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Xiao Jinyan put down the brush in his hand and looked up at Shen Chuwei, and there she was, wearing the fox fur coat he had given her. The snow-white fox fur made her delicate, fair little face appear even more charming and lovable.

The fox fur was very long, perfect for wrapping her petite body and shielding it from the biting cold wind.

"Come here," he said.

Inside, it was warm. Shen Chuwei removed her fox fur coat and placed it on a chair nearby.

Then, she obediently walked to Xiao Jinyan’s side and happened to see the characters he had just written. She didn’t understand calligraphy, but she could tell that Xiao Jinyan’s writing was very beautiful, just like him—cold and proud.

"Your Highness, your writing is truly beautiful."

Xiao Jinyan glanced down at his own writing and then raised his eyes to Shen Chuwei. There was a smile on her lips that sounded nothing like flattery.

He reached for a brush and handed it to her, "You write a few characters for this palace to see."

Shen Chuwei looked at the brush in front of her and hesitated before taking it, confessing honestly, "Your Highness, my writing isn’t pretty."

Xiao Jinyan reassured her, "Just write, this palace wants to see."

Shen Chuwei hedged her bets in advance, so Xiao Jinyan wouldn’t get angry after seeing her writing.

"If this concubine writes them and they are not pretty, Your Highness must not criticize me."

"Hmm, this palace won’t say anything," Xiao Jinyan assured as he took out a blank piece of paper and laid it down.

Shen Chuwei gripped the brush tightly and wrote four characters on the paper.

Don’t be angry.

Xiao Jinyan looked at the four characters on the paper. He might have guessed that her writing wouldn’t be pretty, but he didn’t expect it to be this unattractive—

The letters were uneven, not to the point of toppling over, but simply unappealing. Their thickness was inconsistent, as if written by someone who didn’t know how to write.

He turned his head to look at Shen Chuwei, whose little face was filled with innocence. "Did you ever attend school?" he asked.

Shen Chuwei nodded her head.

Xiao Jinyan stared at the four characters and said helplessly, "...Your handwriting really is not presentable."

Shen Chuwei looked at the four characters she had written with the brush. In modern times, pens were more commonly used; she was holding a brush for only the second time, and she knew her writing wasn’t attractive, but she didn’t mind.

"Your Highness, I don’t have to show it to anyone anyway, so it doesn’t matter if it’s not pretty."

Xiao Jinyan corrected her seriously, "That’s wrong."

"Is it?" Shen Chuwei thought hard for a while but couldn’t figure out why a concubine like herself would need to write for others to see.

Because Xiao Jinyan was a person who worked very, very hard, striving to do his best in everything.

Seeing Shen Chuwei so indolent, he naturally wanted to correct her.

Xiao Jinyan said earnestly, "As a Lady, how can you maintain such a lazy attitude? If your writing is not good, you can practice. You are intelligent and, given time, you will definitely be able to write beautifully."

Shen Chuwei felt that life was too short to make herself so tired.

Did one have to write beautifully just because she was a Lady?

"What if this concubine cannot write well?"

There is a saying: a child who cannot be taught.

After the disappointment, Your Highness would probably give up on her—

Xiao Jinyan raised his eyes to look at Shen Chuwei and paused between words, "As long as you practice earnestly, there is no such thing as bad writing. Understand?"

At that moment, Shen Chuwei felt as if she had returned to being a student at school, like a student who couldn’t solve a problem, and Xiao Jinyan was the teacher—

Wholehearted and dutiful.

Xiao Jinyan asked softly, "What’s wrong? No confidence?"

Shen Chuwei looked at Xiao Jinyan resignedly. Last time he had her read books, and now, he wants her to practice calligraphy. Can’t she just be a salted fish in peace?

She shook her head, "This concubine knows she is unintelligent."

Xiao Jinyan thought she was being self-deprecating, possibly because her previous upbringing lacked a teacher’s guidance, resulting in her poor handwriting.

"This palace will teach you," he offered.

Shen Chuwei was taken aback, "How dare I trouble Your Highness to personally teach this concubine? Your daily affairs are so busy; please do not waste your precious time on this concubine."

She did not deserve the Crown Prince to waste his valuable time.

Xiao Jinyan replied, "It’s all right. This palace can spare some time."

Looking at Xiao Jinyan’s serious face, Shen Chuwei was too embarrassed to say that he was purely wasting his time—

Xiao Jinyan asked, "Did you go to Fengyi Palace today? Did Mother trouble you?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "The Empress did not trouble this concubine, she just asked this concubine to prepare lunch. After making three dishes, this concubine left."

Xiao Jinyan asked further, "Do you know who told Mother that you are skilled in cooking?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "It was Lady Shen."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan’s eyes darkened, "I knew she couldn’t be content."

Shen Mingzhu has tried to play tricks multiple times, aiming to trap Shen Chuwei, her own sister, revealing a heart like that of a venomous snake.

Such a malicious woman should not be kept in the East Palace; she would only be a bane.

"This palace will handle the matter. You need not worry."

"This concubine understands."

Xiao Jinyan took a deep breath and stopped thinking about Shen Mingzhu, that venomous woman.

"Come closer," he instructed.

Shen Chuwei observed that they were already quite close. If she moved closer, she would be almost pressed against him.

She asked in puzzlement, "Your Highness, why come closer?"

Xiao Jinyan was momentarily taken aback. She was really asking why?

Any other woman would long to be close to him, the closer the better!

"If you don’t come closer, how can this palace teach you to write?" he explained.

"Oh." Shen Chuwei obediently moved closer so that her arm was now touching Xiao Jinyan’s arm.

But the next second, Xiao Jinyan’s arm moved to encircle her, pulling her into his embrace. His hand was now around her waist.

The other hand was held by Xiao Jinyan’s good-looking one. His palm was large, easily cradling her hand within his.

Shen Chuwei’s heart raced like a startled deer, thumping relentlessly.

She couldn’t help but think that Xiao Jinyan was being too responsible, teaching her hands-on.

She stole a glance at Xiao Jinyan, who had already stood up straight and was positioning himself.

Xiao Jinyan’s cool voice came from above her head, "Where are your eyes looking?"

"Looking, looking at the paper," Shen Chuwei directed her gaze to the rice paper in front of her, watching as Xiao Jinyan held her hand and began to write, stroke by stroke.

With Xiao Jinyan’s hand guiding hers, it was as if her hand had been enchanted, making the characters beautiful.

Xiao Jinyan reminded her attentively, "When you put the brush to paper, be mindful not to press too hard. Understand?"

The two were exceedingly close, even closer than when they shared a bed.

The room was heated with red charcoal, and the temperature was much higher than outside.

Shen Chuwei’s face flushed, "This concubine understands."

"Calligraphy requires a calm heart and patience to improve," Xiao Jinyan advised as he finished writing a poem.

Shen Chuwei thought to herself, with your hands-on teaching, this concubine really can’t calm down.

Xiao Jinyan noticed that Shen Chuwei was gripping the brush tightly and reminded her, "Don’t hold the brush too firmly."

Shen Chuwei looked up and saw Xiao Jinyan’s attractive Adam’s apple, the graceful lines of his neck, and his smooth jawline.

"Your Highness, my palm is sweating, I can’t hold the brush," she said.