“I was selfish and naïve but when I realize it, everything has been too late.” “If I have another chance, I’ll still be selfish but I won’t be naïve anymore.” An introvert girl, Feng Ning, chose to live alone after losing everything. Killed in an accident, she woke up as an infant in the ancient time. Now a princess, how would she fare in a completely different world? … Note: This is a short story. (At least, much shorter than my other stories XD) Story set in fictional world with similar culture to Ancient China. Join the discord to chat with the author and other readers: https://discord.gg/pBy2wGB Special thanks for Jiyen (webnovel user Cookiejiyen) who had created the beautiful cover *sending hearts* ... Other novels: -Flowers Bloom from Battlefield [complete] - Under the Veil of Night [complete] - 7 Path of the Lilies [on long hiatus] - 1 Year of Beginning [complete] - Villain Lady [complete] - Science and Fantasy [complete] - 2 Years of Restarting [complete] - Forgotten Legend of the Bloodied Flower [on going] - Astral Flower [on going] ... Follow me on IG: @sora100518
"Your Highness, would you like to have a chance to pay a visit to smaller areas?" Imperial Doctor Wu asked in a soft tone.
"Smaller areas?" Feng Ning wrote on the paper in front of her. She usually communicated this way and then the paper would be burned unless it contained some kind of important information. That way, no one would be able to know what she was talking about with her teachers most of the time.
"Yes." Imperial Doctor Wu sighed. "Your Highness will be 14 years old this year. There wouldn't be much chance for you to get out since you'll need to prepare for your marriage soon."
Prepare for marriage.
Right.
Feng Ning recalled that since she had been engaged since young and her fiancé was much older than her, he would be the one to wait for her to come of age. Their marriage would take place not long after her adulthood ceremony, which meant that it would be soon after she turned 15.
Hmm, the time was close.
It seemed that time flies without one realizing it. Feng Ning spent most of her time being a loner, though. It was a quiet and peaceful life. Being a 'disable' was actually quite convenient for her now that she had experienced this much.
"Doctor would need to get permission from Imperial Mother."
"Don't worry, I'll handle that." Imperial Doctor Wu laughed lightly. He liked this little disciple of his and wondered what her reaction would be when she was faced with the reality outside this beautiful residence.
She had been living in this beautiful cage called palace for her entire life. It would be good for her to see the world before she had to stay confined inside her future husband's residence in the future.
Feng Ning nodded but didn't write anything else.
The two of them continued to discuss about some medical situation and also the current spreading disease and how to treat it. It was evening when Feng Ning finally finished her study and returned to her room.
On the other hand, Imperial Doctor Wu paid a visit to Princess Lin Xie Ya. Upon entering, he could see that Princess Lin Xie Ya was accompanying Prince Feng Hao Shui and Princess Feng Zhu Liu.
The two of them were reading some books.
"Imperial Doctor Wu greets Her Highness, Princess Lin Xie Ya, His Highness, Prince Feng Hao Shui, and Her Highness, Princess Feng Zhu Liu."
Princess Lin Xie Ya raised her head. She spent most of her time accompany her son and Princess Lin Zhu Liu only tagged along in most cases. It was just like today where she would give excuse that she wanted to accompany her twin brother.
The twins somehow didn't have good relationship with each other.
Even now, the two of them were silently glaring daggers at the other party.
As an outsider, Imperial Doctor Wu could see the situation very clearly. However, he chose not to say anything and merely expressed his intention.
"Your Highness, in regards to Her Highness the Second Princess, Princess Feng Ning, education, I would like to bring her outside in order to take a look at the recent case at the small city of Rou. It will be good for her to be able to see the real situation."
Lin Xie Ya frowned. It was then she recalled that her second daughter, Feng Ning, was studying medicine under this imperial doctor. It has been nearly 8 years since then and it seemed that her daughter was still learning.
What a bother.
"What case, Imperial Mother?" Prince Feng Hao Shui asked curiously.
"It's just some people had started to get sick because of their poor condition." Princess Lin Xie Ya didn't know that much. "Does this really necessary, Imperial Doctor Wu?"
"Her Highness the Second Princess is talented, but she hadn't seen the world yet. This lowly one would like to use this chance to show the world to Her Highness the Second Princess."
Imperial Doctor Wu was keeping his head low, but he could see that Princess Lin Xie Ya didn't care for her second daughter. All these years he came here, he never even saw Princess Lin Xie Ya stepped into the Peony Courtyard even once.
What kind of life Princess Feng Ning experienced, it didn't need a genius to know.
She's the forgotten and abandoned princess.
"Fine, if you think that it's good for her, then you may bring her." Princess Lin Xie Ya waved her hand impatiently. "However, I would like you to remember that she's still part of the Imperial Family and that you have to be responsible for her safety."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Princess Feng Zhu Liu was listening from the side and then arched her eyebrows. "Imperial Mother, is it really necessary for a princess to come personally when there's something that happened? Wouldn't it be enough for the ministers to handle it."
"Yes, it's indeed true. But since she wants to see the world, I will naturally give the chance to her." Princess Lin Xie Ya smiled then turned to look at her son.
Prince Feng Hao Shui didn't really care about this matter and focused more on the book in his hand. He could tell that his mother didn't care about his second sister and this made him pleased.
Only he could enter his mother's eyes.
Imperial Doctor Wu excused himself as he couldn't bear to stay there any longer. While women were not privy to many details, this was a huge case because a lot of people in Rou City was sick.
In fact, there was also investigation going on in that city, in which Imperial Doctor Wu had to participate in.
He wanted to bring Feng Ning also to make the people there believe that the Imperial Family cared for them aside from letting her saw the world. For that reason alone, he chose to bring this matter up.
'I hope it's nothing serious.'
…
The preparation didn't need to take a long time. Feng Ning didn't know why but her servants were all very excited when they heard that she would be going for an outing for the first time in her life here.
The last time she went anywhere was during the new year banquet that her uncle hosted.
After that, Feng Ning had only stayed inside her residence most of the time. The longest she traveled was only her mother's palace where she would occasionally have a meeting with her siblings.
Not exactly a good meeting either, though.
Those people didn't care for her and Feng Ning knew that it was hard for her to get close to any of them.
'I miss them.'
Her family in her original world who had left the world earlier than her. Her parents, her sister, they were all very good to her. It was her mistake who brought them to their end.
Probably it was why this time, she was born in a cold family that didn't have any close relationship even with those with blood relation. The saying that blood thicker than water didn't seem to be true in this situation.
Feng Ning didn't care, though.
She looked outside the carriage as it traveled to the north, towards Rou City where the disaster occurred.
"Your Highness, we'll stop here for the night. Your Highness may stay inside the carriage," Xiao Yu informed.
Feng Ning nodded. She watched as the servants began to gather firewood and worked to cook. There was really nothing that she could do. She was sure that if she tried to help them, they would panic and said that she didn't have to do anything.
This was the disadvantage of those who were born as part of the Imperial Family.
It was hard to do anything on her own even if she wanted to.
'This just reminds me of camping in my previous life.'
Watching the soldiers built the tent, Feng Ning looked over curiously. The principle of building tents remained the same, what different was the material used to build it. It seemed that the difference in time caused it.
"Your Highness, your food."
Feng Ning nodded and ate quietly. It was just a simple soup, but it was warm and delicious. As a not picky eater, Feng Ning was quite satisfied.
On the other hand, the soldiers were a bit surprised when they saw how the princess herself didn't seem to mind eating these kinds of foods. They though that she would throw a temper and all.
Imperial Doctor Wu walked to Feng Ning's side. "Your Highness, how are you doing so far?"
"I'm well, Teacher." Xiao Yu become Feng Ning's translator as usual. She stayed at Feng Ning's side while the latter wrote on her palm.
"That's good. There are still a few more days before we reach Rou City, so Your Highness had to bear with this environment a bit longer." Imperial Doctor Wu was a bit embarrassed. He forgot to tell Feng Ning that the situation where she would be living would be incomparable to her life at the Imperial Family.
However, Feng Ning merely nodded. She didn't really care about these trivial matters if she had to say.
She was born a commoner in her previous life. Even though she was pampered, her family's social status was only around the middle towards the bottom. There were times when she had to eat cheaper food just in order to get by.
But it was a happy, warm, and fulfilling life.
A short one, but at the very least, it was worse than this. This little of treatment didn't affect Feng Ning at all.
"It's fine, Teacher. I'm doing well."
"That's good."
Imperial Doctor Wu actually wanted to talk more with Feng Ning, but he didn't know what to say except for informing of the recent news. The number of patients and the deceased had increased and there were more doctors coming.
Aside from doctors, there were also soldiers deployed in order to make sure that the people didn't panic.
"Imperial Doctor Wu, how about you quarantine all those people inside the city? If any one of them carry the disease and walk out then spread it to other cities, it will be worse." Feng Ning knew that the soldiers had blocked the road, but she felt that even the gates and the people had to be watched more carefully.
She knew very well that in her previous world, the nation that focused more on the citizen's free will had a harder time to control disease when outbreak occurred. This was caused because the people were not used to follow the order and would like to do whatever they wanted.
As a result, they instead spread the disease to their friends.
Since Lin Tang Kingdom was monarchy based and had strong loyalty towards the Imperial Family, Feng Ning knew that this method might work better. The soldiers would be able to stop the people from going out and spreading the disease, though it would be uncomfortable for those who had to stay in their house during this time.
"Indeed, the soldiers can be deployed. It'll be uncomfortable for them, but how about food and all?"
Feng Ning then proceed to tell about the ration and how it works. It was easy for her since she basically copied the rules that some nation used back then when they were dealing with the outbreak of disease. Some rules sounded strict but only those who were strict would be able to cleanly finish the disease off before it spread even further and harmed more people.
Imperial Doctor Wu was amazed and proceeded to borrow Feng Ning's note and then headed to the soldiers so that they can deliver this to the governor in Rou City.
"Your Highness is amazing." Xiao Mu smiled brightly.
Feng Ning smiled but didn't write anything else. How could it be amazing when she only copied what those people in her original world did? They were the amazing ones for being able to come up with detailed rules.
Besides, this time, it was just a city and not the entire nation. Controlling an entire nation with soldiers… heh, unless they had a lot of people who enlisted as soldier and a tyrant to lead, it was nothing more than pipe dream.