As soon as the words left Jiang Zhou’s mouth, An Yi acted on her orders. She pinned the Fifth Prince’s shoulder and, with a single swift kick, snapped his left leg.
The Fifth Prince was a tough one. Despite the searing pain, he gritted his teeth and didn’t make a sound; his face turned deathly pale before he lost consciousness and slumped over.
“Eldest Princess…” Consort An didn’t know what to say. Although she treated the Fifth Prince poorly, he was still her child and her future reliance in the palace.
“Tsk. It seems Fifth Brother has realized his mistake.” Jiang Zhou felt no sympathy for the unconscious boy. On the contrary, the fact that he could endure such pain without screaming made her take even more notice of him.
“Consort An, call an imperial physician for him later. Have the leg set properly; who knows, it might still be useful in the future.” Jiang Zhou looked at Consort An with a half-smile. “Remember, stay in your place. Don’t try any little tricks.”
“Yes…” Seeing the twisted state of the Fifth Prince’s leg, Consort An’s courage failed her completely.
“An Yi, let’s go.” Jiang Zhou shifted her gaze to An Yi. After lingering for a moment, a trace of a smile touched her lips. “There’s no time like the present. I’ll take you to buy some clothes today.”
“Thank you, Princess.” An Yi followed behind, her gaze never leaving Jiang Zhou.
…
After Jiang Zhou left the palace, the Emperor received a report of the incident. Hearing that the Fifth Prince’s leg had been broken, he merely frowned. “Consort An has failed in educating her son. She is to be confined for three months to reflect on her actions. As for the Fifth Prince, let him recover in the Princes’ Quarters. Once he is healed, ensure he attends his lessons and learns something useful.”
The Emperor was a professional at playing favorites. If Jiang Zhou hadn’t been a girl, he would have named her Crown Princess and raised her to rule long ago.
Jiang Zhou was unaware of the palace drama; she was too busy realizing that her shadow guard, An Yi, had an incredible physique!
Under the guise of buying new clothes, Jiang Zhou picked out an array of outfits: standard martial tunics, long robes, dresses, and even some rather eccentric garments. An Yi was a perfectly obedient subordinate; whatever Jiang Zhou told her to wear, she wore. Even when the clothes exposed her collarbone or midriff, she didn’t hesitate for a second.
However, once Jiang Zhou saw how much skin An Yi was showing, she immediately pulled her back into the changing room, refusing to let anyone else admire the view.
“An Yi, at what age did you begin practicing martial arts?” Jiang Zhou asked, lightly pressing her own fingertips together to keep herself from reaching out to touch.
“Replying to the Princess, this subordinate began at the age of three.” An Yi was about five centimeters taller than Jiang Zhou, so she had to look down slightly to meet her eyes.
Tsk, Jiang Zhou thought. An Yi is so obedient it almost makes me feel bad for bullying her.
“Then your constitution must be very strong?” Jiang Zhou continued, reaching out to grab the hem of An Yi’s top.
“Those who practice martial arts are naturally sturdier than the average person.” An Yi’s gaze drifted down, settling on Jiang Zhou’s hand.
“I see…” Jiang Zhou let the words trail off. Seeing the well-defined lines of An Yi’s abdomen, she finally couldn’t resist and reached out to feel them.
“Princess?” The sudden touch caused An Yi’s body to tense up instantly.
“Relax. I’m just touching, nothing else.” Once she made contact, Jiang Zhou found it somewhat addictive. This muscle, these lines—there was definitely something there.
An Yi didn’t know what Jiang Zhou intended, so she tried her best to relax. But Jiang Zhou’s hand kept moving, a silent provocation that kept An Yi’s nerves taut and high-strung; she couldn’t relax at all.
Jiang Zhou had only meant to satisfy her curiosity. After feeling the guard’s abs, she exercised some restraint and pulled her hand back.
“Of the clothes we tried, which did you like best?” She cleared her throat to hide her slight loss of composure.
“Princess, this subordinate feels they are all similar. However, the dresses interfere with drawing my sword. Martial tunics are more suitable.” An Yi breathed a sigh of internal relief. Only after Jiang Zhou moved her hand away could she truly relax.
Jiang Zhou thought for a moment before waving her hand dismissively and buying everything An Yi had tried. “Even if some aren’t practical for work, you can change your style at home.”
When they emerged from the shop, An Yi’s black gear had been replaced by a silver-white robe of a similar cut. Jiang Zhou, meanwhile, had transformed from a noble princess into a handsome young scholar.
“Pri—… Master, the Master said you shouldn’t go to the Spring Breeze Pavilion,” An Yi managed to squeeze out a word of caution after realizing their destination.
“Did he say that?” Jiang Zhou smiled at her. “Just listen to what he says and let it go. As long as I don’t go wild, eating some pastries isn’t a problem. Right?”
An Yi was dazed by the smile on Jiang Zhou’s face. She lowered her head and remained silent.
“An Yi, lift your head.” Jiang Zhou pinched An Yi’s chin, forcing her to look up. “I like looking into your eyes. Do you understand what I mean?”
“…Yes.” An Yi didn’t understand at all, but she knew she had to obey. Since the Princess ordered it, she would do it.
…
The first trip to the Spring Breeze Pavilion had been mostly out of curiosity; the second time, Jiang Zhou was a seasoned pro. Leaving the other guards outside, she entered with only An Yi.
“Master Jiang! It’s been a few days. You look even more radiant than before.” The same girl from before greeted her, casting a curious glance at An Yi. “The ladies you saw last time are available. Should I call them over?”
“Sure, the usual spot.” Jiang Zhou instinctively reached for her banknotes, only to realize she’d changed clothes and didn’t have them on her person. “An Yi, give this lady a hundred-tael note.”
“Yes.” An Yi pulled a banknote from her chest pocket and handed it over.
“This way, please, Master Jiang.” The girl’s smile deepened. “The day you left, Young Master He didn’t cause you any trouble, did he?”
“You mean He Li?” Jiang Zhou laughed. “Don’t worry. My backing is bigger than his. Lord He handled things fairly and gave him twenty strokes of the rod. He’s likely still bedridden.”
The girl was stunned. He Li was the Governor’s only son; most officials gave him face. Why would the Governor beat his own child? Noticing Jiang Zhou’s surname was the same as the Imperial family’s, she made a bold guess. This “Master Jiang” was likely royalty.
Though she had her suspicions, she knew better than to ask. She led them to a private room.
“Master Jiang is here! We’ve missed you!” “Master Jiang, let me massage your shoulders.” “Master, I’ve learned a new tune. Let me play it for you.”
As the beautiful girls swarmed around, Jiang Zhou’s smile grew wide. “Good, let me enjoy your service.” She took the main seat and beckoned An Yi to sit beside her. “Come, An Yi, sit here with me.”
Jiang Zhou wasn’t one to enjoy things alone. An Yi was her person; if she had it, An Yi should have it too.
“This one…” A lively girl looked at An Yi. “Is this the lady who drove off Young Master He?”
Yi remained stone-faced, visibly resisting the girl’s approach, her lips pressed tight in silence.
“It’s her. An Yi is the person I trust most,” Jiang Zhou said. “She’s just a bit too serious. I want her to relax here.”
“I see! Why don’t I give the lady a massage?” the lively girl asked.
“Go ahead,” Jiang Zhou agreed.
An Yi hated being touched, but because it was Jiang Zhou’s command, she didn’t refuse. She simply sat there, her body as rigid as a board. The girl’s hands were gentle, but as she pressed against An Yi’s rock-hard muscles, she felt like she was kneading a stone. No matter how much pressure she used, An Yi didn’t budge.
“Master… the guard lady doesn’t seem to like my service…” The girl let go, secretly rubbing her own aching fingers. So hard! My fingers actually hurt.
“An Yi, you don’t like it?” Jiang Zhou tilted her head. “If you don’t, we can switch someone else.”
“Master, this subordinate does not require service.” An Yi looked Jiang Zhou directly in the eye, remembering the order to keep her head up.
“I see.” Jiang Zhou felt a bit stuck. she had intended for An Yi to enjoy the company of beauties, but she hadn’t expected this reaction. “Then what do you like?”
“As long as the Master does not cast this subordinate away, that is enough,” An Yi said. Her gaze was intensely sincere. “My existence is to guard your safety. If I have one wish, it is to stay by your side for a lifetime.”
Jiang Zhou’s mind went blank for a second. “Then… then I permit you to follow me for a lifetime.” The answer felt a bit dry, and a strange wave of guilt washed over her again.
“Why does the guard lady always wear a mask? Isn’t it uncomfortable?” the lively girl couldn’t help but ask.
An Yi touched her mask, her gaze lingering for a split second on Jiang Zhou’s neck before darting away. “Master, do you need An Yi to remove the mask?”
Jiang Zhou hesitated. “If you don’t mind, I would like to see your face.”
“I ask that the Master has the ladies leave the room first,” An Yi requested.
“Very well.” Jiang Zhou smiled at the girls, who were tactful enough to know when to exit. They left with a few playful words.
“Master, since you are willing to let me follow you, I should be honest with you as well,” An Yi said. She reached behind her head and clicked the mechanism on the mask.
With a faint click, the mask was slowly removed.
Jiang Zhou’s eyes were full of curiosity at first, but once she saw An Yi’s face clearly, she froze. Her mouth hung slightly open, her eyes wide with absolute shock.