Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

When Shen Ruyin wants to coax someone, even if you know she's doing it on purpose, you can still be satisfied with her, let alone the emperor who is happy to think that way.

When the talented students finished their exams and looked up, they could easily see the emperor's undisguised joy.

In such an occasion, it was certainly more relaxing for people to be in a good mood than a bad one. As a result, many people secretly remembered Shen Ruyin's appearance and gained a new understanding of the extent to which she was favored.

When the emperor decided to set his own questions and conduct an impromptu test, Shen Ruyin fell silent.

She's still young; there's nothing she should know that she shouldn't know.

Xiao Jie, however, lived up to his title as the male lead. Although he was a little younger than Shen Ye, he always handled the emperor's questions very well.

The emperor was very pleased and immediately dismissed other talented young men of similar age to the crown prince, appointing him as the crown prince's study companion.

Because Shen Ruyin was close to the emperor, she could see everyone's expressions clearly, including Xiao Jie's excitement and the strange looks on some people's faces.

After the selection of study companions was completed, the Emperor led Shen Ruyin and Shen Ye towards the inner palace. When they reached the vicinity of the wisteria trellis, the Emperor suddenly said, "I remember that Fuchang likes wisteria?"

“I like them,” Shen Ruyin replied casually, “I also like peach blossoms, plum blossoms, and pear blossoms…”

Shen Ruyin counted many kinds on her fingers until she couldn't count them all, then looked up a little shyly: "I like any kind that looks good."

The emperor chuckled lightly: "Some people admire the peony's nobility and the lotus's virtue, but you seem to have no such restraint."

Shen Ye coughed lightly and explained on behalf of his sister, "Yinyin thinks that a flower is a flower, and it's beautiful just because it's blooming in front of you. No matter what else you say, it's just something people impose on you."

"So she likes the pink of peaches and the white of pears, as beautiful as rosy clouds, and she also loves the sweet fragrance of ripe fruit after the flowers have fallen."

Shen Ruyin nodded repeatedly, clearly agreeing: "The flowers are beautiful, and the fruit is delicious."

“You’re still a child,” the emperor shook his head. “I was thinking of rewarding you with wisteria because you love it.”

“Thank you, Uncle, but I can wait until next year when the flowers bloom before I can come to the palace to see them,” Shen Ruyin replied. “Does that mean you won’t allow me to come to the palace next year when the flowers bloom?”

"Of course not," the emperor said, as if making a promise. "You can come whenever you want."

Then he instructed Eunuch Sun: "If the Princess of Fuchang wants to enter the palace in the future, she does not need to submit a letter first, and the guards at the palace gate must not stop her."

In their conversation, they granted Shen Ruyin privileges that even princesses and princes could not have.

Shen Ye hesitated, unsure whether he should intervene, while Shen Ruyin understood the situation but pretended not to, happily agreeing.

"Thank you uncle."

Having special privileges has both advantages and disadvantages, but for Shen Ruyin, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, so the disadvantages are insignificant.

Seeing her "foolish" way of thanking him, the emperor felt a pang of pity and picked her up again: "You've walked for so long, and you don't even complain of being tired."

Shen Ruyin hugged his neck: "Because Uncle can't bear to see me tired, I'm your favorite Yinyin!"

The emperor did not refute, but Shen Ruyin knew that he certainly did not take those words to heart.

But it's okay.

Shen Ruyin smiled, her eyes crinkling. A lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth. She has plenty of time; she can tell it hundreds of times a year. There's no way she can escape her favorite spot.

Regardless of who the emperor truly favors, she, as his apparent favorite, will receive all the due treatment, and each one will be treated exceptionally well.

He took Shen Ruyin and her brother to Consort Shen's palace, where they met Consort Shen and Jin Yang.

When it was time to leave the palace, Consort Shen was naturally very reluctant to part, and there was another round of tearful farewells. In the end, she bestowed many gifts upon the concubine.

After leaving the palace this time, Shen Ruyin went to the palace alone several times, because Jin Yang and Shen Ye were also busy.

So many families were chosen to be the prince's study companions. If one family held a banquet, another couldn't refuse. If you went to one family, you couldn't refuse the other.

Banquets are the most tiring, but Jin Yang and Shen Ye are now the heads of the Xinhou Mansion, so they can't slack off. They can only use Shen Ruyin's entry into the palace to accompany the Imperial Concubine as an excuse to let her relax.

Although Shen Ruyin felt that she was not exactly idle even after entering the palace.

The problem, of course, doesn't lie with Consort Shen, but with the person blocking her way.

"Where are you going?" The chubby Ninth Prince stood in front of the road, looking twice the size of Shen Ruyin, creating a striking contrast. "I recently got a new toy, come and play with me."

Shen Ruyin refused, saying, "I won't play. I just entered the palace and haven't been to my aunt's place yet."

The Ninth Prince's eyes darted around, suppressing the upward curve of his lips: "What's so fun about Consort Shen's place? You go every time, so what's the harm in being a little late?"

"Anyway, you have to play games with me today, and then we'll see who wins."

"If you lose, you have to help me bring things out of the palace."

“I’m not playing,” Shen Ruyin said, completely stubborn. “Your game doesn’t look fun at all. Your Highness, please step aside. My aunt is getting impatient waiting for me.”

“I haven’t even said what it is yet, how do you know it’s not fun?” the Ninth Prince said impatiently. “My games are the most fun in the palace.”

Shen Ruyin glanced at him sideways: "Is it only you, Ninth Prince, who finds this interesting?"

The Ninth Prince was not about to let her talk about his toys like that, so he went up to her, grabbed her, and left.

The palace servants behind them, who had been in a standoff, quickly chased after them upon seeing this.

But since it was the Ninth Prince who made the move, and Shen Ruyin was involved, neither side dared to directly pull them apart. They could only follow behind the two of them with a clear distinction between them, as if there was an invisible wall between them.

Shen Ruyin was "forced" to follow the Ninth Prince to a pavilion on a rockery, where the palace servants who served the Ninth Prince were already there.

Hearing the crickets chirping and seeing the jar in the middle, Shen Ruyin knew without even needing the Ninth Prince what it was: the game the Ninth Prince called fun was cricket fighting.

Honestly, she stopped playing this game ages ago.

The Ninth Prince hurriedly said to the palace servants attending him, "Quickly open it and let her take a look."

The palace servants quickly moved the lid away.

The Ninth Prince introduced Shen Ruyin: "This is the Great General I raised, and that is the Black Marshal I raised."

"Those two are really formidable. I sent people to search for a lot of crickets, but none of them could defeat them."

"Oh," Shen Ruyin didn't even walk that way, her face clearly showing disappointment, "Your Highness, the fun game you mentioned is cricket fighting?"

“Yes,” the Ninth Prince raised his chin, “You just haven’t seen my Great General and the Black Marshal fight, otherwise, you would definitely like them too.”

Shen Ruyin remained unmoved: "Even if I've seen it, it doesn't stop me from liking it."

"Why?" the Ninth Prince said unhappily, "How can you not like them?"

"Why should I like them?" Shen Ruyin said. "I've seen everything, I have to go now. Your Highness, please enjoy them yourself."

"No, how can you leave?" The Ninth Prince pulled Shen Ruyin along. "You absolutely have to finish watching it today!"

The Ninth Prince had his own ideas and wouldn't accept anyone not following his path, so he immediately ordered the palace servants to put the other crickets they had caught into the Black Marshal's jar.

Seeing them fight, the Ninth Prince excitedly called out to Shen Ruyin to watch.

Just as he was getting most engrossed in watching, a voice came from behind him.

"Your Majesty Ninth Prince."

Shen Ruyin looked over with a relieved expression, only to see Xiao Jie, who had become the Crown Prince's study companion.

Take it back, take it back. This shouldn't save me.

Xiao Jie's eyes flickered when he saw Shen Ruyin present. He walked up to the Ninth Prince and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is looking for you. Please go to the East Palace immediately."

The Ninth Prince was disappointed: "Why did my elder brother, the Crown Prince, seek me out?"

Xiao Jie glanced at him and whispered, "His Highness the Crown Prince went to the Imperial Study just now and didn't see you."

The Ninth Prince snorted and looked at Xiao Jie with some hostility: "I never used to see the Crown Prince often coming to catch me skipping class. Why is it that since you came, the Crown Prince has been coming more often when I'm not in the study?"

Xiao Jie lowered his head: "I dare not influence His Highness the Crown Prince's thoughts; it is His Highness the Crown Prince who cares about the Ninth Prince."

"Dare not? I think you're the one who's very bold," the Ninth Prince said with a dark face. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."

"Isn't it just because you're not doing well at the Marquis of Li's residence that you want to use the excuse of persuading me to learn to show off your abilities in front of the Crown Prince and the Empress Dowager?"

"Pah, you're dreaming!"

Xiao Jie's scheme was exposed by the Ninth Prince, and Shen Ruyin didn't even bother to get closer to take a look.

Judging from this, it's clear that this kind of thing has happened between them more than once.

It's said that the one who starts trouble is the one who's doomed, and whoever provokes trouble deserves it, so Xiao Jie brought this upon himself.

Therefore, she stood quietly in the corner where there were many cricket cages, opened her folding fan slightly to cover her face, revealing only her bright eyes, looking at this one and then at that one.

Hmm, as expected of crickets that could be presented to the Ninth Prince, their quality is actually quite good, and there's one that's particularly good.

Xiao Jie was about to speak up in rebuttal, but the Ninth Prince had already grown impatient to listen.

"Stop talking nonsense. I've heard that kind of talk about how I've learned well and how many benefits I've received. I've heard it all before," the Ninth Prince said nonchalantly, picking at his ear. "Don't try to use your little tricks on me, or I guarantee you won't be able to stay in the palace."

Xiao Jie's face turned slightly pale, but Shen Ruyin was in a good mood.

Although the Ninth Prince is arrogant, capricious, and lacks responsibility, if you treat him as a fool, then you are probably the real fool.

Now, this good-for-nothing is Xiao Jie.

The Ninth Prince chased Xiao Jie away and beckoned to Shen Ruyin: "Come here quickly, I didn't get enough of the show just now, so I lost interest in watching the rest. I'll have them release another cricket, and this time, the General will compete."

“Can I not look?” Shen Ruyin closed her fan. “Your Highness, just tell me what you want me to bring you. But whether it can be brought into the palace depends on what it is.”

“The old lady told me a lot about things I’m not allowed to bring into the palace. I can’t break any taboos, otherwise,” Shen Ruyin glanced at the palace servants serving the Ninth Prince, leaned closer to him and whispered, “If Her Majesty the Empress gets angry, I’ll be punished.”

“If I ask you to bring something, I definitely won’t punish you,” the Ninth Prince said, then seemed a little regretful, “Otherwise, why don’t you have a contest with me? I haven’t beaten you yet.”

Shen Ruyin muttered, "Aren't you afraid I'll pick one of you and beat you?"

“You win,” the Ninth Prince said, intrigued. “If you win, not only will you not have to carry anything for me, but I will also give you something.”

Shen Ruyin tentatively asked, "Is it a deal?"

“It’s a deal!” the Ninth Prince said decisively, and Shen Ruyin had been waiting for him to say those words.

Shen Ruyin picked out the cricket she had just chosen: "I want this one, to compete with... the Great General."

“Good,” the Ninth Prince immediately had someone bring out the cricket. “You have a good eye for choosing. This one is of good quality, but it certainly can’t compare to my Great General.”

The Ninth Prince had great confidence in the General, so his attention wasn't entirely on the jar.

Seeing that Shen Ruyin was holding a fan and paying no attention to the other side, he even had the mind to remind her: "Shouldn't you give the crickets you chose a few more cheers?"

"Can crickets understand human speech?" Shen Ruyin's bewilderment was so obvious that the servants looked up and down, but dared not look at the Ninth Prince's expression.

“Even if you don’t understand, you still have to cheer me on,” the Ninth Prince was about to have a long talk with Shen Ruyin when she interrupted him.

Shen Ruyin pointed at the jar: "That one, even though I didn't cheer, it seems like I've already won."

The Ninth Prince turned around abruptly: "How is this possible! My Great General!"

Shen Ruyin didn't want to interrupt his heartache, but she still reminded him, "The competition is over, can I leave now?"

“A bet is a bet,” the Ninth Prince said, disappointed by the General’s defeat. He still had someone bring him an inkstone. “This is the Cheng inkstone that my father bestowed upon me. Now it is yours.”

“I can’t accept what His Majesty gave you,” Shen Ruyin said. “How about we exchange it for something else? For example, next time I enter the palace, please don’t block my way?”

“That won’t do,” the Ninth Prince interrupted her, saying to himself, “Are you worried that Consort Shen will scold you for not daring to accept it? Don’t be afraid, I’ll go with you and tell her in person.”

"How could my aunt possibly scold me?" Shen Ruyin rolled her eyes inwardly. Seeing how much more expectant he was than she was, she knew that another standard scene was about to unfold after she entered the palace.

Upon arriving at Consort Shen's palace, the Ninth Prince saw Eunuch Sun waiting outside. Unable to contain his excitement, he entered and looked at the Emperor with utmost respect and admiration.

Shen Ruyin followed behind by a step and bowed, then obediently sat down next to Consort Shen.

She once again became a tool for the Ninth Prince to communicate with the Emperor.

Consort Shen patted Shen Ruyin's hand and asked, "What did His Highness send to Fuchang today?"

“A Cheng inkstone,” the Ninth Prince glanced at the Emperor, “was a gift from my father last year.”

The emperor put down his teacup: "You skipped class again?"

The Ninth Prince readily admitted, "The lectures by the tutors in the Imperial Study are so boring, I don't want to listen."

"So you're going to drag Fuchang along and force her to fool around with you? Is that interesting?" the emperor said sternly. "Go and copy today's lesson a hundred times."

"Yes," the Ninth Prince accepted the punishment without being discouraged, and even turned to ask Consort Shen, "Your Highness, may I have a meal here before I leave?"

As the saying goes, the old drunkard's heart is not in the wine.

Shen Ruyin really wanted to say.

If you want to eat with your dad, don't use other people as a stepping stone.

After going through all this trouble, aren't you tired? My aunt and I are exhausted from playing along with your performance every time.