Although Shen Xuan’s thoughts had already descended into complete chaos, not a trace of it appeared on her little face.
She lowered her eyes obediently, standing quietly beside Old Madam Shen like the well-behaved daughter of a noble family.
Seeing everyone’s respectful posture, the young Crown Prince merely gave a slight nod.
"You may all dispense with the formalities."
His voice was calm and steady.
Though only ten years old, every word carried a natural authority that made even seasoned officials unconsciously obey.
Only after His Imperial Highness had taken his seat did everyone else slowly return to theirs.
Shen Xuan secretly glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"He really does have the bearing of a future emperor..."
"No wonder the ministers in the novel admired him so much."
"It’s just... why did such a sensible-looking person grow up to become an obsessive lunatic?"
Thinking of the tragic ending from the novel, Shen Xuan quietly shivered.
"No, no."
"I must stay far away from him."
"The farther, the better."
Just then, Shen Ruiwen smiled warmly.
"Awu."
His gentle voice immediately drew her attention.
"Come here."
Shen Xuan’s heart skipped a beat.
"Father..."
"Please don’t tell me..."
She slowly walked over with tiny, hesitant steps.
Shen Ruiwen affectionately placed a hand on her head before turning toward the Crown Prince.
"Your Imperial Highness."
"This is my youngest daughter, Shen Xuan."
"The little girl this subject mentioned to Your Highness previously."
With a gentle push on her shoulder, he encouraged her to step forward.
Shen Xuan’s smile nearly froze.
"Father!"
"Have I offended you in this life?"
"Why are you personally pushing your precious daughter into the tiger’s den?"
"I finally managed to avoid him for five whole years!"
"And now you’ve delivered me right before him!"
Despite the storm raging inside her heart, Shen Xuan obediently walked forward.
She clasped her tiny hands together and performed a proper bow.
"This subject greets Your Imperial Highness."
Her voice was soft and sweet, befitting a five-year-old child.
At that exact moment...
Zhang Jingyuan frowned ever so slightly.
"...Hm?"
His dark eyes swept across the room.
Who had spoken?
The voice had clearly belonged to a little girl.
Yet...
No one’s lips had moved.
The hall remained completely silent.
For a brief moment, he even wondered if he had imagined it.
Then—
"Please don’t notice me."
"Please don’t look at me."
"I’ll be a very obedient little salted fish."
"You can obsess over anyone in the future except me."
The childish voice echoed clearly inside his mind once more.
Zhang Jingyuan’s pupils contracted.
His gaze slowly settled upon the tiny girl standing before him.
Only she remained silent...
Yet the strange voice seemed to come from her.
Could it be...
He was hearing her thoughts?
The Crown Prince stared at Shen Xuan without blinking.
Shen Xuan immediately stiffened.
"Why is he looking at me?"
"Did I bow incorrectly?"
"No..."
"I practiced with Big Sister yesterday."
"Then why is he staring?"
"Don’t tell me children in ancient times are this frightening..."
Seeing the Crown Prince’s unwavering gaze, Shen Xuan instinctively took two tiny steps backward before hiding behind her father’s robes.
Only half of her little face peeked out cautiously.
Her bright eyes were filled with nervousness.
She truly looked like a frightened little rabbit.
Shen Ruiwen smiled helplessly.
He gently rubbed his daughter’s head.
"Please forgive her, Your Imperial Highness."
"Awu is still young."
"She becomes timid whenever she meets strangers."
Hidden behind her father’s sleeve, Shen Xuan nodded vigorously.
"Yes!"
"Exactly!"
"Father understands me the best."
"I’m shy."
"Very, very shy."
"So please don’t keep looking at me!"
The childish voice once again sounded inside Zhang Jingyuan’s mind.
This time...
He was certain.
The voice belonged to Shen Xuan.
Yet her lips remained tightly closed.
An indescribable emotion flickered across his usually calm eyes.
Interesting...
How could such a thing exist?
After a moment of silence, Zhang Jingyuan finally withdrew his gaze.
"There’s no need for an apology."
"Young children naturally fear unfamiliar faces."
A/N: He’s a young child as well, isn’t he? *rolls eyes in adulthood*
His tone remained as calm as ever, revealing nothing of the astonishment hidden beneath.
He slowly rose from his seat.
"I have disturbed the Shen family long enough."
"I shall take my leave."
The entire Shen family immediately stood.
Shen Ruiwen stepped forward.
"This subject respectfully sees Your Imperial Highness off."
The ladies also lowered themselves in greeting.
"May Your Imperial Highness have a safe journey."
Surrounded by palace guards and eunuchs, Zhang Jingyuan calmly walked out of the Main Hall.
Only after his figure completely disappeared did the tense atmosphere gradually relax.
Shen Xuan secretly let out the breath she had been holding.
"Survived..."
"I actually survived..."
"The first encounter has ended safely."
"Excellent!"
"As long as I continue avoiding him, I’ll definitely escape the original plot."
She happily patted her own little chest.
Completely unaware...
The plot had already begun to change.
Outside the Shen Residence, the luxurious imperial carriage waited quietly before the gates.
Snowflakes drifted gently through the cold morning air.
Before boarding the carriage, Zhang Jingyuan stopped and slowly looked back at the plaque hanging above the entrance.
Upon it were two powerful characters written in bold calligraphy.
Shen Residence.
His personal guard, Wei Feng, respectfully waited a few steps behind him.
After a long silence, the Crown Prince quietly murmured,
"...Shen Xuan."
Wei Feng blinked.
"Your Imperial Highness?"
"Did you say something?"
Zhang Jingyuan calmly withdrew his gaze.
"Nothing."
He stepped into the carriage.
The thick curtains were lowered, shielding him from the snowy streets outside.
The carriage gradually began moving toward the Imperial Palace.
Inside, Zhang Jingyuan rested one hand against the window while quietly recalling everything that had happened.
"Please don’t notice me..."
"I’ll just be a salted fish..."
The childish voice echoed vividly within his mind once again.
He had heard every single word.
Yet...
Not once had Shen Xuan opened her mouth.
"...So I truly wasn’t imagining it."
His eyes slowly narrowed.
"Can I really hear thoughts?"
"Or..."
"Am I only able to hear hers?"
For the first time in many years, the young Crown Prince found himself curious about someone.
Originally, he had only visited the Shen Residence because the Empress had repeatedly urged him to become familiar with the Shen family.
The Shen clan held immense influence in court.
His mother believed maintaining a close relationship with Grand Chancellor Shen would strengthen his future reign.
As for marriage...
The Empress had once casually remarked that if fate allowed, one of the Shen daughters would make an excellent Crown Princess.
At the time, Zhang Jingyuan had paid little attention to those words.
Marriage, to him, was merely another responsibility of the imperial family.
Love had never crossed his mind.
After all...
He had never seen love between his own parents.
His mother, the Empress, was the Grand Princess of the neighboring Kingdom of Xin.
She had married the Emperor of Yin to seal an alliance between the two kingdoms.
Their marriage had brought peace to two nations.
But never happiness to themselves.
They respected one another.
Trusted one another.
Yet...
There was no affection between them.
As the palace walls gradually came into view, Zhang Jingyuan closed his eyes.
A faint smile, so slight that even he failed to notice it, touched the corners of his lips.
For some reason...
He suddenly looked forward to his next visit to the Shen Residence.