Chapter 81: Chapter 77: Hidden Merit and Fame

Wen Ranchen had walked so far that the Capital City was completely out of sight, yet the smile on his face was still broad, as if hanging in the sky, shoulder to shoulder with the sun.

The loyal subordinate beside him couldn’t help but marvel at this scene, noting that the young master hadn’t smiled like this in a long time, and took the opportunity to flatter him.

“The young master and the Princess are truly a match made in heaven, even the heavens will offer their assistance.”

Hearing this, Wen Ranchen smiled.

From the moment he proposed to decide the result with the coin, the answer was never going to be any different.

Whatever is determined by the heavens, he never believed in that; he only believed in himself.

Wen Ranchen had practiced martial arts since childhood, his senses sharp, and seeing the direction of the coin as it fell was not difficult for him.

If it was “Unity”, he would let it be.

If it was “Politics”, he would intervene before the coin landed in Shen Jingxian’s hand, using his inner strength to change its direction.

In reality, when the coin landed, it was “Politics”, but so what, as long as the answer was “Unity”, that was enough.

He, Wen Ranchen, believed in people, not fate.

“Indeed, the heavens have not been unkind to me,” Wen Ranchen replied softly.

…

After Wen Ranchen left, Shen Jingxian’s life didn’t change much.

She ate and drank well, went to school during the day, played with the dog in the evenings, living quite a happy life.

However, her act of seeing Wen Ranchen off early in the morning wasn’t deliberately concealed, and soon the Emperor and Empress knew about it.

Shen Jingxian could often feel the complicated looks from the Emperor and Empress, much like modern parents who are at a loss, only able to stare blankly when their child falls in love early.

Shen Jingxian noticed it but didn’t speak of it; you don’t speak, I don’t speak, let’s see who speaks first.

In the end, it was the Emperor and Empress who couldn’t hold it in, and on a bright and breezy rest day at noon, they took the opportunity during a meal to sit together with Shen Jingxian at the table and held a formal family discussion.

Shen Jingxian imagined the theme of the discussion: How to prevent a Princess with the mental age of 8 (faux) from being deceived by wild men.

But in reality, the theme of the Emperor and Empress’s discussion was: Whether a Princess with the mental age of 8 (faux) would become a heartbreaker in the future and abandon Wen Ranchen.

“Yi Fen, tell your father, do you sincerely want to take Wen Ranchen as your Prince Consort?” The Emperor emphasized the words sincere in a rare moment of seriousness.

Shen Jingxian thought for a moment and nodded.

The Emperor and Empress visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Er Ya, you slept for a long six years. During these six years, aside from your father and mother, only Ranchen kept watch over you. He is a good boy, full of loyalty and emotion. Mother knows you might not understand now, but you must remember, once you’ve made your choice, you must not betray him. From now on, neither your father nor I will allow you to marry anyone else. Have you thought it through?”

Shen Jingxian: ?

She finally understood. It turned out the Empress and Emperor were not worried about her being deceived; they were worried she’d deceive Wen Ranchen. Is this the protagonist’s halo?

Shen Jingxian suddenly became curious, what exactly did Wen Ranchen do to captivate the Emperor and Empress so much.

And what did she do to give them the impression she was a heartbreaker, she felt she was quite adept at maintaining proper boundaries between men and women.

You touch me, I touch you back, never losing out. You don’t touch me, I don’t touch you either, never acting inappropriately.

“I understand, but why does Mother say this, did Yi Fen do something wrong?”

The Empress sighed at the Princess’s pure (faux) gaze, “I heard you went to see Mu Yuan a few days ago as well.”

Oh, that male mom.

Shen Jingxian finally understood, the Emperor and Empress thought she was also interested in Mu Yuan.

She was indeed interested in Mu Yuan, but only out of admiration for a handsome man. Who doesn’t love a beauty? Such a sexy body is meant for women to admire!

Then, Wen Ranchen’s face suddenly appeared in her mind, and Shen Jingxian chickened out.

Forget it, if I can’t watch, I won’t watch.

“I remembered his dance was very good, so I wanted him to dance for me again.”

Upon hearing this, the Emperor and Empress gasped in shock.

What!! Their daughter actually wanted to watch a man dance! How could this be allowed!!

Thinking of Mu Yuan’s outrageously revealing dance, the Emperor and Empress exchanged glances, seeing the same intention in each other’s eyes, Mu Yuan cannot stay.

“Yi Fen, though those dances from Dongwu Country are indeed dazzling, Yunyi’s dances are not inferior. If you want to watch dancing, your father will arrange for people from the music academy to perform for you, how about that?”

“Really? Then I want to see it today!”

“Alright, alright, father will have it arranged immediately.”

Seeing Shen Jingxian’s excited look, the Emperor and Empress finally started to believe that the Princess genuinely just wanted to watch dancing.

It’s true, in the past they were grooming the Little Princess along the path of an Empress, to prevent her from being exposed to vice too early, they hadn’t prepared much entertainment for her.

The only entertainment, was spending time with Wen Ranchen reading wild history, and then… reviewing memorials.

At this moment, both the Empress and Emperor felt some guilt.

Alright, it’s time to let the Princess get acquainted with the lively world, otherwise, even a trivial thing might capture her heart, how could they face Wen Ranchen who was fighting on the front lines for military achievements!

The Emperor and Empress both knew what Wen Ranchen was aiming for; the reason he gave up the position of Princely Heir back then and the reason he seeks military success now, are the same.

This is why they were so moved.

Ranchen! Go ahead! We will ensure Yi Fen won’t be charmed away by some flamboyant man!

Shen Jingxian, still unaware of her parents’ biased hearts, ate the new dish created by the Imperial Chef on the table, Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Phoenix, and sincerely exclaimed.

Delicious!

The music academy moved quickly; shortly after Shen Jingxian finished eating, a group of women in scarlet dance attire, with peacock feathers in their hair, and long veils covering their faces, entered Yi Fen Palace.

Silver bracelets adorned their bare feet, and Shen Jingxian could already imagine their dancing.

It’s just, why are they all women?

We dare not ask, we dare not say.

“Greetings to the Emperor, Empress, Princess.”

The Emperor nodded, waving his hand for them not to waste words, and to begin dancing immediately.

The women from the music academy quickly got into formation, and with the beat of the drums, they began to dance.

Unlike the shock brought by Mu Yuan’s performance, each movement of these women displayed softness to the extreme, as water sleeves unfurled, flowing like countless petals drifting down, swaying gently, each petal carrying a wisp of fragrance.

There was not much sense of power.

Yet it presented a unique artistic conception.

As Shen Jingxian watched the dance before her, images of majestic mountains appeared in her mind.

What a masterpiece of dance this is!

I love it!

So, after the performance by the music academy, the Princess boldly said, “Reward.”

From then on, everyone in the Capital knew the Princess adored watching dances, and many young men even considered getting close to the Princess by learning to dance.

However, the royal music academy suddenly announced they do not admit men!

The Capital then filled with cries of lament.

The Emperor, secretly competent and renowned, chuckled wickedly, humph, you think you can challenge me.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep