The Hostage Girl - Chapter 68-Part 2
Chapter 68-Part 2
“Your Majesty, there’s no need to get so easily angered,” coaxed Mao Yunsheng.
“The Crown Prince’s actions are merely the whims of youth, drawn to beauty. You’ve seen Concubine Yao yourself—she does stand out in appearance. Restricting the prince from approaching her might only make him long for her more. It’s better to let him indulge and tire of it. After all, she’s just a woman who uses her looks to seduce. She’s no match for the elegance and grace of Lady Cao, who is undoubtedly fit to be the Crown Prince’s rightful consort.”
The Empress reclined lazily in Mao Yunsheng’s embrace.
Hearing this, she raised an eyebrow and half-opened her eyes, sneering, “Oh? So you, a eunuch, can now appreciate beauty too? Don’t tell me you also find concubine Yao alluring?”
Mao Yunsheng pressed his face closer to the Empress’s neck and replied, “No woman in the world could compare to Your Majesty. Next to you, all others are plain and vulgar. As for that rustic girl, how could she ever match the brilliance of Mingzhen from the Wei family in Luo’an?”
Hearing him dare to call her by her personal name, the Empress feigned anger and sternly rebuked, “What audacity! Who gave you the right to call me by name?”
She raised her hand as if to strike him.
Before the slap could land, Mao Yunsheng caught her hand, brought it close to his lips, and murmured teasingly, “Your servant is not only bold but… also well-endowed in other ways. Would Your Majesty care to measure?”
As he held her hand firmly, he whispered with fervor, “In this world, no one loves Mingzhen as much as I do. My dearest Mingzhen, you’ve endured too much hardship this past year. Let me make it up to you…”
The Empress, overwhelmed by the heat of his breath and his intimate touch, softened in his arms, momentarily forgetting her rebellious son.
Meanwhile, standing at the prow of the ship, Feng Liwu felt his spirits lift as the open plains stretched out around him, leaving the capital behind.
His concubine, Yao, was proving to be quite resourceful.
She had instructed the boatmen to tie a net to the stern to catch fish and shrimp as they traveled.
Later, she planned to use the fresh catch as bait to trap crabs at the river’s edge during their rest stops.
It wasn’t the peak season for crabs, but their freshness made them a delicacy.
Stir-fried with ginger, green onions, and eggs, they were sure to make a delightful dinner.
Feng Liwu had always been consumed by affairs of state, even on past inspection tours.
But seeing Jiang Xiurun so carefree and inventive—treating this journey as if it were a leisurely outing—was infectious.
Her playful attitude lightened his mood, and he began to relax for the first time in years.
When they stopped to rest, she coaxed him into wading into the rice field canal to catch crabs.
Feng Liwu, who had initially stood aloof, eventually joined in after Jiang Xiurun.
Actually, Jiang Xiurun was someone with high standards but low abilities. Although she had seen others catching crabs before, she had only observed and never tried it herself.
After taking just a few steps, she ended up getting her toe pinched by a crab, crying out in pain.
Chuckling, he carried her back to a shaded pavilion and, guided by his guards, set about trapping crabs with a bamboo basket in the bubbling shallows.
Before long, he had caught a full basket, ensuring a feast for the evening.
Dinner was indeed a delight, with the chef adding a generous drizzle of Sichuan pepper-infused oil to the stir-fried crabs, making them irresistibly flavorful.
Though Feng Liwu was not particularly fond of shellfish, he patiently shelled an entire bowlful of crab for Jiang Xiurun.
After satisfying her cravings, Jiang Xiurun suddenly remembered her duty and hastily shelled a few crabs for the Crown Prince in return.
Feng Liwu observed her with an amused expression.
She was usually so tactful and attentive, yet her noble upbringing often shone through when she let her guard down—indulging her whims or being doted upon.
He mused to himself that if her father had married her off to a noble’s son instead of presenting her to the palace, she would have lived a pampered life, free from the need to curry favor.
Still, seeing her childlike joy in this rustic setting, he felt a twinge of pity for her and even a hint of fondness.
That night, the two rested in a large temporary tent.
Despite it being summer, the countryside air cooled significantly after dark.
Nestled in the Crown Prince’s arms, Jiang Xiurun found the temperature just perfect—a rare comfort that lulled her into a contented slumber.
