Chapter 311 - Food for the Damned (1/2)

Princess Nalan went over to visit the Zou representatives' residence again today. After a short while there, she pretended to have a headache to avoid answering questions about their departure date. She went to ”nap” and secretly ran off on her own again.

Molin and the envoys were not aware of Prince Rui's situation since the Emperor had spoken with the highest person in charge - Princess Nalan believing that she would make the responsible choice but the truth was that she was a bit befuddled at the moment.

She kept the news about Prince Rui's situation to herself and simply gave the vague response of soon, stalling. After all, the Emperor had assured her that Prince Rui was safe and will remain protected until her group arrived. Even she had to acknowledge that the Emperor was being very considerate of them given the reason Prince Rui had left in the first place.

Anyway, today she was a girl on a mission.

Everyone was waiting for her to give the go-ahead, but before she could do or say anything, she needed to get her affairs in order.

Prince Yi had still not responded to her letter and she had finally gotten impatient and decided to make a move herself. She did want to wait for him but he was too slow and she was usually not good at patience, not to mention, the pressure she was under right now.

So today with the assistance of Prince Yi's undercover maid who served as the communication channel between them, she sneakily left the Zou representatives' manor again.

And with a little persuasion, she bullied the maid into leading the way to Prince Yi's manor. Now here she was standing across the street from the entrance and hesitating.

”Your highness, please let's go back...The Prince won't be happy if you just barge into his manor uninvited like this...” The maid pleaded as she worriedly held onto Princess Nalan's arm in a pointless bid to stop her from going.

Princess Nalan knit her brows, she too acknowledged that this might not be the way to handle this. Prince Yi liked his privacy. Not to mention, the fact that she knew that he was not on good terms with the Emperor and her visit, if known can be seen as something more than it was - which was a simple visit.

But what else was she supposed to do?

So regardless of her reservations, Princess Nalan shrugged the maid off and marched towards the entrance where she was promptly blocked by guards holding out their swords. She frowned at them but rather than fight or argue with them, she simply folded her arms and haughtily says, ”Go inform Jun Shan that I am here...”

”Princess Nalan is here...” The maid quickly supplied before the guards could toss her out of there for that bold and frankly very rude request, even more so for using Prince Yi's name like that.

The guards looked at each other and then one of them informed, ”The Prince is not receiving visitors today...”

Princess Nalan frowned and then said, ”I am not a visitor so go inform him that I am here...”

The guards knit their brows and the maid tried to advise again, ”Princess, why don't we go for now and I can deliver a le-”

”What is the point of sending a letter when I am standing right there?!” Princess Nalan exasperatedly asked and the maid shut her mouth. Princess Nalan then turned to the guards and went, ”Would you go inform him, or do I need to bring an edict from the Emperor for you to do so?”

The guards knit their brows in contemplation, Prince Yi had ordered not to disturb him but then an edict from the Emepror would definitely put him in a worse mood. Also, this princess was a guest of the royal household. If they upset her, it could mean their heads. But Prince Yi also could have their heads for disobeying him.

But before the guards could make their decision, Tian Ji arrived at the entrance and was surprised to see Princess Nalan and the maid there. Tian Ji bowed to Princess Nalan, glancing at the maid, who promptly lowered her head apologetically with a frown as she timidly said, ”...The Princess insisted on coming...”

Tian Ji glanced about the street hoping no one knew Princess Nalan's identity but it was probably already too late. He inwardly sighed and ushered them in, leading Princess Nalan to a pavilion in a garden and politely said, ”Please wait here...I will go inform the Prince.”

Princess Nalan nodded and sat down with a satisfied expression, as she glanced about the surroundings, appraising the manor.

{...Not bad...}

Tian Ji sent the maid another disappointed look and then left them to go inform Prince Yi of his unexpected guest. After Tian Ji disappeared, Princess Nalan promptly got up to walk around and fidgeting maid quickly jumped in front of her, ”Your highness, please just stay here...You really shouldn't be wanderi-”

”I'm just stretching my legs...” Princess Nalan dismissively said as she brushed past the maid while mumbling, ”Don't you people get tired of telling me what I can and can't do...so annoying.”

The maid made a crying face and promptly followed closely behind her, this job was suddenly becoming very tiring.

***

It seemed Prince Yi was getting back to his normal self, today he was not only awake already, but he also was sober, groomed and dressed in his usual elegance, sat in a meditation pose with his eyes closed wearing a frown, seemingly in deep contemplation.

”Your highness, Princess Nalan is here to see you.” Tian Ji informed after entering the room. Prince Yi immediately opened his eyes with a deepening frown.

Tian Ji swiftly continued on, ”She was insisting and creating a scene with the guards at the entrance so I brought her inside to avoid attracting unwanted attention. I can send her aw-”

”It's alright...” Prince Yi said with a sigh, ”It was bound to come to light sooner or later. Time is short...” He said as he rose to his feet.

He had been thinking about things since Zhao Chang left last night. And at this point, he could only try to balance things out. After all, what's done is already done.