Obsessively Raised by My Doll 126

Chapter 126

Lu Dieqing returned late today.

To be honest, the entire meeting with the Third Princess was too unexpected.

Not only did the other not have the tense and hostile attitude she had had last time, but she was polite to her and even apologized.

The Third Princess had a table of fine wine and dishes laid out. She clapped her hands, and at once, beautiful dancers and musicians came out with graceful steps.

Then the music started, and the swaying waists of the dancers before her, along with their enchanting dance, almost dazzled Lu Dieqing’s eyes.

She remembered that she had to go back and have dinner with Ningning, so she only drank a little fruit wine and didn’t eat anything.

But this did not stop Lu Dieqing’s face from almost steaming by the end of the meal.

She couldn’t figure out what the Third Princess was thinking, having invited her over.

“Third Highness, may I ask why you have invited me here?”

Lu Dieqing really didn’t want to guess anymore, so she asked softly as the dancers were leaving.

The Third Princess, Zheng Sixin, had been observing Lu Dieqing for the duration of the meal.

In the past, she had only known that this Little Princess of Shan had a stunning face that had moved both her elder sister and second brother.

But after observing her up close like this today, she discovered that the other had a rare, clear aura.

This was extremely rare in the palace.

Take the song just now, for example. She had specially chosen the most outstanding dancers and musicians. If a person with a less firm will had seen the handsome musicians and the beautiful dancers, they would probably have been dazed.

The instantaneous reaction a person has is very difficult to hide.

Some people, at such times, would show a lecherous, vulgar, or cunning and shrewd appearance.

But Lu Dieqing was just purely appreciating these people, and was even so shy that her face turned red, and she was a little restless.

The Third Princess had originally had other ideas when she had invited Lu Dieqing.

After a short time together like this today, she, on the contrary, really began to appreciate the other.

“Since you are so sincere, Princess, then this Princess will also be frank.”

The Third Princess raised her wine cup. “I have invited you here, Princess, firstly, to apologize.”

“This cup is to you, Princess.” With that, Zheng Sixin held the wine cup, covered her lips with her hand, and drank it down.

Lu Dieqing was dazed for a moment, then she also raised her fruit wine and subconsciously took a sip.

“…No need to apologize. I’ve already forgotten about the past.”

She knew that the Third Princess was talking about the last time in the Caiyun Academy, when she had brought armed guards to block her, but had been rescued by Ningning.

But hadn’t the Third Princess also been taught a lesson that time?

In such cold weather, a noble princess, yet she had jumped into the bone-chilling, frozen lake with her guards, losing both face and dignity.

Lu Dieqing did not feel that the other still owed her anything, as long as the Third Princess did not come looking for trouble again.

Zheng Sixin looked at Lu Dieqing’s expression and saw that the other really held no grudge against her. Her heart relaxed a little, and at the same time, more expectations arose.

“Miss Lu, may I ask you for a favor?”

Of course, this meeting with Lu Dieqing was not just for an apology.

Lu Dieqing was confused. “What favor do you need from me, Third Highness?”

The wine cup in Zheng Sixin’s hand spun, and she said softly, “My second brother has done many things in the past. In order to fight for the position of heir, he has offended my elder sister several times…”

“I… this Princess and my elder sister have no chance to speak our minds. But seeing that you seem to get along well with my elder sister, Miss Lu, I would like to ask you to help mediate and let my elder sister let go of her prejudice against me.”

“In the past, I was influenced by my second brother and… did some things against my own will, which may have caused some inconvenience to my elder sister… We are both women. We should support each other in the palace. I want you to pass on a message and let my elder sister know my thoughts.”

“Now that my second brother is crippled, no one in the palace will go against my elder sister anymore. We are, after all, half-sisters. We should be closer, shouldn’t we?”

Lu Dieqing listened quietly. By this point, seeing Zheng Sixin reveal her true intentions, she finally understood what the other meant.

She shook her head.

“I’m sorry, I can’t agree to this.”

Zheng Sixin was surprised. “Why?”

Lu Dieqing looked like a very easy-going person, soft and seemingly without a strong opinion. Why had she refused something as simple as passing on a message?

This did not match Zheng Sixin’s previous impression of Lu Dieqing.

After all, the last time she had blocked her with guards in the Caiyun Academy, and had been discovered by her elder sister, and had been in an extremely pathetic state in the river, it was Lu Dieqing who had deliberately spoken to lead her elder sister away in time, which had allowed her to climb out of the water early.

She had not missed Lu Dieqing’s bit of kindness at that time.

—Clearly, just before this, she had just made things difficult for Lu Dieqing.

Yet the other had been so merciful and had let her go.

Putting herself in her shoes, Zheng Sixin would never have been so kind.

She had originally thought that a person like Lu Dieqing, with a gentle personality and who was overly merciful, would immediately agree to help say a few good words.

Zheng Sixin had really not expected Lu Dieqing to refuse her.

Lu Dieqing was silent for a moment and then said, “That day you and your guards made things difficult for me. I can forgive you because I can control my own feelings. But Ning… the Crown Princess’s feelings, I cannot overstep my bounds and make decisions for her.”

“She has her own way of doing things. I will not interfere, nor do I have the right to interfere. If I rashly agree to say these things to you, it would be being generous at others’ expense.”

“Third Highness, if you are sorry to the Crown Princess and have something you really want to say, you should see her. To say it sincerely face to face is better than asking others.”

Lu Dieqing stood up. “It’s getting late. I should be going. Thank you, Third Highness, for your hospitality today. The dancers were very beautiful.”

Zheng Sixin was stunned.

Only when Lu Dieqing had really gotten up to leave did she pause and let out a sigh.

She had really misjudged the person.

Previously, she had thought that Lu Dieqing was naive and unsophisticated, and that with a little kindness, she could make the other trust her completely.

But after interacting with her like this today, she realized that she had been too presumptuous before.

“Princess, please wait.”

Zheng Sixin called out to her.

Lu Dieqing held the little wooden doll in her sleeve and looked back in confusion.

Zheng Sixin paused, then smiled.

“It’s nothing. I just think that what you just said makes a lot of sense. Indeed, I should go and see my elder sister myself. Thank you. A word to the wise is sufficient. I was wrong before.”

Hearing this, Lu Dieqing’s dimples bloomed, and her eyes curved when she smiled.

“You’re welcome.”

When Lu Dieqing had walked out of the Third Princess’s palace, Zheng Sixin looked at the old matron at her side and instructed, “Go and send today’s dancers and musicians to Yunxi Hall together.”

The old matron was startled. “But Third Highness, those dancers and musicians, you have worked so hard to train them. How can you just give them away like this?”

Zheng Sixin looked into the distance and said faintly, “They were originally tools to please others. If I send them, then I send them. You don’t understand. This Princess of Shan will be useful in the future.”

To be protected by her elder sister like this, it was destined that this Little Princess of Shan’s position in the future would not be low.

Between her and her elder sister, after all, they had been distant before, and with the things her second brother had done in between, it was destined that they could not be close.

She understood her elder sister. The other was cold-hearted and not so easy to get close to.

In their youth, they had not accumulated any sibling affection, let alone now.

But she could use her contact with Lu Dieqing to achieve the goal of easing the relationship with her elder sister.

*

Lu Dieqing sat back in the sedan chair. When she finally returned to Yunxi Hall, the sky was already completely dark.

The winter days grew dark particularly fast. Lu Dieqing felt an inexplicable guilt in her heart.

She had promised to have dinner with Ningning, but she had ended up watching a dance and music performance at the Third Princess’s place and had almost eaten.

Just… guilty.

Helian watched as Lu Dieqing tiptoed towards the bedchamber and couldn’t help but lower her head and cover her mouth to smile.

Having been in the imperial palace for a long time, it was inevitable that one would gradually get used to the restraints of the rules, and a person would become less like a person.

Especially for someone like Helian, who had been trained by the Liao family since she was a child and had been sent into the palace.

But in these days of getting along with Lu Dieqing, Helian had personally seen the Crown Princess being melted bit by bit, becoming more and more human.

Watching the various emotional interactions of the little couple, she would also sigh that Miss Lu had added a few different colors to this Yunxi Hall.

The lights in the bedchamber were already lit, but Matron Li was not to be seen guarding the door.

This surprised Lu Dieqing for a moment.

She went in and found that the food was already on the table.

Lu Dieqing was like a little cat that had been playing outside all day. She trotted over with a “meow, meow, meow.”

“Ningning, I’m back,” she said, her voice a little softer, almost so sweet it could reach one’s heart.

Zheng Xuening looked up at her.

When Lu Dieqing came to her side, she opened her arms.

The girl instantly cooperated and pressed herself into her embrace, her small, exquisitely carved face nuzzling her jade-like neck.

“Ningning…”

When she acted cute like this, it was easy to make one’s heart soften.

Zheng Xuening pinched her cheek.

“You’re willing to come back?”

The moment she spoke, there was an unconcealable hint of jealousy in her voice.

Lu Dieqing’s bright almond eyes immediately widened. She raised her face and, without another word, first came closer and kissed the Crown Princess.

“I’ve been thinking of coming back all along. The Third Princess asked me to stay for dinner, so I only drank a cup of fruit wine and didn’t eat a single bite. I was thinking, I have to save my stomach to come back and eat with you.”

The girl’s rosy lips chattered on, quickly saying what was on her mind to prove that she wasn’t reluctant to come back.

Zheng Xuening looked at her and held the girl’s chin to look at her for a moment.

“You’ve been drinking?”

She had caught the keyword.

Lu Dieqing immediately felt guilty. Her almond eyes blinked twice, and her gaze darted around.

“A little, just one cup…”

Zheng Xuening pressed her lips together and studied the girl for a moment, her gaze growing deeper and deeper.

Just then, she heard Helian’s voice from outside.

“Your Highness, Master, the Third Princess has sent someone over.”

Sent someone?

What person?

Lu Dieqing’s little face was filled with confusion.

Helian came in, peeked at the two’s expressions, and said in a low voice, “It’s… a few dancers and two musicians…”

“The Third Princess said that since Master likes them, she would send these people to Master.”

And it had to be said, those dancers were all not bad in looks and had a certain charm. And those two musicians were also elegant and handsome.

It was just… was it not quite right for the Third Princess to send these people?

Cough, cough, cough. Miss Lu was the person Her Highness held on the tip of her heart.

She was afraid that sending these people would stir up some sour jealousy.