Chapter 13: Chapter 10: In the Face of Curiosity, the Princess’s Pride Is Worthless

Shen Jingxian found Wen Ranchen quite interesting, even more interesting than watching the Empress torment the Emperor.

When Wen Ranchen first started telling Shen Jingxian rustic stories, although Shen Jingxian was intrigued, she actually scoffed at them.

A little kid, 9 years old, do you know what marriage, stand-in, or unrequited love is!!!!

But in the end, Wen Ranchen fully demonstrated to Shen Jingxian what it means to not understand but still be able to tell a story.

Wen Ranchen couldn’t stay in the palace; he needed to return home every day and would come back the next day. And every time Wen Ranchen left, he would leave the story at a tantalizing point.

Shen Jingxian was in agony.

Though she had the pride of a Princess, in the face of curiosity, such pride was insignificant!

On the fourth day of Wen Ranchen telling stories to Shen Jingxian, she finally abandoned her Princess pride, relying on her slightly recovered vision, she grabbed Wen Ranchen’s hand fiercely.

“You shall not leave!”

Wen Ranchen was somewhat surprised by Shen Jingxian’s action, but he didn’t shake her off. Instead, he gently asked, “What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

“The story can’t stop here, or I won’t be able to sleep.”

Shen Jingxian couldn’t clearly see Wen Ranchen’s expression, but she heard a sigh, followed by Wen Ranchen’s voice, “Your Highness, if I continue and leave it at another point, you’ll be even more sleepless.”

Shen Jingxian, “I don’t believe it!”

As it turned out, after one incense stick burned, Shen Jingxian realized it was true.

If Wen Ranchen didn’t finish the story tonight, she would be extremely tormented.

Thus Shen Jingxian, taking advantage of her cuteness, held onto Wen Ranchen’s clothes, not letting him leave, while Wen Ranchen dared not exert force on her; this situation became deadlocked.

Wen Ranchen tried to placate her, “Your Highness, Ranchen must return home today, shall I come back tomorrow to see you?”

Shen Jingxian shook her head vigorously, “No way, you haven’t finished telling how the Princess tore apart the scumbag, you cannot leave!”

Wen Ranchen, helpless, gently negotiated with Shen Jingxian, “How about we continue tomorrow?”

“No good.”

“It cannot be finished today.”

“No good.”

“How about I tell you the ending directly?”

“No good!”

Wen Ranchen felt a bit helpless, yet seeing the little hand of the Princess holding onto his hem, he felt an indescribable satisfaction in his heart.

As if the Princess was relying on him.

Shen Jingxian held onto Wen Ranchen’s clothes, acting spoiled, rolling and being stubborn, fully aware of how to use her advantages.

While pretending to cry, Shen Jingxian suddenly thought of a possibility, she pointed to the ground and said to Wen Ranchen, “You sleep here with me tonight! You sleep on the ground and continue telling me stories at night!”

“This… is not proper etiquette.”

“I’ll tell Father and Mother, there’s nothing improper!”

Wen Ranchen was very troubled; in his upbringing, sleeping in the same room as the Princess was absolutely forbidden; if they slept together, wouldn’t that mean they were husband and wife?

Husband and wife…

Thinking of these two words, Wen Ranchen blushed; they were still young, how could they…

“Brother Chen, is that alright? I’ll go tell Father and Mother. If you don’t finish it today, I really won’t be able to fall asleep…”

Shen Jingxian, though over twenty in a previous life, had lived very smoothly, without experiencing hardships, the biggest pain being the slow update of novels she followed.

In her past life as a citizen of a legal society, she couldn’t go to the author’s house and threaten with a knife demanding updates, but now as a Princess in a privileged class, should she endure such agony?

No chance will I endure the pain of waiting for updates!

Shen Jingxian’s eyes remained blurry, especially since her senses hadn’t fully recovered, sometimes forgetting to blink, leading to dry eyes, which would secrete tears to moisten them.

At this moment, Shen Jingxian didn’t know that her teary eyes looked pitiful when she looked at Wen Ranchen, with beads of tears clinging to her long lashes.

Adding to it her calling him brother in a soft voice, Wen Ranchen froze.

He realized he could not refuse such a Princess.

With no alternative, Wen Ranchen took out a new handkerchief to wipe Shen Jingxian’s tears; after wiping, as expected, he heard the Princess say, “Give me this handkerchief too.”

Wen Ranchen obediently handed it over, seeing the Princess’s mood improve a bit, he breathed a sigh of relief.

However, as Shen Jingxian sent people to inform the Empress about leaving him in the palace overnight today, Wen Ranchen became anxious again.

He couldn’t figure out what kind of mood this nervousness was; he was just worried, wondering what to do if the Emperor and Empress didn’t agree?

Would they be willing to let him stay with the Princess for the night?

Wen Ranchen felt he wasn’t this nervous even when facing life-and-death moments.

Ultimately, the Emperor and Empress sent someone to convey the message that Wen Ranchen could reside in the side hall of Yi Fen Palace tonight.

Wen Ranchen breathed a sigh of relief, but felt somewhat disappointed.

Unexpectedly, Shen Jingxian started causing a fuss again, saying that if Wen Ranchen stayed elsewhere, he wouldn’t be able to tell her stories and he must live with her!

The Emperor and Empress couldn’t refuse her and finally agreed.

That night was a fervent one; Wen Ranchen was forced to tell stories until midnight, only allowed to sleep after recounting all the details.

Yet, despite this, Wen Ranchen still rose early at dawn to practice sword fighting in the garden of Yi Fen Palace.

At such a young age, his swordsmanship had already shown promise, attracting some young palace maids and eunuchs who couldn’t help but stop to admire.

Shen Jingxian also saw him.

She was awakened by Wen Ranchen and got up to use the toilet before returning to sleep, murmuring about why Wen Ranchen got up so early, not expecting to find out the reason so soon.

Without a doubt, Wen Ranchen was exceptional, the novel’s male protagonist, an unattainable existence loved by many women; how could he not be excellent?

Yet in the text, such a person is only depicted as strong, without mentioning his sacrifices, as the so-called genius cannot overshadow the effort made for it.

At that moment, Shen Jingxian suddenly realized that both Wen Ranchen and Song Yan are living, breathing people, not just a name in a book.

They are both working hard for their fate; maybe she could also strive harder?

Lost in thought, Shen Jingxian returned to bed after using the toilet, intending to ponder life a bit more; unexpectedly, the bed was too comfortable so she fell asleep again, only opening her eyes when it was time for lunch.

Sigh, having breakfast and lunch together is quite good.

“Where’s Wen Ranchen?”

Shen Jingxian asked the maid beside her; she would usually be informed upon waking that Wen Ranchen was already waiting outside the palace, but today the maid didn’t say anything.

She clearly saw Wen Ranchen practicing swordplay in the small garden this morning.

“To answer, your Highness, Prince Wen said he went back to retrieve a gift for Princess,”

“What gift?”

“I don’t know, Your Highness.”

The maid holding an ointment wanted to apply it to Shen Jingxian’s eyes but was dodged by her.

At that moment, Shen Jingxian wasn’t sure what she felt inside; it’s just that these days it was Wen Ranchen who applied medicine for her, suddenly having someone else do it felt a bit uncomfortable.

“Your Highness, your eyes need to be treated with antidote for three more days.”

Shen Jingxian nodded obediently but spoke in a rather unyielding manner, “Let Wen Ranchen apply it for me.”

“Your Highness, Master Wen just sent a message; he was called by the teacher and might arrive later today.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Jingxian suddenly had an idea; she wanted to see if the plot could really change.

Now, as the male lead’s savior, she holds quite an advantageous position.

“I want Wen Ranchen to apply the medicine! If he doesn’t come, I won’t have medicine applied!”

Shen Jingxian began to throw a tantrum; even when the Empress came upon hearing the news, she couldn’t persuade her and had to quickly send someone to the Imperial College to call him.

At that moment, Wen Ranchen was in class with his classmates, presenting views on Jingzhou water management in front of the teacher, when suddenly a little eunuch came, his piercing voice cutting through layers of distraction, entering everyone’s ears with precision, “Young Master Wen! Princely Heir! Please come to the palace to see our Princess, she refuses both medicine and food without you! Princely Heir!!!”

The previously lively classroom suddenly turned quiet due to this statement, and everyone, including the teacher, perked up their ears for gossip.

Even though Wen Ranchen was usually calm, he blushed slightly at the moment, looked at the teacher, wanting to speak but holding back.

The teacher laughed heartily; Wen Ranchen, always the most mature among students, rarely showed such an embarrassed look, so he waved his hand grandly allowing Wen Ranchen to leave.

Originally, Wen Ranchen was also supposed to be on leave today; it was because of the water management issue that the teacher insisted on bringing him to share his views.

Having obtained his opinion, Wen Ranchen naturally could leave.

However, the classroom topic was shifted due to this incident.

“Wen Ranchen has been taking leave these days just to accompany the Princess?”

“Seems like it; wasn’t the Princess injured because of Wen Ranchen?”

“That girl who came to the Imperial College that day was the Princess?”

“Yes, how come you only know now, your news is so outdated!”

“The Princess is really beautiful, the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

“Me too! Oh, I wish I could enter the palace to care for the Princess.”

“You’re dreaming, haha!”

Sitting on the podium, the teacher took out his ruler and slapped the table hard, scolding, “Instead of focusing on studying, you’re thinking about the Princess? You may be young, but you sure think a lot! Write ’Calm Mind’ twenty times for me!”

“Yes…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep