Chapter 30.2

Meanwhile, within the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, Zhang Shuo grumbled with a worried expression to his subordinate, “That Second Prince of Jinpo Country still hasn’t eaten yet? This father is about to be transferred, yet people still want to make things hard for me.” He gazed at the moon outside the window. It was already rising up in the skies. “If he doesn’t want to eat, then let him go hungry. As long as he doesn’t starve to death, it’s fine.”

Pei Jihuai noticed his boss’ distress. “Sir, this humble official will go have a look at him.”

“In this official’s eyes, that whatever Second Prince isn’t a good person. He’s already a prisoner, but wants Great General Hua’s daughter.” Zhang Shuo scoffed. “He still believes he’s in Jinpo Country. A hostage should act like a hostage!”

Pei Jihuai said a few words of consolation before turning around and making for the prison.

The identity of Jinpo Country’s Second Prince proved special. The Imperial Court of Judicial Review dispatched many people to watch over him. At present, it had already detained him for approximately twenty hours, yet he did not so much as drink a single drop of water. It was a mystery why he was throwing a fit.

If he genuinely wanted to die, then he would have found an opportunity to commit suicide on the way here. Not wait until he had arrived at the capital to try anything.

If anyone asked A’Wa if he was hungry, he definitely would roar yes. However, as the most respected Second Prince of Jinpo Country, he felt that must not stay quiet in the prison. This was a mistreatment of one’s captive.

After throwing a fit for a whole day, he ran out of energy early on. Not to mention, no one paid him any attention; there was no point in continuing to make a ruckus. He just wanted to go to sleep. Asleep, he wouldn’t feel hungry.

When he was about to succumb to slumber, someone arrived. He rushed to sit up. To open his eyes wide. After much effort, he was able to put on an undefeatable appearance.

“Your Highness A’Wa.” Pei Jihuai had his subordinate carry a table of food into the prison cell and place it in front of A’Wa. “This official has heard that Your Highness did not drink even a drop of water today, and feels very concerned. As such, this official specially had people prepare a table full of delicious food. May Your Highness have a taste.”

“No.” A’Wa swallowed his saliva. “Before you people bring Hua Liuli here, I will not eat anything.”

“It seems Your Highness is not hungry.” Pei Jihuai smiled in an insincere manner. Then he kicked over the table full of culinary delicacies. Grinded the food beneath his boots with much force. “T’was this official’s mistake to have forgotten that Your Highness is not acclimated with the capital’s environment and needs to fast for two days.”

The scent of food permeated the entire prison cell. Stomach rumbling, A’Wa stared with wide eyes at the official from Great Jin. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“Nothing. Your Highness is not acclimated with our environment, so if this official insists on you taking your meals, it would be detrimental to your health.” Following that, Pei Jihuai turned to leave.

“Wait! This prince wants to see Hua Liuli!”

“Your Highness,” said Pei Jihuai, the prison bars separating them. His tone grew cold as he continued, “Your honored self is a prince sent to be held hostage here. Your status is low. As such, it is truly offensive of you to call our country’s commandery princess by her name.”

“How dare you! This Highness is a prince and will be Jinpo Country’s next king.”

“Your Highness dislikes the fact that Jinpo Country gives too small of a tribute to our Great Jin?” Pei Jihuai accepted the whip his subordinate presented to him. Played with it. “If your honored self sincerely thinks this, then this official can write a letter for you to His Majesty informing him of your thoughts.”

“Y-you…” Never had A’Wa imagined that a little official from Great Jin would dare ridicule him.

“If Your Highness won’t eat, then go hungry.” Pei Jihuai made to leave. “When Your Highness feels like eating, this official will come see your honored self again.”

If a hostage was disobedient, it’s most likely due to being full and having the energy to resist. So starve him for two meals. If one day wasn’t enough, then go for two.

A prince sent to be held as hostage ought to act like one. A prince of a country that lost a war actually put on airs in Great Jin. Did he truly think the Imperial Court of Judicial Review lacked methods in putting people in order?

“Sir Pei, would His Majesty blame you once he discovers you treating Prince A’Wa like this?” asked his subordinate, concerned.

“Don’t worry.” Pei Jihuai tossed the whip back to his subordinate. He jumped onto his horse. “If His Majesty intended to give him preferential treatment, then why did he lock him up in the Imperial Court of Judicial Review’s prison?”

How could His Majesty not know what kind of people were imprisoned there?

“The streets are crowded tonight. I’ll head outside and see if there’s anyone causing trouble.” Then Pei Jihuai warned, “Before twenty hours have passed, do not give Prince A’Wa any food or water. We must have him learn what it means to be obedient.”

“This subordinate accepts the command.”

Pei Jihuai patted his horse and disappeared into the night.

His subordinate muttered to himself, “Why does this Prince A’Wa keep screaming that he wants to see the Hua clan’s precious daughter? And appear like he really hates her?”

Those who didn’t know any better would think that the Hua family’s precious daughter had abandoned him.

Tides of people surged on the crowded street. Hua Liuli dared not buy the food and snacks on the street for the crown prince to eat, only bringing him to join in on the excitement. Like playing ring toss, pitch-pot, darts, and so forth.

The two did not fear wasting money. Whatever little prizes they won, they would give to the children who were watching the excitement on the side.

“Commandery Princess’ technique of throwing darts is a sight for the eyes.”

“Although this official’s daughter is sickly, I learned self-defense from my family.” Hua Liuli exited from the darts booth. “These skills aren’t much.”

Perhaps it was because she had a great time playing, but the crown prince noticed that Hua Liuli’s complexion wasn’t as pale as it usually was that night. To the point where it carried traces of a blush.

After Hua Liuli had played for a while, a servant girl presented a pill for her to take. What type of pill it was he did not know. However, he caught the faint fragrance of herbal medicine.

As the moon rose, the people playing in the streets started to disperse. Looking at the street that gradually grew empty, the crown prince said, “The night is already more than half over. We should return.”

“Alright.” Hua Liuli put on the colorful leopard cat mask she had purchased. Then she turned to face the crown prince. “Your Highness, have you heard of this rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“In fact, cats and tigers are closely related. The ancestors of cats were as fierce as tigers, the kings of the mountain,” she said. Then, she spread her hands like claws. “Awoo!”

“Mm, what a frightful… tiger.” The crown prince bent his index finger and tapped her mask. “My personal zoo is lacking a tiger. So why don’t I bring you there to raise? Though you are small and delicate, I don’t mind.”

“Your Highness?!” Pei Jihuai could not believe his eyes. At once, he dismounted his horse. “Why is your honored self here?”

Not only that, why was he with a girl?

The Imperial Court of Judicial Review was well informed. That said, he had never heard that the crown prince was close to any young lady in the capital. The young lady wearing a colorful leopard cat mask had on splendid attire. Hands delicate and fair and tender. One look, and it was clear she hailed from an influential family that pampered her.

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Hua Liuli was just about to remove her mask when the crown prince reached out. In a soft manner, he pressed the mask in place, stopping her action.

“The Lantern Festival is so lively, so I went to take a look.”

With his attention now on the crown prince, Pei Jihuai no longer paid the young lady any mind. He cupped his hands in greeting. “Does Your Highness wish to return to the palace? This humble subject can escort your honored self back.”

At first, the crown prince wanted to reject his offer. But then he cast a glance in Hua Liuli’s direction. Tone indifferent, he said, “Follow along.”

Hua Liuli held up her mask with both hands. She looked back at the honest-looking Pei Jihuai following behind them. Whispered to the crown prince, “Isn’t that person Deputy Head Pei of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review?”

“You still remember him?” He nodded. “That’s correct.”

Pei Jihuai dropped his head and pretended not to have heard them. He had worked in the Imperial Court of Judicial Review for almost five years and had an acute sense of hearing. Thus, once he had caught that young lady’s words, he was certain he had come across her recently.

“Your Highness, the hostage A’Wa is not acclimated to the capital’s environment. To be considerate toward his health, this humble subject will not have anyone serve him meals tomorrow,” said Pei Jihuai. “Is there anything inappropriate about this humble subject’s direction?”

The crown prince stopped in his tracks. Looked at the mask-wearing person by his side. “That’s fine. Until the day after tomorrow, he will only be fed water.”

“This humble subject will do as told,” replied Pei Jihuai. Then he pretended to coincidentally mention Zhang Shuo as he said, “In order to guard against the assassins breaking Prince A’Wa out of prison, the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, Sir Zhang, is still there at the prison keeping watch, making sure of A’Wa’s safety.”

“Zhang Shuo has always been dependable with his duties. Both I and Imperial Father are of that opinion,” said the crown prince seemingly without much thought. “But the Imperial Court of Judicial review needs to hurry up in handling its large case.”

“May Crown Prince rest assured. This humble servant will definitely do my utmost.” Pei Jihuai’s gaze burned brightly. He felt moved as he saluted the crown prince. Judging by the crown prince’s words, it was evident that the emperor would not replace Sir Zhang.

When Pei Jihuai thought of it with more care, realization struck him. The Imperial Court of Judicial Review was a very important department. How could the crown prince allow it to fall into the hands of Prince Ying’s father-in-law?

Although their Sir Zhang was not in the Eastern Palace’s faction, he was not partial toward any of the other imperial princes. As such, he was the most suitable person as the chief justice in the crown prince’s eyes.

After Pei Jihuai had escorted the crown prince into the palace, and the young lady with the mask had followed him inside, he finally snapped back to his senses. Since that young lady could enter the palace with the crown prince, did that mean she was an imperial princess?

But the crown prince was not close to any of the three imperial princesses.

Taking off her mask, Hua Liuli did not ask the crown prince why she could not show her face to Pei Jihuai. Instead, she was all smiles as she asked, “Was Your Highness happy tonight?”

The crown prince gazed at the girl’s sparkling eyes. “Yes.”

“That’s good.” Standing on tiptoes, she patted his shoulder. “Your Highness is a young man and mustn’t dwell on sorrowful things. There are many things worth being happy about in this world.”

She took a step back. Waved at him. “This official’s daughter should take my leave. Rest well, Your Highness.”

She turned and ran off a couple steps, before looking back at the crown prince and smiling at him. And she pressed a hand to her chest and coughed lightly. Afterward, servant girls and palace maids escorted her toward Shoukang Palace.

The crown prince watched her leave, swaying the lantern of a fox praying to the moon. All of a sudden, he laughed.

Walking quietly on tiptoe, Hua Liuli entered the side palace hall. At that moment, the candles in the room lit up.

“You finally felt like coming back? Yurong clearly informed me that you would be returning during the period of Wu.” General Wei, Wei Mingyue, sat upright in her seat, staring expressionlessly at her daughter who had returned in the middle of the night.

“Mother.” Hua Liuli approached Wei Mingyue and held onto her arm, full of the intention to curry favor. “I just stayed out playing a bit longer than expected. Don’t be angry with me.”

“Was the crown prince handsome?” asked Wei Mingyue with a stiff expression.

“Yes.” Hua Liuli nodded. “I sensed that he wasn’t happy so tried coaxing him to smile. I didn’t do anything else.”

Wei Mingyue observed her daughter’s gaze. It was like looking at a piglet who had finally learned how to dig up a Chinese cabbage with its snout. As she pulled a long face, she pinched her beloved daughter’s cheek. “You’re still so young, yet you’ve already learned how to woo beauties like your father.”

“How is that the same thing?” Hua Liuli took the opportunity to embrace her mother. “Daddy only has you in his heart. Whereas I just didn’t want to see a beauty feel sad.”

“And I thought you had taken a fancy to the crown prince.” Wei Mingyue could not bear to reproach her daughter. And when her daughter acted coquettishly, she found it even harder to, letting Hua Liuli do as she pleased. “If you truly like him, Mother will think of a way to give that person to you.”

“Mother, I only feel admiration toward the crown prince. There are no romantic feelings involved.” Hua Liuli feared that her mother would truly rush to the emperor and propose marriage for her, so blurted, “I only want to accompany you and Daddy. Raise a handsome male companion on the side. So don’t waste a good man like the crown prince.”

“That’s good too.” Wei Mingyue nodded. “How could the men of the imperial family know how to make you as happy as handsome male pets can?”

“Mother, you should not let Daddy hear these words,” Hua Liuli rushed to say. “Otherwise, he will suspect you of being unfaithful.”

The click of a tongue. Wei Mingyue patted the top of her daughter’s head. “I think you got your good looks from me and your skill in coaxing people from your father.”

“Mother, you are a female general who guards our territory. I am a delicate and often-ill beauty. It’s not the same. It’s not the same.”

To which Wei Mingyue laughed, its meaning unknown.