Jinshi and Maomao Short Stories Collection

Two siblings and a cat, Part 2

Some time later, the "celestial nymph" was already lying face-up on the couch in the Jade Pavilion, all relaxed, and using one of its armrests as a pillow. He was holding the opened children's book, while his other hand was resting on the little princess, who was on top of him, with her head on his shoulder.

A peaceful, heart-warming scene between an older brother and his younger sister. One of the kind Jinshi had always wanted to experience.

Consort Gyokuyou, who had decided to not bother the two "siblings" and left the room together with her ladies-in-waiting (even though Hongniang wasn't really happy with that idea, to put it mildly, and had only agreed to it under the condition that they wouldn't go very far), had told him that the book was a gift from His Majesty, exquisitely custom-made for his precious daughter in order to help her learn how to speak better.

"He's really doting on that little one," Jinshi thought with a smile as he carefully ran his thumb over the high-quality paper and looked at all the beautiful hand-painted illustrations. "Understandable. How very understandable."

He vowed to give such a gift to the child one day as well. Yes, absolutely! Hah, he already couldn't wait to see her eyes sparkling with joy! Just as he enjoyed making Maomao happy with rare herbs and medicinal ingredients.

"And the princess lived in a huge palace," he started to read the next page and took a short break to drink a sip of the tea Hongniang had served him earlier and that was standing on a small table next to him.

Lingli, in the meantime, was nibbling on a piece of pastry. Jinshi's chest was already full of crumbs, but he didn't care, since the girl was still small and clothes could be washed. He would take the blame for it later, no big deal. A cold shudder ran down his spine when he remembered how he had always been reprimanded as a child for leaving behind even the tiniest mess. No, he didn't want to treat her like that, absolutely not!

"Princess!" the toddler repeated, pointing her finger at the corresponding picture.

"That's right! Well done," Jinshi praised her. But suddenly widened his eyes when she pointed now at him.

"Princess! Brother! Princess!"

The young lord kept staring at her for a few moments, completely dumbfounded and speechless. Then he burst out laughing. Lingli joined him. 

Celestial nymph, beautiful eunuch, Moon Prince... the young man had already been granted quite a few titles by the people around him, but that one was new.

"No, I'm not a princess, Lingli," he managed to pronounce between fits of laughter and tapped her on the nose with his index finger. "You are." Now, it was his turn to point at the book. "Look, this is the sign for 'princess'. You may still be too young to read and write, but I don't think it will do any harm to at least show you how it looks like."

Lingli was looking at the indicated part of the text with interest and curiosity. Jinshi wondered whether she had even understood him. But no problem if she hadn't, there would be more than enough time for those things in the future.

Suddenly, the princess's gaze returned to him, and she kept staring at him without making a sound. Jinshi was already about to ask her what the matter was, but he didn't have the time, since she threw the pastry to the ground out of the blue, stretched out her hand and grabbed his nose. Tightly.

"Ouch!" the Moon Prince complained, laughing and patted her back. "Please don't crush my nose! I still need it, little one."

But Lingli didn't even think of letting go.

"No!" she refused and shook her head with a mischievous grin on her lips.

"No?" Jinshi grinned back at her. "Don't want to listen to me, huh?"