Chapter 54: Oh no, I'm going to lose my dignity in old age!

Er Ni'er is young, but she has plenty of spirit.

Though she had previously been dazed by the Immortal Maiden, once her temper rose, hardly anyone could speak loudly to her.

A bunch of big and small kids, cowed by her scolding, didn't dare to speak; after a long while, one child complained:

"Well, that really isn't a princess..."

"I heard her father used to be the crown prince, so she should be a commandery princess, right..."

"Shouldn't a princess be the emperor's daughter?"

"Have you never heard that the crown prince's daughter is called a princess?"

"What's more, he's even a deposed crown prince!"

Er Ni'er, who hadn't read much, choked on her words and then retorted sharply:

"I don't care about all that; I'll stick to what I said: that sister who's like a celestial maiden—even the emperor would have to sit down before her—why shouldn't she be called a princess?"

"I'm laying down the law today! If you don't call her princess from now on, I'll beat you up!"

Saying this, Er Ni'er raised her own fist.

In the past, not only adults but even children shouldn't have been afraid of a girl like her.

But nobody could stand it—everyone in the neighborhood knew that Er Ni'er, just like her mother, was stupid, crazy, domineering, and reckless!

Since her father fell from the mountain while working a few years ago and ended up bedridden, her mother became a shrew, constantly quarreling and fighting over her little stall, not caring even if her head split open; after wiping her face with a cloth, she could stand with her hands on her hips and curse up and down the street.

Er Ni'er is the same: although she isn't strong and usually gets beaten, she can't resist her frenzied spirit—if you knock her down this time, she'll chase you and beat you next time; if you still lose, she'll beat you again next time!

After being beaten many times, even the children who originally wanted to play around didn't dare continue, and were genuinely afraid of her.

The kids glanced at each other, looked left and right, then all agreed and trudged back in a scattered group.

"Fine, fine, fine... then let's call her that."

"Exactly—whoever gives us grain is a good person! These days the emperor still keeps taking grain from our pockets; what's wrong with calling her a princess?"

"Yes! And indeed she's born different from us..."

"I know! I know! My older brother studied at school and keeps saying things like... 'a graceful, virtuous lady'! That sister really looks like a virtuous lady!"

Er Ni'er walked at the back, holding a sack of rice, listening to those little brats talk, feeling proud as if she'd just won a battle.

Suddenly, she noticed an unfamiliar little boy edging into the crowd.

Er Ni'er hadn't read much, but she had a good memory; she remembered this person as one of the kids who had befriended them while collecting grain rations recently, saying his name was... An An?

An An, standing beside the kid who had just said his older brother studied at school, giggled and said:

"Your older brother's studying is no good!"

"What 'Graceful lady, a gentleman's good match'—that's already old hat! My older brother is awesome! The last time he passed by the riverbank, he spotted the Princess distributing grain rations from afar, and when he got back he even composed a poem especially for her!"

Er Ni'er had been wary of this oddly appearing person, but upon hearing the title 'Princess,' she instantly focused all her attention on him.

They were all about ten years old, exactly the age when kids refuse to back down.

The child whose face had been rebutted naturally wasn't convinced and shouted:

"You're full of it! My older brother is the best in the world!"

"You say your older brother wrote a poem for the Princess—what is it?! Don't just flap your gums with 'I forgot' or 'I don't know'—those are all excuses!"

The boy named An An smiled, straightened his chest, and said:

"Of course I remember!"

"Listen as I recite—"

"In the midst of mortal smoke and fire,"

"His bearing is like an orchid, naturally radiant."

"Don't say she's just an ordinary woman,"

"Her bones hide noble lineage."

Although it's just a plain old doggerel, it's incredibly catchy.

Even if one has never seen that graceful figure by the riverbank, reading it a few more times can conjure in the mind a noble lady as radiant as an orchid.

"Well written!"

At least to them, it's an excellent poem to recite and a pleasure to say aloud!

After the kids chanted it a few more times, their enthusiasm was spent, and the child who had earlier argued with An An fell silent.

An An was still grinning, about to press his advantage, when he didn't expect that the kid simply couldn't bear to lose!

The child fell silent for a few moments, then hoisted his rice sack and burst into tears, running home while muttering the poem under his breath—

"In the midst of mortal smoke and fire..."

"His bearing is like an orchid, naturally radiant..."

"Don't say she's just an ordinary woman..."

"Her bones hide noble lineage..."

"...... Boo-hoo! His older brother is stronger than mine! T^T"

The sun set westward, and the pomegranate fire blazed bright.

As expected, wherever the kids ran, that doggerel spread.

Er Ni'er also liked this poem, chanting it a few more times, feeling immensely satisfied, and was about to accept that fellow who also admired the Princess as a companion, letting him follow her from now on.

But she hadn't expected that, in the time it took to lower her head and raise her eyes, that person had already run off somewhere unknown.

However, since they're all in town, there should still be a chance to meet again.

Er Ni'er laughed happily, shouldering the grain given by the Immortal Maiden Princess, walking home while loudly singing the doggerel—

"In the midst of mortal smoke and fire,"

"His bearing is like an orchid, naturally radiant."

Don't say she's an ordinary, commonplace woman,

Her bones hide a noble lineage...... alas, this doesn't rhyme at all."

A few days later, at the Cang Cheng Xian Yu.

Separated by a wall, outside are playing children; inside sits Chen Weifang, reviewing official documents.

Previously, he killed a county magistrate and a registrar; in Cang Cheng the magistrate's position remained vacant for a long time, and another chief clerk in the xian yu was frightened ill.

Now in this city, only he is left to do the work.

Actually, doing the work is fine, but his study is only a wall away from the outside, and he still has to listen to the children singing completely off‑rhythm doggerel...

This life is truly pitch black, with no end in sight!

Chen Weifang wanted to sigh, but also noticed that the curve of her lips was actually turning upward——

Exactly!

Exactly!

That's how it should be!

If Chinu's earlier words are not false, and he hasn't yet given the female lead any advice, then the prowess of this 'female lead' can be glimpsed.

Building momentum, spreading rumors, corroborating one's own identity...

Only then will there be an opportunity to scheme for the world.

Who knows; when the time comes, the one who breaks out of the encirclement might really be her?

A sound came from the window behind her; Chen Weifang's smile didn't fade, she put down her brush and casually said:

"The situation has changed; no new county magistrate has arrived to take office, my colleagues are old and plagued by illness......"

"I can't temporarily leave this place; if the female lead wants to see me, I also can't go to pay respects."

"There was no reply from behind; like a bandit, he rummaged through the documents on his desk, then said:"

"It's nothing; she didn't come looking for you, she just asked me again to bring you something."

"She didn't come looking?"

"This time he poison‑killed two officials in succession; he thought his actions were clean and decisive, a single blade hitting the vital point—why hasn't anyone come looking for him?"

"Or perhaps they feel what he did wasn't enough?"

"But if he had actually gone to persuade the county magistrate to lower taxes, he'd have to keep persuading until what year, what night!"

"Just kill him outright—how convenient!"

Chen Weifang was slightly doubtful, her faint brows and eyes slightly furrowed, looking at her longtime friend.

Chinu drew something from her bosom and placed it on the table:

"She says this is the final request: she hopes you will owe this deed and sell yourself to her."

"A light sheet of paper fell onto the desk; Chen Weifang's brows and eyes twitched almost imperceptibly."

"After a few breaths, on that usually placid face like a deep well, a doubtful expression gradually appeared:"

"Ah?"

?? Laugh point, see chapter title~

? Afang: (pop) Is it heartbreak? Is it reason shattering? No, this is the sound of my later years breaking apart!!!