The cruel little princess

On a winter afternoon, the sun shone brightly on the streets, yet a chill still lingered in the air. The streets were sparsely populated, with most people staying at home to keep warm. Business in Shen Youyou's shop also gradually slowed. Standing at the door, she watched the increasingly gloomy sky outside, a wave of worry rising in her heart.

As the sky grew increasingly gloomy, and it looked like snow was about to fall, Shen Youyou decided to close the shop early. She walked into the shop and told the shopkeeper and the employees to pack up and go home early, and to be careful on the road, in case the heavy snow blocked the road and delayed their return.

The shopkeeper and the employees all nodded in agreement, and Shen Youyou left the shop with peace of mind, preparing to go home. After dinner, she asked Chuntao to prepare a pot of scented tea and told her to rest early so that she would not need to wait on her anymore.

Shen Youyou sat alone at the table, the floor heating in the room warm and cozy. However, she was not at ease. She recalled her experiences since returning from the capital, especially the frame-up against her, and her heart was filled with doubts.

She thought to herself: "I have no grudges or disputes with others, so why would someone frame me?" This question troubled her and made her fall into deep thought.

Just as she was thinking, a voice suddenly broke the silence: "What are you thinking about? So lost in thought? You don't even wear shoes, aren't you cold?" She looked up in surprise and found that His Royal Highness Prince Jin had quietly sneaked into her boudoir. His eyes fell on her bare feet, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Shen Youyou looked at His Royal Highness Prince Jin in surprise, a blush spreading across her face. She quickly hid her feet under her skirt, trying to cover up her gaffe.

"I was wondering, who would be so vicious to frame me when we have no grudge against each other? Did I move someone's cheese?" When Shen Youyou saw His Royal Highness Prince Jin, she unconsciously treated him as a confidant and told him the problem that had been bothering her for most of the day.

"Cheese?" Prince Jin could understand the first part of the sentence, but the cheese she mentioned later was beyond his comprehension! Prince Jin had no idea what cheese was! This was a bit embarrassing...

"What I mean is, after I returned to Beijing, did I affect someone's interests? Otherwise, why would they frame me? But I can't think of such a person. I usually stay at home and rarely go out. The only time I showed up was at the plum blossom viewing banquet hosted by Madam Zuo some time ago, but I didn't do anything else!"

Shen Youyou reminisced about her recent travels, trying to get His Royal Highness Prince Jin to help her sort out her thoughts. "At the plum blossom viewing banquet, I even saved Madam Zheng from the Censor's family. The ladies of the various families had a good impression of me, and I also received a number of orders for medicinal dishes..."

His Royal Highness Prince Jin stepped forward, gently picked her up, then sat on the chair and let Shen Youyou sit in his arms.

He stretched out his big palm and placed her little feet in it, using the warmth of his palm to warm her slightly cold feet.

"If you can't remember, forget it. Leave it to me! I'll find out." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I don't like seeing you frown and sad."

Shen Youyou smiled when she heard this, "Do you have any clues? Tell me about it."

His Royal Highness Prince Jin did not answer but asked, "I haven't asked you yet, when did you become so familiar with the fifth brother?" He asked with some jealousy.

"Old Five?" Shen Youyou didn't know who Old Five was. "Who's Old Five? The Anwu behind Aner?"

"Don't play dumb, answer my question!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin increased the intensity of his hug and kissed her cheeks densely as if to be mischievous.

"Then tell me who Lao Wu is first!" Shen Youyou's brain CPU was working frantically, but she couldn't figure out who's nickname was Lao Wu.

"It's the Fifth Prince, Chu Shenxing!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin gritted his teeth, trying to restrain his remaining self-control from throwing her down. "Don't tell me you don't know him!"

Shen Youyou thought about it again and again. "I really don't know him." Then she felt that this description might be inappropriate. She quickly tried to make amends. "Don't you know? In the Mudan murder case at Chun Man Lou, he was drugged with the Seven Deadly Powder and passed out in Mudan's room. I was the one who detoxified him. But I was disguised as a man at the time. He wouldn't have recognized me, right?" Shen Youyou said uncertainly.

"Then there was this morning. I don't know what took him by surprise, but he came right after you to watch Lord Wu's trial. I really don't know him well!" Shen Youyou said, feeling both amused and helpless. "I don't know where he got the news, but he heard that I was falsely accused."

His Royal Highness Prince Jin was playing with her jade feet earnestly, and he felt a little uncomfortable listening to what she said. He frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes: "You mean, today is the second time you've met? You haven't met before?"

"Yes! I really can't remember." Shen Youyou tilted her head and thought carefully, then answered seriously.

"But today he acted like he knew you very well, and he came here eagerly to seek justice for you..." His Royal Highness Prince Jin complained aggrievedly.

Shen Youyou couldn't help but laugh at the pitiful appearance of His Royal Highness Prince Jin. She reached out and pinched His Royal Highness Prince Jin's cheek, saying softly, "Okay, don't be angry. Maybe he was just passing by on his way home from court? After all, I'm also an innocent victim."

His Royal Highness Prince Jin still looked unhappy. He held Shen Youyou's jade feet in his arms, kneading them gently, with a hint of jealousy in his tone: "Humph, even so, he shouldn't be so attentive to you."

Shen Youyou shook her head helplessly, thinking that His Royal Highness Prince Jin was sometimes as adorable as a child. She gently stroked His Royal Highness Prince Jin's face and comforted him, "Okay, don't be jealous. You're the only one in my heart. No one else matters to me."

When His Royal Highness Prince Jin heard this, a smile finally appeared on his face. He hugged Shen Youyou tightly and said softly, "That's good. I don't want anyone to take my treasure away."

The two hugged each other, enjoying the warmth and sweetness of the moment. Although there may be some interference from the outside world, their feelings became stronger.

His Royal Highness Prince Jin rested his chin on her shoulder and said softly, "Youyou, when can I ask my father-in-law for marriage?"

Shen Youyou was a little confused. They hadn't even gotten engaged yet, and the marriage hadn't even started yet, and you were already calling me "father-in-law." Couldn't you be a little more reserved?

His Royal Highness Prince Jin said: "Reserve? What is reserve? Can reserve help me get a wife and a beautiful woman? If not, what's the point of it?!"

As for calling him father-in-law! He would be father-in-law sooner or later anyway, so it didn't matter if he called him a few times in advance. Besides, he didn't want to wait any longer, he had to marry this woman home as soon as possible!

Shen Youyou sighed helplessly, secretly wondering, why is this guy so anxious? Is he really not afraid of regretting it? However, seeing how serious he was, she couldn't help but feel touched and warmed. Perhaps this is love...

"Does your father agree to this marriage? If so, then wait until my father returns from the border to report to the capital. Then you can propose..." Before Shen Youyou could finish her words, His Royal Highness Prince Jin gagged her. With what?! Of course, with his mouth! 10,000 words omitted here! Those who understand will understand!

When both of them were out of breath, His Royal Highness Prince Jin pecked her bright lips a few more times, "Really? Then tomorrow... No! Write a letter tonight to propose marriage to your father-in-law! So he can prepare. I'll have the secret guards deliver the letter tomorrow and night! You don't have to worry about my father! As long as I tell him that I want to make Princess Jin the Prince, he will immediately and happily agree!"

"No need to be so anxious! I will only be 17 after this New Year. Besides, doesn't my father have to wait until the war situation stabilizes before he can return to Beijing to report on his work? There is still so much time left. It doesn't matter if we talk about it after the New Year!" Shen Youyou said lazily.

"Youyou! I can't wait!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin hugged Shen Youyou and said coquettishly.

"Why can't you wait?" Shen Youyou glared at him, "We've only known each other for a little over half a year, isn't it too soon to get engaged?!"

"Youyou..." His Royal Highness Prince Jin picked her up and stood up, he clung tightly to Shen Youyou, "I really can't wait..."

Shen Youyou felt the tension in her body, and her face flushed instantly. "You!..." She broke free from Prince Jin's embrace, quickly ran back to her bed, and covered herself with the quilt. "I'm going to sleep, you...you go back!"

His Royal Highness Prince Jin stood by the bed and looked at her shy appearance, and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.