USWHC -Chapter 476 In Disarray (Part 6)

Princess Lanyi was startled. She had just been about to say something when she saw Ji Yi had already walked out ahead of her. She immediately cried out in fear, “Don’t go, I’m scared!”

But Ji Yi seemed not to hear her and continued walking out. Just as Princess Lanyi was feeling both panicked and disappointed, she suddenly saw him turn back and walk in again.

Her face instantly bloomed into a bright smile as she choked up, “I thought you had left me behind!”

“Shh, someone’s coming! Seems like they’re looking for you!” Ji Yi whispered. As he spoke, he quickly hid behind the Buddha statue and softly instructed, “Don’t let anyone know I’m here!”

Just as Princess Lanyi was still stunned by this sudden turn of events, the temple doors were abruptly pushed open and a group of people walked in. When they saw her, they were clearly taken aback, but immediately knelt and saluted, “Greetings, Your Highness!”

Princess Lanyi carefully looked at the newcomers, but the next moment, tears of excitement rolled down her cheeks. “Zhao Xuguang, why did you take so long to come find me!”

That’s right—the one who came was Commander Zhao, Zhao Xuguang. Hearing the princess say this, he was instead stunned. Hadn’t the princess run away on her own?

In fact, the moment they entered and saw Princess Lanyi in such a disheveled state, they had all frozen for quite a while, almost unable to recognize her. This mud-covered, foul-smelling figure—could she really be their lovely Princess Lanyi? It was simply unbelievable!

“Please, Your Highness, return to the palace,” Zhao Xuguang said respectfully.

Princess Lanyi immediately nodded frantically. “Father Emperor and Mother Consort must be worried sick! I miss them so much!” As she spoke, she rushed forward impatiently, as if afraid of being left behind.

But just as she reached the doorway, she suddenly turned back reluctantly, her gaze lingering on the cold Buddha statue, her eyes brimming with hot, swirling tears.

“Your Highness, is there something there?” Zhao Xuguang asked softly.

Princess Lanyi sniffed hard and said, “No, nothing at all!” Then she strode out.

Zhao Xuguang frowned slightly and signaled behind him. Someone immediately darted behind the Buddha statue, but after a moment, they poked their head out again and silently shook it.

No one was there anymore?

Princess Lanyi was momentarily stunned. The tension she had felt from their sudden arrival instantly turned into an inexplicable emptiness. She didn’t even know what she truly wanted—did she want that person to be found or not? Even she herself wasn’t sure.

“So you were kidnapped?” Consort Duan exclaimed angrily after hearing Princess Lanyi’s account.

“I… I don’t know,” Princess Lanyi replied softly. She only knew that when she woke up, she was already somewhere else.

Consort Duan suddenly widened her eyes, looking at her in alarm, lowering her voice. “Then… do you feel any discomfort anywhere?” As she spoke, her gaze dropped toward her body.

“No! Mother, what are you thinking!” Princess Lanyi immediately protested at the implication. Then she sighed deeply. “If he hadn’t saved me in time, I really might have been in danger…”

Seeing her lower her head with flushed cheeks, Consort Duan’s expression immediately darkened. She snapped, “Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to that unknown fellow?”

“Mother, what are you saying!” Princess Lanyi said shyly.

But Consort Duan’s face turned cold as she said harshly, “Listen carefully—you are not of ordinary status. Choosing a consort is not something you can do casually! That kind of man of unknown origin—don’t even think about it! Aside from sons of noble families, you are not allowed to marry anyone else!”

“Mother, what are you talking about? I’m still young!” Princess Lanyi protested in a coquettish tone.

“Young? Nonsense!” Consort Duan immediately put on a stern face. “You must understand your identity and not act recklessly. Besides, your mother’s future happiness depends on you. If you marry carelessly, who will respect me? Do you want to see me mocked, left alone in an empty chamber, with no one even bothering to visit?”

“No, Mother, that won’t happen!” Princess Lanyi quickly assured her. “Look, they all like me! Yingrong even said a couple of days ago that he wanted to ask the Empress to betroth me to him!”

“Hmph, that wretched woman? She would never help us!” Consort Duan sneered. “Keep a close eye on that foolish boy Yingrong. If necessary, stir him up into making a scene—let that wretched woman be thoroughly humiliated! Hmph, especially after what she said about you today!”