Chapter 69: It seems the princess's companion reader was indeed a good choice

Jingyu's heart surged; she lifted her gaze to stare into Shen Shuangning's clear eyes, and finally that hint of hesitation vanished.

She nodded firmly, gathered her courage, and walked toward the horse.

Jingyu, with the help of the palace attendants, with some difficulty sat onto the horse's back; when her feet left the ground, she suddenly realized she had really done it!!

Shen Shuangning gently urged her horse to come beside her, riding alongside, and said with a soft smile: "See? I told you, Princess, being able to do this, horseback riding isn't actually scary, right?"

Joy welled up from within Jingyu, and she showed a confident smile she hadn't shown in a long while; her whole being seemed full of vitality.

But immediately after, Jingyu's eyes welled up involuntarily, and a bean-sized tear rolled down from the precious silk on her chest, catching a glint in the sunlight.

Apart from Shen Shuangning, no one else noticed.

No one knew how difficult it was for her to take this step.

As the horse beneath her began to move, Jingyu's body swayed slightly; she was still a little afraid, but she clenched her lips tightly, her face solemn, no longer showing the earlier timidity.

Shen Shuangning looked at Jingyu, sighed inwardly, then dismounted and took the reins from the attendant's hands.

She lifted her head and softly said to Jingyu, "Your Highness, I'll give you the lead rope, don't be afraid."

Jingyu then slowly straightened her back, lowered her gaze to look at her, her cheeks showing a shallow dimple, her face full of trust.

Shen Shuangning gave Jingyu the courage to persevere, and afterward, with occasional guidance from Xiao Jingyuan, everything proceeded smoothly.

Watching Jingyu's posture on horseback, the attendants who served the princess felt greatly relieved.

Although it was only a small improvement, for the princess it was already no easy feat.

Whenever people thought the princess would give up, she persisted.

At this moment, almost everyone was watching the princess.

Only the Crown Prince's and Xiao Jingyuan's gazes fell upon Shen Shuangning.

The Crown Prince stood with his hands behind his back, a deep smile in his eyes, and said: "Fourth Miss is truly a remarkable person; despite the Third Prince hurting her like that, she can still help Jingyu without any resentment—such breadth of mind and character is rare. I admire her."

Xiao Jingyuan's gaze, which had been on Shen Shuangning, suddenly shifted to the Crown Prince; his eyes sharp, with a hint of scrutiny, he said: "Your Highness the Crown Prince seems quite aware of the Third Prince's affair?"

The Crown Prince didn't look at him, merely smiled and said: "I've only heard a bit about it."

It's not just hearsay; it's that Zhai Ji has his people there.

Xiao Jingyuan fell into thought.

"How long does the Heir Apparent intend to keep the Third Prince confined?" the Crown Prince asked, seeming offhand.

Xiao Jingyuan replied lightly: "He still bears suspicion; when he clears it, he may come out. If Your Highness the Crown Prince cares about his well-being, you may visit him at the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

The Crown Prince laughed: "All right."

On the wall above the racetrack stood a figure in bright yellow.

Emperor Xuānwén, not entirely at ease about Jingyu, after court ended heard that she had indeed come to the racetrack, so he came over to take a look.

He had thought Jingyu merely wanted to learn archery as a passing fancy; if she truly took it up, he expected she'd find excuses to avoid it as before.

He hadn't expected her to be serious about it.

Emperor Xuānwén's eyes, as large as yellow beans, were full of satisfaction; his gaze then fell upon another horseback rider, and he stroked his beard and nodded.

It seems the princess's companion reader was indeed a good choice.

"The princess is studious, and with the Heir Apparent and her companion reader accompanying her, Your Majesty can rest easy?" the Eunuch Hai beside them said warmly.

Emperor Xuānwén rested his hand on the battlement of the wall, his eyes deep as he gazed down at the figure below.

He knew his own daughter best—overly kind to the point of timidity, overly protected, she lacked responsibility.

Not letting her grow into what a princess ought to be, he himself bears an inescapable responsibility.

A month later, when the Jurchen princess visited, Emperor Xuānwén actually held no expectations for Jingyu, nor did he demand she bring glory to Liang; if he didn't want her to lose face, he could easily arrange a hundred ways for her to stay out of sight.

Jingyu resembles him most, and as his only daughter, as a father he also wishes her to grow, after all he cannot shield her forever...

The wind was strong on the wall; Emperor Xuānwén suddenly coughed, covering his mouth with the handkerchief he carried.

The elderly Eunuch Hai hurried to pat the emperor's back.

When he finally lowered it, the yellow handkerchief was stained with bright red blood, rather striking.

Eunuch Hai exclaimed in shock: "Your Majesty!"

Emperor Xuānwén stared at the bloodstain for a moment, then clenched it tightly, hid it in his sleeve, and sternly said: "Don't make a fuss."

Eunuch Hai understood, nodding with a sorrowful expression.

Emperor Xuānwén then left; Eunuch Hai, before departing, glanced down at the little princess and sighed deeply.

Now the Virtuous Noble Consort is gravely ill, her days numbered; when the time comes, the princess will have lost her mother, and if she also loses her sole protector, her father, how should she cope?

As evening approached.

The attendant carefully helped Princess Jingyu down, handed her a waterskin, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said with deep concern: "Princess, you've worked hard today; go rest."

Jingyu looked spirited, her eyes bright; though drenched in sweat, she felt as if reborn.

On the other side, Shen Shuangning also dismounted, having sweated profusely and being extremely thirsty.

She headed straight for the tent.

Palace attendants had set up a long table here; she remembered her waterskin was placed there.

Not knowing where Ahen had run off to, Shen Shuangning didn't think much, grabbed the sole waterskin on the table, and gulped it down.

Soon after, a cold male voice came from nearby.

"You're drinking my water."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Shen Shuangning's drinking motion paused; turning her head, she saw Xiao Jingyuan with a wooden expression, and she couldn't help but...

"Pfft—!"

Shen Shuangning herself was startled; she quickly set down her waterskin, took out her own handkerchief, and while wiping his soaked collar, apologized.

"I didn't mean to, Heir Apparent, please don't blame me, Heir Apparent, please don't blame me..."

Xiao Jingyuan furrowed his brows, his face dark as iron, and reached out to seize her hand.

Shen Shuangning paused, then jerked her hand away: "Your Highness, please show restraint!"

Xiao Jingyuan snorted coldly, flicked his fingers at his front lapel, said nothing, and reached for the empty waterskin on the table that had been left uncapped and drained dry.

He deliberately held it in front of Shen Shuangning, upside down, as a silent accusation.

Shen Shuangning looked embarrassed; who would have thought Xiao Jingyuan's waterskin would be here? Earlier, only her waterskin was on this table.

At that moment, Ah Heng returned.

She had just gone to fetch water.

Ah Heng still didn't know what had happened, and blankly handed the waterskin to Shen Shuangning.

"Miss, drink some water!"

Shen Shuangning: "Thank you, I've had enough to drink."

Shen Shuangning handed her own waterskin to Xiao Jingyuan, saying: "If Your Highness doesn't mind, please drink from mine."

"Drinking mine is fine too." The Crown Prince had come over at some point and also passed his waterskin over.

Xiao Jingyuan reached out and took Shen Shuangning's waterskin.

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, said nothing, withdrew his hand, and drank his water by himself.

Shen Shuangning had already returned to Jingyu's side.

Jingyu embraced her in one arm, whispering in her ear: "Ningning, thank you; today I have gained immensely."

Shen Shuangning smiled slightly, patted her shoulder: "Your Highness, you were very brave today."

"Let's go back; we'll come again tomorrow!" Jingyu released her, smiling sweetly.

Shen Shuangning nodded, and as she walked she glanced back.

And so she saw Xiao Jingyuan actually drinking from her waterskin!

At that moment Shen Shuangning felt as if she were frozen.

Why?

Doesn't he despise and fear her?

When she had just handed over that waterskin, she never imagined he would actually drink from it; she even thought he might pour it out in front of her to humiliate her.

But no, he calmly accepted it, and now he's drinking from it, his indifferent expression seeming no different from usual, yet it makes Shen Shuangning's scalp tingle.

Just as Xiao Jingyuan was about to turn his gaze toward her, she hurriedly came to her senses, quickened her pace, and left the horse field.

After the two left, the Crown Prince invited Xiao Jingyuan to the Eastern Palace as a guest.

Xiao Jingyuan did not refuse.

The sky darkened, the night grew still and deep, candlelight flickered indoors, and the Crown Prince brought out his stored wine to entertain.

"This is the Consort's Smile wine from Luzhou, richly fragrant, a top-quality brew. I've kept it for a long time, but I dare not let the Crown Princess know."

Seeing Xiao Jingyuan look over, the Crown Prince chuckled lowly and said: "I can't hold my liquor and I'm fond of drinking; she doesn't allow me to drink alcohol, supervising me strictly."

Though he spoke complaints, he actually looked quite pleased.

Xiao Jingyuan never quite understood why a man would enjoy being controlled by a woman; he had no response.

After the two had drunk two cups, the Crown Prince suddenly said: "Are you going to marry Song Xizhi?"

Xiao Jingyuan glanced at him.

He had guessed that the Crown Prince's invitation was for some matter, but he hadn't expected it to be about Song Xizhi.

The Crown Prince's fondness for Song Xizhi was known to Xiao Jingyuan.

Now Grand Secretary Song remains in prison; the Emperor has already ordered an autumn execution, an unalterable fact.

Those Song officials serving at court have either been demoted one rank or exiled from the capital; even the officials once promoted by Grand Secretary Song have been somewhat implicated, and the once bustling Song household is now deserted, as if isolated by the entire capital.

The Crown Prince's goal has already been achieved.

If at this point solid evidence of Grand Secretary Song's collusion with rebels were presented, the Song family, isolated and helpless, would surely face utter destruction.

Yet the Crown Prince has delayed acting—could it be because he is considering Song Xizhi?

Xiao Jingyuan is unsure.

But as things stand now, the Crown Prince still hasn't let go of her; this may be one reason.

Xiao Jingyuan said: "I will not marry her."

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, without asking why, he downed the wine in his cup and then said in a deep voice: "She is your childhood sweetheart, devoted to you; for your sake she even refused me. If you do not marry her, she may very well die or fall into a miserable fate—could you truly remain unmoved when that time comes?"