Chapter 422: Volume 1, Chapter 422: Hostage X Spoiled Princess (2)

He heard footsteps, lifted his heavy gaze, and when he saw it was her, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

Jiang Zhi stopped.

As a child, she had never seen such a scene; the boy was so thin and weak he looked inhuman, his exposed skin covered with new and old wounds.

"You..." she paused, then quickly put on a fierce expression and snapped angrily: "What right do you have to badmouth Brother Cui? You're not even worthy! You can't even compare to one of his fingers!"

The girl's voice was childish and soft, and her expression wasn't as fierce as she imagined; instead, it was adorably fierce.

The boy remained silent, lying still on the bed, clearly not taking her words to heart.

But he was gravely ill; after crawling out of the Cold Pond and returning here, he had a persistent high fever—being able to hear her words clearly showed his strong will.

Jiang Zhi knew he was a mute who didn't speak; she stepped closer to get a better look, but Xiao Lian promptly grabbed her arm.

"Your Highness, you must absolutely not catch his illness."

Jiang Zhi made an acknowledging sound, thought it over, and finally said: "He can't die yet; I, Your Highness, haven't finished scolding him! Go call the Imperial Physician and heal him!"

After saying that, she muttered while walking: "Anyone who dares to scold my Brother Cui, I won't let him off easily."

Her childish words left Xiao Lian helpless; she also knew very well what kind of person Your Highness was.

She gave the order, summoning the Imperial Physician to treat him.

…

Three days later.

Jiang Zhi, wobbling on her short legs, tasted the milk-flavored cake from the Imperial Kitchen—sweet and fragrant—and ate several pieces.

The Empress came over and teased: "Mother's little Zhizhi is getting rounder~"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi immediately stopped, pushed the pastry away, and exclaimed in panic: "I don't want to get round! Mother Empress, I won't eat any more!"

The Empress pinched her soft cheeks: "Little Zhizhi, Mother Empress likes you just as you are."

The little girl wriggled free from her embrace, rubbed her pinched-red cheeks, and said angrily: "Hmph, I've grown up; Mother Empress, stop pinching my cheeks."

Having said that, she staggered away.

Seeing this, the Empress laughed.

The palace was filled with joy and harmony.

Outside Wind-facing Academy.

"The sickly wretch is back! Watch how this Crown Prince beats him back!" The Crown Prince strode over with a menacing aura toward the boy not far away.

Others watched the spectacle.

The Crown Prince stepped forward, shoved the boy to the ground in one motion, then lifted his foot, ready to trample him.

Suddenly.

"Stop!" a voice rang out, halting his action.

The Crown Prince turned to see who dared to call out to him, only to see his own younger sister walking over.

Jiang Zhi shoved him aside, stood in front of the boy, her pink-white cheeks flushed with anger, and declared: "He's mine, Imperial Elder Brother—you're not allowed to hit him!"

That statement was full of ambiguity.

Now not only the Crown Prince, but the onlookers all wore shocked expressions, and even the boy lying on the ground froze in his expression.

Jiang Zhi thought, then added: "I haven't finished bullying him yet! When I've had my fill, Imperial Elder Brother, you can hit him again!"

The Crown Prince finally understood, relaxed, and said: "So little Zhizhi also wants to bully him, huh? Imperial Elder Brother, I thought it was something else."

Jiang Zhi blinked, confused: "What?"

The Crown Prince met his pure, clear-eyed younger sister's gaze, his words shifting: "Nothing, nothing—Imperial Elder Brother promises you, after you've bullied him enough, I'll beat him again."

Jiang Zhi smiled satisfied: "Mm!"

With the Crown Prince's word, those who had previously bullied the hostage no longer dared to continue.

We must wait until the Sixteenth Princess has had her fill of bullying.

Everyone dispersed.

Only Jiang Zhi and the boy on the ground remained.

She looked at his half-dead state, raised an eyebrow, and said: "From now on, you are Your Highness's slave; you must do whatever Your Highness commands—did you hear me?"

The boy, who came from Jiang State, had never spoken; everyone thought he was mute, but he actually could speak—he just couldn't be bothered.

Jiang Zhi didn't expect him to reply, turned, and swaggered away.

Master's lesson was boring and sleep-inducing.

The original owner wasn't studious material; Jiang Zhi slumped over the table and snored loudly. Master didn't bother with her, having long grown accustomed to it.

Until Xiao Lian came in to wake her up.

Jiang Zhi rubbed her sleepy eyes, just woke up, and her soft, sleepy voice asked cutely: "Is class over?"

Xiao Lian was utterly charmed by her, eyes shining: "Yes, Your Highness, Master has been gone for a while."

Jiang Zhi yawned, looked left and right, and her gaze fell on the figure sitting at the back, about to leave.

"Don't go!"

She walked over, pointing her fair finger at the boy.

"Do you treat Your Highness's words as wind in the ears?"

The boy stopped moving, lowered his head, stood by the desk, slender in build.

Only then did Jiang Zhi nod satisfactorily: "Your Highness still has tasks for you to do!"

She had him follow her all the way back to the sleeping palace.

The sleeping palace where the original owner resided was magnificent and grand, built of extraordinary materials—warm in winter, cool in summer, with superb scenery and location; its courtyard contained a pond where rare and precious fish swam about.

After these three days, the hostage's injuries were mostly healed—at least no more high fever—and with her around, the Imperial Physician's medicines were the best, administered without the slightest negligence.

It was deep autumn; the evening wind carried a chill, but the pond's temperature was higher than outside, bringing warmth.

This is because a layer of warm stone was laid beneath the pond, maintaining a constant temperature, allowing these rare fish species to survive.

Jiang Zhi stood by the pond and ordered him, "Go down and catch a fish!"

The boy hesitated not, walking into the pond.

The pond's water level was not high, just reaching his knees.

But the fish swimming about were lively and hard to catch; given his physique, catching a fish was not easy.

Jiang Zhi had palace attendants bring a soft couch; she sat by the pond watching a play, eating grapes fed by the attendants, leisurely and pleased.

"Hurry up and catch it~ If you're late, I won't be able to eat my dinner!"

She was counting on him to catch a fish to make soup.

Half an hour passed.

The sun had set before the boy finally caught a fish; he tightly hugged the plump fish in his arms, fearing it would escape, and stumbled forward to kneel before her, handing over the fish he held.

Jiang Zhi glanced at the fish, then shifted her gaze to the boy's pale face, smiling as she said, "Excellent! I'll reward you by letting you stay in my palace~"

She turned to Xiao Lian and said, "Tell the Empress Mother I want him to be my reading companion!"

Xiao Lian was astonished, "Your Highness… that's against the rules!"

Jiang Zhi willfully said, "I don't care! Anyway, I'll keep him by my side to bully him badly!"

Xiao Lian broke into a sweat, only able to first go report to the Empress.

The palace attendants took the fish he caught to the Imperial Kitchen.

Jiang Zhi examined the boy who had not yet reacted, and after a moment said, "What are you standing there dazed for? Didn't you hear my words?"

The boy pressed his thin lips together, his dark eyes fixed on the stones beneath his feet, his thoughts myriad.

He did not understand the meaning of this Sixteenth Princess before him.

There are myriad ways to bully him, rather than making him her reading companion.