The Hostage Girl - Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Jiang Xiurun’s words were indeed quite blunt.
Ji Wujiang hadn’t expected her to speak so provocatively, and his expression visibly faltered for a moment.
In truth, it wasn’t hard to understand.
She and her brother were essentially pawns discarded by the state of Bo.
Logically, being in a foreign land, they should be anxiously longing to return to their homeland.
Meeting Ji Wujiang, a former retainer of General Sheng Ye, should have felt like reuniting with family.
Yet, Jiang Xiurun’s attitude was cold and distant, showing no intention of getting close to him or seeking his help to contact General Sheng Ye to facilitate their return to Bo.
Ji Wujiang remained silent for a while, then personally walked over to brew a fresh cup of tea for Jiang Xiurun.
He handed it to her respectfully, saying, “Please, Princess, try another cup.”
Jiang Xiurun did not take the teacup.
Instead, her cold gaze rested on the rim of the cup as she spoke slowly, “This tea is not suitable for me. Your ambitions, Ji Wujiang, surely do not lie in these remote borderlands. My brother and I, however, are content with our lot and seek only to live in peace. We are not cut out for grand ambitions. Swans and sparrows have their own paths. To force a sparrow to soar like a swan is to impose an impossible burden.”
Ji Wujiang bowed respectfully to her and said, “Princess, you alone have managed to navigate the complexities of the Great Qi court, balancing the roles of both prince and princess. Just hearing about it is astounding, something no ordinary person could achieve. How could you be a mere sparrow content under the eaves? I was entrusted by General Sheng Ye to come to Great Qi to find the two of you… Now that the Emperor of Bo is incompetent, the only worthy successor to the throne is Prince Jiang Zhi…”
Before Ji Wujiang could finish, Jiang Xiurun flung the hot tea in his face, her eyes icy as she said, “Apart from being weak and easily manipulated, what about my brother makes him a model for a emperor? If you dare approach him behind my back and fill his head with such delusions, do not blame me for showing no mercy. I will ensure you meet a gruesome end!”
In the capital, the Crown Prince had many informants, especially among the various hostages, who were under close surveillance.
Her brother, having become the Crown Prince’s brother-in-law, was even more closely guarded—or monitored—than in their previous life.
Ji Wujiang likely couldn’t get close to Jiang Zhi, which was why he had turned to her.
Hearing that she would accompany Feng Liwu on his tour, he had come here early to wait.
If he had succeeded in recommending himself at the earlier banquet, Ji Wujiang could have legitimately become one of the Crown Prince’s aides, allowing him to approach the siblings more naturally.
Unfortunately, Feng Liwu had rejected him, so he had come to test her intentions, hoping to use her to contact her brother and weave a dream of returning to their homeland.
Ji Wujiang’s fair skin was now red from the scalding tea.
He had previously worried that Jiang Zhi’s weakness might prevent him from returning to Bo to contend for the throne.
But he never expected the greatest resistance to come from Jiang Zhi’s sister, Jiang Xiurun!
In his memory, Jiang Xiurun was still the delicate young princess raised in the palace of Bo, always smiling and blushing when she spoke.
But when he learned that two hostages had entered Qi, he was initially suspicious.
It wasn’t until he saw Jiang Xiurun dressed as a man accompanying the Crown Prince’s carriage that he began to understand.
He was also astonished by the boldness of this woman.
Although General Sheng Ye had retired early, Ji Wujiang had been in business for a long time, with shops spread across various states.
His connections in Bo were extensive, and he even had informants close to Shen Yong.
When the Bo hostage residence in Luo’an was suddenly attacked by thieves, and all the guards were killed in one night, it was clear that something was amiss.
Ji Wujiang had his people investigate, and after much effort, he learned the truth: Jiang Xiurun had boldly altered the state documents to impersonate a prince, while Shen Yong had secretly ordered the assassination, only to be slaughtered instead.
To be honest, after hearing the full story, he found it hard to believe that this was solely Jiang Xiurun’s idea.
He suspected that Prince Jiang Zhi, having been sent as a hostage and facing adversity, had grown stronger to protect his sister from serving the old emperor, hence this drastic plan.
Jiang Xiurun later taking Concubine Yao’s place also raised questions.
After all, Jiang Xiurun’s beauty was impossible to ignore.
It was likely that the Crown Prince had discovered her identity but, captivated by her charm, had her replace Concubine Yao, who had just given birth.
For a princess stranded in a foreign land, attaching herself to a powerful figure was the best course of action.
He had no intention of commenting on that, only hoping to quickly contact Jiang Zhi through this favored concubine of the Crown Prince.
But just now, after having a cup of scalding tea thrown in his face, he began to realize that he didn’t need Jiang Zhi—this princess alone was bold and audacious enough to act.
Between the two siblings, the one calling the shots was the seventeen-year-old princess… This was truly beyond his expectations.
And why this princess harbored such hidden hostility toward him was something Ji Wujiang couldn’t comprehend.
His face still burning, Ji Wujiang did not fly into a rage.
Instead, he continued to kneel and said, “I do not know where I have caused misunderstanding, Princess. If you do not trust me, you should at least trust General Sheng’s judgment. I now live in luxury and have no desire to return to Bo. But the prince is a man after all. How can he remain a hostage in a foreign land forever?”
Jiang Xiurun actually found this amusing.
She could hear the veiled sarcasm in Ji Wujiang’s seemingly humble words, mocking her for staying by the Crown Prince’s side, enjoying a life of luxury while ignoring her brother’s plight as a hostage.
Today, she was in the mood to engage with him a bit: “From what you say, it seems my brother’s return to Bo would mark the beginning of grand achievements? But the Bo court is controlled by Queen Shen’s relatives, who are determined to install her son, Jiang Yun, as the next emperor. Outside of Bo, there are wolves and tigers eyeing the state, with Liang alone being a beast poised to devour Bo without lifting a finger. With such internal and external troubles, do you truly believe my brother is fit for such a precarious position?”
Ji Wujiang was momentarily speechless, unable to respond.
Jiang Xiurun had said enough.
She stood up and said, “You are wealthy and wise. If you seek fame, there are many great states around where you could achieve it. Bo is like a rotting fruit. Forcing yourself to see it as good and consuming it will only lead to disaster. Why bother?”
As she turned to leave, Ji Wujiang urgently said, “But now that princess is by the Crown Prince’s side, she can surely help Bo. With the full support of Great Qi, even the emperor of Liang would not dare to annex Bo, and what threat would the Shen family pose?”
This time, Jiang Xiurun didn’t even turn her head.
She simply tossed back, “If you think beauty can sway Feng Liwu, why not try? Go buy some stunning women and present them to him. If you send them, I’d be happy to pave the way for them!”
Leaving the tea room, Jiang Xiurun’s mood was slightly gloomy.
In her past life, Ji Wujiang hadn’t been as blunt as he was today, but he had hinted that she should use her influence with Qin Zhao to help her brother.
She had already done the impossible once in her past life.
The role of the cunning and resourceful Lady Jiang in Luo’an could be taken up by anyone else.
The shifting winds of the various states no longer concerned her.
With this resolve, Jiang Xiurun thought to herself that upon returning to the capital, she would warn her brother and instruct her sister-in-law to be vigilant for any suspicious individuals trying to approach Jiang Zhi.
After making a round to ensure that the goods her sister-in-law had asked her to check were properly packed, she returned to the palace.
Tomorrow, they would set off back to Luo’an.
The emperor of Han, having tasted the benefits, was now even more eager to strengthen ties with Great Qi.
He mentioned that when Tian Ying married, she had almost no bridal attendants, which was rather shabby.
Now that Feng Liwu was in Shunde, accompanied by only one concubine, the long journey back would be rather monotonous.
Thus, three beauties from Han were promptly sent over, one of whom was said to be Tian Ying’s half-sister, Tian Jing’er, whose beauty was even more captivating than Tian Ying’s.
Standing on the dock, Jiang Xiurun watched as these beauties descended from the carriage and couldn’t help but feel a sense of irony.
In her past life, the Crown Prince had suffered an arrow wound that left him with a chronic condition, seemingly unable to perform with women.
Naturally, the various state leader’s wouldn’t present him with beauties, as it would only rub salt in his wounds.
But this life was different.
Feng Liwu was alive and well, having already taken three concubines into his household.
His appetite was clearly voracious.
The emperor of Han was indeed considerate, sending over some local specialties from his palace to foster goodwill and ensure harmonious relations!
Feng Liwu, however, frowned slightly, not because the women were unattractive, but because he was currently enjoying a close relationship with Jiang Xiurun.
The emperor of Han sending these women was rather ill-timed.
It was said that women were prone to jealousy.
If Jiang Xiurun were to become upset over this, the journey back would be fraught with tension, and how could they enjoy their intimate moments together?
It wasn’t that he was overthinking.
That night, when he asked his aide, Young Master Jiang, to change into women’s clothing and sleep in his tent, Young Master Jiang indeed lowered his head and said, “The three new beauties from Han are all exceptionally beautiful, especially Princess Jing, who is sweet-looking, graceful, with fair skin and a slender neck. She’s not even sixteen, the most charming age for a woman. Your Highness, would you like to have her serve you tonight to avoid monotony?”
Feng Liwu casually closed the bamboo scroll in his hand and said, “If I didn’t know you worked in my household, I’d think a madam from a brothel had come to solicit customers… What did Princess Jing promise you to speak so highly of her?”
Jiang Xiurun was startled, wondering if the Crown Prince knew something.
She quickly smiled and said, “It was just a small favor. Princess Jing mentioned that she had never gotten along with concubine Tian back in Han. Now that she’s here, she doesn’t want to rely on concubine Tian. If she doesn’t gain Your Highness’s favor, her situation will be quite pitiful. She begged me to put in a good word for her…”
In truth, Jiang Xiurun left out a few details.
Princess Jing had also given her a piece of jade.
Moreover, the young princess had promised Young Master Jiang that once in the household, she would ally with concubine Yao to secure her favor.
Jiang Xiurun thought the jade was of excellent quality, and Princess Jing was quite astute, showing loyalty worth nurturing.
That’s why she had taken the initiative to act as a matchmaker.
But to Feng Liwu, these words sounded like the jealous ramblings of a woman.
He didn’t bother with further discussion, simply grabbing the young aide’s sleeve and pulling her into his arms.
“If you don’t want to change into women’s clothing, that’s fine. Everyone in Luo’an knows I seem to have no preference for gender. Tonight, I’ll just have my young aide, how about that?”
H
Feng Liwu is hilarious!! Thank you!! I can’t wait to see what happens next.