Jiang Chen took a step and was about to leave. I quickly followed with small steps, grabbed his arm and whispered, "Jiang Chen, she is a princess, don't cause trouble, go and apologize."
He looked at me and said in a loud voice, "So what if she's a princess? She's lucky to be born into a wealthy family. She doesn't necessarily have an extra eye like others, but she certainly has a lot more temper!"
I was speaking in a low, humble voice, afraid that the princess would hear me, but he was speaking in a clear, loud voice, as if afraid that the princess wouldn't hear me!
I was startled and turned to look at the young princess. Her face had clearly turned green. The maids behind her were all pale-faced, staring blankly at Jiang Chen with expressions that said, "You're dead."
I took a deep breath; my tooth ached.
Jiang Chen turned and left.
This guy is used to walking away from me, and he actually dares to use this trick on the little princess. He must have a death wish. I gasped, feeling both toothache and admiration.
The young princess shouted sternly from behind, "Come back here!"
The shrewish roar from the riverbank made my eardrums throb, but Jiang Chen seemed not to hear it and continued striding forward.
I quickly grabbed his sleeve, and in my haste, I pinched him hard through the sleeve.
He glared at me and asked, "Why are you touching me?"
My face flushed, and I quickly flung his sleeve away. Pinching and touching are very different, and their meanings are completely different, but this is definitely not the time to explain the difference between touching and pinching to him.
He suddenly smiled and said softly, "Xiao Mo, what would you like to eat? Let's go fishing and have a barbecue in the back mountain?"
Wasn't this deliberately trying to anger that princess? I gritted my teeth and gasped, wanting to roast him and eat him! I secretly regretted that I had been too soft-hearted and wanted to help that little girl. Now, I've ruined myself and Jiang Chen too, and who knows, even my master might be implicated later.
Just then, two people walked towards me. When I saw that it was my master and Yunzhou, I immediately broke out in a cold sweat. My master had told me to keep my distance from people in the imperial court. Now, not only did I walk right into their door, but I also got caught in the door.
The master frowned and asked from afar, "What happened?"
"Master, this is a long story."
Just as I was about to report the whole story, the young princess came trotting over.
"Zizhao, you've come at the right time! The Free and Unfettered Sect has actually produced such a talent!"
I watched as Yunzhou gave a slight bow to the young princess, and I realized that the two knew each other. It turned out that Yunzhou already had a courtesy name, Zizhao.
A faint smile played on Yunzhou's lips: "Princess, I wonder how they offended you?"
His smile was exceptionally beautiful because it was rare, like a bright moon shining for thousands of miles on a snow-covered mountain after the clouds have dispersed.
Unfortunately, he wasn't smiling at me. I swallowed hard, feeling a heavy weight in my heart, as if something was stuck there.
The young princess pointed at my nose and snorted, "Let this wild girl talk!"
I was stunned for a moment, a spark igniting in my heart. I could accept whatever others said about me, but what I hated most was the word "wild." Even with my good temper and self-control, I couldn't hold back any longer and said coldly, "There's nothing to say. Do whatever the princess wants. We have nothing to say."
The princess stamped her foot: "Zizhao, those two are bullying me."
Hearing the name "Zizhao" and seeing the little princess's expression—a mixture of anger and reproach—a pang of jealousy shot through me. He had a courtesy name, yet he had never told me. And the little princess's expression clearly carried a hint of coquetry. It seemed their relationship was more than just ordinary; perhaps the little princess had come here specifically to celebrate Master Yuanzhao's birthday, just to meet him.
"Princess, please calm down. I'll take these two disciples back and teach them. Farewell." My master was very protective of his own, pulling Jiang Chen and me away, leaving Yunzhou behind to clean up the mess. Well, they're old acquaintances anyway, let them catch up slowly.
I followed behind my master, feeling a pang of jealousy, when suddenly I realized something was wrong. What was I even jealous about? Sigh, stop it, stop it.
Back at Zhuzhi Courtyard, I recounted the whole story. My master wanted to scold me, but he held back and turned to Jiang Chen instead: "I said, Young Master Jiang, can't you give in to a girl? She's a princess, how could she tolerate your temper?"
Jiang Chen remained silent, showing not a trace of regret on his face. He stood there, tall and imposing. I became even more certain that with a personality like his, only a demon could tame him!
The master looked at him helplessly, sighed, and left with his hands behind his back.
I breathed a sigh of relief, poured myself a glass of water, and as soon as the tea went down, my stomach felt empty and I gurgled. That's when I realized I hadn't eaten yet.
I turned around and saw Jiang Chen staring at me with an unfriendly gaze and a hint of anger. Strange, I hadn't done anything to him.
"Jiang Chen, didn't you just say you were going to take me to the back mountain for grilled fish? Shall we go now?"
Jiang Chen snorted, narrowed his eyes at me, and said fiercely, "I was originally planning to take you there, and I even went to the kitchen to get some salt. But now, I don't want to go."
"That's strange. Didn't you just say you were going there?"
"I only said that to annoy that girl. Now, I'm not going." His expression was strange, and his anger seemed to come out of nowhere. I really couldn't figure it out.
"Why?"
"I'm not happy." He coldly tossed out the words and stormed off.
I glared at him, gritting my teeth. Why did he always just walk away from me like that? What's so great about him? He's just taller and better looking. I'll find a demon to teach him a lesson later, hmph!
Anger and vinegar
It seems I can't count on Jiang Chen, who changes his mind faster than flipping through a book. I don't know what I did to offend him again. I clearly felt that I was upset, but why was his back so stiff? It's as if I'm the one who angered him again! Oh well, I'll just go to the kitchen and find something to eat myself.
Just as they reached the main gate, Yunzhou walked in. He'd dealt with the young princess so quickly? It seems that in matters of the heart, there really is someone who can subdue another.
A bitter feeling welled up inside me, and I quickly lowered my head, not wanting him to see my unease.
A food box was handed to me. My gaze moved from his slender fingers to his handsome face. He was like a lotus nurtured by a clear pool in a deep valley, his presence as still as bamboo shadows sweeping the steps, as unmoving as the moonlight piercing the bottom of the pool. Every time I saw him, I always felt a sense of unattainability. Even if he stood right in front of me, I still felt that he was otherworldly, while I, without a meal of food, would become listless. For example, right now, I felt like a pickled cowpea that had been fermented for three days, a sour cowpea.
I accepted the food box, a feeling of joy mixed with a surge of gratitude. My fellow disciples from the Xiaoyao Sect all knew I couldn't stand the smell of alcohol, but only he remembered I hadn't eaten and had specially brought me food. It seemed that calling him "brother" for years had had some effect; he showed kinship in a crucial moment.
I went back to my room, opened the food box, and found a steamed bun and two side dishes.
He poured a glass of water and gently placed it beside me.