20demayo Chapter 511
Chapter 511
This little palace maid reminded him of the small leopard cat he had hunted when he was eight years old, following his father the Emperor on a hunt.
That was his first trophy.
The leopard cat's mother had been struck by the Emperor's arrow and died immediately, leaving behind the helpless little kitten. It was he who had shot it in the leg, rendering it immobile.
The Emperor had praised him for being skilled in riding and archery.
He had originally intended to finish it off with another arrow, but when he drew back his bow and looked at it, he saw the leopard cat glaring fiercely at the Emperor, as if it understood that it was his father who had killed its mother.
He liked the hatred in that leopard cat's eyes.
So, he brought it back to the palace to keep as a pet.
Now, that leopard cat had grown up, and while it still had an unfriendly look for the Emperor, it was as docile as a domesticated house cat in his presence.
Yan Jinsha's gaze reminded him of that leopard cat.
He reached out his hand, intending to help her up from the ground, but Yan Jinsha quickly wiped away the water stains from her face and swiftly backed away.
This person had knocked away her only means of self-defense, the silver hairpin, and he wasn't any better.
Did he not realize that he couldn't possibly take on so many assailants on his own?
"Capture her!"
The palace maid whose face was swollen from being struck stood up and shouted, rushing toward Yan Jinsha. As Yan Jinsha’s eyes darted around, searching for an escape route, she suddenly saw a young man standing in front of her: "I'm warning you one last time, don’t bully her."
No matter who or what he took a fancy to, no matter how fierce it was, he would tame it.
He enjoyed this process immensely.
His cold, detached gaze formed a stark contrast with his sunny, warm appearance, and the little tiger tooth that peeked out gave off a devilish gleam.
Just moments ago, he seemed like a harmless, adorable young noble, innocent and carefree. But now, his aura had shifted, transforming him into a cold-eyed, menacing little demon ready to reap lives.
The palace servants looked at each other, some hesitation flickering in their eyes.
"Maybe we should just let it go! He doesn’t seem easy to deal with."
"Today is the day Empress is selecting brides for the Crown Prince. If this escalates, it won't end well for us."
"He seems both wealthy and noble. We can’t scare him off, so maybe we can wait for another time. Can he protect her forever?"
The palace maid who had been slapped clenched her teeth and glared fiercely at Yan Jinsha: “Just you wait.”
"Guards, take this little palace maid away. Give her thirty heavy lashes. She even dared to glare at the Crown Prince. I think she’s tired of living."
“You...”
"No one come!"
Noble Consort slapped Little Yuezi on the head with one hand: "I haven’t said anything yet. Why is a eunuch like you so hasty?"
"Ow!"
Little Yuezi clutched his head, his face a picture of misery, muttering: “Your Highness, you said she was ungrateful yourself. Your servant was just acting on your behalf!”
Who knew the Crown Prince’s 'ungrateful' was different from his own understanding of 'ungrateful'?
“Sss—”
Noble Consort’s hand lifted again: “You’ve even learned to talk back?”
“No no no no...”
Little Yuezi, bowing, chuckled: "Your servant wouldn't dare, your servant wouldn't dare... Your Highness, we've already wasted a lot of time. Let's go back quickly! Empress must be getting impatient."
Noble Consort finally withdrew his hand, urged by Little Yuezi to hurry away.
Outside the spacious servants' quarters, only Yan Jinsha remained.
“That was the Crown Prince...”
Suddenly, Eunuch Zhang's aged voice rang out behind the girl, speaking just one sentence before he began to cough violently: “My days are numbered, and I can only help you till here. The palace is dangerous, and the rest of the journey, you must walk it yourself.”
Yan Jinsha nodded with red eyes: “Thank you, Zhang Grandpa. I will definitely overturn the case of the Yan Family and make those who framed the Yan Family pay for their crimes.”
The path of overturning the case was not easy, but since she had no other way to participate in the imperial examinations and become an official, she had no choice but to resort to this scheme to manipulate the Crown Prince.
She had no other option...
As the descendant of a convicted criminal, sent to serve in the palace, she had no qualifications to become an official.
The Emperor was too old and devoted solely to Empress, their love unwavering. Becoming a concubine of the Emperor was obviously unrealistic.
Apart from the Emperor, the only one with the power to retry the Yan Family's corruption case was the Crown Prince.
She had to... become someone who could speak up for the Crown Prince.
After much deliberation, the only feasible path seemed to become his concubine.