Chapter 427: Volume 1 Chapter 427 Hostage X Arrogant Princess (7)

…

Winter is approaching.

Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve, the entire imperial palace is covered in pure white snow, the sky is overcast, and snowflakes fall unrestrained onto the row of plum trees planted in the courtyard; Xiao Lian broke off several branches and placed them in a vase, the pale green calyx plum blossoms bloom splendidly, and a faint fragrance fills the sleeping palace.

These days, Jiang Zhi's sleep quality is exceptionally good; she falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow. With the academy on holiday, her days are very pleasant.

She has become much plumper.

"Your Highness, tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and Your Majesty is holding a banquet in the palace. Which of these outfits do you like?"

Jiang Zhi was awakened from her sleep by them, her little head wobbling, she lifted her hand and casually pointed at one: "This set."

Xiao Lian helplessly said: "You haven't even opened your eyes to look carefully."

Jiang Zhi, tired of being tossed about by them, got up and got out of bed, and said nonchalantly: "Indeed, it's this princess's choice; whichever I say, that's the one."

Having said that, she went out to get some fresh air.

I don't know how long it's been since she last went outside to breathe fresh air.

"Your Highness~"

Xiao Lian could only have the palace servants hang up the outfit she had chosen, preparing to wear it at the evening banquet tomorrow night.

Upon arriving in the courtyard, she saw the girl standing under the green plum tree.

"Your Highness, be careful not to catch a chill."

Xiao Lian walked over and draped her in a snow-colored fox fur, which made the girl's complexion appear even whiter and pinker.

The accumulated snow in the courtyard had been cleared by the palace servants, leaving wet muddy ground; despite little wind during the day, it remained cold.

The little princess turned around and, for no apparent reason, asked: "How is Yan Shizhou's injury? Is it mostly healed?"

Xiao Lian belatedly replied: "It's been two months; he should have recovered."

Jiang Zhi's lips curved into a charming smile: "Have someone summon him."

Seeing her mischievous, clever smile, Xiao Lian silently mourned for the hostage Yan Shizhou in her heart.

Not long after.

Yan Shizhou, who had come alone, walked over at a leisurely pace.

After not seeing each other for two months, the youth's figure became even taller and slender; his outfit of emerald bamboo green robes did not detract from his handsomeness, his demeanor noble and composed, his black long hair simply tied back like silk.

"Yan Shizhou." The girl under the green plum tree crossed her arms, her voice full of arrogant superiority.

Yan Shizhou stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I pay my respects, Princess."

Jiang Zhi looked him up and down, raised an eyebrow, and asked: "You are now a person of my Princess's Jingxi Gong; why are you dressed so shabbily?"

It made it seem as if she were so poor she couldn't even open a pot.

A cold wind blew past, yet the youth felt not the slightest chill.

"Your Highness, I am not cold."

Jiang Zhi strode up to him, raised her hand and tapped his arm repeatedly: "I'm not concerned about you! I just think that dressing so shabbily will make others believe I'm stingy, not even providing you with a winter coat."

The little princess spoke with convincing detail, sounding plausible.

Xiao Lian quickly had someone fetch a cloak and handed it to the hostage.

Yan Shizhou's dark, deep gaze fell upon the girl's slightly raised chin.

He took it and put it on, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Jiang Zhi turned her back to him: "I didn't summon you just to catch up."

Yan Shizhou: "What does the princess summon me for?"

Jiang Zhi glanced at the dog Wangcai being led over by the palace servants and said sternly: "Naturally, it's to take Wangcai for a walk."

Over these two months, Wangcai grew from a puppy into a large dog; the red spot on his forehead looked like a burning cloud, imposing and mighty.

His temperament resembles that of the little princess.

Yan Shizhou agreed, took the dog leash handed over by the palace servants, and then reached out to ruffle Wangcai's head.

Wangcai instantly lost his bravado, emitting whiny, appeasing sounds.

"Stupid dog!" Jiang Zhi, unable to contain her anger, kicked it.

The kick was light, and besides, Wangcai is smart; he dodged in time, so the kick didn't even touch him.

"Wu-wu-wu—!"

Wangcai, shrinking behind Yan Shizhou, began to whimper, as if suffering a great grievance.

"You, you, you!!" the girl shouted, her eyes red with anger.

Yan Shizhou dragged Wangcai out from behind him, saying, "You must obey the princess's orders."

Jiang Zhi snorted coldly, obviously unimpressed by his gesture: "Take Wangcai for a loop around the Yuhua Yuan before you can come back."

Having said that, she added another sentence.

"I will supervise you."

Hearing this, Xiao Lian's face filled with anxiety: "No, Your Highness, although it hasn't snowed today, the Yuhua Yuan's terrain is uneven, and with the snow it's slippery; you absolutely cannot go there."

Jiang Zhi placed her hands on her hips, narrowed her eyes, and threatened them: "You must obey my words, or I'll send you all away!"

Having said that, without waiting for their reaction, she led Yan Shizhou and Wangcai away.

Having not come out for fresh air in a long while, she gazed at the treetops thickly covered in snow and the lakeside, and her eyes lit up.

Wangcai, who had also been cooped up in his kennel for a long time, became excited, leaping up and rolling in the snow.

Jiang Zhi also wanted to roll around, but thinking she had to maintain her princess's image, she restrained herself.

"Don't loosen the leash."

Yan Shizhou's pale face lifted slightly, "I understand, Your Highness."

Wangcai is sturdy-built, sprinting off at full speed; ordinary people can't stop him at all, only able to let him drag them along.

What surprised Jiang Zhi was that the rope in Yan Shizhou's hand hadn't loosened an inch, and his stance didn't waver or fall despite Wangcai's running.

Still quite strong.

They arrived at Yuhua Yuan.

Many palace servants were shoveling snow, and the wet, slippery spots on the roadside were covered with a layer of sand to prevent slipping.

A few people walked toward them, among them the Crown Prince Jiang Chu.

He spotted Jiang Zhi at a glance and ran over excitedly.

"Sixteenth younger sister~"

Jiang Zhi turned her head away and completely ignored him.

Jiang Chu's gaze fell on Yan Shizhou walking behind her, his brows knitting as he spoke angrily: "Sixteenth younger sister, don't listen to his words; I'm punishing him for your own good."

Jiang Zhi kept walking without even glancing at him, saying, "Older brother, you promised me that you could bully him only after I grew tired of him. But that time, you almost took his life; if he died, I would lose my target for bullying and teasing, and even the homework assigned by our teacher would have to be done by myself."

Jiang Chu still wanted to explain.

She then said, "Older brother, could you possibly help me write the homework assigned by our teacher? Or could you let him be teased by me just like you?"

Upon hearing those two words "teacher," Jiang Chu's scalp went numb.

As the heir apparent, his assignments were far more numerous than the sixteenth princess's; the king held high expectations for him, so Jiang Chu rarely dared to go out and play, instead staying home each day to review his textbooks.

"No no no... impossible!"

Jiang Chu drew a deep breath, the color draining from his face, hastily uttered "I won't do it again," and then hurried off without stopping.

Watching his fleeing back, Jiang Zhi covered her belly and burst into laughter, doubling over with her branches trembling.

Yan Shizhou, who had stopped behind her, heard her laughter and the corners of his thin lips curled slightly.

Wangcai also caught the laughter, barking "woof woof" in place in agreement.

…

New Year's Eve night.

The night banquet was held in the main hall, spacious and grand. All the favored consorts of the harem attended, except Consort Yan, who had been pregnant a few days earlier; she had previously miscarried accidentally, and now that she was pregnant again she was extra careful everywhere, fearing a repeat.

The princes sat together, and the sole princess, Jiang Zhi, was seated beside the Emperor and Empress.

The night banquet had not yet begun.

Lord Cui rose from his seat to apologize, with Cui Wenluo following behind him.

"At the Ma Chang, my son actually caused the Princess to fall from her horse; this guilt makes it hard for me to eat or sleep. Taking advantage of the night banquet, I bring my son here to personally apologize to the Princess."

"This matter is long past; even the Emperor doesn't remember it. 'Rise, I already punished you that day, Beloved Minister Cui—don't bring it up again.'"

Lord Cui: "Your Majesty is merciful."

Cui Wenluo faced the Princess, bowed, and said: "Princess, please forgive me."

Jiang Zhi, who had been burying her face in her meal, didn't react for a while until Xiao Lian beside her reminded her.

She composedly took out a handkerchief to wipe her lips, smiling: "Brother Cui, I'm perfectly fine; you needn't worry."

Only then did Cui Wenluo and Lord Cui withdraw.

Interrupted by this, Jiang Zhi lost her appetite and didn't want to stay to deal with a dozen older brothers, so she slipped away from the banquet.

Xiao Lian followed behind her: "Your Highness, the Emperor and Empress will come looking for you later."

Jiang Zhi replied indifferently: "Where would Father and Mother have the time to come look for me? Humph, anyway I, the Princess, don't want to stay there; they clearly don't like me, yet they pretend to like me to curry favor."

Those words made Xiao Lian feel heartache.

The Emperor has only her as a princess, with myriad favors bestowed upon her, but most of it is directed at her status as the Princess.

"Princess."

A call came from behind.

Jiang Zhi turned around and saw Cui Wenluo running over.

His steps were hurried, his breathing unsteady.

"I pay my respects, Princess."

Jiang Zhi guessed a little of his purpose, feigning ignorance on her face while showing delight: "Brother Cui, what do you need from me?"

Cui Wenluo first offered a sincere apology, then said: "Your Highness, if you still wish to learn horseback riding later, I am willing to teach you again."

These words were what his father repeatedly instructed him to say.

If the Cui family could gain the favor of the Sixteenth Princess, his official career would thereafter proceed smoothly.

Despite being a man of unyielding integrity, Cui Wenluo could not defy his father's words, no matter how reluctant he felt.

Jiang Zhi's smile was bright: "But is it really true?"

Gazing at the Princess's clear, bright eyes looking at him with her whole heart, Cui Wenluo's pent-up resentment dissipated, replaced by self-reproach.

How could he blame her?

The Princess is only nine years old.

"Hmm." He said gently.

After parting with Cui Wenluo.

On the way back, Xiao Lian beside her felt happy: "Your Highness, from now on you'll be able to see the Cui family's young master every day."

Jiang Zhi walked forward step by step, absentmindedly replying: "Is that so."

Suddenly.

A sharp killing intent appeared from behind.

Xiao Lian reacted instantly, drawing the soft sword coiled around her arm and engaging the black-clad figure behind her in combat.

In the deep winter night, the cold wind whistled bleakly.

There were five or six black-clad people; even if Xiao Lian's martial arts were strong, she was no match for them.

They were clearly coming for her.

The princess, who had never seen such a scene, turned pale, felt a chill all over, and retreated a step.

"Run!! Your Highness, run!!"

Xiao Lian's voice was urgent and anxious, breaking the silent night.

Jiang Zhi reacted, turned around, and ran desperately.

The ground was slippery, goose-feather-like snow fell from the sky, sticking to her constantly trembling raven-black eyelashes.