7: He tricked the Third Young Master with his slap, but his true feelings touched the Empress's heart.

Ji Qiang came before Jiang Yunfan and said coldly, "Jiang Yunfan, how dare you release that stable boy! Don't forget you're just a matrilocal son-in-law."

He poked Jiang Yunfan's chest hard twice with his finger.

"I was the one who told them to release him."

Hong Luan pushed Ji Yao forward.

In the past, Ji Qiang held Ji Yao in great awe because Ji Yao was the Ji Family Member with the highest Aptitude in generations and was also a true disciple of Lingxiao Sect.

Things were different now; Ji Yao, this Phoenix, had fallen from grace. Ji Qiang no longer held any reverence for her, and he mocked, "Young Miss, you're already a cripple, yet you still come out to meddle."

Slap!

Jiang Yunfan slapped Ji Qiang.

"Shut your stinking mouth."

This slap stunned everyone present.

Ji Yao's indifferent expression couldn't help but change; Jiang Yunfan had actually slapped Ji Qiang for her.

This slap was intentionally given by Jiang Yunfan for Ji Yao to see, just to let her know that he, her husband, was protecting her.

Ji Qiang was furious.

"Jiang Yunfan, you matrilocal son-in-law, how dare you hit me! I'll make you die."

He attacked Jiang Yunfan with a palm strike, and Jiang Yunfan met him with a punch. Two powerful True Qi collided. Both were in the Houtian Ninth Layer Realm, and for a moment, they were evenly matched.

Jiang Yunfan secretly circulated the Northern Darkness Profound Art to devour Ji Qiang's True Qi. Ji Qiang's True Qi continuously weakened, while his True Qi increased instead of decreasing. He gathered strength for a punch and sent Ji Qiang flying back.

Ji Qiang immediately lost face.

"Third Young Master, catch the sword."

His subordinate threw a sword over.

Ji Qiang caught the sword and swung it, a Sword Qi slashing towards Jiang Yunfan. He quickly dodged the Sword Qi, which carved a sword mark over ten meters long on the ground.

"Yunfan, catch the sword."

Li Ji threw his sword to Jiang Yunfan.

As soon as Jiang Yunfan caught the sword, a Sword Qi attacked him. He dodged the Sword Qi again, and Ji Qiang charged at him with his sword. He retaliated by performing the Tidal Sword Art.

Their fierce battle attracted Ji Family Members.

"Isn't that Ji Qiang and Jiang Yunfan? How did they start fighting!"

"Jiang Yunfan has such audacity, a matrilocal son-in-law daring to fight with a Ji Family Member."

The Ji Family Members all looked down on Jiang Yunfan, this matrilocal son-in-law, and didn't consider him a Ji Family Member.

After dozens of exchanges, Ji Qiang fell into a disadvantage. Jiang Yunfan, with a burst of momentum, unleashed his strongest sword move, 'Overturning Rivers and Seas.' With one swing, Sword Qi surged like waves. Ji Qiang blocked one wave but couldn't withstand the subsequent waves. He was sent flying by the Sword Qi, injured and spitting blood.

Ji Qiang's defeat shocked the Ji Family Members. Ji Qiang was a prominent figure among the younger generation of the Ji Family, yet he was defeated by Jiang Yunfan, this matrilocal son-in-law.

At this moment, a middle-aged man flew over.

"Elder Ji Ba."

Ji Qiang was filled with shame, his venomous gaze fixed on Jiang Yunfan.

Ji Ba.

What a domineering name.

Jiang Yunfan complained inwardly, then greeted him, "Greetings, Elder."

Ji Ba said coldly, "Jiang Yunfan, you should be content with your lot after marrying into the Ji Family, yet you dared to disregard the Ji Family rules and injure a clan member. You must be severely punished according to the family rules."

Family rules.

Jiang Yunfan secretly thought something was amiss; he knew nothing about the Ji Family rules.

No one came to stop them while they were fighting, but as soon as he injured Ji Qiang, someone jumped out. This Ji Ba was clearly biased towards Ji Qiang. If he had been the one injured, no one would have come out to speak up.

"Guards, take him away."

"Stop, stop."

Two voices came.

The speakers were Ji Yao and Li Ji.

Hong Luan pushed Ji Yao forward. Jiang Yunfan knew his slap wasn't in vain. Ji Yao said coldly, "Jiang Yunfan is my husband. I'd like to see who dares to touch him."

In the past, Ji Yao's words carried more weight than even the Ji Family Patriarch's, but now that she was a cripple, no one except her father took her seriously.

"Jiang Yunfan has violated the family rules. No amount of pleading will help."

"Then, would this Your Highness's plea be useful?"

Ji Ba turned his head to look at Li Ji. Anyone who dared to call himself Your Highness was undoubtedly a Prince. "May I ask which Prince you are?"

Li Ji said, "Sixth Prince Li Ji."

"Greetings, Your Highness the Sixth Prince."

Ji Ba hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Everyone else also bowed.

Ji Qiang's expression was somewhat unsightly. He hadn't expected Jiang Yunfan, this matrilocal son-in-law, to know the Sixth Prince.

Ji Ba said, "Your Highness, this is a private matter of my Ji Family."

Li Ji said with immense authority, "Jiang Yunfan saved this Your Highness's life. Anyone who dares to touch him is an enemy of mine."

Let alone Ji Ba, an Elder, even the entire Ji Family wouldn't dare to be an enemy of Li Ji. Li Ji was the most favored among the Princes, and he was highly likely to become the King of Zhou in the future. Who would dare to oppose him?

Having no other choice, Ji Ba could only give up.

Everyone dispersed.

Li Ji said to Ji Yao, "Cousin, you've found a good husband. He even went to Ten Thousand Beast Mountain to search for purple bauhinia grass to cure your leg ailment, facing life and death several times."

Brother, you're on the right track.

Li Ji speaking up for him was beyond Jiang Yunfan's expectation. With Li Ji's exaggerated description, Ji Yao would surely be moved.

Jiang Yunfan took out the purple bauhinia grass from his embrace, "Hard work pays off. I finally found it."

"purple bauhinia grass."

Seeing the purple bauhinia grass in Jiang Yunfan's hand, Ji Yao, who was always calm and composed, became excited. Her father had sent people everywhere to search for the purple bauhinia grass, even sending people to the cultivation world, but they couldn't find it. Yet, Jiang Yunfan had found it.

Hong Luan was happy for her Young Miss, "Young Miss, you can finally stand up."

Jiang Yunfan said, "Hong Luan, take the purple bauhinia grass to find a physician."

"Young Miss, she..."

"I'm here. I'll take good care of her."

This was an opportunity for the two of them to be alone; Jiang Yunfan wouldn't let it slip away.

Hong Luan left with the purple bauhinia grass.

Jiang Yunfan pushed Ji Yao away, leaving Li Ji behind.

"Thank you for risking your life to find the purple bauhinia grass for me. I know you were forced to marry into the Ji Family. I will write a divorce letter to let you leave the Ji Family and regain your freedom."

Divorce letter.

Is this how you thank me?

Jiang Yunfan was completely speechless. He went to find the purple bauhinia grass to win her heart, not for her to divorce him.

"I am a concubine, born to a maidservant, and have always been looked down upon and bullied. I also have a younger sister. After my mother passed away from illness, my sister and I relied on each other.

I agreed to marry into the Ji Family because the Madam threatened me with my sister.

After meeting you, I fell in love with you at first sight. Perhaps it was your beauty that captivated me. Seeing you with crippled legs in a wheelchair, I secretly vowed to cure your legs.

After inquiring and learning that purple bauhinia grass was needed to cure your legs, I went to Ten Thousand Beast Mountain and happened to encounter the Sixth Prince being chased by a Crimson Flame Tiger.

I was lucky and found the purple bauhinia grass on a cliff.

Soon your legs will recover, and you'll be able to walk. I know my status is low and I'm not worthy of you. If you insist on divorcing me, then I will leave the Ji Family."

Jiang Yunfan's sincere emotions moved Ji Yao, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, creating ripples.

"If you don't want to leave, then stay!"

Ji Yao's tone softened considerably.

Jiang Yunfan's lips curled into a smile. He knew Ji Yao hadn't fallen in love with him yet, but at least she had developed some good feelings for him. This made his trip to Ten Thousand Beast Mountain to find purple bauhinia grass worthwhile.

"You slapped Ji Qiang. Didn't you consider the consequences?"

"At that time, Ji Qiang called you a cripple. I didn't think much and just slapped him. He can humiliate me, but I will never allow him to humiliate you."

These words touched Ji Yao again.

Ever since she became a cripple, she had seen the coldness of human nature. The Ji Family Members who used to be respectful to her now despised her. Jiang Yunfan, however, not only didn't dislike her but also found purple bauhinia grass for her and stood up for her, punishing Ji Qiang for humiliating her. All of this deeply moved her.

The news quickly reached Ji Lingxiao's ears.

"Patriarch, the purple bauhinia grass has been found."

"Found it? Who found it?"

"It was the matrilocal... son-in-law, Jiang Yunfan."

"It was him."

Ji Lingxiao was very surprised. He hadn't expected that the purple bauhinia grass, which they had searched for so long without success, would be found by the newly married matrilocal son-in-law, Jiang Yunfan. Was this fate?

Although it couldn't restore Yaoer's Dantian, it could restore her Meridians, allowing her to walk again.

"Patriarch, the son-in-law injured Ji Qiang."

Ji Mu reported the details of Jiang Yunfan's fight with Ji Qiang, without adding any embellishments.

Upon learning that the fight was due to Ji Qiang's disrespect towards Ji Yao, Ji Lingxiao said coldly, "Ji Qiang is becoming more and more presumptuous, daring to be disrespectful to Yaoer."

"Spread the word: from now on, anyone who dares to not treat Jiang Yunfan as a Ji Family Member will be dealt with according to family rules."

Ji Mu said, "Yes, Patriarch."

"Patriarch, there's another matter. The Sixth Prince has arrived. He came with the son-in-law. The servants say the son-in-law saved the Sixth Prince."

Ji Lingxiao said, "Li Ji has extremely high Aptitude and will surely inherit the throne in the future. Jiang Yunfan saving his life is also beneficial to the Ji Family."

He was becoming more and more satisfied with Jiang Yunfan as a son-in-law.