This was the first time Shen Que had proactively mentioned Gu Qingcheng to her. It was known that Shen Que and Gu Qingcheng were the story’s main couple. Even if the female lead eloped with Lu Mowei, Shen Que still couldn’t forget her.
The Original Owner and the female lead were half-sisters by the same father, resembling each other about fifty percent; with some makeup and grooming, the resemblance could reach seventy percent.
Their biggest difference was that the female lead was talented, while the Original Owner was a good-for-nothing.
And now, Shen Que insisted on pouring knowledge into the good-for-nothing’s head every day…
So…
Could it be that he intended to train her to become a stand-in for the female lead?
She couldn’t sleep at all, tossing and turning in her bed until the Yin hour before finally drifting off.
When she awoke, it was already the Chen hour. Gu Ningning felt a pair of large hands pinching her waist in her groggy state and immediately raised her hands to push the person away.
The next moment, she felt her entire body flipped over, the soft bed beneath her replaced by something hard.
Her eyes snapped open, meeting Shen Que’s handsome face. She was lying on top of him, his firm arms encircling her waist, the hard surface beneath her being his body.
Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him for balance, her soft voice drowsy and muffled:
“Your Highness, could you go see Yun Secondary Consort or Zhaoyi Bai instead?”
Her soft face pressed against his solid chest, clearly still half-asleep. Shen Que found it adorable and smoothed her silky hair.
“You’ve grown weak because you stay inside all day. I’m going to the Military Camp for inspection this morning; why not come with me to exercise a little?”
Gu Ningning was startled awake. She quickly hugged Shen Que and rubbed against him, planting a kiss on his chin in a coquettish manner.
“This concubine still has to pay respects to Yun Secondary Consort this morning. If I follow Your Highness, Secondary Consort will surely be upset.”
It wasn’t her body he was exercising, so she might as well lie comfortably.
Shen Que paused to think, but in the end, he didn’t force her.
Gu Ningning breathed a sigh of relief, no longer daring to sleep. She struggled to get up, saying, “Your Highness still has affairs to attend. This concubine will assist Your Highness in dressing.”
She wanted him gone quickly, lest he make some ridiculous demand.
While helping Shen Que dress, Chang Yue had already brought in his clothing for the day: a black Xuanniao-patterned formal robe. Gu Ningning, still yawning, helped him put it on, accidentally fastening two straps incorrectly.
Shen Que frowned in displeasure. “How is it that you always seem half-asleep?”
“…” Gu Ningning thought: That’s just how a worker is.
After fastening the last strap and adding a jade pendant at his waist, she teased softly,
“Your Highness has extraordinary energy, yet complains that ordinary people need sleep… If Your Highness keeps this up, this concubine will ignore you.”
Shen Que was appeased by her words, lifting her onto his lap at the bedside. His long fingers brushed her nose.
“In the past, you didn’t dare speak. Now, only half a month with me, and you’ve learned flattery.”
Despite having read countless novels, Gu Ningning was still just a modern worker, never having had a boyfriend.
Shen Que was unlike other Crown Princes. From a young age, he had fought on the battlefield. Though well-read, he exuded a lethal aura. With such a man, all she could do was shed some tears and appear pitiful—she didn’t know what else to say.
Even now, they had little in common. Most of their time together was spent on… that, with only occasional conversations.
Their relationship was basically a pure friends-with-benefits arrangement.
She cautiously asked, “Your Highness, do you prefer someone who does not flatter you?”
Shen Que held her without speaking.
She continued, “If Your Highness prefers someone who doesn’t flatter, why not look to Yun Secondary Consort or Zhaoyi Bai?
“They are all noble ladies who can discuss poetry and state affairs with Your Highness. They’re far better than this concubine, a good-for-nothing.”
She earnestly recommended others, honestly feeling pressured by being with Shen Que.
Shen Que watched her in thought, then asked, “Do you really want me to favor someone else?”
Gu Ningning eagerly nodded like a pecking chick, hugging his waist coquettishly,
“Your Highness is not only mine. I heard that Empress has been urging Your Highness to produce an heir. My humble status means I cannot fulfill that duty; I can only pray that other sisters bear children for Wang Ye.”
She spoke to herself before daring to look at Shen Que’s face, seeing him smirk with a trace of cold in his phoenix-like eyes.
She remembered that while he could playfully tease her, he was cunning and domineering. She didn’t dare speak, afraid a misstep might prematurely end her role—or worse, cripple her for future tasks.
Though Gu Ningning’s words were meant to consider him, Shen Que, as Crown Prince, couldn’t ignore other women in the Eastern Palace. Hearing her try to push him toward others stirred a hidden anger in him.
He had no patience for lingering affection and stood, “I’m going to the court.”
His movement was slightly rough; Gu Ningning nearly fell, but she feigned effort to hold him back, “Your Highness!”
Her only response was a heavy slam of the door.
She exhaled in relief.
Xiao Tao, who had been standing at the door, rushed in and helped Gu Ningning back onto the bed, concerned:
“Did Maid-Concubine accidentally anger Your Highness? Recently, I’ve become acquainted with Chang’s little assistant, Xiaoxiang. Perhaps I could inquire with him about Your Highness?”
Gu Ningning shook her head, feigning solemnity: “Forget it. Xiaoxiang is Your Highness’s servant. If he knows we’re spying, Your Highness may become even more displeased.”
She was joking; she had barely escaped misery and didn’t want more suffering.
Xiao Tao, seemingly reassured, nodded firmly, “Maid-Concubine is right!”
She continued, “I believe with Maid-Concubine’s intelligence, she will surely regain Your Highness’s favor!”
Gu Ningning: …
Once Shen Que left Chaoyan Courtyard, Chang Yue approached him.
His expression was unreadable. Chang Yue, skilled at reading cues, bowed and asked, “Has Maid-Concubine angered Your Highness?”
Shen Que pressed his lips together. Dressed in black, his stern expression amplified his imposing presence, causing even seasoned Chang Yue to break into a sweat.
Fortunately, his aura softened quickly. Chang Yue helped him into the carriage and followed inside.
It was the same carriage Shen Que and Gu Ningning had used the previous day, but all traces of her scent had been removed, even the cushion she had accidentally dirtied had been replaced.