There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 102 Just Be Yourself

The next morning, Li Shuchen delivered melons and fruits to Princess Jiahe's room. Seeing that she enjoyed them the day before, he specially sent some extra today.

Li Shuchen entered and asked, "Did you sleep well last night, my princess?"

Princess Jiahe replied energetically, "Last night was the most restful night's sleep I've ever had. When I woke up, the Eighth Prince was still watching outside. He hadn't slept a wink all night. Miss Li, please let her go and rest."

Li Shuchen placed the fruits on the table: "Princess Jiahe, rest assured, I have already sent her to bed."

"Come and have some fruit. When Ziying arrives, I'll take the princess to my fruit farm."

Princess Jiahe: "Fruit Manor? Doesn't it have lots of fresh fruit?"

Li Shuchen: "Of course, the princess can pick them herself and eat them herself. From picking them from the tree to the princess's mouth, it takes less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn (2 minutes and 30 seconds)."

Absolutely fresh, even fresher than the fruits and melons in this fruit platter!

Princess Jiahe nodded: "Alright, I'll definitely pick one and try it myself then."

Li Shuchen ate a grape and suddenly wanted to ask Princess Jiahe a question.

"Isn't the princess afraid? A marriage alliance with the Kingdom of Lieli is a difficult one. They are rough and wild, and the country is covered in ice and snow all year round. I'm afraid they won't have these fresh fruits to eat."

Princess Jiahe lowered her eyes upon hearing this, lost in thought. Just moments before she had been in high spirits, but now her mood had soured, and she twisted her handkerchief tightly with her fingers.

Looking at her hands twisting the handkerchief, Li Shuchen understood that she was also afraid.

But she couldn't understand, so she asked gently, "If you were afraid, why did you stand up and tell the Emperor that the princess wanted to go for a political marriage?"

Princess Jiahe remained silent. Li Shuchen watched her walk to the window, open it completely, rest her hands on the windowsill, and gaze softly at the bustling street below.

After a while, Li Shuchen heard her firm voice say, "If I don't go, other girls will go. If I go, those girls who are loved by their parents and families won't have to go. I'm not favored, so it doesn't matter if I go."

Li Shuchen fell silent after hearing Princess Jiahe's words. She had no idea that Princess Jiahe was thinking this way; she herself had no one to love her, yet she felt so sorry for other girls.

I feel so sorry for her.

"Is the princess feeling wronged?"

Princess Jiahe turned to look at Li Shuchen, a serene smile on her face: "I'm not wronged at all. On the contrary, I'm very honored to be a princess of the Purple Star Dynasty."

It can be used for marriage alliances, to prevent wars, to protect the people, and to do something for this dynasty.

I only wish that the Purple Star Dynasty will forever prosper, and that its people will always live in peace, happiness, and prosperity, just as they do now.

Li Shuchen looked at the bright sunlight shining down on her; she was radiating a gentle yet powerful light.

Li Shuchen suddenly felt a strong urge to hug Princess Jiahe, and so she did.

Princess Jiahe was suddenly embraced by Li Shuchen, and was somewhat stunned and stiff.

After a long while, she came to her senses, hugged Li Shuchen back, closed her eyes, and felt the warmth of being embraced. It felt so good; she realized how comforting it was to be held.

Li Shuchen quietly sensed Princess Jiahe's pounding heart.

This heart beats passionately for the Purple Star Dynasty and for its people.

After a long while, Li Shuchen released Princess Jiahe.

Princess Jiahe said happily, "Thank you."

Li Shuchen asked in confusion, "Why are you thanking me? I didn't do anything."

Princess Jiahe lowered her head somewhat embarrassed and whispered...

"You're the first person to hug me. I've always longed for someone to hug me sincerely and gently."

You fulfilled my wish!

So thank you.

Princess Jiahe smiled broadly, displaying the charming and innocent beauty of a young girl.

Li Shuchen suddenly realized that Princess Jiahe was only sixteen years old, still a young girl.

She's a little girl who wants to be loved and treated well.

Li Shuchen pulled Princess Jiahe to sit down.

"Since we're out having fun, we should play seriously and enjoy ourselves, casting aside all constraints and playing freely."

The princess's name is Qingqing, right?

Princess Jiahe: "Hmm, Qingqing."

Li Shuchen: "Alright, for the next few days you will not be Princess Jiahe of the Purple Star Dynasty, but just be your own Qingqing. We will just call you Qingqing, how about that?"

Princess Jiahe smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Okay, may I call you Shuchen then?"

Li Shuchen: "Of course, Qingqing!"

Qingqing called softly, "Shuchen."

Li Shuchen responded loudly: "Yes!"

The two looked at each other and both laughed.

A sound of horses' hooves approached, and Li Shuchen thought it sounded like Ziying's carriage. He looked downstairs and, sure enough, it was...

Li Shuchen: "Ziying is here, we're about to head to the fruit farm."

Qingqing stood up: "Okay."

Li Shuchen: "I'll go get Wanbai; let her pull us today."

Qingqing: "I want to go too!"

Li Shuchen: "Okay, let's go."

The stables in the backyard of the inn

Li Wanbai was slacking off, lying down in the shade to sleep.

Li Shuchen shouted loudly, "Li Wanbai, it's already 8:45 AM, why aren't you awake? What do you want?"

Upon hearing the sound, Li Wanbai raised her eyelids to glance at Li Shuchen, then closed them again.

Li Shuchen saw this and was furious. "So calling it doesn't work anymore, huh? Fine!"

Li Shuchen looked at Qingqing and said, "Qingqing, try calling it."

Qingqing obediently replied, "Okay."

Qingqing knelt down in front of Wanbai, stroked Wanbai's fur, and said softly, "Wanbai, it's time to get up. Shall we go to the fruit farm together?"

Upon hearing the beautiful woman's voice, Li Wanbai immediately opened his eyes, stood up, and even gave a flattering greeting.

"Hey~", look at my beauty, will you listen to me?

Her fawning manner was like a toad encountering a swan, leaving Li Shuchen dumbfounded. Tsk, so Wan Bai likes beautiful women, not her?

When Qingqing helped Wanbai put on the carriage, it made Li Shuchen question his life choices even more.

I tried to put the harness on it, but it kept jumping around and wouldn't get it in.

Qingqing put a trap on it, and it obediently and willingly surrendered.

Li Shuchen sighed deeply, "Alas, this horse... all her efforts were wasted. The feelings she'd poured into it over the past few months have ultimately come to nothing."

Liang Yuying came to the backyard: "Shu Chen, it's time to go."

Li Shuchen: "Let's set off now."

Liang Yuying went to untie Hongying's rope, but Li Shuchen saw this and stepped forward to stop her, saying that she had promised to make Wanbai pull the carriage herself at least once.

He then said, "Yuying, Hongying can stay at the inn. You can share a carriage with me and Qingqing."

Liang Yuying glanced at Princess Jiahe, then turned to Li Shuchen and replied, "Okay."

Li Shuchen summoned Lao Jiu and asked him to protect Princess Jiahe's safety.

She laid thick blankets in the carriage so that everyone could sit more comfortably.

And so, Li Shuchen, Liang Yuying, Qingqing, and Lao Jiu rode in one carriage, Gu Ziying in another, and Princess Changning in yet another, as they began their journey towards the orchard.

As the carriage drove out of the capital, Liang Yuying touched her left shoulder, seemingly casually.

Li Shuchen asked, "Is your wound hurting again?"

Liang Yuying: "No problem"

Li Shuchen said with some self-reproach, "Your wound hasn't fully healed after such a bumpy journey, and it's afraid it will reopen. You should have rested in your room."