NOVPUBShen Roujia couldn’t quite figure out why Xu Ruoruo had come.
She decided to feign ignorance and said with a laugh, “Xiao Fu, look at my memory, I almost forgot the gift I prepared for Seventeenth Highness.”
Xiao Fu was stunned. When had they prepared a gift?
Shen Roujia gently patted Xu Ruoruo’s hand, “I’m used to the lax ways in this courtyard. Please, have a seat wherever you like.”
Then, she pretended to scold Xiao Fu, “Why didn’t you help me remember? Really, let’s go find it quickly.”
As soon as Shen Roujia said this, Xiao Fu immediately caught on. Glancing at Xu Ruoruo, she quickly helped Shen Roujia and replied, “It’s my fault for being careless, Crown Princess.”
Xu Ruoruo stood there, unsure whether to sit or stand.
There weren’t any chairs in the courtyard.
Shen Roujia hurriedly took a white jade thumb ring from her jewelry box and came out, asking Xu Ruoruo, “Ruoruo, do you want to go to His Highness’s place together?” 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝖔𝔪
She paused slightly, “Oh? I think I saw the National Preceptor heading there too.”
Without waiting for Xu Ruoruo to respond, Shen Roujia craned her neck as she walked out, calling, “National Preceptor, are you still there?”
Xu Ruoruo followed but didn’t have a chance to say a word before Shen Roujia disappeared in a flash.
Seeing that Xu Ruoruo hadn’t followed, Shen Roujia slowed her pace.
“Crown Princess, what are you doing?” Xiao Fu asked.
Shen Roujia shook her head slightly, “We should avoid too much interaction with people from the palace.”
Xiao Fu looked puzzled but wasn’t the type to ask too many questions. She never pried into Shen Roujia’s thoughts.
As they reached the main courtyard, they heard the sound of a child’s laughter. Shen Roujia paused and saw Xu Zening holding An’er with a gentle expression.
The child seemed to completely trust Xu Zening, behaving as if he knew this person had saved him.
Watching this harmonious scene, Shen Roujia couldn’t help but smile.
Xu Zening noticed Shen Roujia as he turned around.
Su Chen was the first to speak, “Oh, the Crown Princess is here too.”
Shen Roujia, with a slight smile, responded gracefully, “What are you saying, National Preceptor? His Highness hosted this hundred-day banquet for Seventeenth Highness. How could I not be here?”
Su Chen pursed his lips, “Your Highness, the ceremony is over. I’ll return to the palace now.”
Shen Roujia had no intention of talking much with Su Chen. She simply placed the small thumb ring in An’er’s hand.
“Grow up well.”
After saying this, Shen Roujia leaned closer to Xu Zening and gently stroked An’er’s cheek.
Xu Zening seemed flustered and turned his face away, not expecting Shen Roujia to get so close. His heart pounded rapidly.
Shen Roujia’s warm, sweet breath made Xu Zening feel a bit breathless.
He coughed unnaturally, “Why did you give him something?”
Shen Roujia didn’t notice anything odd about Xu Zening’s tone. She smiled simply, “It’s a token of my affection.”
Xu Zening glanced at An’er, who was sucking his fingers, frowned, and gently pulled the child’s hand away.
“My gift represents yours too. There’s no need to distinguish so clearly in the future.”
Shen Roujia was slightly surprised, not expecting Xu Zening to say such a thing.
However, she didn’t show much emotion, merely smiling faintly.
“By the way… did you invite Princess Wen Yue as well?”
