That evening, Shen Jingxian tried a series of tactics like pouting, rolling around, crying, and threatening to hang herself, and successfully moved the Empress’s heart, earning five delightful days of doing nothing. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

However, after those five days, her whining didn’t work as well anymore. The Empress directly contacted Fu Xuan to wait outside the palace, and personally got Shen Jingxian cleaned up and dressed.

Shen Jingxian looked full of reluctance, "I don’t want to go out."

Being a couch potato was too comfortable. In these days of lying in bed, Shen Jingxian realized one truth: complacency brings joy, continuous complacency brings continuous joy.

She didn’t want to face those bloodthirsty scenes; she just wanted to lie down.

But the Empress wouldn’t allow Shen Jingxian to behave like that. After confirming with the Imperial Physician that the Princess’s health was generally alright, she forcibly pulled the Princess out of bed.

The Empress said, "Your health is mostly better now, and in a few months, you’ll come of age. If you don’t go out now, are you waiting for assassins to break in and claim you?"

A meme instantly popped into Shen Jingxian’s mind.

Not going out, not socializing, not private chatting, it’s as if waiting for a home invasion to bring romance.

Shen Jingxian paused for a moment, looking at the Empress helping her with her makeup in the mirror, she sighed, "Is there really such good fortune?"

Empress: ?

Whack—very quickly, Shen Jingxian’s forehead got smacked.

Shen Jingxian cried out from the pain, tears welled up, making the Empress feel awkward.

She pulled a hairpin from the makeup box and stuck it in Shen Jingxian’s hair, then gently blew on her forehead, looking apologetic, "Er Ya, mother didn’t mean it, mother’s just used to hitting your father, couldn’t control the strength for a moment."

Shen Jingxian’s skin is fine and delicate, unlike the Emperor’s tough and thick skin from martial arts, her forehead quickly turned red.

At that moment, Shen Jingxian didn’t know whether to sympathize with herself first or with the Emperor.

Seeing Shen Jingxian no longer holding her head, the Empress continued to style Shen Jingxian’s hair, subtly changing the subject.

"Today, there’s a poetry gathering at Weiyang Mansion, you should go take a look with Fu Xuan."

Shen Jingxian: ?

"Why is there another poetry gathering?"

Are poetry gatherings in this world on sale or what?

Can’t advance the plot, so you just host a poetry gathering to look around or something?

The Empress paused while doing Shen Jingxian’s hair, and said blandly, "The other day when you threw a tantrum and didn’t go, the gathering was postponed for a few days just for you."

"For me?"

"Yes." The Empress’s expression softened, "A beauty matching a scholar, all those literati want to catch your eye."

Shen Jingxian responded, oh well, it fits her villainous beauty setup very well, but...

"Mother, I don’t have blue eyes, I have black eyes."

The delicate princess, unexpectedly again, got smacked.

This time the Empress wasn’t as heavy-handed, Shen Jingxian didn’t feel much pain, and she even chuckled cheekily.

The Empress was charmed by her cuteness and planted a kiss on Shen Jingxian’s cheek.

Very soft.

The Empress felt satisfied.

The Empress now carries an air of dignified elegance, compared to outstanding beauty, people first notice her regal presence as the Empress, but she was young once too.

Back in the day, the Empress was a renowned beauty in the Capital, styling Shen Jingxian’s hair, recalling how she once sat, having her mother do her makeup.

Turns out, this was how mother felt back then.

The Empress sighed inwardly, took out a hairpin encrusted with pearls and emerald from the jewelry box, and stuck it in Shen Jingxian’s drooping hair.

Seeing her daughter in the mirror, her once tender face had grown ever more beautiful, like a blooming peony, surpassing her own past beauty with an extra touch of intoxicating charm.

And with the hairstyle she made...

At this moment, the Empress only wanted to exclaim, not bad, my daughter.

But after Shen Jingxian saw the hairstyle the Empress gave her, her expression suddenly changed dramatically, affecting even the Empress’s heart.

"Er Ya, what’s wrong?"

Shen Jingxian trembled as she touched her hair, seriously saying, "Mother, this hairstyle is dangerous!"

Countless ladies once styled their hair like this one but they all met poor endings.

Whenever she sees this hairstyle, she’d furiously typing and sending comments, Madam, your hairstyle is dangerous!

Regrettably, none of the madams listened to her advice, and in just tens of minutes, they were gone.