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"Your Concubine will go now." Shen Chuwei put down the pen in her hand and turned around to lift the curtain and walked out.

Chun Xi had been standing by the door.

"Chun Xi, have them prepare hot water. His Highness is going to bathe," Shen Chuwei said, then leaned closer to Chun Xi and whispered with a smile, "I’m hungry. Bring me some pastries."

Chun Xi said solemnly, "Miss, it’s late. His Highness doesn’t allow eating pastries at this hour."

Shen Chuwei knocked on Chun Xi’s forehead, "Who are you serving, me or Xiao Jinyan? Do you know your master is starving to death?"

Chun Xi spat out ’ptui’ three times, "Miss, you shouldn’t recklessly mention death. It’s bad luck."

Shen Chuwei was in no position to care about luck or misfortune, her stomach had been growling with hunger for a while now.

"Alright, alright, just go and get me something to eat. Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep tonight."

"This maid will go get it right now." Chun Xi ran out, after instructing the little maids to prepare the hot water, she went into the small kitchen to get pastries.

It was only upon entering the small kitchen that she realized, the last of today’s pastries had been eaten by her mistress in the afternoon.

She stared at the small kitchen for a good while; she had no choice but to make something fresh.

After the hot water was ready, Shen Chuwei stepped forward to help Xiao Jinyan out of his clothes. In winter, clothes were much thicker than usual, especially the outer robes - long and heavy.

After taking them off, Shen Chuwei carried the robe, planning to hang it on the clothes rack when she accidentally stepped on the hem, lost her balance, and toppled toward the ground.

Xiao Jinyan, with quick reflexes, extended his arms and caught her before she fell.

Instinctively, Shen Chuwei reached out and grasped at anything in panic, until she was securely in someone’s arms, only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and the air seemed to freeze.

Shen Chuwei slowly opened her eyes only to see a vast expanse of white skin against her face, feeling the warm touch, and heard the strong and powerful heartbeat in her ears.

She froze for a moment, realizing she was pressed against Xiao Jinyan’s chest, and that her hasty grabbing had tugged open Jinyan’s lapel.

She quickly backed away, looking at the pale skin with a scar across the chest.

Driven by professional instinct, she reached out to touch the scar, feeling its uneven texture clearly. Judging by the color, it should be about five or six years old.

When the lapel was torn open, Xiao Jinyan didn’t notice because he was holding Shen Chuwei, not until a hand touched his chest did he react, instinctively pushing Shen Chuwei away and drawing his lapel together, saying, "I’m going to bathe."

Having said this, he walked quickly behind the screen.

Shen Chuwei stood frozen, looking down at her hand. It was just a touch, why did he react so strongly?

He didn’t look so repulsed when she kissed his face!

With confusion, she picked up the clothes that had fallen to the floor and hung them on the rack.

She waited and waited, but Chun Xi didn’t bring the pastries, and she became a bit anxious.

Shen Chuwei listened to the sound of water; Xiao Jinyan was almost done bathing. Why hadn’t Chun Xi brought the pastries yet?

She had wanted to eat something while Xiao Jinyan was having his bath. Once he came out, when would she have the chance?

By the time Xiao Jinyan finished bathing and came out, she still hadn’t seen Chun Xi bring in any pastries.

Following the awkward scene just now, Shen Chuwei held her clothes and passed by Xiao Jinyan with her head down.

Xiao Jinyan looked down at Shen Chuwei as she walked towards the screen, holding onto his lapel, feeling the scar on his chest even through the clothes.

The water in the bathing tub had been changed. After Shen Chuwei undressed and stepped into the tub, she touched her empty stomach. Had Chun Xi forgotten to bring her the pastries?

She sighed. It really didn’t feel good to be hungry.

Seated at the table, through the curtain, Xiao Jinyan suddenly heard a knock on the door. He glanced at the screen and got up to the door.

As soon as the door opened, he saw a plate of snacks appearing before him, which he took hold of, and immediately afterward heard Chun Xi say, "Miss, there were no more pastries today, so I just made some Crisp Rice. Make do with these."

Unaware that the Crown Prince held the snacks, Chun Xi closed the door after speaking.

Xiao Jinyan looked down at the plate of Crisp Rice, a kind of snack he had never seen before, and brought it back to the table, placing it there.

After Shen Chuwei finished her bath and came out, she saw Xiao Jinyan still wasn’t in bed and asked curiously, "Your Highness, aren’t you sleeping?"

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the snacks on the table, "Did you ask Chun Xi to bring these?"

Confused, Shen Chuwei looked towards the table and saw a plate of Crisp Rice. Her eyes lit up but then she felt extremely awkward.

"I was hungry, so I had Chun Xi bring over some pastries to fill my stomach."

Xiao Jinyan had nothing to say. "Eat, then rest early after you’re done."

Excited, Shen Chuwei sat down at the table, picked up a piece of Crisp Rice, and took a bite. It was fragrantly crisp.

The Crisp Rice was made from glutinous rice and then fried in oil, very aromatic.

Xiao Jinyan watched Shen Chuwei eating, and although her manner was far from elegant or dignified, he found it pleasant to the eye.

Shen Chuwei noticed Xiao Jinyan was staring at her and knew him well enough to guess that if she ate another piece, he would likely comment.

Instead of being passive, she took the initiative and brought a piece up to Xiao Jinyan’s mouth. "Your Highness, try a piece. It’s really tasty."

Xiao Jinyan replied indifferently: "I’ve already washed up."

"You can still eat after washing up, just wash up again later if needed." Saying this, Shen Chuwei held the Crisp Rice to his lips, urging him to take a bite.

Xiao Jinyan looked down at the golden Crisp Rice and took a bite; it was indeed delicious.

Seeing him eat, Shen Chuwei continued eating with relief.

After finishing the plate of golden, crispy Crisp Rice, Shen Chuwei showed a contented expression.

Xiao Jinyan did not have the habit of eating before bedtime, this was the second exception he had made, eating two pieces.

While lying in bed to sleep, Shen Chuwei, clutching her cat pillow, was about to close her eyes when Xiao Jinyan whisked it away from her embrace.

"Your Highness, why are you taking away the cat pillow?"

Xiao Jinyan placed the cat pillow on the bedside table, saying simply, "It’s in the way."

"...But," used to sleeping with something in her arms, she couldn’t do without the cat pillow. Otherwise, she might accidentally use Xiao Jinyan’s arm as a pillow again—

"Go to sleep," said Xiao Jinyan.

Feeling unusually empty without the pillow in her arms, it took a while for Shen Chuwei to finally fall asleep.

Jinyu Hall

Xiao Jinyu came out after bathing, and saw someone sitting at the table, dressed plainly, casually letting her long hair drape over her shoulders, tied up in a simple and elegant bun adorned with just a peach blossom hairpin.

Sitting there quietly, like an Ice Mountain Snow Lotus.

He walked over, surprised, "Miss Han, what brings you here?"

Han Yan lifted her beautiful eyes, "Your servant is now belonging to Prince Jinyu, naturally, I am here to serve the Prince."