Chapter 27: Helpless (Extra Chapter)

After several imperial princesses appeared, before the old Grand Tutor could speak, the Shen couple eagerly went forward to greet them.

Mother Shen looked at Feng Bai Wei who was walking towards them, her face bearing a somewhat flattering smile, “Fifth Princess, please come this way!”

She completely failed to notice that the old Grand Tutor’s face had already darkened behind her.

Seeing his half-sister behaving so obsequiously, Shen Ke couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

He and Mother Shen were not born from the same father. Mother Shen was born to the second husband that the old Grand Tutor had married. When Mother Shen was born, the old Grand Tutor happened to be away from Feng Ling City.

Not long after Mother Shen was born, Shen’s stepfather passed away. This made the old Grand Tutor feel guilty, and she always showed more indulgence towards Mother Shen. However, she didn’t expect this to lead her astray.

Not only did she lack ability, but she was also full of petty schemes and ambitious.

The primary husband she married was cut from the same cloth, often instigating behind her back. If it weren’t for the old Grand Tutor still keeping them in check, who knows what the Grand Tutor’s mansion would have become.

Shen Ke had no fondness for this couple, but he truly loved and cared for Shen Ruo.

He was also grateful that Shen Ruo was taught by the old Grand Tutor, preventing him from being raised wrongly by this couple!

Seeing the two people approaching, Feng Bai Wei slightly frowned and inconspicuously took two steps back. However, her face still maintained the appearance of a gentle gentleman.

She nodded and smiled at the two.

Just as Mother Shen was about to say something more, the voice of the old Grand Tutor came from behind: “Enough! Quickly let the princesses be seated.”

The old Grand Tutor’s face was somewhat dark, her deep voice conveying some authority and displeasure.

Mother Shen immediately shrank her neck, not daring to continue speaking.

After the princesses were seated, the attendants following behind them immediately presented the birthday gifts to the attendants of the Grand Tutor’s mansion.

At this time, the old Grand Tutor’s expression had returned to normal, as if the previous gloom had never existed.

She immediately gave a few instructions for the attendants to place the birthday gifts properly.

“Look at this memory of mine!”

At this moment, Feng Bai Wei suddenly stood up again, taking something from another attendant behind her, and smiling at the old Grand Tutor, said: “This is a birthday gift that the Emperor Mother specially instructed me to bring over.”

As she spoke, she stepped forward with both hands presenting the gift.

Hearing this, the old Grand Tutor immediately stood up and walked forward, respectfully accepting the gift.

She verbally expressed her gratitude: “This old minister thanks Her Majesty for her great kindness!”

Seeing this, the surrounding people had various thoughts.

Not only did the Emperor send several princesses to offer birthday congratulations, but she also specially prepared a gift to send over. The Emperor indeed values the Grand Tutor’s mansion highly!

After receiving the birthday gift, the old Grand Tutor felt it weigh a thousand gold, as if a huge stone was pressing on her heart.

Due to the relationship with the Northern Marquis’s mansion, the existence of the Grand Tutor’s mansion had always been quite delicate. Although the Emperor had not openly expressed it, there was still a gap in her heart towards the Grand Tutor’s mansion.

Now, sending such a high-profile gift made the old Grand Tutor unable to help but think about the possible implications.

After the princesses presented their gifts, others followed suit in presenting birthday gifts, and the scene became lively for a time.

——

The old Grand Tutor was advanced in years and had limited energy, so she retired early halfway through the banquet.

Before leaving, she specially instructed the Shen couple to stay behind and entertain the guests well.

As soon as the old Grand Tutor left, Shen Ruo entered with his personal attendant. He had changed into a butterfly blue silver-embroidered robe, the liveliness in his eyes subdued, making the scholarly air about him even more pronounced.

As soon as the Shen couple saw him enter, they immediately walked towards him. They pulled him towards where the princesses were.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, they happened to stand right beside Feng Bai Wei.

Mother Shen looked at the silent Shen Ruo behind her and reminded, “Ruo’er, quickly pay your respects to the princesses!”

Hearing this, Shen Ruo then stepped forward, lowered his eyes respectfully and bowed: “Greetings to the princesses, may the princesses be well.”

After speaking, he retreated back again.

Shen Ruo’s expression was unusually cold, his eyes slightly lowered without looking at Feng Bai Wei’s direction even once.

Seeing this, Mother Shen and Father Shen couldn’t help but feel anxious.

When they learned that Shen Ruo admired the Fifth Princess, they were overjoyed.

For years, they had been suppressed by the old Grand Tutor. Due to the existence of the Northern Marquis’s mansion, their Grand Tutor’s mansion had always been overlooked by the Emperor. This made Mother Shen, who wanted to make a name for herself, feel stifled and oppressed.

Unable to gain the Emperor’s attention, Mother Shen turned her attention to the princesses below. After several observations, she finally set her sights on the Fifth Princess, Feng Bai Wei.

Feng Bai Wei was the legitimate daughter of the Male Empress, rightfully eligible to inherit the position of Crown Princess. Her character had also changed from the previous mediocrity and incompetence, becoming more sharp and prominent. The Emperor also showed signs of intending to pass the position of Crown Princess to her.

Mother Shen had been struggling with how to approach Feng Bai Wei to show loyalty, but unexpectedly heard from Father Shen about Shen Ruo’s admiration for the Fifth Princess.

This was like someone bringing a pillow just as she was feeling sleepy!

If Shen Ruo could marry the Fifth Princess, what would she have to worry about?

Mother Shen frantically made eye signals to Shen Ruo, urging him to be more proactive.

However, Shen Ruo remained unmoved. After paying his respects, he ignored Mother Shen and Father Shen and directly excused himself to leave.

Seeing him leave, Feng Bai Zhi regretfully withdrew her gaze.

Feng Bai Wei’s lips bore a perfectly appropriate smile, her expression revealing no changes.

Seeing the princesses’ cold demeanor, Mother Shen and Father Shen could only smile apologetically and also left.

Cong Bai stood behind Feng Bai Su, secretly observing this somewhat awkward scene.

She lowered her head and leaned close to Feng Bai Su, who was sitting there drinking, and whispered: “Your Highness, doesn’t young master Shen seem a bit strange?”

Feng Bai Su gently swirled the wine cup, hearing this, her red lips curled into a slight arc, somewhat nonchalantly: “Indeed, quite strange.”

She tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp, her peach blossom eyes tinged with red and misty, inexplicably enticing one to fall.

As the cool and refreshing wine slid down her throat, she couldn’t help but let out a comfortable sigh.

Hmm… The wine provided by the Grand Tutor’s mansion is not inferior to the pear blossom wine in the palace, it has its own unique flavor!

The gradually rising alcohol made Feng Bai Su unconsciously soften her bones, her body relaxed, and she leaned back against the chair.

Suddenly, a somewhat scorching gaze looked over.

Feng Bai Su turned her head to look, immediately meeting a pair of shy cat-like eyes.

She squinted her eyes with a slight delay, her mind gradually recalling whether she had seen this person somewhere before?

Xu Kong Yue saw Feng Bai Su glance over, his body instantly heated up, and he unconsciously bit his lip lightly.

After that selection banquet, he had been heartbroken for a long time. Especially after hearing the words brought back by Minister Xu, he was even more devastated.

Since then, not only did he have to endure Xu Kong Qing’s occasional mockery, but even the servants in the mansion began to look down on him.

Thinking of the grievances he suffered during those days, Xu Kong Yue’s face couldn’t help but turn pale.

But seeing her again today, he found that he still couldn’t control his heart, always hoping she would notice him.

Xu Kong Yue lowered his eyes slightly, a fleeting light flashing in his cat-like eyes, unconsciously gripping the thing in his hand tightly.

After Shen Ruo left, he sat back in his seat. Not long after sitting down, Wei Jing Mo came over.

Seeing Shen Ruo’s gloomy eyes, he softly called out: “Cousin.”

“Why did you come over?”

Shen Ruo looked up, and seeing it was Wei Jing Mo, a smile appeared on his lips. However, this smile looked somewhat forced and bitter.

Seeing his dejected appearance, Wei Jing Mo also felt a bit uncomfortable.

He hadn’t expected Shen Ruo to be so deeply affected. Logically, he and the Fifth Princess shouldn’t have met many times, and their interactions were not frequent.

Wei Jing Mo sat down beside him, his eyes full of concern: “Cousin, you…”

Before he could finish, Shen Ruo cut him off, “Cousin, you don’t need to say more, I know what you want to say.”

“I just feel like I’ve wasted so many years, not even knowing these things, and stupidly running to mother and father saying those naive things, no wonder grandmother was so angry. It’s just that I was too foolish!”

He let out a light sigh, the look in his eyes somewhat complex and dark.

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo was silent for a while before finally consoling: “Cousin, don’t think too much about it. The reason I told you these things was because I was afraid you’d get in too deep and end up hurting yourself.”

“Grandmother, aunt, and uncle all love you very much. You will live a safe and happy life in the future. You will meet that person who truly protects and loves you.” Even if that person isn’t second sister…

Wei Jing Mo ultimately didn’t say the last sentence.

He hoped Shen Ruo would follow his heart, not wanting him to feel any burden because of this.

As the words fell, a smile finally appeared on Shen Ruo’s face. He turned to look at Wei Jing Mo and smiled sincerely: “Thank you, cousin.”

After the two sat for a while, an attendant suddenly came to call Shen Ruo away.

Only Wei Jing Mo was left sitting there.

At this moment, a young attendant passing by accidentally bumped into his arm. The tea in Wei Jing Mo’s hand immediately spilled onto his clothes.

He was still wearing snow-white clothes today, and the blue-green tea stains on his robe were particularly noticeable.

Wei Jing Mo couldn’t help but frown. The young attendant was already frightened and kneeling on the ground, lowering his head and saying fearfully, “This slave deserves death! Please spare my life, young master!”

“Stop kowtowing, get up. Just be more careful in the future.”

Seeing him trembling all over, his forehead already bleeding from kowtowing, Wei Jing Mo felt uncomfortable and stopped him.

Hearing this, the young attendant immediately thanked him profusely, picked up the things he had put aside, and hurriedly got up to leave.

The blue-green tea stains had now spread on the robe. Wei Jing Mo looked down at the patch on his leg and couldn’t help but frown again.

He told Dong Gua to stay behind and wait for Shen Ruo, in case he came back and couldn’t find him and got worried.

Then he got up with Dong Qing and walked towards the back courtyard.

The Grand Tutor’s mansion had a courtyard where Wei Jing Mo lived. When he was younger, he often stayed at the Grand Tutor’s mansion for short periods.

Although he doesn’t come here much now, his clothes are always kept in the courtyard.

To get to the back courtyard, one must pass through a rockery. When Wei Jing Mo and Dong Qing reached the corner, they suddenly ran into the Fourth Princess Feng Bai Shao.

The rockery here greatly obstructed the view. If Wei Jing Mo hadn’t reacted quickly, he might have bumped right into her arms.

After seeing it was Feng Bai Shao, Wei Jing Mo couldn’t help but frown. Especially after feeling the burning and infatuated look in her eyes, his jade-like face became even more frosty.

Seeing him take a few steps back to avoid her, Feng Bai Shao retracted her outstretched arms with considerable regret. The usual arrogance on her face subsided a bit as she smiled insincerely, “What a coincidence, Young Master Wei. Are you also here to admire the beauty of this rockery?”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo didn’t answer, but only coldly bowed and saluted, “Greetings to the Fourth Princess.”

“Jing Mo has other matters to attend to, so he’ll take his leave first.”

After speaking, he wanted to bypass her and leave directly.

Seeing this, Feng Bai Shao took a step forward, blocking his path. Her face feigned gentleness as she said, “Why is Young Master Wei in such a hurry? This princess has been standing here for a long time, waiting especially for you.”

As her words fell, the smile on her face became somewhat ambiguous.

After hearing her words, a flash of bewilderment passed across Wei Jing Mo’s cold face, then, as if realizing something, his thin lips pressed tightly together.

He hadn’t expected that the young attendant from earlier had done it intentionally.

Seeing that he had figured it out, the smile on Feng Bai Shao’s face became increasingly unrestrained. She gestured behind her, signaling her attendants to block and take away Dong Qing who was behind Wei Jing Mo.

Her gaze became fiery as she looked at Wei Jing Mo, approaching him step by step.

Wei Jing Mo was forced to continuously retreat to the side, his body gradually tensing up. He stared at Feng Bai Shao’s actions with an unpleasant expression.

His clear and moist voice also became icily cold, “What is the Fourth Princess doing? This is the Grand Tutor’s mansion! It’s not a place for you to act recklessly!”

“What do you think this princess wants to do?”

Feng Bai Shao let out a wicked laugh: “You’re using the Grand Tutor’s mansion to pressure this princess? This princess thinks your body would be more useful…”

Such crude and vulgar words made Wei Jing Mo feel sticky and nauseated all over.

Feng Bai Shao noticed the undisguised disgust in his eyes, and the gentle facade on her face instantly shattered, becoming arrogant and haughty: “What? Does Young Master Wei think this princess is not good enough for you?”

Her tone even contained a hint of viciousness and ferocity.

Seeing Wei Jing Mo remain silent, a flash of malice passed through her eyes. She blocked his escape route and leaned in, intending to get close to him.

At this point, Wei Jing Mo had been forced into a corner with nowhere to retreat. His whole body trembled against the rockery wall, and a tear of panic even seeped out from the corner of his eye.

Just as he closed his eyes in helplessness and despair, he suddenly heard a “thud” sound beside his ear.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw that the Fourth Princess Feng Bai Shao was now lying on the ground.

Wei Jing Mo looked up in a daze, only to see Feng Bai Su leaning against the wall, looking at him with a flushed face.