Chapter 63: Chapter 59: Even More Strange Affections Added

“Oh? Princess Yi Fen, is what they said true?”

Shen Jingxian, suppressing her social death-level embarrassment, slowly nodded.

She was doomed, truly doomed. Had she known this, she would have been more reserved in school.

This is how it happened: Shen Jingxian always held the belief that girls are lovely creatures who need much praise, except for Song Yun, of course. Song Yun was too wicked, wicked enough to provoke a physiological aversion in her.

Unfortunately, in the Imperial College, apart from herself and Song Yan who received special treatment, the other girls did not have it as good.

Especially those who had already come of age, they had to bear the double pressure from family and the Imperial College.

On one hand, they wanted to prove themselves with their achievements at the Imperial College, but the competition for women officials in the court was intense, and those not exceptionally talented were often urged by their families to return home to marry and have children.

Shen Jingxian couldn’t bear seeing 14-year-old girls being driven to sigh day in and day out, so she would often run to the higher-level classrooms to praise the girls.

Today, she’d say this sister’s eyes are beautiful, like they hold the stars.

Tomorrow, she’d say this sister’s voice is so gentle, it brings happiness to one’s heart when they hear it.

A few days later, she’d bring the snacks prepared by her mother Empress to share with the sisters. It’s fair to say that the Little Princess was no less popular among the girls at the Imperial College than she was among the boys.

Even more popular in some cases.

Initially, some sisters who were jealous over men sought out Shen Jingxian to challenge her, but after her chariot theory quietly spread through the Imperial College, these sisters calmed down.

Of course, Shen Jingxian hadn’t complimented every girl at the Imperial College, but… admiration can be contagious.

“Hmm… His Highness likes my… hair, His Highness often praises my hair for being dark, shiny, and smooth.”

“His Highness likes listening to Fu Fu play ’Heartless’ ~”

“His Highness likes listening to me talk…”

“His Highness likes… me wearing a white dress…”

Even the Empress was stunned at this scene.

Were her daughter’s preferences so diverse?

These noble women seemed to quite like Princess Yi Fen?

She thought Er Ya’s outstanding appearance would make her more prone to jealousy, but she was mistaken.

The Emperor, on the other hand, was glowing with interest, listening with delight, almost taking notes.

Emperor: Strange preferences continue to increase.

Shen Jingxian wished she could crawl under the table, regretting her past decisions!

Why must all the sisters socially embarrass me!

What’s more terrifying is that these official’s daughters spoke with great pride, completely unaware that they had hurt the heart of a vulnerable princess!

“The princess likes… flying kites.”

Hearing this answer, Shen Jingxian, for some reason, suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, a normal one.

Then, lifting her head, she saw Song Yan.

Shen Jingxian felt deeply moved, dear Comrade Song Yan, I will forever remember your normalcy today.

The Empress, looking at the Little Princess’s peculiar expression, felt immensely pleased.

Bullying her daughter was one of her greatest pleasures in life.

However, it seemed like there was one person who hasn’t answered yet?

“Jiaojiao hasn’t answered yet?”

Pan Jiaojiao quivered internally when the Empress pointed her out. How could she possibly know what the princess likes?

Since she embarrassed the princess in the Enlightenment Hall, she was scolded by her parents upon returning home. She understood that the princess was someone she absolutely could not offend.

But before she could find an opportunity to mend their relationship, the princess went to Yinghua Hall, and she couldn’t bring herself to flatter, their relationship remained unchanged from then on.

Today, she originally didn’t want to attend the princess’s birthday celebration, but her father said princes from neighboring countries, officials’ sons, and princely heirs would be present today, making it a significant opportunity, so she followed along.

Unexpectedly, instead of seizing an opportunity, she got caught.

“Jiaojiao, no answer?”

The Empress asked again, her voice still gentle but carrying an invisible pressure that made it hard to breathe.

Pan Jiaojiao, frightened, blurted out her true feelings, “His Highness dislikes me…”

Empress: “Hmm?”

Emperor: “Hmm?”

Shen Jingxian: “?”

Wen Ranchen: “Does His Highness want some soup?”

Spectators: “!”

This was the first time Shen Jingxian found Pan Jiaojiao a bit endearing, a genuinely straightforward little rascal. So she helped Pan Jiaojiao out of the awkward situation, saying to the Empress, “Jiaojiao misspoke, I don’t dislike her.”

The Empress caught on, looking warmly at Pan Jiaojiao, saying, “Then Jiaojiao is out, and the rest can enter the second round.”

“Emperor, will you present the topic?”

The Emperor paused from recording his daughter’s cute moments, his face a picture of dignity, concealing his inner thoughts, marveling at the imperial demeanor, “The second topic, then, shall be to compose a poem with the characters Yi Fen.”

The meat in Shen Jingxian’s hand fell to the ground.

Save me!!! Why must I suffer repeated social death! Why must they drag me out for repeated mortification!!

But the pain seemed to be Shen Jingxian’s alone, while for others, this topic seemed to hit their sweet spot.

Mind you, they had praised Princess Yi Fen’s name countless times in their hearts!

Let alone composing a poem! Even writing a hundred-thousand-word piece would be no problem!

“I will present my humble attempt, ’Yi loves serenity over life, lush rice dances in the cool autumn breeze.’”

“Let me try, ’My heart is indifferent to fame and decay, the lush lifeways persist with an unwavering heart.’”

“Red petals untouched, just like Yi, still reminiscent of yesterday’s lushness.”

As the discussion of Yi Fen heated up, Shen Jingxian’s mind automatically echoed that song.

Dame dame dame yo~ dame dame yo~

Merely the memory of Yi Fen passing through me, leaving a mark of social death in my heart.

When this torture finally ended, Shen Jingxian did not know, but she remembered that the best two poems chosen by the Empress and the Emperor were crafted by Wen Ranchen and Song Yan.

She didn’t know exactly what they wrote; she was just an illiterate after all.

The second round screened out a large batch of people, and then the Emperor presented a third-round topic, which was a “Flying Flower Order.”

The “Flying Flower Order” went as such, Shen Jingxian couldn’t recite that many poems, but watching others continue one after another was refreshing and pleasant.

After the third round ended, another batch was eliminated in the fourth round, leaving only two people.

One was Wen Ranchen, the other Song Yan, just right.

The final round was a national policy topic.

Shen Jingxian became excited, finally, the burdensome Duke’s position could be given away!!

Looking at the Little Princess’s sparkling gaze towards her, Song Yan felt a vague sensation arise in her heart.

Did His Highness trust her so much? Or was it simply hoping she would win?

Could the Princess want to present her with a gift?

Wen Ranchen, following the Little Princess’s gaze, saw Song Yan staring at the princess, uncertain what she was thinking.

Recently, he had tested a cure and nearly regained his vision, but concealed it well, to others, he was still perceived as blind.

Now seeing the Little Princess staring intently at someone, Wen Ranchen contemplated.

Did His Highness want him to thoroughly defeat Song Yan? In that case, he’ll give it his best.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep