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Shen Chuwei submitted deferentially, "Your Highness, this concubine was delayed by some matters, which is why I am only returning now."

Xiao Jinyan snorted coldly in his heart. How many times has it been? Could this palace believe you?

"Where did you go? What delayed you?"

Shen Chuwei glanced at the Empress hesitantly and said, "Your Highness, this concubine did not intentionally return late."

The Empress had just been secretly indulging with Shen Chuwei, so now that she was being reprimanded by the Crown Prince, she naturally wanted to cover up the lie.

With a light cough, she interjected, "Crown Prince, I was idle and saw Lady Shen, so I had her accompany me for a chat. Do not blame her."

Standing tall, Shen Chuwei felt backed by the Empress, hmph!

Xiao Jinyan watched her, a flash of doubt and surprise crossing his eyes as he lowered his gaze and nodded, "Yes, Mother."

Only then did the Empress nod with satisfaction, "It is late. You both should go back and rest early."

Xiao Jinyan bowed in respect, "Yes, Mother, your son will respectfully see you off."

Shen Chuwei gave a deep curtsey.

After the Empress left, Xiao Jinyan stood up straight, lowering his gaze to Shen Chuwei.

Sensing his probing eyes, Shen Chuwei guiltily lowered her head.

Xiao Jinyan’s voice was somewhat cold, "Let’s go back first."

Shen Chuwei obediently followed Xiao Jinyan back to their chamber.

Gathering her skirts, she walked inside and saw Xiao Jinyan, having shed his fox fur, sitting in the chair, his eyes coolly fixed on her.

It looked like he was quite angry–

Xiao Jinyan, seeing Shen Chuwei standing some distance away, said in a deep voice, "Come here."

"As commanded." Shen Chuwei moved with tiny steps toward Xiao Jinyan, holding her breath, lips tightly pursed, trying not to let him smell the scent of instant noodles on her.

Xiao Jinyan, already a stickler for cleanliness, had a particularly sensitive nose, and when Shen Chuwei drew near, he caught the scent of instant noodles.

He glanced at Xuetuan on the couch and got up to walk over. Without concern for the soundly sleeping Xuetuan, he bent down to pick him up, inadvertently waking the cat.

Xuetuan, soundly asleep, was somewhat displeased at being woken up. Before he could protest, he was placed into someone else’s arms. Looking up to see Shen Chuwei, he immediately lost his ire.

"Meow," Xuetuan called out, trying to curry favor.

Shen Chuwei, puzzled, glanced at Xiao Jinyan, then looked down at Xuetuan, unable to follow Xiao Jinyan’s train of thought. What was he intending?

She petted Xuetuan, "I’ll feed you sausage tomorrow; didn’t you see Xiao Jinyan was here?"

Xiao Jinyan returned to his chair, his eyes lifting to Shen Chuwei as he asked sternly, "Tell the truth, did you really return late because you were chatting with Mother?"

Dare to lie and see!

Shen Chuwei blinked her beautiful eyes. With Xiao Jinyan asking this way, he clearly didn’t believe the Empress’s words just now.

If she lied, Xiao Jinyan would definitely get angrier.

"This concubine was indeed with the Empress, and we did chat, but it was also an occasion to eat instant noodles."

Xiao Jinyan asked again, "Did you have instant noodles with Mother?"

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, "This concubine was with the Empress the entire time, without a single lie."

She couldn’t help but scream inside, I truly returned late because of meeting the Empress, Your Highness please believe me!!!

Xiao Jinyan heard Shen Chuwei’s silent plea and believed her words.

What a pity, the punishment he had thought of could not be used.

"Eat openly next time, as if this palace shows no understanding."

"This concubine understands," she said, pushed by necessity.

Xiao Jinyan said, "It’s late, wash up and rest."

Knowing that she was believed, Shen Chuwei stepped forward proactively to serve him, "This concubine will help you undress."

Xiao Jinyan: "Hmm."

The next morning, the Empress’s Phoenix Carriage left the White Horse Temple grandly.

Under the eaves of the White Horse Temple, stood a tall and lean figure.

The young monk saw the person on the steps and curiously ran up to ask, "Senior Brother Wu Tan, what are you looking at?"

Wu Tan withdrew his gaze to look at him, "Is the vegetable garden cleaned up?"

The young monk scratched his bald head, "I was just about to clean it."

*

Aboard the Phoenix Carriage

The Empress sat upright and poised in the middle.

Lady Liang’s complexion was still a bit off, as she leaned against the Phoenix Carriage without the mood to think of anything else. She only wanted to know whether her aunt had heard or not.

Naturally, she hoped she hadn’t, so that there would still be hope for the position of the Crown Princess.

Shen Chuwei, holding Xuetuan, glanced at Lady Liang, only having found out the day before that Lady Liang didn’t actually like Xiao Jinyan, but simply desired to be the future Empress.

So, the unrequited love Xiao Jinyan spoke of referred to... himself?

She sneakily looked at Xiao Jinyan and noticed that he was also looking down at her. She guiltily averted her gaze.

Xiao Jinyan, "..." It’s you who’s infatuated!

Upon returning to the Imperial Palace, and having left Xiyun Pavilion for merely four days, Shen Chuwei realized she was a bit homesick, and missed Chun Xi’s cooking even more.

As she stepped into Xiyun Pavilion, Chun Xi and the maids stood at the entrance waiting for her, which touched her for a moment.

Chun Xi rushed forward excitedly, "Young Mistress, you’re finally back. We’ve missed you so much."

Shen Chuwei responded, "I’ve missed you too."

She decided, the next time she went out, she would definitely bring Chun Xi with her.

"Young Mistress, let’s go in to have some tea and snacks first."

Shen Chuwei entered Xiyun Pavilion surrounded by Chun Xi and her group.

"Young Mistress, did you encounter anything fun at the White Horse Temple?"

"Everything at the White Horse Temple is fine, except for the food. There’s no meat or oily dishes; I’ve lost weight," Shen Chuwei complained.

After hearing this, each of the maids presented delicious fruits and desserts to her like treasures.

Chun Xi brought tea and set it in front of Shen Chuwei, saying with a smile, "Young Mistress, I’ll make you something delicious in a bit."

Shen Chuwei took a pastry in one hand and lifted the teacup with the other, taking a sip of tea after each bite.

"I heard the Empress also went to pray for a child. Did you pray too?" Chun Xi asked curiously.

"Prayed, prayed," Shen Chuwei mumbled vaguely.

Chun Xi said, "I also heard that the Guanyin for bestowing children at the White Horse Temple is particularly miraculous..."

Shen Chuwei, who had just put a snack in her mouth, spat it out and looked at Chun Xi tremulously, "Is it really that miraculous?"

Fearing Shen Chuwei’s disbelief, Chun Xi confidently reassured, "Of course, many people have had their prayers for a child answered there. Why else would the Empress personally go to the White Horse Temple to burn incense and worship Buddha?"

Shen Chuwei was dumbfounded; if it was really that effective, then she was in trouble.

Crown Prince’s Bedchamber

Xiao Jinyan finished discussing important matters, and Lu Zhaoyan arrived.

Lu Zhaoyan had been in closed-door cultivation for a while and had just emerged today.

He stepped forward to salute, "I heard that the Crown Prince accompanied the Empress to the White Horse Temple to burn incense and worship Buddha. Did you go to pray for a child?"

Xiao Jinyan asked, "I prayed. Is there a problem?"

Lu Zhaoyan chuckled lightly, "The Guanyin for bestowing children at the White Horse Temple is exceptionally effective. It seems Your Highness will become a father before long."

Xiao Jinyan snorted coldly, "Impossible."

Could it be, he still didn’t know?

The words ’not possible,’ carried so much weight...

"Your Highness, may this humble official calculate your marital fate?" Lu Zhaoyan felt he had improved a step further in matchmaking.