Chapter 242: Chapter 242: His Slender Fingers Had Already Wrapped Around Her Sash

Princess Chang Le froze, as if just now recalling that Miss Zhi was still beside her. She was about to speak when Shen Longjin pushed her hand away. "Your Highness, please show some restraint!" Having said that, he made to stand. "I will take my leave now."

"Shen Longjin, do you dare defy me?" Princess Chang Le’s eyes narrowed, her face coloring with faint anger and clear displeasure.

"I would not dare," Shen Longjin said with a frown. "But..."

"But what?" Princess Chang Le demanded impatiently.

Shen Longjin remained silent for a long moment before finally saying, "This is... improper." A faint blush had already crept up his handsome face.

"In this mansion, I *am* the rules. You need only obey," Princess Chang Le said, her expression softening. She reached out with her slender, jade-like fingers, intending to caress his face.

Zhi Wan was speechless.

Watching the Princess flirt with Shen Longjin as if no one else was around, she wished she could crawl under the table in embarrassment.

Fortunately, Shen Longjin had more sense.

He turned his head to avoid Princess Chang Le’s touch and reminded her, "It is getting late. Your Highness should send someone to escort Miss Zhi home."

Only then did Princess Chang Le remember Zhi Wan, who was sitting to the side.

She turned to look at Zhi Wan, displeasure already evident in her expression. "Can’t you see yourself out?"

Zhi Wan felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly rose to her feet. "I’ll be on my way now."

Princess Chang Le thought for a moment, then added a piece of advice. "The painting Xuanyuan Jing had was a gift from someone else. Who have you offended recently? I just happened to run into this today, but I can’t guarantee your portrait won’t end up on my imperial father’s desk next time."

Zhi Wan froze for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. Thank you for the advice, Your Highness."

Princess Chang Le waved a hand. "Hurry up and leave."

The corner of Zhi Wan’s mouth twitched. "Yes."

She all but ran out of the dining hall.

As soon as she was gone, Princess Chang Le grabbed Shen Longjin’s collar, pulling him closer. A half-smile played on her lips. "No more excuses now, right?"

"Your Highness isn’t drunk?" Shen Longjin moved her hand away, asking with a hint of resignation.

Princess Chang Le stood up, spreading her hands. "Do I look drunk to you? I can drink a thousand cups and not get..."

Before she could get the word "drunk" out, her body suddenly felt light as Shen Longjin swept her up into his arms.

She blinked, looking at him in bewilderment. "What are you doing?"

"As the Princess wishes," Shen Longjin said coolly, carrying her out of the dining hall and walking toward her bedchamber.

Princess Chang Le tilted her head, studying him. When she saw he did not seem to be joking, she couldn’t help but grow a little uneasy.

She opened her mouth to speak several times, but ultimately said nothing. Her brows, however, were knitted tightly together.

Shen Longjin immediately noticed the way the woman in his arms had tensed up, as well as her unspoken words.

He paused for a moment but pretended not to notice, carrying her straight into the bedchamber.

Placed upon the soft bedding, Princess Chang Le finally lost her composure and tried to get up, but Shen Longjin suddenly sat beside her. Bracing one hand on the bed, he used the other to start untying the sash of her dress.

At this, Princess Chang Le’s breath caught in her throat. "W-what are you doing?"

She was so nervous, she had started to stammer.

"Does Your Highness not know?" Shen Longjin countered.

Princess Chang Le was speechless.

Shen Longjin’s gaze swept over her fingers as they furtively clutched the bedding. An imperceptible smile touched the corner of his lips as he lowered his head and continued to untie her sash. "I have been eating and drinking in the Princess Mansion for so long without cost. It is only right that I serve Your Highness."

Princess Chang Le was speechless.

Out of nervousness, a thin sheen of sweat had already beaded on her fair forehead.

Watching the man’s long fingers wrap around her sash, knowing it would come loose with just a gentle pull, she couldn’t help but swallow. "I’m all sweaty," she said in a fluster. "I need to take a bath." With that, she scrambled to sit up and called out loudly, "Servants! Prepare water! I wish to bathe!"

The servants, who had already withdrawn from the bedchamber, hurried back inside.

"Q-quickly, help me to my bath." Princess Chang Le hastily extended a hand toward a servant, all but fleeing the scene.

Once in the bathing chamber, she let out a huge sigh of relief.

But then she immediately felt she shouldn’t have acted that way.

’I’m a princess, for heaven’s sake.’

’How could I let a mere favorite intimidate me?’

Thus, after finishing her bath, she walked out with a composed air.

She intended to cow Shen Longjin with her princely authority.

However, when she emerged, she found Shen Longjin sitting on her usual daybed, reading a book with a look of leisurely ease.

Though he was of humble birth, he was exceptionally handsome. And after spending time in the Princess Mansion, his once slightly tanned skin had grown fair and smooth. Holding a book as he was now, he possessed some of the refined, elegant air of a scholar.

For a moment, Princess Chang Le found herself staring, mesmerized.

’Is this really that same Order Flag Soldier?’

Seeing her come out, Shen Longjin closed his book and stood up. "The night is late, Your Highness. You should get some sleep. I will be heading back now."

Princess Chang Le had yet to recover from her daze at his handsome appearance when she saw him walk past her, book in hand.

His wide sleeve brushed against her arm.

She froze for a second, then instinctively grabbed his sleeve.

Shen Longjin paused, glancing down at his captured sleeve and then back up at her. "Does Your Highness have further instructions?"

Meeting his placid gaze, the courage Princess Chang Le had mustered in the bathing chamber suddenly dissipated.

She hesitated, then released his sleeve. She nonchalantly raised a hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, nothing." Her gaze fell upon the book in his hands, and she asked out of curiosity, "What are you reading?"

Shen Longjin paused, then handed her the book.

Princess Chang Le took it, flipped through a few pages, and looked at him in surprise. "You’re reading the *Spring and Autumn Annals*?"

"Yes," Shen Longjin nodded.

Princess Chang Le paused, then couldn’t resist asking, "You can understand it?"

Shen Longjin seemed taken aback for a moment before countering, "Why would Your Highness ask that?"

Princess Chang Le said delicately, "I heard that in the army, you were an Order Flag Soldier..."

"I was," Shen Longjin confirmed with a nod, completely unfazed. "But I also read in my spare time."

Hearing this, Princess Chang Le reached out to pat his shoulder in encouragement. "Reading is a good thing. You should read more when you have time. If there are any books you want, you can just have Yuanbao find them for you."

Shen Longjin glanced sideways at her hand on his shoulder. After a pause, he spoke. "Your Highness, I want to participate in this year’s autumn examinations."

Princess Chang Le pulled her hand back, looking at him in astonishment. "Why all of a sudden? Why do you want to participate in the autumn examinations?"

’Reading a few books doesn’t mean you’re ready for the examinations,’ she actually wanted to say.

But looking at Shen Longjin’s handsome face, she found she somehow couldn’t bring herself to voice such discouraging words.

"I never considered it before, but now..." Shen Longjin suddenly took a step toward her.

Princess Chang Le stared at him, stunned.

Shen Longjin raised a hand, bracing it against the wall behind her. He lowered his head slightly and said, "My humble birth has implicated Your Highness and damaged your reputation."

Hearing this, Princess Chang Le vaguely guessed his thoughts and looked at him in astonishment. "You want to take the autumn examinations... for me?"

Shen Longjin looked at her without speaking.

Princess Chang Le frowned. "But I am not afraid of the gossip and rumors out there. You don’t have to force yourself on my account."

In her eyes, Shen Longjin came from a military background. The autumn examinations were too difficult for him, a goal too far out of reach.