Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: “I’m Heartbroken,” “I Lost My Virginity”…

Xie Ning was busy, busy taking charge of the Zhennan Army’s military affairs.

Pei Shujing was also busy, busy handling the civil administration of Zhenxue City.

After the Zhennan Army officially took over Zhenxue City, let alone deepening their “friendship,” it was good if they could even meet twice a day.

“I often recall the panic in your Highness’s eyes that day…”

Xie Ning was recounting the events of that day to Xiaozhu during a brief moment of downtime.

Xiaozhu nodded perfunctorily. She had been quite interested at first, but this person only ever said this one sentence.

What about the aftermath?

If she didn’t talk about the process or the result, what was the point?

“I also often reminisce about the day you declared yourself this Princess’s dog in the capital.”

“Do you want to do it again in Zhenxue City?”

A familiar, sarcastic voice reached Xie Ning’s ears. Xie Ning hadn’t expected Pei Shujing to have free time, and that her first impulse would be to seek her out.

Xie Ning immediately scurried over, expertly took Pei Shujing’s hand, and whispered: “Your Highness, did you miss me?”

Pei Shujing burst out laughing, unable to stop. Xie Ning was full of question marks.

What was so funny about that?

Pei Shujing patted Xie Ning’s cheek: “Don’t flatter yourself. This Princess only came to inspect the work.”

Xie Ning secretly pouted. Inspect the work? Anyone who believes that is a dog.

However, Xie Ning still smiled ingratiatingly: “Your Highness, you didn’t even give a warning before coming to inspect the work.”

“Warning?”

“Yes! So I could arrange for the common people to line the streets to welcome you, and do some advance cleanup or something.”

“Heh.”

Pei Shujing seemed accustomed to Xie Ning’s manner of speaking around her. She said: “Do you remember the first time you met this Princess? If I recall correctly, it was on our wedding night, wasn’t it?”

“Your Highness, your memory is truly excellent.”

That was also the day she had transmigrated into this world.

Pei Shujing pointed to the ground: “That night, I made you kneel on the ground, and you didn’t even dare to lift your head.”

Of course not!

She had originally planned to take Xie Jing’s identity and live a life on top, only to see Pei Shujing covered in blood, with all the tendons in her legs severed.

She had a premonition right then that she was going to take the blame for Xie Jing.

Moreover, given the situation at the time, even if the incident had nothing to do with Xie Jing, what choice did she have besides kneeling on the ground and trembling?

“Indeed! The first time I saw Your Highness, to be honest, I was truly awed by Your Highness and didn’t even dare to lift my head.”

Pei Shujing sneered: “But within a few days, you forced this Princess to apologize, and even threatened to hit this Princess. Do you remember?”

Xie Ning coughed awkwardly: “Your Highness, I thought that matter was over…”

Pei Shujing glanced at her and continued: “Now you already dare to insult this Princess…”

How did I insult you?

Could you elaborate?

Xiaozhu listened quietly from the side.

Pei Shujing gave her a look.

Xiaozhu silently withdrew.

Xie Ning lamented: “Honestly, Your Highness has saved me many times. I owe Your Highness too much, and my own life is worthless, so I can only offer myself to Your Highness.”

“This Princess has always felt that your talent for flattery is wasted only on me.”

“It’s not wasted, not wasted. Not only is my talent for flattery reserved solely for Your Highness, but my lips for speaking are also exclusively for Your Highness alone.”

The two looked at each other for a moment.

Pei Shujing pointed to the city wall currently under construction: “The method of relief by labor is very good. The common people are very grateful to you, so this Princess came over to thank you as well.”

Xie Ning waved her hand and said casually: “The New Year is coming soon. This is the first New Year our Zhennan Army has spent here, and it’s very important for both us and the common people.”

Pei Shujing looked at her: “This Princess is gratified that you have room for the common people in your heart.”

No.

The fact that you have room for the common people in your heart is what makes her the most gratified person.

However, Xie Ning didn’t say this aloud. Instead, she shamelessly leaned in front of Pei Shujing: “Then, does Your Highness have a reward?”

Pei Shujing was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: “Yes, the New Year is coming. This is the first New Year I’m spending away from the capital, and the first time away from my Imperial Mother.”

“Ah, this…”

She misses her mother…

“How about we bring the Empress Dowager over? It would be a good chance for Jingqiu to come along too, so she doesn’t have to spend all her time playing with that little brat Yinyin. She hasn’t even sent me a letter to tell me about the current situation.”

After they left, Jingqiu wasn’t suitable to follow them on their travels north and south. After all, Jingqiu’s mother was still in the capital.

So, Pei Shujing arranged for her to stay by Yinyin’s side. Everyone was satisfied with this arrangement.

Pei Shujing shook her head: “No. Imperial Mother is sensitive to the cold, and her body cannot endure the chill of the North. Moreover, as long as Imperial Mother is in the inner palace, no trouble will ever arise there.”

Xie Ning remained silent.

Pei Shujing’s words might mean that as long as the Empress Dowager was present, she could prevent the Emperor from going mad and acting against the Empress and Wan’er.

But there was another meaning… that was to guard against the Empress and Wan’er.

Even though they were both considered Pei Shujing’s people.

Xie Ning knew that Pei Shujing’s approach was absolutely correct. After all, it was imperial power. Who could guarantee that the two of them would restrain themselves?

Moreover, if any dangerous sign appeared, it could be extinguished in time. This was beneficial to both sides.

However, Xie Ning still felt a little sad inside.

Is this what it means to be a solitary figure?

“So, Your Highness, do you trust me?”

Pei Shujing smiled: “This Princess thought you would never ask that question.”

Xie Ning fell silent again.

After a long while, Pei Shujing continued: “The New Year’s gift you sent to Imperial Mother—she received it. She likes it very much. You put in a lot of effort.”

“Her Ladyship is like a birth mother to me. This is what I should do.”

“She is your birth Imperial Mother… Then what am I to you?”

“My dear sister!”

Pei Shujing’s gaze gradually turned cold, and she said:

“The family members of this Princess may not always come to a good end.”

Xie Ning’s face was embarrassed. She dared not provoke Pei Shujing further.

She had actually realized something was off with Pei Shujing earlier. She had noticed it first thing in the morning.

The excuse that they were too busy to meet was just that—an excuse. To be precise, Pei Shujing was avoiding Xie Ning.

Their actions previously might have been born out of impulse, or perhaps irresistible emotion.

But after some time, once they had calmed down, they needed to reconsider their relationship.

Xie Ning’s question that day, “Can you refer to yourself as ‘Zhen’?” uncovered the issue that Pei Shujing was subconsciously avoiding.

That was the fact that this realm and that court could accept Pei Shujing becoming Empress, but they would absolutely not allow Xie Ning to sit on the Empress’s throne as a woman.

What if Xie Ning pretended to be Xie Jing for the rest of her life outside?

Would Xie Ning be willing?

Xie Ning didn’t know.

And not knowing meant… she didn’t want to.

So, Pei Shujing took the initiative to meet Xie Ning.

She heard Xie Ning’s answer.

Although this answer was not what she wanted to hear, her pride and dignity were preventing her from clinging on, reminding her to stop here.

“Xie Ning, we need to cool down.”

Xie Ning nodded silently.

“Or, give this Princess some time. This Princess will find a solution.”

Xie Ning stared blankly at Pei Shujing.

Pei Shujing smiled slightly.

Indeed, her dignity and pride were preventing her from continuing this relationship…

But also because of them, Pei Shujing didn’t want to easily admit defeat.

To let her try to find a solution during a cooling-off period—this was Pei Shujing’s promise.

Pei Shujing left.

She returned under the pretense of handling official business.

Xie Ning sat on the threshold, spacing out.

It wasn’t until Xiaozhu returned and nudged Xie Ning that she sniffled and said gloomily:

“Xiaozhu, your Highness doesn’t want me anymore…”

“Although I don’t know what happened between you and Her Highness, I think you might need me and Xiaoyu to get completely drunk with you. Hmm… that’s what it says in all the storybooks.”

“So… you and Her Highness just broke up like that?”

In the dimly lit room, Xiaoyu frowned, looking at the drunken mess of Xie Ning and Xiaozhu.

“Xie Ning, since you’re so heartbroken, why are you unwilling to remain in Xie Jing’s identity? Moreover, the people close to you all know your true identity.”

Xie Ning shook her head: “You don’t understand, Xiaoyu, you don’t understand.”

She held the wine cup, staring blankly at the night sky outside the window.

“I am Xie Ning. I don’t want to live my life under someone else’s identity. Even now, I’m in pain. Sometimes I ask myself, am I really Xie Ning? Is everything I’ve experienced real?”

“I doubt myself, I doubt this world.”

“Also… I am free. If I truly become an Empress, I will be confined to the palace for the rest of my life.”

“Especially after seeing the Empress Dowager, my resolve strengthened.”

“Do you really think the Empress Dowager’s actions were just to promote the relationship between Pei Shujing and me?”

A tipsy Xiaozhu banged on the table: “You can’t call Her Highness by her name anymore…”

Xie Ning choked.

Xiaoyu slapped Xiaozhu hard, making Xiaozhu yell “Ow!” in pain.

“Don’t interrupt. Xie Ning, continue.”

Xie Ning mumbled tearfully: “Her Ladyship suffers, Imperial Mother is tired!”

Xiaoyu: “…”

“She hasn’t left the palace for so long. She has forgotten how to interact with outsiders, so she can only choose this teasing way to communicate.”

“My heart aches for Imperial Mother… so I don’t want to ache for myself later.”

Xiaozhu banged the table, her head swaying: “You can’t call her Imperial Mother either!”

“I will call her that!”

“You can’t!”

“Tell Pei Shujing to come and hit me!”

“Call her Your Highness!”

“Your Highness, tell Pei Shujing to come and hit me!”

Xiaoyu rubbed her forehead helplessly: “Alright, you two drunks.”

“Xie Ning, I was just suggesting you temporarily humor Her Highness and make her happy, and then work with her to figure out a solution. Wouldn’t that be better?”

Before Xie Ning could speak, Xiaozhu stood up and pointed at Xiaoyu: “Loach, I’m telling you, you’re disrespecting Her Highness! Don’t you dare think I won’t hit you!”

Xie Ning was stunned: “Wait, what the hell is ‘Loach’?”

Xiaoyu seemed enraged by the nickname: “Stick Bug, don’t you dare yell at me! Relationships need some scheming! You simply don’t understand!”

What the hell is ‘Stick Bug’?

“I don’t understand? I only know that relationships need honesty, honesty!”

“Honesty? Xie Ning was honest, so what was the result?!”

Wait, why are you two arguing and still dragging me into it?

Isn’t that a little too hurtful to me…

Xiaozhu stood on the stool, looking down at Xiaoyu: “Fine, fine. Now, suppose I’m Her Highness, and you’re Xie Ning. I want to see how you scheme against me!”

Xiaoyu sneered, immediately grabbed Xiaozhu, and dragged her toward the room.

Xiaozhu was terrified: “Loach, what are you doing?!”

“You don’t want to see it? Then I’ll show you what ‘scheming’ means!”

With that, she pushed Xiaozhu into the room, kicked the door shut, and shortly after, sounds that those who know, know, came from inside the room.

Xie Ning stared blankly at everything that had just happened, patted her face to confirm she wasn’t dreaming, and then muttered to herself.

“Am I crazy… or is this world crazy?”

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