Chapter 233: Chapter 233: The Sharp-Tongued, Soft-Hearted Crown Prince

Inside Zichen Palace.

In a side hall used for dining, dozens of dazzling dishes were arranged on an octagonal table.

Mo Lingwei’s tall figure stood before the window, his pair of dark, narrow eyes occasionally glancing outside.

The eunuch attending him saw what was on his mind and said with an obsequious smile, "Some of the palace roads have been icy and difficult to walk on these past few days. Guard Wu must be proceeding slowly for the Commandery Princess’s safety."

Mo Lingwei shot him a sidelong glance and said icily, "Who said I was waiting for her?"

The eunuch froze.

’But I didn’t say that!’

Mo Lingwei scoffed, flicked his sleeve, and walked back to his seat.

It wasn’t that he thought Wu Fang was slow; he was worried Shen Ningning wouldn’t come.

Because when that little one had a chance to study, she would forget everything else.

Just then, the eunuch exclaimed with delight, "The Commandery Princess is here."

He hurried over to lift the curtain for Shen Ningning. "This servant greets the Commandery Princess."

Mo Lingwei turned to look. Shen Ningning’s little face was as rosy as an apple, her eyes twinkling like a field of stars.

She stomped her little feet at the entrance to shake the snow from the soles of her shoes before coming inside.

"Brother, I’m late!" Shen Ningning trotted to his side on her little feet. When she saw the table full of delicacies, her eyes lit up. "Wow, is this all for me?"

Mo Lingwei glanced at her and sneered, "I couldn’t finish it all. They’re just leftovers. That’s why I called you over to eat them."

’Leftovers...?’

Wu Fang and the eunuch exchanged a look, both seeing the helplessness in each other’s eyes.

’His Highness the Crown Prince is so stubborn. What’s so hard about saying a few nice words?’

Of course, Shen Ningning didn’t believe him.

A bright smile erupted in her eyes. "Brother, you’re so good to me! Even if they’re leftovers, the table is still piled high."

The little one didn’t call him out on his bluff.

She sat down in the chair beside him but didn’t pick up her chopsticks, even after waiting for a long while.

Mo Lingwei frowned. "Still not eating? Are you waiting for me to feed you?"

Shen Ningning said pitifully, "That soup is too far away. I can’t reach it."

"You’re such a handful!" Mo Lingwei said as he stood up.

The eunuch was about to step forward to help, but Wu Fang stopped him.

Mo Lingwei stood beside Shen Ningning, ladling soup for her and putting food on her plate.

When he saw she was almost done with the meat in her bowl, he added more.

By the time she finished, Mo Lingwei had already deboned a small dish of fish and placed it in front of her.

The little one ate with great gusto, her lips glistening from the food.

"Brother, I want to eat shrimp."

"If you want to eat them, peel them yourself. Don’t always expect me to help." And yet, he still dutifully peeled the entire plate of shrimp for her.

Wu Fang and the eunuch watched from the side, dumbfounded.

Their Crown Prince, whose slender hands would grip a murderous sword when he was in a frenzy, was now actually performing such considerate and meticulous tasks for Princess Funing.

Finally, Shen Ningning truly couldn’t eat another bite.

She leaned back in her chair. "I’m so full I can’t move!"

Mo Lingwei glanced at the dishes on the table.

’Mm, she really can’t eat anymore.’

He frowned and said, "You finish eating and don’t even wipe your mouth. Are you waiting for someone else to serve you?"

As he spoke, Mo Lingwei took out his own dragon-embroidered handkerchief and wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth.

The little one pouted, looking rather wronged.

"What’s with that expression? Did I not let you eat your fill?" Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow.

Shen Ningning shook her head.

She was still thinking about how Xie Yuanjiu hadn’t eaten.

The little one stretched out her hand, pointing to a few untouched dishes nearby.

"Can I pack this up to take back with me? I definitely won’t let it go to waste. I can eat this for all three meals tomorrow!"

Mo Lingwei’s dark, narrow eyes turned cold.

"No." ’It’s not like I was actually giving you leftovers.’

’Besides, if she takes it back and eats her fill, how can I get her to come dine with me tomorrow?’

Mo Lingwei declared domineeringly, "I will send someone to bring you here again tomorrow. Don’t think you can escape."

Shen Ningning scratched her cheek with her little hand, looking troubled but helpless.

’Since I can’t bring any food back, Xie Yuanjiu will just have to go hungry!’

After she finished eating, Mo Lingwei still wouldn’t let her leave.

He insisted that Shen Ningning stay and watch him handle official business.

As the Crown Prince, he had already begun to take over some of the trivial matters of the Imperial Court.

While he was busy, he would let Shen Ningning play on the low couch beside him.

Mo Lingwei had prepared all sorts of toys for her, including a pellet drum, a toy wooden horse, a cloth tiger, and more.

At her innocent age, Shen Ningning was having the time of her life playing, and she soon forgot all about Xie Yuanjiu going hungry.

She hugged the cloth tiger, loving it so much she wouldn’t let go.

Mo Lingwei caught this out of the corner of his eye and sneered, "You like it that much? Perfect. I have ten more just like it. They’re just taking up space. Take them all with you."

Shen Ningning shook her head. "I just like this one."

She looked up with her big, misty eyes and said, "Back then, all the other children in the village had dolls."

"The boys had cloth tigers, and the girls had Red Fairy dolls that wore dresses."

"Qin Fangmei had two Red Fairy dolls. They were brand new, a gift from Landlord Du. I was so envious."

"Qin Fangmei lorded it over me. She said that only children who had a Red Fairy were protected, and since I didn’t have one, that was why my mom and dad didn’t want me."

Hearing her words, Mo Lingwei slowly put down his writing brush. Ripples of heartache spread through his deep eyes.

Shen Ningning continued, "Grandma noticed how I was feeling, so she picked up some scrap cloth that Aunt Qin didn’t want and sewed one for me."

"Because it was sewn from different scraps, it was a mishmash of colors and very ugly, but I loved it."

"I called that doll the Flower Fairy. Every day, I’d make a wish to the Flower Fairy, hoping she would protect my mom and dad and help them find me soon."

"But one day, Qin Fangmei found it and tore my Flower Fairy to shreds. After that, I never had a fairy again."

As she spoke, Shen Ningning lifted her little face, a bright and cheerful smile spreading across it.

She held up the cloth tiger. "Now I have a cloth tiger! Even without a fairy to protect me, I’m not afraid. Tigers are fierce. It will help me eat up all the bad people who bully me."

Mo Lingwei was completely stunned.

He had only gathered a bunch of toys as a casual gesture to make Shen Ningning happy.

He never expected that Shen Ningning would have such a different emotional response to the cloth tiger.

Perhaps that tattered Flower Fairy had been her greatest treasure, a vessel for all her longing and hope for her parents.

But after learning that her parents had passed away, the little one never mentioned her longing for them again.

It was only just now that Mo Lingwei realized Shen Ningning had sent away the little girl in her heart who was waiting for a reunion with her parents, right along with the Flower Fairy.

Her mindset had changed.

She no longer hoped for a fairy to bless her with a family reunion.

Instead, she believed in the fierce tiger, a sign that she was now capable of protecting herself.

Mo Lingwei slowly rose to his feet and walked toward her.

He took the cloth tiger from the little one’s hands and examined it with a serious expression.

Shen Ningning looked up, not knowing what he was about to do.

Suddenly, Mo Lingwei held the cloth tiger up beside his cheek and asked with a completely straight face, "Look at this tiger. Don’t you think it looks like me?"

’Just like it, I will protect you.’

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