Chapter 143 Unworthy of Kindness

But another voice kept popping up in my mind: Princess Zhaoning in reality was only seven years old and had never really hurt her.

Li Nanke clutched the jujube in her hand tightly, her little face all wrinkled.

"Waaaaah, Mother, I'm so hungry and uncomfortable."

Princess Zhaoning clutched her stomach, crying even more pitifully.

Li Nanke grabbed a handful of hair in frustration.

Forget it, if she really goes back and complains to the emperor and empress, I'll suffer too.

Convincing herself this way, she reluctantly stuffed the remaining four dates into Princess Zhaoning's hand with a stern face.

Princess Zhaoning didn't react for a moment and was still sobbing.

"Fine, if you don't want to eat it!"

She reached out to take it back.

She risked her life to pick this tree, even though she was mischievous since childhood and had learned to climb trees.

But she really didn't have much strength just now, and she was about to fall if she wasn't careful.

"I'll eat it, I'll eat it!"

Princess Zhaoning realized what was happening, and without bothering to wipe away her tears, she quickly stuffed a date into her mouth and began to chew it vigorously.

A sour and astringent sensation spread through my mouth.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! What kind of dates are these? They taste awful!"

Zhao Ning couldn't hold back and spat out all the dates at once.

She looked up and glared angrily at Li Nanke, "Did you deliberately leave all the unpalatable dates for me? You were eating them so happily just now."

Li Nanke was so angry she wanted to roll her eyes.

I regret it; I shouldn't have been so soft-hearted.

She angrily pointed at the tree from which she had just picked dates, "This kind of tree is called a sour jujube tree, and the dates it produces are inherently both sour and astringent."

Even though it's sour and astringent, it's still a good thing for poor people. If it weren't for the remoteness of this place and the fact that the dates are sour and astringent, they would have been picked clean by the refugees along the Bian River long ago.

Where would there be any left for the two of us to eat? If you don't want it, give it back to me! Save your room for your princess's lavish feasts back home.

Princess Zhaoning said angrily, "I would rather starve to death than eat such disgusting food!"

"It's fine if you don't eat it, I'll eat it."

Li Nanke reached into her hand and took it.

Princess Zhaoning instinctively covered the jujube in her hand, pouting with a wronged expression.

"How dare you steal my things? I won't give them to you!"

Li Nanke was so angry he laughed.

Perhaps fearing that she would try to snatch it again, Princess Zhaoning quickly picked up a sour jujube and stuffed it into her mouth to eat.

I don't know if it was just my imagination, or because I was nervous that Li Nanke would come and snatch it, but when I chewed the second date, although it was still sour, the sourness had faded and a faint sweetness emerged.

Hmm, it doesn't taste so bad after all.

Princess Zhaoning ate while saying, "Li Nanke, how did you know that poor people eat this?"

Li Nanke scoffed, "I know a lot, unlike you, a princess who's been pampered since childhood and knows nothing."

Princess Zhaoning glared at her angrily.

"It must be because your Marquis's mansion is too poor. Did you eat this kind of poor people's food when you were a child?"

This sentence struck a nerve with Li Nanke.

She suddenly stood up, her grape-like eyes practically sparking with rage.

"I shouldn't have been so soft-hearted as to give you some food. Can't even food shut you up? Try saying another word and I promise I'll beat you until you spit out every last bit you swallowed!"

Her voice was sharp and undisguisedly fierce, like a wolf cub suddenly baring its fangs, as if she would pounce on the enemy and tear them to shreds at any moment.

Princess Zhaoning was frightened by the fierce look in Li Nanke's eyes.

Shrinking his neck, he whispered, "Fine, I won't tell you then. Why are you so angry?"

Li Nanke clenched her little fists, her face turning bright red with anger.

She recognized the jujube tree because in her dream, during their exile, she and her mother had relied on jujubes to survive their hunger.

Just thinking about these things makes her feel both sad and angry.

She tried to regulate her breathing, and it took her a long time to suppress her anger.

Princess Zhaoning dared not look at her expression, vaguely sensing that she might have said something wrong.

But she was a princess, and she was always the one being coaxed and apologized to; she was never the one to apologize to others.

She would never apologize to Li Nanke, even though Li Nanke had saved her!

Princess Zhaoning swallowed the date in her mouth, raised her chin, and said in a condescending tone:

"You saved me today, so I won't hold what happened earlier against you. After we return to the palace, I will ask my father and mother to let you become my study companion."

So many people want to be her study companion, Li Nanke must be very happy, right?

She looked at Li Nanke smugly.

Li Nanke's expression changed, and he suddenly stood up, bent down, leaned forward, and snatched the two remaining dates from her hand.

Then he stuffed it into his mouth!

The whole process was completed in one go!

Princess Zhaoning was dumbfounded.

Li Nanke's mouth was stuffed full of dates, making his speech somewhat unclear, but his anger was undeniable.

"I really shouldn't have been kind!"

Some people don't deserve kindness!

Princess Zhaoning watched as Li Nanke swallowed both dates in an instant before belatedly realizing what had happened.

She had only eaten one date, and her stomach was still growling with hunger.

"Li Nanke, you... I hate you! Waaah! I want my mother!"

She was both aggrieved and hungry, and couldn't hold back her anger, bursting into tears.

"Where are you, Mother? Li Nanke is bullying me!"

"Princess!"

A sudden, urgent shout came from the woods, startling Li Nanke so much that he stood up abruptly.

It sounds like Xie Xuanxiao's voice!

Princess Zhaoning also heard it, paused for a moment, and then cried even louder.

"Wow, help!"

A few sparks lit up the woods, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching.

The firelight grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime.

Xie Xuanxiao led a troop of imperial guards and ran quickly through the woods. He was both surprised and delighted to see Princess Zhaoning.

"Thank goodness, Princess, it's so good that you're alright!"

A troop of imperial guards bowed and saluted, "Greetings, Princess!"

The unified shouts startled the birds in the forest, causing them to scatter in all directions, and also demonstrated Princess Zhaoning's imposing manner.

She glanced triumphantly at Li Nanke, pointed at one of the imperial guards, and said, "You, come here and carry this princess back."

The imperial guards stepped forward and picked her up.

Xie Xuanxiao took the opportunity to step forward and sized up Li Nanke.

He asked, "Miss Li, are you alright?"

Li Nanke shook his head, indicating that he was fine.

Princess Zhaoning pointed at Li Nanke.

"She's the one who bullied me, let's go! Don't let her come with us, leave her here alone!"

Li Nanke...

Xie Xuanxiao looked troubled.

Although he felt that Li Nanke was too young and full of scheming, he didn't like her.

But he couldn't bring himself to leave an eight-year-old girl in the middle of nowhere.

"Princess, Her Majesty the Empress is waiting for you at the refugee camp, and many officials and their families are also there."

"It wouldn't be good if we left Miss Li here alone."

Princess Zhaoning glared at him angrily.

"What's wrong with that? I hate Li Nanke. She bullied me, so I'm going to teach her a lesson!"

"Young Master Xie, if you dare disobey this princess, I will... I will not allow Cousin Xue Shu to like you!"