USWHC -Chapter 474 In Disarray (Part 4)

Her skirt suddenly fell down, and the whole world seemed to brighten. Princess Lanyi was pulled along in a daze, running as she caught glimpses of a few people lying on the ground. Had this person saved her?

She lifted her head blankly, only to see a tall, sturdy figure before her. Backlit by the light, he seemed to block everything in front of her—she could see nothing but that silhouette.

In her confusion, she let him drag her through the mud, dashing wildly, weaving through narrow alleys, not knowing where they were heading.

“You really don’t smell ordinary kind of bad!” he finally stopped and turned to look at her.

Princess Lanyi froze. Perhaps from running too fast, he was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling. When he looked down at her, the corner of his lips curled in a teasing, slightly crooked smile.

She didn’t even catch what he said. All she saw was this godlike man before her. Was he sent by heaven to save her?

Her heart began to pound wildly. She parted her lips but didn’t dare say anything. She was even afraid he might misunderstand her—like those others—and think she was a madwoman.

Ji Yi looked at the girl before him, already frightened out of her wits, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance. Was it really okay to throw a princess who had never known the harshness of the world into such a living hell?

“Forget it, I’ll take you back,” Ji Yi finally said, unable to bear leaving her alone in a place like this. Who knew what might happen next?

“Do you know where I live?” Princess Lanyi asked timidly instead.

Ji Yi was momentarily embarrassed. Grinning, he scratched his head and said with his usual simple, honest smile, “I haven’t even asked where you live yet.”

Seeing his reaction, Princess Lanyi actually let out a faint sigh. “The Forbidden City,” she said—then immediately looked at him in panic, as if afraid her newly found protector might run away. She hurriedly added, “In a small hutong at the foot of it!”

Ji Yi, seeing how cautious she looked, teased her on purpose, “I thought you lived in the Forbidden City.”

“No…” she replied weakly, then added with a trace of hope, “But what if I really said I lived there? I mean—what if?”

“Wherever you say you live, I’ll believe you,” Ji Yi said with a smile. Then he suddenly reached out and ruffled her messy hair. “Still just a kid.”

Princess Lanyi didn’t understand why he said that, but she immediately puffed out her chest and protested loudly, “I’m not a kid anymore, okay!”

Ji Yi didn’t reply. He simply smiled faintly and continued walking ahead. Seeing this, Princess Lanyi hurried after him in small, quick steps.

His strides were long, while her sticky, mud-soaked skirt made her movements clumsy. In her fluster, she nearly stumbled and fell.

Whether Ji Yi noticed or not, he simply slowed his pace silently, still walking ahead of her.

A light drizzle began to fall from the sky. It was truly dreadful weather—the already muddy road became even harder to walk.

Just then, Ji Yi suddenly stopped. Princess Lanyi couldn’t avoid him in time and bumped right into his back.

“Follow my footsteps,” he said softly. Then he lifted the edge of his clothing and stuffed it into her hand.

She was slightly stunned. His tall figure stood right before her, shielding her from the wind and rain, guiding her path. His steps were just right—she could step perfectly into his footprints. And his footprints were so large that every step she took felt steady.

Her breath suddenly caught. In this stormy night, a warm feeling surged in her heart.

“Why did you save me?” Princess Lanyi asked, her voice choked with emotion.

“Was I supposed to just watch you be humiliated? I couldn’t do that,” Ji Yi replied softly, a hint of sighing in his voice. “A child… who could bring themselves to harm one?”

“I told you, I’m not a child!” she insisted stubbornly. Then she paused and asked hesitantly, “Then… you don’t mind that I smell? That I’m dirty?”

“I do mind! I’m still holding my breath right now,” Ji Yi said with utmost sincerity. But then he burst out laughing. “So what?”

So what?

Princess Lanyi looked up at him blankly.

A truly good person…

She couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.