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Shen Chuwei sighed that the clothes of the ancient times were indeed troublesome, so long and voluminous, this time she was going to take a tumble.

Instead of the expected pain, she fell into a warm embrace.

She slowly opened her eyes to see a handsome and extraordinary face looking at her with a gloomy expression.

She couldn’t help but marvel at how fast Xiao Jinyan was; just a moment ago, he was five meters away, but in the blink of an eye, he had reached her side and caught her.

Shen Chuwei gave an awkward smile, "Your Highness, you have arrived."

Xiao Jinyan had just heaved a sigh of relief for having caught her when he saw her smiling. His voice deepened, "What are you doing climbing walls when you should be just fine?"

"Your Highness, this concubine was just curious and wanted to have a look above."

"What’s there to see above?"

Shen Chuwei blinked her beautiful big eyes and looked at Xiao Jinyan with admiration, "Your Highness, you are so amazing to have caught this concubine bare-handed and spared me from a dog-eating-mud fate."

Shen Chuwei blew rainbow-colored bubbles to divert his attention.

This statement was very pleasing to Xiao Jinyan, especially the look of admiration in Shen Chuwei’s clear eyes.

He pretended to speak sternly, "Speak properly. What’s this about dogs and cats?"

"Your Highness is correct, it was vulgar of me."

Seeing that Shen Chuwei admitted her mistake with a good attitude, Xiao Jinyan didn’t say anything further and carried her into the house.

Gui Xiang and the others walked far away, covering their faces with delight, "His Highness is so doting."

Chun Xi saw this and lifted her chin saying, "Our little mistress is so lovable that flowers bloom at her sight. Of course, His Highness dotes on her."

The two of them talked as they reached under the eaves.

Gui Xiang look expectantly at Chun Xi, "Chun Xi, the Guanyin from Baima Temple is so miraculous, doesn’t that mean our mistress will soon have a baby?"

Chun Xi looked equally hopeful, "Of course, the Guanyin from Baima Temple is the most miraculous indeed."

The two thought their conversation went unheard by those in the house, but not only did they hear it, but they also heard it very clearly.

They looked at each other and were momentarily stunned.

Shen Chuwei quickly averted her gaze, as did Chun Xi and Gui Xiang. Talking about such gossips and being overheard by the people concerned was so embarrassing!

What she and Xiao Jinyan did at night was nothing more than pure sleep, even if the Guanyin from Baima Temple was miraculous, could it possibly magically conceive a baby in her belly?

Xiao Jinyan did not have a single child and he didn’t have time to think about such matters. He knew countless eyes were watching him, he didn’t dare to slack off in the least.

"I need to go out for a while. In these upcoming days, you must not neglect your studies. I will check on them when I return," he said.

Shen Chuwei slumped her shoulders, feeling that escaping from schoolwork was inescapable even after traveling through time to the ancient era. How depressing!

She boldly retorted, looking up, "Your Highness, this concubine doesn’t want to learn about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

Xiao Jinyan asked, "Afraid you can’t learn?"

She would not foolishly admit her inability, giving Xiao Jinyan the chance to motivate her like her previous homeroom teacher.

"Your Highness, as the ancients say, ’A woman without talent is virtuous,’ this concubine wishes to be a virtuous woman."

Xiao Jinyan paused for a moment, "That’s a fallacious argument."

Shen Chuwei pouted, "What this concubine said is nothing but the truth."

Xiao Jinyan looked at Shen Chuwei’s youthful face for a while, remembering what Lu Zhaoyan had said a few days ago.

"What if I want you to be a woman of both virtue and talent?" he asked.

Shen Chuwei thought about it and decided to be honest, "Your Highness, with so many women in the East Palace, couldn’t you choose one with both virtue and talent? Why trouble this concubine?"

Xiao Jinyan did not expect Shen Chuwei to speak such words to him, suggesting that he pick someone in the East Palace?

Do you think I’m shopping for vegetables? And pick one!

But with learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she was already intelligent, so how was it troubling her?

Xiao Jinyan became irritated in a moment, "You are defying me."

Shen Chuwei lowered her eyes, admitting her mistake, "Your Highness, this concubine did not do so intentionally."

Unintentional, or was it deliberate?

Xiao Jinyan gave a cold hum, "Are you sure you want me to find someone else?"

Shen Chuwei nodded, "This concubine is dull and will only trouble you and waste your time."

Xiao Jinyan stared at her for a while, then strode off without looking back, leaving Xiyun Pavilion.

Seeing him leave, Shen Chuwei opened her mouth to say, "This concubine wishes Your Highness a smooth journey..."

But that tall figure had already disappeared at the doorway.

Shen Chuwei sighed helplessly, "Xiao Jinyan seems angry..."

Chun Xi came in carrying a cup of tea, only to find that His Highness had already left the room. She looked at Shen Chuwei puzzled, "Mistress, how come His Highness left? Isn’t he staying for dinner?"

"He won’t be staying." Shen Chuwei sat down on the couch, let out a sigh, noticed the Chestnut Cake on the plate, picked up a piece, and after another sigh, bit into the Chestnut Cake.

Chun Xi set down the teacup in her hand, alarmed by the succession of sighs from her mistress. "What’s wrong, mistress? Did His Highness scold you again?" she asked with concern.

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "He didn’t scold me."

Chun Xi looked perplexed, "Then why do you keep sighing, mistress? Did you have a craving?"

Shen Chuwei sighed once more, "Let’s have soy sauce pork knuckle for dinner!"

Chun Xi, feeling a tug at her heart from hearing Shen Chuwei’s sighs, nodded vigorously, "Alright, I’ll go make it."

During dinner, Shen Chuwei took a bite of the soy sauce pork knuckle and sighed again.

Chun Xi, hearing the sigh, began to worry, "Mistress, what’s the matter?"

Shen Chuwei said with significance, "Still, the soy sauce pork knuckle is delicious."

Chun Xi: "..." So, mistress, you were sighing about how delicious the soy sauce pork knuckle is~

*

Liu Xi pushed open the door and came in, seeing Xiao Jinyan at the study desk. Having attended to the Crown Prince for several years, he could tell from His Highness’ complexion that his mood was not good, and there were even signs of anger.

Liu Xi cautiously inquired, "Your Highness, there was soy sauce pork knuckle made at Xiyun Pavilion tonight, would you like some...?"

Xiao Jinyan spoke gravely, "Since when does this palace like soy sauce pork knuckle? Can I not have dinner if I don’t go to Xiyun Pavilion?"

Liu Xi jumped from the fright, bowing even lower, "This servant did not mean that."

Xiao Jinyan retained a stern face.

Liu Xi couldn’t fathom why Xiao Jinyan was in such a temper, nothing special happened today, right?

He asked again, "Your Highness, shall I serve your meal?"

Xiao Jinyan replied coldly, "Serve the meal."

Liu Xi went out to instruct the maids to bring up the meal, thinking that the Crown Prince would return to Xiyun Pavilion tonight, so the small kitchen had not been used, and the dishes on the table were all from the Imperial Kitchen.

Xiao Jinyan walked out of the study room and sat at the dining table, looking at the dishes in front of him without any appetite.

He picked up the chopsticks, intending to eat a few bites at random.

Seeing the fish on the table, he suddenly asked, "Where’s Xuetuan?"

"This servant will go look for her." Liu Xi went out to look for Xuetuan and came back after not finding her.

"Your Highness, I didn’t see Xuetuan, she might have run off somewhere." Liu Xi didn’t dare to mention Xiyun Pavilion because when he brought it up earlier, His Highness seemed very angry.