Foster Son, Don’t Be So Crazy (30)

Eight years later.

It was a festive day in the capital. The birthday feast of the royal crown princess was nearing, and the people were in constant celebration. It was not strange to see travellers from afar come to the capital to spectate, or weasel an invitation from high-ranked nobles to the grand ball that was to be held the day after.

It was also not strange to see foreigners of mixed blood come and go,  bringing exotic things with their arrival.

But although these people were used to seeing foreigners, they couldn't help but gasp in shock when they saw the startling scene they saw that day.

"Jia!"

A loud shout echoed. However, the young girl that rode the white horse didn't slow down. She rode like the wind, the horse responding to the slightest tug of the reins, its movement as fluid as flowing water. Her golden hair flowed behind her, her alabaster skin flushing pale pink over her cheekbones. Her sky-blue eyes were bright as the cloudless sky, and her lips were slightly parted.

Many men in the crowd couldn't help but swallow their saliva, their heartbeat involuntarily becoming faster.

"Jia, if you don't stop, I'll tell Su Liang what happened to her precious parsnips!"

The threat was very effective. Her lips pursed, Song Jia brought her horse to a sliding stop and waited for the other rider to catch up. It only took him a small amount of time to arrive before Song Jia.

He was a man that looked older than her, around his late twenties or so. His hair was slicked upwards, and his clothes were that of the higher nobility. His eyes were sharp and angry.

"You're so reckless! We've just arrived and you're already showing off? Do you want her to discover us this early?"

Song Jia smiled. "Isn't that our plan? Why do I have to wait until the grand ball to show off?"

Inwardly, she clicked her tongue at him. Why is this man so much nervous than her, ah? He didn't even have to do much but support this grandma in the background~

Nian Shou wanted to whack her on the head. Having spent all these years together with her, he immediately knew what she was thinking.

"We still haven't found all of her undercover forces. It still isn't time to expose ourselves."

"What is there to expose? I'm simply behaving my part as the impulsive daughter of a high noble. The more I act like this, the less suspicious she would be."

"What kind of abnormal reasoning is that? Are you trying to get out of trouble by speaking nonsense words again?"

The two of them were still arguing when a soft voice gently called out, "Shou'er."

Song Jia blinked and glanced down as a pretty-looking woman shyly handed Nian Shou a basket of warm bread.

"I bought it nearby. The two of you still hadn't eaten breakfast, so both of you must be hungry."

Nian Shou smiled and dismounted off his horse before taking it from her. "Thanks, Huanhuan."

Song Jia rubbed her nose as she swallowed the dog food this young couple gave her. Her mind couldn't help but flash back a couple of years ago, when Nian Shou suddenly proposed to her.

—"Jia, I like you. Will you marry me?"

Nian Shou had blushed to the tips of his ears, his voice slightly trembling. Song Jia was almost reluctant to reject him.

"...I'm sorry, I can't."

His face turned pale. "Is it because you don't like me? Then I'll wait for you to like me..."

"It's not that." Although it was true that she held nothing but platonic feelings for Nian Shou. "I think...you already know why."

"No, I don't..."

"Nian Shou, did you ever wonder why my appearance never changes?"

"..."

Song Jia gave him a sad smile. She then began to tell him the life story of the forgotten sleeping princess, Princess Jin Jia.

Just like the fairytale, after she was born, powerful fairies became her godmothers. But what the story didn't tell was that not only were her godmothers fairies, her mother was a fairy too.

Her mother had been sent off to marry a human king to ally both of their kingdoms, and Jin Jia had been the birth of their union. Those fairy godmothers she had were her mother's closest friends. When she reached sixteen years old, unaware of her special background, she accidentally pricked herself with the iron spindle of a spinning wheel.

Fairies could be killed by iron, but because she was only half a fairy, Princess Jin Jia was only cursed to fall into a death-like sleep for a hundred years. Fortunately, although her mother's blood cursed her, it also saved her. Fairies had a very long lifespan. For a half-fairy like Princess Jin Jia, a century would only feel like six months. Thus, a hundred years did nothing to change her appearance.

Even though she was only sleeping, Princess Jin Jia inadvertently missed the extinction of her species and the fall of her father's kingdom. She became a useless princess that could not move and could not even open her eyes. When Song Jia transmigrated into her body, the soul of the princess did not even resist. Song Jia could not be sure, but she thought she heard the princess give a sigh of relief when her soul replaced hers.

Song Jia thought, perhaps the princess also treated her immortality as a curse.

"So that's why you were so scared when I found that iron-tipped knife," Nian Shou remembered with wide eyes. "You said you were allergic to iron, but if I had accidentally hurt you with that knife..."

"I would sleep for a hundred years again."

"..."

Nian Shou stared at her. "I had my doubts, because your hair never grew. It always just went past your waist. But I thought...I just didn't think..."

To Song Jia's surprise, he suddenly started laughing.

"Hahaha, if that brat only knew...too bad..."

While he laughed, his eyes reddened. Song Jia frowned and was about to comfort him, when Nian Shou shook his head.

"I could grow old, but you never could. That's why you can't marry me." He forced himself to smile. "I really did like you though."

But no man could ever endure growing old while the one he loved stayed young forever. Ultimately, he would fall into a vicious cycle of doubt and insecurity.

After his failed proposal, Nian Shou went away for almost a month. He only contacted Song Jia occasionally, to report to her that he was alright and he was doing fine. When he finally came back, he had already married a sweet girl named Qiao Huan. Song Jia was happy for him, but inwardly thought that his marriage had been a bit too rushed.

That was years ago. Song Jia was happy to see that Nian Shou had gotten a loving marriage. She tried several times to exclude him from her plans of toppling Princess Bai Xue because it was too risky, but he always refused. Now, it was too late for him to back out, even if he wanted to.

"Jia, here." Nian Shou extended his hand and offered her a slice of bread. He lifted Qiao Huan into the horse and hopped behind her, taking the reins into his hands.

Song Jia smiled at Qiao Huan, her mouth filled with the sweetness of honey inside the bread. "Thank you."

Qiao Huan smiled back at her, "You're welcome."

Then, the three of them entered deeper into the capital, preparing themselves for the storm that was about to come.