Chapter 73: Your Highness Is Right, I Am Indeed Jealous

“Junior Sister Ning, your brother bullied me~”

When Yun Huaiyue ran into the courtyard, Ning Shengsheng was playing chess with Xue Chen.

“What happened?” She turned her head to ask, taking a moment from the game.

“We agreed to go hiking outside the city yesterday. I prepared meticulously for half the day, only for Shuangxi to send a message saying he had matters to attend to.”

“He just sent two palace maids to accompany me.”

“A ruler of a nation going back on his word, ptooey!”

Yun Huaiyue spat in frustration after speaking.

Ning Shengsheng understood immediately upon hearing this. Wasn’t this just a case of a planned date where the man couldn’t make it due to sudden business, and failed to soothe the girl’s emotions afterward?

She went along with Yun Huaiyue’s words. “Older Brother is behaving badly. Sister Yun dressed up as beautiful as a celestial fairy; even I wanted to go sightseeing with you, yet he broke his promise.”

“How about we make him work while climbing the mountain?”

Yun Huaiyue listened happily at first, but then hesitated. “That… isn’t necessary…”

“Ah Xuan is already tired. That would be too much torture.”

Ning Shengsheng blinked. “No way. Since Sister Yun spent so long dressing up, I’ll take you out to play!”

“Okay!”

Yun Huaiyue linked arms with Ning Shengsheng.

She threw her troubles from earlier completely out of her mind.

The two of them walked away chatting and laughing, leaving Xue Chen alone, lowering his eyes to gaze at the unfinished game on the chessboard.

An indescribable emotion surged in his pupils.

He scoffed and wanted to kick the chessboard away, but his raised foot suddenly stopped. Thinking of something, he retracted the motion.

He couldn’t destroy the chessboard.

After all, she hadn’t finished playing with him yet.

…

Ning Shengsheng took Yun Huaiyue out for a spin. When they returned to the Imperial Palace, Ning Xuan was waiting in front of the palace gates.

She puckered her lips.

Gesturing for Ning Xuan to coax her properly.

Ning Xuan turned his head away uncomfortably. After being pinched by his sister, he finally forced an unnatural smile.

“Huaiyue, Zhen was wrong.”

Yun Huaiyue pressed her lips tight and didn’t make a sound.

“Zhen ordered the imperial kitchen to make honey shaved ice. Do you want to taste it with me?”

Ning Xuan spoke awkwardly, looking helplessly at Ning Shengsheng.

Ning Shengsheng used her divine sense to transmit her voice to him. “Coax her more, she’s almost ready. Be sincere, speak a little sweeter.”

Harder than dealing with the flood in the southern cities!

Ning Xuan opened his mouth, stammering for a long while. “Huaiyue, Zhen will never break a promise to you again.”

“We’ll go to Yaoguang Peak tomorrow.”

“Or, how about we go right now?”

“No!” Yun Huaiyue hummed lightly. “You’ve been busy all day. Let’s go tomorrow.”

Seeing Yun Huaiyue’s attitude soften, Ning Xuan felt a heavy burden lift.

The two left arm in arm.

Ning Shengsheng watched their retreating figures and recalled the plot. In the original book, Ning Xuan and Yun Huaiyue broke up and got back together countless times.

It was entirely because neither of them communicated properly.

A few days ago, she had chatted with Ning Xuan several times, telling him to express his inner thoughts more. It seemed to have improved a little?

“Many thanks to Princess Ning An.”

Shuangxi bowed and smiled. “Having the Princess is Great Ning’s blessing, and His Majesty’s blessing.”

“That’s true. This princess is quite popular.”

Ning Shengsheng joked a bit and returned to Zhaoxia Palace.

The chessboard was still set up in the courtyard.

“Songgao, put the chess pieces away.”

“Princess…” Songgao came out to greet her, turning her head to gesture toward the side hall. “Hostage Prince Xue is waiting there.”

“What’s he waiting for me for?”

Songgao lifted her chin toward the chessboard.

“Hostage Prince Xue said an unfinished game is unlucky. He’s waiting for the Princess to return to finish that game with you.”

“So particular. Call him out.”

Ning Shengsheng yawned.

Xue Chen walked out of the side hall against the light. Perhaps having just finished cultivating, he looked spirited.

“Yo, Her Highness is back?”

“This subject saw the dark and windy night outside, the night scenery boundless. I thought the Princess would stay out overnight with Miss Yun.”

What kind of nonsense is this?

Her eyelids were heavy. “How could I? Sister Yun has Older Brother in her heart. They reconciled.”

Xue Chen lifted his robes and sat down, half his face hidden in the night. “The Princess really thinks of everyone in everything.”

Ning Shengsheng was getting sleepy and couldn’t see the expression on his face clearly. She picked up a white piece and placed it in the corner.

She couldn’t help but urge, “Play, play quickly.”

The person sitting opposite slowly picked up a chess piece.

“The Princess accompanied Miss Yun for a whole afternoon, yet you are unwilling to finish this game of chess with this subject?”

“Xue Wuyin, what kind of fit are you throwing?” Ning Shengsheng tilted her head and hooked her finger under his collar.

Pulling him into the light.

The other party’s facial features were clearly displayed before her eyes.

Ideally flamboyant bone structure; the impact was undeniably strong. She was slightly stunned.

“You couldn’t be jealous, could you?”

Relying on the cover of night, she was much bolder than usual.

“You want to control even when I go out with Sister Yun? Who this princess goes out with, and for how long, is up to me.”

Xue Chen’s gaze focused on her slender, white finger hooking his collar. Her fingertips were a pale pink. Listening to her little mouth chatter endlessly, he raised his eyelids to look at her.

Red lips opening and closing.

He really wanted to block them…

“Your Highness is right.” His gaze wandered over her lips, and he heard her let out an ‘ah’.

His gaze shifted to her eyes.

“I am indeed jealous.”

Xue Chen stared intently at her eyes. He couldn’t miss a single trace of her emotions.

“H-How is that possible?”

Ning Shengsheng stood up abruptly, turning around and cupping her hot cheeks with both hands. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Xue Chen rested his chin in one hand, staring with interest at her red ears. “I am very sober.”

“Why is Your Highness so bashful? Haven’t you always told others you like me?”

“I… I said that to protect you from being bullied by the people in the palace, and also…”

And also to complete the system’s mission.

The second half of the sentence was left unsaid.

The corners of the young man’s mouth pulled into an extremely shallow arc. He tilted his head slightly, whispering softly, “So…”

“…it was all fake.”

“N-No, it wasn’t.” Ning Shengsheng turned back anxiously, waving both hands quickly.

Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

Under the moonlight.

The young man propped his forehead with one hand, covering his face. His protruding wrist bone looked pale under the light and shadow.

His shoulders trembled slightly.

Just curled up in the darkness like that, like a rag doll abandoned in the desolate night.

Was he crying?

Ning Shengsheng suddenly felt guilty. She hurriedly stepped forward to comfort him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

“I really like you. You’re beautiful, talented, and your character is as clear and noble as green bamboo.”

“Who wouldn’t like someone like that?”

The eyes hidden under his palm first flashed with the gleam of a successful scheme. Upon hearing her say ‘who wouldn’t like’, his brows furrowed in disgust. He didn’t need others to like him.

“Your Highness says you like me. Is it true?”

He hid the gloom deep in his pupils. The darkness faded, leaving only a clear confusion in his eyes.

His voice was slightly hoarse, his tone cautious, like a small beast terrified of being hated and abandoned.

Usually, the corners of his eyes turned up, but now with his brows furrowed, the arc turned downward, looking incredibly pitiful.

“Really, really!”

Ning Shengsheng nodded repeatedly, extending three fingers.

“I swear.”

“Good~” Xue Chen curved his eyes in satisfaction, his gaze wrapping around her like a vine. “Then, Your Highness, continue.”

“Continue what?” Ning Shengsheng was immersed in the other party’s beauty and didn’t react.

“Naturally, finish this game of chess.”

Xue Chen’s lips slowly curled up, the smile wrapped in an undissolvable possessiveness, deep and sweet.

How could he allow an unfinished game between him and her?

That would be too unlucky.