Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 512: Chapter 512 Difficult to be a Hostage (7)

“Miss Chang.”

Young Marquis Cui did maintain his composure.

“Young Marquis Cui really has too much free time on his hands, enjoying such trivial and childish activities. No wonder Her Highness the Princess doesn’t hold you in high regard.”

Despite her smiling face, the words spoken made Young Marquis Cui’s anger flare up.

“Chang Yan, who are you calling trivial and childish?”

“Young Marquis Cui, do you have no self-awareness?” Chang Yan said gracefully with a laugh, “What did the Prince of Wei Country ever do to provoke you? Why must you find trouble with him for no reason?”

“Chang Yan, when have I ever troubled him? Can’t I simply greet him?”

“He doesn’t even want to deal with you, don’t you realize?”

“Is it an honor for him when I greet him?”

Chuzheng interjected, “This one… let me remind you, I am the Prince of Wei Country.”

He paused.

“Truth be told, it’s an honor for you to speak to me.”

“You, a hostage…”

Chuzheng’s face was indifferent: “Oh, but I am still a prince.”

A hostage is still a hostage with status.

[…] Sis, I think you’re mistaken about your own status, really, no hostage has ever been this arrogant!

Chuzheng: Now there is one.

Chang Yan covered her lips to laugh.

Young Marquis Cui’s composure was somewhat hard to maintain.

“Oh my, Young Marquis Cui, I just saw the Princess over there,” she began, “and she was surrounded by numerous scions of noble families. If you don’t go now, who knows what the Princess might think…”

Chang Yan’s words were not yet finished when Young Marquis Cui ran off like the wind.

“A footloose and fancy-free playboy.”

Chang Yan cursed under her breath, then turned her head and curtsied to Chuzheng: “Chang Yan has seen the Thirteenth Prince.”

Chuzheng nodded noncommittally: “Miss Chang.”

Chang Yan, the Prime Minister’s precious daughter.

“About that last incident, I haven’t thanked you yet,” Chang Yan said.

“I only wanted the thing in your hand, I wasn’t helping you.” This little lady insisted he had helped her out of trouble, but he really just wanted to be a spendthrift.

He had not intended to help her out of trouble.

It was a misunderstanding.

A huge misunderstanding!

Perhaps it was because of this misunderstanding that Chang Yan had just now helped him get out of trouble—although he didn’t need it.

“I know, I won’t talk nonsense,” Chang Yan said with a knowing look, “Don’t worry, it’s our secret.”

Chuzheng: “…”

What secret?

What script are you adding to yourself?

“As for that wastrel from the Cui Family, Thirteenth Prince need not worry, he is just relying on his family status, with no real skill, and only bullies the weak and fears the strong.”

“…” I am not afraid.

“If the Thirteenth Prince needs help with anything in the future, you can come to me.”

“…” No need, I can handle it myself.

Chang Yan, acting very familiar, talked with Chuzheng for quite a while.

Thus, many people in the crowd began to whisper and point.

It was probably because of that previous rumor.

Chang Yan’s friends hurried over to pull her away. They hadn’t gone far when Young Marquis Cui came storming back.

“Princess Yun Lan was not over there at all, Chang Yan, you deceived me!”

“Young Marquis Cui, I never said it was Princess Yun Lan,” Chang Yan replied, “You didn’t ask me, how can you blame me?”

“Chang Yan!”

“Ah!”

A sudden scream erupted from the crowd.

Young Marquis Cui had not yet reacted when Chang Yan suddenly kicked out: “Pervert!”

Young Marquis Cui fell to the ground, a chill running up his backside; he looked down to find his trousers had somehow fallen down…

Young Marquis Cui’s face instantly turned red, and he frantically picked up his trousers.

Chuzheng leisurely sipped his tea, indifferent to the commotion nearby.

[Sis, we are a respectable Spendthrift System, can we not resort to such low tactics?]

Chuzheng, eager to try: So you agree that I should take him out?

This is blatant enough, I presume!

I’m looking forward to this!

[…]

The King’s Account went into hiding.

–

With the ladies’ shrieking in the background, Young Marquis Cui left dejectedly, clutching his trousers. He likely had no face to show himself again.

Princess Yun Lan came over with the Emperor and Empress of Jin.

Princess Yun Lan was born to the Empress.

Before the birth of Princess Yun Lan, the Empress was not favored by the Emperor of Jin.

Since the Princess was born, the Emperor’s affection for her grew immensely, and the Empress too started to enjoy his undiminished favor.

Everyone said Princess Yun Lan was a star of fortune.

“The Prince of Wei Country is here too?” The Emperor of Jin saw Chuzheng and commented indifferently.

“Father, it was I who invited the Prince of Wei Country,” Princess Yun Lan took the initiative to say, “The whole Imperial Palace is bustling with joy, and it’s so lonely for the Prince of Wei Country to be alone.”

“That’s true, Yun Lan is right,” the Emperor of Jin turned his head, all smiles, “Our Yun Lan is so kind-hearted.”

The ministers below echoed one after another, praising Princess Yun Lan to the skies.

The Emperor of Jin was, of course, delighted and unblinkingly lavished rewards.

The main purpose of the lantern festival was not to view the lanterns.

It was for matchmaking.

After a round of mutual flattery, they entered the matchmaking segment.

The main forces were the ministers, with one Minister leading the charge, suggesting a match for some scion of a noble family, smoothly entering the topic.

The ladies had no right to speak, and upon hearing their names mentioned, could only lower their heads shyly.

Chuzheng felt they were quite boring.

Sitting in her place, she was almost nodding off to sleep.

It was also fortunate that she was seated toward the back—after all, as a hostage from an enemy state, how could she be arranged to sit in the front?—so the focus of attention was not on her.

Who would have thought that Princess Yun Lan suddenly turned the topic to her.

“Father, look, the Prince of Wei Country has been in Jin for so many years, always living alone. How desolate,” she said.

“Hmm?” the Emperor of Jin raised an eyebrow slightly, “What does Yun Lan suggest?”

“Why not grant a beauty to the Prince of Wei Country, for him to have someone caring by his side?”

The whole venue fell silent.

Under the colorful sea of lantern lights, the young men were as elegant as jade, refined and serene.

She held a teacup in her hand, her fingertips resting on the rim of the cup, now slightly tilting her head, looking over as their gazes met hers.

Her pitch-black eyes were indifferent like calm water, without any ripples.

Scattered light shone in her eyes, like stars strewn across them, silent and eternal…

Why hadn’t they realized before that this hostage possessed such an air of elegance?

The Emperor of Jin was the first to break the strange silence, “I wonder what the Prince of Wei Country’s opinion is?”

He had ordered people to investigate this Prince of Wei Country who bought so many paintings for no apparent reason.

Up until now, there had been no results.

It seemed he just enjoyed himself, wanting to buy so many paintings.

His behavior and actions were increasingly alien to what he understood…

“Father, the Prince of Wei Country would certainly have no objections,” Princess Yun Lan eagerly replied, “It is a blessing that many seek but cannot obtain.”

“Hahaha,” the Emperor of Jin raised his hand and tapped Princess Yun Lan, “Only you know how to speak so well.”

Princess Yun Lan stuck out her tongue.

“Then, in the Princess’s view, who is suitable?”

“I believe ordinary people are certainly not worthy of the Prince of Wei Country…”

Chuzheng’s fingertips tapped the edge of the teacup, making a silent and faint sound.

These damned people, could they truly have the decency to grant her a beauty?

Chuzheng watched their harmonious performance with a stony expression.

Princess Yun Lan quickly raised her hand with a pat.

A woman dressed as a palace attendant entered, bowing her head.

The venue once again plunged into silence.

Many eyes anticipating drama fixed upon Chuzheng.

This was not about bestowing her a beauty.

It was about humiliating her in front of so many people.