The Crown Prince Insists on Joining the Family - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

As luck would have it, one of Know-it-all’s lackeys told me that Pei Xianci lived on the same street as me.

I lived at the far eastern end, while he lived at the far western end.

Because his family was extremely strict with him, they normally didn’t allow him to play with us in the alley.

That was why I’d never seen him before.

But to get to the academy, I had to pass his house from mine.

After I found out, I beat my chest and stomped my feet in regret. “If I’d known, I would have gone to school when I was seven.”

Truly, you never realized how little you’d studied until you needed it!

During class, I sat to Pei Xianci’s left. On his right was Zuo Ningshuang, the second daughter of the Vice Minister of the Grand Court of Justice.

Lady Zuo was quiet and refined, and Pei Xianci didn’t talk much either.

The three of us sat in one row.

I was the only one chattering nonstop.

I told the two of them jokes as though we were already old friends, making Lady Zuo cover her mouth and laugh again and again.

Pei Xianci, however, barely smiled.

Maybe he just wasn’t someone who liked to smile by nature.

I kept chattering away. “My mother said the pastries at Wansong Academy all come from the palace. Is that true? Can you tell which ones are palace goods and which ones are sold outside? Palace goods taste sweet but never cloying, while the stuff outside gets sickening after just one piece…”

Pei Xianci frowned slightly and said softly, “Stop being so noisy.”

I obediently closed my mouth.

I stopped talking and simply stared at him with eager eyes.

After staring at him for a while, I was astonished to discover that the tips of his ears had turned a little red.

I asked with concern, “Oh no, did a mosquito or some bug bite you?”

“Why are your ears so red?”

Pei Xianci shot me a quick glance, his tone a little embarrassed and annoyed.

“If someone stared at you without blinking, you’d feel uncomfortable too.”

I was shocked. “Really?”

I scratched my head. “I don’t believe you.”

Pei Xianci gave up on all pretense, turned toward me, and glared at me with puffed-up cheeks.

…

A minute later, even Pei Xianci’s cheeks were tinted with a layer of red.

His whole person looked as though he’d gotten drunk.

I turned pale with fright. “Are you allergic to the flower pollen in my sachet?”

In a panic, I threw the sachet out the window.

Lady Zuo quickly grabbed me and said in a quiet voice, smiling,

“Stop fussing. He’s just thin-skinned.”

Pei Xianci kept his head down and muttered a tiny rebuttal.

“If she kept staring at you like that, who could stand it? I don’t even know what’s so nice to look at…”

I answered as if it were only natural. “Because you’re good-looking.”

The moment I said that, Pei Xianci’s face turned as red as a boiled shrimp.

I was utterly shaken.

There was actually someone this thin-skinned in the world?

Excellent. I’d unlocked a hidden edition!

The moment class ended, I couldn’t wait to drag Pei Xianci home with me.

Pei Xianci struggled a few times.

He failed to break free.

With teasing looks following us the whole way, I remained calm, composed, and completely at ease.

I said thoughtfully, “Tomorrow morning, I’ll set out first and pick you up on the way. Mm, would you rather take a carriage or ride a horse?”

Pei Xianci looked miserable and said in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, “Li Muzhao, let go first…”

I hurriedly released him.

When I looked down, his hand had turned red.

My heart ached. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

I was born strong and had practiced martial arts since I was little.

Pei Xianci was delicate and tender-skinned.

If I wasn’t careful, I ended up hurting him.

Just then, outside the courtyard wall, a beautiful madam poked her head around and called his name.

Pei Xianci shook me off and said eagerly,

“Li Muzhao, my mother is here to pick me up. I’m going home first.”

I immediately ran after him and leaned right in front of the beautiful madam.

I introduced myself with easy familiarity. “Beautiful madam, hello. I’m the daughter of Li Dazhuang and Su Wan. My name is Li Muzhao…”

At the end, I did not forget to add, “I’m Pei Xianci’s good friend.”

The beautiful madam froze for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed.

“So you’re Wanniang’s daughter. You look so much like your mother.”

My eyes lit up. “You know my mother?”

The beautiful madam’s eyes curved with her smile. “The two of us are close friends.”

I took Pei Xianci’s hand with my left hand and the beautiful madam’s hand with my right, saying joyfully,

“Then come to my house and play. My father is roasting venison for us tonight.”

Pei Xianci’s jaw tightened, and he said stiffly, “Mother, we should go home for dinner…”

“Otherwise, Father will get angry…”

The beautiful madam didn’t care at all. She raised her brows.

“Don’t mind him. The sky won’t fall just because we skip dinner at home for one day.”

Pei Xianci: “…”