The Princess's Smile (9)
After Jian Tanxi returned to her room, the others were discussing how to make the princess laugh the next day.
Lin Nanhuai said he also has a special ability called "countless fans", which means he can keep taking out fans (the kind of edible noodles) from his pocket.
The others were somewhat surprised, but did not agree with the proposal.
Huo Zimu said, "Are you going to keep taking out fans for the princess? That looks a bit silly, and the princess definitely won't laugh."
Lin Nanhuai: "As long as I have enough fans, I can support the entire Red Strawberry Kingdom. Wouldn't the princess be happy?"
Professor Pan said, "They probably wouldn't like eating rice noodles, and even if you contributed a lot of rice noodles to the Red Strawberry Kingdom, the princess might not necessarily smile. Just because she's satisfied inside doesn't mean she'll smile outwardly. We've tried it many times already."
Xu Yunhong also said, "There are only 9 healing pills left... We don't have many chances left to try and fail, so we'd better come up with a foolproof plan."
Lin Nanhuai said impatiently, "If you all say it won't work, then think of a better way. What's the point of just trying to discourage me?"
At this moment, Jian Tanxi said, "I already have a solution."
As she spoke, she whispered a few words to her companions.
Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard this, and they all thought it was a great idea.
So everyone went to sleep peacefully.
The next day, everyone was awakened by a ringing bell.
I don't know what time it is now, but it's already dawn.
That night, no one slept soundly, and everyone slept fully clothed, so they got up quickly, tidied themselves up, and were ready to go out.
Only Qu Chen took off all his clothes, and he was the first to wake up. He ran around the room naked for a while, and no one knew how long he ran.
Jian Tanxi and Meng Yuening laughed as they grabbed Qu Chen and helped him put his clothes on.
Just then, Miss Jenny called from outside the door: "After discussing it all night, you should have come up with a good idea, right? Hurry up and come out to make the princess laugh. If you don't come out within one minute, you will be considered to have forfeited."
Jian Tanxi quickly went out: "It's my turn to go on stage this time."
Just like yesterday, the princess and the king sat on the high platform, waiting for Jian Tanxi's performance.
Jian Tanxi said to the princess, "Princess, I have brought something that I'm sure you will like."
As she spoke, she opened her personal storage space and pulled something out of it.
What emerged was a pale and frail beauty, wearing a queen's crown, with an elegant demeanor, and bearing a five-point resemblance to the princess.
However, since the beauty's body was semi-transparent, Jian Tanxi couldn't actually hold her hand.
Upon seeing the princess, the beautiful woman was both heartbroken and moved. She stretched out her hands to the princess and exclaimed, "My daughter!"
The princess was surprised for a moment, then quickly ran over, crying out, "Mother! Are you my mother?"
Yes, child.
The princess tried to rush into the queen's arms, but the queen's body was illusory, and she missed, ending up behind the queen.
What is appearing now must be the spirit of the deceased queen.
The king was startled and asked Jian Tanxi, "What's going on?"
Jian Tanxi explained, "During the banquet last night, I heard someone say that since the late Queen passed away, the Princess has never smiled again. So I thought that if the Queen's spirit could meet with the Princess, perhaps the Princess's emotions would return to normal."
Last night, I asked my maids where the late queen's tomb was, and then I went to the tomb.
The tomb is covered with photos of the late queen. I have the superpower of two-dimensional grasping, which allows me to pull two-dimensional objects into the three-dimensional world.
So I tried to grab it, and I successfully pulled out the late queen's soul. I told her I would take her to see the princess the next day, and she agreed.
I tried putting her soul into my personal storage space, and surprisingly, it worked. So, all night long, the late queen's soul remained in my personal storage space.
The king nodded: "I see..."
The king also came over and said to the spirit of the late queen, "Mary, I've finally seen you again..."
Queen Mary looked at the King with a hint of sadness.
The king tried to take Queen Mary's hand, but he grasped only empty air.
Queen Mary said, "Your Majesty, the living cannot touch the dead."
The princess ran over, shoving the king aside, and said to Queen Mary, "Mother, why are you still paying attention to him? If it weren't for him, you wouldn't have left us so soon..."
Queen Mary looked at the princess with heartache: "Daughter, it's all in the past now, and I don't care anymore. Your mother hopes you live a happy life."
The princess nodded.
However, the princess only cried and did not laugh.
Jian Tanxi said to the princess, "Princess, were you unhappy to see your mother? Why didn't you smile?"
The princess said, "Although I am happy, I am even more heartbroken. I know that my mother will not stay for long, and I will not have many chances to see her again."
"But the late Queen wished you happiness."
"As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters."
Jian Tanxi simply didn't know whether to feel helpless, angry, or scared.
She even came up with such a method, but the princess still didn't smile.
Miss Jenny reminded them from the side, "There's only one minute left."
Jian Tanxi calmed down and her mind raced.
Then she said to the king, "Your Majesty, could you issue a decree that the eldest prince will inherit the throne in the future?"
The king was somewhat displeased: "This is not something an outsider like you should be discussing."
"However, the princess hasn't smiled, perhaps because she's worried about the eldest prince and afraid he won't be able to inherit the throne. The eldest prince is the princess's own brother. If you can guarantee that the throne will be passed to the eldest prince, then the princess will be relieved and will naturally smile."
“Choosing an heir is a serious matter and cannot be decided now. I am still in good health and can be king for at least another twenty years. Besides, the little prince is also the princess’s younger brother, so it will be the same for the princess no matter which prince succeeds to the throne.”
Jian Tanxi was a little anxious and advised, "Your Majesty, the eldest prince is the oldest, and Queen Mary is right here. Aren't you even willing to say a word about passing the throne to the eldest prince in the future?"
"These kinds of things are always decided by the king alone, and it doesn't matter who is present."
Before Jian Tanxi could say anything more, Miss Jenny said it was time.
Next, Miss Jenny dragged Jian Tanxi back to the room and beat up all the players.
Strangely, Jian Tanxi didn't feel much pain; it was as if she had been hit by a three-year-old child, with almost no effect.
She looked at the others, who also seemed surprised.
However, Miss Jenny was indeed in a state of rage and struck very hard.
Jian Tanxi didn't know what was going on.
Ten minutes later, Miss Jenny left the house.
At that moment, a spirit floated down from Miss Jenny; it was Queen Mary.
Queen Mary said to Jian Tanxi, "Thank you for helping me meet the princess. I cannot stay in the mortal world for long, and I must leave now. Just now, I possessed Miss Jenny and controlled her actions, so her hits didn't hurt much. You should be able to last another round."
Jian Tanxi then realized, "Thank you, Your Majesty... Are you leaving now? Didn't you tell the King that you wanted to see the eldest prince one more time?"
“It’s already daytime, I can’t stay too long. As for the eldest prince, it doesn’t matter whether I see him or not. I’m already a soul, what difference would it make if I saw him? It would only increase his sorrow.”
With that, Queen Mary prepared to leave.
Jian Tanxi suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask one last question."
Queen Mary said, "Yes, but I cannot tell you how to pass the level, as that would violate the highest rules of the dungeon."
“I know I won’t ask about customs clearance… What I want to ask is, is your daughter your only concern in this world?”
Queen Mary gazed at Jian Tanxi for a moment, then said, "That's right."
Then, she floated away.
Meng Yuening asked Jian Tanxi, "Tanxi, why did you ask such a question?"
Jian Tanxi said, "Because I was confirming something with Queen Mary. And just now, I confirmed it."
"What's up?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Xu Yunhong said, "Queen Mary's expression was so strange just now, it seemed like shock, but also like worry..."
Huo Zimu said, "I wasn't injured just now, so I don't need to take a healing pill. But the next round is coming up soon, what should I do?"
Jian Tanxi said, "I've thought of a solution."
Then, Jian Tanxi ran out and said to the king, "Your Majesty, I have a way to make the princess smile. However, the eldest prince must be present this time. It will take him some time to get here. Could you perhaps extend the time limit this time?"
The king asked, "Why does the princess smile when the eldest prince is present? They see each other often, but I have never seen the princess smile before."
"I have a special method; please trust me this once, Your Majesty."
"Alright, if the princess doesn't laugh this time, I'll have Miss Jenny give you all a good beating."
Then, the king sent someone to invite the eldest prince.
Jian Tanxi asked Miss Jenny, "Miss Jenny, is it okay to do whatever I want as long as I don't hurt anyone here?"
Miss Jenny said, "That's a very skillful question... Let me think... If you can truly do whatever you want without hurting anyone present or touching the princess."
"Alright. How long will it take for the eldest prince to arrive?"
"The eldest prince is resting today in his own palace. It will probably take him half an hour to get here."
"Miss Jenny, could you please remind me around the 28th minute?"
"Why?"
"This is also related to my plan to make the princess laugh."
"Okay, I'll start the timer now. I'll let you know when it's at the 28-minute mark."
Jian Tanxi returned to her room.
The others were somewhat worried, but at the same time, they were also excited.
Meng Yuening said, "Tanxi, your method of delaying time is really effective. At least we won't be attacked before the eldest prince arrives, and we have more time to discuss countermeasures."
Jian Tanxi shook her head and said, "No, I'm not doing this to buy time, but because I have another idea."
As she spoke, Jian Tanxi whispered a few words to everyone.
The crowd listened with skepticism, looking at Jian Tanxi with shocked expressions.
Huo Zimu said, "Jian Tanxi, your ability to talk nonsense is getting better and better."
Jian Tanxi said, "At this critical juncture, why would I talk nonsense? Besides, have you forgotten what Qu Chen's special ability is?"
Everyone looked at Qu Chen and fell silent.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
