Chapter 17: Chapter 13: My Happiness Is Gone

The Emperor acted swiftly. While Shen Jingxian and Wen Ranchen were still on their way back to Yi Fen Palace, the palace attendants sent news that Aunt Qiao had suffered the same injuries as Wen Ranchen and was punished to transcribe the Dao De Jing 300 times and could not step out of her room until she finished.

Shen Jingxian wasn’t sure how many characters the Dao De Jing had, so she asked Wen Ran, “Brother Chen, approximately how long does it take to copy the Dao De Jing once?”

Wen Ranchen’s lips curled slightly, and he replied, “If you’re fast, half a month.”

Shen Jingxian roughly calculated: half a month per copy, two copies a month, adding up… By heavens, if the concubine copies it herself, it would take 12 years.

The Emperor is indeed ruthless.

Shen Jingxian expressed that she merely wanted the wicked concubine to experience the pain of copying texts and had no intention of imprisoning her for 12 years.

However, with this punishment, the wicked concubine wouldn’t be able to show off in front of Wen Ranchen anymore.

When Wen Ranchen heard this news, his expression remained unchanged, but he looked at Shen Jingxian with a softer gaze.

Today, considering Wen Ranchen’s feelings, Shen Jingxian didn’t ask him to tell her new stories; instead, she kept talking to him about the amusing things inside the palace.

When mentioning the concubines of the harem, Wen Ranchen suddenly asked, “Does Your Highness not hate those concubines in the harem?”

Upon hearing this question, Shen Jingxian immediately became more vigilant. Listen!

What kind of question is that!

How can someone be so dark-minded!

Always thinking about hate, hate, hate—it’s not good at all.

With a serious face, Shen Jingxian lectured Wen Ranchen, “My father loves my mother very much; he doesn’t like the concubines in the harem at all. But those concubines all like my father… It’s not that. They need my father to give them the means to survive in the palace. Those concubines are actually quite pitiable; my father doesn’t love them, and their families use them as pawns. Everyone is powerless, and they can only find ways to amuse themselves in the deep palace.”

Wen Ranchen was somewhat puzzled by Shen Jingxian’s words. Is… that so?

Shen Jingxian continued, “Brother Chen, don’t be unhappy! I’ll protect you! After all, I am a princess!”

Wen Ranchen looked at the small Shen Jingxian patting her chest with assurance and suddenly laughed out loud.

“Alright, I will certainly protect the Princess, too.”

The bone-chilling wind swept rapidly across the ground. Shen Jingxian shivered, wearing only light clothes.

Wen Ranchen unhesitatingly removed his own outer garment and draped it over Shen Jingxian, quietly saying, “Your Highness, it’s windy outside. Let’s head back first.”

Wen Ranchen’s outer garment carried a particular fragrance, one that Shen Jingxian couldn’t quite identify. It was warm like sunshine yet carried a slight sharpness.

What concerned Shen Jingxian more was that Wen Ranchen was only 9 years old, and yet even children of this era were so adept at courting, leading to one’s untimely death.

After a while, Wen Ranchen and Shen Jingxian arrived at Yi Fen Palace, and Wen Ranchen’s half-brother, Wen Suiyi, had also been brought to the palace.

Such an act, which was akin to openly seizing an official’s son, would not be carried out by a typical Emperor.

But the current Emperor was no ordinary Emperor; he doted on his daughter, and the General was no ordinary General, as he only cared for Wen Ranchen among his sons.

Shen Jingxian suddenly felt that Wen Suiyi was pitiable too.

The palace attendants introduced Wen Suiyi’s identity to Shen Jingxian: Wen Ranchen’s half-brother, Wen Suiyi, eight years old, about to attend Imperial College, of average aptitude, with nothing remarkable noticed so far.

Moreover, listen to this name, Wen Suiyi.

Shen Jingxian realized how neglectful the General was of this son.

No wonder, in the original text, the two of them fought to the point of annihilating the entire General Mansion.

Sighing, Shen Jingxian said, “Let Wen Suiyi go find my elder brother, tell him that as long as he doesn’t let Wen Suiyi return to the General Mansion, he can do whatever he wants.”

Wen Suiyi glanced at Shen Jingxian, with deep resentment in his eyes that went unnoticed by Shen Jingxian but was seen by Wen Ranchen, who darkened his gaze.

After Wen Ranchen had also left, Shen Jingxian sent someone to deliver a message to her Eldest Brother, asking him to treat Wen Suiyi kindly.

The Empress was informed of this while playing chess with the Emperor, who was ruthlessly defeated.

Upon hearing that Shen Jingxian asked the Eldest Prince to be kind to Wen Suiyi, the Empress nodded, “Er Ya is very discerning and won’t implicate innocent people, unlike you.”

The Emperor, suddenly being called out, was a bit bewildered, innocently asking, “What did I… do?”

“Remember the year 785 in the Yun calendar, when you took me out of the palace…”

The Emperor recalled something and immediately interrupted, definitely refusing to let the Empress bring up his dark history again!

“My lady, that was ages ago! Didn’t I just weave you a little garment? It’s no big deal!”

“And also Er Ya’s.”

“Of course!”

From this day on, the Emperor took up needlework and began learning embroidery.

Meanwhile, after Shen Jingxian’s eyesight improved, she was sent back to school amidst cries and howls.

Duan Shaoguang felt as if he hadn’t seen Shen Jingxian in ten years. When he saw Shen Jingxian standing healthily before him, this graceful teacher couldn’t help but tear up.

Shen Jingxian couldn’t help but step forward, pat the teacher, and gently remind him, “Master, everyone is here, don’t cry.”

Duan Shaoguang was charmed by Shen Jingxian’s words, and his emotions instantly scattered away.

Shen Jingxian’s return was a joyous event. All the children, except for Pan Jiaojiao, wanted to talk to Shen Jingxian, but Duan Shaoguang only took Shen Jingxian and Song Yan away, letting the others study by themselves.

Shen Jingxian felt a sense of inevitability; she knew that as soon as she returned to school, she would be mixed up with the female lead.

Duan Shaoguang led Shen Jingxian and Song Yan to a temporarily unoccupied hall, had them sit down, and began discussing today’s topic.

“The reason I called you over today is for one thing: your talents no longer require enlightenment at the Enlightenment Hall. Are you willing to enter the Imperial College ahead of time to study?”

Song Yan: “Willing.”

Shen Jingxian: “Unwilling.”

Duan Shaoguang was somewhat vexed. The princess usually appeared obedient yet always loved to disagree with him in peculiar ways.

Duan Shaoguang could only temporarily set aside Song Yan and start a one-on-one coaxing mode with Shen Jingxian, “Why is the princess unwilling?”

Shen Jingxian made a frightened expression, as if unwilling to recall that memory, “I don’t want to go to the Imperial College; my eyes won’t be able to see.”

Shen Jingxian: Unexpected, huh? I don’t believe you can use this excuse to make me go.

As expected, Duan Shaoguang’s eyes showed a pained expression, which Song Yan found very ironic.

Shen Jingxian thought Duan Shaoguang was going to let her go, but unexpectedly, Duan Shaoguang suddenly began to flatter her, “Princess, one will encounter many hardships in life, not only physical trials but also tests of will. The Master knows you are a good child and also knows you are talented. Of all the people in the world, those with talents are few and far between. These people will eventually need to take up responsibilities for the ordinary populace. If no one stands up, the nation will cease to be.”

Shen Jingxian nodded perfunctorily. If she were a child, she’d surely think the Master was right and be brainwashed to serve the nation. Unfortunately, she wasn’t; she just wanted to stay away from Song Yan.

Shen Jingxian showed a contemplative expression and said, “But this world belongs to the common people, not only to the few talented. If these few form the brain of a nation, then the rest are the limbs. The brain can make decisions, but the limbs do the actual work.”

This speech left Duan Shaoguang dumbfounded, and Shen Jingxian was quite pleased, then loudly proclaimed her final conclusion, which was her ultimate objective, “My talents are not enough to be the brain; I’ll just be the limbs and listen to the brain!”

Listen to this! How unambitious!

Duan Shaoguang was initially impressed by Shen Jingxian’s previous words, yet now felt disappointed by her attitude.

Duan Shaoguang looked at Shen Jingxian, his earnest gaze frightening, “The princess’s words enlightened me; the princess’s wisdom is unmatched; please don’t be modest.”

Shen Jingxian continued to refuse, “I am just an ordinary person; I need enlightenment! I can’t even recite the Three Character Classic!”

Duan Shaoguang: “Given the princess’s knowledge, there’s no need to learn that. The princess needs to study national affairs.”

Shen Jingxian: ?

Have a four-year-old study national affairs? She’s only four!! Doesn’t she need a childhood?

In her previous life, she was still playing with mud at four, and now in this life, she has to start learning national affairs?

Is the fate of cannon fodder not a fate?

After Shen Jingxian recovered from the shock, Duan Shaoguang continued, “The princess’s talents are high, her mind is broad, far exceeding mine. If the princess doesn’t believe, we can conduct a test for admission to the Imperial College right now; the princess will surely score high enough to enter!”

What? Not only must I, a four-year-old, study national affairs, but I must also take exams?

The donkey of the production team wouldn’t work like this.

Shen Jingxian was greatly pained and immediately expressed her absolute refusal to enter the Imperial College ahead of time, then laughed wildly as she returned to the palace.

She even had the leisure to ponder other things—the Master referred to himself as a minister, how strange.

That afternoon, Duan Shaoguang visited the Emperor and Empress again, engaging in a soul-touching conversation.

Thus, the next day, the Empress personally escorted Shen Jingxian to the Imperial College’s entrance.

Shen Jingxian: My happiness is gone.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep