Chapter 1413: Scheming Top Scorer
It was not that no one had ever praised her like this in her life. There were also many who went against their conscience and praised her beauty.
But how did he know that she was the one who did those things?
She had clearly not announced it to the public.
His eyes were clean and pure, without any flattery or scrutiny of her appearance.
Princess Jingning took the initiative to look away.
Taozhi leaned close to Princess Jingning’s ear and asked in a daze, “Princess… What is Lord Shen doing?”
Not to mention Taozhi, the surrounding pedestrians were also completely stunned.
Some commoners and vendors did not understand the first two sentences, but Shen Chuan listed the specific facts. They could understand these.
In their opinion, scolding the corrupt officials might not be a big deal. After all, she was a princess. With her status, she could scold the ministers of the Imperial Court whenever she wanted.
However, it was precisely because she was a princess that it was too rare for her to go to the epidemic town to help the refugees.
That was a place that even men like them might not have the guts to step foot in.
Shen Chuan’s words were enlightening. Everyone who had commented on Princess Jingning’s appearance just now instantly felt ashamed.
Shen Chuan looked at Princess Jingning and said, “Your Highness is eight ranks higher and has outstanding literary talent. I’m a good poet. I wonder if I have the honor to ask Your Highness for guidance?”
Taozhi widened her eyes and looked at her princess, reminding her softly, “Princess.”
Princess Jingning held the princess’s dignity and said without changing her expression, “Lord Shen, please go upstairs.”
The three of them entered the Flying Immortal Tower under everyone’s gaze.
Everyone followed and saw that the shopkeeper of the Flying Immortal Tower had blocked the door.
The shopkeeper placed his hands on his hips and said, “What are you looking at? Is the princess’s show something you can watch? Disperse, disperse!”
The shopkeeper invited Princess Jingning into the room on the second floor. “Princess, Lord Shen, please take a seat. I’ll get someone to prepare food and wine now!”
Jingning nodded slightly.
The shopkeeper retreated.
Taozhi went to pour tea for the two of them.
Shen Chuan cupped his hands at Jing Ning and said, “My words and actions just now were inappropriate. Please forgive me.”
“It’s fine.” Princess Jingning paused. “You’re allowed to do whatever you want.”
Shen Chuan was speechless.
Princess Jingning picked up the hot tea that Taozhi had poured and took a sip. “Didn’t you say that you wanted to recite poems with me?”
Taozhi whispered, “Princess, Lord Shen was just being polite.”
It was to let those people know that the princess had not lowered her status to invite him to a banquet. He had boldly climbed up the social ladder to consult the princess.
Even a little palace maid like her could tell.
Why did the princess take it seriously?
Shen Chuan said calmly, “Princess, please enlighten me.”
Princess Jingning looked at the crescent moon outside the window. “The moonlight is not bad today. How about we each compose a poem with the moon as the theme?”
Shen Chuan said seriously, “I’ve embarrassed myself.”
Taozhi looked at the two of them in shock.
She really did not expect the two of them to really recite poetry.
“The princess’ poem has a style and profound concept. I’m ashamed of my inferiority.”
“Lord Shen, you don’t have to be humble.”
“Princess, the dishes are served!”
Taozhi said excitedly.
Princess Jingning nodded.
Taozhi pushed open the door and the waiter of the restaurant served a large table full of good dishes.
Most of the dishes in the imperial kitchen were light. Very few people knew that Princess Jingning liked spicy food.
More than half of the delicacies presented today were Princess Jingning’s favorites.
Princess Jing Ning glanced at Shen Chuan.
Shen Chuan looked at these dishes and something flashed across his eyes.
He said to Princess Jingning, “I suddenly remembered that there are a few peach trees in the backyard of the Flying Immortal Tower. I’ll pick some fresh peaches.”
Princess Jing Ning nodded slightly.
Shen Chuan left room house and looked down the corridor. He saw a sneaky head quickly retracting into a room at the end of the west corridor.
The princess had already cleared the area when she came to eat. It was impossible for there to be any guests.
Unless—
Shen Chuan quickly walked over and pushed open the door.
The owner of the small head had just sat back down. Her butt was not warm yet, and she blinked at him.
Shen Chuan asked, “Miss Su?”
Su Xiaoxiao smiled brightly. “Long time no see.”
Shen Chuan glanced around. Wei Ting, Su Ergou, Su Cheng, Cheng Sang, and that mysterious “grandfather” were all there.
He asked in a daze, “Why… are you here?”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “This is my family’s restaurant. We just returned today. My father is welcoming me.”
“When did it… become your restaurant?”
He clearly remembered that the Flying Immortal Restaurant was an old restaurant!
Zongzheng Wei cleared his throat and said calmly, “Ergou likes to eat the peaches planted in the backyard of the Flying Immortal Tower.”
The corners of Shen Chuan’s mouth twitched. So you bought the Flying Immortal Tower?
You are really… rich!
He had already sensed that something was wrong when he saw the table of dishes. Half of them were the princess’s favorites, and the other half were his favorites.
Thinking about it, only Miss Su knew their preferences so well.
However, he did not expect that the entire family of the Protectorate was there.
Su Xiaoxiao grabbed a basket of freshly washed peaches and stuffed them into his arms. “Go quickly! Don’t let my Ningning wait too long!”
“I…”
Shen Chuan wanted to say something, but Su Cheng dragged him out and closed the door.
Su Cheng raised his eyebrows and said, “Daughter, Dad did well, right?”
Su Xiaoxiao nodded. “Dad is the best!”
Wei Ting muutered, “That’s not what you said when you praised General Wei.”
Shen Chuan returned to the room with a basket of peaches.
Taozhi was surprised. “So soon?”
“Uh… yeah.”
Shen Chuan agreed vaguely.
It was better not to let the princess know that Miss Su’s entire family had seen the scene on the streets.
After dinner, it was still early.
Princess Jingning suggested playing chess with Shen Chuan again.
Shen Chuan naturally accompanied her.
The two of them fought back and forth for a few rounds.
At first, Shen Chuan was in an excellent state, and his moves were especially sharp. He did not give in at all just because the other party was a princess.
After losing two rounds in a row, Jingning gradually entered a good state. She gradually saw through Shen Chuan’s methods and won three rounds in one go.
By the sixth round, Jingning won by a narrow margin.
“Phew.”
Shen Chuan heaved a sigh of relief. “Princess, your chess skills are superb. I admire you!”
Princess Jingning looked at him suspiciously. “Scholar Shen, were you giving in to me?”
Her address would change with her mental state. When she called him Scholar Shen, it seemed to have an indescribable meaning.
Shen Chuan asked, “Princess, why do you say that?”
Jing Ning hit the nail on the head. “I’m a princess. You guys don’t dare to beat me because of my status. I have to say that you’re very obscure. First, you beat me, then you deliberately fed me moves to let me see through your tricks and think that I beat you with my strength.”
Shen Chuan sighed helplessly. “The princess is Miss Su’s friend. I often hear her mention the princess and know that the princess is not a narrow-minded person and doesn’t like flattery. I have no intention of giving in. The princess has won countless times over the years. Have you thought of a possibility? It’s not that others want to give in, but that the princess does have such strength?”
Jingning was stunned again.
“It’s getting late. I should go.”
She got up and left the room.
The shopkeeper prepared the carriage.
Shen Chuan cupped his hands and sent her off.
It was not until the carriage disappeared into the night that Wei Ting and Su Xiaoxiao walked over.
Wei Ting asked casually, “You really didn’t let her win?”
Shen Chuan said, “I did.”
Su Xiaoxiao was speechless.