Shen Xuan did not even dare to turn around.
The moment she heard the unfamiliar male voice behind her, every terrifying story she had ever read in her previous life flooded into her mind all at once.
"It’s over!"
"I’ve really been targeted by kidnappers!"
Without thinking any further, she lifted the hem of her little skirt and ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her.
Her rabbit-fur cloak fluttered behind her as she hurried through the winding streets.
The festive noises gradually faded.
The bustling crowds disappeared.
The rows of lanterns became fewer and fewer.
All Shen Xuan knew was that she had to keep running.
She did not dare look back.
She did not dare stop.
Her little chest rose and fell rapidly as cold air filled her lungs.
"Haa... haa..."
Her feet began to ache.
Her breathing became uneven.
Still...
She forced herself to continue.
Only after her legs could no longer keep up did she finally stop.
Bending over with both hands resting on her knees, she panted heavily.
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
After calming herself slightly, Shen Xuan slowly lifted her head.
The moment she looked around...
Her face turned pale.
"...Eh?"
The lively capital had disappeared.
Instead...
She found herself standing inside a quiet alley.
The cheerful laughter from the festival had become distant.
Only the cold winter wind remained.
The narrow stone pathway stretched ahead without a single passerby.
Snowflakes drifted silently onto the empty rooftops.
Not a soul could be seen.
Shen Xuan’s heart sank.
"...I’m lost."
She blinked.
Then blinked again.
Before she knew it...
Large tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Waa..."
She hurriedly covered her own mouth.
"It’s over..."
"This is really the end..."
"I haven’t even tasted all the delicious food in this world..."
"Mother still promised to teach me how to make lotus cakes..."
"Big Sister said she’d teach me the guqin next spring..."
"Second Brother promised to catch rabbits with me..."
"Big Brother still hasn’t taken me to the academy..."
"Grandmother said she’d tell me stories tonight..."
"Father..."
"Mother..."
The more she thought about them...
The harder she cried.
Tears blurred her vision until the entire world became a hazy white.
Just then...
A clean white handkerchief quietly appeared before her.
Shen Xuan froze.
She slowly raised her head.
After rubbing away the tears with the back of her sleeve, the blurry figure gradually became clear.
A young boy dressed in a black brocade robe stood before her.
Snowflakes landed upon his shoulders.
His handsome face remained as calm as ever.
Dark eyes quietly watched her without the slightest impatience.
Shen Xuan’s eyes widened.
"...Zhang Jingyuan?!"
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Only after realizing what she had done did Shen Xuan slowly cover her own mouth.
Her little face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Finished..."
"I’m completely finished..."
"I..."
"I actually called the Crown Prince by his given name..."
"That’s disrespecting the imperial family!"
"Will I be dragged away and beheaded?"
"No..."
"I’m only five..."
"Maybe they’ll wait until I’m older before beheading me?"
Thinking that far...
Fresh tears immediately flowed down her face.
Seeing the little girl’s expression changing every few breaths, Zhang Jingyuan found it both amusing and helpless.
He had no idea why those ridiculous thoughts were running through her little head.
But he could hear every single one.
Unable to stop himself...
A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
The sound was so soft that Shen Xuan almost thought she had imagined it.
Without another word, Zhang Jingyuan crouched until he was level with her.
Using the handkerchief, he gently wiped away the tears staining her flushed cheeks.
His movements were surprisingly careful.
As though afraid of hurting her.
Shen Xuan stared blankly.
"He’s..."
"Actually wiping my tears?"
"Wait..."
"Isn’t this the terrifying male lead?"
"Why does he suddenly seem..."
Before she could finish thinking—
Tap.
"Ow!"
She immediately covered her forehead.
Her watery eyes glared pitifully at the Crown Prince.
Zhang Jingyuan calmly withdrew his hand.
"This Prince has been speaking to you."
"You did not hear a single word."
Only then did Shen Xuan realize...
Her thoughts had wandered off again.
She lowered her head in embarrassment.
"...This daughter apologizes."
Zhang Jingyuan sighed inwardly.
When he first heard Shen Xuan’s frantic thoughts in the crowded marketplace, he had assumed he was imagining things again.
Ever since meeting her several months ago...
Her strange voice would occasionally echo within his memory.
He had originally planned to visit the Shen Residence again.
Unfortunately...
His lessons had become increasingly demanding.
Court discussions.
State affairs.
Meetings with ministers.
Military reports.
His days were filled from morning until night.
Even today’s outing had only happened because he had secretly slipped out of the palace with Wei Feng to enjoy a brief moment of freedom before the New Year banquet.
Then...
He heard her voice again.
"I’m going to be kidnapped!"
"Father!"
"Mother!"
The panic inside that childish voice had been so genuine that his heart skipped a beat.
At first, he thought he had simply missed hearing those strange thoughts.
Until...
A small white figure dashed across the street before his eyes.
Without hesitation...
He followed.
Looking at the little girl before him now...
Her cheeks were red from crying.
Her nose was slightly pink from the cold.
Even her eyelashes were wet with tears.
She looked like a frightened little dumpling abandoned in the snow.
For some unknown reason...
His chest tightened slightly.
He silently made a decision.
"When I return..."
"I’ll send one Shadow Guard to protect her."
"From today onward..."
"She must never find herself in danger like this again."
After a moment of silence, Zhang Jingyuan extended his hand.
"I’ll take you home."
Shen Xuan looked down at his hand.
Her adult mind immediately screamed.
"No!"
"Stay away from the future obsessive male lead!"
"Distance!"
"Maintain distance!"
Yet...
Her five-year-old body had already reached out.
Tiny fingers quietly wrapped around his hand.
Warm.
Steady.
Safe.
Only after she had grabbed him did Shen Xuan realize what she had done.
She secretly wanted to cry.
"Body..."
"Could you at least listen to your brain once?"
The corners of Zhang Jingyuan’s lips lifted almost imperceptibly.
He led her toward the waiting carriage.
Wei Feng stood outside, his usually expressionless face finally showing surprise.
His Highness...
Was holding someone’s hand.
A little girl, no less.
What a rare sight.
Neither master nor servant spoke as Shen Xuan climbed into the imperial carriage.
The interior was unexpectedly simple.
There were no excessive golden ornaments.
Only elegant sandalwood furnishings, neatly arranged books, a small tea table, and a bronze incense burner emitting a faint fragrance.
Everything reflected the Crown Prince’s restrained temperament.
As Shen Xuan curiously looked around...
A wave of dizziness suddenly washed over her.
"...Mm..."
Her face gradually became redder.
She tugged at the fur around her neck.
"It feels... so hot..."
Zhang Jingyuan immediately noticed.
He gently placed the back of his hand against her forehead.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes changed.
"...She’s burning with fever."
He looked at the tiny girl, who was already struggling to keep her eyes open.
"Such a fragile little child."
Without another word, he lifted the carriage curtain.
"Wei Feng."
"Tell the coachman to return to the Shen Residence immediately."
"Faster."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The horses immediately sped through the snowy streets.
Inside the carriage...
Zhang Jingyuan found himself at a complete loss.
He had never cared for a child before.
Nor had anyone ever taught him how.
Watching Shen Xuan’s tiny head sway sleepily with every bump in the road, he quietly moved closer so she would not accidentally strike the carriage wall.
Not long afterward...
The Shen Residence finally came into view.
Before the carriage had even stopped completely...
Several anxious figures rushed forward.
Shen Ruiwen.
Shen Zhiqian.
Shen Ziheng.
All three looked as though they had aged several years in only one afternoon.
The moment Shen Ruiwen saw Shen Xuan inside the carriage...
Relief flooded his face.
"Awu!"
But that relief quickly turned into alarm.
His precious daughter was burning with fever.
Without wasting another moment, he carefully carried Shen Xuan into his arms.
"Quick!"
"Summon the physician!"
"The physician!"
The entire Shen Residence instantly fell into chaos.
Standing beside the carriage, Zhang Jingyuan quietly watched until Shen Xuan disappeared behind the gates.
Only then did he turn around.
As the carriage slowly departed, he gazed once toward the bustling Shen Residence.
"I never wish to see her crying like that again."
The thought came naturally.
Almost instinctively.
Looking out through the gently swaying carriage curtain, Zhang Jingyuan silently memorized it.
When he returned to the palace tonight...
One Shadow Guard would quietly leave the imperial palace.
From this day onward...
Shen Xuan would never again be truly alone.
A/N: The world then was really frightening though *shivers in transmigation*