Chapter 15: Her Highness the Eldest Princess Grateful for Chu Huangzi’s Life-Saving Grace, Swears Brotherhood with Him as Sworn Siblings

At this moment, Chu Xingchen was exceptionally tranquil, resembling a slumbering prince from a fairy tale, devoid of any trace of stubbornness or obsession.

Now, he seemed like a young beast lost in deep sleep, serene and peaceful, the sharpness and ferocity in his eyes gone, replaced by a youthful spirit befitting his age—the way a boy his age should be.

Zhang Susu gazed at the youth before her, utterly unable to connect the obsessive, tyrannical emperor from the novel with the person lying before her now.

Whenever she thought of how those very hands would personally subject her to Flaying and Grass-Stuffing five years later while she was still alive, Zhang Susu couldn’t help but tremble with fear.

Yet, at the same time, Zhang Susu refused to believe it. In her heart, she truly believed that Chu Xingchen’s mind was still immature. Despite Su Yingxue’s past abuse—flogging, tormenting, and humiliating him—his conscience remained intact, willing to save her life in a moment of crisis.

From this, Zhang Susu was willing to gamble on defying fate and changing destiny, and she was also willing to believe that Chu Xingchen was inherently a kind person.

Zhang Susu was willing to take that gamble. She wagered that Chu Xingchen had simply met the wrong people. If she, Zhang Susu, sincerely atoned for her sins, treated Chu Xingchen with genuine kindness, exchanged heart for heart, and guided him with the virtues of an upright gentleman to understand propriety and wisdom, then one day, Chu Xingchen would surely become a humble gentleman—righteous, kind, well-educated, courteous, and knowledgeable.

“Qiushuang, no matter what, from the moment he saved This Palace from the brink of death in the lake, This Palace felt as if enlightened, clearly realizing how wrong my past actions toward him had been.”

Su Yingxue looked at Chu Xingchen before her and sighed. She couldn’t possibly tell Qiushuang that she had transmigrated into the book and knew almost everything about the future political situation and plot. She could only gloss over it vaguely. “Chu Xingchen saved This Palace’s life, so from now on, This Palace must protect his safety.”

“As long as This Palace remains in this palace for a single day, he will henceforth be This Palace’s person. Whoever dares to bully him bullies This Palace. Whoever dares to harm him harms This Palace!”

Su Yingxue declared to Qiushuang, word by word, “Starting tomorrow, send people to spread the word: Her Highness the Eldest Princess, grateful for Chu Huangzi’s life-saving grace, has sworn brotherhood with Chu Huangzi as sworn siblings. From now on, Chu Xingchen is the younger brother This Palace acknowledges. All attendants and maids in the Eldest Princess’s residence shall treat this younger brother as they would treat This Palace!”

“Henceforth, Chu Xingchen shall reside in the Princess’s Palace, to facilitate his recovery and for This Palace, as his Elder Sister, to properly care for her younger brother. After all, this is also specially permitted by Your Majesty!”

“Qiushuang, keep a close watch on those servants from the Cold Palace. Tomorrow, This Palace will personally seek justice for Chu Xingchen!”

Su Yingxue had just noticed that when she declared her intention to protect his safety, Chu Xingchen, who should have been unconscious on the bed, suddenly trembled his eyelashes ever so slightly. Though fleeting, a young man after all is still a young man, unable to fully conceal his emotions.

So, Chu Xingchen had been pretending to sleep all along.

This Chu Xingchen is quite interesting. Zhang Susu smiled faintly. Though somewhat scheming, he is still a green youth after all, not entirely capable of hiding his emotions. Even pretending to sleep reveals flaws. Such a green youth should be much easier to deal with compared to cunning and seasoned court officials, shouldn’t he?

Since Chu Xingchen wanted to eavesdrop, Zhang Susu decided to openly share her thoughts and plans with him.

Zhang Susu could understand why Chu Xingchen was wary and distrustful of her. After all, who would believe that someone who had tormented him daily for amusement would suddenly develop a conscience, care for him, and tend to his wounds?

Chu Xingchen’s actions were fitting for a future ruler of the Sheng Kingdom, one who would expand its territories with shrewdness and foresight. For now, he was merely at a disadvantage in terms of age and experience. He was still a child—let him be deceived a few more times, and he would come to understand the dangers of the world and the deceitfulness of human hearts.

A young boy confined to the depths of the palace was no match for her, a seasoned bookworm who had honed her skills over the years. He was still too green, too inexperienced.

Su Yingxue thought with a hint of disdain. Moreover, she had the System to rely on. Although it was currently dormant, compared to an NPC from a scripted Otherworld without any cheats, what did she have to fear?

At least for now, her status as the Eldest Princess far surpassed Chu Xingchen’s current standing.

At least for now, the power she wielded within the Dasheng Royal Palace far exceeded his. There was nothing for her to fear.

Since Chu Xingchen still did not want her there and remained guarded against her, she figured it best to leave so he could rest assured.

With this in mind, Su Yingxue changed the cloth on his forehead one last time, tucked the blanket snugly around him, and said softly, “Qiushuang, it’s getting late. Accompany This Palace back to the Main Hall.”

Su Yingxue gently supported Qiushuang’s hand as they walked out. Just as they reached the screen, she seemed to remember something and added softly, “Oh, and for tonight, have a few maids and attendants wait outside the hall to attend to him. By This Palace’s order, no one is to enter the hall without summons, lest they disturb Chu Huangzi’s rest.”

“Also, strictly instruct the maids and attendants in the Side Hall to take good care of Chu Huangzi. If even a single hair on his head is harmed or anything happens to him, the caretakers are to report to the palace’s head matron for thirty military lashes before coming to This Palace!”

Su Yingxue added, her voice ringing clearly throughout the hall, reaching even the one pretending to sleep on the bed.

Once Su Yingxue had stepped out of the Side Hall, Chu Xingchen, who had been lying unconscious on the bed, instantly opened his eyes. They were clear and bright, with no trace of the earlier slumber.

A shadowy figure leaped down from the rafters and knelt before Chu Xingchen, speaking in a hoarse voice, “Master, the task you entrusted has been completed. Zhaoxue has already begun keeping watch on Her Highness the Eldest Princess.”

Zhao Ying stood nearby, his voice raspy as he asked, “Master, what do you think the Eldest Princess is up to? Wasn’t she the one who despised you the most before? What kind of scheme is she selling now?”

Upon hearing this, Chu Xingchen frowned slightly.

He recalled the gentleness in her words earlier, the meticulous care with which she had tended to him, and her resolute declaration: “As long as This Palace remains in this palace for even a day, he will be This Palace’s person from now on. Whoever dares to bully him bullies This Palace. Whoever dares to harm him harms This Palace!”

Chu Xingchen’s brow furrowed. What was this? Was she still harboring ill intentions toward him? Did she want to take him as a male consort and, failing to break his spirit through torment and humiliation, resort to this? A policy of gentle persuasion, using softness to overcome hardness, first showing kindness to lower his guard? Did she have ulterior motives toward him?

As Chu Xingchen pondered this, his eyes turned sharp, and a surge of anger rose within him. He exclaimed furiously, “Don’t even think about it, you witch!”

Chu Xingchen’s gaze was profound, yet his eyes involuntarily fell upon the oddly shaped bandages wrapped around his body. As he stared at these unsightly bandages, he recalled moments earlier—though he hadn’t seen it, his mind vividly conjured the image of her personally applying medicine and wrapping the bandages for him. Unconsciously, a blush crept across his face.