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Xiao Jinyan nodded, indicating he understood.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Chuwei clasped her own hands and said with a pitiful face, "Um, Your Highness, my hands have been hurting lately. Could I perhaps stop practicing my calligraphy?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "Mm, you can practice after the new year. Tonight, I’ll teach you how to play chess."

The smile had hardly begun to spread across Shen Chuwei’s lips when it was doused by Xiao Jinyan’s abrupt suggestion. Chess?

Zhou Gong invites me to play chess every night, how can I possibly keep up with that?

Xiao Jinyan returned to his sleeping quarters and ordered, "Liu Xi, have Prince Jinyu come over."

"Yes." It wasn’t long before Liu Xi had summoned Prince Jinyu.

With a folding fan in hand, Xiao Jinyu strode in, his attractive peach blossom eyes filled with laughter, "Brother, what’s so urgent that you needed to see me?"

While drinking tea, Xiao Jinyan spoke leisurely, "Just a reminder that the Empress is planning to arrange your marriage and take concubines for you."

The smile on Xiao Jinyu’s face gradually stiffened. It really was a case of fearing the worst.

"Why is the Empress suddenly thinking of arranging my marriage and taking concubines? I’m only sixteen. Is there such a hurry?"

Anxious, Xiao Jinyu was at his wits’ end, pacing in circles.

Xiao Jinyan set down his tea cup, stood up and went over to Xiao Jinyu, patting his younger brother’s shoulder in a comforting gesture, "Worrying now is useless. Soon, the Empress will definitely call you to discuss this matter. She dotes on you and should be willing to listen to your opinion."

Overwhelmed by emotion, Xiao Jinyu grasped his Crown Prince brother’s hand, "Brother, you make sense. The Empress dotes on me so much, if I don’t wish it, she surely won’t force me."

"I’ll go speak with the Empress right now."

Eager, Xiao Jinyu turned and strode out of the room swiftly.

Xiao Jinyan cast his gaze down at his own hand, then walked over to the shelf and washed his hands clean.

Even so, his face was still somewhat flushed.

Xiao Jinyu had barely returned and settled down when he was called to the Fengyi Palace by Steward Ren.

"Your son pays respects to the Empress."

The Empress smiled and beckoned to him, "Yuyu, come here quickly. Your mother has some happy news to tell you."

Xiao Jinyu knew he couldn’t avoid it. He smiled and walked over, sitting down next to the Empress, "Empress Mother, what happy news might that be?"

Surveying her youngest son, the Empress said, "You silly child, you’re already sixteen. Your mother has selected a few fine young ladies for you. Choose a few to be your concubines and maids."

Xiao Jinyu grabbed the Empress’s hand, his tone carrying a hint of coquettishness, "Empress Mother, I am still young and not in a rush to take concubines and maids."

The Empress couldn’t help but laugh, "Sixteen is not so young. When your father was your age, he already had a son and a daughter."

At this, Xiao Jinyu became even more anxious, "But the Crown Prince brother only took concubines at eighteen! Empress Mother, I do not wish for multiple wives and concubines."

The Empress had always seen her youngest son as a child and had indulged him. So his upset at the sudden prospect of marriage and concubines seemed only natural.

"What nonsense are you talking? Look around, which prince doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines?"

Xiao Jinyu countered, "The tenth prince hasn’t taken any concubines."

The remark amused the Empress, "He is only thirteen, isn’t it perfectly normal for him not to have taken any?"

Xiao Jinyu paused, realizing that it was indeed only thirteen...

Seeing he couldn’t persuade the Empress, Xiao Jinyu simply resorted to acting spoiled and throwing a tantrum.

"Empress Mother, you love me the most. I really don’t want to take any concubines yet."

The Empress coaxed, "Whether you marry early or late, don’t you have to marry eventually? It is better to marry early and have children."

Xiao Jinyu was on the verge of desperation, "Empress Mother, can’t you let me have two more years of freedom?"

The Empress patted her son’s shoulder, "After taking concubines, it will just mean a few more women around. Prepare yourself well. Tomorrow, I will discuss it with the Emperor. It is better to decide early."

Xiao Jinyu, seeing he could not sway the Empress, replied dejectedly, "Empress Mother, won’t you at least ask whether I like them or not?"

The words told the Empress that her son had truly grown up and had someone in his heart.

"Then what kind of girl do you like? Tell your mother, and she will decide for you."

Xiao Jinyu said, "I have no one I fancy for the time being, but once I do, I will definitely tell the Empress Mother first so that she can make the decision for me, is that alright?"

The Empress showed an indulgent smile, "Alright, alright, then let’s not rush it."

Xiao Jinyu breathed a sigh of relief, having finally gotten through it.

That very night, the Empress’s face began to turn red, which alarmed everyone, and they hurriedly called for the Imperial Doctor.

It even disturbed the Emperor.

The Emperor was spending the night with Concubine Ning, but because of the Empress’s incident, he got up without even dressing properly and rushed to Fengyi Palace.

At that moment, in Xiyun Pavilion.

Shen Chuwei sat in front of the chessboard, the intersecting lines so dizzying that just one second of looking could make her feel faint, almost enticing her to fall asleep.

She simply looked up at Xiao Jinyan instead, whose handsome face seemed a bit flushed.

She had wanted to ask since the meal.

"Your Highness, why is your face so red?"

Xiao Jinyan’s response was concise, "Because of the Fragrant Powder."

Shen Chuwei nodded, understanding.

Xiao Jinyan reminded her, "Xiaojiu, it’s your turn to make a move."

"Oh, I’m placing a piece now." Shen Chuwei, holding a black stone, focused on the board and placed a piece at random, since she didn’t understand the game anyway.

Xiao Jinyan saw where Shen Chuwei placed her piece and his lips curved up in amusement, "I hadn’t realized you had such a talent."

Shen Chuwei felt a bit guilty being praised, "Really?"

Xiao Jinyan picked up a white stone and placed it next to the black one, reminding her, "It’s your move."

"Oh." Holding the black stone, Shen Chuwei wondered if she should just place another piece randomly, feeling guilty from the earlier praise.

After hesitating for a while, she simply followed Xiao Jinyan’s lead and placed her black stone next to his white one.

Xiao Jinyan saw it and gave her an approving look, "Have you studied this before?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "No, I’m not interested in this."

Xiao Jinyan thought that made sense, she was only interested in food.

"Not bad for someone who has never learned," he acknowledged.

Shen Chuwei laughed awkwardly, not daring to admit that she had just been playing randomly.

At this time, Liu Xi announced from the doorway, "Your Highness, the Empress is feeling unwell."

Xiao Jinyan didn’t seem surprised as he stood up and said to Shen Chuwei, "Come with me to Fengyi Palace."

"Alright." Shen Chuwei put on a fox fur and followed Xiao Jinyan to Fengyi Palace.

On the way, Shen Chuwei took out a bottle of ointment from her sleeve and handed it to Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, apply some of this, and your complexion will return to normal."

Xiao Jinyan looked at the small bottle in her hand, a tiny white one.

"There’s such a remedy? Why haven’t you mentioned it to me before?"

Shen Chuwei played the innocent, "Your Highness did not ask, and I didn’t think of it either."

She offered to make amends, "Shall I apply some for you?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "Mhmm."

Shen Chuwei twisted open the lid, took some ointment with her fingertip, and on tiptoes, gently applied it to the reddened areas.

The ointment was cool and smooth, and very soothing on the skin where it was applied.

Xiao Jinyan looked down, and by the dim palace light, he could clearly see Shen Chuwei’s tender, puffy face, a snowflake resting on her nose, as crystal clear as her eyes.

His gaze involuntarily drifted to her lips.

He still remembered the feeling on his lips from the night before; they were very soft, with a faint fragrance of peach blossom.