The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Shen Tinghe raised her chin: "Am I amazing?"

Xie Yanzhao: "Impressive."

He held her hand, which she hadn't yet let go of, and gently wrapped his fingertips around her fingers.

"One more arrow."

Shen Tinghe, however, refused to comply.

She had at least practiced archery and basic martial arts with her master for a few years when she was young, and felt that her skills were still there, so she didn't need him to teach her like this.

"I want to do it myself." Her voice was clear and crisp, with a hint of spoiled defiance.

Xie Yanzhao raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. Surprisingly, he didn't refute her, but released his grip and took a half step back.

"Okay, try it yourself."

His warm breath withdrew, and the weight of his bent body pressed clearly onto Shen Tinghe's wrist.

She pursed her lips, forcefully lifted the heavy imperial longbow, nocked an arrow, and drew the string, but her arm trembled slightly.

Concentrate and hold your breath, then loosen your grip—

The arrow flew weakly through the air, but before it reached the halfway point, it collapsed to the ground, not even grazing the edge of the target.

Shen Tinghe frowned, her cheeks flushed slightly from the effort and embarrassment. She let out a soft snort, turned her head, and glared at Xie Yanzhao, who was standing to the side, looking completely at ease. Her eyes were filled with obvious dissatisfaction.

Xie Yanzhao finally couldn't help but chuckle, took a few steps forward to get closer again, and gently pinched her puffed-up cheeks with his warm fingers.

"You've really made Yuan Yuan's temper grow bigger and bigger."

His tone was full of indulgent mockery.

She is now like a spoiled, pampered cat, needing to be constantly stroked and pampered, and will show her soft claws to scratch people if she is not satisfied.

"When I was little, I could shoot it myself," Shen Tinghe muttered softly, with a hint of resentment and frustration.

Xie Yanzhao had once again wrapped his arms around her from behind, his palm firmly supporting her aching forearm, while his other hand covered her hand that was playing the zither.

"That was so many years ago. Besides, this bow is nothing like the little bamboo bow you played with when you were a child."

He guided her hand and slowly drew the bowstring taut.

With a "whoosh," the arrow pierced the wind and landed firmly in the distant bullseye.

On the firing range, the sun shone brightly, and laughter filled the air.

Meanwhile, in a secluded pavilion some distance behind the firing range, Xie Xuancheng stood alone by the railing, coldly looking down at this glaring scene.

Every time he saw them whispering sweet nothings and smiling broadly, he felt a thorn pricking his heart.

Over the years, he has been like a shadow that cannot be seen in the light, only able to hide in the shadows and watch helplessly as Xie Yanzhao possesses everything he has ever dreamed of, especially her.

"Yuan Yuan..." The name rolled silently in her throat.

In countless sleepless nights, he had already chewed on those two words a million times, imbued with an obsession and yearning unknown to anyone.

When will the person standing beside her, reflected in her eyes, finally become him?

I heard light, hurried footsteps behind me.

The sinister glint in Xie Xuancheng's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by his usual calm and gentle demeanor. The momentary distortion seemed like nothing more than an illusion.

He Qinghui walked forward, slightly out of breath.

Today, they entered the palace together to pay their respects to Consort Ming. In front of his mother, Xie Xuancheng was quite polite to her, but as soon as they left the palace, he walked like the wind, not caring at all about how hard she was trying to catch up with him.

"Your Highness..." She looked in the direction Xie Xuancheng had been gazing and saw the dazzling figures on the shooting range.

She was aware of her husband's ambitions, but at the moment she only thought he was observing the crown prince.

However, He Qinghui's gaze involuntarily fell on Shen Tinghe.

The Crown Princess, whose smile was as bright as spring sunshine, was being carefully protected in the Crown Prince's arms.

Who in the entire capital didn't envy her? She was the sole favorite of the Crown Prince, whose affection for her remained unwavering.

Before her wedding, He Qinghui had also harbored some hopes.

Even though she knew Xie Xuancheng's heart wasn't with her, if they could live a harmonious and respectful life together, they could still get by.

But reality is cold. Seeing others so affectionate and tender, compared to the suffocating silence behind me, bitterness and envy surge like a tide, making it hard to breathe.

Seeing her approach, Xie Xuancheng glanced one last time at the shooting range before turning to leave, saying, "Let's go."

"Your Highness..." He Qingsui subconsciously tugged at his sleeve.

Xie Xuancheng turned to look at her, his gaze calm and unwavering.

He Qinghui mustered her courage, but her voice lowered: "Just now in my mother's palace... she mentioned that she hopes to enjoy the company of her grandchildren soon..."

Her forced, dignified smile had long since stiffened; no one knew how desolate their wedding night was.

To this day, she remains a princess in name only.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xuancheng's lips curved into a gentle smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes at all.

He reached out and grasped He Qinghui's hand; her palm was icy cold.

"Qing Sui, on our wedding day, I told you this. As long as you behave yourself, are sensible and obedient, I will give you all the respect due to you."

Before he could finish speaking, He Qinghui understood the unspoken message from his cold eyes.

If she doesn't obey, she'll definitely face a tough time.

After saying that, Xie Xuancheng took her hand and walked forward.

At least within the palace grounds, this superficial formality still needs to be maintained.

He Qingsui stared blankly at their clasped hands; his fingers were long and slender but cold, without a trace of warmth.

This hypocritical partnership only brought her endless sorrow.

Eastern Palace Warm Tent

Shen Tinghe leaned lazily against Xie Yanzhao's chest, like a sleepy cat, and let out a soft yawn.

Xie Yanzhao frowned slightly, his fingertips dipping into the cool Jade Skin Cream, and carefully applied it to her reddened palms.

Although I didn't break any skin during archery practice today, my delicate skin is already red.

He lowered his eyes and blew gently, his warm breath brushing against her palm.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little," Shen Tinghe said in a coquettish tone.

Xie Yanzhao lifted her chin and lightly pecked her lips twice, as if to comfort her.

Shen Tinghe seized the opportunity to feign innocence: "If I could drink some plum blossom wine and eat a few pieces of translucent plum blossom rice cake, maybe the pain would subside."

Xie Yanzhao chuckled and applied some more ointment: "Perhaps after applying the medicine, your brother will be able to hold you and lull you to sleep without it hurting."

Shen Tinghe snorted and made a move to pull her hand back, but he grabbed it with lightning speed.

"Be good, Yuan Yuan."

His voice when he called her by her nickname was always exceptionally gentle, filled with an irresistible doting affection.

The ointment gradually seeped in, carrying a cool, herbal scent.

Shen Tinghe curled up in his arms again and picked up the storybook she hadn't finished reading.

Xie Yanzhao wrapped his arms around her from behind, sometimes reading a few lines of text with her, and sometimes placing a kiss on her neck.

His daughter, Yuan Yuan, grew up in his palm.

She complained that the strings hurt her hands, so he exempted her from her studies; she was afraid of the cold and reluctant to get up, so he let her stay up until late in the morning.

In his eyes, his Yuan Yuan didn't need to learn those skills to please people, nor did she need to add any leverage to herself.

With him around, she is the most precious treasure in the world.

But this time is different.

During the autumn hunting ceremony, the emperor led his officials to the hunting grounds.

This year, the Crown Prince will preside over the hunt, and Xie Yanzhao will be required to shoot the first arrow.

He wanted his Yuan Yuan, his Crown Princess, to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, drawing the bow and shooting the arrow together.