Chapter 28: Chapter 24: The Princess Cried for Me, So I Won’t Cry

Shen Jingxian’s brow immediately furrowed. Although she knew from the original text that General Wen was indifferent to his blind son, she didn’t know he had said such things.

Wen Ranchen was just a nine-year-old child. He had lost his sight and was already dealing with that blow. At this moment, as a father, rather than encouraging his child, he further wounded his heart with harsh words. What kind of logic is this?

Shen Jingxian wanted to rush forward, but was again held back and covered by the Emperor, drawn into his embrace.

Facing Wen Jingming, Wen Ranchen did not protest, simply responding, “I’m sorry, Father…”

Wen Jingming said coldly, “I had high expectations for you, which is why I appointed you as the Princely Heir so early.”

Wen Ranchen lowered his head, unclear whether out of shame or sadness. His voice was small and trembling, “I understand, Father.”

Seeing Wen Ranchen’s demeanor, Wen Jingming’s voice grew more severe, “Raise your head. Remember your identity at all times. You are the heir of the National Guardian General Mansion, bearing the hereditary title of the Wen Family. You must be strong enough.”

Wen Ranchen lifted his head. Despite the redness at the corners of his eyes, he still replied, “Yes.”

“People of the Wen Family are born to live toward death. You’re just blind; your limbs aren’t gone. Even if they were, as long as you’re alive, you must carve out a path. Tears are the most useless thing.”

“I don’t remember teaching you to become like this—a coward who only knows how to cry, a disgrace to the General Mansion.”

“Your injury is no one’s fault but your own. You lack the wisdom to change a stalemate, the strength to kill your enemies. You are so weak that you can only exchange wounds for survival.”

“You don’t resemble me in the slightest. On the contrary, you’re exactly like your weak mother.”

Hearing Wen Jingming mention his mother, Wen Ranchen suddenly became agitated, “Mother is not like what you say!”

His mother always smiled, no matter how little attention she received from his father, and she always smiled.

Wen Ranchen always understood. He knew that the relationship between his parents was abnormal; more like two pieces of paper forcibly pieced together than a real marriage.

Distinct and separate, yet united by external forces, they seemed like one from afar. But the gap in the middle always kept them clearly apart.

He was a child born from that gap, once believing his existence might fill it. But he only made it wider.

His mother thought his father was too hard on him; his father thought his mother spoiled him too much.

Originally, Wen Ranchen thought there was nothing wrong with this. His father was strict, so he could relax with his mother. And when his mother pampered him too much, he could become disciplined with his father.

It was a balance.

But now, that balance was broken.

His world was left only with pressure, continuously squeezing the last warmth out of his heart. Perhaps his father was right; he was too weak, but…

“Mother is not weak!”

Seeing Wen Ranchen like this, Wen Jingming’s gaze was not that of a father looking at his son, but rather something unpleasant, his voice even colder, “Wen Ranchen, you’re too quick to anger. You do not resemble my heir; instead, you seem like a woman.”

Shen Jingxian could no longer bear it. She struggled free from the Emperor, rushed to Wen Ranchen’s side, and covered his ears.

He couldn’t listen anymore.

He truly couldn’t listen anymore.

Even as an onlooker, such words pained her heart, let alone Wen Ranchen.

Shen Jingxian looked at the approaching Emperor, pleading, “Father, let Brother Ranchen stay in the palace to recuperate, please, don’t let him go back…”

Wen Jingming seemed not to hear Shen Jingxian’s words and instead respectfully saluted, “Greetings, Your Highness, the Princess.”

Shen Jingxian paid no attention to the illustrious general. She looked pleadingly at the Emperor, hoping her doting father would take her side. The Emperor sighed lightly, knowing all too well what his daughter wanted.

Jingming’s words were indeed severe just now. Even if his son needed strict education, this was too much.

“Ranchen was injured saving Yi Fen. Let him stay in the palace until he heals.”

Wen Jingming would not defy the Emperor. In his heart, the Emperor was the only one he was loyal to. Even if asked to take his own life, he would, let alone leaving his son in the palace.

However, if Wen Ranchen became useless, he might have to consider nurturing another heir.

Wen Jingming was a genius with a keen sense of his surroundings. Even with only a brief encounter with the Princess, he realized something.

Lorem

ipsum dolor sit amet.

Wen Ranchen remaining in the palace and interacting with this Princess would only make him grow weaker.

And the General Mansion did not need a weak heir.

The Emperor took Wen Jingming away, suggesting they had things to discuss. Before leaving, the Emperor also called away all the servants, leaving only Wen Ranchen and Shen Jingxian in the room.

Shen Jingxian removed her hands from Wen Ranchen’s ears. From the moment she and the Emperor entered, Wen Ranchen hadn’t said another word.

At this moment, his eyes blankly looked forward without focus, like a broken rag doll.

Shen Jingxian was somewhat anxious, knowing how deeply Wen Jingming’s words had hurt a child.

Whether Wen Jingming truly believed Wen Ranchen was useless or was using reverse psychology, those words were enough to break a child.

The indifference and distortion of Wen Ranchen in the original text were not without reason.

Looking at Wen Ranchen, Shen Jingxian softly said, “Brother Ranchen, cry if you need to. It might make you feel better.”

Wen Ranchen turned his face toward Shen Jingxian’s voice but didn’t cry. Instead, he smiled, “I can’t cry; tears are the most useless thing. I can no longer be a coward.”

Hearing this, Shen Jingxian’s eyes suddenly stung with tears.

These were words Wen Jingming had said earlier. Wen Ranchen had remembered them all.

“No, Brother Ranchen, don’t listen to those words. They are wrong. You are great. You haven’t brought shame to the General Mansion at all. You’re not a coward. Don’t speak of yourself that way.”

Shen Jingxian had always been an emotional person.

In her past life, she cried at news of martyrs returning to their homeland, cried seeing a mother lose her life protecting her child, and cried witnessing an old man weeping on the ground after mischievous kids stole his life-saving money.

Shen Jingxian empathized too easily. Although Wen Ranchen was clearly smiling, she felt her own heartache, and tears fell in large drops, her voice trembling, “Stop smiling. You’re clearly sad, so why are you smiling.”

Hearing Shen Jingxian’s voice, Wen Ranchen realized something. He took out a handkerchief he carried with him from his sleeve, fumbling to wipe Shen Jingxian’s tears.

The scent was the same as before, the touch just as soft, and Wen Ranchen’s gentle tone unchanged, but ultimately, it was no longer the same.

“The Princess cried for me, so I won’t cry.”

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