11 – You’re Quite Good at Pampering People
Thus, with great joy and celebration, our little white lotus Consort Li, on the tenth day after Shi Sui’s marriage into the estate, was once again graced with two rounds of house arrest.
Shi Sui felt that Wen Nian was somewhat wicked, yet she couldn’t help but burst into laughter, slapping the table and laughing heartily. She had never been one to hold back her nature—she spoke her mind and never sat idly by when bullied. Wen Nian lowered his long lashes, watching her laugh, and unexpectedly found the scene rather heartwarming.
How could a girl laugh like that?
After laughing for a while, Shi Sui slumped back onto the table, as if suddenly realizing how dull things were. Here, she truly had no one to talk to, and Zhuye was also introverted. She felt that if she kept bottling things up, she might fall ill.
Seeing her suddenly turn gloomy, Wen Nian was puzzled. Just moments ago, she had been laughing so happily. He gently tapped his fingers on the table beside her and asked leisurely, “You’re quite difficult to please, aren’t you? So easily unhappy.”
Like a kitten, Shi Sui reached out and tugged at Wen Nian’s sleeve, pulling lightly as she asked, “Dong Zhi.”
Wen Nian knew that whenever she called him “Dong Zhi,” she was about to ask for something. His interest piqued, and his tone softened considerably. “Hmm? Go on.”
Shi Sui: “Spend more time with me, won’t you?”
Wen Nian was slightly taken aback and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
Shi Sui: “I’ve just arrived here and don’t know many people. You’re the only one who’s been kind to me.”
This was the truth. Since arriving, she had met quite a few people. Mu He, needless to say, was someone Shi Sui felt she didn’t share values with. Moreover, whenever she thought about how Mu He tormented the female lead in the original story, she grew irritated. As for a male lead who couldn’t refuse other girls’ advances—a so-called “central air conditioner”—Shi Sui had no interest in him either.
And the others? The maids and guards—there was always a barrier of status. Even when exchanging a few words, they were terrified, or they’d respond with rigid, formal answers. Shi Sui couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
It was only now that she realized it seemed only Wen Nian could give her a sense of belonging and peace of mind.
Wen Nian didn’t care for formalities and acted freely, which aligned closely with her modern mindset—pursuing freedom and disliking constraints.
Shi Sui couldn’t help but think: So this is what it means to be an outsider.
She had once read a saying: “A madman is called a madman because the world in his eyes is incomprehensible to most people. So, most people give them a name: ‘madman,’ ‘lunatic.'”
Perhaps, without realizing it, Shi Sui had also become a “madman” in the eyes of most people in this world.
When Shi Sui said this, her expression and tone were pitiful. For some reason, this look struck a chord in Wen Nian’s heart. It was as if he saw himself in Shi Sui.
As if both of them were outsiders in this world.
Seeing Wen Nian remain silent for so long, Shi Sui thought her plea was hopeless and sighed again. But not long after, a hand gently rested on her head, softly ruffling her hair. His tone was exceptionally gentle as he inexplicably agreed, “Alright.”
The little white lotus’s recently subsided pimples had sprouted again thanks to Wen Nian’s antics, nearly driving her mad with rage. Though willful, she was after all a talented lady from a prominent family, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Before becoming this aggrieved concubine, she had been quite renowned in the capital. Previously, she had painted landscapes to mock Wen Nian; during these days of confinement, she had painted over a dozen portraits of Shi Sui from memory alone in her room.
The paintings were remarkably lifelike. Once finished, the little white lotus viciously jabbed them with a small silver needle, riddling them with tiny holes. Sometimes she even splashed ink over them. This deranged behavior thoroughly frightened the surrounding maids, who almost believed Li Yue was going to be driven to illness.
While the little white lotus was playing the role of the vindictive nanny, Shi Sui on the other side was having a much more delightful time. Wen Nian was carefree and unrestrained; Shi Sui noticed that this person seemed to have little to do ordinarily and would come to play with her whenever free. True to his word, he had even tied a swing where the tree had been used for hanging, providing Shi Sui with many places for amusement.
At noon, the sunlight was bright, warm but not glaring. The capital bordered the sea, and the wind carried moisture that brushed against the face, naturally comfortable. Shi Sui stretched lazily, gripping the vines on either side of the swing with both hands. She lifted the hem of her white gauze skirt slightly and swung her legs.
The most beautiful feature of her face was her eyes—a pair of round, almond-shaped eyes like little grapes, large and bright, clear and pure. When she smiled, two small dimples appeared, making her look like a little fairy. Her lively personality allowed her to quickly befriend the young maids around her.
Over the past couple of days, Wen Nian had sent another batch of maids for her to choose from, hoping she could pick a few interesting ones to keep her company and relieve boredom.
Shi Sui thought that in such a rigid and ceremonious dynasty, finding an interesting soul would probably be quite difficult. But while selecting, she actually found a little girl. She was young, with a cute and delicate appearance, and had actually fallen asleep while kneeling, even drooling. Shi Sui found her endearingly simple and kept her.
That little girl was named Sang Yun. She was very fond of eating and had been sold by her father for money, ending up here as a lowly maid. She was innocent and guileless. Having heard that high-ranking ladies and consorts were often arrogant and even treated lives as worthless, she was so terrified after being chosen by Shi Sui that she couldn’t sleep all night.
On the first day, she stood there staring at Shi Sui for a long time. She had never seen such a beautiful girl and couldn’t tear her eyes away. Almost unconsciously, she blurted out, “The Crown Princess is so pretty…”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized what she had said and thought she was done for, wearing an expression of resigned despair as if her end was near. Unexpectedly, Shi Sui not only didn’t get angry upon hearing this but smiled brightly and said to her, “Good taste! I think I’m pretty too.”
Only after that did Sang Yun gradually realize that this Crown Princess was truly one of a kind.
Now, taking advantage of the lovely sunshine, Sang Yun was pushing the swing from behind Shi Sui. In her other hand, she held an apple, munching on it as she pushed, and said cheerfully, “Crown Princess! This apple is delicious!”
Shi Sui swung on the swing, without any airs, lively as a child. A circle of maids surrounded her, nearly kneeling in fear that Shi Sui might fall.
Only Sang Yun was earnestly playing along with Shi Sui.
“You eat it,” Shi Sui said, her spirits high. “Sang Yun, push a little higher.”
But Sang Yun was after all just a teenage girl, how much strength could she have? Wen Nian had actually been standing behind watching her for a while. Hearing Shi Sui’s words, he slowly walked over. Seeing Wen Nian approach, Sang Yun roughly understood what he intended to do and very consciously stepped aside to focus on eating her apple.
Yuan Youdao watched as Sang Yun stared at the apple in her hand, walking without watching her step. She stepped on a small pebble and stumbled. Yuan Youdao muttered quietly, “The people around the Crown Princess truly are just like her.”
Hearing this, Sang Yun was displeased. Just like her in what way? Stupid?
You can insult me, but how dare you insult the Crown Princess?!
So she took small steps over and stomped on his foot. Afterward, she even proudly made a face: “Serves you right, for speaking ill of my Crown Princess.”
Yuan Youdao pulled his foot back, glaring at Sang Yun in anger, and said bluntly, “No manners.”
On the other side, Wen Nian had been pushing her from behind for quite a while. Shi Sui felt the force was just right, swinging her legs in front, and said smugly, “Hey! Keep it just like this! This force is perfect.”
As she spoke, Shi Sui spread her palm and waved it, smiling, “I want an apple. Get me an apple, please.”
But instead of the desired apple, her palm was firmly slapped. Shi Sui’s hand jerked back like an angry little kitten, and she turned around angrily, shouting, “Why did you hit me?”
Wen Nian held the swing’s rope with one hand, slowly bringing the swing to a stop. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “You certainly know how to enjoy yourself. Who do you think you’re ordering around?”
Seeing that it was Wen Nian behind her, Shi Sui hurriedly pulled her skirt down to cover her legs. Though she was used to being casual at home, she still had some sense of propriety. Then she put on a professional fake smile to ease the awkwardness.
Shi Sui: “Your Highness may not know, but those who know how to enjoy themselves are clever.”
Wen Nian smiled but said nothing, neither confirming nor denying.
Seeing him in a good mood, Shi Sui pushed her luck further: “Your Highness, I think you have a talent for pushing swings. Could you push me for a little longer? My request isn’t high—just half an hour, how about that?”
Wen Nian: “You want me to push your swing for half an hour?”
Shi Sui nodded with hopeful eyes.
Wen Nian raised an eyebrow slightly: “You certainly know how to take care of others.”
Shi Sui: “…”