Let's Squander A Billion First!-Chapter 1654: Lord Qiansui (6)

"How is the Princess?"

The man’s voice was pleasant, with a hint of icy clarity, entirely lacking in the high-pitched, duck-like tone typical of eunuchs.

Zhu Dongfeng: "The Princess has only suffered superficial wounds and is not in danger."

Yin Shen let out a cold laugh, flicking his sleeve as he entered inside.

He never needed to announce himself in the Princess’s quarters; he could enter as he wished.

Zhu Dongfeng gritted his teeth from behind but didn’t dare to follow.

Yin Shen’s influence was substantial now, and with the Emperor being inactive, there was nothing ministers like them could do.

-

For his negligence, Yin Shen decided on Zhu Dongfeng’s punishment immediately after visiting the Princess—thirty lashes and a demotion.

Although Zhu Dongfeng anticipated he might be held accountable, he didn’t expect Yin Shen to pass judgment directly without even reporting to the Emperor first.

Zhu Dongfeng protested, "Master, I hold responsibility for this matter, but... shouldn’t it be up to His Majesty to decide?"

Yin Shen sat at the head of the table, elegantly holding a cup of tea in one hand and gently brushing the tea leaves with the lid in the other, his eyes lowered as he took a sip.

The swirling vapor blurred the severity of his brows and eyes.

Upon hearing Zhu Dongfeng’s words, Yin Shen gently replaced the lid, slowly set the cup down, and raised his gaze, eyes beneath the lashes deep and vast as a starry sky, unfathomable and unreadable as to what he was thinking.

Yin Shen was indeed handsome, a kind of good looks even Zhu Dongfeng admitted he couldn’t compare with.

Most eunuchs had feminine qualities, but he didn’t. Though he had a beauty rivaling women, it lacked any effeminate quality, instead exuding a sharp dominance.

"Does Lord Zhu wish for His Majesty to behead you?" Yin Shen’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Princess Changhuan is the Emperor’s most beloved daughter."

Zhu Dongfeng: "..."

It was either the mention of beheading or the phrase "most beloved daughter" that turned Zhu Dongfeng’s expression.

He was being threatened.

The Emperor was immersed daily in a heap of nonsense, not bothering with state affairs.

At the Emperor’s side, whatever he said was taken as truth by the Emperor.

If the Emperor believed his slander... and given that Princess Changhuan was indeed the Emperor’s most beloved daughter, it truly wasn’t impossible for his head to be on the line for failing to protect her.

Yin Shen waited a moment, fingertips resting on the teacup, making a slow circle with his thumb against the rim.

"Accepting punishment here is much easier than doing so at home. What does Lord Zhu think?"

"..."

Zhu Dongfeng almost coughed up blood.

He was punished, yet still had to thank him?

This scoundrel!

After some time, Zhu Dongfeng took a deep breath, yielding to the pressure from the Master: "Thank you, Your Grace."

"You’re welcome." Yin Shen’s stern brows relaxed, lifting the teacup with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and spoke with a hint of chill, "It’s all for easing His Majesty’s worries. Lord Zhu, do be more careful next time. If anything happens to Princess Changhuan, and it agitates His Majesty, it wouldn’t be beneficial for anyone."

Zhu Dongfeng gritted his teeth, "What you say is true, Your Grace."

Yin Shen asked disingenuously, "Does Lord Zhu need me to send someone to accompany you to receive your punishment, or..."

Zhu Dongfeng cut him off, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Grace, but there’s no need to trouble you."

-

Perhaps fearing another accident, Yin Shen stayed behind, under the guise of ensuring the Princess’s safety as Zhu Dongfeng had failed.

Though Princess Changhuan only bore minor injuries and was not in any danger.

After two days of recovery, Princess Changhuan was ordered to continue her prayers.

Princess Changhuan was so angry that she refused to eat the entire day.

The Princess attempted to sneak away but was blocked by Yin Shen.

Yin Shen, with his hands tucked into his cloak, advised her in a good-natured tone, "Princess, please don’t be upset. This is your duty."

Princess Changhuan lashed out, "Duty, duty, that’s all I ever hear from you. I don’t want any duties. I just want to be born into a normal family with loving parents!"

Yin Shen remained unmoved, "But you are a Princess."

"Then I don’t want to be a Princess anymore." Princess Changhuan dodged past Yin Shen and ran off.

Princess Changhuan was so upset, she didn’t even know where she was running.

After some frantic running, she realized she seemed lost.

She turned around for a bit, unsure of where she was, planning to go around the corner up ahead for a look.

She had just turned the corner when she bumped into someone.

"Ah!"

Princess Changhuan stumbled from the impact, taking a few steps back and leaning against a pillar.

Clutching the spot where she was hit, her expression turned sour, "Watch where you’re going, can’t you?"

After a moment, she looked at the person she bumped into and awkwardly asked, "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine." Jin Zhi recognized who was in front of her and wouldn’t dare say otherwise, after all, she was a Princess.

She lowered her head to pick up the fallen fruit from the ground.

Princess Changhuan hesitated briefly before stepping forward to help Jin Zhi pick up the fruit.

"Jin Zhi."

Jin Zhi turned her head and replied, "Coming."

Princess Changhuan spared a glance in that direction, saw something, abandoned the fruit, lifted her skirt, and ran over.

Jin Zhi: "???"

"Sister, it’s you." Princess Changhuan ran to Chuzheng’s side, her eyes alight with a smile, "Thank you for saving me back then. I wanted to find you, but I’ve been closely watched these days."

"Oh." Not like you gave me a Thank-You Card or anything.

Two-faced!

Liar!

[Congratulations, you received Thank-You Card × 1]

Chuzheng: "..." smile.jpg

The Bastard didn’t intentionally make me want to live stream doing it barehanded!

[...] Heard of living properly, but never heard of doing it barehanded, is Missy’s vocabulary usually this strange?

"If not for you that day, I might not be here now." Princess Changhuan sighed, then her expression became animated again, "But you’re amazing! If only I were as amazing as you."

Chuzheng had seen Princess Changhuan a few times.

But this Princess never seemed this happy; apart from a few moments when Zhu Dongfeng made her laugh, this was the first time seeing her smile so genuinely without him present.

Chuzheng suppressed the random emotions within her, "Being this capable is innate; you can’t learn it."

Princess Changhuan: "..."

Princess Changhuan’s lip twitched, quickly changing the topic, "I haven’t asked for my savior’s name yet. I’m Xu Yunhuan, but you can call me Changhuan, it’s my title."

Seemingly afraid that Chuzheng wouldn’t understand, Princess Changhuan even took the time to explain.

"Chuzheng."

Chu? Is there a family name like that?

Princess Changhuan wasn’t bothered by it, curiously asking her, "What brings you here?"

"Donating money."

"Eh?"

If donating money, why stay so long?

Princess Changhuan thought donating meant doing so and leaving right after...

Chuzheng didn’t feel like talking much with this Princess, but Princess Changhuan treated her as both a conversational partner and savior, following her closely and occasionally chatting.

Chuzheng hadn’t realized this Princess was so easy to talk to before...

If not for the Thank-You Card, Chuzheng would have wanted to... drive her away.

I endure!

I can do this!

A girl cannot say she can’t!!