Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: “Your Highness, I’m Sorry!”…

Recently, the guards noticed that the atmosphere throughout Zhenxue City felt very wrong.

More accurately, the Grand Princess and the Imperial Son-in-Law felt wrong, and the two personal maids of Her Highness also felt very wrong. Consequently, a tense atmosphere pervaded both the Zhennan Army and Zhenxue City.

Xie Ning cautiously probed: “Xiaozhu, are you alright?”

Xiaozhu glanced at her expressionlessly, gave no answer, and continued to clean up Xie Ning’s finished dishes.

Seeing this reaction, Xie Ning’s heart sank.

Trouble.

Xiaozhu was no longer being abstract. She had reverted to her state when they first met—an emotionless assassin.

Xie Ning angrily banged the table: “That Xiaoyu is truly too much!”

She noticed Xiaozhu paused slightly. Joy welled up inside her, and she quickly continued to pretend: “You are my best friend. I couldn’t just stand by and watch you fall into the devil’s clutches. It’s just that I was drunk at the time. Otherwise, I definitely would have rescued you. By the time I realized… it wasn’t appropriate to try to rescue you anymore.”

The completely unaware Xie Ning did not notice that Xiaozhu’s hand was fiercely gripping the chopsticks.

“But actually, I really understand Xiaoyu. Seriously, Xiaoyu probably couldn’t control her feelings, plus you both drank a lot of alcohol, so then… Maybe you two can have a good talk, but I am definitely on your side!”

Xiaozhu’s expression remained unchanged, as if she hadn’t heard. However, before leaving, she left one line: “You take care of yourself first!”

Xie Ning was full of question marks, pointing a trembling finger at Xiaozhu’s retreating back.

“What does that mean?”

“What does she mean?”

Xiaoyu emerged from behind the round pillar near the door and silently sat beside Xie Ning.

“I spoke up for you with Her Highness, and then…”

“I got thrown out.”

With that, both of them sighed simultaneously.

“So, what the hell are ‘Loach’ and ‘Stick Bug’?”

Xiaoyu looked at Xie Ning helplessly: “…It’s come to this, and you still have the mind to worry about that?”

Xie Ning coughed awkwardly: “Isn’t it just curiosity?”

“We were both by Her Highness’s side since we were small, but Xiaozhu arrived first, and I came later.”

Xiaoyu explained to Xie Ning while reminiscing about the past: “Her pride is very strong. After I arrived, she suddenly realized that she couldn’t compare to me in anything, even in the martial arts skills she was most proud of.”

“I am three or four years older than Xiaozhu, so at the time, I found this little sister very cute, and I developed a desire to tease her.”

“The process doesn’t need to be recounted. Once, she cried because of me. Since my name has ‘Yu’ (fish) in it, she gave me the nickname Loach.”

“Of course, I couldn’t be disadvantaged. Since her name has ‘Zhu’ (bamboo) in it, I called her Stick Bug.”

After listening, Xie Ning exclaimed: “It sounds beautiful just listening to it. So, when did you fall for her?”

Xiaoyu thought for a moment, then shook her head: “I can’t remember clearly. I only remember one day I suddenly had a thought, thinking that if I could live out my life with her, it would actually be quite good.”

Xie Ning nodded: “That’s very good.”

“What about you? When did you start liking Her Highness?”

“Me? Of course I…”

Xie Ning paused. She suddenly found that she couldn’t say it.

Xiaoyu looked at the somewhat confused Xie Ning and smiled: “Allow me to call you A-Ning. A-Ning, do you know? The fact that you and Her Highness have reached this point is not entirely Her Highness’s fault; it’s yours too.”

“Mine too…”

Xie Ning looked blankly at Xiaoyu.

“Yes. Whether it’s you or Her Highness, there’s absolutely no so-called love in your daily interactions. The only reason you two are still entangled is because of your respective identities.”

“A-Ning, do you really like Her Highness, or do you like Her Highness’s status?”

Xie Ning froze in place.

Yes. She seemed to have never liked Pei Shujing. Never…

Her so-called emotional stirring felt like an illusion caused by her emotions reaching a critical point.

In fact, it wasn’t emotional stirring; it was desire.

A desire simply to possess the Grand Princess for herself.

Xie Ning found it hard to face her own dark side, but she still shared this analysis with Xiaoyu.

Xiaoyu showed a slight smile: “A-Ning, you don’t need to feel guilty about this. No one can resist Her Highness’s charm. It’s human nature.”

“Ah, this…” Xie Ning awkwardly scratched her head.

“So, does Her Highness only have desire for me too?”

Xiaoyu shook her head and sighed: “It seems you still don’t understand Her Highness enough.”

“What kind of person is Her Highness? If she truly only had desire for you, would she have been so confused for so many days? Would she have been avoiding you recently?”

“Or do you think Her Highness’s desire for the throne is not stronger than her desire for you?”

“Her Highness was confused for many days, so she came to you for an answer. And your reply—I don’t need to say it—you’re destined to be alone, sister.”

Xiaoyu secretly saw a crack open in the window of the second-floor room next door. She wanted to hint at Xie Ning, but Xie Ning was completely stunned in place.

Her Highness truly liked her?

Pei Shujing truly had feelings for her?

But… why?

When did it happen…?

Xie Ning abruptly stood up and started to walk next door, startling Xiaoyu: “Where are you going?”

Xie Ning took a deep breath: “I’m going to find her!”

“And then what? Say what? Say you’re a terrible person? Say you’re sorry to Her Highness?”

“I…”

Xiaoyu secretly glanced back. The window had been closed again.

“A-Ning, you already answered Her Highness’s question. Her Highness has made up her mind. Whether for your sake or her own, do you think Her Highness will give you a chance to regret it?”

Xie Ning paused, then slumped back down onto the ground.

Xiaoyu was absolutely right. Pei Shujing wouldn’t overturn the decision she had finally made just because of her words.

Moreover, that wouldn’t be fair to Pei Shujing either.

“So, what should I do…”

Looking at the dejected Xie Ning, a knowing smile appeared on Xiaoyu’s lips.

“Since things have already progressed this far, we might as well make the best of a bad situation.”

“Make the best of a bad situation?” Xie Ning was confused. “How do we make the best of a bad situation?”

“The same way I did the other day!”

“You want me to get Her Highness drunk…”

“Mhm.”

Xie Ning shook her head, inherently disagreeing with Xiaoyu’s plan, though she had been slightly tempted just now…

But if she truly acted this way, wouldn’t she be amplifying her own dark side again?

There’s a saying: One who cannot control their desires is a beast!

“Who are you calling a beast?”

Xiaoyu was full of question marks.

Xie Ning coughed twice. How did she say her inner thoughts out loud…?

“Xiaoyu, my situation is different from yours. This won’t work on Her Highness, and you’re trying to get me killed.”

No sooner had the words fallen than a door opened across from them. Xiaozhu came out carrying bedding and threw it onto the ground in front of the two people sitting on the stone steps.

She didn’t even look at them, then went back into the room.

Xie Ning: “Sister, if I’m not mistaken, she threw out yours, right?”

Xiaoyu: “…Otherwise? Would she throw out her own?”

Xie Ning heavily patted Xiaoyu’s shoulder: “Good sister, I now declare that you are my best friend. I understand! You saw me sleeping alone in the study and were afraid I’d be lonely, so you came to accompany me, didn’t you?!”

Xiaoyu: “…”

Late at night.

Xie Ning was unable to sleep, influenced by Xiaoyu’s words today.

The thought that Pei Shujing might truly have had feelings for her made her unable to sit still.

She got up and secretly slipped out of the study. Opening the door, she ran right into Xiaoyu, who was also sneaking out from the room next door.

The two looked at each other.

They nodded in mutual understanding and went their separate ways.

Xie Ning entered the room. Pei Shujing was already asleep on the desk.

It looked like she had been dealing with state affairs and hadn’t had time to rest at all.

Sleeping on a desk in this cold weather, Xie Ning gently poked Pei Shujing’s arm.

“Your Highness, Your Highness.”

“Xie Ning? Make another sound and I’ll kill you.” Pei Shujing didn’t open her eyes, softly mumbled a phrase, and continued to sleep soundly.

Her morning temper is quite something.

Xie Ning squatted beside Pei Shujing’s feet and whispered: “Your Highness, it’s too cold. Let’s go sleep in the bed.”

Pei Shujing slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly into the void. After a while, she said: “Why are you here?”

“I heard Xiaozhu say you’ve been working and haven’t rested, so I came up to check on you…”

At this moment, Xiaozhu was unknowingly taking the blame for someone.

But what else could she say?

Should she say she couldn’t sleep and specifically came to launch a night attack on her?

Pei Shujing yawned lazily, completely ignoring Xie Ning’s words: “Speaking of Xiaozhu, have you noticed that she and Xiaoyu have been acting a bit strangely these past few days?”

Xie Ning pretended to be confused: “No? I haven’t noticed anything?”

Pei Shujing narrowed her eyes: “Dare to lie to this Princess?”

“Tell me, what are you all up to now?!”

Xie Ning hesitated, wondering if she should tell Pei Shujing about this.

Xiaoyu hadn’t asked her to keep it a secret, and Pei Shujing would definitely find out soon, but it shouldn’t be her who tells.

“Forget it, I won’t ask you. Go back. I’ll go back to bed later.”

Xie Ning suddenly fell silent. After a long moment, she smiled cheerfully and pointed to the fruit platter on the desk: “Your Highness, do you want to eat some grapes?”

Pei Shujing picked up the grapes, plucked a few from the bottom, and motioned for her to look.

“Did you see?”

Xie Ning nodded: “I saw. Your Highness has hands.”

“Then can Your Highness peel them and feed them to me?”

Pei Shujing’s eyebrows raised slightly, a little surprised: “Dare to ask this Princess to peel grapes for you? Xie Ning, are you crazy? You should be peeling them for this Princess…”

“Alright.”

Pei Shujing was stunned. The two exchanged a look, and she instantly laughed out of annoyance.

“What, someone is shamelessly refusing to leave?”

“I’m just afraid you’re cold. Your legs only recovered recently. I’m worried.” Xie Ning squatted in front of Pei Shujing, picked up a grape from her hand, and offered it to her mouth.

Pei Shujing subconsciously opened her mouth. By the time she realized it, the grape was already in her mouth.

Now she couldn’t spit it out or swallow it…

Xie Ning acted as if she hadn’t seen anything and continued to peel the second grape.

Pei Shujing sneered and walked straight to her bed.

“If you like peeling grapes so much, stay here and peel all night.”

Xie Ning didn’t reply, silently peeling grapes in the candlelight.

After a while, Xie Ning suddenly let out a small sneeze.

Then she sniffled and continued her work.

Pei Shujing sat up irritably, looking at the person’s silhouette.

“Get up here and sleep!”

“I’m peeling grapes.”

Bang! Xie Ning caught the flying cushion, which still carried Pei Shujing’s lingering scent.

“Try pretending one more time?” The Grand Princess, who had thrown the cushion, commanded while lying back down.

Only then did Xie Ning sheepishly climb into the spot she had missed for so long.

The candle went out. The room was now silent.

Only the steady breathing of two people.

After a long while, the Grand Princess’s voice first broke the silence in the darkness.

“If you dare to touch this Prince again, this Prince will throw you out of the second floor.”

“I only accidentally touched your hand…” Xie Ning mumbled discontentedly.

The room fell silent once more.

Finally.

This time, it was Xie Ning who broke the silence.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry.”

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