Obsessively Raised by My Doll 5

Chapter 5

When Lu Dieqing went to the Library Pavilion again today, she once more avoided the crowds, waiting for a gap when the palace maid she knew, A’Sang, had just started her shift and no one was paying attention, before slipping in quietly.

Seeing Lu Dieqing, a smile immediately bloomed on A’Sang’s face.

“It’s you.”

Lu Dieqing nodded, her almond eyes curving into crescents. Two lovely dimples appeared at the corners of her lips, so sweet that they made one want to reach out and gently poke them.

The moment A’Sang saw this beautiful Little Princess from the Shan Kingdom, she felt an immense fondness for her, a sense of closeness.

“Oh, right, that luminous pearl you gave me last time. I should give it back to you.”

A’Sang took out the luminous pearl, wrapped in a handkerchief, and handed it to Lu Dieqing.

“This is too valuable. If I keep it, I might lose it, and I’d be heartbroken if someone stole it.”

Besides, a luminous pearl was a rare treasure. Holding it, she couldn’t help but think of the Little Princess of Shan. The girl was of noble birth. Even if she had fallen to the status of a hostage in their Chaoying Kingdom, her roots were still precious. A’Sang was just a lowly palace maid guarding a library; the pearl felt scalding hot in her hands.

Most importantly…

A’Sang looked at Lu Dieqing and said softly, “Just think of me as a friend. I won’t take your things.”

She genuinely liked Lu Dieqing and didn’t want to be the kind of person who offered convenience only after receiving a benefit.

Lu Dieqing froze, not reacting for a moment.

Seeing her stunned, with her almond eyes, pink cheeks, and soft, pouting lips, A’Sang found her so adorable that she couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Hurry and put it away. Don’t worry, as long as I’m on duty at the library, you can come and go as you please. I won’t tell anyone.”

Seeing the genuine smile and sincere tone from A’Sang, Lu Dieqing felt very embarrassed. She lowered her eyes and said, “Then… I… thank you.”

She truly had nothing to her name. In the Chaoying Kingdom, not a single blade of grass or tree belonged to her. The deep palace was full of sycophants who trampled the weak. It was a blessing just not to be bullied on account of her princess title. Having grown accustomed to the malice of others, Lu Dieqing was instinctively cautious. She knew that even the smallest bit of kindness was precious.

“Aiya, don’t cry.” Seeing Lu Dieqing’s eyes redden, looking as if she were about to burst into tears, A’Sang immediately rushed over.

Heavens above, the Little Princess of Chaoying is so pitiful. I heard some of the other staff bully her, they should all be drawn and quartered.

Faced with the kindness of her new friend, A’Sang, Lu Dieqing turned her face away, not wanting to show her pathetic state to others. She said in a small voice, “Actually, I’ve already read all the books in the library. I don’t need to come back anymore. I came today to thank you.”

She was a naturally fast reader, able to scan ten lines at a glance. On top of that, knowing she couldn’t come to the library openly, she was always incredibly focused whenever she had the chance to read. This, in turn, had helped her remember the contents of the puppetry manuals even more clearly.

What she needed now was to earn money faster, buy good materials, and try to make a doll.

Hearing this, A’Sang’s heart sank with disappointment.

“So you won’t be coming back anymore?”

She had thought she would be able to see the beautiful Little Princess every day from now on.

Lu Dieqing lowered her head and stammered, “…I probably won’t be able to come for a while.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Seeing Lu Dieqing’s flustered state, A’Sang quickly changed her tune and revealed a little of what had happened last night.

“For some reason, the Crown Princess came to the library yesterday. It’s probably for the best that you don’t come for a while, to avoid running into her and causing trouble.”

Heaven knows how nervous I was when the Crown Princess was here yesterday. I turned myself into a wooden plank from beginning to end, not daring to move, even breathing softly, terrified that the Crown Princess would hear a noise, get a headache, and I’d be dragged out and beheaded…

Aaaah! After all, it’s not like there isn’t precedent for that sort of thing.

But A’Sang was a library guard; it was her duty, and she couldn’t hide. The beautiful Little Princess from Shan was different. She was so stunningly beautiful that just looking at her made you want to eat two extra bowls of rice. If she accidentally offended the Crown Princess, that would be… the Crown Princess was not the type to cherish beauty.

Lu Dieqing was the kind of delicate little flower that made you want to speak softly and protect her with care.

The Crown Princess, on the other hand… sigh, she was like a snow fox from an iceberg. If she saw a pretty flower, she’d casually pluck it and use the petals to grind her teeth.

A’Sang found it strange that such a comparison would pop into her head. The fallen hostage princess of the Shan Kingdom and their own exalted Crown Princess of Chaoying were two people who shouldn’t have anything to do with each other at all.

…

After bidding A’Sang farewell, Lu Dieqing hurried back to her quarters.

She didn’t know that shortly after she left, an old matron arrived, holding the Crown Princess’s token and coldly demanding to inspect the list of people who had entered and exited the library in the past month.

Anyone who came to read had to sign in at the entrance, leaving their name and reason.

A’Sang’s face went white with fright. Her heart lurched as she took out the register and handed it to the old matron.

Watching the matron’s retreating figure, A’Sang clutched her chest, her heart still pounding.

“Why would she suddenly want to see the register?” she murmured to herself, her face filled with worry.

…

Lu Dieqing knew nothing of these events.

There was an Auntie Fang in the palace who was responsible for procurement trips outside the palace walls. Seemingly taking pity on the difficult lives of the palace staff, she often helped them sell their embroidery, taking a commission, of course, but it was still a good opportunity.

Today, Lu Dieqing had just delivered a few embroidered handkerchiefs and a pouch she had finished.

She did this behind her mother’s back.

Her mother always said that she was a princess of the Shan Kingdom. Even as a hostage, her bloodline was noble, and she must never do such work, lest people look down on her.

But if she didn’t find a way to do something, they wouldn’t even have money for charcoal in the winter. Her parents were not in good health; they had been plagued by major and minor illnesses ever since arriving in the Shan Kingdom. Her mother, especially, put on a brave face but had cried several times in secret, saying she had burdened her and her father and had let them down.

Lu Dieqing didn’t want to see her mother cry like that anymore.

If her ability was small, she would do small things to support this family. If her ability was great, she would do great things.

Embroidery only strained her eyes a little. She was young; she could bear this hardship.

And once she saved up enough silver, she could make a doll, and life would get better.

“Form a line, and be quick about it. No dawdling.”

Auntie Fang looked impatiently at the crowd of palace staff behind her, signaling to a maid beside her to take out a brush and paper to record the names and the embroidery they submitted. The wages would be settled later.

Lu Dieqing had always felt that Auntie Fang was actually a good person.

At the very least, she gave the low-level palace staff a way to survive.

Mixed in with the crowd, Lu Dieqing kept her head slightly bowed, trying her best to look like any other palace maid and not stand out.

However, the closer it got to her turn, the more nervous she became. Her heart pounded like a drum, and she felt like she could barely stand.

When it was finally her turn, the maid recording the names said impatiently, “Name, and item count.”

Lu Dieqing quickly replied in a soft voice, “Lu Dieqing. Three handkerchiefs, two pouches.”

Her voice was melodious and gentle. Emerging suddenly from the throng of palace staff, it was like a clear spring washing through a forest—cleansing, pleasant, and captivating.

Auntie Fang, who had been sipping tea off to the side, suddenly froze. She lifted her eyes and looked straight at Lu Dieqing.

Today, someone from the Crown Princess’s palace had suddenly sent a message, telling her to keep an eye out for a young palace maid who was bullied by Matron Li and had a beautiful voice.

Could it be that the Crown Princess is looking for this Princess of Shan?