The Hostage Girl - Chapter 65-Part 1
Chapter 65-Part 1
Ji Binglin felt quite envious, tilting his head to listen to the lively reading sounds from the academy.
He then said to Jiang Xiurun, “If I were as young as you, I’d surely find a way to enter the academy and listen to the words of the sages.”
Jiang Xiurun laughed and said, “So, has that book I lent you a few days ago sparked your desire for learning? The academy doesn’t discriminate by age when enrolling students. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to recommend you.”
Ji Binglin felt embarrassed and replied, “Thank you for the kind offer, but I just took up a post yesterday as Deputy Supervisor of the Water Transport Bureau. Compared to my previous duties in the Ministry of Works, it’s far busier. Even if I had the desire to immerse myself in scholarly wisdom, I fear I won’t have the chance.”
Jiang Xiurun was stunned. The Water Transport Bureau was known to be a faction firmly loyal to the Crown Prince.
How had Ji Binglin, who in the future would become a staunch royalist, ended up switching sides so unexpectedly?
At this, Ji Binglin bowed to Jiang Xiurun and said, “I came here to thank you for strongly recommending me to His Highness.”
Jiang Xiurun was even more confused.
She had once casually praised this minor official when conversing with the Crown Prince, but it was merely a passing remark.
The Crown Prince hadn’t acted on it, and she had nearly forgotten about it herself.
She murmured a couple of responses while piecing together the situation from Ji Binglin’s words.
It turned out that a few days earlier, for some unknown reason, the Crown Prince suddenly thought of Ji Binglin and inquired in detail about his background and experiences.
He then casually asked him about some water management matters related to the Ministry of Works.
Ji Binglin, being meticulous in his work, gave the Crown Prince comprehensive answers, displaying a level of familiarity even greater than the department head.
Feng Liwu also noticed that most of the regular tasks at the Ministry of Works seemed to have been completed by this minor official.
With a stroke of his brush, he transferred Ji Binglin to the newly established Water Transport Bureau as Deputy Supervisor, a swift and unexpected promotion.
Jiang Xiurun knew well how capable Ji Binglin was.
If he held a high position, he would be the type to boldly challenge the powerful Feng Liwu in court.
Yet in this lifetime, things had taken a strange twist—two former political enemies now seemed to share a mutual respect.
Ji Binglin, convinced that it was Jiang Xiurun who had recommended him, wanted to express his gratitude by saving up one tael of silver from his modest monthly salary to buy a box of pastries and present it to her.
Jiang Xiurun, finding it both amusing and touching, accepted the gift after some back-and-forth, wishing him continued success and reminding him not to forget his brother, who had been drinking with him by the palace gates.
Shortly after parting ways with Ji Binglin, Jiang Xiurun’s carriage arrived, the Crown Prince having come from the office to pick her up.
Perhaps influenced by Jiang Xiurun, the Crown Prince had recently taken to occasionally buying street snacks.
Since it was only on rare whims, there was no concern of anyone poisoning the food.
Today, the Crown Prince bought a small bundle of fried dough twist.
Jiang Xiurun, seeing it, smiled and said, “Is it almost the Cold Food Festival? They’re already selling fried dough twist?”
During the Cold Food Festival, fire was banned for three days, so people prepared these long, golden fried dough twists, known as “cold rations,” which kept for days without spoiling.
When Feng Liwu was young, in the cold palace, he would occasionally receive these slender golden pastries in his rations.
He had found them to be exceptionally delicious, one of the few foods he remembered fondly from his childhood.
Thus, while riding through the streets today, spotting a vendor selling fried dough twist prompted him to have his guard buy a small bundle, which he offered to Jiang Xiurun like a treasure.
But upon hearing her explain that it was just a common food eaten to stave off hunger, he felt slightly disappointed.
Jiang Xiurun found Feng Liwu’s regard for this greasy snack rather pitiable and offered him some of the pastries Ji Binglin had brought to show his gratitude.
These pastries, specially crafted by the bakery, were designed to convey well wishes, with some shaped like ingots and others as official hats, symbolizing wealth and promotion.
No one would ordinarily gift such city-dweller pastries to someone of the Crown Prince’s status.
Amused by the golden ingot shape, he took a bite and found it much tastier than the fried dough twist.
“Who sent these? Why are they trying so hard to curry favor with you?”
Jiang Xiurun recounted Ji Binglin’s recent promotion and asked why the Crown Prince had thought of him.
Feng Liwu, however, was unwilling to explain.
As a crown prince, he had his pride and couldn’t admit that, while working, he’d kept recalling Jiang Xiurun’s mention of a supposed childhood sweetheart.
He’d grown increasingly curious, eventually summoning the guard responsible for her protection to inquire about her acquaintances.
Jiang Xiurun had only a few familiar faces in Luo’an City, and it didn’t take long before Ji Binglin, who regularly chatted with her by the palace gates, came to his attention.
The Crown Prince vaguely recalled that the two had seemed quite familiar upon their first meeting.
He’d had questions for the Ministry of Works and instructed the department head to bring Ji Binglin along.
Upon closer inspection, Feng Liwu was relieved.
Ji Binglin’s face was peppered with angry red pimples; even looking at him made Feng Liwu’s skin feel itchy.
Though he didn’t know Jiang Xiurun’s taste in men, this minor official, far from attractive, was clearly not the lover she had jokingly mentioned.
Unaware that his acne had saved him, Ji Binglin carefully answered the Crown Prince’s distracted questions.
Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince discovered a hidden talent and, recalling Jiang Xiurun’s earlier praise, promptly appointed him to the Water Transport Bureau.
When Ji Binglin boldly asked why the Crown Prince had summoned him, the Crown Prince casually attributed it to Jiang Xiurun’s recommendation.
Hence, the box of symbolic pastries shaped as gold ingots and official hats.
Now, with Jiang Xiurun pressing him for the full story, Feng Liwu dodged the question, vaguely stating that she had indeed recommended this minor official, and left it at that.
Jiang Xiurun hadn’t expected her casual remarks to elevate her to the role of a discerning talent scout.
Emboldened, she contemplated recommending another talent to the Crown Prince.
After all, Qian’er was skilled in warfare; how could she be content serving as a maid for life?
