Chapter 380: Soft‑rice Man

The princess's words were truly cutting to the heart.

The green‑robed minor official trembled with fright, quickly touching his head to the ground: "I, your subordinate, dare not!"

"Why wouldn't you dare? If I had come any later, you'd have dragged the prince consort off to the Dàlǐ Sì!" Ji Yaoyue said sternly.

The green‑robed minor official trembled: "I, your subordinate, merely… merely because the prince consort and the Heir of the Broadcast Marquis had some misunderstanding!"

Upon hearing this, the Heir of the Broadcast Marquis felt his scalp go numb, quickly scrambling out: "I, your servant, merely… merely made a joke, I didn't know he… he was the prince consort, Your Highness, please calm your anger!"

The Broadcast Marquis's family originated as slaves of the Holy Virtue Empress; before the imperial household, they naturally could only call themselves servants.

However, Ji Yaoyue now had an extra whip in her hand, which she passed to a female attendant nearby.

The originally gentle female attendant instantly furrowed her brows and lashed out with a whip.

"Smack!"

"Ah!"

The Heir of the Broadcast Marquis screamed, tumbling head over heels seven or eight times, a bloody whip mark appearing on his body.

Ji Yaoyue seemed not to have noticed, her phoenix eyes glancing over Song An, Zhu Han, and the others.

The group tensed, stepped back slightly, and bowed again.

Only then did Ji Yaoyue look at the startled Heng Xian, showing a bashful maiden's smile, she took hold of his arm and stepped toward the jade palanquin.

Wherever they passed, the "Black Cavalry", the "Great Han General", and rows of eunuchs and palace maids all bowed.

Until Heng Xian and Ji Yaoyue entered the jade palanquin side by side.

Inside the jade palanquin it was warm as spring, exuding a faint floral scent; its furnishings were luxurious and extravagant to the extreme.

Heng Xian had no time to admire, turning to look at Ji Yaoyue: "Thank you, Your Highness the Princess!"

"What's the need for formality between us?" Ji Yaoyue pressed close, tweaked his collar, and gave a hehe laugh.

Before the palanquin door could close, a few palace maids jumped in fright and hurriedly rolled the door shut.

With no outsiders watching, Heng Xian couldn't resist pinching Ji Yaoyue's cheek: "I'm not late, am I? I rushed here, slow or fast, and arrived before the new year!"

Ji Yaoyue's face flushed crimson: "You should have sent me a letter; otherwise, suffering these people's grievances would be terribly boring!"

"Cough cough…"

Before Heng Xian could speak, another deliberate cough came from inside the palanquin.

Ji Yaoyue seemed to have just remembered something, quickly pulling a little distance from Heng Xian.

In the corner of the soft couch sat a girl about sixteen or seventeen, petite and delicate, her eyes large and spirited; at that moment she was eating an apple, stared in surprise at the two, then looked at Ji Yaoyue: "Yaoyue… you actually have this side! Back then who told me that even if I were to die alone, I wouldn't seek a man, for all men in the world are vulgar!"

Ji Yaoyue brushed her ear‑side hair: "Just kidding; fate's not something you can control half‑heartedly, you don't understand!"

"Yes, I don't understand; I merely saw a girl who had lost herself, blushing red‑faced before her beloved brother!" the girl pouted.

"Where's the red? Only you would say that!"

Ji Yaoyue grew more embarrassed, glanced at Heng Xian, then remembered to introduce, quickly pointing at the girl: "He's called Jiang Xiaoyu, granddaughter of Dean Jiang of the Statecraft Academy, my childhood playmate who loves to spout nonsense—don't mind her."

Heng Xian nodded: "Mm! I don't mind!"

"Princess, shall we return?"

At that moment, a request came from outside from a female attendant.

Ji Yaoyue waved her sleeve: "Return!"

"All aboard!" the eunuch shouted loudly.

The jade palanquin rose slowly, the luxurious carriage and entourage turned about and headed back.

Only after they gradually drifted away did ordinary townsfolk and merchants slowly rise, chattering nonstop.

Song An, Zhu Han, and the others also straightened up, let out a breath, then only then recalled the Heir of the Broadcast Marquis.

Upon approaching, they saw the heir was unharmed, merely frightened; he covered his wound, neither crying nor laughing, and said to the crowd: "Who would have thought he'd be the prince consort? I never expected that!"

Zhu Han pondered, then said: "This person must be the one the Princess Taiping herself selected six or seven years ago, after which the emperor sent officials to finalize the marriage—a scion of some obscure local clan!"

"He's certainly climbed a high branch! And to the Princess Taiping, who is as beautiful as a fairy!" a youth who came with Zhu Han said sourly.

Another spoke impartially: "It is heard that Princess Taiping has been intelligent and quick‑witted since childhood, decisive, able to infer broadly, deeply favored by the emperor; many state policies are even used to test her, and her choosing this person proves that besides his good looks, he must have exceptional talent!"

Song An looked at Deng Wu and Han Yu: "How did you two encounter him?"

Han Yu could only give a rough account of the events.

Zhu Han and the others exchanged glances, then said: "If that's the case, this person's cultivation must be unfathomably deep!"

Song An crossed his arms: "The imperial family naturally selects a spouse of outstanding talent; this person must have extraordinary aptitude!"

Zhu Han flicked open his folding fan with a swish: "But Princess Taiping this time may have stirred up a great calamity!"

"Oh? Do tell the details!" Song An said.

Zhu Han narrowed his eyes: "The princess and this person aren't even married yet, yet they call him prince consort and ride together in the same carriage—tsk tsk, the imperial reputation…"

……

"You're that Heng Xian? A disciple of the Tianyuan Sect, they say your talent is excellent."

Inside the palanquin, the three sat side by side, and Jiang Xiaoyu questioned.

Heng Xian nodded seriously: "Exactly!"

Jiang Xiaoyu opened his mouth: "Don't you know how to be modest?"

Heng Xian said: "You're speaking the truth; why should I pretend to be modest?"

Jiang Xiaoyu let out a breath: "Just now you were timid!"

Heng Xian asked: "What do you mean?"

Jiang Xiaoyu said: "When you met those people, you didn't even dare to get off the carriage!"

Heng Xian replied: "I'm not afraid to get down; I just couldn't be bothered!"

Jiang Xiaoyu widened his eyes: "Then you're just waiting for them to rush in and seize you?"

Heng Xian said: "They can't break in!"

Jiang Xiaoyu said: "You want to attack them, stop them? They are officials of the Dàlǐ Sì, representing the Great Zhou Dynasty, do you dare?"

Heng Xian shook his head: "I won't attack!"

Jiang Xiaoyu was utterly confused: "If you don't attack, how do you know they can't break in?"

Heng Xian said: "I know the princess will send someone to rescue me!"

"Ah?" Jiang Xiaoyu said: "You're a big man, yet you're so cowardly, not thinking of a way yourself, but hoping a woman will save you!"

Heng Xian, completely calm: "If I can eat soft rice, why would I bother with all that effort?"

Jiang Xiaoyu's eyes widened even more as she looked at Ji Yaoyue: "He's actually here to eat your soft rice, what kind of man did you find, are you crazy?"

Ji Yaoyue wasn't angry at all; instead, she smiled, peeled an imperial tribute orange, and handed it to Heng Xian.

Heng Xian opened his mouth.

Ji Yaoyue pursed her lips and smiled, obediently feeding him.

"Ah..." Jiang Xiaoyu almost went berserk, pointing at Ji Yaoyue: "Ji Yaoyue, you say you wouldn't fall for a soft-rice guy, right? You say!"

Ji Yaoyue blinked: "No, if he wants to eat, let him eat; I'm not unable to support him!"

"Ah..." Jiang Xiaoyu then looked at Heng Xian: "You're joking with me, right? You definitely aren't really here to eat soft rice, right?"

Heng Xian shook his head, solemn: "I've decided to eat soft rice for life!"

"Ah..." Jiang Xiaoyu suddenly leapt out the window and vanished into the alleyway in a blink.

"Hahaha..."

Inside the jade carriage, a burst of laughter rang out.

Outside, the eunuchs and palace maids couldn't help but glance at each other.

(End of chapter)