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Chun Xi put down the bedding and stepped forward to bow, "Lady Li."

The weather was getting colder, and Lady Li was dressed in a rose-red fox fur overcoat, holding a hand warmer.

"Where is Lady Shen?"

Lady Li had searched for two days, but she could not find any strawberries, neither inside the palace nor outside.

She had bragged to Concubine Xu and promised her a basket of strawberries. Having no choice, she came to Xiyun Pavilion to ask for them.

Chun Xi said, "Replying to Lady Li, my young mistress is currently napping."

Lady Li calculated the time and thought that Shen Chuwei should not take long to wake up, "Then I shall wait here for a while."

Chun Xi warned, "My young mistress loves to sleep, and it won’t be a brief moment before she wakes up."

Lady Li thought Chun Xi was making excuses to send her away so she smiled and replied, "It’s fine, I can wait, no matter how long."

After hearing this, Chun Xi said no more, turned around to bring a cup of hot tea to place on the table, and then busied herself with her own tasks.

Sitting in the chair, Lady Li was in Xiyun Pavilion for the first time. It was said that Xiyun Pavilion was desolate and remote, and that was true. The furnishings inside were also not presentable.

She wondered if His Highness was truly fond of Shen Chuwei, or if it was all for show?

An hour later, Lady Li grew restless. She sent Cuicui with an instruction, "Go and ask if Lady Shen has woken up from her nap."

"Yes," Cuicui ran off and upon seeing Chun Xi, she asked, "Chun Xi, has Lady Shen woken up from her nap?"

Chun Xi put down her work and replied, "My young mistress is still asleep."

Learning that Shen Chuwei was still napping, Lady Li grew impatient and couldn’t help but curse inwardly, capable of eating and sleeping, isn’t she afraid of growing fat as a pig!

Another hour passed before Shen Chuwei awoke.

The hand warmer in Lady Li’s hands had long since gone cold, and both her hands were red from the chill when she finally saw Shen Chuwei stroll out of the room leisurely.

"Lady Shen, you finally awoke," she said, holding back her anger.

Shen Chuwei yawned and asked, "Why has Lady Li come?"

"I came to visit Lady Shen," Lady Li continued with a forced smile, "I heard Lady Shen had strawberries, so I was keen to come and see."

Shen Chuwei sipped the hot tea Chun Xi had brought her and said indifferently, "There are no more strawberries."

"Lady Shen has quite a sense of humor. Just the other day, you sent a basket to Concubine Xu, and now when I come, there are none left? Who would believe that," Lady Li snorted inwardly, thinking she won’t be sent away that easily!

"If Lady Li doesn’t believe it, then let it be," Shen Chuwei finished her tea and touched her belly, "Chun Xi, I’m hungry."

"This servant will immediately fetch something for you to eat," said Chun Xi, briskly fetching a piece of Strawberry Cake.

Recently, with nothing much to do, Shen Chuwei had taught Chun Xi how to make cake.

For this, Shen Chuwei specifically had a small oven made for baking with charcoal fire.

"Miss, eat now. It will soon be time for dinner."

Shen Chuwei took the Strawberry Cake to her mouth and bit into it. It was soft and sweet, but not overly rich.

Lady Li, seeing the strawberries on what was called a Strawberry Cake, flew into a rage, "Didn’t Lady Shen say there were no strawberries? Where did the strawberries on top come from then?"

"The strawberries are indeed gone, and what does this strawberry have to do with you?" Shen Chuwei replied. Then she opened her mouth and popped the strawberry into her mouth, thinking that if she wanted her strawberries, no chance!

Because of the long wait and Shen Chuwei’s attitude, Lady Li immediately became furious, "Lady Shen has really been an eye-opener, you could have just said no to giving me the strawberries, there’s no need to lie with eyes wide open."

Shen Chuwei, although a mere salted fish who mooched off others, did not mean she could be bullied by just anyone.

"Are you still hung up on a strawberry? I’m truly enlightened, Lady Li is so overbearing and aggressive."

Lady Li slammed the table as she stood up, pointed at Shen Chuwei, and said, "Who are you calling overbearing and aggressive? Clearly, you’re the stingy one, hiding strawberries and saying you don’t have any? I don’t even care for them. A lying expert you are, not fit to be a lady at all."

Xiao Jinyan approached the doorway and heard this remark. He walked in with a stern face, his icy gaze fell upon Lady Li as he barked, "Who are you saying is not fit?"

Lady Li turned around, saw His Highness, and bashfully stepped forward to bow, "Your Highness, may you be at peace and in good health."

Shen Chuwei bowed respectfully, "Your Highness, may you be at peace and in good health."

Xiao Jinyan coldly said, "Who did you just say is not fit?"

Lady Li explained, "Your Highness, this concubine spoke carelessly, all because Lady Shen told lies and deceived this concubine, lacking in morals."

Xiao Jinyan didn’t even glance at Lady Li, but turned his head to look at Shen Chuwei, "Lady Shen, tell me your version."

Shen Chuwei recounted the recent events, "Your Highness, this concubine truly has no strawberries left. The last one, this concubine ate, and Lady Li was unrelenting."

Xiao Jinyan’s tone was ice-cold, "Lady Li, for your indecent speech and lack of decorum, you are unfit to be a lady. You are now demoted to Fengyi. Guards, take Lady Fengyi away."

Two eunuchs entered briskly, taking Lady Fengyi away without giving her a chance to speak.

The room suddenly became quiet. Xiao Jinyan walked over and sat down on the couch, lifted his eyes to Shen Chuwei, and uttered two words, "Come here."

Shen Chuwei obediently walked over and stood in front of Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan saw some pastry crumbs stuck on the corner of Shen Chuwei’s lips. He pulled out a clean handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped the crumbs away for her.

Shen Chuwei looked down at that attractive hand after the fact, only then realizing she had crumbs on her face from eating the strawberry cake earlier.

But the sudden gentleness from Xiao Jinyan nearly threw her off balance.

After he finished wiping her face, Xiao Jinyan retracted his hand, "Dinner is about to be served, why are you still eating pastries?"

Because Xiao Jinyan had said before, do not eat cake before meals, focus on rice to ensure you grow taller.

"I woke up feeling a bit hungry and had some to tide me over," said Shen Chuwei, who really had no concern for her height. 158 cm was just fine.

Xiao Jinyan called out, "Liu Xi."

Liu Xi presented a tray with both hands.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the fox fur and said, "With heavy snow looming, this fox fur was obtained from a Snow Fox I hunted during the autumn hunt, perfect for making a fox fur coat to keep you warm."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Shen Chuwei touched the fox fur before her, which felt smoother than silk. Wearing it in the snowy weather, she was certain to stay warm.

Because the Crown Prince suddenly showed up to freeload a meal, Chun Xi hurriedly added two more dishes to the menu.

It should be noted that Xiao Jinyan’s freeloading became more frequent, sometimes extending to lunch, unless he was too busy to come by.

After dining, Shen Chuwei thought Xiao Jinyan would leave after his meal, but instead, he ordered a bath to be prepared, expecting her to help him undress.

When Shen Chuwei had finished bathing and came out, Xiao Jinyan was sitting on the bed, his handsome phoenix eyes fixed upon her.

The room was heated with glowing charcoal, not feeling cold at all after bathing.

Shen Chuwei walked to the bed, about to climb in, when she heard Xiao Jinyan say, "In half a year’s time, you’ve grown quite a bit."

Shen Chuwei’s action paused mid-climb, feeling there was an implication in Xiao Jinyan’s words. Why else would he randomly mention her growth?

She instinctively looked down at her own chest, which did seem to have grown a bit.