Reborn Princess

In the study, the atmosphere was so low that it was frightening. Yanci lowered his head and endured Zhou Cechen's majesty.

Zhou Cechen stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the vast snow outside, with his back to Yanci.

"Check it out?"

The words said, "Everyone present yesterday has been questioned."

He raised his head and glanced at Zhou Cechen who had his back to him, then said, "Everyone on the wooden bridge has been interrogated."

"Because everyone was in the back garden admiring the flowers at the time, the only people on the bridge were Grand Tutor Sheng's daughter and her two maids, and finally Liuchun who fell into the water with the queen."

There was a moment of silence, and Yanci was really worried about the girl. Why did she have to offend their queen?

Zhou Cechen didn't say anything, seeming to be thinking about something.

Yanci continued, "The two maids insisted that it was Sheng Ruyan, the daughter of the Sheng family, who twisted her ankle while walking. They rushed to help her and accidentally bumped into the princess. I don't think it's likely."

Zhou Cechen said, "Continue the trial."

"Yes."

Yanci was about to leave when he saw Birui coming over. Birui supported Zhou Cechen and said, "Your Highness, the queen has woken up. Please go to Xiaolanxuan to have breakfast with the queen."

Yanci silently glanced at the clepsydra beside him. It was already 14 o'clock in the morning, how could the prince go to have breakfast?

"Well, let's go down."

Yanci sighed silently again.

……

Inside Xiaolanxuan, Shen Xuanlan looked at the table full of his favorite breakfast, and a sour feeling surged in his nose. He was so nice.

Lu Nong and Liu Chun stood on the side and served Shen Lilan with his meal.

As soon as Zhou Cechen entered the room, he saw Shen Silan sitting at the dining table in a daze.

The first time he saw her today, his eyes darkened. His Yan Lan was born with a very beautiful appearance.

Today was especially stunning.

She wore a long white brocade skirt embroidered with a few pink crabapple blossoms, which was tied with a plain white silk belt, and a jacket embroidered with misty pink and silver butterflies.

The mutton-fat jade tasseled magnolia hairpin on her hair was like a feather caressing his heart.

Lu Nong and Liu Chun bowed.

Shen Xilan turned his head and saw the man wearing a dark blue straight-collared robe and a wide belt with a dark blue auspicious cloud pattern around his waist, on which hung a piece of extremely fine black jade.

His black hair was half tied up with a jade hairpin.

Even though she was well-read, there was only one word in her mind at this moment - beautiful.

Shen Xilan stared at the man walking towards her with red eyes. She was about to salute when a big hand grabbed her arm.

"No need to greet, let's eat first." Shen Xilan's eyelashes trembled when he heard the gentle and deep voice.

She sat on the chair, looking at the man's handsome face with red eyes.

Zhou Cechen poured a bowl of porridge and placed it in front of Shen Lilan and asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Shen Lilan looked at the man's slender fingers, sniffed, and whispered, "It's okay now."

After saying that, Shen Xilan picked up the spoon and drank a few mouthfuls of porridge. Zhou Cechen saw her reaction. She always used such impolite excuses to distance herself from him in the past.

Today...was he frightened, or did he feel that he owed her a favor?

Shen Lilan felt a gaze while drinking porridge. She swallowed the porridge in her mouth and looked at Zhou Cechen, "Your Majesty... don't you want to eat?"

Looking at her pink lips soaked with soup, his heart moved slightly.

The hoarse voice replied, "Eat."

Shen Xilan glanced at the breakfast on the table, pursed her lips, and put a piece of cheese into Zhou Cechen's bowl.

Zhou Cechen lowered his eyes and saw the cheese in his bowl. She didn't use the serving chopsticks to pick it up for him. Was it because there were no serving chopsticks on the table or... He looked at Shen Lilan.

Shen Xilan was drinking porridge with a spoon, her head down. She felt the man's gaze but did not look up. She seemed calm.

However, her slightly red earlobes betrayed her.

The red spot did not escape Zhou Cechen's eyes.

Shen Xilan was unsure either. She didn't know what Zhou Cechen liked to eat. She vaguely remembered that this man who didn't like sweets liked cheese.

This is the same hobby as hers.

Zhou Cechen picked up the cheese and took a bite, the aroma of milk filled his mouth. Soon, Zhou Cechen finished the cheese.

Shen Yanlan glanced at the man beside her quietly. It seemed that he really liked her. The corner of the woman's mouth slightly raised.

During breakfast, Lu Nong, who was standing aside, felt that the relationship between the queen and the prince became subtle.

After the meal, the maids cleared away the plates.

Zhou Cechen sent Doctor Han to check Shen Lilan's pulse, while he stood aside and waited.

After taking the pulse, Doctor Han bowed to Zhou Cechen and said, "The princess is fine now, she just got a little frightened. I will prescribe a tranquilizer for you."

Zhou Cechen's handsome face seemed calm, but the curve of his thin lips concealed his emotions.

Doctor Han felt uneasy when he saw Zhou Cechen didn't say anything.

"Thank you, Doctor Han." Zhou Cechen said and ordered someone to take Doctor Han out. Doctor Han finally felt relieved.

After everyone left, only Shen Lilan and Zhou Cechen were left in the room.

Zhou Cechen sat down next to Shen Lilan. The man's eyes dimmed a little. He reached out to hold Shen Lilan's hand but was afraid that she would not like it, so he withdrew it halfway.

This action made Shen Lilan feel sour in his heart, because he respected her in everything.

Shen Xilan reached out and held Zhou Cechen's large hand. Zhou Cechen looked at her intently, not knowing what she was trying to do.

Shen Lilan said, "Hold my hand." His tone was soft, with a hint of coquettishness.

Zhou Cechen's ears almost dropped after hearing this.

Zhou Cechen held Shen Lilan's soft and slender hand in his palm and placed it on his knees.

"You fell into the water yesterday. It was my fault."

Shen Lilan's eyelashes trembled, he was blaming himself.

Zhou Cechen's voice became hoarse and serious.

"Shen Lilan, do you still know who you are?"

Shen Lilan raised his head and his gaze met Zhou Cechen's deep eyes.

Shen Lilan said softly, "Yes...Princess Ding'an."

"Anything else?" Zhou Cechen asked.

Before Shen Yanlan could speak, the man said, "Remember, you are Princess Ding'an, the mistress of the palace, and my wife."

His voice was low and his face was calm.

"So, you don't have to be afraid of anyone. I'll take care of the rest for you."

His words were enough to put Shen Lilan at ease.

"Okay." Shen Yanlan said softly.

This sentence surprised Zhou Cechen. He knew Shen Xilan's character. If she didn't trust him, she wouldn't let him handle it. Even if he had to endure it, she wouldn't let others interfere.

The room was quiet for a moment, and after a moment Zhou Cechen let go of Shen Lilan's hand and stood up.

Shen Xilan looked at her hand that was released, feeling a little disappointed, and she pursed her lips.

"Have a good rest. I will come to have dinner with you later."

Hearing the man's low voice, Shen Lilan looked up at him and then hummed.

Looking at the man's receding back, Shen Lilan's thoughts drifted away.

In his previous life, as long as Zhou Cechen was in Beijing, no matter how busy he was, he would always make time to have meals with him. This seemed to have become one of his daily duties.

Apart from the inevitable eye contact and a few greetings, there was no further communication between the two during their meal.

She would always feel that this was one of the means this man used to achieve his goals after marrying her.

Thinking of this, Shen Yanlan came back to his senses and sighed softly.

When Lu Nong entered the room, she saw Shen Lilan sitting on a chair and sighing.

Lu Nong asked, "What happened to the queen?"

Shen Lilan looked at Lu Nong and smiled without saying anything.

Looking at Shen Lilan's curved lips, Lu Nong didn't understand why Shen Lilan, who was sighing just now, started laughing again.

Lu Nong sensed Shen Lilan's joy and hesitated for a moment before saying, "The prince is so kind to the queen."

In the past few months after their marriage, Lu Nong always vaguely mentioned in her ears how good Zhou Cechen was to her.

In the past, Shen Lilan always had a calm expression, but today, the corners of Shen Lilan's mouth, which were originally curved, were raised even higher. The woman was wearing a long robe with wide sleeves, and her eyes and eyebrows were full of tenderness.

Lu Nong stood there for a long time, looking at the beautiful woman's charming face.

Realizing that she had overstepped her bounds, she closed her eyes, walked to Shen Lilan's side, leaned over and asked, "Would you like me to help you go and rest?"

"Ah."

Lu Nong helped Shen Lilan to stand up, and a soft voice came from outside. The woman who came in was as gentle as a willow tree brushed by the wind.

The woman was wearing a green grass pleated skirt that was scattering flowers and mist, a thin green gauze on her body, and a light green belt that made her waist look extremely thin.

Lu Nong looked at her and felt cold for her. On a snowy day, the queen would wear a cloak even when she walked around in the courtyard. She... Lu Nong was thinking when she heard Shen Luo Ning's voice.

"Sister, you made me worry so much. Are you feeling better?"

When Shen Xuanlan saw Shen Luoning, hatred filled his heart.

Shen Luoning, the second daughter of the Shen family. She had underestimated her in her previous life. She had never expected Shen Luoning to climb into Zhou Jingmo's bed.

In the previous life, Zhou Cechen was framed for treason, and the entire second branch of the Shen family was involved.

Shen Lilan showed no emotion on his face and just hummed lightly.

Seeing this, Shen Luo Ning said, "The prince is really good to my sister. He even accompanied her for dinner today after she fell into the water."

As soon as these words came out, Lu Nong frowned. What does "specially" mean? Their prince would have meals with the queen every day.

Shen Lilan raised his eyelids, glanced at Shen Luoning nonchalantly and said, "Since I am married to the prince, I am his wife, and he will naturally accompany me for meals."

"Why is it that my cousin makes such a fuss about such a common thing between husband and wife?"

Shen Luo Ning's face changed slightly, and after a pause, she continued, "I just envy you for having the prince's love. Although the prince is usually busy with official duties and rarely goes to your courtyard, he still accompanies you for meals."

Shen Yanlan curled his lips when he heard this, "My cousin has been staying in the mansion for some time under the name of my grandmother. Since you envy me, then go back to the Shen Mansion."

"Now that my sister is sixteen, grandma will definitely start choosing a son-in-law for her. I have to go back for this. Choosing a good son-in-law is the most important thing for you now."

Shen Luoning clenched her palms and said, "Sister still wants to accompany me more..."

Before Shen Luo Ning could finish her words, she heard Shen Yanlan instructing Lu Nong beside her, "Take someone to Wuhua Courtyard to pack up things for Sister Luo Ning."

Shen Luoning bit her lower lip and looked at Shen Lilan, "Sister, are you trying to chase me away?"

Shen Xilan did not answer. She stared at Shen Luoning's face for a long time, as if thinking about something.

This look made Shen Luoning panic for a moment and he avoided her gaze.

Shen Lilan then said, "Sister, you are too polite." After saying that, Shen Lilan did not look at Shen Luoning again, and left the hall with Chaoyun and walked towards the inner room.

Shen Luoning stood where he was, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails seemed to dig into his flesh.

"Miss Shen, please go back to Wuhua Courtyard with Lunong. I will bring someone to pack your luggage for you."

Shen Luoning glanced at Lu Nong, then turned around and walked out.

……

In Wuhua Courtyard, Shen Luoning stood in the yard watching seven or eight maids coming in and out. Everything was arranged in such an orderly manner that she couldn't find any fault with it.

The maid beside her was so anxious that she whispered, "Miss, this...what should we do? If we go back now, if we want to see the prince again in the future..."

Shen Luo Ning said nothing, and was not as anxious as the maid. She stood there and said, "No hurry, help me hold Lu Nong back for a while."

The maid knew her master had a plan, so she answered, "Yes."