As they drew closer, a spoiled girl’s scolding voice could be heard: “Eleanor Wright, I came to find you as soon as I recovered, and all I asked was for you to accompany me on a boat ride, yet you’re so ungrateful!”

Grace Baker took a look—wasn’t this the Third Princess Ethan Baker, who had fainted from fright by a water ghost?

Standing three steps away from her was a young boy in a blue robe. His back looked a bit frail, but his bearing was elegant. Surrounded by the bamboo sea, he seemed to be enveloped in an extraordinary aura. A servant-like boy stood beside him, pleading in a low voice, “Third Princess, our Highness still has a fever.”

Ethan Baker refused to give in: “So what? Even if knives were falling from the sky today, he still has to accompany this princess on the lake!”

Grace Baker thought, why does this princess act so much like a local thug trying to snatch a girl?

Getting closer and closer, through the fragmented light filtered by the bamboo, she finally saw clearly the “girl” being harassed by the thug princess.

What the heck?

Where did this beautiful young man come from—how could someone be so outrageously good-looking!

If it were her, she’d want to snatch him too.

Chapter 7 【07】

Grace Baker had seen at least nine hundred beauties if not a thousand. Not to mention before, even after arriving in the Great Lin Dynasty, even the palace maids in the harem had some degree of beauty, let alone the concubines and princes.

As a hardcore face-con, her standards had become quite picky, yet she was still stunned by the sight of this young boy, who looked no more than eleven or twelve.

It was as if, when Nuwa created humans, others were molded from yellow clay, but he was carefully painted, stroke by stroke, in the palm of her hand—one stroke too many would be too much, one too few would be too little. He was perfectly beautiful, handsome but not effeminate, refined yet not lacking in nobility.

The shadows of the bamboo swayed, light and shade falling unevenly on him, like the moon in the sky or snow on earth—he didn’t seem real at all.

She once read a poem by Su Shi, which said, “Such a young lord should only be seen in paintings; among them, I alone know the way. Painted to the ends of water and sky, surely not a man of this dusty world.”

At this moment, every word felt fitting.

To have such looks at such a young age—when he grew older and his features matured, wouldn’t he be the ruin of every girl’s heart in the world?

Clearly, the Third Princess Ethan Baker was already utterly smitten.

Faced with Ethan Baker’s aggressive questioning, the boy didn’t lose his composure at all. He wasn’t angry or annoyed; instead, he wore a smile, displaying a calmness beyond his years. Gently, he said, “A boat ride is a small matter, but I have not yet recovered from my cold, and I worry I might pass my illness to the Third Princess. You’ve just recovered yourself and can’t stand too much exertion.”

Though he was refusing, his words showed concern for her. Sure enough, Ethan Baker immediately reined in her temper and asked happily, “Are you worried about me?”

Eleanor Wright smiled slightly. “Of course. The wind in the bamboo forest is strong. Princess, you should take care of yourself and head back first.”

With just a few words, Ethan Baker was coaxed into obedience. She turned to leave with her maid, but happened to spot Grace Baker peeking in their direction. Remembering her recent illness, she arrogantly declared, “What bad luck, running into this jinx everywhere I go.”

Grace Baker withdrew her gaze and, a little frightened, hid behind William Baker, clutching his sleeve and not daring to look up.

William Baker was quite angered by this scene. Pointing at Ethan Baker, he scolded, “You’re only this spoiled because of your eldest sister! How dare you act up in front of me! If I hear you say such things again, I won’t let you off!”

Ethan Baker hadn’t expected him to defend Grace Baker. Though she was usually arrogant, compared to William Baker she was nothing. Her fourth royal brother had never liked her much, and now, being scolded by him, she felt both wronged and angry, and ran off crying.

William Baker snorted, then turned to pat the little tuft on top of Grace Baker’s head. “Don’t be afraid.”

Grace Baker looked up at him, blinking her eyes, filled with open admiration and trust.

The sight made William Baker’s blood boil with excitement—he almost floated away. Clenching his fists, he silently vowed: I will protect little Deer!

With that farce over, Eleanor Wright also led his servant back to Emerald Bamboo Residence. Before leaving, he gave the two of them a gentle smile and a slight nod, then walked away at an unhurried pace. His figure, set against the green shadows of the bamboo sea, was elegant and composed, exuding a rare sense of ease.

Grace Baker asked softly, “Brother William, who is he?”

As they walked on, William Baker replied casually, “You don’t know him? He’s the hostage prince sent from Song five years ago. His name is Eleanor Wright.”

Grace Baker’s understanding of this era was currently limited to the Great Lin Dynasty. Hearing this, she took the opportunity to feign ignorance and probe further: “What’s a hostage prince?”

For the first time, the idle Fourth Prince found a sense of accomplishment in his knowledge. Clearing his throat, he eagerly explained to his little royal sister.

It turned out that, besides the northern Great Lin Dynasty, there was also the southern Song Kingdom, and the nomadic Yong Kingdom, forming a tripartite balance of power.

At first, Song was the strongest, as the southern lands were fertile and rich in resources, a natural advantage over the barren north and the nomadic Yong people who lived on the endless grasslands.

However, prosperity breeds laziness. The emperors of Song grew weaker with each generation, relying on their full treasury and rich resources, and gradually indulged in pleasure. The current king was even more obsessed with beauty, collecting women from all over the land—his reputation for lechery was known to all.