Transmigrated as the Villainess, Troubled by the Cuteness!

Chapter 296 - 230: The Real and Fake Wen Ranchen (Part 3)

During dinner, Shen Xiaojun was still brought over by her nanny, no, more accurately, the nanny was brought over.

The nanny glanced at Wen Ranchen, looking a little scared, and could only explain to Shen Jingxian after bowing, "I beg the Emperor for forgiveness, the Princess has been insisting on coming over, and this servant couldn’t persuade her otherwise."

Shen Jingxian waved her hand, "Hmm, you may withdraw, it’s getting late, let Jun’er sleep here tonight."

As soon as Shen Xiaojun heard this, her eyes lit up. Ever since she turned three, her father had forbidden her from sleeping with her mother, but she actually quite liked sleeping with her mother.

"Hehehe, mother is the best."

Shen Jingxian was accustomed to Shen Xiaojun’s sweet words, hinting that she shouldn’t neglect the other person, "Isn’t father good? Your father has been away for so long, don’t you miss your father?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiaojun dashed over to hold Wen Ranchen’s hand, "Father, Xiaojun missed you so much."

Wen Ranchen’s body went a bit stiff; no child had ever wanted to be this close to him before, and she called him father.

Her hand was very small and could only hold one of his fingers, but it was very soft.

Even knowing she wasn’t his child, Wen Ranchen’s icy heart softened a little.

If he could have a normal life, wouldn’t he have a child like this too?

Wen Ranchen couldn’t help but gently squeeze Shen Xiaojun’s face; it felt very nice, just as he imagined.

But after being pinched, Shen Xiaojun suddenly tilted her head in confusion, "Strange, father feels different today."

Wen Ranchen’s heart skipped a beat, marveling that surely she was another’s child of his, so perceptive.

Shen Jingxian didn’t mind, placed some food into Wen Ranchen’s bowl, and said casually, "Your father is very tired today, and hasn’t even finished dinner yet, don’t bother him."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiaojun obediently stood still, nodded, and offered, "Alright, then I’ll go help mother with the memorials."

Shen Jingxian: ...

Wen Ranchen: ?

Feeling speechless, Shen Jingxian glared at Wen Ranchen as if saying look at what you’ve taught her.

Wen Ranchen suddenly felt a bit aggrieved, showing his first genuine expression since he arrived here.

Why did he feel that the version of himself in this world was not quite normal?

"You forgot what mother told you, at night you shouldn’t read books, it’s bad for your eyes. Be good and play for a while, mother will come to play with you later."

Shen Xiaojun posed another soul-searching question, "Will mother play chess with me?"

Shen Jingxian was once again in a dilemma; she truly couldn’t play Go, no matter how hard she tried.

But maybe it’s precisely because of this that Shen Xiaojun enjoys playing with her? After all, she always loses to Wen Ranchen, only when playing with her can she find some confidence.

Sigh, now she truly understands the difficulties of being a mother.

"Sure, as long as you don’t mind mother playing poorly."

"No, I won’t mind, I just want to spend time with mother; it doesn’t necessarily have to be Go, Gomoku is fine too..."

Ah, Gomoku, that she can play!

"Alright, mother will play Gomoku with you later."

Shen Xiaojun finally ran off satisfied.

Wen Ranchen swallowed mouthful after mouthful of food, suddenly realizing that all the flavors were to his liking.

"Honestly, stop scaring people; look at how you frightened the nanny. It’s one thing to intimidate officials in court, but why bully a child’s nanny? She couldn’t possibly have stopped Jun’er, and you scare people like this every day... look at the nanny, palace maids, eunuchs in this palace, who doesn’t fear you."

Wen Ranchen was dumbfounded by this sudden criticism.

His first reaction was wondering how she saw through it; his gaze moments ago was quite subtle.

His second reaction was how had she not noticed his abnormality, did she genuinely not notice, or was she... unwilling to alert him?

His third reaction, and the most genuine one, was happiness.

He was actually delighted by these remarks scolding him.

Wen Ranchen himself found it incredible.

Shen Jingxian, however, thought he was silently protesting, and her anger rose, "I don’t know what’s going on with you today, but let me seriously tell you about the children, don’t let her be exposed to those sordid things too early; once a child’s heart harbors concerns, they’ll start doubting this and that. I want her to see wondrous things, full of life and sincerity, not to be suspicious all day, thinking everyone is plotting against her."

These words were clearly about the children, yet Wen Ranchen felt they were more about himself.

Indeed, he didn’t trust anyone, he could only see filth, so he had no desire to live.