Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: “Crawl Over and Kiss Me!”…

“If you follow my plan, I guarantee both of us will have a beautiful New Year’s Eve.” Xiaoyu said this to Xie Ning.

Last night, after Xie Ning apologized, Pei Shujing didn’t offer any response. Xie Ning didn’t say anything more afterward, and the two spent the entire night in silence.

The next day, Pei Shujing got up early. Although she tried her best not to make any noise, Xie Ning was still woken up.

However, she didn’t open her eyes. She only got up after Pei Shujing left the room.

The reason she did this was that she suddenly didn’t know how to face Pei Shujing.

She also didn’t know what to say to her. Maybe all that was left between them was awkwardness.

After composing herself, Xie Ning went to Xiaoyu to inquire about her situation last night. Unexpectedly, Xiaoyu was already lying in the study, waiting for her.

Xie Ning pointed to the bedding on the floor, surprised: “You still slept here last night?”

Xiaoyu didn’t answer the question but turned and asked: “Where did you sleep last night?”

Xie Ning puffed out her chest, about to boast to Xiaoyu, but Xiaoyu interrupted her.

“Forget it. I shouldn’t have asked that.”

Xie Ning choked, then patted Xiaoyu’s shoulder earnestly: “Yu, how can you see the rainbow without experiencing failure? It doesn’t matter if you get kicked out once or twice. As long as you try three times, four times, countless times, you will succeed one day.”

Xiaoyu scoffed twice. Just as she was about to mock her, she suddenly stopped.

She only said two words: “Help me!”

“How can I help?”

Xie Ning promised readily: “Now we are allies. Just say whatever I can do. If I, Xie A-Ning, even frown, you can dispose of me however you like.”

Next, Xiaoyu explained the comprehensive plan she had formulated to Xie Ning.

In short, a cultural performance would be held in Zhenxue City on New Year’s Eve, which was today. Citizens across the city could participate, fostering communication and unity between the army and the populace.

This plan was originally suggested by Xie Ning to Pei Shujing.

Xiaoyu’s plan was to have Xie Ning perform on stage with her. Ostensibly, they would be representing the Grand Princess, but the real purpose was to make Xiaozhu jealous.

As for what they should perform to make the Grand Princess jealous, it was naturally a dual sword dance.

The dual sword dance was also known as the “Flirtatious Glance Sword” or the “Deep Affection Sword.” Coincidentally, both of them had excellent martial arts skills, making this the perfect performance for the stage.

“Isn’t that too old-fashioned?”

This was Xie Ning’s reaction after hearing it.

Intentionally flirting with someone in front of the person you like—this tactic was worn out in the movies and TV shows from her hometown.

Moreover, countless facts have shown that this method can easily backfire.

“Old-fashioned? I thought this up after contemplating all night.”

Xiaoyu was confused. She had never heard of this trick. Why was it old-fashioned to Xie Ning?

Xie Ning didn’t explain. After all, this was a generation gap across two worlds.

However, Xiaoyu’s reaction also confirmed that this trick hadn’t been widely used in this era yet.

Since that was the case, Xie Ning expressed her willingness to try it with Xiaoyu.

But she had to report to Pei Shujing beforehand.

However, a single sentence from Xiaoyu stumped Xie Ning.

“In what capacity will you report to Her Highness?”

Seeing Xie Ning’s stunned expression, Xiaoyu placed her hand on Xie Ning’s shoulder: “Ning, why not use this method to provoke Her Highness as well?”

Xie Ning was tempted.

What if?

“What if it works?”

Xiaoyu voiced Xie Ning’s inner thought. Xie Ning gritted her teeth: “Let’s do it!”

So, at Xushi (7 to 9 PM) on New Year’s Eve, Pei Shujing, sitting in the audience, and Xiaozhu, standing behind her, heard a person named the “Host” announce:

“Next, let’s welcome Xie Jing and Xiaoyu to present a sword dance, The Jingyu Sword!”

Pei Shujing & Xiaozhu: “…”

The sound of the Pipa suddenly rose from the stage. Xie Ning and Xiaoyu, dressed in black and white, stepped forward with their swords.

“Good!”

“So handsome, so beautiful!”

Applause and cheers rose continuously from the audience.

Xie Ning solemnly reached out to stop Xiaoyu.

“Lady, please stay a moment. Greetings! This young scholar was just slashed by a sword, and I was wondering why it didn’t hurt? Upon closer inspection, it turns out it was the Lady’s Deep Affection Sword! Hahahaha, delightful, truly refreshing! May this young scholar have the honor of witnessing it again? This time, I will certainly join you in the moves.”

Xiaoyu on the stage immediately blushed, pointing her sword at Xie Ning: “You scoundrel, take this!”

Clang, clang, crash! The two started “fighting.”

It was less of a fight and more of a flirtation.

The audience was highly entertained.

“It has a storyline? Excellent, excellent!”

“Those two are a perfect match!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you know who those two are?”

“One is the Grand Princess’s Imperial Son-in-Law, and the other is the Grand Princess’s maid.”

“Ah? Then Her Highness agreed to let the Imperial Son-in-Law and the maid perform on stage?”

“We don’t know that. Perhaps… Her Highness is simply magnanimous.”

Xiaozhu hadn’t even had time for her own thoughts to emerge when she saw Her Highness’s eyes lowered, her hands subconsciously clenching into fists. As the performance on stage grew more exciting, her fists clenched tighter and tighter.

She looked at Xie Ning on the stage with sympathy.

Why trust anyone else, but trust that Loach?

The Loach did come to her room last night. She did try to chase her out, and the two even exchanged a few moves.

But that person, true to her nickname, was slippery as an eel and impossible to catch. She had to let Xiaoyu shamelessly cling to her.

In the dead of night, Xiaoyu initiated the conversation, and they discussed how to repair the relationship between Her Highness and Xie Ning.

After all, they had both witnessed the separate reactions of the pair after their falling out.

Her Highness was filling her time with state affairs, ensuring she had something to do every minute to avoid emotional fluctuations.

But how long could Her Highness’s body last?

As for Xie Ning, although Xie Ning believed she had never loved Her Highness, attributing everything to desire, Xiaoyu believed Xie Ning still hadn’t recognized her own heart.

So, Xiaoyu felt they couldn’t let the situation continue. It was bad for everyone.

Xiaozhu considered it and had to admit that the Loach had a point. Just as she was about to ask for a solution, the Loach fell asleep in her arms.

She didn’t wake her up again.

The next day, before the sun even rose, Xiaoyu got up, held the quilt, said, “Watch me work,” and left.

Back to the main topic.

Xie Ning’s performance ended with the audience’s cheers. She excitedly shouted back to the crowd who were yelling “Again!”

“Everyone, on this auspicious occasion, I have even better news to announce!”

“That is, our Grand Princess has been appointed as—Prince Xia!”

“And the first royal decree issued by Prince Xia is that all residents of Zhenxue City are exempt from taxes for three years!”

The audience fell silent for a moment. It wasn’t until one person shouted “Prince Xia” that everyone reacted.

“Prince Xia!”

“Prince Xia!”

“Long Live!”

The shouts of the people pierced the sky. Xie Ning glanced toward Pei Shujing’s seat in the audience, only to find that she was no longer there.

Xie Ning’s heart panicked. She quickly went down the stage. Before she could speak, Xiaozhu gave her a sympathetic look.

“Her Highness went back.”

This news made Xie Ning look up sharply, her pupils, which usually held a slight smile, filled with panic.

“Don’t panic yet. Her Highness’s reaction proves our strategy was successful. You still have time to chase after her.” Xiaoyu, who had followed, comforted her.

Anxious as she was, and panicking as she was, Xie Ning regained a bit of composure after hearing Xiaoyu’s words. She inhaled, calmed her emotions as much as possible, and then led a horse straight toward the residence.

The two quietly watched Xie Ning’s retreating figure. Xiaoyu curled her lips: “That reaction—who would believe she doesn’t like her?”

Xiaozhu glanced at her: “Aren’t you afraid Her Highness will find out and hang you up?”

Xiaoyu laughed happily: “Who told you Her Highness doesn’t know?”

Xie Ning chased after Pei Shujing’s residence. Seeing the tightly shut door, she pushed it open, panting heavily.

She saw Pei Shujing calmly sitting in front of a bronze mirror, applying something to her lips.

Xie Ning breathed a sigh of relief, plopped down on a stool, and took a large drink of tea.

After recovering for a bit, she noticed Pei Shujing staring intently at her from the side.

Xie Ning smiled awkwardly: “Your Highness, why did you leave early? You didn’t see the people united as one, shouting ‘Prince Xia’—it was truly a resounding clang of gongs and drums, and a continuous string of firecrackers…”

“I regret it.”

“What… what?”

Xie Ning was stunned.

She watched Pei Shujing slowly stand up. The candlelight flickered, and in the interplay of light and shadow, the Grand Princess, dressed in a luxurious red palace gown, walked gracefully with bare feet. Her hair floated lightly with the breeze from the window, so beautiful that even the moon seemed dimmed.

“Why did you chase after me?”

Pei Shujing walked in front of her, her fingertip tracing Xie Ning’s cheek.

Xie Ning looked up blankly into Pei Shujing’s eyes, which held endless unspoken words.

“I just… I was just worried that Your Highness wasn’t safe alone.” Xie Ning managed to reply.

“Then why did you come looking for this Prince last night?” Pei Shujing’s tone was still completely flat.

But Xie Ning could only remain silent.

Her explanation from last night was clearly no longer suitable for the current situation.

Pei Shujing’s long-suppressed emotions urgently needed an outlet. Seeing Xie Ning’s troubled expression, she suddenly bent down and leaned close to Xie Ning’s ear: “You don’t have this Prince in your heart, do you?”

Xie Ning shook her head. She actually couldn’t distinguish her feelings for Pei Shujing anymore. It seemed to be love, and yet it also seemed to be desire.

After thinking muddledly for a long time, Xie Ning ultimately couldn’t give an answer.

“Your Highness, since you are fine, I will be leaving now.”

Since she couldn’t figure it out, her instincts told her to flee.

But just as she stood up, everything suddenly went black, and her hands and feet went weak, causing her to fall to the floor.

Xie Ning looked incredulously at Pei Shujing, who was now sitting in the spot she had just vacated.

Pei Shujing looked down at her expressionlessly.

“Don’t worry, you won’t faint. It will just leave you powerless.”

“Your Highness… you, don’t mess around.” Xie Ning panicked.

Pei Shujing hooked Xie Ning’s chin with her foot, a hint of pleasure on her face.

“This Prince had already decided to give up on you, but you recklessly continued to provoke this Prince. Tell me, how should this Prince punish you?”

Xie Ning forced a smile: “Your Highness… I was wrong. Do I still have a chance to regret it?”

But Pei Shujing ignored her, propping her chin on her hand and speaking to herself: “Ning, I said that day that you were mine, and you agreed. Do you remember?”

Xie Ning frantically shook her head. Her messy hair brushed against the top of Pei Shujing’s foot, unwittingly adding a layer of cruelty to Pei Shujing’s mood.

She looked down at Xie Ning from above.

“You want the antidote?”

She smiled.

“You may have it.”

“The antidote is on this Prince’s lips.”

“If you want it, crawl over and take it!”

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