Princess Hua - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I had no idea what Shang Heng was thinking, but in the end, he never took that plate of pastries.

I didn’t take it to heart, though. I ordered someone to send him warm winter clothes and high-quality charcoal for the cold.

Shang Heng had to attend lessons at the Imperial Study, so every few days he would come to Chunhua Palace to pay his respects.

The palace servants prepared a plate of pastries for me every day.

Chestnut cake today.

Osmanthus cake tomorrow.

Chestnut crisps the day after.

I shared them all with Shang Heng.

At first, he was still very cautious. Later on, every time he came, his eyes would instinctively drift toward the little table beside me.

I caught that look of his and, for some reason, found it hilarious. I beckoned him over. The young man came to me with his little face all tense and called softly, “Imperial Sister.”

His voice still carried a hint of childishness.

Hiss.

So obedient!

I stared at his fair, tender cheeks, felt a sudden stirring in my heart, and unconsciously reached out my claws. “Come here for a second.”

At that, Shang Heng’s gaze paused, and wariness surfaced in his eyes.

But in the end, he still walked up to me, his eyelashes trembling slightly.

[Here it comes, here it comes! Sure enough, the moment Consort Lan leaves, her true nature is about to show!]

[Ahhh, hit him gently!]

[…]

Amid a sea of screaming subtitles, I pinched his cheek and said with a smile, “So soft!”

The instant my words fell, the young man’s eyes went round in disbelief.

But-he didn’t dodge.

My heart gave a tiny stir.

Hehe.

Kind of cute, actually.

Seeing him dazed, I took the chance to pinch him a few more times before finally letting go, still wanting more. My eyes shifted, and I asked with a beaming smile, “Little brother, do you want to fly a kite?”

It was rare to have such clear weather in winter, perfect for flying a kite.

Hearing my words, Shang Heng lifted his eyes slightly. His lips moved. “I still have to go review-”

“Ah, you really want to go? Chunxi, hurry and bring the kite!”

I immediately stood up and called for Chunxi.

Chunxi answered briskly, and before long, she returned with the kite. “Princess, I’ve brought it!”

I turned back to Shang Heng. “Let’s go!”

Shang Heng silently glanced at me. In the end, he lowered his eyes, swallowed whatever he had meant to say after several turns around his mouth, and finally squeezed out one word. “…Mm.”

[Hahahahahaha, I’m dying laughing.]

[The older sister you imagined: beating and scolding you at the drop of a hat. The older sister in reality: treating you like free labor.]

[Male lead: Do I look like I want to go?]

[Who exactly is the one who wants to play here? Hahahahahaha!]

I didn’t care what Shang Heng thought. He spent all day cooped up in his room, so he must have been bored out of his mind. Wasn’t it good to go out and get some fresh air?

Our group headed to the Imperial Garden in high spirits.

Unfortunately…

I had no experience flying kites. I ran in front, and the kite skidded along the ground behind me.

When I stopped, the kite flopped to the ground too.

Me: “…”

You stupid thing, fly already!

I glanced at Shang Heng, who was still standing in place waiting for me. I gave a light cough, picked up the kite, and walked back, saying with perfect composure, “I was just showing you the wrong way to do it. You mustn’t fly it like that. Here, now it’s your turn.”

Hearing this, Shang Heng’s eyes widened slightly. “?”

He was still a child, after all, and couldn’t quite hide his expression. The corners of the young man’s mouth lifted for a moment before he quickly pressed them back down. “Oh.”

I saw a huge wave of subtitles flash past.

[Hahahahaha, the male lead is probably laughing himself to death!]

[Imperial Sister just cares about saving face, that’s all. What did she do wrong?]

[Stop talking. I looked just as stupid the first time I flew a kite.]

I selectively ignored the earlier comments. When I saw the last one, I nodded in deep agreement.

Exactly.

Who was born knowing how to fly a kite?

But the next second, Shang Heng took off running, and the kite soared up behind him, rising high into the sky.

Me: “…”

The male lead halo.

It had to be the male lead halo!!