Chapter 432: Volume 1, Chapter 432: Hostage × Spoiled Princess (12)

Before she could react, the young man stood before her, behind him a rough, uneven tree trunk; blooming peach blossoms swayed in the wind, the fragrant air filling her lungs; in her view, the sense of oppression from Yan Shizhou was especially strong.

Yan Shizhou!

She panicked, her dark eyes veiled with a thin mist, her footing unsteady, she leaned unsteadily against the tree, her lowered lashes trembling, baseless fear welling up in her heart.

Yan Shizhou, standing before her, did nothing to her; he slowly raised his finger, pausing before her forehead's black hair, and she reacted sharply, dodging his finger backward.

He held a peach petal between his fingertips; its pale pink hue blended with her long skirt, equally beautiful.

I only wish to admire the flowers with the princess.

At that moment, the rising aura was ambiguous and improper.

"The palace... I'm leaving." She slipped out from his side, not daring to glance at him, her fleeing figure flustered.

After losing sight of her, Yan Shizhou lowered his gaze, calmly looking at the peach petal in his palm.

He clenched his fist and crushed it.

After a long while.

"Cut this tree down." Having said that, Yan Shizhou strode away.

The hidden agents left in the dark stared at each other.

The Pavilion Master's order could not be defied; they immediately set to work cutting down the tree.

Dawn tore across the horizon, spilling threads of warm light.

Rumors spread from the palace.

A hundred-year-old peach tree was destroyed overnight.

Some said the peach tree had become a spirit; others said it was taken away by an immortal.

Opinions diverged.

Jingxi Gong.

Jiang Zhi was roused by a group of palace attendants fussing over her washing and dressing.

"What happened?" she asked, half-asleep, still not rested enough.

Xiao Lian smiled: "The Crown Prince sent word that the princess is to be sent out of the palace, feigning illness."

That way they could avoid the arranged marriage.

By the time Jiang Zhi woke up, she was already outside the palace.

The carriage was somewhat shabby, also to avoid detection by court officials; traveling discreetly, they left the capital.

Only Xiao Lian accompanied her out of the palace; more people would have been too conspicuous.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

Xiao Lian replied: "Your Highness, we head south all the way to Bian City."

Bian City lies far from the palace, its terrain flat; though remote, winters are warm and summers cool, and the people are simple.

【Both tasks have been completed.】

I don't know how long the carriage had been traveling when the God Pillar System's voice suddenly sounded.

Jiang Zhi was somewhat surprised.

"Has Yan Shizhou left Jiang State?"

777 said: "Yes, Host, the villain has already headed toward Chongyuan State."

The villain's plot thus unfolded.

Even the heavens of Chongyuan State ought to change.

Jiang Zhi recalled last night's events, and her head ached for a moment.

"Something's off; I feel Yan Shizhou is acting strangely."

777 asked blankly: "What's wrong, Host?"

Jiang Zhi rested her chin on her hand: "These four years I've known little of Yan Shizhou; after he left Jingxi Gong, he rarely appeared before me. Why was he so abnormal last night?"

Last night she thought Cui Wenluo had merely refused her invitation.

That was perfectly normal; in the story, Cui Wenluo felt nothing for the original host, even finding her persistence annoying.

But why did Yan Shizhou appear before her?

And he said things that could be misunderstood.

777 pondered for a while, unable to figure it out: "Could it be that the villain Yan Shizhou went out for a walk and unintentionally came to the place you agreed to meet Cui Wenluo?"

Jiang Zhi shook her head: "No, if it were as you said, he wouldn't have said, 'He won't come.'"

Yan Shizhou clearly knew she was waiting for Cui Wenluo.

But how did he find out?

She still underestimated Yan Shizhou.

"Forget it; anyway we're out of the palace, what happens next is none of my business."

777 nodded listlessly: "Yeah, just be happy."

【Progress on saving the villain remains at thirty-two percent, Host.】 The God Pillar System's appearance disrupted the atmosphere.

"Oh."

【... If the task isn't completed, Host will be erased!】

777 snapped: "Why are you rushing? The emperor isn't anxious, the eunuch is!"

Now 777 is no longer the previous soft, bullyable system; its level has risen to high—even if the God Pillar System or the Highest Execution System came, it wouldn't fear them.

Pillar Brother could do nothing about it, so angry he blurted out a sentence. When has the God Pillar System ever suffered such injustice……

"Forget it, Pillar Brother; Brother Seven has a temper, just bear with it."

【………】Got even angrier!!

The journey was far, along the way they went and stopped, the carriage was also changed into a luxurious, decadent scented carriage. Apart from some bumps, it was no different from the palace.

Two months later.

They stopped at an inn, the moonlight sank westward, thin mist gradually arose, the wooden window blew open, gusts of night wind poured into the room.

Behind the curtains, the girl slept soundly, her sleeping posture askew, hugging the pillow, she lay flat on her back at the foot of the bed.

Lifting the gauze curtain, Yan Shizhou saw this scene, his eyes showed no trace of surprise.

It seemed he had long been accustomed to her sleeping posture.

On the table burned calming incense; even if the sky fell, she wouldn't wake.

Yan Shizhou's fingertips slipped into her soft long hair, his arm crossed her shoulders, and he easily lifted her.

A dark brocade robe was draped over her, covering all signs of spring.

With steady steps, he walked out of the inn; outside, several black silhouettes knelt.

"Chief of the Pavilion."

Yan Shizhou: "Return."

He had granted her two months of ease and freedom; the remaining time belonged to him.

Biancheng is close to Chongyuan State; this is naturally also a scheme by the Chief of the Dragging Cloud Pavilion, Yan Shizhou, for the Crown Prince Jiang Chu.

Outwardly claiming serious illness, he left the imperial capital and went to Biancheng to recuperate.

Thus, she would gradually come to his side.

…

The next day.

Jiang Zhi, who had awakened in the Chongyuan State imperial palace, could not figure it out no matter how she tried.

"In the plot, shouldn't the villain be seizing power now? Why is the whole Chongyuan State his……"

777: "It's over, Host, something went wrong!"

Jiang Zhi had a blank expression.

Before, problems often occurred; she had grown accustomed to them.

"What on earth is going on?"

Brother Zhu answered her question.

【The villain is reborn.】

The interjected 777 hurriedly added: "The villain had already begun cultivating power while in Jiang State."

No wonder.

She had always felt something was off; it turned out the problem lay here.

【Chongyuan State had long been under his control; ascending the throne was merely a matter of time.】

777 flared: "Why steal my lines? What do you want? Need you to suck up here?!"

【Hehe.】

777 exploded: "Say 'hehe' again and I'll tear your mouth!"

【Oh oh.】

Jiang Zhi interrupted their quarrel: "Alright, stop arguing, let me be quiet."

What time is it now, and they can still start arguing?

Jiang Zhi went through all her memories once.

In the end she concluded a result.

The clown turned out to be herself!

"Well done, Yan Shizhou, you really know how to play."

All this is merely his scheme. She originally couldn't understand why the Xunchi tribe could so quickly seize border cities; even if Jiang State was in bad shape, it was Yan Shizhou who personally led troops after spending two years clearing rebels to conquer the state—how could anything be left for the Xunchi tribe.

Shortly after the Xunchi tribe occupied the cities, they sent word that only by sending the Sixteenth Princess in marriage would they relinquish the occupied cities, and even refrain from invasion for ten years.

Everything, everything, was personally plotted by Yan Shizhou.

Yet they had met only a few times; why would he still fall for her?

"Could it be that my charm is too great?"

777 nodded: "Exactly!"

【Pfft.】

A stifled laugh came suddenly.

777: "Having a fit? Laughing here."

Seeing they were about to quarrel again, Jiang Zhi hurriedly said: "Alright, someone's coming."

She hadn't deceived them; footsteps indeed appeared outside the door.

"Your Highness~Your Majesty is coming this way."

Jiang Zhi froze, almost thinking it was her old father who cultivates and discourses on the Dao coming over.

But now she is in Chongyuan State, not in Jiang State.

Your Majesty must be Yan Shizhou.

She didn't want to see him; she looked around, threw off the covers, didn't even have time to put on shoes, hurried to the window, pushed open the lattice window, and climbed out.

Outside the hall was a pebble path, alongside a clear stream, tree canopies shading, lush green grass carpeting the courtyard, especially similar to her Jingxi Gong.

She almost thought she was still in Jingxi Gong.

Without time to doubt, she barefoot stepped on the soft lawn, lifted her skirt and trotted to the high wall.

She couldn't climb up, and she didn't want to.

Just as she was torn left and right, a familiar low sound came from behind.

"Princess."

She turned her head and saw Yan Shizhou in a black dragon robe.

His hair was black as ink, his pallid handsome face brushed with a faint golden glow; the dragon robe set off his tall, straight posture, and his dark pupils showed a faint smile.

"Where do you want to escape to?"

Jiang Zhi looked at the person before her, feeling a bit dazed.

Yan Shizhou stepped forward and stopped in front of her.

"You don't recognize your subject anymore?"

Jiang Zhi's expression was dazed, and she couldn't help but pinch her cheek.

"It really hurts."

Her eyes, brimming with tears, trembled slightly, and she unconsciously moved closer to examine him carefully.

"Are you Yan Shizhou?" her voice full of disbelief.

Yan Shizhou said nothing, his gaze falling on her cheek bearing a red mark.

He couldn't help but reach out a finger, but just as it was about to touch her cheek, she dodged.

"Princess, would you be willing to become my Empress?"