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"Lady Shen Chuwei, what do you think you’re doing?"

Shen Chuwei looked at the Empress with a puzzled face, noticing that the Empress had suddenly become much friendlier.

"I wasn’t doing anything."

The Empress frowned. Shen Chuwei was not playing along, she thought. She had asked, and yet Shen Chuwei still wasn’t saying.

"Lady Shen, you’ve sneaked out already, so drop the act."

"Empress, I’m really not pretending," said Shen Chuwei, sensing that something was off with the Empress.

Seeing that Shen Chuwei was still pretending, the Empress feigned anger, "Lady Shen, I didn’t catch you in the act, so there’s no need to hide it from me."

Shen Chuwei was baffled, "Empress, I truly wasn’t hiding anything from you."

The Empress decided to be blunt, "Lady Shen, I won’t tell anyone else, but you went out to secretly eat instant noodles, right? Come on, I have nothing to do anyway; I’ll join you."

And so, Shen Chuwei was dragged by the Empress to an abandoned place.

Gazing at her chamber growing distant, she nearly burst into tears. Xiao Jinyan, this really isn’t my fault this time.

Because Shen Chuwei had a history of doing this, Xiao Jinyan had specifically instructed her to make it quick and return promptly; otherwise, he would punish her if she was late.

She truly had no choice!

Once they were in a secluded area, the Empress eagerly asked, "Lady Shen, where’s your instant noodles?"

By now, Shen Chuwei realized the Empress wanted instant noodles—and not only that, she thought Shen Chuwei had snuck out again to eat them.

Although she also craved instant noodles, the Crown Prince was keeping a close watch on her.

If she snuck out again to secretly indulge, Xiao Jinyan would probably be furious.

"Empress, instant noodles need hot water. Why don’t you wait here while I go fetch some hot water?" proposed Shen Chuwei.

The Empress nodded, "Okay, make it quick. I’ll wait for you here."

Shen Chuwei wrapped herself tightly in her fox fur and went to find hot water.

Lucky as always, she bumped into the young monk along the way.

She greeted him enthusiastically, "Little monk, little monk, help me out."

Seeing Shen Chuwei, Wu Tan pressed his hands together, "Lady Shen, is there something I can assist you with?"

Shen Chuwei was a bit embarrassed because this was the third time she had asked the young monk for hot water.

"I would like some hot water. Could you get a bottle of hot water for me?"

Hearing it was for hot water again, Wu Tan couldn’t help but smile a little, "Lady Shen, please wait a moment. I will return shortly."

With that, he turned to fetch the hot water.

After only a short while, Wu Tan returned with the hot water.

As Shen Chuwei happily took it, Wu Tan kindly reminded her, "Lady Shen, be careful not to scald yourself."

"I know, thank you, little monk," she said.

Holding the kettle, Shen Chuwei then left.

Wu Tan stood there watching her go.

Shen Chuwei walked a few steps, then thought of something and came back.

Wu Tan looked curiously at Shen Chuwei as she suddenly returned, a bit surprised, "Lady Shen, is there something else?"

Shen Chuwei took out three small seed packets from her bosom and handed them to the young monk, "These are for you. They are vegetable seeds. When the weather warms up, they can be planted."

Having received help from the young monk several times, Shen Chuwei had nothing else to give him besides the seeds.

After she placed them in his hand, she walked away with a brisk step, kettle in hand.

Wu Tan looked down at the vegetable seeds in his palm, then back at Shen Chuwei’s retreating figure. How did she come by vegetable seeds?

*

On the way back, Shen Chuwei took out two cups of instant noodles. She thought to herself, since she was delayed anyway, she might as well satisfy her craving and enjoy a cup as well.

Upon arrival, Shen Chuwei skillfully tore open the packaging and prepared the two cups of instant noodles with hot water, placing the lids on to wait until they were ready to eat.

The Empress watched the entire process. Accustomed to having others serve her, she found nothing odd about Shen Chuwei preparing instant noodles for her.

She found Shen Chuwei to be quite remarkable, always having snacks that perfectly suited her tastes.

With precise timing, Shen Chuwei opened the instant noodle lids and after stirring with a fork, the Empress—being the Empress, of course—ate first.

"Empress, they’re ready. You can start eating now," Shen Chuwei announced.

This being the Empress’s second time eating them, she wasn’t as hasty and didn’t burn her mouth like before.

As she stirred the noodles with a fork to cool them, she commented, "Lady Shen, instant noodles are quite convenient and tasty too."

Shen Chuwei replied, "That’s the advantage of instant noodles, convenience and no need for washing dishes. But cooked ones taste better, with a sunny side up egg, a few meatballs, and a sausage added, it’s perfect!"

These words piqued the Empress’s interest. Although she didn’t know what a sausage was, it sounded very delicious indeed.

"Is that so? Then next time cook some for me to taste. How will I know which is more delicious if I don’t try both ways?" she said.

Shen Chuwei thought to herself, Empress, you have quite the knack for inviting yourself to meals!

Please accept my admiration!

Stirring and cooling her noodles with a fork, Shen Chuwei began to eat.

In the winter night, the cold wind blew, but the instant noodles cooled quickly and warmed her body, a best of both worlds.

Who could imagine the Empress, the mother of the nation, sneaking outside to secretly eat instant noodles—

Shen Chuwei ate happily.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jinyan’s face had darkened, as Shen Chuwei was disobedient again.

She had been told to make it quick, yet she was gone for half a day.

The mere thought that she might be meeting that handsome monk again, and smiling at him, turned Xiao Jinyan’s handsome face darker than the bottom of a pot.

They say that trouble comes in threes, and Xiao Jinyan felt this was the third time; there was no need for a next time. He had to punish her this time to make her remember.

Xiao Jinyan put down his pen, stood up, donned his fox fur, and left his chambers.

The cold winter wind hit him as soon as he stepped outside, chilling him to the bone.

His eyes were colder than the frigid breeze as he walked quickly.

At this hour, he wondered where Shen Chuwei could be or if she was secretly eating instant noodles with that monk.

After Shen Chuwei had had her fill and felt satisfied, she wiped her mouth and belched contentedly.

The Empress, too, had finished eating. She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, her movements graceful and dignified.

Remembering Xiao Jinyan’s stern face, Shen Chuwei realized quite a bit of time had passed, and he was probably angry by now.

"Empress, we should go back. Your Highness is still waiting for me in our chambers," she suggested.

"Let’s go. We’ll go back together," said the Empress, standing up and shaking her crimson fox fur clean, the white fox fur collar accentuating her regal elegance.

Shen Chuwei leisurely followed the Empress.

Before long, Shen Chuwei’s sharp eyes caught sight of a tall figure approaching in the distance. By the dim light, she barely made out the handsome features of Xiao Jinyan.

He had indeed come out in anger.

Just then, Xiao Jinyan also spotted Shen Chuwei. Her small frame and the pink fox fur made her instantly recognizable.

Clenching his teeth, he thought, she still knows to come back.

Xiao Jinyan saw the Empress as well and a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. He stepped forward to greet her, "Mother."

Shen Chuwei moved forward and curtsied, "Your Highness."

Xiao Jinyan turned his gaze towards Shen Chuwei and asked in a deep voice, "Why have you only come back now?"