Starting in Exile: Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Lucky Little Wife

Chapter 277 Warm Sunshine

The capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom was radiating vitality under the warm spring sun.

The willows along the street sprouted tender green buds, and peach and apricot blossoms vied for attention. A gentle breeze blew, and the petals fluttered down like a pink snow.

Today, Xiao Nanyao was dressed in a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with delicate butterflies embroidered on the hem. A matching ribbon was tied around her waist, from which hung a small jade pendant. With her light and quick steps, the jade pendant made a crisp and melodious sound.

"Your Highness, where would you like to go today?" The maid Ling'er asked with a smile, following behind Xiao Nanyao.

Xiao Nanyao blinked her bright eyes and said excitedly, "We went to the market last time, let's go to the outskirts of the city this time. I heard the rapeseed fields there are very beautiful."

The two rode in a carriage, passing through the bustling streets and heading towards the outskirts of the city. The rapeseed fields stretched as far as the eye could see, their golden blossoms shimmering in the sunlight, like a golden ocean. Little Nanyao eagerly jumped out of the carriage and ran and played in the flower fields like a joyful little bird.

"Wow, it's so beautiful!" Xiao Nanyao exclaimed as she ran, her face beaming with happiness.

Just as Xiao Nanyao was immersed in the beautiful scenery of the rapeseed field, a cry for help came from afar. "Help! Is there anyone who can save my child!" The voice was filled with despair and anxiety.

Xiao Nanyao and Ling'er exchanged a glance and ran in the direction of the sound. At the edge of the rapeseed field, there was a winding stream with crystal-clear water. A middle-aged woman was standing by the river, crying anxiously, with some bamboo baskets and clothes scattered around her.

"What happened?" Xiao Nanyao ran to the woman's side and asked with concern.

When the woman saw Xiao Nanyao, it was as if she had seen a lifeline. She grabbed her hand and cried, "Your Highness, please save my child! He was playing by the river and accidentally fell in."

Following the woman's pointing finger, Xiao Nanyao saw a small figure struggling in the river, in a very dangerous situation. Without hesitation, Xiao Nanyao prepared to jump into the river to save the person, but Ling'er quickly stopped her, saying, "Your Highness, you are of noble status, please let the guards handle this."

Xiao Nanyao shook off Ling'er's hand and said firmly, "It's too late. Every second is a matter of the child's life." With that, disregarding her own safety, Xiao Nanyao quickly jumped into the river. The water was icy cold, and Xiao Nanyao shivered, but she didn't flinch and swam desperately towards the child.

Xiao Nanyao had learned to swim in the palace since childhood and was a fairly good swimmer. However, the river was flowing rapidly, and the child's desperate struggle in the water made the rescue very difficult. Xiao Nanyao gritted her teeth and, with her indomitable will, finally reached the child. She grabbed the child's arm and held him tightly in her arms.

"Don't be afraid, your sister is here to save you," Xiao Nanyao gently comforted the child, then began to swim towards the shore. With Xiao Nanyao's efforts, the two finally returned safely to the shore.

Seeing that her child was safe and sound, the middle-aged woman was moved to tears. She knelt down with a thud, took Xiao Nanyao's hand, and sobbed uncontrollably, "Your Highness, thank you so much! You are a great benefactor to our whole family."

Xiao Nanyao quickly helped the woman up, smiling as she said, "Auntie, please don't do this. Anyone would have done the same. It's good that the child is alright."

Xiao Nanyao then took a closer look at the little boy she had rescued. The boy was about seven or eight years old, soaking wet, pale-faced, and with lingering fear in his eyes. Xiao Nanyao tenderly held him in her arms and gently wiped the water from his face with her handkerchief.

"Sister, thank you for saving me," the little boy said in a trembling voice.

Xiao Nanyao smiled and patted his head: "Little brother, you can't play by the river anymore, it's too dangerous."

The little boy nodded understandingly: "I understand, sister."

At this moment, Ling'er had already asked the guards to bring clean clothes. Xiao Nanyao helped the little boy change his clothes, and then asked the guards to go to a nearby farmer's house to cook a bowl of ginger soup to warm the little boy up.

While waiting for the ginger soup, Xiao Nanyao chatted with the middle-aged woman. It turned out that the middle-aged woman was the wife of a nearby farmer. She had brought her child to the river to wash clothes that day, but unexpectedly, the child fell into the water.

"It was all my negligence; I almost killed the child," the middle-aged woman said remorsefully.

Xiao Nanyao comforted her, "Auntie, don't blame yourself too much. It's the best outcome that the child is alright. Just be more careful in the future."

A moment later, a guard brought ginger soup. Xiao Nanyao personally fed the little boy the ginger soup, and the boy's complexion gradually regained its rosy hue.

"Your Highness, it's getting late, we should return to the palace," Ling'er reminded her.

Xiao Nanyao nodded and said to the middle-aged woman, "Auntie, we're going back now. Please take good care of the child from now on."

The middle-aged woman thanked Xiao Nanyao again: "Your Highness, our whole family will forever remember your great kindness."

After bidding farewell to the little boy, Xiao Nanyao returned to the palace by carriage. On the way back, Xiao Nanyao was deeply moved. She recalled the little boy's terrified eyes and the middle-aged woman's grateful tears, and her heart was filled with complex emotions.

“Ling’er, seeing that child fall into the water today made me truly realize the fragility of life,” Xiao Nanyao said softly. “As the princess of Nanzhao, I must do more in the future to protect the people and spare them from suffering.”

Ling'er nodded: "Your Highness, you are kind-hearted and will surely become a good princess who is deeply loved by the people."

Back at the palace, Xiao Nanyao told Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli about her day. After listening, Xiao Jingchuan said with satisfaction, "Yao'er, you did the right thing. As a princess of Nanzhao, you should care about the people and lend a helping hand when they encounter difficulties."

Gu Liuli looked at Xiao Nanyao with heartache: "Yao'er, it's good that you're alright. Next time you encounter something like this, be sure to pay attention to your safety."

Xiao Nanyao said firmly, "Father, Mother, I will. I will study hard to learn skills so that I can better protect the people."

A Journey of Gratitude: A Vegetable Basket Carries a Child's Heart

Bathed in the spring sunshine, the royal palace of the Nanzhao Kingdom appeared even more solemn and majestic. The vermilion walls gleamed with an imposing light, and the gilded glazed tiles shimmered brilliantly. At the palace gates, guards in bright armor stood in neat rows, spears in hand, protecting the palace's peace.

More than half a month has passed since Xiao Nanyao bravely rescued the little boy. That morning, in their farmhouse on the outskirts of the city, the boy's parents were busy early in the morning. The mother carefully selected the freshest vegetables from their garden: tender green spinach, bright red tomatoes, and round potatoes, each one brimming with their hard work. The father found a clean bamboo basket, carefully arranged the vegetables neatly, and then covered them with a simple blue cloth.

"Dad, we need to go early, so the princess won't be waiting," the mother said while arranging the vegetables.

"Don't worry, I've arranged everything." The father replied, then looked at his son who was packing small items, "Xiao Bao, you must be polite when you meet Princess Sister today."

Xiao Bao nodded vigorously, his eyes sparkling with excitement: "I know, I'm going to give the grasshopper I made to Princess Sister."

The family of three, having finished packing, set off for the palace. Along the way, Xiao Bao skipped and hopped, eagerly anticipating seeing the princess who had saved him again. By the time they arrived at the palace gates, the sun was already high in the sky.

"This is the palace! How magnificent!" Mother exclaimed, gazing at the grand palace gate.

Xiao Bao grabbed his mother's hand and said eagerly, "Mom, let's go inside and find Princess Sister!"

However, the palace was heavily guarded, and the guards blocked their way. "This is a forbidden area of ​​the palace; unauthorized personnel are not allowed to approach," one of the guards said sternly.

The father quickly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Sir, we have come to thank Her Highness the Princess. Half a month ago, Her Highness saved my child's life, and we have brought vegetables we grew ourselves to express our gratitude."

The guard's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, but he still said, "Even so, you cannot enter the palace at will. Please wait a moment while I go and inform them."

A short while later, the guards returned and told them that the princess was in the garden and that they should enter through a side gate. Led by the guards, the family of three walked through the winding corridors and arrived at the royal garden.

The Imperial Garden was a riot of color, with vibrant flowers vying for attention and their fragrant aroma filling the air.

Xiao Nanyao, dressed in a light pink palace gown, was sitting in the pavilion reading a book.

Upon hearing the announcement, she put down the book she was holding and quickly went out to greet them.

"Your Highness!" As soon as Xiao Bao saw Xiao Nan Yao, he immediately broke free from his parents' hands and ran over to her.

Xiao Nanyao smiled and picked up Xiao Bao, kissing his cheek: "Xiao Bao, it's been a long time. Have you been a good boy/girl?"

Xiao Bao nodded vigorously, took out a grasshopper from his pocket, and handed it to Xiao Nanyao: "Princess sister, this is something I made myself, I'm giving it to you."

Xiao Nanyao took the grasshopper, examined it carefully, and praised, "Xiao Bao is so amazing, you wove it so beautifully, I really like it."

At this moment, Xiao Bao's parents stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Your Highness, thank you for saving Xiao Bao's life. These are vegetables we grew ourselves. Although they are not worth much, they are a token of our appreciation."

Xiao Nanyao quickly said, "Uncle and Aunt, please don't be so polite. Anyone would have helped Xiaobao if they saw him in danger. I'll accept these vegetables; I'd like to try some fresh farm-grown food myself."

As she spoke, Xiao Nanyao invited them to sit down in the pavilion and instructed a maid to bring tea. Xiao Bao's parents sat somewhat awkwardly in the pavilion, unsure of what to say.

Xiao Nanyao broke the silence with a smile: "Uncle and Aunt, how has everything been at home lately? Has Xiaobao been naughty?"

The mother smiled and said, "Everything is fine. Since that time he fell into the water, Xiao Bao has become much more sensible and doesn't dare to play in dangerous places anymore."

The father added, "Your Highness, we can never repay your life-saving grace. We can't even imagine what would have happened without you."

Xiao Nanyao said earnestly, "Uncle and Aunt, please don't say that. I am a princess of the Nanzhao Kingdom, and it is my responsibility to protect the people. I am also very happy to see that Xiaobao is safe and sound."

During their conversation, Xiao Nanyao learned that Xiao Bao's family was not well-off and mainly relied on growing vegetables to make a living. After thinking for a moment, she said to Xiao Bao's parents, "Uncle and Aunt, I have an idea. I can help you contact some merchants to expand your sales channels for vegetables so that you can get a good price."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bao's parents were both surprised and delighted. They quickly stood up to express their gratitude: "Your Highness, you not only saved Xiao Bao's life, but also thought of us. We really don't know how to repay you."

Xiao Nanyao waved her hand: "No need to repay me, this is what I should do. As long as your lives get better and better, I will be satisfied."

Before they knew it, the sun was gradually setting in the west. Xiao Bao's family got up to say goodbye, and Xiao Nanyao personally escorted them to the palace gate. Xiao Bao held Xiao Nanyao's hand and said reluctantly, "Princess sister, will I be able to come see you again in the future?"

Xiao Nanyao smiled and said, "Of course you can. If Xiao Bao misses me, he can come with his uncle and aunt."