I’m lacking a capable personal bodyguard. But having a man for that role is a bit inconvenient.”
“You are skilled in martial arts and a woman yourself. Having you as a female bodyguard by my side would be most fitting. Of course, if you don’t want to be a bodyguard, you could serve as my martial arts instructor—teaching me at home—and accompany me closely for protection when I go out, just under a different title.”
Xia Zhi paused for a moment upon hearing this and didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she asked,
“Is there a difference between a martial arts instructor and a bodyguard?”
Ji Hua smiled and replied, “There are some differences in status. If you come in as a female bodyguard, the household might scrutinize you more strictly. At least, your background would need to be explained clearly given your identity.”
“A martial arts instructor isn’t held to such strict standards, but the monthly pay might differ quite a bit. If you serve as my female bodyguard, you’d receive five taels of silver each month.”
“If you’re just an instructor, the monthly pay is only two taels. But both roles include free room and board at my residence. So, may I ask if you’d be interested?”
Xia Zhi’s eyes lit up at the mention of silver.
Her expression was eager, as if she wanted to accept, but she hesitated, seeming troubled.
Ji Hua quickly asked, “Do you have any concerns, Miss?”
Xia Zhi bit her lip and spoke honestly,
“Well, Miss, I’m here to gain experience outside the mountains. I don’t even know how long I can stay in the capital. I came to broaden my horizons. What if I want to leave someday… Would that be unfair to you?”
Liu Yiyi, knowing her lady wished to keep Xia Zhi, quickly encouraged her,
“Miss Xia, you don’t know—my lady is the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s household. Being by her side will offer you countless opportunities to learn and grow. You won’t need to go anywhere else for experience. Plus, with five taels a month, you’d earn more than I do!”
Xia Zhi looked at Ji Hua in surprise.
“You... you are the Prime Minister’s daughter?”
Ji Hua waved her hand, still wearing that approachable smile.
“It’s just fate, nothing special. I understand your worries. Don’t worry—if one day you want to leave, I won’t hold you back. I know you wanderers cherish freedom above all.”
“You said it yourself—you came down the mountain for experience. Isn’t staying in the capital better? I don’t ask for much, just daily protection. If you’re worried about adapting, why not stay by my side for a month as a trial?”
“If after a month you still feel uncomfortable and want to leave, I won’t force you. I’ll even prepare some travel expenses to make your journey easier.”
Ji Hua’s sincerity was overwhelming, and the offer generous.
Xia Zhi was somewhat tempted.
Her thoughts were plainly written on her face. Ji Hua and Liu Yiyi exchanged a glance and quietly waited for Xia Zhi’s answer.
After much consideration, Xia Zhi said to Ji Hua,
“Then… I will stay. I’ll see if I can adapt within a month. I’ll be your bodyguard.”
Xia Zhi truly had no better option.

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If after a month she couldn’t adapt, she’d still have five taels of silver in hand, leaving no excuse to refuse.
Ji Hua’s smile deepened.
Liu Yiyi excitedly reached out and grabbed Xia Zhi’s hand.
“Then we’ll get to see each other every day, hee hee!”
…
Time passed swiftly, and the Horse Racing Festival soon arrived.
Xia Zhi had been living at the Prime Minister’s residence for several days and was somewhat accustomed to it, especially since Liu Yiyi was there to help her get familiar.
Moreover, most of the people in Ji Hua’s courtyard were her own loyal followers—even those less loyal dared not harbor ill intentions.
Ji Hua told them to respect the new bodyguard, Xia Zhi, so naturally, no one dared to object.
Most importantly,
This bodyguard, Xia Zhi, was truly formidable!
Earlier, a careless maid had mocked her a couple of times, but Xia Zhi didn’t retort; instead, she responded more directly.
In front of the maid and the onlookers,
She shattered a large stone slab with her bare hands!
From then on, the provoking maid would deliberately avoid Xia Zhi, and the others showed genuine respect towards her.
It was a promising start.
“Yiyi, have you checked if we have everything?”
Ji Hua had just returned from the front hall.
After having breakfast with her father and the others, they were about to head to the racetrack, so everything needed to be ready.
Liu Yiyi had already been busy and was now checking the items on the table one by one.
“Miss, I’ve counted again and again. We have two sets of clothes, two handkerchiefs.”
“There’s also a storybook—I worried you might get bored at the racetrack, so I brought it along to keep you entertained. And this…”
Liu Yiyi carefully recounted everything Ji Hua requested and what she thought her lady might need, right in front of Ji Hua.
Ji Hua nodded approvingly, “Well done. Yiyi, you’re becoming more meticulous.”
Liu Yiyi smiled shyly.
Xia Zhi’s ears twitched as she looked toward the door—
Someone was coming.

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“Move aside! Get out of my way! Who told you to block me? Get lost!”
Suddenly, a loud commotion came from outside.
Xia Zhi’s eyes sharpened, and she instinctively took a few steps toward the door.
Ji Hua heard the familiar noise and wasn’t surprised at all.
Soon, Ji Shulan burst in, breaking through the maids who guarded the door.
“Miss?”
Liu Yiyi whispered.
Ji Hua waved her hand, “Yiyi, put everything away.”
Seeing that her lady didn’t seem angry, Liu Yiyi nodded and obediently began tidying the items on the table.
But she still shot a glance at Xia Zhi.
Xia Zhi calmly positioned herself in front of Ji Hua, right between Ji Shulan and Ji Hua.
In case of any sudden trouble, she could respond immediately.
However, Ji Shulan did not come too close to Ji Hua, stopping several steps away.
She glanced at the items on the table, then looked at Ji Hua’s face, snorting coldly with sarcasm.
“You’ve prepared quite thoroughly. What, weren’t you flashy enough at the Lake Banquet? Now you want to show off again at the Horse Racing Festival? Why are you so…”
“Do you have something to say?”
Ji Hua, tired of Ji Shulan’s nagging, interrupted her with a sharp question.
Ji Shulan was momentarily silenced. Seeing Ji Hua’s calm and composed demeanor, she felt a burning resentment and ground her teeth.
“Stop pretending! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re really thinking. I warn you, stay away from Prince Xuan today. Don’t forget your place! And don’t act coquettishly in front of him like last time.”
Ji Hua chuckled lightly, lifting her eyes to Ji Shulan and raising an eyebrow, “Are you serious?”
Ji Shulan didn’t catch the meaning behind Ji Hua’s words, but she keenly sensed the contempt in Ji Hua’s expression.
Her anger surged in her chest—Ji Hua looked down on her!
“Serious or not, let me tell you…”
Ji Shulan spoke excitedly, stepping closer to Ji Hua, but halfway through, her path was blocked, and her words abruptly stopped.