The eldest prince, Ji Changran, was already fifteen years old. Although only slightly older than them, his features had shed some of their youthful awkwardness, looking handsome and refined, no longer a boy’s naive self.

After all, royal bloodlines were what they were—having a deceptively mature appearance was no surprise.

He wore a magnificent robe embroidered with kui dragon patterns and held a turquoise flowing folding fan in his hand. His entire demeanor was impressive, even the jade hairpin that tied up his jet-black hair looked extraordinarily noble.

Before Shen Xuefeng could think of how to explain himself, Ji Changran spoke first to his younger sister, “Ling’er, why are you suddenly curious about the prince’s companion reader?”

“Because I like him and want the prince to give him to me!” Ji Ling went up and clung to Ji Changran’s arm coquettishly. “Big Brother, I want him to be my companion reader.”

Hearing this, Ji Changran’s gaze shifted to Shen Xuefeng, and he lightly tapped his sister’s forehead with the fan handle, smiling: “Young Master Shen is quite popular. The elder brother doesn’t get a chance, so Ling’er certainly won’t.”

Shen Xuefeng was extremely embarrassed, thinking the eldest prince was mocking him.

But unexpectedly, Ji Changran didn’t stop there and dropped a heavy blow: “Mother didn’t see you just now and sent someone to look for you. If you don’t return now, you know the consequences…”

When dealing with his mischievous sister, he seemed very practiced, giving Ji Ling no chance to argue back. “Take the tenth princess back to her chamber.”

Soon, a few eunuchs appeared from somewhere—seemingly Ji Changran’s men—and efficiently escorted the displeased Ji Ling away.

Ji Changran then turned to Shen Xuefeng, smiled faintly, and made a polite gesture.

“Young Master Shen, please also return.”

Shen Xuefeng nervously said, “Your Highness, I still have important matters to attend to, and I’m not exactly headed the same way as you.”

After speaking, he stepped back a few paces, preparing to leave quickly.

“Where are you going, Young Master Shen?”

Ji Changran opened his folding fan, fanning as he stepped closer. “If I remember correctly, you rarely come to the palace. Wherever you want to go, it’s on my way, and I can escort you.”

“Moreover,” he leaned in, “I hear your voice is still weak; you probably haven’t fully recovered from your illness. The palace is vast—what if you accidentally get lost in some remote corner and your condition worsens?”

Shen Xuefeng’s heart skipped a beat.

This prince really seemed to be trying to block him.

Could it be that he resented him over the companion reader situation?

But on the day of the companion reader selection, Shen Xuefeng had not met Ji Changran. He had only glanced casually at the princes and, after confirming who Ji Wu was, had made his decision without hesitation.

Even though the Empress Dowager, Empress, and everyone else thought he should be Ji Changran’s companion reader, Shen Xuefeng did not believe Ji Changran shared that opinion.

Ji Changran was never short of companion readers. Over the years, he had changed three or four. He excelled in his studies and had relatively few lessons—he didn’t need a burden like Shen Xuefeng.

After a long standoff, with Ji Changran refusing to budge, Shen Xuefeng started feeling a chill and coughed. He gave up trying to argue with him here. He had planned to find Ji Wu anyway. Today, a grand banquet was held at the palace with all the princes and princesses dressed splendidly—except Ji Wu was nowhere to be seen.

He wondered if Ji Wu was really ill, and if he would be able to eat even a single glutinous rice ball.

It seemed there would be no meeting today.

Shen Xuefeng sighed in disappointment and then relented. “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will return now.”

Ji Changran smiled and said, “Please do.”

He walked side by side with Shen Xuefeng. Perhaps because Shen Xuefeng’s eventual surrender pleased Ji Changran greatly, he asked about Shen Xuefeng’s well-being along the way but never once mentioned the matter of the companion reader.

At first, Ji Changran truly didn’t take this sickly-looking boy seriously.

After all, as a royal prince, the center of all attention, Shen Xuefeng was merely the son of a minister—there was absolutely no reason for him to refuse Ji Changran.

Yet Shen Xuefeng had refused, and the reason was that lowly Ji Wu.

This was like a hard slap to Ji Changran’s face.

He was proud by nature; even if displeased, he wouldn’t behave like that foolish tenth princess, nor would he resort to desperate measures to ruin things just because he didn’t get what he wanted.

He had intended to be magnanimous and preserve his good reputation by letting the matter go, but after seeing Shen Xuefeng’s figure dressed in dark crimson on the Lantern Festival night, he changed his mind.

Shen Xuefeng was too beautiful—of that rare, exquisite kind. Ji Changran, a regular at palace banquets, had seen countless famed beauties from noble families across the capital, but none were as striking as Shen Xuefeng.

Though not yet fully grown into a refined young gentleman, his appearance was already outstanding. Ji Changran thought the foolish tenth princess’s secret crush on the Minister of Rites wasn’t much. Given time, Shen Xuefeng might even surpass that man.

That night, Ji Changran escorted Shen Xuefeng back to the main hall, publicly leading him to the side of the princess. Before leaving, he even specially reminded Shen Xuefeng to take care of his health. At the banquet, everyone was surprised to see these two walking together.

The Empress Dowager was greatly pleased. She had always favored Ji Changran as the heir to the throne, and Shen Xuefeng’s kind and lively nature meant that the two becoming friends could surely help Ji Changran in court affairs in the future.

Meanwhile, the other princes studying in the Chongwen Academy exchanged glances, momentarily stunned and speechless.

After the holiday, classes resumed as usual.

This time, the atmosphere in the school shifted subtly, in an unspoken way.

That day, Shen Xuefeng attended class but did not sit beside Ji Wu. Instead, he moved a small table to the back row, far away from Ji Wu.

Ji Wu watched coldly as palace maids removed his writing materials.

Anyone could guess what this meant.

His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, his cold brows clouded with stormy thoughts—countless malicious suspicions swirling in his mind.

This little master truly regretted it; even though he came to school, he hadn’t said a word to him.

Rightly so. A person like him, naturally solitary and strange, was meant to live forever in the shadows, a monster everyone despised and feared.

Shen Xuefeng… must be the same.

Just then, Ji Changran suddenly entered the hall. His gaze swept around, and upon seeing Shen Xuefeng, he strode over.

The two whispered to each other, clearly familiar.

Ji Changran smiled. After hearing what Shen Xuefeng said, his smile deepened; he lightly tapped Shen Xuefeng’s head with his folding fan before returning to his seat.

Someone in front of Shen Xuefeng turned around excitedly: “Young Master Shen, should I congratulate you in advance? Looks like your companion reader status is about to be upgraded.”

Shen Xuefeng only smiled in response.

“Don’t be modest. At the Lantern Festival banquet, I saw you walking back with the prince, and he even escorted you back to your seat.”

Shen Xuefeng still just smiled.

What was said unintentionally, Ji Wu clearly heard.

This group chattered noisily, which annoyed him, though he showed no expression.

That feeling was soon suppressed. He had a tolerance few possessed and hated giving rise to unnecessary emotions.

However, this little companion reader, after offending Ji Changran, had quickly regained favor… Ji Wu stared darkly at Shen Xuefeng’s profile.

Indeed, he had some talent.

On the other side, Shen Xuefeng was quietly relieved that Ji Ling, that little troublemaker, didn’t come to school today; otherwise, if she had seen him, there would have been no end to her fussing.

Because his throat felt uncomfortable, he planned not to say a single word today.

During the break after the first class, seeing Ji Wu lazily get up, Shen Xuefeng took a few bottles out of his book bag and stood up with him.

Ji Wu glanced at him with a heavy gaze, then quickly looked away coldly.

Shen Xuefeng bumped into him head-on. Seeing that Ji Wu kept ignoring him, he grew somewhat confused and reached out to tug on the corner of his clothes.

Ji Wu cast a somewhat mocking look over him from head to toe. Shen Xuefeng’s little strength was nothing to him; with ease, Ji Wu pulled away completely.

Shen Xuefeng became anxious and followed him, repeating the same trick—like a shadow, wherever Ji Wu went, he followed.

Ji Wu stopped and asked coldly, “What exactly do you want?”

“…” Shen Xuefeng showed a wronged expression.

He pointed at his throat, and when he spoke, his voice was rough and hoarse, completely unlike the pleasant young tone from before: “Your Highness, I… my throat hurts when I speak. I’m afraid I might infect you with my illness.”

Ji Wu was momentarily taken aback.

Shen Xuefeng struggled to organize his words with his broken, hoarse voice: “During the Lantern Festival… I caught a chill. Even my sister got sick from me. I… I’m afraid you might also—”

“So,” Ji Wu interrupted, “you changed seats today because of this?”

Shen Xuefeng nodded heavily, offering several medicine bottles to him: “Your Highness, have you been ill these days? These… these are medicines for treating chills. I prepared them for you, just in case.”

Ji Wu had grown up in a harsh environment; his body was undoubtedly much stronger than Shen Xuefeng’s. How could he be affected by a mere snow chill?

Yet he didn’t show it and still took the medicine Shen Xuefeng offered.

Shen Xuefeng’s features brightened instantly.

“During the Lantern Festival, Your Highness, did you eat any yuanxiao?”

Eat yuanxiao?

Ji Wu thought this little master was adorably silly.

Though he wasn’t favored, he was not treated so poorly that he lacked basic needs. After all, the royal family’s face had to be maintained. Such a prosperous dynasty would surely be able to support an obscure prince, and wouldn’t let him miss out on such… meaningless things.

“No, I didn’t,” he said.

Shen Xuefeng opened his eyes wide.

Tilting his head to think, he carefully and slowly said word by word, “Then, I… I want to invite Your Highness to eat some.”

Ji Wu looked at him and asked, “How do you want to invite me?”