Volume 1: The Initial Appearance of Beauty Chapter 3: Life as a Princess

  Ruan Cui took away the tableware and went out. Light Red sat in front of Ruo Chen, "Why doesn't the princess like to talk?"

  "Too lazy to talk."

  Light red suddenly realized, "So that's it, no wonder I couldn't find any problems with the princess no matter how hard I checked. What advice does the princess have for future studies?"

  "You're asking me?"

  "Ah, I forgot, the princess is only just three years old. But the princess's expression just now almost made me think she was already a grown-up." Still a very scary adult. Yuchen was speechless, indeed she had just been lost in thought and accidentally revealed her true self. Yuchen understood that Qinghong was not as easy to fool as Rucui. Yet she didn't want to come up with any excuses, she simply remained silent.

  Qing Hong let out a soft sigh, "The young princess is so intelligent and wise beyond her years, but I don't know if that's a good thing. If the emperor had been this clever from the start, things wouldn't be like this now." Yu Chen remained silent, these past two years the emperor had truly forgotten Qing Fei. He hadn't come to visit her even once. It was said that last year the emperor became infatuated with a woman from Bei Jin State, and now she was basking in his favor. Qing Fei's temper and body were getting worse and worse.

  "Your... identities?"

  Qing Hong was taken aback, lost in thought for a moment as if reminiscing about something. After a while, she shook her head, "It's useless to say anything now. If the princess has the chance to leave the palace when she grows up, Qing Hong will tell you. Before that, the princess should focus on growing up and living well." Ruo Chen looked at her for a long time before nodding. Qing Hong seemed very happy as she leaned down to hug Ruo Chen's small body, "I really hope the princess can have the chance to leave this place."

  Ruo Chen began to follow Qing Hong in learning to read and write. Ruo Chen could understand their conversations, but couldn't recognize the characters here, which were a bit like traditional Chinese characters and somewhat similar to ancient Chinese characters. Ruo Chen didn't mind, thinking that she might as well start from scratch. Qing Hong was extremely knowledgeable, not only proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, poetry, and painting, but also skilled in singing and playing musical instruments. Sometimes Ruo Chen wondered that if it were Qing Hong who entered the palace instead of her mother, perhaps she wouldn't have fallen out of favor so quickly.

  But if dust is destined to disappoint Qing Hong, such a good enlightenment teacher. Who has heard that killers will be interested in piano, chess, books and paintings? At least, Ruo Chen was not interested. Compared with those useless things, Ruo Chen prefers to listen to Qing Hong's realistic things, such as the current situation of this world, there are many countries on this continent, originally a unified country, more than 100 years ago divided into several small countries, their country is called Longteng Country, and also Nanyue, Yuntian, Xuanwu, Beijin four countries, and the nomadic tribe Hunye in the far north. For hundreds of years, various countries have been fighting continuously, and the world has been chaotic.

  "What a chaotic world! A good chaotic world indeed, for it is in chaos that heroes emerge."

  Qing Hong looked at Ru Chen and didn't expect him to say that, "Princess, have you thought about it? What if... Long Teng country is gone, what will the princess do? What will the queen do?" Ru Chen was nonchalant, "We still have to live on, right? Does that mean all those ordinary people don't need to live either?" Qing Hong shook his head helplessly, "Princess, with this tone of yours, it's impossible for anyone to believe you're still a child."

  Ru Xuan fell silent for a moment, "I'll speak less."

  She prefers to learn some practical things. If she were to leave the palace one day, she would need them badly. Although in her opinion, this kind of life in the palace is not bad either. Qing Hong did not force Yu Chen to learn anything, but gradually saw Yu Chen start reading military books, national strategies and some strange miscellaneous books, with a somewhat strange gaze. Yu Chen was not very interested in these things either, but compared to those empty words, these books were obviously more interesting.

  At the age of five, Ruò Chén began to learn martial arts with Ruǎn Cuì. It turned out that both Liǎng Hóng and Ruǎn Cuì were skilled in martial arts. Moreover, Ruǎn Cuì's martial arts skills seemed to be even higher than Liǎng Hóng's. It was indeed true that one should not judge a person by their appearance. While learning Ruǎn Cuì's martial arts, Ruò Chén gradually recovered some of her previous skills. Ruǎn Cuì told her that her physical constitution was not suitable for practicing internal strength, so Ruò Chén focused more on practicing her techniques.

  Time flies like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, Ruo Dun is already six years old.

  The people in Qingning Palace lived a very satisfying life. Since Qing Bin lost her favor, the number of people in Qingning Palace has been decreasing, until only two years ago, there were only Qing Hong, Ruan Cui and two ugly eunuchs and palace maids who had nowhere to go. Qingning Palace was originally close to the Cold Palace and was remote, and no one was sent again, so everyone just got by.

  Two palace maids and eunuchs were very satisfied, neither of whom wanted to climb to wealth and power, nor did they have the conditions for it. They just hoped for peace and stability. In Qingning Palace, there was no competition for favor, no intrigue or plotting, and the master was also easy-going. Ruan Cui and Qing Hong were very satisfied, the young master was clever and quick-witted, learning everything quickly. Yu Chen was also very satisfied, it was quiet here, with no one coming to disturb her, this was a life she had dreamed of in her past life. The only one who was not satisfied was Qing Hui.

  "Princess! Princess!"

  Ru Xuan put down the book in his hand and looked at Ruo Cui who had just rushed in, "What's wrong?"

  "Mother is making a fuss again," said Ruan Cui. Since Yu Chen was five years old, Qing Hong had confirmed that Qing Huan did not have the ability to harm Yu Chen and no longer prohibited them from contacting each other. Yu Chen didn't particularly like Qing Huan, but after all, she was the one who gave birth to her. Slowly standing up, "I'll go take a look." Qing Hong nodded on the side, "Be careful."

  In the past two years, Qing's illness has become more and more severe. However, her love for her daughter is genuine. Since she was not allowed to see Ruo Chen after being forbidden by Light Red, whenever she was clear-headed, she would sneak a peek at him. As Ruo Chen grew up, even when she was ill, she could still recognize Ruo Chen.

  Not yet arrived at Qingpin's quarters, I heard her voice, "Your Majesty, I want to see Your Majesty! Wuu... Your Majesty, why don't you come to see me?" The little palace maid Ning'er serving her kept advising, but unfortunately Qingpin didn't listen.

  "Empress Dowager."

  "Dust, the empress wants to see your father." Qingpin struggled free from Ning'er's grasp and rushed over to hug Ruocen.

  "It's not allowed," Rufeng said.

  Qingpin was stunned for a moment, her eyes dazed and asked, "Why? I want to see Your Majesty."

  "Sit down by the bed and listen carefully," said Dust as he pulled her back. "Father will come to see you when he's busy. Okay?"

  "Will you come?"

  Ruò chén nodded. Qīng huáng hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "Alright, I'll listen. Will Your Majesty come to see me?" Ruò chén beckoned, and Níng ér came over to help Qīng huáng lie down on the bed. Ruò chén could only sit beside her, waiting until Qīng huáng slowly fell asleep. Looking at Qīng huáng's sleeping face, Ruò chén's expression gradually darkened. She didn't like this feeling; although she clearly thought Qīng huáng was useless, why did she still have a feeling of being unable to let go? Was this what it meant to be related by blood? Would this Qīng huáng ultimately become her burden one day? Or would she end up like Yǐng and Líng...

  Qing Hong walked in and saw Wu Chen's gloomy face, "What's wrong? Princess."

  Ru Xuan shook his head, "Nothing? My father must have forgotten about Empress Dowager within three to five years?"

  "At first, the master and Your Majesty met outside the palace, we reminded the master that Your Majesty would not be devoted to her, but unfortunately, the master did not listen. Now it's like this... what can be done?" Qian Hong said helplessly.

  "Can't the empress's illness be cured?"

  "The slave is incompetent, and a heart disease needs to be treated with heart medicine. If the master himself does not want to come out, we are powerless."

  Ruo Chen nodded and instructed Ning Er to take good care of Qing Huan, then got up and walked out, with Qing Hong following behind her. Ruo Chen instructed, "Now the Empress Dowager's illness is getting heavier and heavier, don't let her run out and cause trouble." Qing Hong responded, "Qing Hong understands." In this deep palace, people's hearts are treacherous. Qing Huan is now sometimes crazy and confused, if she goes out and collides with some noble lady, it's likely that someone will suffer, who knows, even Ming might lose his life.

  "Princess, just now an imperial edict was sent from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's side, and it is time for you to enter the study to begin your studies."

  Ru Xuan furrowed his brow, "I'm going to school?" Didn't ancient times say that going to school wasn't a thing for princes?

  Qing Hong said, "The princesses in the palace, regardless of their status, must go to the study room to learn piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, etiquette and manners after they turn six years old. Starting from a young age, they can cultivate elegant and dignified imperial princesses." Ru Chen sneered, "And then use them to entice meritorious officials or marry them off?"

  "The princess is wise." The royal princess has always had this one purpose.

  "I really didn't expect it, but the queen actually still remembers that there is a princess like me in the palace."

  Light red smiled, "The queen has no children, and she can occupy the position of queen for decades without falling. In addition to her family's power, she is also a very meticulous person. These years, the princess and the lady have not been valued so much, and the queen has never been short of what should be given every month." Yu Chen looked up at her, "So, it must go to school?"

  Light red nodded, "Before going, it's best to go to Fengyu Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."

  "Alright."

  "How dare you! Who gave you the audacity to be so rude to the princess?"

  That woman was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Qing Hong to speak in such a manner. After a moment of stunned silence, she regained her composure and sneered coldly: "You're just a fallen princess after all. The king hasn't even laid eyes on you once. I am the wet nurse of the eldest princess!"

  "It's just a slave, after all!" The cold words came out of the mouth of a six-year-old child, and everyone was stunned again. They all looked at Yucen standing aside, "You..."

  Her eyes were cold and distant, "How dare you? I may no longer be in favor, but I am still a princess of the imperial family. When did it become your turn, a mere slave, to lecture me? Or do you think that the dragon's bloodline can be disrespected by just anyone?" The wet nurse of the eldest princess was suddenly covered in cold sweat. A fallen princess may not be feared, but looking down on the imperial bloodline is a crime that no one can afford to commit. Moreover, this princess was only six years old, and yet being stared at by her made one feel a chilling sense of fear.

  She is the wet nurse of Princess Long Ruo Lan, the eldest daughter of Noble Consort Lan. Normally, she relies on Princess Long Ruo Lan's imperial favor and can't help but be somewhat arrogant, but she isn't ignorant either. If Seventh Princess were to report this to the Empress, given the underlying tension between the Empress and Noble Consort Lan, it would only bring disaster upon herself. "This servant has been impudent, please forgive me, Your Highness."

  "If dust had gathered in her eyes, she said faintly: 'What did the wet nurse say? I forgot.'"

  "Yes, thank you, Princess. I'll take my leave." Yu Chen nodded and walked past her. After a while, Qing Hong said, "The princess has just offended her, who knows what trouble she will secretly cause for the princess." Yu Chen seemed to smile but not quite, "Hasn't she been offended already? If she's clever, she'll know what to do. Even in this deep palace, I won't be unable to deal with a stubborn slave like her."

  He glanced around casually. Such a small thing, I'm afraid those with ulterior motives have already seen through it clearly. To live in peace here, simply tolerating and yielding is not feasible.