Xiangzhou Chapter: Transmigrated Soul in a Foreign World Chapter 33: A Persistent Eavesdropper to the End

Ye Qiaoqiao curled her lip slightly, deciding to say no more, and carefully tucked the jade pendant away. She figured that, one way or another, she now had the protection of the Crown Prince. She would just have to wait and see how things unfolded.

Watching the young woman’s subtle, secret pouting, a wave of amusement rose within Shen Jianzhou. However, he forcefully suppressed it, regained his composure, and said slowly, "We each have one. Consider this jade pendant a gift from me to mark your appointment as my advisor."

"My thanks to Your Highness, I accept," Ye Qiaoqiao replied, wearing a perfectly measured smile and adopting the formal, practiced tone of an official.

Shen Jianzhou knew her slickness was merely a performance, but he didn't call her out. Instead, he repeated, "From now on, we shall use these jade pendants to exchange information; it will make things much more convenient."

"Yes, Your Highness is right," Ye Qiaoqiao nodded quickly.

In truth, she was being rather perfunctory, as she was anxious to return home to see if Uncle Zhang had managed to catch the thief. After all, the crow from that day had been deeply unsettling. Seeing the profound look in Shen Jianzhou's eyes, she didn't want to linger any longer. "In that case, Your Highness, I shall take my leave now."

"Hmm."

He gave a soft acknowledgment. Shen Jianzhou’s deep, intense gaze remained fixed on Ye Qiaoqiao, filled with a reluctance to let her go. Ye Qiaoqiao, however, was entirely focused on rushing back to check on the Divine Calculation Pavilion and failed to notice his affectionate stare. As for Shen Jianzhou, this lingering look was an unconscious act that even he hadn't realized.

Seeing the Crown Prince’s assent, Ye Qiaoqiao turned and walked briskly toward the exit. Halfway there, Official Dong Feiguang happened to step out from the side. He paused, looked at her with a puzzled expression, and asked, "Leaving so soon?"

"Indeed. Unless, of course, you intend to treat me to a meal, Official?" Ye Qiaoqiao stopped, her face radiant with a playful smile as she retorted.

Dong Feiguang pondered for a moment and replied with a laugh, "Treating you to a meal is not out of the question."

"Oh?" Ye Qiaoqiao was slightly taken aback, genuinely surprised. She hadn't expected him to say that, especially since she had pegged him as a man who cherished his life too much to be anything but notoriously stingy. Otherwise, why would he have only promised her fifty gold leaves that day? But then, on second thought, isn't the point of living to stay safe and have money to spend? Regardless, she had no appetite right now; if a thief had broken into her home, Uncle Zhang would have a hard time defending it alone.

Ye Qiaoqiao didn't linger. Instead, she said with a smile, "It's alright, Official; I was only joking. You should enjoy your meal yourself!"

"In that case, allow me to see you out, Miss Ye," Dong Feiguang said, eager to show courtesy now that his offer of a meal had been declined. After all, seeing her out would make him appear well-mannered. Besides, she was someone the Crown Prince had personally invited; currying favor with her might prove beneficial to his official career. Furthermore, she had cured his heart ailment with just a few words—she was certainly no ordinary person.

Seeing his insistence, Ye Qiaoqiao politely declined again. "There is no need, Official. My maid is waiting for me at the entrance." As she spoke, she gestured with her slender fingers toward Hanxiang, who was standing in a green dress just outside the gates.

Seeing Ye Qiaoqiao point at her, Hanxiang immediately responded with excitement, waving her hand and shouting, "Miss!"

"Since that is the case, I shall not see you out further. Farewell, Miss Ye!" Dong Feiguang said, bowing politely as he realized he could not insist.

Ye Qiaoqiao nodded slightly and quickened her pace toward Hanxiang. Once they were seated in the carriage, Hanxiang, ever the gossip, asked, "Miss, what did you talk about with the Crown Prince today?"

Knowing Hanxiang’s inquisitive nature, Ye Qiaoqiao didn't want to hide it from her. She revealed the most important detail: "I have become the Crown Prince's advisor."

"Wow!" Hanxiang exclaimed, looking at Ye Qiaoqiao with newfound admiration. "An advisor? That sounds incredibly impressive!"

"It is. Very impressive indeed," Ye Qiaoqiao said, a hint of pride in her eyes. She then took the jade pendant from her bosom and stroked it. Thinking of how Shen Jianzhou looked like a proper gentleman while being absolutely black-hearted underneath, she couldn't help but add to Hanxiang, "That dog-faced jerk even gave me this!"

"What is this?" Hanxiang asked, her curiosity piqued.

Suddenly, a stern voice echoed from the jade pendant: "Who are you calling a dog-faced jerk?"

Ye Qiaoqiao froze. The pride on her face vanished, replaced instantly by embarrassment and distress. She stood there, mouth agape, unable to utter a single word for a long time. "..."

Coming to her senses, she hurriedly reached out and placed the jade pendant twenty centimeters away from her.

Hanxiang scratched her head and whispered, "How can the Crown Prince's voice come from this?"

Ye Qiaoqiao made a 'shush' gesture and whispered to Hanxiang, "This thing can hear anything within ten centimeters of it."

Hanxiang gasped, stammering, "No... you don't mean..."

Does this mean that whenever she was near it and spoke, the Crown Prince would hear her? How could this be? It felt like being under surveillance.

Ye Qiaoqiao fell silent, thinking to herself: What a jerk. He’s a total eavesdropper, spying on her conversations with Hanxiang! It was beyond infuriating.

After much deliberation, Ye Qiaoqiao decided she would use a piece of sponge to plug the jade pendant to stop it from transmitting sound. But there was no sponge in the carriage, only the fabric on the seats. After weighing her options, she decided to tear off a piece of the seat lining to plug it.

Then, remembering that Shen Jianzhou had asked who the "jerk" was—and she hadn't explained it yet—she rolled her eyes and came up with a plan. She picked up the jade pendant, acted coyly, and lied with a straight face: "Your Highness, you wouldn't know, but before I got into the carriage, someone saw my beauty and gave me flowers. Please do not misunderstand; after all, you didn't give me any flowers yourself."

She wasn't sure if that would work.

Silence. A long, drawn-out silence.

After a while, no sound came through. Ye Qiaoqiao decisively stuffed the fabric into the jade pendant and placed it twenty or thirty centimeters away. Only then did she let out a soft breath of relief. As long as the Crown Prince couldn't hear their conversation, it would be fine. Honestly, that had been a moment of total social suicide.

Turning to Hanxiang, she resumed speaking. "Hanxiang, this thing is truly sensitive. Anything said, the person holding the other one can hear it all."

Ye Qiaoqiao raised her eyebrows, feeling a sense of relief for having survived a disaster.

Hanxiang shivered. "Miss, it’s sensitive, alright, but why did it have to be the Crown Prince..."

Was this a blessing, or a curse?