Xu Tianzhen: Going All-In is a Kind of Wisdom

"Rather than trying to figure out something so obvious at a glance, you'd be better off telling me if the script you just taught me is actually reliable."

"Why don't you try it out and see for yourself?"

With that, the Rakshasa Phantom vanished instantly into the shadows of the corner, playing deaf and dumb no matter how much Qian Yuhan called out.

"I knew it..."

Accustomed to the Rakshasa Phantom's habitual unreliability, Qian Yuhan sighed as if he had expected this, then decided to rely on his own wit to play it by ear.

"You... the private matter you mentioned earlier, is it finished?"

Having learned through her secret agents in the Imperial Palace that Qian Yuhan had been brought to the Bright Capital Imperial City by Xu Yan yesterday and even summoned by her father late at night, Xu Tianzhen feigned ignorance and continued the conversation as if making small talk.

Taking advantage of the conversation, she gently gripped the corners of her clothes with both hands, using the unnatural fidgeting to shake her loose sleeping robe back into a dignified and proper position.

"Yes, that's right. The private matter is finished. Once it was done, I came to the Bright Capital." Qian Yuhan nodded. He suddenly raised his hand, took a golden-red cloak made from the hide of a Millennium Fire Gold Lion out of a storage ring on his right hand, and stepped forward to drape it over Xu Tianzhen, fastening it securely:

"The wind is quite strong today... standing outside dressed so thinly, you'll easily catch a cold."

Recalling the ancient scenes from ten thousand years ago, when he sat in church banquet halls watching his relatives at matchmaking events, Qian Yuhan decided to properly "leech off the wisdom of the ancients"...

Based on those memories from tens of thousands of years ago, Qian Yuhan quickly grasped the approach:

Out of politeness, give a small gift upon meeting—this... shouldn't be a problem, right? What was next? Oh, right, after admiring it earnestly, one must offer a compliment.

After clumsily fastening the cloak for Xu Tianzhen, Qian Yuhan automatically took a few steps back, put on an expression of earnest admiration, nodded, and said, "It looks very good."

Xu Yan: "!!!" Holy crap, I never thought you brat had prepared in advance. And here I was, working so hard to provide assists! If you had told me you were prepared, I wouldn't have had to act like such a blockhead! I'm truly defeated!

The Rakshasa Phantom, poking its head out from the shadows, crawled around in the darkness like a distorted meme:

"No, brother, you don't look like someone who has never dated! With how smooth you are, I'm afraid you go on blind dates every single day!"

"Damn it, I knew no one in your Qian family was any good; you only know how to fool an honest divine consciousness like me! I'm so angry I'm shaking—when will you Qian family members ever be honest with others!"

Equally shocked was Xu Tianzhen. After being enveloped by the warm cloak Qian Yuhan had personally fastened, her brain, already muddled by his "good looks," issued a question while on the verge of a system crash:

What did my old man talk to him about last night! How is it that this guy seems... uh, suddenly enlightened?

Xu Tianzhen didn't quite understand the change, but she was reasonable and happy to accept it.

As a precocious member of the royal family—especially one whose father had rebelled via the Xuanwu Gate and fought his way to the throne—Xu Tianzhen was very open-minded about everything; at least, more so than the stereotypes suggested.

Since she enjoyed the benefits of being born into royalty, she should also be prepared to shoulder the responsibility of a political marriage when she grew up.

If this responsibility was unavoidable, why not take the initiative and pick a handsome, talented, and charming consort to feast her eyes on?

If this handsome, talented consort also happened to have a good temper, knew how to cherish her, and could treat her with mutual respect, that would be the most wonderful thing imaginable!

With so many prerequisites met, who needed some weird soul-guided flying car!

One must know how to be content! Happiness must be fought for by oneself!

Going all-in is a form of wisdom; when you see something suitable, you just go all-in!

"This cloak is very warm and looks good, I like it very much! You haven't had lunch yet, right? It just so happens that some new chefs from the Heaven Spirit Empire have arrived at my mansion. If you're willing to grace us with your presence, I'll have them prepare a meal now."

"Very well, the guest follows the host's lead. I'll listen to you."

Under Xu Yan's dumbfounded gaze, the usually lawless and unrestrained Princess Xu Tianzhen actually gripped her hem, performed a flawless, standard courtly bow to Qian Yuhan, and then generously invited him to dine.

Qian Yuhan, who had just rejected his own invitation to eat at the gate of the Princess Mansion and even told him to be more mature and steady, happily accepted Xu Tianzhen's invitation. He then acted like a perfect gentleman, leading the gray-skinned tortoise that was slowly munching on a radish on the ground over to Xu Tianzhen and helping her onto its back.

History is always shockingly similar. Just like the shrimp-and-computer meme the Rakshasa Phantom had just mimicked, Xu Yan was not to be outdone, pulling a face of utter defeat similar to the phantom's.

No, my little princess, what are you two doing! You're 11 and 12, this is only your second time meeting!

How are you managing to be as respectful and harmonious as an old married couple on your second meeting!

Is this right?

This is not right!

"Prin..."

Xu Yan wanted to say something, but Xu Tianzhen dealt him a "heavy blow" before he could speak.

Sitting on the thick shell of the tortoise mount, Xu Tianzhen turned back and waved at Xu Yan with a cheerful smile:

"Xu Yan, aren't you on leave today! You've been busy for so many days without going home; surely you have plenty of private matters to attend to. Xu Yu is on duty today, so you can go and busy yourself with peace of mind! This Princess won't keep you for dinner."

Xu Yan: "?"

666, she's not even pretending anymore, just waving her hand to chase me away, right? Let me tell you, Xu Tianzhen, if you've provoked me, Xu Yan, you've really provoked a soft persimmon!

Xu Tianzhen, oh Xu Tianzhen, you truly are the daughter of my Fourth Uncle the Emperor.

This way of discarding the millstone after the donkey... no, how can I call myself a donkey! Burning bridges, yes, that's it, the way you're burning bridges is exactly like him.

Fine, fine, fine. Since you're chasing me away and want me to leave, then I'll leave.

I'm going straight to the palace to complain to Fourth Uncle the Emperor and see how he reacts.

As a Marquis, no matter how unserious Xu Yan usually was, his skin wasn't thick enough to insist on staying for dinner.

He cupped his hands toward Xu Tianzhen, said, "This subject takes his leave," and turned to walk toward the main gate of the Princess Mansion.

Once outside, fueled by the mindset that he had to put a bug in the Emperor's ear, Xu Yan didn't care about the ban on flying in the downtown area. Under the disdainful gazes of the crowd, he zipped off toward the Imperial City.

Only when he reached the gate of the Imperial City did he land steadily and run toward the Wenhua Hall, where the old Emperor Xu Kun took his naps and reviewed memorials.