The little girl opened the storybook and seed to be instantly hooked after just one glance, unable to tear her eyes away.
Just as she was really enjoying it, a voice suddenly spoke from behind her.
“Is the story good?”
“It is.”
The girl answered, then snapped out of it and realized soone was there.
She turned her head and almost scread when she saw who stood behind her.
“Mmmph…”
Chen Changsheng covered her mouth, stopping her scream, then pretended to look at the old eunuch sleeping slumped over a table in the Library Pavilion.
In the light of the oil lamp, the little girl clearly saw the face of the person before her.
Chen Changsheng said, “Don’t shout. If we wake him, we’ll both get caught.”
The little girl nodded in agreent.
Chen Changsheng removed his hand and crouched down.
The girl caught her breath and whispered, “Are you here to steal books too?”
Chen Changsheng smiled and nodded. “Yes.”
The girl’s eyes darted, and she asked next, “How co I’ve never seen you in the palace before?”
“I snuck in from outside,” Chen Changsheng replied with a grin.
The girl was very young and didn’t know fear. So, she showed no hesitation around Chen Changsheng. In fact, she seed eager to talk to him.
Probably because she thought they shared the sa purpose.
The girl’s eyes lit up. “You’re amazing!”
“Why say I’m amazing?”
“Because nobody else can slip in here unnoticed.”
Chen Changsheng looked at her and asked, “And you? Are you from the palace? How co you sneak in here to steal books late at night?”
The girl said, “They won’t let read these storybooks, so I have to steal them.”
“Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?”
“Not possible. I know the way very well.”
“So you’re a regular offender, huh?” Chen Changsheng chuckled.
The girl shot him a look. “I am amazing, alright.”
Chen Changsheng nodded. “It is impressive, slipping all the way from the inner palace to here without the guards spotting you.”
“See!”
The girl lifted her chin proudly and grinned, revealing a gap where a front tooth was missing.
Chen Changsheng first thought that since the child lived in the palace, her status must be noble—probably an unmarried princess. Her courage was truly sothing, sneaking into the Library Pavilion at night. If she wasn’t careful, the guards might mistake her for a thief and strike her down.
The little girl relaxed her guard, lowered her head, and went back to reading her storybook.
Chen Changsheng leaned closer for a look and saw it was a tale about common folk and strange spirits.
Chen Changsheng asked, “You like reading these weird monster stories?”
Without taking her eyes off the book, the girl replied, “They’re good.”
Chen Changsheng scanned the page. The story was about a fish demon turning into a spirit, only to be eaten by humans.
The girl seed to recall sothing. “You’re from outside, so you must have seen a lot?”
“What counts as ‘seen a lot’?” Chen Changsheng asked.
The girl thought for a mont. “Been to lots of places?”
“My experience might be a bit limited then,” Chen Changsheng admitted.
The girl waved a dismissive hand. “No matter! I just want to ask… are these stories real? Are there really monsters outside? Why have I never seen any in the Imperial Palace?”
Chen Changsheng considered this for a second. “Yes, there are. Outside, it’s full of big, man-eating monsters. They could swallow you whole in one bite.”
On hearing this, not only was she not scared, her face lit up with excitent. “They really exist?!”
Chen Changsheng found this amusing. “Aren’t you afraid?”
The girl shook her head. “The books say monsters like to eat beautiful young won. I’m too small; I wouldn’t be enough of a al yet.”
“What book did you read that in?” Chen Changsheng asked.
The girl pointed at the heap of storybooks in front of her.
Chen Changsheng laughed at her innocence. “What’s written in those books isn’t necessarily true. From what I know, monsters love eating boys and girls the most. A child’s aura is pure, making young ones especially tender and soft to chew. Particularly sweet, tasty little girls like you.”
Hearing this, the girl paled slightly, a flicker of fear crossing her face.
“…R-Really?”
“Really.”
Chen Changsheng continued, “So, don’t go looking for any monsters. Otherwise, you’d just be delivering yourself as a al.”
The little girl shook her head frantically. “I won’t dare! I won’t dare!”
Chen Changsheng nodded, patted her head, and said, “Good girl. That’s sensible.”
“Don’t pat my head!”
The girl protested hotly. “My big brother says if soone pats my head, I won’t grow tall!”
“Your big brother was lying to you.”
Chen Changsheng patted her head again. He had to admit, it felt pretty good.
“If you do it again, I’ll get mad!”
The girl puffed out her cheeks, looking utterly grumpy.
Seeing this, Chen Changsheng lowered his hand and didn’t pat her head anymore.
The girl gave a little “hmph” and turned away, picking up her storybook to keep reading.
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She didn’t seem the least bit tired. She sat on the floor, engrossed without pause for nearly half an hour before finally finishing the book.
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anwhile, Chen Changsheng didn’t disturb her further. He went to another area to look through the historical records of the Great Jing Dynasty.
Ti to learn more about this world.
The girl finished the storybook, placed it back exactly where she found it on the shelf, and picked up another.
But as soon as she opened the first page, her face fell.
She’d read this one already.
Rereading it just felt boring.
She pulled out the next one… it was also one she’d read…
One by one, all of them… she’d read them all!
The girl’s mouth turned down in a dissatisfied pout. No new stories! This felt worse than death.
She thought for a mont, then stood up and scanned the Library Pavilion for the man from earlier.
Chen Changsheng, absorbed in the historical docunts, suddenly felt a tug on his sleeve.
He turned and saw the little turnip-top looking up at him with big, pleading eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Chen Changsheng asked.
The girl blinked. “Have you heard a lot of stories?”
Chen Changsheng put down his book and crouched. “Quite a few, yes. Why?”
“Can you tell one?”
The girl explained, “I’ve finished all the storybooks. There’s nothing left to read.”
Chen Changsheng paused at this. “But there are dozens on those shelves. You’ve read all of them?”
“Yeah.”
The girl nodded. “I’ve read them all.”
Chen Changsheng couldn’t help stating, “Getting this hooked on tales might earn you a ruler on the palms, you know.”
“I’m not afraid.”
The girl declared, “You won’t tell, so nobody will know I read them, right? You’ll keep it a secret.”
Chen Changsheng smiled. “Of course.”
The little girl proposed, “How about… you tell stories, and… I’ll let you pat my head? Deal?”
She thought letting him pat her head might be a good bargain.
Chen Changsheng chuckled, reached out, and placed his hand on her head again.
“It’s a deal.”
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