Chapter 111 A Counter-Plot: The man's expression remained unchanged, only his eyes deepened...
The man's expression remained unchanged, only his eyes appeared even more profound.
He suddenly raised his voice: "Chu Yixin, prepare the meal."
"Alright!" A familiar, high-pitched voice came from outside the jade screen.
Jiang Zhuoying, however, was getting impatient. She frowned, her tone more urgent than before: "Who has an appetite right now? Let's discuss this matter first!"
Qi Fan stared at her, his eyes calm: "I once said that you must always remain calm. If you lose your composure and can't eat because of a small matter, you've already lost the first move."
Jiang Zhuoying suddenly stopped talking. She glared at him, then leaned on his shoulder to stand up and walked out without looking back.
As she walked, she shouted loudly, "Alright! Then this Crown Princess will go to see Lord Xiao. I've heard that Lord Xiao was once the top scholar in the imperial examination. He must be well-read and exceptionally intelligent. Your Highness the Crown Prince, please continue with the appointment!"
These were just words spoken in anger, and were also meant to provoke him.
The affairs of the Duke of Rui's mansion are top secret; they cannot be casually leaked out.
Qi Fan watched the slender, petite figure disappear quickly behind the screen. He lowered his eyes, pinched his brow, and before he could even call out the name, Chu Yixin rushed in.
"My lord? What happened to the empress? Why did she leave without even looking back?"
He's only set out halfway through the meal, should he continue?
Qi Fan glanced at her: "Move to Kun Ning Palace."
Chu Yixin immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "This servant understands."
...
However, he soon realized that he had let his guard down too soon.
The kitchen staff, along with their master, were all locked outside the Kunning Palace.
"Her Majesty said she wanted someone to calm her down."
Xiangyue's voice came from through the crack in the closed door.
Chu Yixin fell silent instantly. He looked up at Qi Fan and waited for instructions.
With so many servants around, the Crown Princess is really showing no respect to His Highness.
Even so, Chu Yixin did not believe that her master would get angry on the spot.
The most powerful person in the Crown Prince's residence is, on the surface, the Crown Prince, but any of the more astute servants know that the Crown Princess is the most powerful person!
As expected, Qi Fan waited for about fifteen minutes, but the message transmitted inside remained unchanged.
The man pondered for a moment, then silently led Chu Yixin away.
If he doesn't leave for a moment, the people inside won't serve meals for a moment.
Nothing is more important to her than her three meals a day now.
*
Xiangyue had been waiting at the door. As soon as Qi Fan left, she ran to inform Jiang Zhuoying.
"He's gone, so he's gone. Go to the kitchen and get some food. Remember to lock the door tonight and don't let him in through the front door!"
Xiangyue paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
After Xiangyue left, Jiang Zhuoying turned to Xiangxing and instructed him, "Go find me some military books, especially those about strategy and tactics. Go buy them now."
Although Qi Fan is someone she can rely on, she can't necessarily depend on him, so she has to come up with her own solutions.
"Yes, this servant will go right away."
...
After lunch, Jiang Zhuoying didn't take a nap at all, instead leaning against the soft couch, engrossed in studying those obscure and difficult military treatises...
This level of dedication is much stronger than when he was a child.
She felt a pang of regret; she had been too playful in her childhood. If she had studied these books thoroughly earlier, she might have already found a way to save her father and the others.
Now that Cheng Yun is injured again, it would be very disadvantageous for him if he were detained again after arriving in Luoyang.
Her mind was a jumble of thoughts: her brother with the missing arm, Qi Fan who couldn't be warmed, and this obscure military treatise—all of which made her thoughts a chaotic mess…
"Ugh...Xiangyue! Ugh...Quickly, bring me a spittoon..."
She hadn't vomited for some time, but today, for some reason, the nausea shot from her stomach straight to her throat, and she couldn't suppress it at all.
The two maids immediately scrambled to their feet again. Xiangxing patted her back and kept comforting her, "Miss, don't worry, you'll feel better after you vomit."
When Jiang Zhuoying straightened up again, her eyes were bloodshot and blurry with tears.
Xiangyue hurriedly left with the spittoon in her hand. Xiangxing wiped her lips and gently comforted her, "Why don't you rest for a while?"
Jiang Zhuoying took two deep breaths, then smiled at her with pale lips: "It's okay, I feel much better after throwing up, and my mind is clearer too."
She leaned back against the quiver, paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up: "Xiangxing, go for a walk in the courtyard and tell them that I'm really feeling nauseous, but I can't be persuaded to stop. I have to study this military book."
Xiangxing was slightly taken aback, then immediately nodded with a solemn face: "This servant will go right away."
Jiang Zhuoying nodded and continued reading the book in her hands.
She had no intention of relying on Qi Fan entirely, and as for why she went through such a roundabout way, and why she had to throw a tantrum at noon...
Even when asked, she couldn't contain herself; she was just angry at that moment!
His subordinate turned to the next page, where the words "Using a counter-strategy" were prominently displayed.
Half a day passed, and after dinner, Jiang Zhuoying nestled into her bed. She already had a plan in mind, but she still needed Qi Fan's cooperation.
For now, all she needs to do is wait for someone on the couch.
The door was locked as she had instructed, and the oil lamps inside had all been extinguished.
Given how much Qi Fan cares about her lately, her movements would naturally reach his ears.
As she closed her eyes, half asleep, she heard a faint noise coming from the direction of the open window. She held her breath and waited.
But after waiting for a long time, no one came over.
Jiang Zhuoying opened her eyes and looked out onto the outside of the bed. It was pitch black, but by the moonlight from the window, she could vaguely make out an outline that was facing away from her.
It looks like they're warming themselves by the incense burner.
Her tense heart began to soften. After hesitating for a few moments, she propped herself up and tried to get down.
Before her feet could even slip on her embroidered shoes, a deep, husky voice came from in front of her: "Don't be silly."
She pouted, her voice weak: "What nonsense have I been spouting again?"
The steady footsteps drew near, and her feet landed in his palms. The warmth of his palms was even greater than that of her feet.
The warmth slowly flowed into her body from the soles of his feet. Jiang Zhuoying gently nudged him: "Why are you here?"
"The dignified Crown Prince has actually resorted to petty thieves, scaling walls and sneaking through windows! Tomorrow I'll tell all the servants in the courtyard to make you lose face in this mansion!"
A soft laugh came from the dimly lit, three-dimensional features.
Jiang Zhuoying pursed her lips and poked his palm with her toe.
The next instant brought forth a powerful force.
"Nonsense."
"Nonsense."
The two spoke at the same time, and Jiang Zhuoying pouted: "That's all Your Highness can say."
"Then wouldn't that mean," her voice suddenly softened, "that you just enjoy my foolishness?"
Her eyes sparkled, and her appearance and demeanor exuded charm.
The man glanced at her, tucked his slender legs under the covers, and then stood up.
Jiang Zhuoying was taken aback. Why did she stand up?
According to her, this shouldn't be the case.
The moment the man turned around, she pounced on him, grabbed his shirt, tugged at it gently, and spoke in a sweet, soft voice.
"Crown Prince Brother".
This is what it means to show weakness.
The man turned his head, his voice low and hoarse: "Let go."
"I won't let go," she said sullenly.
"I can't bear it, I'm afraid it will hurt you." His tone became even more somber.
Jiang Zhuoying froze, then abruptly loosened her grip on the hem of her garment, as if it were a hot potato.
But as soon as she let go, she regretted it. If he left, she still had so much to say.
She clearly did nothing.
Why does this guy refuse to be human once it gets dark?
"You rest first, I'll be back in a bit."
Jiang Zhuoying stared blankly in the direction where he disappeared through the window.
"..."
This room does have a bathhouse.
Isn't he usually quite calm?
When the person returned, she was embraced from behind, and her earlobe felt a slight itch.
“A-Zhuo”.
Jiang Zhuoying rolled over and buried her face in his neck: "Do you think this is okay?"
“Since Jiang Lang has secretly sent the message, we will use it as bait... and through him, pass on some false information to the people of Xiyan…”
She had finished speaking, but the man remained silent for a long time, and Jiang Zhuoying was getting a little impatient.
"What are you pretending to be so calm about?"
The man's chest trembled slightly: "Ah Zhuo's plan is brilliant."
Jiang Zhuoying: "..."
"really?"
She asked another question, feeling that it was somewhat unreal to receive such a compliment from this guy.
Could it be that he's just teasing her?
She knew nothing about court affairs and only came up with this plan based on her own ideas.
"Hmm." He held her hand. "Logically, this plan is feasible, except that it will take some effort to work out the details."
Jiang Zhuoying's heart, which was still hanging in mid-air, jumped again: "How so? Was it very time-consuming?"
He, a mere prince, said it would take too much effort; she feared her ideas would be difficult to implement.
The man's voice was slow and deliberate: "Jiang Lang is now involved in court affairs. If he wants to use this to his advantage, many officials will be implicated, and if His Majesty finds out about this, he will inevitably be angry with the Duke's mansion."
Yes.
Jiang Zhuoying nodded. She understood all of this. There were many officials in the court, and it would be absurd for all the civil and military officials to follow his lead and play along.
The emperor's mind is unpredictable. If he were to find out about her uncle's treason, her grandfather, her, and Jiang Ying would all be likely to be held accountable.
"Do you have any other ideas?" she asked urgently.
The man remained calm and slowly hummed in agreement.
Jiang Zhuoying kicked him again, making a slight threat: "Does Crown Prince Brother no longer want me as his Crown Princess?"
They don't care about her at all. Could it be that they want to replace the Crown Princess?
So calm and composed, not in a hurry at all.
She had reasonable grounds to suspect that Qi Fan's feelings for her were not genuine at all.
The man was silent for a moment, then suddenly tightened his grip on her hand: "Don't you know whether I want it or not?"
"..."
Jiang Zhuoying angrily threw off the quilt, sat up abruptly, and didn't forget to glare at him sideways.
The man pursed his lips, then sat up and draped the brocade quilt behind her over her body.
His tone was slightly somber: "Lie down."
Jiang Zhuoying refused, her cheeks flushed, and turned her head away to look elsewhere.
The man paused for a moment: "Don't you want to know my method?"
Jiang Zhuoying turned around and saw Qi Fan gesturing to her where the pillow was. She pursed her lips and then collapsed onto the pillow.
The man disapproved, saying, "Reckless."
Jiang Zhuoying couldn't help but retort, "Only the young have the right to be reckless."
The implication was that he was too old.
The man didn't say a word, but carefully tucked the blankets into her bed and asked if she wanted some water to soothe her throat.
"Yes." The little girl nodded proudly.
After being served water by His Highness the Crown Prince to soothe her throat, Jiang Zhuoying's mood improved considerably.
She tilted her head slightly, intending to get to the point and ask him what method he was thinking, so they could discuss it further.
Before she could even open her mouth, the towering, mountain-like black shadow loomed over her...
"Ugh...you're so lewd..."
Waaah, Jiang Zhuoying was on the verge of tears. She wondered why this guy was suddenly being so considerate, even asking her why she needed to moisten her throat...
After a long while, the moment she touched her lips, they burned with pain.
Unable to hold back any longer, she turned and glared at him fiercely: "Are you even being reasonable?"
If you're going to kiss, why are you kissing so hard?
Her lips must be swollen; how can she face anyone tomorrow?
The man gave her a long, meaningful look: "If you say something wrong, you should be punished."
He couldn't bear to make her stand facing the wall in repentance.
But these little pleasures are still acceptable.
After saying that, he wanted to continue, but Jiang Zhuoying hurriedly bumped into his chest first.
Her voice was thick and muffled: "Although the Crown Prince is ten years older than A-Zhuo, he has many advantages."
"Oh?" His voice was slightly hoarse, sounding somewhat casual.
Jiang Zhuoying tried her best to explain: "The Crown Prince is of high rank and great power, he will definitely protect A-Zhu from harm."
"Moreover, the Crown Prince is knowledgeable and will surely be able to give Ah Zhuo, who has caused trouble, a lot of advice."
"..."
Every word she uttered was subtly guiding the conversation in a certain direction, and the man naturally couldn't fail to notice.
He chuckled softly, his chest trembling slightly.
Jiang Zhuoying suddenly stopped talking and gave him a long, resentful look.
"Your Highness, really! I finally managed to speak my mind, and you still mock me?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: The main story of this book is almost finished, and there will be a side story about the Crown Princess at that time~
Additionally, a new game, "Did the Little Princess Run Away Again Today?", will be launched seamlessly.
A delicate little princess vs. a rough-and-tumble general who knows how to serve a little princess
Those who are interested, please add this to your favorites!
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