Chapter 202
Chapter 202
“Dear Stronghold Chief,
“Seeing these words is like seeing me. Thanks to your elder sister, I have finally been liberated from Heping City. Dafu Zhou Jewelry is now operating smoothly and has matured considerably, so please rest assured.
“Not long after leaving prison, I unexpectedly learned the whereabouts of my family. I must travel to Zhen Kingdom to search for them, and respectfully request your approval.
“Signed: San Zhang.”
By the time Shengsheng Zhou received the letter, she had been harvesting rice for almost a week.
All communication between her and Dafu Zhou Jewelry relied on the “cheat” she had left behind at the time: a Single-Use Summoning puppet. For details, see Chapter 73.
She held up all ten fingers and counted. San Zhang should be arriving in Zhen Kingdom around now.
Crossing one leg over the other, she watched the Second Princess’s increasingly masterful cow-dung-collecting technique in the distance and tore the letter into pieces.
As for why she did not burn it in a cooler, more dramatic fashion–where was she supposed to find fire in broad daylight?
She glanced toward the Fifth Princess, who was squatting on the ground and chatting softly with the farmwives from the nearby village, then nodded in satisfaction.
Perhaps it was thanks to that drunken episode, but the Fifth Princess had been speaking much more loudly of late. She had even formed a sisterly bond with the grannies teaching her to collect cow dung.
It seemed the day she completed the Plot Point of making the Fifth Princess lively and cheerful was close at hand.
“Huh? This cow isn’t feeling well! Its dung is all dry and shriveled!” the Second Princess’s fussing voice reached Shengsheng’s ears.
Never mind. That one was probably doomed to remain unmarried for the rest of her life.
*A-Pang, has Xiaosui contacted you?* Shengsheng spat out the blade of grass between her lips and asked.
A-Pang had been in much better spirits recently. When he spoke to Shengsheng, his voice was noticeably clearer and more articulate than before.
*Mm. He said the meat he ate for lunch was freaking delicious.*
Shengsheng: “…”
See, sometimes even she could not tell whether the man was pretending to be stupid or truly was stupid.
Come to think of it, Zhiyu Jiang had looked thinner the last time Shengsheng saw her. Once Zhiyu returned, Shengsheng would have to cook her a delicious meal and put some meat back on her bones.
Being State Preceptor was no easy job…
At lunch, the Second Princess suddenly walked over carrying her bowl.
Under Shengsheng’s less-than-welcoming gaze, she ground her teeth and said, “This princess just bathed.”
The heart in Shengsheng’s throat finally settled. She put on an expression that said *What are you talking about? How could I possibly dislike you?*
“Oh, Second Sister, sit down quickly. You must be exhausted.”
The Second Princess did not sit. She bent over and whispered into Shengsheng’s ear, “I heard through the grapevine that Crown Prince Brother is coming to inspect the estate in three days. This is our golden opportunity to win him over and have him take us back!”
Shengsheng thought for a moment. “How did carrying thorns on your back to beg forgiveness go, Second Sister?”
The Second Princess drooped in despair. “Don’t mention it. I didn’t carry the bundle on my back. I dragged it behind me. Before I even reached the Eastern Palace gates, they threw both me and the thorns out.”
Shengsheng smiled. “That’s what I thought.”
Still, the Second Princess was right. If they stayed here much longer, Fusheng Duan would return to find Shengsheng Zhou in her little black-monkey era.
She had worked so hard to grow this beautiful. Being born good-looking took luck too, all right?
She absolutely could not get any darker!
“I’m very good at pleasing Crown Prince Brother. Leave it to me.” Shengsheng set down her chopsticks and thumped her chest in assurance.
The Second Princess hesitated for a moment.
But Shengsheng was Crown Prince Brother’s favorite little sister. Surely she possessed some special technique for winning him over. The thought put her somewhat at ease.
*A-Pang, it is time to deploy our secret weapon.* Shengsheng clenched her fist.
A-Pang: *…Are you certain you want to use that? Weiqing Song really won’t beat you to death?*
Shengsheng looked baffled. *Why would he beat me to death? I’m helping him experience the joy of having his dream come true. He might even beam with delight and reward me handsomely.*
A-Pang: *…You had better start praying now that he doesn’t beat the hide clean off you.*
“Cui’er, after the meal, gather everyone on the estate. I have instructions for them.”
Cui’er nodded. “As you command, Princess.”
…
“Your Highness, the message has already been sent. Most of the people on this estate are crude commoners, and every last one of them wants a glimpse of your heavenly countenance. This servant will go drive them back first. Once the area is clear, Your Highness may descend.”
The eunuch prattled on while Weiqing Song propped up his head and read the book in his hand with great concentration. He nodded perfunctorily.
Mm. This new release was quite interesting. He had never read anything of its kind before.
When the carriage finally swayed to a stop, Weiqing put the book into a box inside the carriage and locked it securely.
This was a collector’s edition. If it vanished, there would never be another copy.
He wondered whether Sixth Sister Shengsheng would see him descend like a hero, fling herself around his leg in front of everyone, and sob for him to take her home.
Weiqing straightened his crown and smoothed his sleeves. The faintest smile touched his lips as he stepped down from the carriage.
The eunuch’s hesitant expression froze under Weiqing’s gaze.
Weiqing arched an eyebrow. “These are the crude commoners who wanted a glimpse of Our heavenly countenance?”
Right. Forget crude commoners. There was not a single living creature in sight.
The dignified Crown Prince had personally visited this shabby estate, only to receive the cold shoulder. Was this the collapse of morality or the corruption of human nature?
The eunuch’s legs went weak. Did the people on this estate have a death wish?
How dared they treat the Crown Prince with such outrageous disrespect?!
The instant the thought arose, something rustled in the bushes beside them.
The eunuch stepped in front of Weiqing and shouted, “Who’s there? Come out!”
Shengsheng Zhou poked her head out. She tilted it and smiled at Weiqing, who was watching her. “Crown Prince Brother, it’s me.”
Weiqing waved a hand, and the eunuch automatically retreated behind him.
“Your doing?” he asked, looking Shengsheng over.
Mm. She was a little darker.
Shengsheng brushed the bits of grass from her hands, walked over, and grinned cheekily. “I wanted to give Crown Prince Brother a surprise.”
The eunuch swallowed. He had the distinct impression that he ought to make himself scarce.
Weiqing hurriedly raised a hand. “Don’t. Our constitution cannot withstand your surprises. Put away your mystical powers.”
Shengsheng gave him a look that clearly said *What a spoilsport*, then addressed the eunuch. “Eunuch, keep walking forward. Someone is already waiting to receive you over there. Go have some water.”
The eunuch glanced at Weiqing’s face. When he saw no reaction, he thanked her and beckoned for the remaining attendants to follow.
Weiqing had not brought many people on this outing. Once they all left, only he and Shengsheng remained.
Shengsheng patted his shoulder. “Crown Prince Brother, let’s get into the carriage. I’m going to win you over.”
Weiqing: “…Only you would announce it before trying to win Us over.”
Shengsheng smiled shyly.
Weiqing: “That was not praise!”
After the two sat facing each other inside the carriage, Shengsheng glanced at the locked box beside Weiqing’s hand.
Just as expected.
*A-Pang, begin!*
Weiqing raised an eyebrow. A terrible premonition crept into his heart.
*Skill “A Fanboy’s Dream Come True” activated. Nearest source material located and automatically bound. Transmission in progress–*
Shengsheng watched Weiqing vanish from the carriage with a whoosh and nodded in satisfaction.
*Transmission successful.*