Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 513 -513 Difficult to be a Hostage (8)

Chapter 513 -513 Difficult to be a Hostage (8)

“Lift your head.”

Princess Yun Lan commanded.

The palace attendant kneeling on the ground seemed somewhat afraid, cautiously lifting her head.

“Ah…”

The women closest to the scene suddenly exclaimed in shock, covering their eyes, not daring to look again.

Hisss…

Wasn’t that just too ugly?

Buck teeth, bulging eyes… and exceptionally square features.

There definitely wouldn’t be such a palace attendant in the Imperial Palace.

She must have been brought in from outside the palace.

In an instant, everyone understood—this was intentionally done to embarrass the Prince of Wei Country.

The Princess’s dislike of the Prince of Wei Country was no secret.

Making the Prince of Wei Country look foolish whenever there was a chance had become the norm.

Of course, the Princess had been arrogant for more than a day or two, and the court officials were well aware of it in their hearts.

It’s just that they didn’t know what the Prince of Wei Country had done to offend Her Highness again… to deserve being presented with such a ‘beauty’.

“Prince of Wei Country, this is the beauty I have carefully selected for you. Are you satisfied?”

Princess Yun Lan raised an eyebrow as she looked at Chuzheng.

The malice in her eyes was unhidden.

“The Princess’s taste is truly unique, quite befitting of the Princess,” Chuzheng responded drily.

Unique taste… quite befitting…

Wasn’t that implying the Princess was just like this ‘beauty’?

The courtiers were trembling inside.

Had the Prince of Wei Country gone mad?

To dare to speak to the Princess in such a manner.

“Wei Shisan, what did you just say!” Princess Yun Lan exploded at once, “Whom are you saying resembles her?”

Chuzheng earnestly said, “Did the Princess not praise this as a beauty? Did I say something wrong?”

That sincerely aggrieved expression seemed to accuse Princess Yun Lan—it was clearly you who said it, what does it have to do with me!

Princess Yun Lan: “…”

Chuzheng: “Golden words, shouldn’t the Princess understand? Or is it that the Princess has a problem with her vision and cannot distinguish between beauty and ugliness?”

Princess Yun Lan: “…”

Princess Yun Lan was so angry that her chest heaved intensely, her face alternating between shades of green and white.

The court officials didn’t even dare to breathe too hard.

The Emperor of Jin found it difficult to watch his treasured princess being humiliated.

“Prince of Wei Country,” he said sternly, “The Princess saw that you had no one to attend to you and was kind enough to find you a caring person. How can you be so unappreciative?”

Chuzheng responded icily, “The Princess’s kindness might be better reserved for Your Majesty. After all, it is out of filial piety by the Princess. Surely Your Majesty would not fail to appreciate the Princess’s good intentions.”

Chuzheng didn’t speak much not because she couldn’t, but because she simply couldn’t be bothered.

Should there be a need to contend, Chuzheng claimed she had never been outdone by anyone.

Emperor of Jin: “…”

The ministers: “…”

The Prince of Wei Country truly must have lost his mind!

“Wei Shisan, this is a reward from me to you, do you dare defy the decree?”

“Would you also dare to have my head chopped off?” I’m looking forward to it! That would give me a reason to take care of you!

Princess Yun Lan: “…”

Emperor of Jin: “…”

He’s really taking advantage of his status as a hostage from the enemy country to do whatever he pleases!

The Emperor of Jin was not afraid to kill him, but the trouble that would follow…

The Emperor of Jin needed to weigh his options.

Just as the stalemate was unfolding, the sound of slicing through the air came from the side, and two people in black suddenly appeared.

“Assassin! There’s an assassin!!”

“Protect His Majesty, the Empress!”

“Guards…”

“Ah!!”

Under the sea of lanterns, chaos ensued.

The assassins headed straight for the Emperor of Jin. The court officials were so frightened they scattered like rats, while some who sought to show off crowded closer to the Emperor.

In the midst of the chaos, Chuzheng sat calmly.

As if the chaos had nothing to do with her.

Indeed, it didn’t.

The assassins weren’t coming for her, after all.

Imperial Guards swiftly entered the scene, protecting the Emperor of Jin and the Empress.

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, the assassins made a quick escape.

“Chase them!”

Some Imperial Guards remained to protect, while the rest pursued the fleeing attackers.

The Emperor of Jin trembled with fear, collapsing onto the Dragon Throne, but he could not show it.

The ministers were also greatly startled, some so afraid of death that they were now prostrate on the ground, unable to rise.

With an assassin, the matter of bestowing the “beauty” was suspended.

The Emperor of Jin ordered that the assassin must be caught, and the Imperial Guards commenced a thorough search of the Imperial Palace.

–

“Your Majesty, we found this in the residence of the Prince of Wei Country?”

The Imperial Guards hurried over, presenting a scroll the length of a palm.

Princess Yun Lan’s gaze swept toward Chuzheng, a mixture of mockery and confidence in her expression.

The Emperor of Jin frowned as a Palace Attendant next to him took and handed it over.

The Emperor of Jin unfolded it, but in an instant, he flung it onto the body of an Imperial Guard: “I asked you to search for the assassin, what is this you’ve searched for, eh!?”

The scroll fell to the floor and unfurled completely.

It depicted several wolves, each in a different pose, yet all imposing and ferocious, with vicious eyes.

Upon seeing the contents of the drawing, Princess Yun Lan’s expression also changed.

How could this be…

The Imperial Guards were also perplexed: “Your Majesty, it wasn’t like this before…”

The Emperor of Jin raged: “Has the assassin been caught?”

The Emperor of Jin was even more worried about his own life.

“…No.”

“Then go!”

Chastised by the Emperor of Jin, the Imperial Guards left with confusion clouding their heads.

For a moment, Princess Yun Lan did not react, and by the time she did, the Imperial Guards had already departed.

The scroll with the drawing of the wolves lay lonely on the ground.

Princess Yun Lan looked toward Chuzheng.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with ferocity as she clutched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

Chuzheng sipped her tea with a calm and collected air.

It was a bit cold now.

–

Inevitably, the assassin was not found, and the Emperor of Jin, still shaken, dismissed the court.

Supported by Palace Attendants, Princess Yun Lan passed by Chuzheng, warning: “Wei Shisan, you watch your step!”

Chuzheng tucked her hands into her sleeves, her eyes calm as she watched Princess Yun Lan leave.

“Master.” Xiao Shanzi approached cautiously: “This time, Princess Yun Lan surely won’t let me go.”

Princess Yun Lan had framed him, planting evidence of Chuzheng’s communications with Wei Country.

Initially, he was undecided.

But in the end, he decided to tell Chuzheng.

He hadn’t expected such a development today.

Chuzheng believed that perhaps Princess Yun Lan had arranged the assassin.

To trouble me, she’s gone through so much effort.

Truly, she has outdone herself.

As the saying goes, I should repay her in kind.

“What’s there to fear, just insist that you left everything in order,” Chuzheng advised Xiao Shanzi.

Xiao Shanzi: “Will Princess Yun Lan believe that?”

Chuzheng: “Does it matter whether she believes it or not?”

Xiao Shanzi: “…”

How could it not matter? If Princess Yun Lan suspects him, could he still keep his life?

–

Chuzheng followed the palace wall on her way back, the path’s lamps either neglected by Palace Attendants or extinguished by the wind, with only a few still alight.

Xiao Shanzi held up a lantern, illuminating the way for her.

Chuzheng did not hurry, her mind occupied with thoughts of how to reciprocate Princess Yun Lan’s “gift.”

“Greetings to the Third Prince.”

Xiao Shanzi’s voice brought her back to reality.

Chuzheng looked ahead.

Two figures were approaching from the other side.

The man in front raised an eyebrow, his tone playful: “The Prince of Wei Country, eh?”

The original host’s memories did not include this man.

But Xiao Shanzi called him the Third Prince… That would make him Jin Country’s Third Prince.

“I have seen the Prince of Wei Country,” said the person holding the lantern behind the man, bowing in respect.

“Third Prince,” Chuzheng responded politely, though she did not recognize him.

The man chuckled lightly and stepped forward, walking toward her at an unhurried pace.

He did not stop at all but walked straight past her.

As he passed by, the light grew brighter, and Chuzheng caught a fleeting glimpse, thinking that this Third Prince was extremely handsome.

But by the time she wanted to take a closer look, the Third Prince was already far away.