Heavenly Star

“Look again.”

Ye Wuchen grabbed a piece of glass ball from the ground, when he presents it in front of Long Huang-er’s eyes it was already broken into halves. He closed his hand, and after a few moments he opened it again. In his hand, was an impressively whole glass ball.

Long Huang-er yelled aloud in surprise. In her excitement, she could not help but clap her hands, eagerly blinking her crystal-like eyes and said, “Is there anything else, something more interesting? I want to see, I want to see!”

That day it was he who had slashed her neck, very painfully, and she had felt the blood flow out. But afterwards, the wound had completely disappeared, and she could not find any traces of it, so the curiosity of this young lady was not just ordinarily intense. In order for her to know the secret, she had to flatten her mouth and call him “brother”, but she was not able to find the answer. Hence, she held a grudge in her heart, and resolutely wanted to bully him in return. Now, she had once again fallen into his traps, though this time even her heart had been hoisted up by him, as she had totally forgotten that he was the enemy and that she was prepared to teach him a lesson earlier.

The princess’ sorrow stemmed from her having to live in this luxurious yet small surrounding, hovering around the same scenario everyday, repeating her activities everyday. She was similar to a canary that was forever trapped in a golden cage. The only thing that she thirsted for was something that was new and odd.

“Good. Your father, the Emperor, requested me to accompany you to school everyday. This way I can show many interesting things. Oh… Let’s go now, or else we will be late.”

“School?” Long Huang-er shook her head, said with a face full of hope, “I don’t want to go there, can you just play with me?”

“Your father commanded me to accompany you on your way to school. If you don’t go to school, then I will not be able to accompany you anymore and must return home.” Ye Wuchen shrugged his shoulders, and struck a posture as if he had no choice but to leave.

“Ah… You are not allowed to go! Hey! Uhhh… I will go to school.” For fear that this Ye Wuchen, who possessed a lot of interesting things, would leave, Long Huang-er had no other choice but to give in.

“Such an obedient girl, let us go now.” Ye Wuchen said and turned.

“I-I’ll change my clothes first.” Long Huang-er said shyly. Her face slightly turned red while she ran inside her chamber. Although the traces of water in her body had already been steamed dry by Ye Wuchen, her undergarments and her small boots were still dripping wet.

It was too late, before Ye Wuchen could react and give her a warning, during her slow run, Long Huang-er tripped on the thin, long and simply untraceable thread. She stumbled, causing a light sound to echo from the top of her head, and a very huge pack of flour came spilling down on top of her head, covering Long Huang-er’s body entirely in white.

Long Huang-er stared blankly for a few seconds, but eventually cried aloud. She had meticulously prepared six traps for Ye Wuchen, and she had fallen into four of them on her own.

Ye Wuchen went over with his face between laughter and tears. He helped her beat off all the white flour from her body, then helplessly consoled her, “Don’t cry, if you continue to cry we will be late.”

He could not help but to think that if he were to marry this Long Huang-er after three years time, whether or not he would actually be marrying a wife that will care for him, or adopting a daughter that needed to be amused and entertained at all times.

After being tormented for almost half day, Long Huang-er finally put on a white palace gown then came out with some tears still in the corners of her eyes. Seeing Ye Wuchen, who had waited for her for almost half day, she pouted her lips and spread out her arms, “You should carry me there.”

Ye Wuchen carefully observed her for a few glances, only to discover that she was serious. He smiled and shook his head, “This won’t do. The princess should not be carried by anybody so casually.”

The majestic princess wished to be carried out of the palace… if someone were to see it, the news would surely spread across the entire city. Even the Emperor’s future son-in-law would not be sprared. If he really did that, what would become of the Royal Family’s dignity and the Princess’ purity?

“No! Yesterday, you obviously carried a young lady. I want to be carried by you.” She said stubbornly. The one she was referring to was the one she had seen yesterday at the Ye residence, Tong Xin, who rested on his shoulder and had fallen asleep. In her memory, she had never been carried that way by anyone before. Her father never did it, and her mother, who had died when she was born, obviously did not.

“That’s different. She is someone very close to me, and you are a princess.”

“But, you… you are my future husband. My father told me and I have agreed. You must carry me!”

“Out of the question.”

“If you don’t… I’ll tell my father.”

“En, go ahead and tell him.”

“You-you are always taking advantage of me! If you don’t carry me, I will cry.”

Long Huang-er’s tears were easy came and went, Ye Wuchen had experienced it already. If she wanted to cry, without much effort, her tears would flow out easily, as if they were free of charge. Ye Wuchen finally gave up, then walked to her and said, “Okay, but it should be just a very short while. Moreover, it cannot be seen by anyone.”

“En. Hurry and carry me now, faster!”

Long Huang-er hurriedly agreed, for fear that he might back out. She stood on tiptoe, with both her white and delicate hands constantly pulling ay his clothes, and eyes as bright as crystals full of hope.

He bent his body, propped up her small buttocks and carried her against his chest. Long Huang-er’s body was exceptionally soft and graceful, and carrying her in his bosom felt like carrying warm and soft cotton.

“Are you satisfied now?” said Ye Wuchen gently as he supported her back.

Long Huang-er leaned across his shoulder, enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by the warmth. She did not reply and was just silently resting there with half-closed eyes, seeking that dreamlike feeling.

“You are very nice… From now on, you must carry me like this and play with me, okay?” She subconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck and mumbled in a soft voice.

Ye Wuchen was unable to respond and he acted like he did not hear her.

“Nobody ever wants to play with me… They are either scared of me, or ignore me. This place is quite big, but I am frequently all alone. My older brothers are busy, my older sisters pay no attention to me, my father will come to visit only after a very very long time, and other people seem like they really don’t want to accompany me. From now on, you will play with me, okay?”

“......”

“You bring me outside to play, okay? Aside from going to school, father only allows me to go out just once every half year. At this age, I have never left Tian Long City. I really wish I could go outside and play… Can you take me?”

“......”

During the silence, Ye Wuchen only stood there without moving. After a long time, Long Huang-er did not make a sound. Ye Wuchen lowered his head to discover that she had already closed her eyes. Her eyelashes trembled along with her breathing; she had actually dozed off in his arm.

“Yet another pitiful child who needs to be loved.” Ye Wuchen secretly sighed.

Thirteen years old and living by herself in such a big palace. In the dead of the night, how scared was she? The nights when lightning flashed and thunder rolled, who would she rely on for support? Perhaps this was the moment wherein she slept in the most relaxed way, the one time that she had the most sense of security.

A person without their mother would not experience being loved selflessly. Inside the palace, she had no mother, not siblings from the same mother, and even though she was greatly spoiled by Long Yin, she was isolated and without help, with no real care from others.

Ye Wuchen’s intention of rebuking her completely disappeared. He even felt some regret and pity for her having need to come up with these teasing strategies. She used her teasing just for a break in her boring and lonely life, and as a way to protect herself.

Ye Wuchen walked slowly, pushed a door open to enter the Princess’ chamber. He then lightly placed her onto the sweet smelling bed.

Quietly gazing at her for a few moments, he turned around to leave.

“You… are not allowed to leave.”

Upon hearing the voice, Ye Wuchen turned his body around to see the Princess with her eyes already wide open.

“You said that you will accompany me to school. As long as you will accompany me, I’m willing to attend school everyday.” Long Huang-er said. When the warm, cozy feeling and the sense of security had disappeared, she had woken up.

“Okay.” Ye Wuchen smiled and carried her up. He put her down when they reached the doorway, then he held her hand as they left the palace.

As the most prestigious school in Tian Long Nation, the Tian Long Imperial Institute covered almost all the subjects that a person could think of. From the most basic fists, swords, blades, bows, thorns, spears, protection, and magic to the four arts, that include zither, go, calligraphy, and painting, as well as musical instruments, etiquette, the art of war, finances, smithing, firearms… A myriad of things; anything that should be there was there. And for every subject, even the neglected ones, the teachers were all impressive and well-known. Tian Long Imperial Institute had never disappointed the Royal Family’s standards and had their all-out support. Every year, several batches of extraordinary talents come from the institute. It is considered a great honor to graduate from the Tian Long Imperial Institute.

Of course, having sent her there since she was nine years old, yet until now Long Huang-er still had not graduated from even the etiquette classes. As a result, she did not enjoy the honor. The Tian Long Imperial Institute were strict in not allowing anyone to expose the details of the graduation exam. Even the princes or the grandchildren of the Emperor were not allowed, because of a strict order from the Emperor himself.

It was Ye Wuchen’s second time to set his foot here. This place could be considered the stepping stone of one of the crucial points in his life where he tread on Lin Xiao of the Lin Family.

Tian Long Imperial Institute had very tight security, and they would absolutely not allow outsiders to step inside. Long Yin had obviously provided instructions so that Ye Wuchen and Long Huang-er could enter without any obstruction. In the past, when Long Huang-er arrived here, her she was unwilling every time. Today, she was very much excited, and chattered continuously along the way, wishing she could narrate all the interesting things she had came across during all these years. She even refused to ride her palanquin to arrive with Ye Wuchen on foot.

Every subject was divided into beginner, middle level, and high level classes. If the number of people were too many, they would be divided into class 1, 2, and so on. The most recent class that she was attending was on painting skills. Although it was naturally her own choice, when the fresh feeling at the beginning of each class had passed, she would not attend the same class anymore, and if she ever attended again, it was due to Long Yin’s insistence. The direction Long Huang-er had been leading Ye Wuchen was the beginner’s class.

Upon entering the artist’s studio, several pairs of eyes shot their glances at their direction. Almost all of them concentrated on Ye Wuchen’s body. Some were curious, some fanatical, there were even offensive ones, but there was no astonishment. It could be assumed that the people here already knew that he would be accompanying Princess Fei Huang here as her “supervisor”. These people were both males and females, mostly at very young age. Those who attended a beginner class, were mostly those of a very young age.

Translated by: Fatty_Uncle

Edited by: seriouspopato and patrick_father_of_dragons