Shen Jingxian originally did not bear the surname Shen; actually, in Yunyi Country before Shen Jingxian was born, the surname was Xiong.
It wasn't because of any palace upheaval, nor was there any change of dynasties. The emperor was still the same person, and the concubines and ministers of the previous court remained unchanged. At that time, the Emperor could proudly stand on the city walls, gazing into the distance and declare, "Look! This is the kingdom my Xiong Family conquered!"
However, after Shen Jingxian was born, the Emperor changed.
Emperor Xiong deeply realized how unpleasant the name Xiong Jingxian sounded. Not just Xiong Jingxian, but names like Xiong Tuanzi or Xiong Dai'er, no matter what name, paired with the surname Xiong instantly changed the feel.
Emperor Xiong realized that his daughter was facing a problem from the moment she was born.
That problem was—her name.
And what is a father's purpose in life? It's to solve problems for his daughter!
How can his beautiful, charming, demure, and virtuous good daughter bear the surname Xiong!
So one day, Emperor Xiong slammed the table, and the country changed its surname to Shen because the Emperor thought Shen Jingxian sounded nice.
No one knows how the Emperor saw a newborn as beautiful, charming, demure, and virtuous, nor did they dare to ask.
Shen Jingxian means "calm elegance, graceful demeanor."
She also has a title, Princess Yi Fen.
Renowned for her beauty, she is as noble as Ming Xiang.
Her title reveals Shen Jingxian's favored status.
Shen Jingxian and her Xiong father set a precedent across the continent where fathers bear their daughters' surnames.
Yet Shen Jingxian is not happy at all.
Don't be fooled by a name that sounds like a main character; she's actually just a cannon fodder antagonist.
As cannon fodder, Shen Jingxian won't live past 18.
Here's the situation: Shen Jingxian read a novel where the protagonist is a reborn noble woman. From childhood, she utilizes various foresight events to build connections, excelling in arts and crafts, fluent in five languages, with four of the five emperors at her feet, the remaining one being Shen Jingxian's father.
Luckily, her father has a profound love for her mother.
To digress, Shen Jingxian's life isn't the gamer's life described.
In the book, the cannon fodder named Shen Jingxian had exceptional beauty and a high status. However, she lacked the character to match her grand fortune.
This peerless beauty naively put herself on the guillotine over jealousy, even dragging Yunyi Country to accompany her in burial.
Faced with this ending, Shen Jingxian could only remind herself: cherish life, stay away from the main characters.
So here's the question: Why, as a universally adored peerless beauty, couldn't Shen Jingxian get the protagonist's favor?
The answer is simple.
Because the protagonist is blind!
Don't get me wrong; the protagonist is really blind, and later the female lead cures him.
From birth, Shen Jingxian feared for her future, uncertain if the plot could change. If not, her hard-earned life would only last 18 years.
Oh, how tragic.
Shen Jingxian spent four years trembling in fear while indulging, leading a carefree life, successfully growing herself white and chubby, and...very cute!!!
Every morning upon waking, seeing her fuzzy reflection in the bronze mirror, Shen Jingxian wanted to shout, "Cute!"
Anyway, just really cute!
She's so cute; how on earth could she die!
With such sentiments, Shen Jingxian prepared confidently to head to school.
Life's vices persist; even across worlds, you can't escape learning.
Shen Jingxian turned four, so she must receive enlightenment education at the Imperial Master Hall.
Novels often write that imperial family nobles have individual tutors; here Shen Jingxian debunks it live.
No such thing!
Throughout Yunyi Country, this tutor is the best in enlightenment; no student can monopolize him! Only when reaching age, students are sent for his teachings, with no exceptions!
Not even such a supremely cute beautiful young princess!
"Er Ya! Quick, come put on the little red flower!"
Shen Jingxian's eyelid twitched, and she bolted, "I won't wear it!"
Shen Jingxian's mother, the dignified Empress of a nation, competent in the hall and adept in the kitchen, able to debate scholars and manage the household, but... her aesthetic tastes aren't that great.
Today, Shen Jingxian has already begrudgingly donned the big green dress for maternal love! And her mother wants to add a big red flower to it!
Shen Jingxian circled the table left three times and right three times, dodged up, burrowed down, and in the end was still caught in a warm embrace. Then, an ominous touch came from above her head.
The Empress placed a large red flower on Shen Jingxian's head and praised with satisfaction, "My Er Ya is really beautiful!"
Shen Jingxian: ...
No doubt about it, Er Ya is the nickname the Empress gave to Shen Jingxian.
Regarding this nickname, Shen Jingxian had protested, and even Emperor Xiong... ah no, Emperor Shen had grumbled in a low voice, but it was no use.
The Empress insisted on calling this name, saying she couldn't call out any other.
Thus, the dignified eldest princess became Er Ya just like that.
"Er Ya, you must listen to the teacher carefully in school. If there's anything that makes you unhappy, be sure to tell mother when you come back, okay?"
Shen Jingxian nodded, yet there was a tense look on her face.
She would meet the female lead Song Yan for the first time in the enlightenment class and bear a grudge against her.
The reason for the grudge was that the teacher praised Song Yan's handwriting as being as noble as she is.
Whereas Shen Jingxian's handwriting was as round and plump as she was.
To be honest, even now Shen Jingxian thought Song Yan's name was too plain, but this seemed to be the trend.
Names like Li Ying Shang · Angelina · Ying Xue Yu Han Ling · Xue Li Chi · Mei · J · Q · Antaliya · Shang Meng Xun Mei · Heather · Qiang Wei Mei Gui Lei · Yu Ling · Xie Er, this kind of main character names are so weak! The unassuming female lead is the real deal!
You mock Song Yan's name as ugly, Song Yan laughs at you for being single.
"Your brothers are also there. If you encounter any problems, go to your big brother or second brother, okay?"
"My dear Er Ya, you've never left your mother's side since you were born. I really don't know why that bastard is so heartless!"
That bastard refers to the Emperor.
"If the food at school isn't to your liking, don't eat it. Come back, and mother will make it for you, or tomorrow mother will bring food to you..."
"Some of the children from those small noble families lack manners. If they are disrespectful to you... Ming Xiang! Protect the Princess. If even a single hair on her head is missing, I will question you!"
Ming Xiang quickly knelt down, "Yes! Your Majesty the Empress!"
Shen Jingxian sighed. Although this was not the first time she'd experienced this kind of situation, she couldn't help but lament that the way the book depicted her developing such a destructive personality is inseparable from the Emperor and Empress' indulgence.
She was just going to enlightenment education, yet she was already so nervous. If anything happened, the Emperor and Empress would really turn Yunyi Country upside down.
The Empress was still lecturing about hypothetical situations, and Shen Jingxian really couldn't take it anymore. She picked up the small floral backpack she made out of boredom a few days ago, said goodbye to her mother, and ran off.
Compared to the nagging, the ugly little red flower on her head became unimportant.
Even though the carriage went fast enough, thanks to the Empress, Shen Jingxian was still late.
On the first day of school, being late, Shen Jingxian felt ashamed. The teacher inside was already lecturing, and Shen Jingxian couldn't find the right moment to speak up.
Ming Xiang, seeing Shen Jingxian hesitating at the door, assumed Shen Jingxian was afraid because she was late, and comforted her from the side, "Princess, don't be afraid. You are a noble Princess, the people of the world are your servants, they should bow to you by nature and listen to you. You don't need to fear them."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jingxian's expression subtly changed. She felt something wasn't quite right with Ming Xiang.
Though the Empress doted on her, she'd never taught her such ridiculous lessons.
Shen Jingxian's body was only four years old now. What did Ming Xiang mean by saying this to a four-year-old child?
Were the dangers around her really limited to the female lead?
Shen Jingxian gathered her thoughts, smiled brightly, and responded in her usual soft and childish voice, "But, mother says there is no greater priority in school than respecting the teacher. I must respect the teacher, care for the teacher, listen to the teacher, and not upset the teacher. If the teacher is a servant, Ming Xiang is also a servant, so I should treat the teacher well, which means I should also treat Ming Xiang well."
Shen Jingxian showed an enlightened expression, her chubby little face turning a delighted pink. "Ah! I see! I understand! Don't worry, Ming Xiang, I will respect and care for you too! I'm so smart!"
The voice of Shen Jingxian wasn't small, neither were Ming Xiang's earlier words at the door that all people were servants, and could be clearly heard inside the school.
Shen Jingxian knew this, and that's why she thought Ming Xiang did it on purpose. Coincidentally, she did it on purpose too.
Just as Shen Jingxian finished speaking, a calm voice came from above, "This must be Princess Yi Fen, correct? Late on the first day, Your Highness."
Shen Jingxian looked up, meeting the eyes of the teacher looking down at her from above. The teacher's expression was neutral.
But Shen Jingxian wasn't afraid, she giggled, her eyes curving into crescents, and her chubby cheeks looked very pinchable. "Sorry, teacher, I won't do it again."
Leaning her head back was a bit tiring, so Shen Jingxian turned her body so she could lean forward instead.
Ah, much more comfortable.
She took off the ugly big red flower on her head, held it in both hands, and offered it to the stern-faced teacher in front of her. Sweetly, she said, "Teacher, don't be angry. This is a flower my mother gave me. I'll give it to you as an apology, okay?"
The teacher, seeing Shen Jingxian's smile, noticed she wasn't at all affected by the maidservant's earlier words, and he slightly relaxed.
He accepted the flower from the girl, his gaze softening for a moment, but the next instant, he sharply looked at Ming Xiang, although his words were directed at Shen Jingxian, "The Princess need not respect or care for the servants. Some servants are ungrateful."