His Majesty’s Hostage - Volume 1 Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Ever since he arrived in this place, there hasn’t been a time where he is not panicking, or a moment where he is not treading on thin ice. The imperial throne palace seemed like its always surrounded by a dense eerie and scheming ambiance, as if it wants to tail you, that no matter how careful and cautious you are, or how contented you are, its calamity will come running to you. And what’s more, there is that moody and extremely difficult to deal with emperor?

Zi Li is very lazy, but he is definitely not an idiot. He could conclude from this assassin incident, that he is being treated in an extremely disadvantageous way right now! Not to mention his unclear standpoint with that profound and mysterious emperor. Regardless of how he move, it’ll be transparent enough to have his every trick be countered. There are also those who is aiming for his life while hiding in the shadows, setting traps and waiting for him to step on it and die, without an ounce of conscience. Their actions as if they’re about to strike from the back, aiming a gleaming arrow directly at his vital spot, and will fire it, puncturing his stomach the moment he lower his guard down.

This anxiety was eating Zi Li’s heart as it washes over it no matter how strong he steel his mind. He definitely don’t want to it to happen the second time around.

Being confronted with dangers on every side, the thought from before had resurfaced in his mind again. At last, he was finally resolved to carry out his escape he puts off, earlier than he planned.

But before his plan is to be implemented, based on his past experiences from television dramas and wuxia novels, Zi Li have to prepare several things before he do it!

First of all is money! Isn’t there a common saying that, ‘Money is not everything, but you can’t do anything without money!”?

Right now he’s just planning to escape, but later on once he’s in hiding, money is an indispensable weapon for his self-protection.

Secondly, is the disguise set. For example, the human masks commonly mentioned in novels! This stuff should never be underestimated. In the past, people around the world uses a thin layer of human masks to cover their faces so that they’ll avoid troublesome hindrances from running away from home or from pursuers that chases them for the kill. A beautiful person can be turned ugly, an ugly person can be turned beautiful, scars can be concealed turning into a smooth and clear skin,  and shifty-looking eyes can be turned at once into a dashing sharp and starry eyes. Just describing its functionality is already amazing! So using that kind of prop that could easily change a look will definitely be indispensable.

And lastly, is the a genuine article of self-defense weapon! But when Zi Li confronted this problem, he found it to be a real headache.

What’s better to bring? A dagger? Two-handed sword? Can’t wield that! How about throwing knives? But I’m afraid it will ricochet back at me! Then bow and arrow? But other people could kill me before I could draw it! Throwing hammer? But it’s useless if other people don’t stay at the same spot to get hit by it! A long whip? But it’s likely to just get wrapped around me! Then what about Nunchucks? He tried imitating Jay Chou with it before, but its a bit tricky to maneuver it around! Nope, nope, all of them are no good!

Zi Li awkwardly paces around his room, creasing his brows while continuously mumbling to himself. All of a sudden, Zi Li clapped his hands together. He cheerfully said: “How could I forget about it? Ha ha ha! I’ll choose you then!”

Once he settled on the required goods he needed, he started moving to put it into actions! But of course, this process of collection must be executed covertly, and that included not telling Ming Yue about it!

Contrary to his expectation, it was quite easy to get the money! As he looks around the palace, Zi Li could see a lot of precious jade antiques exhibited everywhere for visitors to see. There are those jade beads hanging on the curtains,  golden animal statues, pearls the size of chicken eggs, and other countless items that may have the same value. It’s just that he don’t know how to convert them to currencies. But that’s not important, since he could sell them later.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Even the hostage prince’s residence is also extravagant, the budget for this place is also quite a lot! Wow! This thing, such quality!” Zi Li was clicking his tongue while sighing as he marvel at the jade and golden decorations. He pocketed pearls and precious jewels as many as he could.

While he was beaming with joy as he looted stuff, a voice of someone was suddenly heard from the doorway. Zi Li jumped in fright, then quickly stuffed the booty he gathered under his bed. He hadn’t stood up yet, when the door was opened and Ming Yue walks in.

“Your highness, an official is looking for you!” Ming Yue saw his body by chance, which is currently crouching at the side of the bed. She was not alarm but she was perplexed as she asked: “Oh! What are you crouching there for, your highness? Did something fell down there? If so, should Ming Yue help you get it?”

“N-no. It’s only a shoelace. Ah! wrong, I don’t have a shoe. *Cough* Who did you say was looking for me?”

“It’s the tribute secretary, official Pan Lian.” Ming Yu understood that Zi Li can’t remember him, so she explained dutifully.

“Oh.” Zi Li nodded his head, then asked, “What matter does he need me for?”

“That is, he wanted to invite his highness for a drink outside the palace, a drink with female courtesans!” Ming Yue was both angry and a bit hard-pressed on talking about it. This Pan Lian is really not a good person. He love to boast about frequenting brothels, so he’s certainly  gonna drag his highness with him in such an outrageous place. But even though Ming Yue was strongly protesting in her heart for his highness in having a friendly terms with such a person, but the other man is an official. And even though the other person is only an official in name, a servant like them will never dare to drive him away from the doorway. Therefore, she could only unwillingly come in and announce his presence.

“Outside the palace? A drink with female entertainers?” Zi Li widened his eyes, “Fucking hell! So I can still leave the palace?”

Ming Yue was confused while watching Zi Li.

“Ming Yue, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“But his highness didn’t ask me!”

Well, Zi Li can’t be blame for being surprised. He himself understands, that he is a prince that is equal to a hostage. Will a hostage who is under house arrest be allowed to freely wander outside? And not be worried of the person who is held captive from running away?

And so, Zi Li had reach to a certain conclusion. Would the astute and calculative Hong Xu not think of such a possibility to not happen? He may allow Zi Li to come and go as he pleases, but there’s definitely a tight surveillance secretly being deployed. If Zi Li thinks about escaping? Ha ha! Such a thing is an impossible task!

But as of now, knowing the he could leave the palace is enough to make him laugh and get carried away. He believes that this current situation would be beneficial towards the plan he’s about to implement. Zi Li joyously replied to Ming Yue: “Since someone is inviting me for a drink outside the palace, then I shall partake in social niceties. Ming Yue, I’ll be back late in the afternoon for dinner. I’m gonna go, bye bye!”

“Ah! Your highness…..” ——

Bonbon wanted to say:

Who else had a bad feeling about this…?

Hahaha, another day my brain is fried… Hopefully my brain will adjust soon—*faints*

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