Chapter 32: Chapter 28: Don’t Falsely Accuse Me

Shen Jingxian looked at the woman hopping around like a frog, croaking non-stop, and felt instantly annoyed.

Damn it, I’m already so far away, and you’re still trying to pin the blame on me, how irritating!

Shen Jingxian’s expression turned cold; she was the only princess of the Yunyi Country. It was one thing to be angered by the main character, but who was this sudden croaking frog?

But right now, someone needed rescuing first.

Song Yan couldn’t swim. She had a fear of water. She could learn anything, except swimming, so Shi Wang was quickly sent to rescue her.

Seeing Shen Jingxian finally willing to speak, Shi Wang sprinted swiftly. He almost instantly reached Mirror Lake and fished Song Yan out.

Because he saved her in time, Song Yan only coughed twice and was otherwise unharmed.

“Brother Shi Wang.”

Hearing Shen Jingxian call him, Shi Wang quickly set Song Yan down and smiled as he moved next to the Little Princess, “Hey, I’m here, I’m here, Your Highness.”

“Could you help me toss that noisy woman into the water?”

“Sure!”

Just as those words were spoken, Shi Wang appeared next to the still-yelling frog woman and extended a leg, kicking her into the water.

This splash was even louder than when Song Yan fell in earlier.

In the distance, there was a commotion as the frog woman’s shouting had attracted attention.

Leading the group was Duan Shaoguang, who, having not seen Shen Jingxian for a long time, rushed over with a loud cry of longing and was blocked by Shi Wang’s hand on his forehead.

Duan Shaoguang didn’t mind at all; he was full of concern as he looked at Shen Jingxian, “Your Highness, are you alright, frightened?”

Shen Jingxian shook her head and pointed to Song Yan, who was truly scared, saying to Duan Shaoguang, “Sir, it was Sister Song Yan who fell into the water.”

Only then did Duan Shaoguang turn his concerns to Song Yan.

Song Yan was quite calm, having become accustomed to such situations.

Yet, why did Shen Jingxian save her, tossing her into the water only to pull her out again — was this all a game?

Pretending to be sincere, making her drop her guard, all just to hurt her better?

Song Yan closed her eyes. She had lived a lifetime, yet she was still naïve enough to be tricked by a four-year-old child.

Song Yan didn’t clearly see who pushed her, only vaguely felt small hands, and after falling into the water, heard that woman’s voice, leading her to subconsciously believe it was Shen Jingxian who pushed her.

Princess Yi Fen, surely she would soon feign innocence, claiming it wasn’t intentional, Song Yan thought.

Following Duan Shaoguang were some students, appearing to be around 14 years old, likely from Qiushui Hall or Yiyun Hall.

Shen Jingxian also saw her elder brother and second brother among them.

Suddenly, she understood everything.

Of course, this was the first encounter between the Eldest Prince and Song Yan.

Just as Shen Jingxian thought this, her caring elder brother looked over with worry and began “showing concern”: “Yi Fen, are you alright, did someone upset you again? Brother knows you haven’t been in a good mood lately. Venting is good, but remember, we’re all classmates. Keep it in check.”

Great, he didn’t even ask before convicting her. While seemingly reprimanding Song Yan for upsetting her, he was actually implying Shen Jingxian pushed a classmate without discretion.

According to her own feeling, Shen Jingxian thought the Eldest Prince was putting her in a trap, quite unlike the overprotective brother as described in the original text, but since her perspective was originally from Song Yan’s view, some discrepancy was natural.

From Song Yan’s perspective, the Eldest Prince deeply doted on his sister, sparing no effort to secretly compensate those harmed by the Princess, unable to bear teaching her a lesson openly.

Wait, saying it like this, all the goodness goes to the Eldest Prince, while the Princess becomes the unskilled troublemaking vase.

Shen Jingxian, having come to this world for the fourth year, finally sensed a conspiracy, and it originated from her own brother.

She didn’t rush to refute, instead glancing at Mirror Lake; the loudly shouting woman was struggling up. She walked over, looked down, and said, “Did this Princess give you permission to come up? Get back down.”

The woman in the water heard Shen Jingxian and showed an incredulous look, instinctively looking towards the students, sensing Shen Jingxian’s inquisitive gaze, immediately withdrew her glance, feigning a pitiable countenance, “Your Highness, please spare me, the maid did not mean to disobey the Princess’s command. Had I not saved her in time, Miss Song would have died!!”

Oh, listen to that, so moving and tear-inducing.

Shen Jingxian found it amusing, not understanding why people always resorted to schemes and intrigue, why couldn’t everyone just be kind?

“Oh, then tell me, what did I command you to do?”

The maid didn’t answer directly, instead looking towards Duan Shaoguang beside Song Yan, pleading, “Master, save me please, I beg you, I beg you!”

The frog woman’s voice was loud, and now with her shouting and kowtowing at the shore, those unaware of the situation were deeply moved.

“Enough! Princess Yi Fen, you’re a princess, but you can’t take lives so lightly!”

Shen Jingxian looked at him, “Did I kill anyone?”

The bold youth was momentarily stunned by the question, finally replying, “No.”

“Then where does ’taking lives so lightly’ come from?”

The youth, unconvinced, added, “It’s wrong to bully others with your status too! That’s not what a gentleman does!”

Shen Jingxian ceased to argue with him, instead instructing Shi Wang, “Brother Shi Wang, help me dunk this rambling maid into the water.”

The youth, seeing the Princess ignore him, was both anxious and resentful, nearly stepping in himself, but was stopped by those nearby.

This was the Princess, Princess Yi Fen, not someone they, ordinary officials’ children, could provoke.

Duan Shaoguang gave no indication of wanting to stop it, looking at Shen Jingxian with an expression of appreciation instead.

After being dunked repeatedly five or six times, the maid was somewhat disoriented; only then did Shen Jingxian nonchalantly say, “Speak, who instructed you to slander the Princess? The person behind you must be here.”

I saw that little glance of yours.

The maid’s eyes scattered momentarily but she gritted her teeth, “The maid… was not instructed by anyone.”

Shen Jingxian made an “oh” sound, refusing to waste more words, then instructed Shi Wang to fish her out, asking Duan Shaoguang, “Sir, Yi Fen hasn’t learned the laws yet. I don’t know how to deal with the crime of slandering the Imperial Family.”

Duan Shaoguang gently replied, “This is an act of defiance, punishable by death.”

Shen Jingxian nodded, “Sir, I didn’t push Sister Song Yan, but this maid slandered, saying I pushed her. Yi Fen was upset and gave a small lesson. Yi Fen isn’t a bad child, am I?”

Duan Shaoguang gave an amused smile, reaching to ruffle Shen Jingxian’s hair, which was again blocked by Shi Wang.

Duan Shaoguang tested his strength, realized he couldn’t compete with Shi Wang, withdrew his hand, and instead gazed into Shen Jingxian’s eyes, softly reassuring, “Your Highness is certainly not a bad child; Your Highness upheld the dignity of the Royal Family.”

The students standing nearby, hearing their master say that, widened their eyes.

Something felt amiss, but they couldn’t pinpoint it.

It wasn’t until Shen Jingxian smiled that they realized what was wrong.

The Princess wasn’t the victim! Sir, why are you comforting the Princess!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep