lcionline Chapter 620 Hmph! I can't handle you, sister...
Chapter 620 Hmph! I can't handle you, sister...
The Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince's Study.
Gu Qingchen pushed open the door and immediately saw the long sandalwood box, which was placed in the most conspicuous position on the desk.
The box lid was slightly ajar, revealing the bow of the Jinghong Bow, which gleamed with a faint light.
That look seemed to mock her.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Gu Qingchen wore a sweet smile, but gritted her teeth inwardly.
Zhao Chen'an was holding a picture book when he saw her, and he merely raised his eyelids slightly.
"Gu Qingchen, you're here again."
His tone was flat, without a trace of surprise.
These days, Gu Qingchen comes every few days, and he knows better than anyone else that he has only one purpose.
Gu Qingchen walked to the desk, his gaze lingered on the bow for a moment, then quickly looked away.
Her smile grew even sweeter. "I brought you something nice today."
She took a package from the eunuch behind her and carefully placed it on the table.
Zhao Chen'an glanced at it but didn't move.
He knew Gu Qingchen's tricks all too well. Every time she said "good stuff," she would try to take the bow away indirectly.
"What is this?" Zhao Chen'an asked, his tone revealing a hint of impatience.
"I found this among the common people." Gu Qingchen unwrapped the package, revealing a set of exquisite wooden puppets.
These puppets are connected by colorful threads, and can perform various actions when pulled gently.
There were swordsmen dancing with swords, village women spinning thread, and even two small dogs chasing and playing.
She picked up the two puppies and deftly flicked them with her fingers, bringing the puppets to life. The puppies' heads swayed and their tails gently wiggled, making them incredibly endearing.
Zhao Chen'an's gaze was drawn to it.
He was used to seeing gold and jewels in the palace, but he had never seen such a lifelike thing. He reached out his hand, wanting to touch the puppy.
Gu Qingchen gently turned his hand and put the puppet away.
"This puppet isn't something just anyone can play well. It needs a dedicated person to operate it and tell stories for it to come to life."
Zhao Chen'an frowned and looked up at her. Gu Qingchen smiled like a sly fox.
"How about this?" Gu Qingchen blinked. "I'll tell you a story and we'll act it out with these puppets. However, the light here is too dim and the space is too small."
As she spoke, her gaze drifted almost imperceptibly over the Startling Bow on the desk.
Zhao Chen'an followed her gaze and looked at the lifelike puppets.
He wanted to read the story, but this place was not suitable. He hesitated for a moment, then said to the eunuch beside him, "Let's go to the side hall."
The side hall was spacious and bright. Gu Qingchen arranged the puppets and then had a eunuch bring over a white cloth to set up a simple stage.
She picked up the puppet and began to tell the folk tale in a vivid and engaging manner.
The young prince was captivated by the story and read with great interest. He was so engrossed that he even forgot to urge Gu Qingchen to hurry up.
For several days in a row, Gu Qingchen brought different novelties into the palace.
Sometimes it's a hollow bamboo whistle that makes clear bird calls, sometimes it's a kaleidoscope that can conjure various patterns, and sometimes it's a paper frog that can jump.
She always finds ways to make these little things interesting.
She never mentioned the "Flying Goose Bow".
But each time, she would subtly mention it when the Crown Prince was most engrossed in his studies.
"Playing with this thing here just feels like something's missing." Or, "If we could move it to a different place, this thing could be used to its fullest potential."
Although the little prince is only five years old, he is very clever.
He knew what Gu Qingchen meant. She wanted to take the Jinghong Bow away, but he wouldn't let her.
That was a congratulatory gift that Gu Qingchen had personally given him. How could he just take it back after giving it away?
The emperor also said he wanted to see how she would "take" it back.
He enjoyed the novelty Gu Qingchen brought, but he enjoyed watching Gu Qingchen get his comeuppance even more.
He enjoyed seeing Gu Qingchen's expression, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare to.
Gu Qingchen came again that day. She didn't bring anything with her, only a thin booklet.
"Your Highness, I'm going to tell you something new today," Gu Qingchen said mysteriously.
Zhao Chen'an sat in the chair, his face as calm as ever. "What's new?"
"Do you know that there's something outside the palace called 'comic books'?"
Gu Qingchen leaned closer and lowered his voice, "It's filled with all sorts of stories, more beautiful than a puppet show, and more exciting than listening to a story. It can turn a long story into a series of paintings, and you can see a new page as you turn the page."
A hint of curiosity flashed in Zhao Chen'an's eyes.
From childhood to adulthood, he had only read the classics and listened to court music. He had never heard anything like this before.
Seeing that he was interested, Gu Qingchen slowly opened the booklet.
The first page features a general in armor, holding a longbow...
Zhao Chen'an's gaze was instantly drawn to the bow.
That bow was none other than the Jinghong Bow.
Gu Qingchen turned a page.
The general drew his bow, and the arrow flew from the string, heading straight for 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 had a divine bow called Jinghong."
"This bow is no ordinary object; it possesses a spirit and only truly wields it. It prefers to gallop freely in the vast天地 (heaven and earth) and dislikes being confined to a small space."
She turned another page. In the painting, the "Surprising Bow" hung in an inconspicuous corner, its body covered in dust, as if it had been forgotten.
The general, on the other side, looked worried.
"For some reason, the general temporarily placed the Jinghong Bow in a certain place. But that place is not suitable for the Jinghong Bow. The Jinghong Bow longs for the vast world day and night, so it gradually lost its luster, and even the general's power was affected as a result." Gu Qingchen's voice was tinged with regret.
Zhao Chen'an's face turned serious.
He looked at the dusty, exquisite bow in the painting, then at the bow on his own desk that he treasured, and his heart skipped a beat.
He usually just left the bow there, occasionally picking it up to touch it, but he never actually used it.
"But what happened next?" Zhao Chen'an asked eagerly.
Gu Qingchen turned another page.
In the painting, the general finally understood. He took down the Jinghong Bow and returned it to the person who could truly make it work.
The man, wielding the Swift Bow, galloped across the battlefield, invincible. The general's strength was restored, and he ultimately achieved great success.
“So,” Gu Qingchen closed the booklet and looked at Zhao Chen’an seriously, “some things, though precious, will not only fail to serve their purpose if placed in the wrong place, but will also affect their true owner.”
"It will be unhappy, and its owner will be unhappy too."
Zhao Chen'an stared at her, his small lips tightly pursed. He knew perfectly well what Gu Qingchen was talking about.
He looked at the Jinghong Bow on the desk, and then at Gu Qingchen's expectant eyes.
He liked the bow because his father said it was good and that it was a gift for Gu Junze.
He enjoyed seeing Gu Qingchen get anxious about the bow. But now, Gu Qingchen was saying that the bow would be "unhappy" and would even affect its "true owner."
Although he is only five years old, he already understands "responsibility" and "appropriateness".
He hesitated.
Seeing that he was 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 emerge when the Amazing Bow finds a place it truly desires."
Zhao Chen'an suddenly raised his head, his eyes sparkling.
He loved listening to stories, especially comic books like this that he had never seen before.
He glanced 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 gave a bright smile, "Of course it's true."
Zhao Chen'an jumped off the chair and walked to the desk.
He reached out his small hands and picked up the long sandalwood box, which was somewhat heavy for him. He walked up to Gu Qingchen and handed her the box.
“This bow… consider it a loan to you,” Zhao Chen’an said, trying to sound generous. “You… give me the comic book.”
Gu Qingchen took the long box; it was heavy, carrying a familiar weight.
She was overjoyed inside, but tried her best to keep her face calm.
"The Crown Prince is indeed a clever man," Gu Qingchen said with a smile. "I will naturally give you this comic book."
"However, I'll tell you the rest of the story after you finish reading this first book."
Zhao Chen'an took the comic book and eagerly began to read it.
Although he was somewhat reluctant to part with the bow, the allure of the comic book was clearly greater at that moment.
Gu Qingchen held the long box, overjoyed. She had finally gotten this treasure back.
She turned her head and glanced at Zhao Chen'an, who was engrossed in reading the comic book.
Hmph, little prince, no matter how powerful you are, you're still just a five-year-old child.
She carried the long box and swaggered out of the East Palace.