Chapter 53: Chapter 49: Kinda Weird

“Choose, choose one?!”

“Is there even such a good thing?”

Shen Jingxian, who was just struggling with how to speak up, was ecstatic. Indeed, no one understands a daughter better than her mother.

If she had to choose one, naturally it would be the leading dancer, that brother!

Shen Jingxian had been quite tempted since just now.

As she was about to speak, she suddenly sensed an ominous aura.

Shen Jingxian instinctively glanced at Song Yan, who looked puzzled and hesitated before saying, “Your Highness, this is something Song Yan cannot help you with…”

Shen Jingxian: I didn’t ask you to help me pick…

Without exceptional martial arts, Shen Jingxian couldn’t identify who might want to harm her based purely on intuition, so she gave up.

She refocused her gaze on the group… ahem, of handsome men.

Upon closer inspection, they were indeed all handsome in their own ways, but the most outstanding was still the leading brother!!

Moreover, while others would avert their eyes when meeting hers, only he did not shy away from her gaze. Shen Jingxian had a gut feeling that this person was not ordinary; she wanted him!

So she pointed at this favored candidate and said to the Empress, “I like this brother!”

The Empress then asked Li Yan again, “Prince, could you give this person as a gift to my daughter?”

If Li Yan still didn’t know what the Empress intended, he wouldn’t be the most favored prince of Dongwu Country.

It seemed the Empress of Yunyi Country was very dissatisfied with him, maybe even with the entire Dongwu.

But, as Li Yan was currently on someone else’s territory, he dared not act rashly. He glanced at the Emperor, who showed no intention of speaking, and since the other ministers didn’t see the Empress’s behavior as overstepping, he finally understood the true situation in Yunyi Country.

No wonder over the years, Yunyi had only maintained necessary trade relations with their country, without deeper exchanges.

The man who had just been leading the dance was actually Li Yan’s brother. However, Li Yan’s brother was of a lesser bloodline and had never been acknowledged by the Imperial Family. Li Yan thought that even if his brother died in Yunyi Country, his father wouldn’t be too harsh on him.

“Since the Princess likes him, Mu Yuan, you shall stay here with the princess.”

Mu Yuan, hearing this, didn’t show any displeasure. Instead, he gave the Little Princess a bewitching smile and said softly, “Mu Yuan could not wish for more.”

Shen Jingxian awkwardly averted her gaze, and again she felt that unfriendly aura.

The Little Princess mentally reviewed the plot of her 8th birthday, but aside from the Princess making things difficult for Song Yan and Song Yan shining brightly, there was nothing else.

Why would anyone target her?

If targeting, they should target the dazzling heroine.

It’s rather odd.

Shen Jingxian didn’t realize that because she protected Song Yan, Song Yan did not shine brightly in the matching outfits incident, and Li Yan didn’t look at the resilient Song Yan differently.

Having acquired a handsome young man, Shen Jingxian was in a great mood.

It was such a pleasant surprise, this part wasn’t in the original, did she just change the plot?

After the dance performance, the Emperor had a friendly exchange with Li Yan and then began to invite everyone to dine.

Because it was the Princess’s birthday, the Emperor did not prepare any alcohol, only some fruit juices in various flavors, served by the Maid for everyone to choose from.

When it was Song Yan’s turn, she instinctively reached for the golden yellow juice, but Shen Jingxian stopped her hand.

“That’s mud fruit juice, you can’t drink it, it will make you uncomfortable.”

After saying that, Shen Jingxian handed her another white juice. “Here, Sister Yan, drink this. This is White Ai Juice, it’s a bit sour.”

When handing it over, Shen Jingxian didn’t feel anything was wrong. When reading novels, she tends to focus on certain details, consequently remembering what the male and female leads like, dislike, or avoid, as long as the book mentioned it.

Now, Song Yan didn’t feel as unfamiliar as when they first met, so Shen Jingxian naturally considered her a bit.

Song Yan didn’t expect that the Princess would know she couldn’t eat mud fruit, and also realize she preferred sour things.

After all, in their daily interactions, the Princess appeared not to care about her, even deliberately avoiding her.

Of course, Song Yan roughly knew the reason for her avoidance.

For instance, right now, when the Princess handed her the juice, the cup accidentally spilled.

Song Yan, having anticipated this, stood up and dodged, avoiding being splashed.

She looked at the bewildered Little Princess, who seemed to want to explain but didn’t know how, and sighed.

She had actually gotten used to this over the years.

“Your Highness need not mind.”

But Song Yan’s words didn’t comfort Shen Jingxian.

After all, Song Yan was now very good at hiding her emotions! How could she know if Song Yan was secretly holding a grudge, plotting to retaliate later!!

Shen Jingxian felt heartbroken, the happiness of obtaining a handsome man had lowered her guard, how could she forget that as long as she stayed with the heroine, all sorts of “bullying” incidents would be forced to occur!!

Determined to make a last-ditch effort, Shen Jingxian asked the Maid to clean the wet area and explained to Song Yan, “I didn’t mean to.”

Shen Jingxian assured herself that she spoke very sincerely, but for some reason, it came out sounding rather upright and self-righteous.

Dang it!

While Shen Jingxian was feeling gloomy and depressed, Song Yan suddenly reached out and tapped Shen Jingxian’s forehead, “Your Highness, Song Yan truly doesn’t care.”

Seeing Shen Jingxian still wearing a sullen princess face, Song Yan tried to divert the Princess’s attention and said, “How did Your Highness know I couldn’t eat mud fruit?”

Song Yan, after thinking it over carefully, realized the Princess didn’t have an opportunity to know about this.

Or so Song Yan thought, who hadn’t realized she just threw another heavy bomb into Shen Jingxian’s heart.

Shen Jingxian: Why is Song Yan asking me!! Is she suspecting that time with the mud fruit was set up by her!!

Oh no, she shouldn’t have intervened earlier! She should have waited until Song Yan picked that juice and then subtly said she wanted that one, why was she so dumb!!

Now what!! What should she say!

Shen Jingxian’s mind raced and finally came up with an answer, “There was a time you didn’t come to the academy, I was worried something might have happened to you, so I asked the tutor.”

“The tutor said you were unwell, so I called the imperial physician over, it was the imperial physician who told me…”

Song Yan’s expression slightly changed, “That imperial physician, back then, was called by Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

In truth, back then, Shen Jingxian had brought mud fruit to the academy, not knowing some little rascal took it without her permission and gave it to Song Yan!

At that time, Song Yan didn’t know she couldn’t eat mud fruit, and ate it.

Worried that Song Yan might have an adverse reaction and blame it on her, Shen Jingxian had arranged for the Imperial Physician to be on standby, and indeed, something did happen!

Song Yan turned away after hearing these words, took up another cup of White Ai Juice to shield her face, calming her tumultuous heart.

“Your Highness, thank you, Song Yan had misunderstood you before…”

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