Talking About the Law

"You don't need to comfort me either."

Ji Yinyin quickly finished a drumstick, sucking on her filthy fingers as she said, "Me? I gave up on this face-judging world long ago. In this life, I'm only fit to be a beggar..."

Ji Hongxue looked pained. "Yinyin, don't say that. You're a princess."

"Then I'm the beggar among princesses, the princess who's doing the worst of them all. I've disgraced princesses everywhere."

Ji Yinyin laughed heartily, yet there was no sadness or resentment toward heaven and earth on her face.

An Bulang greatly approved of Ji Yinyin's attitude and comforted her, "Yinyin, you don't need to be so pessimistic. Though you're doing the worst among princesses, you look the safest."

Joy rose in Ji Hongxue's heart. An Bulang had finally learned how to comfort people. How harmonious this was.

But suddenly, she felt that something was not quite right...

Ji Yinyin's cheerful smile froze on her face. She nearly grabbed a chicken bone from the plate and hurled it at An Bulang!

"Bulang, my sister's life is already so hard. How could you bear to..." Ji Hongxue came to her senses and nearly spat blood.

"It's fine, Sister Hongxue." Ji Yinyin cut Ji Hongxue off, pressing both hands against the table. One large eye and one small eye stared straight at An Bulang as she said solemnly, "An Bulang, you were truly wrong when you said I look safe!"

"Oh? How so?" An Bulang asked curiously.

Ji Yinyin struck a victor's pose. "The year I was born, my mother died in childbirth. When I was one, my father wanted to kill me, insisting that I wasn't his biological daughter. I grew up amid all kinds of beatings and curses. When I was twelve, I secretly slipped out of the palace and nearly got beaten to death as a monster... All of this was because of my appearance, and you still say I look safe?"

An Bulang: "..."

Ji Hongxue's eyes reddened as she listened.

"Sorry, I was wrong." An Bulang no longer had the heart to tease her and lowered his head in apology.

Ji Yinyin waved her bluish-black little hand. "It's fine. I've heard every vicious thing imaginable over the years. The way you talk doesn't really make me feel anything at all. I even find it rather comfortable."

An Bulang nodded, automatically choosing to forget the furious look Ji Yinyin had worn when she nearly threw a chicken bone at him.

"By the way, Yinyin, why did you beat Censor Chen Yong before?" Ji Hongxue asked again.

"Chen Yong saw a beautiful girl and evil thoughts sprang up. He defiled the daughter of a humble family, so naturally I had to beat him up!" Ji Yinyin said.

Ji Hongxue's expression changed. "Outrageous! But since he committed such a heinous crime, we should report him to the authorities!"

Ji Yinyin sneered. "If reporting it worked, they would have done so long ago. Chen Yong has backing. In cases like this, the authorities usually brush it off by claiming there's insufficient evidence. Worse still, the family whose daughter was defiled feared Chen Yong's influence. After being threatened once, they could only swallow their anger and dared not step forward."

Ji Hongxue fell silent. Such things were not uncommon in the Azure Kingdom.

A fierce look appeared on Ji Yinyin's face. "Since reporting it to the authorities was useless, I could only solve the problem my way. Wasn't Chen Yong so capable? I took my subordinates and found an opportunity to beat him senseless, destroying his tool for committing crimes. Let's see if he dares commit crimes again!"

"Destroyed his tool for committing crimes? How ruthless!" Ji Hongxue's lips twitched slightly.

"Everyone in this world hates me. That's fine—I accept my fate." Ji Yinyin's ugly face was filled with solemnity. "But in this filthy world where the lower classes hide filth and harbor corruption, someone still needs to step forward and uphold justice. There isn't much I, Ji Yinyin, can do. I only wish to do all I can. All I can is enough!"

"Well done!" An Bulang gave the girl, overflowing with both justice and adolescent fervor, a thumbs-up.

After that, Ji Yinyin told An Bulang about some injustices she had encountered while being a beggar.

It had to be said that many of them were truly infuriating.

Commoners suffered all manner of oppression and persecution, yet no one dared stand up. At times like those, the Beggar Princess would use all sorts of unconventional methods to teach certain people a lesson. An Bulang found it immensely satisfying to hear, repeatedly crying out in delight.

Moreover, after most of those punished learned of Ji Yinyin's identity as a princess, they did not wish to pursue the matter further. This was probably the only thing about being a princess that she did not resent.

The three chatted away in the small tavern for an entire afternoon.

At dusk, Ji Yinyin prepared to take her leave.

"Yinyin, come back with me," Ji Hongxue said.

"I'll send the children back first. That is my duty as a junior elder of the Beggar Gang," Ji Yinyin said with utmost seriousness.

Ji Hongxue looked helpless. "Be careful."

"I'm off. Bulang, see you at the royal palace later." Ji Yinyin waved.

"Alright." An Bulang smiled.

This Beggar Princess actually had quite a nice personality. She was easy to get along with.

Ji Yinyin also felt that An Bulang was quite good. Though An Bulang had been sharp-tongued and disdainful toward her at first, he had completely ignored her appearance during their later conversation. He was far better than those in the royal palace who smiled on the surface while suppressing their disgust and concealing their loathing.

For that very reason, the two got along quite pleasantly.

"Alright, next we're entering the royal palace." An Bulang stretched and spoke.

Ji Hongxue nodded. "I know a secret passage into the royal palace. We can sneak in from there."

An Bulang frowned. "Sneak in? Why would we do that? You're a princess. Can't we enter openly and honestly?"

"Ji Wuye's people may already be watching us. We shouldn't be too conspicuous, or we'll be targeted..." Ji Hongxue said gravely.

"Oh, so that's what this is about. I already told you, I'm invincible now! Whoever blocks us or wants to kill us, I'll cut them down with one sword." An Bulang looked seriously at Ji Hongxue. "I, An Bulang, never use the back door!"

Ji Hongxue was overwhelmed by An Bulang's momentum. Her beautiful eyes fixed on him, her red lips trembling lightly. "Alright... we'll take the front gate!"

The royal palace stood at the very center of the Royal City. Its palace complexes were magnificent and scattered in layers, with red walls and golden tiles that looked both noble and grand.

An Bulang followed the Third Princess as they swaggered through the front gate.

Ji Hongxue had a royal token, so the guards did not dare stop them.

They passed through the gates of the royal palace and saw the resplendent True King Hall.

"Stop!" A squad of Imperial Guards clad in black armor suddenly approached at high speed from the distance.

An Bulang noticed that these Imperial Guards all brimmed with vital energy and blood. They were clearly martial artists of considerable skill.

The leading commander was tall and stern-faced. Upon seeing Ji Hongxue, he directly took out a token and said, "Third Princess, our Heavenly Prison Department suspects that you are connected to the death of Second Prince Ji Changwu. Please come with us and submit to an investigation."

Ji Hongxue's heart jolted, though displeasure appeared on her face as she said coldly, "Wei Haisheng, though the Heavenly Prison Department handles major cases, you still need evidence if you want to arrest someone. Where is your evidence?"

"We cannot yet obtain conclusive evidence, but the Second Prince's death is a matter of great importance. Special cases require special methods of handling. Third Princess, you are under grave suspicion and thus require a special investigation." Wei Haisheng refused to yield an inch and had even drawn the sharp sword in his hand.

Ji Hongxue said angrily, "You have no authority to alter the procedure for handling a case. Who authorized you to do this?"

"The King is unwell. His Highness the Crown Prince instructed me to handle this matter with full authority. I hope the Third Princess will cooperate with the investigation," Wei Haisheng said indifferently.

Ji Hongxue's pretty face turned slightly pale. As expected, this was Ji Wuye's handiwork again.

If she were taken away for investigation, she likely would not even know how she died.

"Without conclusive evidence, if the Heavenly Prison Department wishes to forcibly arrest someone, it must have my father's personal imperial decree. The Crown Prince does not have that qualification either..." Ji Hongxue continued arguing from reason.

Wei Haisheng approached Ji Hongxue with his sword in hand, its blade gleaming with chilling cold beneath the afterglow of the setting sun. "Third Princess, stop resisting. If you resist, you will be obstructing the Heavenly Prison Department's investigation, and your crime will be compounded."

At that moment, An Bulang stepped in front of Ji Hongxue.

Wei Haisheng looked coldly at An Bulang and continued, "According to the laws of the Heavenly Prison Department, if one who is not of royal blood obstructs the Heavenly Prison Department in handling a case, they will be killed without mercy. Why haven't you scrammed?"

Seeing that An Bulang did not move, Wei Haisheng smiled. "Very good, foolish man. By doing this, not only will you die, even the princess will..."

Bang!!

Wei Haisheng's black armor caved in, accompanied by the sound of bones and flesh shattering.

His pupils began to lose focus. He spat out a mouthful of blood, flew backward dozens of meters, and rolled to the ground. For the moment, it was impossible to tell whether he was dead or alive.

"Those who forcibly arrest a princess shall die!" An Bulang declared righteously.

Then he turned to Ji Hongxue, whose little mouth hung slightly open. "Is there such a law?"

Ji Hongxue shook her head. "No..."

An Bulang nodded. "Good. Then there is now!"