The Hostage Girl - Chapter 68-Part 1
Chapter 68—Part 1
Ever since the rough laborers entered Tian Ying’s courtyard to begin the demolition, the place had been in constant chaos.
It wasn’t just the clanging noise; the thick dust raised when the pavilion was dismantled spread everywhere, making the air oppressive.
Closing the windows didn’t help at all.
In less than half a day, the glossy surface of the tea table before Tian Ying was already covered in a thick layer of dust.
She had endured this for half a day, her eyes welling with tears that wouldn’t stop.
What nonsense about feng shui!
Others might not know, but she knew very well that this was all because she was caught spying on the Crown Prince’s private quarters from the high pavilion the day before.
Although she was too far away to see clearly, she was indeed discovered when a maid carrying a lantern came searching for her around the rock garden, alarming the people in the Crown Prince’s courtyard.
Afterward, the maids serving her were summoned for questioning.
What they were asked, no one knew, as the maids returned tight-lipped.
This enraged Tian Ying so much that she personally slapped them.
Ever since her maid Jiaoyue was sold off, Tian Ying didn’t even have a close confidante to consult.
Now, with all these rough workers dismantling the rock garden, she felt even more isolated.
When she suggested temporarily moving to another residence to avoid the chaos, the steward simply brushed her off with a polite smile, saying there was no need.
What kind of rules were these?
She was a proper concubine—how could she be expected to live just a stone’s throw away from these crude laborers?
Did His Highness know how his subordinates were treating her like this?
Why was he allowing them to humiliate her?
Thinking about the night they shared, Tian Ying couldn’t suppress her anger.
She was sweet and alluring, with a slim waist and full chest—how could a man taste her once and be satisfied?
Even on her first night in the mansion, His Highness had been so captivated during their intimacy that he hadn’t had enough, gripping her legs tightly as if reluctant to let go.
So why had the affection from that one night vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye?
Tian Ying couldn’t figure it out, and what puzzled her further was the disappearance of her admirer Gongsun Wuyan.
It was said that he had been sent to Han on the Crown Prince’s orders to handle matters related to the canal.
Although she was now confined to her courtyard, she had heard bits and pieces about the canal project.
Without Han’s strong support, the canal couldn’t succeed!
This thought gave Tian Ying confidence.
Even if the Crown Prince had grown tired of her beauty, he wouldn’t dare cast her aside so easily.
What kind of man was His Highness Feng Liwu?
He was someone deeply engrossed in the art of power, much like her father, willing to do whatever it took to consolidate his rule and secure his empire.
A man like that was destined to achieve great things, earning the title of a true hegemon.
What use could a mere plaything like that effeminate hostage from a weak state serve?
At best, he was just an idle diversion in the boudoir, something to pass the time.
Thinking this through, Tian Ying felt a little better.
She realized she had been stuck in a dead-end mindset and shouldn’t have let herself be so bothered by Jiang Herun, that brat.
The Crown Prince’s coldness toward her was likely related to the fact that she didn’t get along with that hostage from Bo state, and he had probably spoken ill of her in private.
If that was the case, she would endure this humiliation for now and find an opportunity to apologize to Young Master Jiang in the Crown Prince’s presence, humbling herself to regain His Highness’s favor.
What was there to endure about competing for favor with a man?
Even if he was favored nightly, he couldn’t lay an egg, could he?
Although Tian Ying resolved to swallow her pride, before she could act, the Crown Prince announced plans to inspect the canal and prepare for a journey.
Whenever His Highness traveled, he naturally required attendants.
But accompanying him this time, besides YoungMaster Jiang, was his sister, concubine Yao!
Although the three concubines had entered the mansion at the same time, who was truly favored was obvious because of this canal inspection.
As preparations for departure began, there was a sudden surge in invitations for Young Master Jiang to attend drinking banquets.
These were no more than attempts by the nobles of Luo’an City to curry favor with the Crown Prince’s close confidant.
On ordinary days, Jiang Xiurun would have reluctantly attended some of these gatherings to maintain appearances.
But as the days grew hotter, the idea of drinking while wrapped in binding cloth sounded unbearable.
The ancestors of Great Qi were nomadic settlers who were less restrained when it came to drinking.
Men often stripped to the waist during such occasions.
Worse, if they saw her discomfort, some might even try to help undress her!
Just thinking about such a scene was terrifying.
So apart from visiting the academy, Jiang Xiurun stayed home quietly.
In a few days, the academy would start its summer break, allowing students to return home to escape the heat.
In the meantime, Jiang Xiurun busied herself preparing for the journey, packing supplies to accompany the Crown Prince to Shunde.
Before departure, she acquired a copy of the canal’s construction plans, made a duplicate, and cross-referenced it with geographical records, marking key points along the route.
Several fertile regions along the way couldn’t be overlooked, and she planned to personally investigate them.
However, traveling as “siblings” would be taxing.
When the Crown Prince asked her whether leaving “Concubine Yao” alone in the mansion might lead to someone like Concubine Tian causing trouble, Jiang Xiurun agreed it was too much for “Concubine Yao” to handle alone.
Thus, the two siblings decided to set out together.
But this meant packing numerous male and female outfits for Jiang Xiurun, exhausting her as she reviewed the items brought by Qian’er and Tao Hua.
On the day of departure, Young Master Jiang, citing “seasickness,” opted to travel by land, accompanying the luggage carts.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince’s newly favored concubine Yao stood gracefully beside him in a thin gown, fanning herself lightly.
It was said that Empress Wei was displeased with the Crown Prince’s choice of concubine for the journey and had issued an edict requiring him to bring Concubine Cao along.
However, the Crown Prince rejected the suggestion, citing the journey’s simplicity and the hardships of outdoor living, which he couldn’t bear to impose on his cousin Cao Xi.
This slight to Cao Xi enraged her, prompting her to complain tearfully to the empress.
The empress, tired of her constant weeping, dismissed her from the palace.
The empress was so angry that she overturned the fruit plate at her hand, and the chief steward, Mao Yunsheng, took a long time to calm her down.