in2ebook Chapter 103 Set her free
Chapter 103 Set her free
"Your Highness Prince Chen, please have some wine!"
Xu Jiaojiao knelt down beside Zhao Yunzheng and poured him a cup of wine, her attitude respectful and humble.
Unlike her charming demeanor when Xu Jiaojiao poured him wine at Yuhua Courtyard in the past, Xu Jiaojiao was now so sullen that it was heartbreaking.
She lowered her head, and Zhao Yunzheng couldn't see her expression clearly, only her long, dark hair revealing a vague sense that she wasn't happy.
Why are you wearing a veil?
Zhao Yunzheng picked up his wine glass, took a sip in silence, and asked casually.
Seeing that his wine glass was empty, Xu Jiaojiao immediately poured another one and replied gently, "This servant is ugly and removing my veil would frighten you noble people."
Ugly appearance?
Zhao Yunzheng recalled the night he first met Xu Jiaojiao.
He entered the wrong courtyard, climbed through the window, and at first glance saw Xu Jiaojiao, dressed in a flowing fairy dress with wide sleeves adorned with jade beads, radiant in the candlelight. In a daze, he thought he had been seriously injured and died, and had ascended to the heavenly court.
Even though he had seen countless beauties, only Xu Jiaojiao had ever truly captivated him at first glance.
Perhaps, the many acts of protection and affection that followed largely stemmed from that one stunning glance.
Zhao Yunzheng thought to himself that he was probably lustful too.
If he hadn't been attracted by her beauty, how could he have been so unable to control himself in front of Xu Jiaojiao?
How could such a beautiful woman be ugly?
Zhao Yunzheng drank another cup of wine: "The selection of maids in the palace has always been based on appearance. If you were truly ugly, how could you have been selected to enter the palace?"
He paused, put down his wine glass, and hooked Xu Jiaojiao's chin with his finger, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were dark, and his voice was low and hoarse: "You're lying to me! Do you know what the consequences will be for lying to me?"
That penetrating gaze left Xu Jiaojiao feeling completely lost.
The man in front of me had wet eyes, like a wounded little wolf, with a wildness in his bones, yet his gaze was so alluring that one couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
Xu Jiaojiao could clearly feel her heart beating faster.
She turned her head slightly, looking a little flustered, avoiding the man's eyes: "Your Highness, please have some self-respect."
Seeing that she was still hiding, Zhao Yunzheng's brow twitched slightly.
The soft touch withdrew from his fingertips, and he slightly curled his fingers, his voice growing increasingly hoarse: "Self-respect? Ha..."
Zhao Yunzheng withdrew his hand: "You are just a maid. If you follow me, you can become a person of high status. Do you really not want this blessing?"
Blessing?
Xu Jiaojiao's raven feathers trembled.
She never considered it a blessing...
Since becoming Prince Chen's woman, she has faced countless open and covert attacks.
If she hadn't reacted quickly and taken precautions in advance, she would probably have been dead and left without a trace.
Besides, she had figured it out.
A man's affection is like a mirage, flashy but impractical, and might be washed away by a sudden downpour one day.
Without Prince Chen's favor, her life might be even worse than that of a maid.
She doesn't want this good fortune!
Xu Jiaojiao carefully considered her words, pursed her lips, and replied, "The world is vast, and I do not wish to be a caged bird. I only wish to soar freely, and I will not be afraid even if I am alone."
Zhao Yunzheng's hand suddenly tightened.
What did Xu Jiaojiao mean by that?
Is she feeling wronged by following him?
Sitting to the side, Jia Rong listened to their conversation, more nervous than anyone else.
Seeing his second brother's face turn cold, Jia Rong's heart jumped into his throat.
What is Sister Jiaojiao doing?
Second Brother is clearly aroused and is giving Sister Jiaojiao a way out. If Sister Jiaojiao takes off her veil, the two of them can do *that*, and this ordeal will be over, right?
Jiaojiao's words clearly indicate that she's pushing her second brother away. Has she gone mad?
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Jia Rong's eyes darted around, and she quickly coughed and shouted towards the tent, "Where's my roasted lamb leg?! Isn't it ready yet?!"
The maidservant waiting outside the tent trembled, clearly sensing the princess's urgency, and immediately ran to fetch the roasted mutton.
Regardless of whether the leg is cooked or not, let's take some meat back to appease the princess first!
Not long after Jia Rong finished speaking, maids filed in carrying steaming roasted mutton, filling Jia Rong and Zhao Yunzheng's table to the brim.
Wine without meat is obviously not enough, so Xu Jiaojiao silently picked up the wine pot and filled Zhao Yunzheng's wine cup again.
Looking at the wine in his glass, Zhao Yunzheng, who was originally in a terrible mood and ready to storm off, calmed down a bit.
He picked up his glass and drank it all in one gulp: "The eagle can soar freely because it is strong enough. The sparrow is weak. Without the protection of the cage, I'm afraid it won't even have the ability to avoid the ravages of wind and rain."
Xu Jiaojiao continued to pour wine, fulfilling her duty as a maid: "The colorful sparrow is indeed delicate, but flying is its innate instinct. The wind and rain are indeed terrible, but how can the eagle know that the colorful sparrow has no ability or courage to fight against them?"
Jia Rong's pupils dilated in shock.
crazy!crazy!
It's crazy!
Second Brother has gone mad, and Sister Jiaojiao has gone mad too!
She had already sent in roasted mutton to interrupt the conversation, so why did her second brother continue talking?
Why is Sister Jiao Jiao still rejecting Second Brother?!
How can we salvage this situation now?
When Jia Rong was at his wit's end, Zhao Yunzheng picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one last time.
"Good good..."
He slammed down his wine cup, then laughed in exasperation: "Very well, if that's your idea, then I, the king, will naturally not force you to do anything against your will."
Seeing Xu Jiaojiao lift the wine pot again like a puppet, he grabbed her hand and pressed it down: "No need to pour anymore, I'm full!"
He stood up and looked intently at Jia Rong: "Since your maid is so unwilling to be bound, then grant her wish and set her free. Don't make her do these servant jobs anymore."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving behind a dumbfounded Jia Rong and a dejected Xu Jiaojiao.
Outside the tent, the maids were so frightened when they saw Prince Chen storm out that they all knelt down.
Looking at the large group of people kneeling at his feet, Zhao Yunzheng became even more annoyed.
His brow furrowed, he strode towards the stables, grabbed his horse, and galloped out of the camp, leaving behind only a dusty silhouette...
In the shadows, Su He, who had been silently watching Prince Chen's movements, narrowed her eyes and, taking advantage of Prince Chen's absence, quietly sneaked into his tent.
……
Jia Rong's side.
Long after her second brother left, she was still in a daze until the servant who was roasting mutton brought in the lamb leg, and only then did she realize what had happened.
The servant delivering the mutton sensed something was amiss in the tent. He carefully placed the lamb leg down and tiptoed out quickly, afraid of making even the slightest noise and causing an unnecessary disaster.
Looking at the steaming lamb leg, Jia Rong stared at Xu Jiaojiao in disbelief, instinctively shaking her head: "Sister Jiaojiao, why..."
Xu Jiaojiao knew what Jia Rong was going to say.
She looked up at Jia Rong, and gently tugged at the corner of her mouth: "Your Highness, thank you..."
A simple "thank you" silenced all of Jia Rong's questions.
Seeing Xu Jiaojiao's reddened eyes and forced, relieved smile, Jia Rong felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if he were experiencing the same pain himself…