Chapter 29: Chapter 25: Eyes Wide Like Bronze Bells

Shen Jingxian cried for a long time.

For as long as she cried, Wen Ranchen wiped her tears.

This time, Shen Jingxian did not take away Wen Ranchen’s handkerchief.

When the Emperor came in, what he saw was the scene of two children sleeping quietly.

Shen Jingxian was lying by the bedside, with red corners of her eyes, and swollen eyes, clearly having cried hard.

For a moment, the Emperor felt both heartache and worry.

He felt sorry for his precious daughter being upset, and worried that such a kind daughter would be bullied by the ministers when she became Emperor.

The Emperor approached Shen Jingxian, gently picked her up in his arms, and turned to leave.

A girl sleeping like this could catch a cold.

After the Emperor left, Wen Ranchen sat up from the bed.

He opened his unfocused eyes, looking into the distance, lost in thought.

Shen Jingxian, however, was sleeping sweetly after being placed on the bed by her father, and even had a dream.

In the dream, Wen Ranchen, covered in blood, stood at the General Mansion, pointing a sword at Wen Jingming, with a cold expression, “In the ten years I was blind, General Wen did not protect me even a little.”

“Members of the Wen Family must learn to survive amidst the slaughter.”

Shen Jingxian couldn’t clearly see Wen Ranchen’s face at the moment, but she felt that Wen Ranchen was smiling, just like he did during the day, “Yes, I survived. General Wen, I will personally destroy the kingdom you wish to protect.”

…

Shen Jingxian was startled awake.

My darling, please don’t turn to the dark side, my father’s kingdom cannot withstand you and the heroine wreaking havoc together.

Shen Jingxian didn’t even bother to put on her shoes and ran towards the side hall.

The commotion woke the palace maid on night duty, and the lights in Yi Fen Palace lit up in the middle of the night.

Wen Ranchen couldn’t see; his world was now only darkness, but he could hear the sudden noise outside, not knowing why.

Until Shen Jingxian hugged him.

Small as she was, she could only reach his waist, and her body still had the faint scent of milk, allowing Wen Ranchen to recognize her immediately.

He reached out and touched Shen Jingxian’s head. The soft touch transmitted from his palm to his heart, seemingly calming his previously chaotic thoughts.

Wen Ranchen didn’t want to pass on his bad emotions to Shen Jingxian, so he coaxed softly, “Your Highness, why have you come over? You should go back to sleep at this time.”

Wen Ranchen actually didn’t know the current time; it was just the surrounding silence telling him it should be nighttime.

Shen Jingxian shook her head, her soft hair rubbing against Wen Ranchen’s palm, a bit itchy and somewhat warm.

“I’m not going back. I want to sleep with Brother Ranchen!”

It’s not that she had any intentions towards the male lead; although nine-year-old Wen Ranchen already had the makings of a handsome man, she wasn’t that desperate.

She was just afraid Wen Ranchen might have negative thoughts.

Someone who has been through a blow, if they have a single wrong thought, the consequences could be unthinkable.

If she had known Wen Jingming would say those words today, she would never have let him in.

An embrace can give strength; she couldn’t comfort Wen Ranchen with words, so she could only give him strength through an embrace.

Sleep, Wen Ranchen, I will give you strength tonight!

Wen Ranchen was amused and exasperated by Shen Jingxian’s unreasonable words.

He was already nine years old, precocious, knowing the difference in status and gender boundaries. Even though Shen Jingxian was only four, he wouldn’t agree to her sleeping with him.

But after persuading for a while and Shen Jingxian wouldn’t listen, holding onto Wen Ranchen without loosening her grip, he could only let Shen Jingxian hang onto him.

“I want to hold Brother Ranchen while sleeping.”

Wen Ranchen sighed helplessly; he had been standing by the bed, but now he could only sit down, placing Shen Jingxian on his lap, holding the little girl in his arms, saying softly, “Sleep.”

Shen Jingxian thought about it; there’s not much difference between hugging and being hugged. Anyway, she was just trying to give Wen Ranchen strength. In the past, when she was unhappy, hugging her plush toy made her feel much better.

Because Wen Ranchen was too pitiful, she reluctantly played the role of a plush toy for once.

“Brother Ranchen, don’t be afraid. You will live in the Imperial Palace from now on, and I will protect you!”

Wen Ranchen smiled, not knowing whether he took it to heart or simply regarded it as a child’s joke, but Shen Jingxian heard Wen Ranchen answer softly, “Okay.”

“I’m a Princess; the entire Yi Fen Palace is mine. No one dares to bully you! If anyone makes you unhappy, you just tell me!”

“Okay.”

“Father told me that as a Princess, I represent the face of Yunyi Country and should always be proud, stand tall, and never bow down.

Even if I am afraid, I cannot turn and run away, nor can I cry because I am a Princess, a member of the Royal Family. Behind the Royal Family are the citizens. If I run away, the citizens behind me will fall into hardship. If I cry, it will make the citizens feel the Imperial Family is weak, unwilling to believe in us again.

So, at any time, I must have the courage to face difficulties head-on.”

Wen Ranchen didn’t speak, a smile hanging on his face, quietly listening.

“But Father also told me that I am still young, and he can protect all the citizens for now. So I can cry, and I can run away.”

“So… Brother Ranchen, do you want to cry? You didn’t cry at all today during the day.”

Shen Jingxian reached out to pat Wen Ranchen’s head, trying to make this child cry.

Sometimes crying is the best way to release, not to feel ashamed of tears.

The saying goes well, a man sheds tears only when it’s warranted.

Shen Jingxian felt that Wen Ranchen’s tears were warranted; otherwise, holding it all in might make the child develop issues and turn dark.

“Do you think crying will make you look bad? Mother often tells me that, but Father also said that I look very good, and even when I cry, I look good, so I shouldn’t worry.”

“Brother Ranchen, don’t be afraid. You look just as good as me. You will definitely look good when you cry.”

Wen Ranchen was amused by Shen Jingxian’s cute words, repeating them, “Do I look good?”

Shen Jingxian nodded, then remembered Wen Ranchen couldn’t see now, so she said, “You look good! Just as good as me!”

I am the most beautiful woman in the world, so you are the most handsome man in the world. You are the male lead; you can be assured about your looks!

Would the original Princess become so jealous of you that the capital is lost if you weren’t good-looking?

Wen Ranchen absentmindedly stroked Shen Jingxian’s head. After a while, he said, “But there’s nothing useful about a man being handsome.”

“Nonsense! It’s useful!”

“How so?”

“During battles, you can mesmerize the enemy to death directly!”

“In that case, wouldn’t the Princess be invincible on the battlefield?”

“Of course! I will become even more beautiful in the future!”

“The Princess is already very beautiful now.”

“I know, Father and Mother praise my looks every day.”

The two chatted intermittently, and Shen Jingxian gradually became sleepy, leaning against Wen Ranchen and closing her eyes.

Half-awake, Shen Jingxian felt her shoulder getting wet.

She didn’t open her eyes.

She just felt that Wen Ranchen had finally cried.

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