Chapter 80: Chapter 76: Facing You, I Can Never Be Certain of Victory

These words were said, yet after Shen Jingxian returned, she felt increasingly uneasy. At night, she even dreamed of the scene from Wen Ranchen’s childhood when he was bullied by his father, as well as the image of Wen Ranchen being bullied by Wen Suyi after losing his position as the Princely Heir during the six years she was asleep.

“If you want the position of Princely Heir, take it. What I care about has never been these things.”

“I know what you want, but have you looked at yourself now? Are you worthy? Hahaha.”

“Wen Suyi, a person must know when to stop.”

“Wen Ranchen, who do you think you are? The current Princely Heir of the General Mansion is me! So what if you’re the legitimate son, you’re still beneath me.”

Wen Ranchen did not respond; he only stared quietly in one direction. In her dream, Shen Jingxian could clearly see it was in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

“Wen Ranchen, I ask you once more: will you stay here as an ordinary member of the Wen Family, or come with me to the battlefield to earn merits and inherit the General Mansion.”

“I want to stay by the Princess’s side.”

“Don’t regret it later.”

“No regrets.”

Even though the words were so resolute, there was still an undeniable sadness in Wen Ranchen’s eyes.

Those eyes, filled with longing and despair, struck deep into Shen Jingxian’s heart.

This caused Shen Jingxian to wake up with a mind full of thoughts about Wen Ranchen.

She didn’t know why she dreamed of these things or if they were true or false.

But the guilt in her heart was real.

Outside, it was still early. Wen Ranchen should not have left yet.

Shen Jingxian quickly asked about Wen Ranchen’s departure time and place. Without much time to dress up, she hurriedly went out.

It was just around dawn, the sky still quite dark. At the city gate, there were only the guards on duty and some merchants rushing to do business.

Occasionally, the sounds of awakening life could be heard.

Yet the wide official road still felt somewhat desolate.

Wen Ranchen left very simply, with just a single horse and a trusted aide.

His departure to the front line wasn’t legitimate, of course, so it couldn’t be ostentatious.

Wen Ranchen mounted his horse, ready to leave, when he saw a carriage approaching from afar.

A sense of hope inexplicably rose in his heart, and he halted his subordinate’s steps, waiting quietly for the carriage to approach.

The carriage wasn’t moving slowly, but Wen Ranchen felt like an eternity had passed, long enough that his palms unknowingly became drenched in sweat.

From the carriage extended a slender, white hand, its fingertips pinkish-white, soft and delicate, attached to a fair wrist. The curtain was lifted, revealing a face of striking beauty. Yet those particularly clear eyes suppressed her originally overly vivid aura, making her as innocent and endearing as a white rabbit.

Moreover, Shen Jingxian had hurried out so quickly that her hair wasn’t even arranged, left casually flowing in the wind.

Wen Ranchen thought he had upset the Princess yesterday, assuming she wouldn’t come today. To his surprise, she still came.

And hurriedly, too.

Wen Ranchen’s mood suddenly improved.

“Your Highness, you’re here.” Wen Ranchen smiled gently, no different from usual.

But this was just on the outside; Wen Ranchen was already desperately restraining his emotions to avoid any inappropriate behavior.

Princess, too obedient.

Desire to hold in arms.

But can’t.

Shen Jingxian tidied her clothes and hair before looking at Wen Ranchen.

Wen Ranchen’s eyes were so gentle and pure, just like when he was a child. Now, they held only one person — her.

Recalling Wen Ranchen’s gaze in the dream, Shen Jingxian suddenly had the illusion that she was loved by this person in front of her.

“Did Your Highness come today to give Ranchen your answer?”

Shen Jingxian hadn’t come back to her senses yet and asked, “What answer?”

“Yesterday’s answer.”

“When I return, would Your Highness marry me?”

Today, Wen Ranchen wore a dark silver patterned robe with matching waistband, leather boots, his dark hair tied up, a long sword hanging at his waist, lacking the usual gentle demeanor of the Capital’s young noblemen, possessing a hint of wildness.

But his behavior was very composed and appropriate, looking tenderly at the Little Princess before him without giving her any pressure.

The same question, if yesterday it felt like a storm, today it was like spring rain.

Wen Ranchen’s voice, glance, and attitude made her feel protected.

Was this feeling also false?

Shen Jingxian couldn’t be sure.

Wen Ranchen saw Shen Jingxian fall silent again, yet he wasn’t anxious; he had already discerned that the Princess was not indifferent to him, just constrained by something.

“If Your Highness has yet to make a decision, why not let the heavens decide?”

Shen Jingxian’s long lashes trembled slightly, with a hint of her long-held silence breaking, “How to decide?”

Seeing Shen Jingxian finally respond, Wen Ranchen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Truth be told, in front of the princess, he could never be completely certain of victory.

“This is a copper coin; one side is engraved with ’Justice Prevails,’ the other with ’Harmony and Peace.’ If it’s ’Harmony and Peace,’ might the Princess agree to marry me?”

Shen Jingxian quietly watched the copper coin in Wen Ranchen’s hand and said in a deep voice, “And if it’s ’Justice Prevails’?”

Wen Ranchen smiled, “If it’s ’Justice Prevails,’ it means the heavens want me to achieve merit before coming to marry the princess.”

Shen Jingxian shook her head and said softly, “If it’s ’Justice Prevails,’ it shows we’re not meant for each other. Let’s not bring this up again, shall we?”

For a moment, Wen Ranchen’s eyes darkened, but quickly he replied, “Alright.”

Shen Jingxian reached for the copper coin in Wen Ranchen’s hand, and as their skin touched, an inexplicable warmth arose.

She ignored this strange sensation and held the coin in her hand, while contemplating something else.

If it’s ’Justice Prevails,’ it means the plot still firmly grips her; if it’s ’Harmony and Peace,’ she has changed the male lead’s storyline.

This was the conclusion Shen Jingxian reached in her heart.

She believed in Wen Ranchen’s sincerity, so she wanted to make this bet.

She tossed the copper coin, letting it fall, covering it with her hand, and asked, “Would you like to guess what it is? The winner can have the other do one thing.”

“Anything?”

“No killing, burning, or looting.”

Wen Ranchen laughed at the princess’s endearing reply and said casually, “I choose ’Harmony and Peace.’”

The little princess’s voice was devoid of emotion, “Then I choose ’Justice Prevails.’”

Without any hesitation, Shen Jingxian removed her hand covering the coin, exposing the answer directly before them.

Looking at the result, Shen Jingxian couldn’t quite discern her feelings, but the suffocating block in her chest seemed to ease.

“Your Highness, I won.”

“Then, when I return, you must marry me.”

“Alright.”

“You mentioned earlier that the loser must promise to do something for the winner.”

“Yes.”

Shen Jingxian didn’t feel nervous at all; she thought Wen Ranchen might ask for a kiss or hug, something involving charm, which she could oblige.

Yet who would take advantage of whom was still uncertain.

But Wen Ranchen simply said, “I wish to do your hair.”

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t it customary for a husband to do his wife’s hair?”

Suddenly, Shen Jingxian felt that the gentle Mr. Wen Run, the future Great General, was being unreasonably childish, and she replied, “We’re not married yet.”

“But Your Highness, you did lose.”

Shen Jingxian had no choice but to relent.

Being a head and a half shorter than Wen Ranchen, this was quite convenient, as it was the perfect height for doing hair without sitting down.

Shen Jingxian could feel Wen Ranchen’s hands weaving through her hair, the occasional touch to her head hot to the touch.

The two of them said very little, sensing only each other in that moment.

The maid who had come with Shen Jingxian hadn’t brought a hairpin, so Wen Ranchen, unable to fix the hair he styled, casually took the golden hairpin from his own head and placed it on Shen Jingxian.

His own hair, without the restraint, fell loosely around him.

“There,” Wen Ranchen softly said.

Upon hearing him, Shen Jingxian turned to see Wen Ranchen standing with long hair draped down his back, silhouetted by the light.

The rising sun cast red glows on Wen Ranchen’s handsome face, making him seem almost otherworldly at that moment.

In a trance, Shen Jingxian touched Wen Ranchen’s face, “Come back soon.”

Hearing her words, Wen Ranchen struggled to believe it, his eyes widening slightly before regaining his composure, “Okay.”

He nuzzled into Shen Jingxian’s palm, just as he did when they were children.

Even with a thousand reluctances, Wen Ranchen had to depart.

He walked away, turning back every few steps, successfully making Shen Jingxian laugh.

In the darkness, perhaps she had found the light at the end.

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