Zou Zi’ang went rigid, his eyes fixed on Jiang Yingcheng's waist. The terror in his gaze seemed almost tangible, and for a long while, he could not recover.
Jiang Yingcheng finally "noticed" his gaze and turned around innocently, her eyes clear. "What's wrong, big brother?"
"Ah! Chengcheng knows!" She glanced at the tables before them, compared what was on each, and lit up in realization. "Do you want some of Chengcheng's little pastries, big brother?"
She called over the maid attending her, raised her arms high, and personally picked out two pastries to place in the maid's hands. "Sorry for the trouble, Auntie. Please pass these to Big Brother Zi'ang for Chengcheng~"
The maid handed them over with a charming smile, but Zou Zi’ang remained dazed, his gaze still fixed on Jiang Yingcheng.
The prefect of Wind Brocade Commandery soon noticed the commotion and barked from a distance, "Zi'ang!"
Jiang Yingcheng jumped at the sound. Once she recovered, however, she did not soothe herself as she usually did. Instead, she immediately stood and pattered a few steps toward Zou Zi’ang.
[Hehehe~]
[Hehehehehe~]
[Big Brother Zi'ang, don't you dare not be scared. Chengcheng's coming!]
Reaching him, she rose onto her tiptoes, stretched her arms high, and gently patted his head twice. "Don't be sad, Big Brother Zi'ang. Uncle Zou definitely didn't mean to snap at you!"
Zou Cailiang: "..."
The assembled officials: "..."
Something about this scene felt wrong. They were not sure, though-they would have to keep watching.
Only then did Zou Zi’ang finally recover from his earlier stupor. His gaze shifted from the little girl's waist to her face, the terror still lingering in his eyes as he stammered, "L-Little Highness, you... this thing you have..."
A jade thumb ring hung at the little girl's waist.
Tied to a