"The most terrifying thing is, she even had the audacity to slander my father like that!"
Song Lili always had an exceptionally straightforward nature when she was younger, but she has changed a lot since then. The words she now speaks are filtered through her mind and carry much restraint.
However, when she truly encounters soone maliciously slandering a person she cares about, she can’t hold her temper.
"She thinks that everyone in the world is just like her, valuing power and status above all else! It’s as if people live solely for power and status! How can she be so devoid of humanity!"
As Song Lili ranted indignantly, she also sought Wen Nian’s empathy.
Wen Nian listened alongside, echoing her sentints.
At such tis, all he could do was agree because otherwise... Song Lili would surely be even more furious!
That was how Song Lili criticized Lerong all along the way until her tirade faded from exhaustion.
Upon arriving back at the President Mansion, Song Lili hurried to her room to see the children.
Wen Nian headed to the President’s Office, to finish off the unfinished business affairs.
Surrounded by a blizzard of docunts that dazzled the eyes, Wen Nian’s thoughts, however, drifted unusually far away; Lerong’s words still echoing in his ears:
Who is treating whom as a fool, and who is playing innocent in front of whom?
He sighed deeply.
That’s just how the web of human relationships is, isn’t it? Everyone is performing their parts, with flattering and sycophantic aplauses... You sing, I laugh, you accompany, I clap...
The actors, the feigning fools, the innocents, the show-offs...
There were just too many.
-------
It was a sunny day.
Before one knew it, it was the end of February, and Prince Chiluo had returned to his country a week ago.
Wen Nian received a ssage from Chiluo that Princess Chinian would arrive in G country today.
Song Lili had already prepared a guest room for Princess Chinian to stay in for an extended period.
As Wen Nian was busy with official business, he sent soone to accompany Song Lili to receive Chinian.
At the President’s private airport, the plane carrying Chinian to Anlin arrived on ti.
Song Lili waited outside the airplane cabin and saw a young girl carefully disembarking the plane. She was wearing a Western-style dress, a coat, and a brown hat.
Just as Chiluo had described, she was shy and also very beautiful, truly resembling an exquisite porcelain doll.
Her deep eyes harbored a rare shade of gray pupils, found rarely even in M country, with long, thick lashes both above and below.
An attendant whispered to Chinian,
"This is the President’s wife, Song Lili."
"Mrs. Wen, How do you do. This is our M country’s Seventh Princess, Chinian."
Song Lili stepped forward and warmly embraced the Seventh Princess,
"Hello, Your Highness the Princess."
"Ah, ah."
Chinian let out two soft noises, and then made so gestures with her hands. The interpreter by her side promptly explained, "The Seventh Princess says you can just call her Chinian or Niannian, Madam."
Song Lili smiled,
"Then I’ll address you by your na from now on, Chinian."
Chinian nodded, a bashful smile spreading across her face, her cheeks flushed with a rosy glow.
She really was as pretty and adorable as could be.
Even though M country and G country were neighbors, they had many differences in physical appearance.
The people of G country, like most Asian nations, had yellow skin, black hair, and black eyes.
The people of M country, however, were more akin to Westerners, with a variety of eye colors, and although brown and black hair were predominant, there were also those like Qing Luo with white hair.
Therefore, it was difficult for G country inhabitants to have a Western doll-like appearance like Chinian’s.
Chinian followed Song Lili, speaking very little. Whenever Song Lili spoke to her, she mostly just nodded in response, hardly voicing her own opinions.
"During your ti in G country, I’ll take you around to see our national customs and traditions. If there’s anywhere specific you’d like to visit, let know."
"Thank you, Sister Lili. And sorry to trouble you."
She responded with a flushed face.
After completing her gestures, her gaze swiftly shifted away.
"Why are you so shy?"
Song Lili couldn’t help but ask.
That question made Chinian even more embarrassed than before; her cheeks were already red, but now her entire face was flushed, extending to her neck and the roots of her ears.
Seeing her face turn so red, Song Lili laughed without any restraint.
Now Chinian’s head was almost bowed to the ground.
"Alright, since you don’t want to answer this question now, you can answer it when you feel like it later," Song Lili said.
"..."
"You must be tired from the flight too, rest for a while. I will call you when we arrive."
"Thank you, Sister Lili."
"You are too polite."
————
Song Lili brought her back to President Mansion.
Such a beautiful woman, who grew up like a doll, caught the undivided attention of Wen Xun, who had just said goodbye to his tutor.
This was the first ti Song Lili saw Wen Xun with such an expression.
She thought to herself that the Seventh Princess was really extraordinary.
"Xiao Xun, it’s impolite to stare at soone like that," she said.
Wen Xun imdiately snapped back to reality and said apologetically, "Sorry."
Chinian quickly shook her head, "No, it’s fine."
When Wen Xun saw her use sign language, he was taken aback again.
"She’s the seventh princess from M country, nad Chinian. You can call her Princess Chinian. She’ll be staying at President Mansion for a while."
"Princess Chinian... could she be Prince Chiluo’s..."
"Chinian is Prince Chiluo’s sister."
"No wonder,"
said Wen Xun.
"This is my younger brother, Wen Xun, he is ten years old this year,"
Song Lili introduced Wen Xun to Chinian.
Chinian gave a small nod.
"I will take Princess Chinian to her room now. You better hurry up with your howork. There’s a midday banquet prepared for Princess Chinian, and if you don’t finish your howork, you’ll miss out on the delicacies."
"I’m going to do my howork right now!"
Wen Xun exclaid, then darted off in a flash.
"This way, Princess Chinian..."
————
Sohow, the news of Princess Chinian’s arrival at President Mansion had leaked.
By noon, Wen Chou and his wife, along with Wen Liangyu, had arrived.
Pan Qin wheeled Wen Liangyu into the house and straight into the banquet hall.
Not just Chinian was bewildered; even Song Lili was caught off guard.
"Elder Wen, Uncle Wen, Aunt Xiao... what brings you here?"
"I heard that the seventh princess from M country has arrived, so I ca to have a look,"
said Wen Liangyu.
Xiao Ziyan was stunned when she saw the Seventh Princess,
"The Seventh Princess is so unbelievably beautiful..."
One could imagine just how red Chinian’s face beca under Xiao Ziyan’s generous praise.
Wen Nian arrived a bit late, but before coming, he had already received a text from Song Lili, knowing that Wen Chou and Xiao Ziyan were bringing the old gentleman along.
He was helpless about the elders’ uninvited visit.
"Xiaonian, you’ve finally finished your work?"
"...Yes, mom, why didn’t you guys let know in advance that you were coming?"
"We wanted to give you a surprise,"
said Xiao Ziyan with a smile.
Wen Nian chuckled lightly, "Next ti you co, please let us know in advance. Otherwise, the kitchen doesn’t have ti to prepare."
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