Chapter 73: The Lost Princess Bai Yueguang 4 Move to this princess’s side palace…

Xuanping Palace City.

Princess Zhaohua, accompanied by two rows of palace maids, marched in a mighty procession straight to the courtyard where the hostage lived.

She was used to being flamboyant, and her outings were always so grand. That courtyard was in the most remote part of Xuanping Palace, and was diagonally opposite to the Yaoguang Palace where the princess lived.

This place is too small to accommodate such a group of people.

Wen Qianning raised her eyebrows, lifted her skirt, and walked around a pothole with disgust.

She had always lived a life of luxury, with a maid even holding an umbrella for her when she walked. Now that she had stepped into this dilapidated courtyard, she couldn't help feeling a little unhappy.

"Is this the residence of Dayan's hostage?" she turned around and asked.

The personal maid Zhuyue responded in a low voice.

Wen Qianning snorted softly, "How shabby."

Pushing open the courtyard door, a cool air hit me in the face. The furnishings in the room were simple, with only a few bamboo scrolls and an inkstone on the desk, and the bed was only covered with a thin blanket.

Compared with the magnificent scene in her side hall with its fragrant incense and piles of brocade quilts, it was a world of difference.

Ji Hanlin was sitting at his desk copying a book. Hearing the noise, he looked up.

Even when he saw that the person coming was Wen Qianning, his eyes remained calm and deep like an ancient well without ripples.

Wen Qianning paused slightly. She was used to seeing flattering looks in her daily life, but the male protagonist's indifferent look when he saw her like this actually piqued her interest even more.

"Greetings, Princess. I'm sorry for not welcoming you." The young man's tone was neither cold nor warm, and it was unclear whether it was polite or distant. "Why did Your Highness come here so suddenly?"

"As soon as this princess felt better, she wanted to come see you." Wen Qianning walked over to the table and tapped the surface lightly, saying disdainfully, "Tsk, you don't even have a decent decoration. How pitiful."

Ji Hanlin didn't respond and continued to grind the ink with his eyes lowered.

Wen Qianning felt even more complicated when she saw him like this. So she calmed herself down and pretended to bully him. She lowered her body, her long eyelashes fluttering, "Master Ji, I feel sorry for you living here... How about, from now on, you stay by my side?"

"That's it. Hurry up and pack up and move into this princess's palace. At least you won't have to endure this loneliness anymore."

She made the decision without further ado.

Ji Hanlin paused what he was doing and frowned slightly.

He stared at the girl in front of him, his eyes dark and unclear: "Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but I'm used to this place, so there's no need to bother you anymore."

Refuse? But if Ji Hanlin moved in under her nose, at least she could protect him and prevent the other princes from bullying him. As for Bai Yueguang's humiliation of him, Wen Qianning would know how to handle it. So, she didn't have to force him to move out.

"Oh?" Wen Qianning stretched out her words, her fingers gently brushing the back of his hand as she smiled sweetly, "But this princess has already spoken to the emperor, and he has also agreed to let you accompany him from now on... Could it be that Master Ji is trying to disobey his order?"

Feeling those soft hands brushing against his skin, Ji Hanlin's eyes darkened.

The girl was dressed in a bright palace dress, with an innocent and pampered look in her eyes, as if her previous action was just an unintentional mistake, which inexplicably made him feel a little irritated.

"What tricks are you trying to play?" Ji Hanlin asked.

Wen Qianning curled her lips and feigned innocence, "How could this princess do that? I just think it's boring for you to stay here alone. Besides..." She rolled her eyes and lowered her voice, "It's an honor for you to move to this princess's side hall."

Reason told Ji Hanlin that he should keep his distance from this spoiled little princess, and he had always done so, neither offending her nor wanting to get close to her.

But unfortunately, I don't know what was wrong with Wen Qianning, she actually noticed him and targeted him again and again. Moreover, she now has the support of Emperor Xuanping's order. If he refuses, it would be disobeying orders.

...Where do I have any choice?

After a long time, Ji Hanlin's Adam's apple rolled slightly, he curled the corners of his lips, and a very light sneer escaped.

"In that case, let's do as the princess says. Thank you for your kindness."

Wen Qianning was secretly pleased with herself. She was like a cat that had caught its prey, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes sparkling. "Hmph, if you know what's best for you, I won't keep idle people. From now on, you have to be by my side at all times, understand?"

"Yes." Ji Hanlin answered fluently.

"Then you should pack up well, Zhuiyun, Zhuyue. You will help Master Ji move to the side hall later." Wen Qianning smiled happily. After giving instructions to the palace servants, she turned around and left. Her movements were so light that her skirt fluttered.

The young man sat in the shadows, his gaze fixed on her back, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Zhuyue watched Ji Hanlin stand up and collect his belongings one by one.

The young man had a slender figure and a cool demeanor. Even when he was just packing up a few old things, his movements were extremely calm. He had handsome features, eyes as deep as autumn water, and even if he was only wearing the most ordinary young man's clothes, it couldn't hide the sharp and noble aura in his bones.

Zhuyue sighed secretly in his heart.

He is clearly the prince of Dayan, but now he has fallen to this state... These princesses are really going too far.

Her eyes revealed a hint of pity. She couldn't help but turn her head away, quietly tugged at Zhuiyun's sleeve, and whispered in a low voice, "Don't you think... the princess has gone a bit too far? It was all fine to ask Master Ji to help copy the homework before, but later she even asked him to bring footbath water, and now she wants him to stay by her side... This is clearly what a lowly person would do. After all, he is also a hostage of Dayan, with a status that is there, how can he do this-"

Before she could finish her words, Zhuiyun's eyes became fierce and he immediately glared at her.

"Be careful with your words!" Zhuiyun shouted in a low voice, staring coldly at Zhuyue. "How can you say anything about the master's good or bad? If you say anything more, watch your tongue."

Zhuyue choked and pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. Under Zhuiyun's serious gaze, she didn't say anything more.

But she felt suffocated and depressed.

Although she was a palace maid, she was also proud. Zhuyue had a poor background and had entered the palace since she was a child. What humiliation had she not suffered? But she never felt inferior to others. Instead, she always told herself that if she had the chance, she could hold her head high and live a normal life.

But sometimes, she really resented Princess Zhaohua... On what basis could a princess rely on her noble birth to have no effort at all, born to be the center of attention? She acted arbitrarily, ordering people around, even on a whim, and could reduce a prince to a mere servant.

Zhuyue sneered in his heart.

If she were born into such a status, she wouldn't necessarily be worse than Princess Zhaohua! She refused to accept it. Why should she be superior and act recklessly just because she was born into a good family?

Thinking of this, Zhuyue felt even more dissatisfied. She lowered her eyelashes and tried her best to hide the emotions in her eyes.

Zhuiyun glanced at her and saw through Zhuyue's little thoughts.

The hearts of those in the palace were unpredictable, especially those serving the princess, who had to be extremely cautious in their words and actions. If Zhuyue's mindset was not careful and her master noticed, she would be expelled at best, or worse... her fate would be even more dire.

"Alright." Considering how they had served the princess together for so long, Zhuiyun couldn't bear it. He sighed and soothed, "I know you're young, and sometimes you just don't understand things. You think the princess is being too harsh, but she's always been harsh with us in words. She's never really punished us. And we're treated first-rate in the palace. Because of that, our family outside can live a good life, right?"

"Princess Zhaohua is favored by the Emperor and possesses a capricious personality. She acts according to her heart. While outsiders may see her as unruly and unreasonable, we, as those who have served her closely, should understand that she has her limits... If someone else grew up in such an environment, they might not be as good as she is."

Zhuiyun said this, shaking his head in his heart, not knowing whether Zhuyue had really listened.

On the other hand, Ji Hanlin didn't say a word from beginning to end, as if he didn't care about their whispers at all.

Several palace maids carried a heavy wooden box and hurried towards the side hall of the Princess' Yaoguang Palace. The winter wind swept through the corridor, picking up the remaining snow and letting it fall on their shoulders.

Ji Hanlin remained silent all the way. However, when he stepped into the side hall, he couldn't help but stand still when he saw the scene in front of him, his long eyelashes drooped and his eyes were dim.

Because... unlike what he imagined, where Princess Zhaohua would just find a shabby thatched hut to humiliate him, although this side hall of Yaoguang Palace was not spacious, it was covered with a thick brocade carpet everywhere.

There was a floor heating system in the room, and the charcoal fire was burning brightly, dispelling the bone-chilling cold of winter.

The other furnishings in the house were not luxurious but exquisite, and the bed curtains were made of thick silk.

He had never been favored by the Emperor of Dayan since childhood, and he didn't have what his other brothers had. But the side hall before him was actually much better than any place he had lived in during his youth.

This actually caused Ji Hanlin to feel a little doubtful.

Princess Zhaohua, are you really trying to humiliate him? Or is there something else going on?

His eyes swept around the room and finally landed on Wen Qianning who was not far away.

Wen Qianning noticed his scrutinizing eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. She immediately snorted to hide her inexplicable guilt.

"What are you looking at?" She leaned against the door, her delicate hands playing with a fan, pretending to be nonchalant. "Don't think I'll show you any favor. This is the most humble place in my Yaoguang Palace. Just bear with it."

When she said this, her eyes and eyebrows still showed the same arrogance and pride as before.

Ji Hanlin: "...Okay."

Zhui Yun, standing by, lowered her eyes and remained silent, smiling to herself as she carefully arranged Ji Hanlin's belongings. She knew that the princess was tough on the outside but soft on the inside, and that there were some things that needed no comment.

Wen Qianning looked him up and down, noticing that his clothes were rather thin. Her brows furrowed. "Why are you dressed so lightly? It's the coldest time of year. Are you planning to catch a cold in this princess's side palace so you can accuse me of criticizing a foreign prince?"

As soon as the words fell, Wen Qianning turned around and ordered the palace servants: "Go get a tape measure, and ask someone to measure him and make him some clothes."

Ji Hanlin was stunned and subconsciously refused: "No need."

"If you say it's not necessary, then it's not necessary?" Wen Qianning was extremely dissatisfied and blocked his words without giving any explanation.

When the palace servants brought the tape measure and other tools, a sly glint flashed in the girl's eyes. She didn't let anyone else do it, but took the tape measure herself. A malicious smile appeared on the corner of her lips, and she slowly walked up to the boy: "This princess... suddenly wanted to measure your clothes herself. Humph, everyone else, please leave."

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