“You’re acting well-behaved now.” Qi Momo stopped what she was doing and casually placed the Buddhist beads to the side. “Jin’er said you did something that brought shame to the imperial family on this trip.”

“What is Momo talking about? An’er doesn’t understand.”

Ning Shengsheng hugged Qi Momo’s arm and acted coquettishly. Inwardly, she was grumbling. That Ning Jin, after a long and tiring journey back, had gone straight to tattle without even resting. What kind of grudge did the original owner have with her to be targeted like this?

“You, you little rascal, stop pretending.”

Qi Momo gently patted her back with her right hand and sighed. Her tone was earnest. “You and your brother have been wild since you were little. This old woman has told you many times, ‘a strong wind will break the willow, a gentle rain will moisten without a sound.’ You cannot be so reckless in your actions.”

“But you and your brother have no restraint.”

“One of you likes to beat people with a paddle, the other likes to use a whip. The heavens are watching. Momo, I’m really afraid that one day, your wild tempers will bring about a great disaster.”

Having read the novel, Ning Shengsheng knew that Qi Momo was right. In the end, the Great Ning Dynasty fell, Ning An died, and only Ning Xuan was left to live a life worse than death.

“Momo, I know I was wrong. Rest assured, I will definitely persuade Older Brother to change his ways in the future.”

There was a hint of seriousness in her eyes.

Qi Momo smiled with relief. “It seems our An’er is the one who has grown up first, unlike that one.”

She pointed at Ning Xuan with disdain.

Ning Xuan: “?”

How did I end up spending money and getting scolded?

After chatting for a while longer, just as Qi Momo was about to leave, she suddenly turned and asked, “An’er, what’s going on between you and that Xue family boy?”

Many rumors were circulating in the palace.

Before Ning Shengsheng could speak, Ning Xuan took petty revenge and deliberately said, “She likes that hostage prince and wants to marry him.”

“Ning… Xuan…”

She shot her unhelpful brother a glare.

“Momo, Older Brother is talking nonsense.”

“I just… I just think he’s good-looking!”

Ning Shengsheng lowered her head and pretended to be shy, her hands nervously fidgeting with her sleeves.

Qi Momo knew very well that she would never truly fall in love with anyone; she just liked pretty things. She waved her hand with a headache. “It’s fine to like him, but you can’t force him.”

Ugh… force him? In the original book, Princess Ning An would “invite” Xue Chen to Zhaoxia Palace for torture every few days. She couldn’t stand being ignored by others, let alone by someone she “liked.” It was miserable to be the object of these two siblings’ affection. Xue Chen and Yun Huaiyue both were.

“An’er, if he’s willing, you can interact with him. If he’s not, you can’t use forceful means, you hear?” Qi Momo’s tone was stern.

“Hmph, it’s his good fortune to be liked by this princess!” Ning Shengsheng deliberately acted spoiled to prevent them from noticing anything was amiss.

“An’er!” Qi Momo’s face darkened, and she struck the ground hard with her cane, her eyes fixed on her.

Knowing her act had worked, she knew when to stop.

“Alright, alright, Momo, don’t be angry. I know.”

“I won’t force any good man.”

“Sigh, you two. One of you refuses to take any concubines, and the other can fall for several people in a few days.”

Qi Momo was exasperated.

“Forget it, forget it. This old bag of bones doesn’t have much longer anyway. I’ll just keep nagging you for as long as I can.”

“What are you saying, Momo? You’ll live a long life.” Ning Xuan said in a low voice, comforting her as he helped her out the door, thus saving his dear sister. He couldn’t bear to see her being lectured after all.

Ning Shengsheng was starving. She unceremoniously called for Shuangxi to bring some food. By the time Ning Xuan returned, she was already eating.

“You’re really something.”

He flicked his dragon robe and sat down opposite her.

“Older Brother, don’t forget my ten thousand golden lamps.” She slowly chewed the food in her mouth before kindly reminding him.

“You money-grubber!”

A lump formed in Ning Xuan’s throat. He waved her away, not wanting to look at her. “Go, go, go back to your Zhaoxia Palace.”

“Oh—!”

“Since Older Brother dislikes me so much, then your little sister will take her leave~”

As she left, she even swiped a glazed lamp from him.

The young emperor rarely showed such a headache, yet he was helpless. “Shuangxi, do you think I owe her?”

Whether he owed her or not, he didn’t know. Shuangxi only knew that he had to praise her. He poured the emperor a cup of hot tea, his smile sincere as he praised, “Your Majesty, you only have this one dear sister. If you don’t dote on her, who will? Besides, Princess Ning An is innocent and lovely. Even if she were born into an ordinary family, she would still be pampered like a little princess.”

These words resonated with the emperor. He had never been loved as a child, and his only blood relative was Ning An. The late emperor had disliked his deceased mother and had never cared for him or Ning An. They had supported each other as children. Now that he had succeeded the throne, he naturally wanted to give her the best, to make her the most precious princess of the Great Ning Dynasty!

…

After a tiring day of running around and acting in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, she now found walking through the quiet garden the most relaxing. The night wind was cool, and Songgao thoughtfully put a cloak on her. “Princess, watch your step.”

“Mm.”

She carried the glazed lamp she had swiped. After examining it for a while, Songgao said, “Your Highness, this lamp is so beautiful.”

“I think so too.”

The corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve up. “Although I added some things to the pear courtyard last time, seeing Older Brother’s glazed lamp today, I was reminded that Xue Chen’s room is missing just this. Don’t you think he’ll like it if I send it to him?”

“Of course. The princess has Hostage Prince Xue in her heart. If he knew of Your Highness’s thoughtfulness, he would surely like it.”

Songgao looked at Ning Shengsheng with joy. She saw the princess’s gentle and soft smile, her bright eyes filled with warmth. She suddenly felt that the princess was a little different. Was it because of Hostage Prince Xue? Had Her Highness truly fallen in love with Hostage Prince Xue, and changed for love’s sake?

The more she thought about it, the more she believed it was true. She silently thanked Xue Chen again. If it weren’t for Xue Chen, everyone who served the princess would be in for a hard time.

With this feeling of gratitude, the next day, when Ning Shengsheng instructed Songgao to deliver the glazed lamp to the pear courtyard, the way Songgao looked at Xue Chen was as if she were looking at a savior.

This scared Xue Chen quite a bit.

He expressed his thanks, turned, and went back into his room, still feeling Songgao’s fervent and grateful gaze. He immediately closed the door upon returning to his room.

Xue Chen shivered, suspecting he had been followed by something unclean.

Princess Ning An isn’t normal. And the people around her aren’t normal either.

“She must be possessed,” Xue Chen muttered as he approached the desk and casually put down the glazed lamp. Snowball suddenly jumped up and started rubbing against the lamp, looking quite fond of it.

“Your taste… how is it the same as hers?”

Always liking bright and colorful things.

Fearing Snowball would be disobedient and knock over the lamp, he reached out and scooped it up into his arms.

“You can’t break it. That woman is very fierce,” he said, stroking the cat’s head.

“Meow~”

Snowball let out a protesting meow, slightly displeased with Xue Chen. In the past, it could touch any of its master’s belongings as it pleased, but now it wasn’t allowed to touch a single lamp!

Snowball is angry. Snowball’s fur is standing on end! Snowball doesn’t want to tell its master the secret it discovered.

Xue Chen just saw the cat struggle and jump down. It glanced at him, then lifted its neck and walked away. As it passed the tea table, it deliberately swiped a teacup off with its paw.

Xue Chen: “…”

What’s wrong with it?