The Female Lead is Quite Unusual - Episode 63

When Lin Wan was awakened by knocking the next morning and saw Sheng Qian sleeping beside her, her mind was momentarily dazed.

 

The experiences of the previous night felt like an illusion.

 

The Sheng Qian she had raised was about to become the next ruler of this country, and only after the effects of the drug had worn off. Did she realize that this dilapidated courtyard was where Sheng Qian had lived as a child? Under Huang Fu’s harsh rule back then, Sheng Qian had almost no chance to go outside, spending nearly her entire childhood confined here.

 

Lin Wan had assumed Sheng Qian would be very busy.

 

But Sheng Qian didn’t seem in a hurry, instead leading her around the courtyard, introducing every corner one by one.

 

Sheng Qian didn’t say much, but through her words, Lin Wan could almost see the Sheng Qian before the age of ten: a lonely little girl with no playmates, trapped in this small courtyard, where every blade of grass and every tree became her companions.

 

No wonder Sheng Qian was so afraid of loneliness. It turned out she had endured an incredibly solitary period in her youth.

 

Lin Wan grew even more determined to continue accompanying Sheng Qian in the depths of the palace in the future. She didn’t want Sheng Qian to ever return to that state of isolation and helplessness again.

 

After that, Sheng Qian began leaning against her lap, acting coquettishly.

 

Lin Wan instinctively felt this was inappropriate. Sheng Qian should grow into an independent adult and not behave like this. But every time the words reached her throat, she swallowed them back: she found she simply couldn’t resist Sheng Qian’s coquetry.

 

When Sheng Qian looked at her with those clear, expectant eyes, full of warmth and dependence, expressing her affection and gratitude, Lin Wan felt her heart tremble. She couldn’t help but blush, as if no matter what Sheng Qian said, she wanted to indulge her.

 

Well, at least no one else saw Sheng Qian like this.

 

Later, Sheng Qian’s voice grew softer and softer until she gradually fell asleep. Lin Wan, feeling sorry for her after all the traveling, let her be. She had intended to wake Sheng Qian when someone came to hurry them, but the lingering effects of the drug surged within her, and she, too, unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

 

Had Sheng Qian carried her to bed?

 

Lin Wan’s clothes were still neatly in place, but Sheng Qian was only in her inner garments, her collar disheveled, revealing her delicate collarbones as she clung tightly to Lin Wan’s waist.

 

However, Lin Wan had no time to dwell on these thoughts now. She sat up and, as planned, woke Sheng Qian.

 

When Sheng Qian opened her eyes, her body tensed for a moment, her gaze sharp as if filled with shards of ice. But upon seeing it was Lin Wan, her eyes instantly softened with a smile, radiant like spring flowers in full bloom.

 

Lin Wan was still stunned by the sudden change in Sheng Qian’s expression when Sheng Qian already leaned in, wrapping her arms softly around Lin Wan’s neck and cooing, “Wanwan, I sleep so peacefully when I’m with you.”

 

Sheng Qian’s voice carried the nasal tone of someone just waking up, making it sound incredibly tender. As she spoke close to Lin Wan’s ear, her warm breath continuously brushed against Lin Wan’s skin.

 

Lin Wan shrank her neck, feeling a tingling sensation all over her body, extremely unsettled.

 

Just as she was wondering whether to push Sheng Qian away, Sheng Qian had already stood up and begun dressing.

 

“Wanwan.” She quickly finished dressing and, as she reached the door, suddenly turned back to give Lin Wan a dazzling smile, her expression brilliantly radiant. “For lunch, I want to eat the potato cakes you make.”

 

Sweet potato cake was a local snack. When Lin Wan first adopted Sheng Qian, she had made it several times to help the little girl settle in.

 

Hearing Sheng Qian’s request, the strange feeling Lin Wan had felt earlier due to Sheng Qian’s sudden closeness instantly vanished, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“Of course.”

 

She must have still been half-asleep earlier, feeling so awkward just because Sheng Qian had drawn near.

 

Sheng Qian was still just a child who wanted sweet potato cake.

 

Lin Wan touched her burning cheeks, willing the heat to fade. Not long after Sheng Qian left, someone delivered the ingredients for the sweet potato cake, and Lin Wan immediately got up to start preparing.

 

Though sweet potato cake sounded like a simple snack, the process of making it was quite intricate. Before Lin Wan could finish, Sheng Qian returned.

 

Lin Wan had intended to ask Sheng Qian to wait a little longer before eating, but before she could speak, Sheng Qian washed her hands, rolled up her sleeves, and stepped into the small kitchen.

 

Sheng Qian was actually an excellent cook. A few years earlier, when Mother Lin had been suffering from nausea and couldn’t keep anything down, Sheng Qian had specially prepared a three-delicacy soup for her. The recipe had since spread and become a staple in some restaurants.

 

Watching Sheng Qian beside her, sleeves rolled up and cooking with practiced ease, Lin Wan couldn’t help but feel a sense of unreality: How had her gentle, virtuous little sister become the decisive and authoritative young clan leader?

 

“Wanwan, is there something on my face? You’ve been staring at me for so long.”

 

Lin Wan’s gaze must have been too obvious, as Sheng Qian turned her head and gave a helpless smile. “I know you miss your family, Wanwan. I’ve already sent someone to deliver a message home. You can return tomorrow.”

 

Lin Wan’s eyes widened. Sheng Qian had clearly been extremely busy lately, yet she still remembered Lin Wan’s wish to go home.

 

Indeed, no matter how her status had changed, Sheng Qian was still that thoughtful and attentive little sister.

 

But it also meant that, given her personality, Sheng Qian would undoubtedly take everything upon herself and be overwhelmingly busy after assuming her position.

 

With such a temperament, if no one reminded her, Sheng Qian would surely overwork herself, forgetting to eat and sleep.

 

Lin Wan had initially thought she might not be of much help by Sheng Qian’s side, but now she grew even more determined to stay with her in the future: at the very least, she could take good care of Sheng Qian’s health and prevent her from ruining her body.

 

With Sheng Qian’s help, Lin Wan quickly finished preparing the meal.

 

After hastily eating a few bites, Hu Yi arrived looking anxious. Lin Wan hurriedly packed some food for Sheng Qian and watched as she strode out the door.

 

In the evening, a young eunuch brought Lin Wan her dinner and informed her that Sheng Qian was too busy to return and eat with her.

 

Knowing Sheng Qian’s habits, Lin Wan guessed she likely hadn’t had dinner either. After some thought, she asked the kitchen to prepare a few of Sheng Qian’s favorite snacks and left them on the table in the room, keeping a kettle of water warm on the charcoal stove. That way, when Sheng Qian returned, she could have something to eat.

 

However, even past her usual bedtime, Sheng Qian still hadn’t returned.

 

Lin Wan needed to leave the palace early the next day and had to get to bed sooner. After waiting a while longer, she gave up and went to bed.

 

But lying there, thinking about how clingy Sheng Qian had been lately, Lin Wan felt a lingering unease. After a moment’s consideration, she got up again and cracked the window open slightly.

 

Sheng Qian had told her that to ensure her safety, he had stationed hidden guards around her. Any movement from her opening the window would surely be noticed by them. If Sheng Qian truly returned, the guards would inform him about the open window, allowing him to climb in through it.

 

After doing this, Lin Wan fell asleep with peace of mind.

 

In the middle of the night, the space beside her indeed sank slightly as someone lay down next to her.

 

Breathing in that familiar scent, Lin Wan unconsciously moved closer. She heard a soft chuckle, and then the person wrapped an arm around her waist, blew out the candle, and drifted off to sleep as well.

 

Lin Wan woke early the next day. The space beside her was empty, but the tightly shut window from the inside, the plate of pastries on the table with a few missing, and a note left on the table all indicated that Sheng Qian had returned the previous night.

 

“Really don’t want Wanwan to go home. Wanwan, come back soon.”

 

Sheng Qian’s note was brief, but through those words, Lin Wan could almost picture the dissatisfied, pouty expression he must have worn while writing it.

 

Lin Wan couldn’t help but laugh.

 

What a clingy little girl. Even though Lin Wan only planned to go home for a few days, Sheng Qian made it seem as if she were leaving for years.

 

Afterward, Lin Wan contacted the young eunuch who had escorted her out of the palace.

 

The moment she rode out of the imperial palace openly in a carriage, Lin Wan felt a surge of emotions. She had originally thought it would be impossible to leave the palace anytime soon.

 

She never expected Sheng Qian to truly keep his promise and protect her as he said he would.

 

Lin Wan couldn’t help but glance back toward the center of the palace.

 

Though she had always viewed the palace as a devouring cage, perhaps because of Sheng Qian’s presence, it no longer felt so dark and terrifying.

 

The carriage quickly brought Lin Wan home.

 

The situation along the way was much better than she had imagined: the soldiers led by Sheng Qian had not caused significant panic after entering the city, and troops were maintaining order everywhere.

 

When Lin Wan arrived home, her parents already knew she was coming and were waiting at the door. Her mother hugged her tightly and wept.

 

After calming down, her parents asked about Lin Wan’s future plans.

 

They had only recently learned that many of the guards in Lin Wan’s escort agency were actually high-ranking officers under Sheng Qian. Over the years, under the guise of escort missions, they had recruited soldiers and strategists across the regions. Many of them were well-versed in military tactics, which explained why Lin Wan’s agency had never lost a shipment despite traveling far and wide.

 

Having grown up under imperial authority, Lin Wan’s parents were even more apprehensive than she was upon learning Sheng Qian’s true identity.

 

They were aware of Lin Wan’s affection for Sheng Qian. Though deeply worried, they did not oppose her decision to stay in the palace and assist him.

 

Their family’s wealth had indeed attracted envy, and Lin Wan’s previous forced entry into the palace was proof. Now that Sheng Qian had ascended to the throne, it was actually the best outcome for them.

 

“Wanwan! We really owe it all to that child, Qianqian!”

 

“But she is about to become the Emperor. Even if Qianqian doesn’t mind, if you two continue to address each other as sisters, the court officials might criticize you. After all, the sisterhood was formed during her amnesia and cannot be taken seriously.”

 

“Wanwan, from now on, you two should no longer address each other as sisters or maintain that relationship. Just treat each other as good friends. ”

 

Now that the dynasty was in a state of rebuilding, with countless matters requiring attention, Lin Wan’s father, having navigated the business world for many years, was well-versed in human affairs and possessed keen observational skills. After giving Lin Wan a series of instructions, he even voluntarily offered generous financial support, suggesting that she ask Sheng Qian upon returning to the palace whether the national treasury needed monetary assistance.

 

Through her father’s analysis, Lin Wan became increasingly aware of the difficulties that lay ahead. After all, Sheng Qian was still so young, and governing such a vast nation, plagued by both internal and external troubles, was an immensely challenging task.

 

As for the matter of addressing each other as “sisters,” likely taking into account the points her father had raised, Sheng Qian had stopped calling her “sister” during this period. Lin Wan wasn’t particularly worried about it.

 

Yet, for some reason, when she slept alone at night, Lin Wan always felt an inexplicable chill, and her mind would suddenly be flooded with countless thoughts, worries that Sheng Qian might not be eating properly, that she might be staying up late handling official documents.

 

The next day, Lin Wan felt somewhat distracted.

 

By the third day, she could no longer hold back and told her father that she wished to return to the palace that evening.

 

Though surprised that Lin Wan wanted to return so soon, her parents, despite their reluctance, knew that she would have easier access to the palace in the future and did not press her to stay.

 

By the time Lin Wan returned to the palace, the sky had darkened, and the palace gates were lit with lanterns.

 

Just as Lin Wan was about to take out her pass to show the guards at the gate, planning to surprise Sheng Qian upon her return, the palace gates swung open from the inside. Sheng Qian hurried out, a bright smile on her face, and under Lin Wan’s astonished gaze, she stepped forward and took Lin Wan’s hand.

 

“The secret guards told me you were back, so I came out to greet you.”

 

“These past few days without you, Wanwan, I’ve been feeling terribly unsettled. Nothing has been going smoothly. I haven’t been eating or sleeping well.”

 

“Wanwan, do I look thinner to you?”

 

Sheng Qian leaned in close to Lin Wan, then suddenly flashed a mischievous smile and pressed a small lantern into her hand.

 

“I’m so overjoyed that you returned today.”

 

“As it’s dark, I originally wanted to line the path with a hundred meters of lanterns to welcome you into the palace.”

 

“But I’ve only just entered the palace. If I were too extravagant, I fear you might grow to dislike me.”

 

Hand in hand, the two walked forward into the dark, towering palace complex. Sheng Qian turned to look at Lin Wan, a visible smile blooming in her eyes.

 

“Wanwan, once everything is settled, I will definitely line this corridor with a hundred meters of lanterns to welcome you back to the palace.”

 

Sheng Qian began making promises again.

 

As she spoke, the faint lantern light reflected in her eyes, making her features appear even more defined. For some reason, Sheng Qian’s eyes shone brilliantly, the smile within them swirling like gentle ripples. The warm, hazy glow enveloped her in a soft halo.

 

Lin Wan didn’t know why, but she felt she ought to curb Sheng Qian’s fanciful ideas. Yet, gazing at Sheng Qian like this, Lin Wan found herself unable to look away. Her heartbeat quickened like a disordered drumbeat, growing increasingly frantic and chaotic.