The eunuch was crying so hard that tears and snot streamed down his face. “Your Highness, this slave was wrong, truly wrong!”

Ning Shengsheng: “The one you offended was not this princess.”

Her words stopped there.

The eunuch understood immediately. Her Highness is clearly trying to back up Hostage Prince Xue!

He wiped his nose and scrambled over, attempting to hug Xue Chen’s legs and beg for forgiveness. Just as he let out a howl, he saw Xue Chen take a half-step back in disgust. The food-delivering eunuch lunged at empty air, his plea for mercy stuck in his throat, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Heh? The great villain has a bit of a temper before he’s fully grown.

Ning Shengsheng turned her face away to hide a smile, then composed herself and continued, “It must be your insincere attitude that makes Hostage Prince Xue unwilling to forgive you.”

Upon hearing this, the eunuch cried even louder. Two streams of clear snot trickled down from the corners of his mouth.

Seeing this, Xue Chen frowned almost imperceptibly. He silently pulled his left leg back and said only two words.

“No matter.”

More than forgiving the eunuch, he was curious as to why Princess Ning An would stand up for him. The servants in the palace treated him with such contempt largely because of her.

Ning Shengsheng noticed the change in Xue Chen’s expression and knew what he was wondering about. She changed her expression, and with a playful tone, she waved her hand and ordered the kneeling eunuch, “Go and prepare another meal for Hostage Prince Xue. If you ever let such a beauty go hungry again, this princess will not forgive you.”

The eunuch kowtowed three times and ran off to the imperial kitchen.

Hearing this, four words appeared in Xue Chen’s mind.

Infatuated fool.

So that’s why Princess Ning An was suddenly showing him concern. It turned out she was still just after his face. For the first time, he loathed his own appearance.

Bound by the system, Ning Shengsheng could only maintain her original persona to prevent others from discovering her transformation. She cleared her throat, crossed her arms, and surveyed Xue Chen’s small courtyard. Seeing the weed-choked yard, her heart sank slightly. She pointed a finger and said, “Songgao, move the rare flowers from my courtyard over here.”

“This servant will go at once.”

Songgao turned to leave, but then heard the princess behind her say, “Also, bring the furniture and ornaments from the storeroom. How can we let Hostage Prince Xue live in such a dilapidated courtyard? If word gets out, people will think our Great Ning is too poor to afford anything!”

She deliberately raised her voice as she spoke, making herself sound somewhat tyrannical and unreasonable.

“As you command. This servant will go at once.”

Fearing that any delay would displease the princess, Songgao turned and hurried towards Zhaoxia Palace.

At this point, only she and Xue Chen were left in the courtyard.

Xue Chen stood where he was, silently watching as Ning Shengsheng walked into his room, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.

Entering someone’s room without the owner’s permission—this most-favored princess of Great Ning was truly as arrogant and rude as the rumors said.

Inside the room, Ning Shengsheng was engaged in a battle of wits with the system.

System: 【Host, what you’re doing is not in line with Princess Ning An’s character.】

She calmly retorted, “Tell me, what is Princess Ning An’s character?”

The system was silent for a moment before saying: 【Arrogant and domineering, treating human life as worthless, and considering Xue Chen as something she owns.】

“There you go. Everything I’m doing is to win over Xue Chen. How can you say I’m OOC? Besides, wasn’t my performance just now domineering enough?”

The system went offline for a few seconds. Well, she has a point.

Seeing the system go quiet, a sly glint flashed in Ning Shengsheng’s bright, round eyes. She had just been testing the system’s limits. It seemed that as long as she could justify her actions, the system couldn’t do much about it.

Hehe…

She couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Xue Chen in the courtyard: ?

What is this princess suddenly laughing about?

His hair stood on end, and he silently took a few steps back.

Of course, Ning Shengsheng knew nothing of what happened next. She carefully examined the furnishings in the room. The quilt on the bed was old and tattered, and the stool was missing a leg. Even the window let in a draft!

Xue Chen’s life was too miserable. Even a concubine in the Cold Palace probably had better conditions. Not to mention, because of his handsome face, the original owner would summon him for bullying every few days.

“Xue Chen.”

She turned around, only to see Xue Chen had retreated to a corner of the courtyard.

Hm? Am I a ghost? Why is he hiding so far away?

“What is it, Princess?” the young man asked softly.

“Oh, I was just telling you to…”

Seeing this scene, she was struck with amazement, and the rest of her words got stuck in her throat. The young man stood quietly under the pear blossom tree, his clothes thin, looking somewhat frail. His pale lips were pressed tightly together, and his dark eyes held a stubborn glint. He truly looked like a fragile, easy target.

The direct stare made Xue Chen uncomfortable. He averted his gaze in disgust, standing stiffly until the lingering gaze left him, and only then did he relax slightly.

Before long, a crowd of eunuchs and palace maids carrying potted plants and furniture swarmed into the courtyard. The deserted yard instantly became lively.

Ning Shengsheng stood in the middle, giving orders.

“Put the peonies by the window. Yes, yes, move them a little to the left. Put a few more pots!”

“Change the bedding to a thick mattress and quilt.”

“Such beautiful peonies should be placed somewhere conspicuous.”

“As expected of this princess, my taste is impeccable. With a little sprucing up, isn’t this room much prettier!”

The eunuchs and palace maids bowed and flattered her. “Of course, Your Highness’s taste is beyond question. Even a god’s residence would be no more than this.”

Ning Shengsheng waved her hand. “Well said! Rewards for everyone present!”

“Thank you for the reward, Princess!”

Everyone knelt to give thanks.

Ning Shengsheng happily ran over, tilted her head, and her sparkling eyes curved into crescent moons. “Hey, Xue Chen, this princess decorated this new home for you. Are you satisfied?”

Xue Chen’s gaze went past her bright smile and landed on the room. It was crammed with expensive furniture and flowers, piled together with no sense of aesthetics.

“…”

And the culprit was smugly praising herself, with a crowd of sycophants kneeling behind her. He had a new understanding of Princess Ning An’s status. It was as if there were a cat standing before them; if Princess Ning An said it was a dog, that group of people would resolutely agree.

So, did his real opinion matter?

Besides, this girl’s mood was unpredictable. Who knew how she would torment him tomorrow?

Xue Chen lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, “I am satisfied.”

His expression was even somewhat gentle and obedient.

“As long as you’re satisfied!” Ning Shengsheng didn’t forget to try and earn some goodwill, patting her chest with a smile. “This princess likes you, so naturally, I want to do everything to please you.”

The eunuchs and palace maids exchanged a look. Could Her Highness have truly fallen for this hostage prince, and not just be toying with him for a few days?

Xue Chen hesitantly raised his eyelids. The girl before him was smiling without a hint of cunning, as if she genuinely admired him.

No.

The wounds on his back from the whipping throbbed faintly. He sneered inwardly.

I was almost fooled.