Chapter 620 Humph! I can't handle you, sister...
East Palace, Prince's study.
When Gu Qingchen pushed open the door, she saw at a glance the long rosewood box placed in the most conspicuous position on the desk.
The lid of the box was slightly opened, revealing the bow body of the Jinghong bow that was glowing with a faint light.
It looked as if he was mocking her.
"Greetings to the Crown Prince." Gu Qingchen had a sweet smile on his face, but he was gritting his teeth in his heart.
Zhao Chenan was holding a picture album. When he saw her coming, he just raised his eyelids.
"Gu Qingchen, you're here again."
His tone was flat, without any surprise.
These days, Gu Qingchen comes here every now and then, with only one purpose, which he knows better than anyone else.
Gu Qingchen walked to the desk, his eyes lingered on the bow for a moment, then quickly shifted away.
Her smile became even sweeter, "I brought you something good today."
She took a package from the eunuch behind her and placed it carefully on the table.
Zhao Chenan glanced at it and didn't move.
He knew Gu Qingchen's tricks too well. She always said "good stuff", but every time she tried to take the bow away in a roundabout way.
"What is this?" Zhao Chen'an asked, with a hint of impatience in his tone.
"I found this from the folk." Gu Qingchen unwrapped the package, revealing a set of exquisite puppets.
These puppets are connected by colored strings, which can be pulled gently to make various movements.
There are knights dancing with swords, a village woman spinning yarn, and even two puppies chasing and playing.
She picked up the two puppies and moved them lightly with her fingers, and the puppets came to life, with their heads swaying and their tails shaking, looking very cute.
Zhao Chenan's attention was attracted.
He was used to seeing precious treasures in the palace, but he had never seen such a vivid thing. He stretched out his hand and wanted to touch the puppy.
Gu Qingchen turned his hand lightly and took the puppet back.
"Not everyone can play with this puppet. It needs someone to control it and tell stories to make it come alive."
Zhao Chenan frowned and looked up at her. Gu Qingchen smiled like a little fox who had stolen something fishy.
"How about this." Gu Qingchen blinked, "I'll tell you a story and use these puppets to act it out. However, the light here is too dim and it's too small."
As she spoke, her eyes vaguely swept over the Jinghong bow on the desk.
Zhao Chenan followed her gaze and looked at the lifelike puppets.
He wanted to read a story, but this place was not the right place. He hesitated for a moment and said to the eunuch beside him, "Let's go to the side hall."
The side hall was spacious and bright. Gu Qingchen placed the puppets and asked the eunuch to bring a piece of white cloth to set up a simple stage.
She picked up the puppet and told the folk legend vividly.
The little prince was so absorbed in the story that he even forgot to urge Gu Qingchen to come.
For several days in a row, Gu Qingchen brought different new gadgets into the palace.
Sometimes it is a hollow bamboo whistle that can emit clear bird calls, sometimes it is a kaleidoscope that can produce various patterns, and sometimes it is a paper frog that can jump.
She always finds ways to make these little things interesting.
She never mentioned the Jinghong Bow.
But every time, she would mention it vaguely when the prince was most engaged.
"This thing, when I play with it here, always feels like something is missing." Or, "If it could be moved to another place, this thing would be more useful."
Although the little prince is only five years old, he is smart.
He knew what Gu Qingchen meant. She wanted to take the Jinghong Bow away, but he refused to give it to her.
That was a gift that Gu Qingchen had given to him personally. How could he just take it back if it had already been given away?
The emperor also said that it depends on how she "asks" for it back.
He liked the novelty that Gu Qingchen brought, but he liked seeing Gu Qingchen get humiliated even more.
He liked to see Gu Qingchen's look as if he wanted to say something but didn't dare to.
That day, Gu Qingchen came again. She brought nothing but a thin booklet.
"Prince, I'm going to tell you something new today." Gu Qingchen said mysteriously.
Zhao Chenan sat in the chair with his usual calm expression, "What's new?"
"Did you know that there's something called 'comic strips' outside the palace?"
Gu Qingchen moved closer and lowered his voice, "There are all kinds of stories painted inside. It's better than a puppet show and more enjoyable than listening to a story. It can turn a long story into a series of paintings. You can see a page by turning it."
A hint of curiosity flashed in Zhao Chenan's eyes.
From childhood to adulthood, he had read only books of sages and listened to only palace music. He had never heard anything like this.
Seeing that he was interested, Gu Qingchen slowly opened the booklet.
The first page shows a general in armor, holding a longbow...
Zhao Chenan's attention was instantly attracted by the bow.
That bow was actually the Jinghong Bow.
Gu Qingchen turned a page.
The general draws his bow, and the arrow flies off the string, flying straight into the distance. The next page shows the enemy's defeat and the general's triumphant return.
As Gu Qingchen flipped through the pages, he told the story in a deep voice: "This general has a magical bow called Jinghong."
"This bow is no ordinary object. It possesses a spirit, and only those who are truly capable of wielding it will appreciate it. It loves to soar across the vast expanse of heaven and earth, and hates to be confined to a small space."
She turned another page. In the painting, the Jinghong Bow was hung in an inconspicuous corner, covered in dust, as if forgotten.
The general was on the other side, looking worried.
"For some reasons, the general temporarily placed the Jinghong Bow in a place. But that place is not suitable for the Jinghong Bow. The Jinghong Bow missed the vast world day and night, so it gradually lost its luster, and even the general's strength was affected." There was a hint of regret in Gu Qingchen's voice.
Zhao Chenan's face turned serious.
He looked at the dusty Jinghong bow in the painting, then at the bow on his desk that he regarded as a treasure, and his heart skipped a beat.
He usually just kept the bow around, occasionally picking it up to touch it, but never actually using it.
"But what happened next?" Zhao Chenan asked anxiously.
Gu Qingchen turned another page.
In the painting, the general finally figured it out. He took down the Jinghong Bow and returned it to the person who could really make it useful.
The man, armed with the Jinghong bow, galloped across the battlefield, invincible. The general's strength was restored, and he eventually achieved success and fame.
"So," Gu Qingchen closed the booklet and looked at Zhao Chen'an seriously, "some things, although precious, if they are placed in the wrong place, not only will they not be able to play their role, but they will also affect their real owner."
"It will be unhappy, and its owner will be unhappy too."
Zhao Chenan stared at her, his lips tightly pursed. Of course he knew what Gu Qingchen was talking about.
He looked at the Jinghong bow on the desk, and then looked at Gu Qingchen's eyes filled with expectation.
He liked this bow because his father said it was good and that it was a reward for Gu Junze.
He liked to see Gu Qingchen getting anxious because of the bow. But now, Gu Qingchen said that the bow would be "unhappy" and would affect its "real owner."
Although he is only five years old, he already understands "responsibility" and "appropriateness".
He hesitated.
Seeing him wavering, Gu Qingchen added fuel to the fire, "This comic book is only the first volume. There are many more exciting stories to come."
"However, these stories will only be revealed when Jinghong Bow finds a place it truly enjoys."
Zhao Chenan suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining.
He loved listening to stories the most, especially this kind of comic strip that he had never seen before.
He looked at the bow, then at the comic book in Gu Qingchen's hand.
He thought about it and finally made up his mind.
"Gu Qingchen." He spoke, his voice carrying a barely perceptible awkwardness. "What you said... is it true?"
Gu Qingchen smiled brightly, "Of course it's true."
Zhao Chenan jumped off the chair and walked to the desk.
He stretched out his little hand and picked up the long red sandalwood box, which seemed a bit heavy for him. He walked to Gu Qingchen and handed the box to her.
"This bow... I'll lend it to you." Zhao Chen'an said, trying to sound generous. "You... you give me the comic strip."
Gu Qingchen took the long box, which was heavy and had a familiar weight.
She was overjoyed in her heart, but she tried to keep a calm face.
"The prince is indeed a smart man." Gu Qingchen said with a smile, "I will naturally give you this comic book."
"However, I will tell you the rest of the story after you finish reading this first volume."
Zhao Chenan took the comic book and couldn't wait to flip through it.
Although he was reluctant to part with the bow, the comic strip was obviously more attractive at this moment.
Gu Qingchen held the long box in her arms, feeling incredibly happy. She had finally gotten this treasure back.
She turned her head to look at Zhao Chenan who was engrossed in reading the comic strip.
Humph, little prince, no matter how powerful you are, you are still a five-year-old child.
She carried the long box and swaggered out of the East Palace.
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