Chapter 88: Childish

Why did she feel Xue Chen was acting strangely?

He wouldn’t even respond when she greeted him. In the morning, he said he wanted to be the prince consort, but by evening, he was ignoring people.

Ning Shengsheng shook her head, deciding not to think about it for now. The urgent matter at hand was how to casually bring up the topic of recruiting a prince consort to Ning Xuan.

She rubbed her chin, pacing back and forth in front of Ning Xuan’s door. Creak— The door was pushed open from the inside.

“An’an, what are you doing here? The banquet is about to start, why aren’t you going back to get ready?”

Ning Shengsheng looked her brother up and down. His long, slightly curly black hair fell naturally, tied half-up at the back with only a black and gold ribbon. He was wearing a complex and noble robe of the same color scheme.

This outfit looked low-key at first glance but was actually carefully coordinated. Ning Xuan looked like a peacock fanning its tail. The corners of his mouth were practically curling up to the sky.

“Brother, where are you going… to court a mate?”

“Hiss!” Ning Xuan grinned and reached out to knock her on the forehead. “Watch your language. I’m properly welcoming your sister-in-law into the family.”

“You’re taking a consort?” Ning Shengsheng looked dazed. Originally, she was supposed to enter the palace next year, but now it was a year early.

“No.” Ning Xuan wagged his index finger in front of her face. He almost made Ning Shengsheng go cross-eyed.

She slapped Ning Xuan’s hand away. “Then what is it?”

“Of course, it is to marry Huaiyue as my wife, Zhen’s Empress, the only mistress of Great Ning.” Ning Xuan’s gaze was certain and determined, his eyes full of love.

In the novel, Yun Huaiyue entered the palace next year and was titled a Consort. The key plot had changed too?

“Older Brother, are you sure?” she asked tentatively.

“Mm. Before coming to the Hundred Herb Valley, Xue Chen sent me a message. The thought of something happening to Huaiyue felt like a knife twisting in my heart. At that moment, I completely understood my feelings for her. Last night, we talked by candlelight…”

Seeing Ning Shengsheng winking and making faces, he rolled his eyes and flicked her forehead with a bent finger. “It really was just talking by candlelight.”

“Since we know our hearts and love each other, we cannot waste time and let the years pass by in vain.”

“Wow—”

Ning Xuan: “Hm?”

“Older Brother suddenly seems taller in my eyes!” She blinked, teasingly.

Ning Xuan: “…”

Outside, voices were bubbling over. The corners of Ning Xuan’s mouth twitched fiercely, and he turned to go out.

She braced herself and asked, “What Older Brother says makes sense. Why don’t we have a double blessing?”

“Huh—?” Ning Xuan, who was almost at the door, suddenly turned back. “Little girl, speak human language.”

“Cough, I want to recruit a prince consort.” Ning Shengsheng spoke very fast, her eyes dodging.

“Could you be any quieter? Even a mosquito’s hum has more confidence than you. Why is my Great Ning Princess so coy?”

“Louder!”

Ning Xuan frowned and lectured.

Ning Shengsheng closed her eyes and threw caution to the wind. “I said! I want to recruit Xue Chen as my prince consort!!”

Three people were dumbfounded at the same time. Ning Xuan near the door, and Yun Huaiyue and Xue Chen who had just entered the courtyard. The two of them had come to call the siblings.

The atmosphere was terrifyingly quiet, to the point where a pin drop could be heard.

“What, did, you, say?”

Ning Xuan gritted his teeth, turning his head to glare at Xue Chen. “What did you do to my sister?”

Saying so, he was about to draw his sword.

Xue Chen looked quite innocent and shrugged. “Your Majesty, I didn’t do anything. Last night, the Princess…”

“Wait, wait, wait!”

Ning Shengsheng raised her voice to stop Xue Chen from continuing, patting her chest in lingering fear.

“I’ll talk to Older Brother.”

She pulled Ning Xuan back, cleared her throat awkwardly, and whispered an explanation in his ear.

Ning Xuan’s pupils dilated. He glanced at Xue Chen, then looked down at his own sister.

“You…”

His mouth opened and closed.

He flung his sleeve fiercely.

Yun Huaiyue went up to stop him. “Ah Xuan, Xue Chen treats An’an quite well. Don’t lose your temper at him.”

As soon as she finished speaking.

Ning Xuan said fiercely, “An’an, you are outrageous!”

Yun Huaiyue: “?” Did she hear that right? Ning Xuan, who doted on his sister so much, actually scolded An’an?

“Brother, I was wrong.”

Ning Shengsheng shrugged and shrank her head, playing the role of a quail perfectly.

Ning Xuan sighed. “Zhen has really spoiled you usually, to do such a bastard thing.”

He turned and walked towards Xue Chen, patting him on the shoulder with his right hand. “Don’t worry, Zhen will take charge for you. An’an will give you an explanation.”

The roots of Xue Chen’s ears turned red. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

His gaze swept over Ning Shengsheng, and the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.

“An’an, treat Xue Chen well.”

After giving his instructions, Ning Xuan put his arm around Yun Huaiyue’s waist and left.

Ning Shengsheng scratched her cheek. “I just told Older Brother. He said when we return to Great Ning…”

“What?” Xue Chen pressed.

“We’ll get married.” Ning Shengsheng said quickly.

“Oh.”

“?” Wait, how can this guy just say ‘oh’?

“What does ‘oh’ mean? Wasn’t it you who asked me to recruit you as a prince consort? Is this ‘oh’ because you’re dissatisfied?” Ning Shengsheng put her hands on her hips and scolded angrily.

Seeing her eyebrows raised in anger, Xue Chen found her excessively cute and said with a smile, “I am indeed dissatisfied.”

“Good one, Xue Wuyin.”

Seeing Ning Shengsheng raising her small fist and rushing over.

He reached out and held her fist, leaning close to her ear and whispering, “I am dissatisfied with the wedding date.”

Ning Shengsheng blushed instantly.

The other party moved closer, his lips moving, unconsciously brushing against her earlobe.

It was so itchy.

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

She struggled in embarrassment and anger.

Xue Chen held on tighter and said a sentence. “This subject wants to be that power-clinging prince consort right now.”

“Xue Wuyin, you…” Ning Shengsheng glared at him with a red face. “You… you are too shameless, saying these things in broad daylight.”

He lowered his head. Her watery almond eyes were misty, her cheeks flushed like the rosy clouds on the horizon.

“Mm, I am shameless.”

“I wonder who got drunk last night and touched me all over, and then didn’t want to admit it…”

“I was wrong!”

Ning Shengsheng didn’t sweat the small stuff; she could bend and stretch. If she didn’t coax this young master, they couldn’t attend the banquet.

“Let’s go quickly.” She urged.

“Mm.” Xue Chen nodded tactfully.

Ning Shengsheng had just taken two steps when someone’s pitiful voice came from behind.

“Why doesn’t Your Highness hold my hand?”

“Huh?” She turned her head stiffly to look. “Hold what hand? There are so many people.”

The young man pursed his lips slightly, his eyes stubborn. “Just now, Ning Xuan left with his arm around Yun Huaiyue’s waist.”

“Oh, I understand.”

“The Princess doesn’t want to hold hands; you want me to hold you too?”

“…” Ning Shengsheng ground her teeth, wishing she could strangle this little goblin. “Hold, hold, hold!”

“I’ll hold it, okay?!”

I give up!

The young man curled his lips triumphantly and righteously extended his right hand.

Ning Shengsheng held his hand, her heart pounding, about to jump out.

“O… okay now?”

Afraid this guy would pull some stunt in front of people.

“Mm, okay.” Xue Chen moved his fingers, flipping his hand to wrap hers in his palm.

“Then let’s go!”

“…Childish.”

Being a big villain is really childish!